Wei Kiat's Blog

Shifting to Weikiat.net

2007-01-19T17:11:00.000+08:00

The moment has arrived. This is the last post on Wei Kiat's Blog.

My computer was seized by the MOE for anti-AJC posts. The vice-principal of AJC is currently raiding my shelve for anti-establishment books.

Nah.

Just kidding.

This is the last post because I will be finally moving over to my new blog, located at http://www.weikiat.net/. It is powered by Wordpress, a much more powerful blogging tool compared to blogger.

Change your RSS bookmark and browser favourites everyone.

The era of Weikiat.NET has began.

So check out my new blog now.

http://www.weikiat.net

(I'm sad, because I spent more than one week on this blogger template :( )

RPG made real

2007-01-19T11:03:00.000+08:00

Why Girls' Blog More Popular than Boys' Blog in Singapore

2007-01-19T10:02:00.000+08:00

The premise for today is: Girls' blog is more popular than boys' blog, at least in Singapore.

The premise for today is deliberately written in poor English, but I am too insecure to just let it stand there on its own without this qualifier.

Next, we move on to our primary inquiry for today: WHY is girls' blog more popular than boys' blog in Singapore?

I venture a few answers.

1. Girls' blog got more pictures

In general, any old boy will start a blog. If he has interest in Gundam, he will start a blog showcasing Gundam. If he has interest in leapfrogging iguanas, he will start a blog showcasing leapfrogging iguanas etc etc.

A girl will start a blog if she thinks she is pretty.

Then she will put many many many picture of herself on the blog. I am not insinuating that these think-they-are-pretty girls have nothing of worth to say. They have probably, however, done a cost-benefit analysis: if I have to type something, it will require effort, and time, and creativity. But if I put a picture of myself up, the process is relatively instantaneous, AND at the same time I can get external validation of my physical appearance!

So in the interests of minimum effort, maximum results, these think-they-are-pretty girls put up photos of themselves.

There is of course a sub-group of ugly but articulate girls. These girls' blogs, you will notice, are very unpopular. People don't really read the text on blogs; least of all, people do not want to read what ugly people have to say. If you are still reading this entry, thank you, you're quite good looking yourself too.

Then finally there is the amazing mind-blowing sub-group of PRETTY and ARTICULATE girls. These like giant pearl in big ocean with only 2 oysters.

In any case, from my extensive field surveys, I come to the conclusion that both boys and girls ogle girl photos, but boy photos are seldom ogled. Boys will of course not ogle other boys, ours being a very correct heterosexual nation. And girls will never admit to ogling boys. Even in front of the computer screen girls will only look at boy photo out of the corner of their eye, and then look away and pretend to be inspecting toenail. Like that who will read boys blog? The boys all think "Haiyah this guy is a pussy", and the girls keep averting their eyes from the computer screen. Gone case already.

Furthermore, local boys are ugly. This is actually not my opinion. I have very low standards, I think local boys are OK. But a lot of my "too-cool-for-school" peers like to have a go at local boys. So this is the prevalent mindset, and the girls think so too. Girls come from this planet where everyone looks like Kwon Sang Woo, so we cannot blame them. In fact we should be grateful they have not all died off as a result of sexual frustration.

2. Girls write better

Supposedly girls have more powerful language skills than boys. Last time when we were all killing Shredder and Krang with Splinter, girls were busy reading dictionaries. As a result today girls can all speak very well. This makes for easier, more therapeutic reading. Also some people I know, when they read girls' blog, they imagine the girl whispering the words into their ear. This is something that cannot be done for boys' blog.

3. Girls have a lot more to talk about

Girls live to communicate, to be in harmony, to synchronize periods. Boys just want to kill each other. Apart from giving us an insight into the average intelligence of each gender, this fact also results in girls' blogs being more interesting. Let us say, the same thing happens to a boy and girl: some old aunty cut the queue of the blogger at the hawker centre.

*

GIRL: I am so pissed! Today I was lining up to buy my favourite char kway teow at Ghim Moh (Ghim Moh PWNZ Newton!! Nyahhhh!):

(insert picture of girl lining up)

(insert picture of girl sticking tongue out and lining up)

(insert shaky self-taken picture of girl and photographer)

Then you know what happen?? This AUNTY came and pretend not to see me! And then she CUT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!!

(insert picture of aunty's rear profile)

(insert picture of girl's hand making dirty sign at aunty's rear profile)

*RAWR* I was, like, totally going to let her have a piece of my mind lah! And den my darling (insert ridiculous idiotic sweetytalk name here) told me to keep cool. I only managed to hold it in!! *RAWWWRRRRRRRRRRRR*

*pouts* Am feeling grumpy now. The char kway teow tasted lousier! I am sure that aunty's bad aura tainted it!

*

BOY: Nabe todae lao cheebye cut mi Q.

4. Girls readily post comments on other girls' blogs; nobody comments on boys' blogs

A blog that no one comments on is a lousy, unpopular blog.

This point is actually linked to the above one. Girls live to communicate, so they will readily affirm/encourage/support their friends' (or even strangers') blogs. Comments like "you go girl!" and "that's so pretty!!! you always manage to look good in whatever you wear!!" fall like locusts fall from heaven every time a girly blog is concerned. Contrast with boys' blog: nobody comments. or if they do, it usually is of the 1D10+1c l337 5p34k variety.

The reason for non-commenting on boys' blog is straightforward. Boys will not comment on other boys' blog, because the whole aim of existing as a boy is to kill other boys (and to make Gundam). You do not talk to your prey. You just look at their blogs and scoff at them, observe their living patterns and then stake them out for the final kill.

Girls, on the other hand, will not comment on boys' blog because if a GIRL comments on a BOY'S blog, it is damn BO SEI!!! Then everyone will think the girl like the boy! How can like that! Cannot cannot! Girl must sit at home surrounded by flower and spray perfume, staring at her Kwon Sang Woo poster and then one day the boy will show up at her doorstep and ask her to do housework for him. Only THEN can she say "Yes, I really wanted to comment on your blog but I was too shy!"

5. Girls have nehnehpok

I don't really know how to articulate this point. But it feels relevant, somehow.

Link

Radio signal also can steal one

2007-01-19T09:36:00.000+08:00

Garyl Tan Jia Luo, simultaneously the most suay person with the stupidest neighbor of all, to such an extend that foreigners commenting on foreign sites bashing Singapore had this to say:

Lol, Neighbor from Hell.

The seventeen year old had his fortune screwed when his neighbor made a police report, complaining that his wifi connection has been "stolen" by Garyl to do some silly emailing and instant messaging.

My take on this is that this incident is incredibly stupid, but is bound to happen sooner or later. Some points that I am too lazy to put into paragraph form:

1) Since the passing of the new Computer Misuse Act, the relevant authorities are on their toes looking for the first person who commit the offence, so that they can dish out outrageous punishments (much like the racist bloggers incident that illustrates Singaporeans' immaturity), in order to frighten future offenders. This work very well. (Who dares to become another Chee?)

2) Since the neighbor is so IT-savvy has to be able to determine that someone is "stealing" his wifi, and so selfish when it comes to sharing his wifi, he certainly has enough motive and expertise enough to secure his own wireless connection. Something is strange here. Is Garyl's neighbor in liaison with the relevant authorities?

3) Garyl is lame. Just go Macdonald got free wifi already!

4) Some people say that his neighbor is correct, and that Garyl is a thief. Because, they say, even if a house owner forget to lock his door, it is still wrong for a person to walk in and steal stuffs. Well, I can slap these people in their face because what the neighbor is doing is like walking naked in the street (broadcasting his radio waves without any protection), and then calling anyone who look at him a peeping tom (a thief!).

5) The punishment awarded to Garyl don't make sense. 18 months of no internet connection? Even more motivation to steal wifi!

Sure sure, I know this stunt will help the government enforce the law by frightening people off. But do they have even the slightest knowledge of technology?

Imagine I go my friend's house to LAN party regularly. My friend's wifi SSID is "Nabei". I connect to "Nabei" and have fun.

I then go home, and turn on my computer. One of my neighbor's wifi SSID is "Nabei" too. Due to the way the wifi selector on Windows work, it is likely that my computer will automatically connect to my neighbor's "Nabei". According to the law, I die liao lor.

With this news reported all over the cyber space, another massive run of Singapore bashing (so soon after IMF) had began, while a certain figure with charming smile that wins the heart and votes of many Ah Sohs will still insist "Singapore enjoys good reputation worldwide".

I shall end this off with some comments and an image from foreigners.

I guess Singapore changed from the old fashioned, and undoubtedly painful, caning to the more civilized finning.
what? no caning?

Well does it beat the CANING for spitting gum on the side walk?
Nah!

Happy Birthday (Part 2)

2007-01-18T20:17:00.000+08:00

I went out with my girlfrend, and was in very very good mood until I went home, turn on the computer and discover that www.weikiat.net is still not available. I was told last night it will be up in 12hours (heck, some other domain registrars can get domains up in < 1 hour.). Nearly 24 hours liao still not up. Just emailed Andy who is registering for me through godaddy. I'm paying more than registering myself, but heck, its very convenient. Am unhappy. I was looking forward to coming home, installing my new blog system, install a new system for Yesterday, and also shifting my gallery, The Wicked and Yesterday over to weikiat.net. Looks like that will have to wait.

Some photos to share.

The above is a mash-up image of what my new blog will look like. It will be powered by Wordpress with K2 as addon, and using the default K2 template. The bar on the top of the site is a skinnable menu bar designed by me implemented using very basic php and ajax, which will allow users to navigate to my other sites, including The Wicked, Slop Directory and Gallery. The bar will also be present on my other site, and possibly skinned to match the look and few of the other sites. I can't wait to implement it. For testing purposes, you can view some of the skins I've created for my menu bar here: http://weikiat.ikueb.com.

I am also waiting for my web host sponsor to reply to my request for 2 db tables so that I can install wordpress for my new blog and also for the new Slop Directory site. He don't check his email everyday so I'll have to wait.

And finally, some (badly taken) photos of my birthday cake and me pretending to cut it (i don't really know how to cut those fluffy things, it fall apart easily under my blade).

(Oh, I just noticed the web host sponsor actually gave me access to MySQL phpmyadmin. Will get to access it once weikiat.net is up.)

Waiting game!

ZZ

Happy Birthday to Me!

2007-01-18T08:12:00.000+08:00

Today is my birthday!

Also, status update, I'll be shifting my blog over to my new site, weikiat.net once it is up and running. By then, this blogger blog will become a historical "museum" of my old posts. Also, my photo gallery and The Wicked will be moved over to weikiat.net. Yesterday.sgblogging.com will be revamped and recreated from ground up, changing the name to just Slop.

Still waiting for my hosting sponsor to give 2 db tables, and weikiat.net to point at dreamhost.

Am pretty excited!

I am @ Youth.sg

2007-01-16T16:53:00.000+08:00

Fellow blog readers, you may find the the title of this entry rather weird. Don't worry, its not because I went crazy all of a sudden. I'm using this entry to take part in a blogging competition by Youth.sg.

Things started simple.

Those $2 lockable diaries sold in my primary school's bookshop were everyone's favourite. Kind of lame, because all the locks and keys are the same.

Then came opendiary.com, the first online diary that aroused the interest of all my friends, although none of us could write more than 200 words in a composition at that time. Girls are irony machines. They lock their open diaries. And almost all the girls I know had an online diary.

By the time I enter secondary school, their (the girls') little footprints had already filled up the blogosphere. Blog had become a symbol of girls. Whenever someone ask if I own a blog, I would exclaim loudly, "What? Blog? Blogs are for sissys!"

But then I decided, heck. Blogs are good ways to attract girls too! Especially with my super-powerful-website-design skill and ability to kope javascript codes.

Then I spent a better part of two weeks trying to do really impressive things on my blog, stressing myself up so much that my creativity suffered a big setback. Looking back at my first month on the blogosphere, I noticed that the title of almost every entry ends with the word "day". How gay.

The number of "sian" I used in my first month of blogging is quite high too. So much that it seemed destined that my blog is going to just die, like many many others that lay dormant in the dept of cyberspace with only one entry to boast. And that entry often reads something like, "Test Entry! I'm new to blogger!" Such blogs are often number one collector of spam.

Yet, things went uphill from there.

I started writing funny fictional stories on my blog, and my fellow juniors came for the entertainment. My blog became popular, and I became very happy.

After my O level examinations, I left my blog for Red Alert 2 and Diablo II. My juniors left me. Sometimes I have one visitor on my blog. Sometimes I have zero. The times when I have one are the times when I visit my blog to see if there is anyone visiting.

By a weird twist of fate I went to Anderson Junior College. Things were so fantastic and interesting that my blog exploded with entries.

It was then when I discovered the power of blogs. The power of blogging by a youth in SG. The way information flows from blogs to mainstream media, its amazing!

My blog got me on the newspaper.

Wah! I exclaimed when I saw that. Why never ask me then quote from me? What a wonderful surprise! Of course I don't mind Straits Times quoting from me. I stand by my words. My uncle supported me. And later my Vice-Principal gave me demerit points SECRETLY (my teacher told me about the SECRET demerit point SECRETLY).

Bad bad Jeremy the reporter. He owes me more than a lunch.

Strange enough, being a youth in SG, once you get onto the newspaper, you keep reappearing. This time for an online site I've created.

Overnight, I became a hero. The most chio girl in AJC asked my girlfriend if the guy in the newspaper is her boyfriend. Duh! Of course lah! I do my girlfriend proud :).

Enough of that excitement. Later people fame me for being too proud.

But seriously, blogging is a good way to hao lian about your achievements!

The above is a video of me collecting an award from the Vice Principal who SECRETLY gave me a demerit point.

Blogs are not just a new tool. It is part of life. Part of life @ Youth.sg

PS: I got my own camera in June last year. It was a 1.3MP kid hidding in a Hi-MD music player. 1.3MP only. I don't even dare show it to people. Because other people have the common misconception that lower MP cameras has lower quality. So I want to make use of this opportunity to tell other youths: Higher MP only imply larger sized photo, not better quality photos. Look at my photo album with photos taken using my 1.3MP camera.

Another reason why I want to talk about the camera now, which doesn't flow with the rest of this entry, is because while writing this entry, I kept alt-tabbing back to my webbrowser which is at Youth.SG to drool over the Canon Camera.

So please, let me win ok?

This entry had been chosen to be among the top 11 in a blogging competition. Do help me vote! To vote, email iam@youth.sg with the email header "i choose B2 - your name". Include your name, IC number and contact number too, because they are having a lucky draw for voters. Thanks alot!

Unnatural

2007-01-16T14:36:00.000+08:00

I had a weird dream (or did it really happen?) last night.

But before going into that, I must mention that on some nights, while lying in my bed, I experience paralysis all of a sudden. It is what chinese people call the "ghost lying on your body" or something. Although I think that there is definitely a more scientific explanation waiting to be found for this strange occurrence, I am not lying when I say I experience it frequently.

The sensation of unable to move my body is just like being paralyzed. While I am conscious and desperately forcing my muscles to move through sheer will power, they still refuse to move. Normally, I manage to snap out of this by constantly forcing my muscles to move, with great amount of "strength". Gradually, they will start to move under my control, bit by bit.

The first few time I experience this, a few years ago, I tried to shout for help. The strange thing is, no matter how hard I tried, my shout only rang in my mind. No word escape. And I have no idea that my shout was not conveyed at all. My brain "hears" it all the same, but it was only when my shout fail to alert anyone when I notice that I didn't actually shout through my vocal cord.

The whole thing is like my mind being cut off from the rest of my body totally.

The reason why I am mentioning this is because it happened again yesterday night. And something else happened too.

I remember I was lying in my bed, trying to sleep, when suddenly a tiny speck of sparkle drifted down somewhere from the darkness of my window onto me. In the exact same instant that the sparkle touches me, I became paralyzed again. This is the first time I see these sparkles (or did I dream it?) before I become paralyzed. I couldn't remember exactly things that followed, but I remember seeing more of these sparkles, and 2 other sensation of something trying to take over my body, from bottom up, while my will power fought back, from top down.

I have no idea what is happening. But I still expect that there is a logical and scientific explanation for this. Since it only occurs when I am trying to sleep, I am thinking that this has something to do with the brain shouting off the section that govern my motor skills while I was still conscious.

Also, as an interesting note, my neighbor, an old man who is sadly dying of liver cancer, has just came back to take a look at his home and family before he will be wheeled again to the hospital.

Are all these related?

What are those sparkles that I saw (or dreamt?)

Buying Weikiat.NET

2007-01-16T12:11:00.000+08:00

I'm in the midst of purchasing weikiat.net, so that at least got a url I can put in my personal contact card. Following the purchase, my blog, The Wicked, as well as other projects and pages will be shifted there.

Blog will be replaced by a Wordpress system, and old content from blogger (hopefully) will be ported over.

Busy creating a navigation system for the new site. You can view the progress here: http://weikiat.ikueb.com. Feel free to give feedbacks. Most of the images used there are for placeholding purposes only. Most of my effort is spent on making the simple looking menu bar at the top of blog.html and wicked.html. The menu is loaded dynamically (using ajax) from menu.php, and an embedded php script determines which page (blog.html or wicked.html) it is being display on. It then disable display the menu correctly. Spent the whole morning today making it.

Domain is $30/year, while hosting is $240 per year. I am only purchasing the domain due to the high price of the hosting. Hosting will still be sponsored by the fantastic guy at sgblogging.com. However, I do hope that I get to buy my own hosting (don't want to trouble him).

Donations, anyone?

iPhone Review + Bashing + Speculations

2007-01-14T20:03:00.000+08:00

iPhone came out. It is a handphone released by Apple, a company increasingly unsure of how it can make computers that everyone will buy, to such an extend that it dropped the word "computer" from its original name "Apple Computers", to just being an Apple. Of course, as a result of its uncertainty in surviving as a computer and OS manufacturer that makes things largely only compatible with itself, it had to start selling things like MP3 players and phones to make more things compatible to itself, so that consumers are given the illusion that Apple is pretty much compatible with everything around them, although the reason is because everything around them starts spotting the logo of a half-eaten Apple.

Following the failed attempt of Motorala Rokr (you still see anyone using it now?), they came back with an interesting piece of gadget called the iPhone. iPhone, as many would already know, is the name of an VoIP phone by Linksys. Negotiations were held between Linksys and Apple over the name, but without coming to a mutual conclusion, Steve Job the current CEO of Apple who was kicked out of Apple a few years after he found it, decided to just go ahead and tell the public about it.

During the first MacWorld Keynote held this month, iPhone was presented to the world.

Steve started off by telling his keen audiences that Apple is releasing three products: A Phone, a Music Player, and an Internet Communicator. He then wowed everyone by saying that the phone, the music player, and the internet communicator is one product. Everyone went crazy. I started to think. I can tell people that I have invented a special cup. It can be a coffee cup, a orange juice cup, and even a cup to store rain-water. And best of all, I can do all that with a single cup. Lets call it, MyCup. Yell with joy everyone. Please!

He then said that Smartphones aren't smart because they are not user friendly, and regular phone sucks because they don't have enough feature. Oh well, I think that Smartphones are not userfriendly because the users are not smart enough to use them. Anyway, he then claimed that iPhone is something between smartphones and regular phones, user-friendly and feature packed. In fact, he said, it is even better than a smart phone! WOW! Let me see the day when iPhone contain any productivity suite. Isn't having productivity suite on the go one of the main reasons why people buy smartphones?

He introduced that there is a 2megapixel camera on the phone, yet did not demostrate it, whether it can take videos etc, or any of the features related to the camera (such as exposure setting, macro, etc). Flashlight?

There is no 3G support on the phone, something that major telephone companies are embracing around the world. Instead, it has wifi connectivity, but unlike gadgets like PSP (which can stream podcast and vodcast directly from any wifi spot), or Zune (which allows you to share songs with others), it is use for unexciting things like Google Map and emails (PSP's flash enabled webbrowser can handle that too). Notice of course, that PSP came out many years ago, and iPhone will be available to US only June this year. Outrageously outdated features. And for Asia, iPhone will only arrive next year. By then, technology would have moved on even more and iPhone will an expensive paper weight.

Of course, credit must be given to the decision dump stylus from this touch screen device (yucks! say Steve Jobs). Of course, using fingers to navigate your device is very convenient. But just imagine all the finger grease, sweat and oil that you will be bathing iPhone in. Oh, Steve overlooked that.

Gesturing system is cool of course, but this stuff had been around for years! Opera the webbrowser has that many years ago. Of course, bringing the gesturing system to a touch screen handheld is an interesting concept, but certainly not "creative", or "revolutionary".

Oh, on top of that, there is multi-touch where you can use more than one fingers (i.e three fingers in a pinching action) to zoom in and out of an image. Interesting and cool. Sure. But how practical? So far, Steve only demostrated that you can use multi-touch to play with images. Are there any more uses? He never demostrate.

iPod wise, the usual features (or rather, lack of features). No sound enhancement (EQ is not sound enhancement) unlike even cheap china mp3 players. Average music playback quality. No drag and drop. Use with iTunes only.

He said there are three sensors. One to detect if you are holding the phone to your ear. One to detect the orientation of the device, and one to detect light and adjust the brightness of the screen. Very cool. If not for the fact that the first mentioned sensor is added as a must. Without it, the touch screen will go yaya when you hold the phone to your ear, and iPhone will screw itself terribly and not be able to work. The second sensor had been available at least two years ago on Sony's HDD MP3 player. The last sensor that adjust screen brightness had been available in most LCD/Plasma TVs since more than 1 year ago.

Revolutionary?

iPuke.

Dear, get a PSP now too!

2007-01-11T14:31:00.000+08:00

The Call

2007-01-10T19:16:00.000+08:00

My girlfriend was looking for a job on jobstreet website.

Today she received a call from a person, offering her a job. The position is promoter.

Caller: "The job is promoter."

GF: "I don't want it."

Caller: "NOOOOO! Wait! Listen to me! You only have to work 3 days per week! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! Pay is $6.50 per hour."

(My GF is slightly tempted. But she don't want to be a promoter.)

GF: "no..."

Caller: "Overtime pay is $9.50!"

GF: "no..."

Caller: "If overtime pay reach more than $44, remaining overtime hours will be paid $13 each!"

GF: "NOOOO! Promote what anyway?"

Caller: "Er.... (silence)"

GF: "PROMOTE WAT?"

Caller: "(reluctantly) Beer lor.. BUT! Don't worry! Don't need to wear sleazy clothes one! Just wear a polo tee and jeans skirt can liao. And also boots."

ME: FUCK YOU CHAO CHEEBYE.

AMK Hub, Segway and the iPhone

2007-01-10T19:05:00.000+08:00

Steve Jobs announced the iPhone yesterday night at 2am when most of us are sleeping. I was awake and drinking coffee, monitoring online sites for real time updates from Macworld Keynote. My speculation was proved to be correct. The new iPhone is an iPod with wi-fi and phone capabilities. Steve jobs did a very good job by comparing iPhone to a smart phone, saying that it is something between Smartphones (which are not that smart, according to him), and regular phones. He is dead right in a sense. iPhone lacks features that smartphones have. But he is wrong also. iPhone lacks features tonnes of regular handphones have too. What I saw was plain feature rip-off from sony ercisson phones (sony hps with walkman +cybershot). However, the difference is that the iPhone has a very low quality and low resolution 2.0MP (my Sony Hi-MD Player with built in 1.3MP camera takes better photos than a iPhone), and an innovative feature that allows you to use your fingers instead of a stylus for its touch screen. Well, innovative for people who have no idea that fingers work on most touch screens already. However, I must give Apple credit for its finger gesture system, although the use of it to access features on the phone is quite limited.

Today I attended the IDM (Interactive Digital Media) Jamboree (or how to spell?) at Science Center. Interesting business related event. Should be on the news tonight. I also got to ride on the Segway, the personal auto-balancing two-wheeled transport system used by lazy police over at changi airport. That stuff is real solid.

And AMK Hub? Thats refering to the new neigbourhood shopping centre in AMK where NTUC became Xtra and imitated Giant. The building, as with other massive Singapore based buildings, has tonnes of safety issues.

Enjoy a review of its safety here.

My buddy, Poh Wei is leavig for Tekong tomorrow. I hope he can survive the yellowish water supply there. More on Tekong's water supply another day.

Choose Wei Kiat's Business Card Design

2007-01-09T03:15:00.000+08:00

Below are three business card designs I came up with. Pick your favourite and comment on it! The best of the 5 will be printed. Feel free to suggest small alternations also.

Fusion

Fusion plain

Culture

Culture Dark Con

Culture Border

Culture Dark

New Wicked Game

2007-01-08T23:02:00.000+08:00

Remember the announcement I made earlier?
http://z12.invisionfree.com/thewickedforum...p?showtopic=493

There will also be some changes to the overall site design, and also something more exciting than plain old Wicked coming soon.

The recent confusion and appearance of V-IX was actually part of a new game me and my team devised after more than 30 hours of solid brainstorming (once even staying overnight at my office with NO toilets facilities, and then when I had stomachache at 4am, I sneaked into a shopping center and use theirs).

The whole thing is a game, and the reason why I'm keeping quiet is to test your response if you all will discover that it is a game. This is also to add more mystery and perhaps encourage exploration and curiousity on V-IX website.

However, me along with my team are particularly disappointed when there is an lack of interest, and particularly players like Ryluna who actually discouraged the community from doing their own exploration. No hard feelings, Ryluna. I thought the community in general will apply their puzzle solving skills on this new development, but was proven wrong.
Therefore, we finally made the decision to just go ahead and announce that this whole thing is a game and i expect you to hunt for clues beyond what the wicked usually offers.

The game take place in the same world in live in, hence details like location and phone numbers are real.

The game will continue, and go ahead and find more clues. Who knows, you may even get a special mention in Wicked HoF. More details later. For now, just play and enjoy the game =D

PS: Do not hack thewicked.sgblogging.com or www.v-ix.com!

Discuss it here.

Times: Sony MiniDisc enjoyed a brief bite of the apple before being consumed itself by the iPod

2007-01-06T15:32:00.000+08:00

Link

Angered by their rubbish article, I emailed them.

Hi,

I quote Chris Ayres "The Sony MiniDisc, a small step ahead of CDs but a giant leap behind MP3 players, enjoyed a brief bite of the apple before being consumed itself by the iPod".

iPod is designed as a portable music player for consumers who prefers convenient and design. It came out in 2001.

MiniDisc first came out as a replacement for tapes. It is meant for recording purposes. It also provides very high quality sound for consumers who know better. It came out in 1992 (or was it earlier?)

Comparing two different formats meant for two different purposes is like comparing a spoon and a fork, and then concluding that a fork is better because more people eat noodles.

This is a small, but very clear evident of unprofessional journalism over at Times.

I am a proud supporter of Minidisc, and despite its lack of marketing, is still going strong in many parts of the world. Recently, there was even the release of Minidiscs which stores 1GB of data, and a MiniDisc player with a built in digital camera.

Chris Ayres (the journalist who wrote that article) exhibited a perfect lack of insight, and irresponibility on his part as he did not ensure accuracy in his facts as well as have any idea what on earth he was writing about.

Instead of having the "Email this article" to friends feature on Times, it would be better if there is a link which says "Fire this journalist", for the benefit of readers and also upholding the reputation of your site.

Thanks (for the bad journalism).

My Office Chair

2007-01-05T22:02:00.000+08:00

Avatar of Singaporeans

2007-01-05T21:54:00.000+08:00

It suddenly occurred to me that all Singaporeans look like that:

Why? This question pops up instantly in your head: Why Singaporeans have such short arms?

The answer lies in this photo:

*Arms too short to reach the dustbin less than 1 metre away.*

Random points

2007-01-04T23:08:00.000+08:00

An 18 year old indian working at Mango at Shaw along orchard road approached my girlfriend, "Are you from Anderson Junior College? Can you buy for me a set of the uniform? I find the uniform very cool! Fun to wear it out to places like orchard instead of normal clothes. I loved the school very much." It was later discovered that that indian was unable to make it to AJC, and fortunately ended up in a Polytechnic. But this example shows how misled the public are regarding AJC. Also, what is the kind of caliber that AJC attracts?

I was alighting from the LRT carrying my laptop and on my way home from my office when I saw one of my primary school classmate, still cladded in AJC school uniform. I was about to approach her, but I guess the shame of being seen in an AJC uniform for a third year in her life is too much to bear. I chosed to ignore her.

My sister told me she want to hi-light her hair. I told her she will get caught by her Disciplinary Master. She told me that she won't because hi-lighting is barely noticeable. Then I asked her if it is not noticeable, why spend the time and money hi-lighting?

My parents kept asking me to get a job to earn pocket money, while refusing to give me pocket money. I finally got one as a co-founder of a new marketing company, funded by IDA. They ended up having to give me pocket money because I need money to eat during my job. Also, the high adult transport fare in Singapore isn't helping either.

The SMRT capacity in Singapore is directly proportional to the amount of armpits you have to smell during rush hours. SMRT provides more capacity by removing seats, and adding standing areas so that an average working adult spend around $3~4 per day standing and smelling (more of) each others' armpits for approximately 45minutes. Perhaps this is why Singapore is labeled food paradise. The market for nice smelling stuffs (i.e. nice food) is huge.

The government, and in particular, our honorable PM mentioned that blogs are inferior as compared to mainstream media. Yet, our mainstream media keeps coming out with blog related projects: www.stomp.com.sg, www.blogtv.sg, etc. Here we see a case of a superior (mainstream media) entity copying an inferior (blogs) one. Perhaps the most sane question should be, which is really better than which?

There is a price to pay for freedom in Singapore. That price comes in the form of adult transport fee when you finally graduated from being a student.

Blogging has become one of the best way people can vent their thoughts and enjoy limited freedom of speech. Blogs are also one of the best way police can use to catch you if you happen to dislike MM or PM Lee, or the indian upstairs who owns two huge dogs that enjoy pooping on your front door. (PS: I don't dislike PM and MM, and the two huge dogs belonging to the indians upstairs don't come and poop on my front door.)

The best food can often be found in old hawker centres. But if the food is so great, the vendor would have earnt enough to start his or her own restaurant. Why still remain in old hawker centres, playing hide and seek with rats and other hungry creatures? Rats are their pets?

People like to buy imitations or pirates of items they like in order to save money. Then they exploded and make lots of fuss when the actual company that came up with the item went bankrupt due to poor sales.

Malaysians queue at the doors of their LRT train; Singaporeans just scatter themselves randomly around the doors of SMRT trains.

Despite all that education, Singaporeans have one of the lowest level of physics knowledge in the world. They would always squeeze into lifts or SMRT trains without letting people inside come out first. Singaporeans do not know that in order to fit themselves into the train, they have to let something come out first. Singaporeans also assume that space is always there, despite the fact that it isn't.

There is something creepy about the back of public buses in Singapore, especially during peak hours. The bus driver always had to yell in order to force people to dispel their fear and move to the back.

NS is a waste of time. Saying that NS is a waste of time is an even more waste of time.

Many uneducated Ah Sohs nowadays are carrying top of the line handphones with tonnes of features, while the only thing they know is how to make a phone call. Getting a phone with tonnes of features they never use or will never even comprehend serves a very good purpose. They can boast about the high price of their handphones infront of other equally uneducated Ah Sohs. A poor educated IT-conscious student like me had to use phones like 3310, 3100 and 7260.

Creative Technologies tried to gain more sales by dropping prices on their product. It made their product so cheapskate that people prefer overpriced china mp3s than Creative's cheap ones.

Creative Technologies sell things very cheaply. I bought their EP630 for a cheap price of $69 last year, and they sell it for a cheap price of $35 now. Can I say, damn you, Creative?

People like whirl strongly resent what I write on my blog. And it is people like whirl who visit my blog most frequently.

Mr Hon, the Principle of The Chinese High School once said that choosing a girlfriend is like shopping for a television at the store. You don't just take the first set (displayed on the store front). You have to walk in and see all the different models and sizes and make your pick. However, I prefer to take the one at the store front. A television set has to be absolutely good in order to make it worth displaying on the store front by the store owner.

Irony is defined by the Head of General Paper Department at AJC as "something is expected to happen, but something else happened instead". Now that, is an irony by itself. (However, if you know what to expect about the competence level of the Head of General Paper Department at AJC, the previous sentence won't be valid.)

the last release of carbon dioxide

2007-01-04T03:12:00.000+08:00

It was another day for work for her. Life had been monotonous ever since she took that risk and set sailed for Singapore, the island of hope. She toiled under the sun, getting a lovely tan that would cause the envy females and Caucasians two decades later.

It was while working at the harbor lifting heavy descriptionless objects that she met him. Soon she decided he was her destiny and they would get married.

They got married.

And after enduring three painful labours, he passed away.

Life was bitter, but the smiles on the face of the little ones spurred her on, driving her to work harder for to give a better life to her offsprings. Being a single parent is not easy.

The little ones grew up and it is now impossible to call them little ones anymore. Her eldest son was finally of working age, and his income helped cushion the burden on her shoulder to support the family abit. Finally she was able to live an easier life.

Her eldest son died.

She felt like life was all over for her, and if not for the fact that she had two children to look after and support, she would have seek peace in the heavenly paradise. However, her motherly instinct was strong, and she preserved to provide the best for her children.

Her children finally grew up. They moved away from her when they found their life long love. After working so hard for her children, she was left behind, lonely and cold.

When her grandson came to this world she was overjoyed. She greatly offered to help look after the joyful baby.

The baby grew up.

When her grandson was an adult, he sent her to an old folk home.

By then life had almost completely left her. She was unresponsive and unable to move on her own.

And there she lies, on her death bed, quietly, alone, cold, abandoned, neglected, waiting and waiting, at the old age of 95, waiting for moment when life finally gives up on her, with the last release of carbon dioxide.

Outside the window, the world goes on.

(This entry is based on a real story, although some details have been altered.)

Why can't you be more ordinary?

2007-01-04T02:55:00.000+08:00

(Dear blog readers, I was away on a short shopping trip to Malaysia. Forgot to blog about my absence before I went. These blog entries were written on paper during my trip.)

He dislike the norm. To him, things done by those around him that are also done by those around those around him holds no purpose or meaning at all. He often reasons with himself why do people do things exactly the same way as other people? Although doing things other people are doing is the kind of thing that everyone is doing, he just can't convince the neurons in his mind to create the chemical setup for that to happen.

While others around him aimed for fantastic results in examinations like A levels that doesn't even test a person intelligence, let alone interest and passion, he concentrated purely on doing what he do best, and made a huge splash about it.

People started calling him a rebel, a very interesting word that instantly conjures images of men holding rifles in their hands waving and shouting wildly in foreign tongues in minds of the uneducated (or seemingly educated) masses.

He was different. To him being a rebel is everything that he stood for. Although he did not go to the extend of chopping off or attaching a few limbs or disfiguring his face just to look different from the rest, he once considered adding a third ear for a few months until he realised that he couldn't find a earphone with 3 earpieces.

While people around him do their tutorials twice - once to get the feel of it, and once for revision, and attend every lectures like bees after nectars, he treated tutorial worksheets like leaves lying on the walkway and lectures like (insert your an event which you hate most here), he whacked on his keyboard, created The Wicked and appeared in a full page article in Digital Life.

Being different has it own sets of problems too. Being different means obstacles and problems met by him are also different from others, and he had to be really creative about solving them.

Once he tried to form his own company with two other rebels, while his female friends who were finished with the lectures and tutorials found parttime jobs at places like NTUC and Isetan, selling male undergarments for a miserably low pay and high risk of sexual harassment, and a few male friends selling ice-creams.

He met with a problem that was totally unexpected. It came in the form of a spoken sentence. That sentence was generated by his mum's vocal cord.

And it sounded something like, "Why can't you be more normal?"

My Target

2007-01-01T21:51:00.000+08:00

To qualify for the dual-degree fast-track programme under the National Infocomm Scholarship, applicants must be a top-tier high performer who has clearly demonstrated academic and leadership abilities. Applicants must also possess that special X-factor of passion and flair for innovation and creativity. They must meet all of the rigorous and holistic admissions requirements of both SMU and Carnegie Mellon. They must be able to assimilate into the dynamic pedagogy of SMU, and also able to adapt to the demands of studying abroad at Carnegie Mellon, one of the world's leading universities for IT education and research.

Need to meet the first bolded criteria...

http://www.sis.smu.edu.sg/programme/SMU_CMU_Fast_Track/index.htm

AJC Renovates!

2007-01-01T00:54:00.000+08:00

Finally Susan Leong, the principal has won over VP Tay.

Although, things seemed pretty much the same, and perhaps a comment in the survey conducted by me and my friends on 50+ AJCians still describes the situation nicely.

The gist of that comment: Tear down and rebuild AJC.

The deal fell through:(

2006-12-30T16:55:00.000+08:00

Am now very sad, I thought I can at least earn a few thousand to safe keep in my empty bank account.

But no, the meeting yesterday was a complete failure. It didn't work out at all.

Don't ask me why. I signed an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) before the meeting start, so I cannot disclose anything here.

Bad bad day. Its like i'm a rabbit and the carrot just flew away.

Someone want to buy The Wicked

2006-12-28T17:27:00.000+08:00

Woot, just received an email from some company which offered to buy over my brainchild, The Wicked. He asked me to go for a meeting tml together with other members of the board to have a discussion and negotiate the details regarding takeover price and management details.

The meeting quite near my place so will be going down tml to take a look. After all, nothing bad can come out of potential money coming down my pocket when I'm totally got no pocket money right? Hehe.

How Singapore played a part in the history of Submarine Cables

2006-12-28T12:40:00.000+08:00

From Wikipedia

After William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone had introduced their working telegraph in 1839, the idea of a submarine line across the Atlantic Ocean began to be thought of as a possible triumph of the future. Samuel Morse proclaimed his faith in it as early as the year 1840, and in 1842 he submerged a wire, insulated with tarred hemp and india rubber, in the water of New York harbour, and telegraphed through it. The following autumn Wheatstone performed a similar experiment in Swansea bay. A good insulator to cover the wire and prevent the electric current from leaking into the water was necessary for the success of a long submarine line. India rubber had been tried by Moritz von Jacobi, the Russian electrician, as far back as 1811.

Another insulating gum which could be melted by heat and readily applied to wire made its appearance in 1842. Gutta-percha, the adhesive juice of the Isonandra Gutta tree, was introduced to Europe by William Montgomerie, a Scottish surgeon in the service of the British East India Company. Twenty years earlier he had seen whips made of it in Singapore, and he believed that it would be useful in the fabrication of surgical apparatus. Michael Faraday and Wheatstone soon discovered the merits of gutta-percha as an insulator, and in 1845 the latter suggested that it should be employed to cover the wire which was proposed to be laid from Dover to Calais. It was tried on a wire laid across the Rhine between Deutz and Cologne. In 1849 C.V. Walker, electrician to the South Eastern Railway, submerged a wire coated with it, or, as it is technically called, a gutta-percha core, along the coast off Dover.

LOL!

Rain outside the window

2006-12-28T09:04:00.000+08:00

Long since I last write any poem...

I slept awake in darkness,
witnessing dreams of childhood.
With a loud wail time starts leaking
in a downward spiral of affection.

Laugh laugh, laughter laugh.
Days were fun and joy abundance.
Sadness rare and seldom lasting,
'cos love from the two was felt full and strong.

Tick tick, tickler tick.
Their love is dry, affection abandoned.
Laughter shortened and tears increasing.
Their parental uncaring faces.

As I sat awake in darkness,
scribbling a poem of childhood dreams...

Why is there rain outside the window?

-Wei Kiat

WTS: Blade Dancer + Sealed Sound Track CD

2006-12-27T23:19:00.000+08:00

Blade Dancer is a highly RPG on PSP. It features Final Fantasy-like type of gameplay, with a unique item crafting system (craft your own weapons out of raw materials) where i enjoyed experimenting and creating new weapons. Also, the battle system is totally unlike other RPGs I've played. The battle is semi-real time, and the villain and you share the same mana (or Lunar Points as known in the game). This results in interesting battles where you can experiment with different ways to win over tough villains. Key dialogues in the game are also voice acted, resulting in fantastic game presentation.

Got me hooked to such an extend that I play it 4 hours per day.

I bought it together with a Blade Dancer Sound Track CD, but I haven't listen to it yet (too engrossed in the game) so its sealed.

Going for $35.

Includes
-Original Box
-Instruction Guide
-Blade Dancer UMD
-Blade Dancer Sound Track CD (sealed)

Deal in west area. Please contact via hp 81282904 or email tayweikiat@gmail.com

WTS: Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror

2006-12-27T23:15:00.000+08:00

Syphon Filter is a highly rated shooter on PSP. I've completed it and its damn fun. Now selling it so that I can get some cash to buy other games.

Check out http://www.gamespot.com/psp/action/syphonfilter/review.html for more information.

2nd handed but in excellent condition, so going for $30.

Includes
-Original Box
-Instruction Guide
-PlayStation Underground Registration Form
-Syphon Filter UMD.

Deal in west area. Please contact via hp 81282904 or email tayweikiat@gmail.com

House Painting

2006-12-26T13:28:00.000+08:00

Helped out with house painting today. Quite fun.

Later going over to poh wei house for Unreal Tournament rematch. Hehe.

Fun day.

Toilets an insight to Singaporean thinking processes

2006-12-26T12:55:00.000+08:00

Read @ Yawningbread.org,

To Whirl who thinks academic qualifications are everything

2006-12-26T01:16:00.000+08:00

Got the following from a local PSP user group forum where they were talking about signing on in NS.

RE:My reason for not signing on....
Hi TS....
my turn to share...
1) Guardsman - didnt go for it.. coz they rejected me @ my BMT... coz they wanted the older gdsman who just ord b4 my intake. they wanted me
again when i'm about to ord... but i rejected them... coz i tink Guards Unit is too much been unappreciated(over work infantry, underpaid commandos) at all by SAF.
2) EOD - Bomb deposal squad...loved the thrill..but my mum kicked me out of the house for 3 months when she found out i was abt to go for my final "signature" contract.
3) SAF shooting contingent - 8am-5pm job to teach people how to shoot for competition. - backed out..coz after 2months of consideration.. shooting for life a bit sian for me.
4) CNB - love the thrill... wanted to be a cop for all my life.... too much movies ... my whole family came down on me hard... scare i kenna stabbed by mobs...
there i am now... 6 years after i ORD... i was lost n scare when i was abt to ord then... thinking of what kinda jobs and future do i have... academically... i'm a screw up... worse than u bro... i dun even have a Poly cert...i'm a person who tried 5 times of O levels... and still got oni merits for 5 certs to combine. neva stepped into a poly to study... oni to go TP design for the nice western food and of course to fetch my ex-gfren from there... and helping out some VSC people to do the short film and photography classes. oh yes... see biz gals too
i decided that the only way for me to survive was to sign on... looking back... i'm so glad i didn't do it...
6 years ago... i neva dream abt.. being who and where i am now...
i'm in europe for a month now... my clients are paying me quite a comfortable amount... traveling in biz/first class flights, staying in posh hotels and having posh food...(for ur info - www.spiritofdubai.ae is the project i'm working on. I'm a photographer, more pics here www.flickr.com/photos/kerpalz)
its indeed a diff life from i have in singapore. bro... there is lotsa jobs out there in and out of singapore... my advise...same as others...
if u have the passion... and super siao on abt signing on any uniform group.. do bear in mind there will be lotsa freedom gonna be cut out of ur life..
from my POV.. i think they are paying peanuts... and they demand lots from you. e.g physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Coz i seen too much of my frens, my sgts, officers who are regulars... even my family members (almost 9/10 is regulars, i'm the oni one who was not signed on from the start.) the only 2 of 9 in my family is working good in the uniform group is a non-uniform regular who is serving with drone plane unit doing survillance. she is with them for 10years.. and the other is a major with the navy but he's trying to switch to Hometeam to be a coast guard officer. the other 7... is trying ways n means to break or endure till their contract ends...
as i say b4... money u sure can earn outside... the uniform groups are not anymore a "metal ricebowl" career..anytime u screw up... they will cut u out.
try enjoy working life outside.. if u dun like singapore, go abroad...
we are asians... we are more hardworking than the "angmohs"... no offences to the hard-working angmohs...sure we can survive here or there.anywhere!
Bro... stay focus... serve ur 2 years first.. u will see whether u like it or not.. Uniform groups will alwiz keep their doors open for u... to welcome u go in.. or for kicking ur arse out...
my 2 cents...
Mr. Kerpalz
in Rome_Italy 7pm
PS: phew... thats a long one.... thanks for reading my broken england...!
i miss singapore food..!

My person take is that all those who "succeed" in life through those sort of academical "pre-planned" routes are really losers because all they can do is to do what everyone else are doing (everyone following the same route). How is one mugger different from another? There is no value that a mugger can offer back to society (other than perhaps becoming a teacher to inspire more muggers?)

However, the system in Singapore may be such that muggers are looked upon highly by misinformed governmental organisations, but I'm sure with time Singapore will mature.

And one day, perhaps, local University will speak like a foreign one.

We look for some originality (in University applications) because nine out of ten essays leave you with a big yawn. "I like science, I like to help people and that's why I want to be a doctor." The common, uninteresting, and unoriginal statement is one that recounts the applicant's academic pursuits and basically repeats what is elsewhere in the application.

What I see as the true and the only way to succeed is by offering genuine and unique value to others that can also reap profit for yourself (think founders of Wal-Mart, Microsoft, Google). Are they successful because they study more books or get more certificates than other people? No, they are successful because they are able to offer value. And value is something that muggers can never offer. What can a mugger offer that a textbook in the bookshop can't offer?

And likewise, value is something that Anderson Junior College can never really offer to any of its students.

Singapore as it is right now is,

Mugging Schools, Mugging Nation.

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-24T23:19:00.000+08:00

I, Tay Wei Kiat wishes all my fellow readers a Merry Christmas!

Now to get on with Gunz with my friend who finally get to book out of NS today.

Nice blog about AJC

2006-12-24T02:27:00.000+08:00

Read here.

Interesting New AJC Website

2006-12-24T00:58:00.000+08:00

Anon alerted me to the fact that the new AJC website design that had been under development secretly since long before June holidays this year is finally up.

I was looking around the website, and notice certain "interesting" content on the site.

Look at
http://schools.moe.edu.sg/ajc/academic/results05.htm

PW 2005 Results

84.5% of our cohort of students achieved at least Band 2, against the National Average of 76.9%.
100% of our cohort of students achieved at least Band 3.

There is censorship of data. From my knowledge, less than 10% of students actually get band 1! This was conveniently left out and not mentioned on its website. Also, 2 A & 2 AO (with General Paper) passes: 95.0%
Wow! Fantastic school! 1 out of every 20 students fail. That similar to 1 A Level failure per class. And that is when AJC "draws from top 5%~15%" of Secondary school graduates? Talk about value addedness =D.

Also compare the 2005 results with that of 2004's

Notice how 3 A & 2 AO (with General Paper) passes and 3 A& 2 AO (with/without General Paper) passes have been quietly left out in 2005? Another case of censorship and not letting your potential students who visit the website to find more about AJC not know about AJC's failure? What an honest website.

Lets go over to this.
I find it amazing that under the Outstanding Achievements of AJ Graduates section, you can see that those achievements or awards were hand over to these AJ graduates many years after they have graduated? Can their achievements be linked directly to effort or success of AJC? I think not. If I become very successful 10 years down the road, will the Pre-School, Primary School, Secondary School, Junior College, NS Platoon Commander, University that I went to claim credit and advertise that they had "produced" such a successful individual like me? In some cases, this is all just bullshit.

Even AJ's AV Technician winning the Best Service Award can be advertised by AJ on its website. This is thick skinned to the core on the part of AJ.

And what's this?
So far I received uncountable copies of the exact same email, asking me to sign up with them, pay a small fee so that I can get this membership card. What a good idea to get people to buy a worthless piece of card that means nothing. There is absolutely no mention on the use of the card in those emails. I'm better off buying a Maplestory pre-paid card. Roughly the same price too.

And also this bunch of "under construction" pages. Whee. Notice how every aspect of JC education is seem by AJC as their "Niche" areas. Please make up your own damn mind. Or is it that AJC is equally bad at every of those aspects?

Wah, on the subject of under construction, someone here must really be sleeping. Knock knock! Wake up!

And here comes my favourite section. I shall post a corrected copy of the list of facilities here.

Teaching & Learning Facilities
Some classrooms with LAN points, visualisers & LCD projectors
Science laboratories with life science equipment
5.5 (one of it was half a room with < 10 terminals) computer laboratories
5 lecture theatres
800-seater auditorium with AV room (while a cohort is around 900+ people, leading to people sitting on stairs and floors)
Study benches located at any empty common areas
Air-conditioned examination hall
Air-conditioned (noisy) reading room
Library & media resource centre housing zero variety of materials & PCs (Only two shelves of english fiction books, half a shelve of tapes, etc)
ElementZ North Cluster Science and Technology Centre (ElementZ only use the AJC campus. AJCians won't be and can't make use of it.)
Wireless network at selected locations within college (that doesn't work)

Sports & Recreational Facilities
~~Competition-~~standard athletics track
Soccer field
Weight room (with 100% rusty handles and arm grips)
4 netball, 3 basketball, 3 tennis, 3 badminton courts
Multi-purpose indoor gymnasium (There is a multi-purpose hall, but where got gymnasium?)
Abandoned Rock-wall (used once in a blue moon by ODAC members only)
Dance studio & special rooms for a few CCAs (Many CCAs do not even have their own activity/storerooms)
Air-conditioned student's lounge

Other Facilities
College messaging system for enhanced communication (This refers to PA system that every government schools have)
Camera surveillance system at selected area to prevent students from using the air-con remote in classrooms when teachers are not around (There was a camera in my classroom, and the Operational Manager later move it to point at the Air-Con Remote Storage Box to frighten students from using the Air-Con when teachers are not around. The camera was dutifully ignored, and nothing happened. Are those real cameras?)
Spacious parade square (Its an extended carpark)
Galleries showcasing our vision, mission, values and history (Wow, what a useful facility)
Garden fountain (That is seldom turned on?)

Finally, here

Count the total number of CCAs there are. It is roughly the same as the number of Clubs and Societies CCAs in RJC.

Racism in China Medicine

2006-12-24T00:20:00.000+08:00

Got this from BloggerCL.

Note that the above image, along with the 4 horizontal chinese words underneath were actual packaging and not photoshopped in any way.

Ok! You! Go wash!

2006-12-23T12:45:00.000+08:00

We were having lunch. Having lunch around the coffee table, while my TV addict family members enjoy their TV show. Smiling, laughing, making pointless comments about the show when the actors or hosts on the show couldn't even hear them.

I never even bother to glance up. I ate and ate.

Father finished his food, and there sat his empty bowl on the table, while he leaned back to enjoy the show, wearing a silly grin on his face.

A sudden burst of laughter burst out from around me. My sister laughed and slap her thighs. Mother gave that weird sounding laughter of hers.

Soon, she finished her food, and pushed her empty bowl to where father's empty bowl sat. "Wash, she said."

Father made no response as he continue gluing his eyes to the goggle box.

I finished my food. I seized the opportunity and pushed my empty bowl to beside father's. "Thank you," I said.

Mother and father turned around and glared at me. "OK! YOU! GO WASH!" they exclaimed, seemingly able to read each others' mind.

Walao.

An hour later, sister exclaimed, "Papa help me buy tissue!"

Father promptly went to the shop and got it for her.

Sigh.

PicooZ terrible QC

2006-12-22T10:34:00.000+08:00

I returned the my first PicooZ (very hard to control and crazy amount of lift until i balance it with my mod) after the tail rotor refuse to spin on its forth flight. I was given a replacement plane, but this one came with lousy lift and it only flies in the air for 1~2minutes and then hover a few cm off the ground, unwilling to reach for the sky any longer.

I feel like going down and getting one more replacement, but that way super thick skin leh?

Should I do it? I would rather have a PicooZ that performs identical to my first, which with a little bit of scotch tape, I manage make it zip around my room like a charm.

Nabei. Terrible QC there. My Twin-X plane from the same company (Silverit) has no such problem.

Now I am resorting to bending the main rotor blades to get more lift.

While people in USA can buy 3 or 5 PicooZs, test them all out and return those that do not perform up to par, Singapore's return policy ain't that good, and if you are suay (like me), you are suay.

But, PicooZ is still a fantastic product, and is well loved by pets. Don't believe me? Check out this video!

JC Life 2006 Part 1: A great start

2006-12-21T21:20:00.000+08:00

there concludes my life as a year one student in anderson junior college, which in my opinion, is the worst jc in existence. the way students mug brainlessly there, the way teachers lavish on good food during their yearly self-improvement workshop while students had to endure rusty and shaky retort stands that can't even work well enough for an accurate physics experiment that is so crucial for our learning and a totally run down and non-air conditioned gym (unlike other jcs) that i first thought was a storeroom for old gym equipments. For example, there are only 2 treadmills in the gym, and the last time i checked, one of it is spoilt.

also concluded is the year where i can slack to my heart's content without worrying too much about my academic performance, which i totally heck care about. This is rather unbecoming of someone who scored 269 for PSLE and went into The Chinese High School. But hate it or love it, this is the way i live. There is no point studying too much when only less than 5~10% of the knowledge gained through the educational system will ever be used in our adulthood. Yes, high educational wastage might be a problem, but without teaching students such a wide field of academic subjects, how will they discover their talents? So i don't really mind the wastage problem, and it shouldn't really be a problem. I just find it annoying to study so much physics and fmaths when i'm bound to forget what i learnt when i went into NS. So i just studied enough to get by. Since this year, 2006 is a more crucial year for all of us melancholic people, i suspect i'll just study abit harder.

I used to enjoy programming as a hobby, as it provides an overwhelming sense of satisfaction when i see that from a totally blank development workspace, i can create a feature packed application in just a few weeks. Although the debugging process was hell, the satisfaction from knowing that i've just fixed another bug is fascinating. Sadly, in this new year, programming seems more and more "inconvient" for me as i could no longer afford to spend much time on it. There is just too much work and too little time. Its an irony of education. Education is preventing myself from educating myself about things i really need to be educated about. Sigh.

With programming strictly reserved for school work and not for personal hobby, i just had to find a new hobby. And i found it through assembling gundam model kits. I had always wanted to buy some serious model assembly kits of stuffs like cars and ships ever since i played with Tamiya Mini 4-wheel when i was much younger. However, the hefty price always put me off. Yet for some reason, when poh wei's bro told me his friend was going to japan and he could get a gundam assembly kit for 30bucks less than what it cost in Singapore, i jumped at the chance. When it finally arrived, it will be my birthday present to myself.
2004 saw the purchase of my Creative MuVo Slim 256mb mp3 player, which i, along with many others who bought it, regretted totally. Within weeks after the purchase, its price dropped from 336bucks to 279, and then further to 219 when the founder of Creative declared a seemingly non-existence mp3 player war on Apple. How can it be a war, when Apple didn't even react?

The beginning of 2005 saw the purchase of a Hi-MD player, for a sky high 549bucks. People often show off their iPod because they are among those few who could afford it. Well, i bought a little known device that cost way more than a useless iPod which very few people know about, because of the charm of the MD format, the high sound quality it offers, and an escape from the vanity of the human race in buying a plain looking mp3 player that sounded more like a radio. True, at times i felt like i had made a wrong choice in purchasing the Hi-MD player, but its sound quality never ceased to amaze me everytime i plug it in. I also bought a sony in-ear phone for 80 bucks, which sounded more like a 2.1 subwoofer system rather than just a earphone. Its bass is so nice that i thought i am listening to those big tower speakers. It is that good. The only problem with it was a build issue which caused the rubber cable to sort of melt after a few months of usage. Although i'm sure i won't be buying this earphone again, it sound quality is still the best i've heard so far. I also own an Audio Technica Clip-on phone. Audio Technica was a manufacturer for professional audio devices, but had recently invaded the consumer market with its family of extremely clear earphones with weak bass. Even the design of Creative's current earphone is copied from Audio Technica. Better still, do a search for Creative's and Audio-Technica's logo on the net. You will discover that the letter "A" in Creative's logo looks extremely similar to Audio-Technica's logo. Creative is indeed anything but creative. Although my audio technica phone does not sound as "dynamic" as that of sony's, the clarity of the music makes me feel an audio equivant of looking through a perfectly flawless glass. The only setback with this is that i have to use extremely high quality music, or it will sound sucky on my earphone. ha. I've seen some guy using an audio phile headphone (those extremely big type which is suppose to produce very accurate sound) on a lowy mp3 player. I was laughing secretly in my heart, wondering how much artifacts (distortion in the music brought about by compression) he was hearing. Artifacts exists as long as you are not listening to your Audio CD. Formats like mp3, ogg, wma and atrac3plus contains lots of artifacts and i've train my ear to hear them. While most people are happy with a bitrate of 128kbps, i need at least 256kbps or 352kbps before i'll stop noticing the artifacts and start enjoying the audio. Yes, my ears are that sensitive. Of course, that is only true when using sensitive equipments. Using an iPod and its signature white earbuds, artifacts won't really be heard. This is because the earbuds and iPod are unable to produce sound accurately. Is this a good thing? No. Not being able to produce sound accurately means you are listening to more junk than how the song really sound like. Much as i hated creative, creative players sounds alot better than any model of iPod.
I also got my first real girlfriend this year, and hope that this relationship not only lasted into the 2006, but also last till the day when I've fulfilled my purpose in life and gladfully accept the return to mother nature, with molecules on my body recycled by nature's working to be put into much better use.

Poh wei gave me an idea yesterday. Perhaps i should write down a set of new year resolution which i would stick to for the rest of this year? On a second thought, no. Partly because i was too lazy to do so, and partly because i've yet to experience a year which i going to be drastically different from the previous (no more senseless studying, gigantic workload and stuffs) and hence i really don't consider 2006 a new year. It's just a slight change in the seris of number i write in the top right hand corner of my worksheets. Since its not a new year, why is there a need for a new year's resolution?

A lack of new year resolution may leave me without a guide on how to surive this nasty year, but i've always have had a something that i've always followed in my life.

Be happy. Enjoy life. While it last.

With that large chunk of text, I welcomed the whole new year, the year 2006 to come.

And it came at me with so much force and irregularities that I found myself choking under pressure.

And the first sign of things to come came quite simply. It was in a form of a badly planned timetable.

Poor time table planning has always plagued the entire AJC student population. With long days and irregularly spaced out breaks, one has to have a strong stomach in order to survive. You can enjoy a day with breaks scattered equally throughout the day, or a day with your break and lunch with only 1hr in between. Of course, nothing beats having a break at 8.45am and having nothing to eat till school dismisses at 2.30pm. Recently, in order to cater for the interest for the students, the school shorten all periods to half an hour, instead of 45minutes. This is a great news, if not for the fact that all lessons now occupies at least 2period slots, making lessons to be one hour. In fact, students cheering over the shorten time table will be interested to discover that our breaks has shortened from 45min to half an hour, the only single period "lesson" we have in a day.

You, my reader, should find it unbelievable than when the "shortening" of each period to 30 minutes was announced, enormous cheer and applause actually spread through the AJ Square when this change was first made known. Lessons now occupies 2 periods (1hour) while breaks remain at 1 period (30minutes). Lessons were lengthened and breaks were shortened. Are AJCians so mug-minded that they simply love having more and more lessons? Or are the students so dumb and the school so smart at deceiving students? I have no freaking idea, except for the fact that such an evil move that threatened my ability to slack was greeted with great enthusiasm from the school population.

A new principal came to AJC, and I looked up upon her with great respect, hoping for great changes and improvements to the school. But, guess her opening words? "Challenge yourself as students of AJC." Damn, I felt very challenged having survived for one year already. So there's another year of challenges ahead? Damn, damn, damn! Those were the thoughts that echoed in my head when the sound wave carrying her very words tapped against my ear gently.

The CCA carnival looms ahead and every details of planning went smoothly behind schedule due to the lack of leadership shown by our leader, Vinoth. There were so many problems and me and Darren worked very hard inorder to savage the situation. The following was an email by Darren sent to everyone after the carnival was over. Try reading in between the lines.

Dear All,
Many thanks to the dedicated people who ran the show and the efforts must be commended despite the unfavorable review. After reading through what was in the report, I must say that improvements must be made especially the issue about gaming policy, though that may be a bold statement for one who was not present at the carnival. The issue of gaming has always been a thorn in our side given strict yet poorly defined school guidelines on the subject, so perhaps we can get much more clarification for this matter. Other than that i guess the other glitches aren't really that serious and can be corrected with sufficient and effective planning. It is in fact a beneficial thing for us that things have gone bad even if that might sound twisted. We have ample lessons to draw from this carnival and there is enough time to rectify them. Perhaps for subsequent club meetings, we can stay behind for a little while to spend constructive time (30 effective minutes) in planning our publicity strategy and drafting of manpower. The alleged part of the council screwing up some of our plans, well, i guess we have to work around it. Take heart everyone, for this is but the first intake when not much is yet set in stone, so let us work together for the second intake and produce better results for our club. Once again, kudos to the club members who put in great effort for the carnival.
Darren

And just one day after Darren sent that email, I received a notification from AJC that I'm among the top 20% of the college. I'm in the Alpha List of AJC. Alpha List in AJC is a kind of group that does nothing but boast your ego and allows teachers to volunteer you for stuffs. This is unlike Alpha List in the top 5 JCs (AJC is ranked 6th) where the students in the Alpha List were regularly bombarded by letters of invitations for scholarships and interviews so much that some actually modified their mail boxes to automatically dump every mails they get into the thrash bin near-by. No. I was kidding on that one.

Anyway, what amazed me was that I slacked for an entire year of 2005, and scored a pathetic score of A for Computing, B for Physics, and O (fail) for both my maths. Strangely, this qualified me as top 20% in AJC. This led me to seriously wonder what those self-proclaimed muggers are doing. Is doing each tutorial twice not enough for them? (Just for the record I don't do tutorials.)

An interesting aspect of AJC also showed itself during about that time, and that was SDL (Self Directed Learning).

In line with the "Teach less, learn more" slogan that MOE has recently adapted in place of the long forgotten and silently abandoned "Thinking schools, learning nation" that had disappeared into the dark abyss over the years, ABC Junior College has embraced the idea of SDL with so much enthusiasm that everything the teachers refused to teach was classified as SDL. My previous experiences with the concept of SDL were good ones, but ABC Junior College just has to come along and screw that novel idea up completely. SDL were conducted in CHS, but teachers would still go through homework of SDL topics and clarify any of your doubts, schools like RGS allocated one whole week where student stay at home and do their own learning at home through online resources given by the school. ABC Junior College has none of this. When asked anything about "Power Series", our latest SDL topic, teachers would say that this is SDL and we are suppose to find out the answer to the question we post to the teacher ourselves. Teacher's didn't even go through the tutorial, and tutorial for the next topic was due on the eve of the Power Series test. Is this just an innocent SDL being conducted, or irresponsibility on the teachers' part? What a wonderful way to mess up the students, and turning holistic education into holy shit education, directly destroying MOE's attempt to help and nuture students.

While schools like RJC have time table that ends early everyday so that students can go home and study at their own pace, we were forced to do SDL with practically no time to do so. The GP department asks us to read newspapers everyday, but properly reading a newspaper would take around an hour, and that lenght of time is a luxury we couldn't afford. Basically the school just took up most of day and the amount of rubbish we had to do will take us well into the night. Everyday we have to attend school until in the evening, leaving us with only 2~5 hours to do work before we sleep a miserable 5~7 hours and wake up to go to school again the next day. 2~5 hours is highly insufficient properly read newspaper, do homework for 3 subjects and study for a test in the next day if any. Our new prinicpal had stressed that education is about the student, the school and teachers exist because of students, but the welfare of students, in my opinion, is rather neglected. Especially in ABC Junior College where virtually anyone i asked regretted coming to.

In the above, ABC Junior College refers to Anderson Junior College.

I find it strange that AJC's teaching model mainly teaching students the fact that they can teach themselves. Also, lectures and tutorials sessions were so badly conducted in AJC. At the beginning of each topic, lecturers would often take their own sweet time going through simple retarded stuffs (Guys, if you want to know what is 5 times 5, you can press 5, then X, then 5, then = on your calculator) about that topic. And when it was time to go on to harder stuffs about those topics, lecturers ran out of time and just rush through (you see this? Once you see this do this and this. Don't ask me why! I no time to explain. Later ask your own classmate or borrow the textbook from library to read) the rest of the more complex stuffs with perfect disregard as to whether anyone learnt anything or not.

It was just only the first month of the year, but I was already so disillusioned with the monotony and bad learning environment, coupled with the society's blind pursue of academic excellence, that I wrote the following prose.

The train left a station specially designed for it and continued on its never ending cycle of wearing out its wheels by running at high speed. It sped past sceneries without bothering to give its occupants so much as a look at it, making its crystal clear windows redundant and something not to peer out off. Any attempt to peer out of it will only make anyone stupid enough to do it even more dizzy.

Instead, be wiser. The same scenery rush past you twice everyday, once towards you and once away from you. There is no point watching it as it pant and wheeze past, while you sit there comfortably listening to your iPod, which you have recently purchase due to its popularity by being the most wanted product in the market and also its easy availability in the second hand market. In fact everything is so peaceful around you that you hardly notice that you are the one moving, not the trees and the buildings. Of course, the pretty girl sitting opposite you is worth a look, but it won't be much help if you are also a girl. Anyway, you started to get uninterested in anything, and you yawned.

A particular effect happened. Since yawning is contagious, the person sitting or standing next to you yawn as well, causing the person sitting or standing next to the person sitting or standing next to you yawn as well. Congratulations! You have successfully triggered a "yawning" wave down the length of the mrt train. Feeling a pang of guilt in triggering this chain effect, you begin to take a closer look at those around you. Most have thick eye bags, many with eyes that are living tributes to the bamboo eating animals that World Wildlife Foundation is trying very hard to save. Most of those people around you also appear to be sleeping, unless they are standing. Closed eyes, shaggy eyes, red eyes, sad eyes, depressed eyes, all kinds of eyes around you. Certainly much more than the variety of fish in a supermarket. You begin to wonder if a nation where everyone on an MRT train look overworked and sleepy is a healthy one. Then your brain wonder off into dreamland where you connect up with those on the same train as you, exploring fantasy worlds and whispering unknown secrets in your sleep.

You awoke with a jolt. Not again. That irritating lady over the speakers had just woke you. Time to alight and get on to school, where fun and enjoyment which are strictly reserved for everyone other than the students starts. Any thought about the ills of the society and how to improve it got buried under a list of maths homework to be done and physics test to study for. Your life is rendered completely meaningless. But fret not. As you look around you, you discovered that you have something in common with the sleepy heads and muggers around you. You slowly become one of them.

Then, 1 week later, I wrote a blog entry that practically exposed the scandalest nature of AJC, and Sexuality Workshops conducted in schools all over Singapore. It was regarding a 4 hour Sexuality Talk Workshop conducted in AJC that was obvious religious in nature, preaching students with different religious background with 1 set of catholic believes and teaching, while AJC tries its best to cover up. Read about it here.

My blog was quoted without my knowledge in the newspaper, and it caused some negative backlash towards the ProLife group which conducted the workshop, and also AJC which in an earlier interview with Channel News Asia actually said that sex talk in AJC was about "touching the values of students".

In an email exchange between me and the Vice Principal of AJC, she said:

The public will still focus on the
college and question the college why was this vendor chosen as if we are
not able to make a good decision and have done something wrong to our
students (because you all don't benefit from the programme) . They did not
question other JCs but unfortunately AJC became the centre of focus.

and also

Remember the Sexuality Education issues , even if more than
90% of our students found the session useful and they have no issues, but
because of the complaints that was posted on the blog (I believe you have
contributed to the blog), it has aroused so much publicity on the presss
with the public giving their comments and questioning the college. It was
also mentioned by the MOE officials during meetings etc. It has created
quite a negative impact on the college and the school leaders. Ms Leong
has already shared with you all so please don't under-estimate the negative
impact your blog could create. We can focus our energy and spend time on
more meaningful things than to answer to the press.

I've bolded 3 lines above. The first line seemed to imply that her opinion of the matter was that AJC "suay suay" kana this problem, while other colleges were able to "get away" with it.

I also suspect that the feedback they gathered was so because the non-secular nature of the talk was never mentioned, and many AJCians walked away thinking that the workshop is "right" and that is how things are, without knowing that what they had attended was actually preaching of catholic believes. (Catholic students would have notice it no doubt, but this session is of course useful to them!) I myself also notice that the talk was religious only with hindsight (realize it on my way home on the MRT), while the feedback form was given right after the talk. How many AJCians will notice something wrong with that talk? The talk was very well conducted and neatly packaged. The problem is with the religious content. The real question that should be asked is the reliability of the talk, not the usefulness of it.

Finally, the last bolded statement was very interesting. This is because AJC had previously talked to the press about how good their Sexuality education programmes are, and now the skeleton in the closet surfaced, VP Tay wanted to just hide from the press and focus the energy somewhere else.

I think this entry must be one of the longest I've written so far. Shall stop now. Stay tuned for part 2. So far this entry only talked about the first month in 2006. And so much had happened.

Also, grammar and spelling had been dutiful ignored in this blog entry (the same also applies for all my blog entries actually) to allow me to blog faster and think more.

Christmas Present: Picoo-Z

2006-12-20T22:40:00.000+08:00

My first Christmas present this year came in the form of a 40 dollar voucher from a dear blog reader for me to get Picoo-Z, the cheap R/C helicopter of my dream.

After girlfriend's job today, we went over to Taka to take a look at the Picoos. I wanted to get a blue model, but was disappointed to discover that all the models available are yellow! But neverthless, I bought 1 after careful looking (some had slight imperfection on the remote or the helicopter).

Once I reached home, I literally ripped the box open to have a closer look at the small gem.

Can't resist it any longer, I loaded up the remote control with 6 AAs lying around the house and started charging. Charging takes around 20 minute. So I had a long wait.

The first flight was a disaster. It kept spining on the spot and was very hard to steer and control. I was impossible to make it fly forward. It lasted about 5 minutes before the battery gave up. Following the advise on forums, in order to prolong to battery life (get more flight time), I ran it the heli till the auto battery cut-off mechanism cuts in, and switch off the heli automatically to prevent me from completely draining the battery (and causing harm to the battery.)

Then I let it sit on the sofa for 15 minutes before I begin charging again. Indeed, the second flight time was slightly longer.

Also, I added tapes to the nose of the helicopter as shown below.

It was done to "catch" some of the downward wind due to the main rotors, thus pushing the front of the helicopter downwards, making it tilt at an angle automatically. Titling at the angle allows the helicopter to direct some of the downthrust backwards, allowing it to fly forward. (Learnt about forces acting on an helicopter during a Physics of Flight workshop conducted at Hwa Chong Insitution when I was in Chinese High.)

Now I had a heli that constantly flies forward slowly after take off, making it possible to carefully steer the thing around my smallish bedroom, landing it anywhere I want. Careful and gentle adjustments to the throttle is key.

Now charging it for the third flight.

I know I have thanked you many times, but still, thank you, the particular blog reader for such a wonderful Christmas present!

Dr Chee's Prison Stay

2006-12-20T13:28:00.000+08:00

In response to the Ministry of Home Affair’s (MHA) statement (ST, 2 Dec 2006), allow me to state what really took place during my recent imprisonment at the Queenstown Remand Prison from 23 Nov-16 Dec 2006.
When I consumed my meals on the first two days of my jail term, I experienced acute nausea, dizziness and extreme distortion of my auditory senses. Sounds like the jangling of keys or my cell-mates urinating in the latrine became unbearably loud.
When I subsequently skipped a couple of meals, these symptoms did not occur. When I resumed eating, the negative effects re-appeared. This made me rather suspicious and nervous.
Food tray marked
My suspicion was heightened when I noticed that my food tray was marked with the letter ‘S’. Those of my two other cell-mates were not so marked. I then compared the contents of my rations with theirs and found that the servings were similar.
I subsequently found out from my wife that when she asked a Mr Chandra Kumar, who would only identify himself as a “prison officer” from the MHA, he categorically denied that prisoners’ food trays were marked.
I then decided to stop eating whereupon the symptoms I described earlier went away. I told the prison authorities, including the doctor, about the matter and said that I wanted to see my wife.
After a few days without my eating, the doctor said that he wanted to run some tests to check on my health. I consented to giving him urine samples but indicated that I did not want any invasive procedures to be conducted, including extracting blood samples.
Given what I had just experienced, I did not want the prison authorities inserting anything into me such as pricking my finger for blood-sugar tests, taking blood samples, or putting me on intravenous drips.
I repeated that I wanted to see my wife first (to seek independent opinion) before I gave consent to such invasive procedures, however minor they were. Given the circumstances, I had to be extra cautious.
I, however, continued to give urine specimens and allowed my blood pressure to be monitored.
The prison authorities remained intransigent for an entire week until Sunday, 3 Dec when the doctor decided to admit me to Changi General Hospital (CGH) because my blood pressure had begun to fall and traces of blood continued to be present in my urine.
The following morning on 4 Dec, I again indicated to the doctors at CGH that given the situation, I wanted to see my wife first before I agreed to any invasive procedure to be done. But I did not object to X-rays and CT-scans being conducted on me.
When the authorities finally allowed my wife and sister, Chee Siok Chin, to visit me at CGH that morning, I felt more at ease and subsequently consumed the hospital food and allowed my blood to be drawn for tests.
I was informed that all the tests and consultations showed that there was nothing inherently wrong with me that caused me to refuse to eat the prison food or to experience the symptoms when I ate it. Which brings me back to the question: What caused my symptoms when I first ate the prison food?
Sleep deprivation tactics?
When I was subsequently discharged and transferred back to prison on Thursday, 7 Dec, it was already dinner time. When the food trays were brought in, I was told to choose one out of the three (the marking was no longer there).
I did not want to eat the dinner partly because I had an aversion to the food and partly because I had had a late meal at the hospital just before I was brought back to prison.
The prison official in charge gave me five minutes to start eating failing which my family visit, yard time, and consultations with my lawyer would be canceled. When I did not comply, I was taken back to my cell.
The books that I had taken with me to the hospital and brought back were then taken from me. When I asked for them, I was told that they were undergoing “censoring”. I told the officials that they were the same books I had with me since the first day of my imprisonment and asked why they were being censored only now. I received no explanation. The books were only gradually returned to me the following day.
That night the light in my cell was left on the entire night and morning which made sleep impossible. This went on for the remaining nine days of my imprisonment. I told the prison doctor and psychiatrist that the refusal to turn off the lights at night was affecting my ability to rest and sleep and this, in turn, affected my health adding to my inability to eat during the day. Obviously, this fell on deaf ears.
I nevertheless tried to eat as much as possible, usually managing a few mouthfuls, just so that I would not be accused of deliberately refusing to eat. Because of the sleep deprivation, I was not able to gain back the weight I had lost (about 5 kg) when I refused to eat the food during the first week of my incarceration.
Lastly, my lawyer, my family members and I have repeatedly asked for a complete set of my medical test results to be given to us. To date, after more than a week, we still have not received it.
Given what I have just revealed, it is imperative that the Government answer the following questions:
1. Why was my food tray marked ‘S’ when others’ were not?
2. Why were my books taken away from me when I returned to the prison from the hospital?
3. Why was the light in my cell left on throughout the night thus depriving me of sleep?

Should we believe him or not?

There are a few possible scenarios.

1) Someone really want Chee to look like a nut, making him suspicious of prison food etc, by doing unbelievable things such as making the S mark, and giving mild amount of illegal drugs. Once Chee make a fuss about all these, the media then can make use of this to project Chee as a lunatic, like all other news articles about him. Medical report may be withheld to hide the fact that Chee was given drugs. In this case Chee had stupidly fallen into the trap.

2) Chee is really mad, and is making a mountain out of mole hill. Seriously, you are a prisoner, you are not really entitled to much welfare. Who cares if you can sleep well or not! You should stay awake and reflect on your sins (speaking in public places). Sleep is too good for you! In this case Chee is really just a nutcase.

3) Someone want to get rid of Chee. But Chee is too clever and spotted all the tell tale signs.

In any case, it ultimates reflects badly upon Chee in whatever fuss he kicked up. This is because channel 8 is not SDP video podcast, and The Straits Times is not SDP Times. Whatever that means.

If I'm Chee I'll become an actor or a variety show host so that I can public speak all I want. Hehe.

Blade Dancer: Lineage of Light

2006-12-19T22:46:00.000+08:00

This is one of the best (although somewhat confusing at times that I had to refer to online walkthrough to know where to go next) game on my PSP that I've played. Its a role-playing-game.

The battle system rocks. The crafting system rocks. The graphics rocks. But, because it is only possible to control character movement via the analogue plate on the PSP, my thumb cramps up badly as if on reflex everytime I pick up my PSP.

Now all my characters are at level 27. The game should complete when I am around 50+ levels, meaning there are around 2/5 of the game left to play.

Uh hoo! After that will be another round of trying to sell my PSP UMD, and then buying a new second hand one.

Early Christmas Present

2006-12-19T22:42:00.000+08:00

After a long afternoon of wait, finally got the shopping vouchers at Taka from my fellow blog reader!

The courier guy arrived holding a dripping wet umbrella, with a slightly damp huge envelope, and in it lies a small Taka bag, in which lies a small gift envelope, where I finally discover the two $20 vouchers. Yeah!

Will be using it to get PicooZ at the Toy Fair there tomorrow during my girlfriend's lunch break (she work at orchard). Will possibly get blue color, and going to do some slide modding to its nose to get it fly forward faster as recommended on the RC forum.

Whipee!

Looking forward to hours of indoor fun!

Excitement

2006-12-18T22:57:00.000+08:00

Oh, guess my excitement when i received the following email:

Hi Weikiat
I am just someone enjoy reading your blog. If you don't mind, may I send you shopping voucher for your Picoo-Z as a X'mas present.
Warmest regards
XX
P.S. Please give me your postal address so that I could courier it to you if you do not mind.

Yeah! Finally get to own my own Picoo-Z soon. Had always been interested in miniature RCs, bought Bit Char-G (very small r/c cars), Sliverlit Twin-X (small cheap r/c plane) and now am getting a helicopter!

Whee!

PicooZ and Twin-X are both made by Silverit, and i suspect contain very similar electronics. Both retail for the same price.

My Twin-X is just too much of a hassle to fly. My HDB house is too small, and when I flew it outdoor, its light body and the typical wind blew the plane all over the place, making steering obsolete. It almost crash onto the LRT track and also got stuck on a small tree (I spent half an hour to shake it down, almost in desperation).

Now a generous reader is giving me a PicooZ for Christmas! Have done tonnes of research, and it is really suitable for indoor flight (provided the fan is not on) and being a helicopter, you don't really need alot of room to fly it in.

Went over to http://www.rcgroups.com/forums to do some research on my christmas present, and discovered that it is as rare as gem in countries like the USA because of very high demand. It retail for USD30 to 50 there too! Us Singaporeans are getting a wonderful bargain at $39.90 and stock are plentiful!

Also, Alex on that forum claims to be the guy who actually designed PicooZ. While I'm not sure about that, he certainly did make lots of tutorials teaching people how to improve the performance of their helis. Shall try them out when I get mine.

Let me end of this post by thanking the person (who declined to be named) for her generosity. All can look forward to photos of my PicooZ when I do get it!

Alternative Reality Game House (ARGH)

2006-12-18T10:43:00.000+08:00

Had an online meeting yesterday with the rest of the group for this project under iFoundries mentorship and government funding.

The nature of ARGs allow me to put my puzzle creating experience (not skills) gained by putting my heart and soul in The Wicked into good use.

We are now looking at launching a pilot project, and am looking for partial/full sponsors for this new form of media

I cannot talk too much about this project or what ARGH will be doing here, as it is a rather new way of doing things in Singapore.

However, anyone interested to know the details, can email Hong Jun at hongjun.wang (gmail).

Finally, my girlfriend has a day off today and I'm going out with her.

But!

(Stares stupidly at the $6 left in my drawer.)

Oh yeah, I put up the Original PSP Games for sale at yahoo auction under my aunt's account liao. It is here. Can't seem to locate the page for the other game I put up though. Will check again.

Ok, thats it for today.

Digital Age

2006-12-16T00:47:00.000+08:00

The Digital Age began when digital computers and related technologies were developed, in the second-half of the 20th Century.

The present age is variously known as the Digital Age, the Wireless Age and the Information Age.

The Digital Age is such a powerful phrase that inherits so many meanings and implications for mankind, that I've decided to make a song about it.

Inspired by Mr Brown's Harmless Podcast, and techno piece Smoke Machine, I present:

Digital Age

Update

2006-12-15T21:44:00.000+08:00

Installing Diablo 2 LOD now, a 5 year old game to play with my few remaining friends who had not yet entered the process of turning into "men". My Gunz mate was enlisted at 10am today, so no more late night gaming for me anymore.

Getting a new PSP RPG tml, and waiting for my aunt to return to Singapore tml to use her Yahoo Auction account to sell one of my psp game.

Money has blurry existence nowadays, and I couldn't even afford Picoo-Z (R/C helicopter mentioned on Mr Brown's blog one day after I saw it at Suntec and felt like buying it). Can someone please donate it to me? I can't afford the $39.90.

Currently no job and no pocket money, but just received an email from Chinese High the other day about going back to teach basic html. Told the teacher that I will be enlisted in March, so she had to go and check with another person to see if they can use me.

Also there's a project doing alternate reality game under iFoundries under government funding, which may or may not happen. All is still in the initial considering phase.

Watching Naruto (super dragging to keep me occupied), and playing Ridge Racer, Burnout Legends, all on my PSP.

Played with Audacity, an opensource sound editor just now and had fun creating a new song similar to Mr Brown's Harmless Podcast based on LHL speech. Will upload soon.

My girlfriend got a job at Mango, and worked like a horse for 6.50 bucks per hour. Her feet suffered greatly with blisters, bruises and all that due to bad shoe and excessive walking/standing. My heart goes out to her.

Met up with her during her dinner break today. Had a mini arguement but was soon resolved. My girlfriend missed me dearly and pained my heart. I wonder what will happen to her when i go for NS. I don't want her to cry in bed every night, pining for me.

Going to play D2 LOD liao. Sotong, whose enlistment date is a month later than mine, is waiting for me.

Friends gone one by one

2006-12-15T11:43:00.000+08:00

NS had started its enlistment "drive", and it saddened me to see that slowly but surely, my males friends were all starting to disappear from my life.

The number of male contacts online in my MSN Messenger contact list had been dwindling ever since Prom night.

As my enlistment is set in March next year, I am among the last to be enlisted.

The feeling is akin to growing old and seeing my friends pass away around me. I am the last to die, but the feeling of loneliness can only grow and peak on the day when it was my turn to die.

Government's Approach to Blog

2006-12-13T20:08:00.000+08:00

We all know about the cow examples when learning about political systems (capitalism, communism, socialism etc).

Let me apply it on government's stand towards blogging.

I say that all cows sucks, and then try to genetically create my own.

Website

2006-12-11T20:11:00.000+08:00

You look at website 1 and 2. Now tell me if you felt like going the educational institution (or rather, something that tries to be an educational institution) which the websites belongs to.

Contrast with 3.

What does it tell you about school 1 and 2?

Genting Highland Trip

2006-12-11T00:04:00.000+08:00

Back from Genting

2006-12-10T23:44:00.000+08:00

I just came back from Genting. Thanks to Kinghuang and Poh Wei for covering me while my blog went under sttack from a certain ninja.

AJC Prom 2006: Summary

2006-12-10T23:07:00.000+08:00

Since we have an organiser of the AJC DnD 2006 paying respect to my blog, here are some of the issues put in digestible chunks.

1) Organiser claim since my ticket is a resale ticket, therefore I had no rights to chose a seat. BUT, resale of Prom tickets is damn common, just in my class of 17 who went for the Prom there were 2 who bought resale tickets. In my girlfriend's class there were 2 who sold off their ticket too. If people had actually sticked with the seating arrangement that Organiser had planned, there would be > 20 people affected. So tell me this is a miscount on Organiser's part, of people don't give a damn about the Organiser, and hence solving Organiser's own problem.

2) Instead of having so many lucky draws, just have a few and serve out the real prizes. I'm sure it would remove the impression in outsiders' mind (the Hotel employees and the external Band present) that AJC is a cheapskate school. Also, giving people paper fan sounded DAMN sincere. Really.

3) Dress code Retro? Did you went to count how many followed that dress code? It would be nice for a change for people to respect the Organiser, or for the Organiser to actually know how people think and learn how to really organise.

4) External band performance after Prom? How about serving food after the Prom activity ended for next year's AJC DnD? I'm sure it would show even more creativity on AJC's part.

5) Very low ticket cost. AJC's DnD ticket cost is actually one of the lowest among the JCs in Singapore. But of course, while people pay 80 for 9 course meal and a higher class hotel, we paid 60 for 7 course meal and a lower class hotel. Go figure.

6) Maybe we can have something like this for a change?

7) After the initial seating, it is possible to enter the ballroom and join in the fun without any tickets. A few people who sold their tickets suddenly discover that they can make it to Prom, and did just that.

8) Getting our own Rojak band to play 4 songs in an overkill, especially when external band is hired, and our own band is really of a very low standard. Do they know the difference between high and low volume? Or just full blast all the way? Did you see the look on everybody's face when Ecstasy played on and on and on...?

9) This thing is called Dinner and Dance. But excuse me? Where is the dance? Only those by the Dance Society? Hey, so I attended Dinner and Dance, and there's only Dance. Refund me 50% of the ticket! At least go ahead and call it Prom or something. Or learn from HCI, where is is called Enchante.

10) Only 20 people not sitting with their classes? Oh well, count the number of tables containing more than 1 classes. The number is so high, other JC's Prom night must have hide away in disgrace.

Oh well... Forget this entry all together.

AJC Prom 2006 is a success, because it sticked with the plan, no matter how bad the planning was. And that is an achievement to be proud of.

Whee. I'm so proud of AJC.

AJC Prom 2006

2006-12-07T09:14:00.000+08:00

AJC Prom 2006: Part 4

2006-12-07T09:04:00.000+08:00

It was curious how members of AJC aims to give outsiders a bad impression of AJC. The organising community actually hired a live band to play during our Prom, but in the end the band members all squat at the side of the ballroom, playing around with their handphones and looking sulken as they were not called on stage. Instead AJC's own rojak bands took most air time, destroying everyone's eardrum with their bad singing, and inability to vary the loudness of their instrument according to different parts and moods of the pieces. They just went ahead and full blast all the way.

When the Prom ended, the MC suddenly announced that a live band was actually hired for the occasion, and abruptly asked them to play on stage. This was highly stupid, as the band waited for hours, and were summoned to stage all of a sudden. As expected, by the time they started playing their instruments, the following photo shows the amount of audiences they had.

AJC just aptly spent the school funds/students' money again.

After prom, me and some classmates went to Kbox till 6am in the morning. This was the first time I went to Kbox, and the first time I sang any of those songs I sang. So pardon me if I sang badly.

More photos will be up once I collate them from everyone.

AJC Prom 2006: Part 3

2006-12-07T08:56:00.000+08:00

A video was shown, but due to bad positioning of my table which was directly infront of the screen, eveyone in the video looked tall and almightily. And that includes my beloved GP department head, who had a particular preference for this type of GP essays.

The entire PE department also came in and had their last words to, as they could no longer torture with extreme physical training or threaten us by taking up our recess (recess don't happen any more).

Last but not least, the most respectable person in AJC, our principal, appeared and said some words too, although why she did not address us personally when she was present at the Prom was a mystery everyone overlooked. Maybe she was too shy? Maybe she scare someone throw food at her? (There were plenty of food around.)

AJC Prom 2006: Part 2

2006-12-07T08:25:00.000+08:00

When we were done, we took taxi to the hotel.

It is worthly to note that up until the point where it is time to proceed into the actual Prom venue, I had completely forgotten or it had totally slipped my mind that the Prom bears the AJC trademark, and is organised by students and staff of AJC.

What completely shocked me and almost knocked the poor soul out of me was the allocation of seats for the Prom. As this probably the last time for some of the AJCians to meet each other and eat together, seats allocation was important and it was important to get as many classmates siting at the same table as possible. I had thought that the AJC Prom community understand this, as they had given out forms for classes to arrange how they want to sit months prior to the actual Prom.

It saddened me to note that trees cut down for the sole purpose of getting the form printed onto them had sacrificed their life meaninglessly, as it was apparent that seating arrangement that the organisation community asked classes to organise for themselves had been completely and totally ignored. What was left was fixed seating allocation planned so as to maximize the community's creativity in splitting up the same class into as many different tables as possible. For example, there were around 15 from my class who attended the prom, and we were spitted into 4 tables, 2 of which containing only 2 of our classmate.

What was worst was that the community did not anticipate resale of tickets which was a common occurrence during Prom. They fixed each person to each table, and if you bought your ticket from your choir friend who could not make it to the Prom, you had to sit with HIS choir friends. That was exactly what happened to me, causing me to glare angrily at the AJC logo hanging around. While I was rushing around trying to settle this problem imposed by the lack of brains of AJC Prom organising community, some AJC alumni member tried to sell me membership to AJC Alumni. I could have leashed out all kinds of vulgarity at that poor soul selling the membership, but I just ignored him and he fucked off on his own after awhile.

After solving my problem by ignoring the fixed seating arrangement imposed by the organision community, I finally settled down and was able to get on with the Prom.

Food was average, similar to those you can get at hawker centres all over Singapore. But since it was Prom, the price was ten times more than it should be worth.

There was also this lucky draw event, where the other bulk of my critictism regarding the prom lies.

Abacus. China bowl. Portable dustbin. Sun flower. Paper fan. Small paper umbrella. 2 way brush. Battery holder.

What do the items I listed above have in common? The answer is really simple. They are all prizes for the AJC Prom Lucky Draw.

Oh wow, how exciting.

It was even more interesting many of the lucky draw prizes were the same: Laptop bag. These were actually sponsored by Citibank, so that they could conduct some survey after our Prom was over. Giving out laptop bag is meaningless, as laptops are all of different sizes, and it may not fit the laptop of the winner. Worst, only very few AJCians own laptop. The bags are just there for show. A perfectly useless gift that no doubt will be thrown away by the winner as soon as possible.

My favourite personnel in AJC, VP Tay who seemed to be absent for the Prom, sponsored a number of lady's handbags as prizes of the lucky draw. This certainly showed the sexist side of her, to the extend she even find it alright for lady's handbags to be given as prizes to guys. Perhaps it is in her personal mission statement to corrupt male minds, turning people into sissys and gays like December in AJC. Oh, what a scary thought!

Song dedication service was provided, but nobody bothered with it to such an extend that the MC had to walk around personally to force tables to actually dedicate something.

Of course, my more adventurous classmates at one of the table finally did, they dedicate a song "from lag lag to la la", where Lag Lag refers to Chee Jing Hui in my class who lags, and La La refers to Stella from my class, who also happened to be the best dressed girl in my class in my opinion.

AJC Prom 2006: Part 1

2006-12-07T08:11:00.000+08:00

Today was AJC's Prom Night, the first Prom that I attend in my life. I skipped the one in The Chinese High School due to unwillingness to invest on clothes and expansive Prom ticket. However, this time round, I was able to pick up a Prom ticket for $30 due to a rich guy who bought the ticket then refused to go, and a very cheap but still presentable shirt costing only $19.90, and along with much persuasion from my girlfriend, I finally agreed to attend the Prom.

My girlfriend came to my house where we prepared ourselves before going to the Prom. Below is her beautiful dress, which along with the accessories she was wearing, won various positive remarks from my mum, Poh Wei, and Anirudh.

Girls make-up for big events, and my girlfriend is no exception. Look at how she covered my bed with her make-up stuff.

21st Monthsary of Love - Gifts from Dear

2006-12-04T23:05:00.000+08:00

Trading/Selling/Buying Original PSP Games

2006-12-03T23:24:00.000+08:00

Games I'm selling:

Syphone Filter: Dark Mirror

The first portable Syphon Filter is one of a rare breed for the PlayStation Portable--a shooter that offers not only intense stealth and action sequences, but also a control scheme that works.
The Good: Awesome presentation, with a generous amount of voice acting and cutscenes; varied and intense campaign; smooth, well-designed control scheme; lots of cool gadgets and guns; eight-player online multiplayer.

Syphone Filter is one of the best shooting game available on the PSP platform, which was why I bought it=D After completing the game, it is time to spread the joy!

Online Review

Condition: Slide Scratches on cover

Asking Price: $35 (Cash on delivery)

Ridge Racer

Ridge Racer does a fine job of showing off the system's technical prowess while simultaneously providing more of the same smooth gameplay that still holds up after all these years. Fantastic graphics and sound.; nitro boosts add a slight bit of extra depth to the formula.; solid multiplayer features.

Online Review

Condition: Almost brand new (less than 1 month old)

Asking Price: $30 (Cash on delivery)

Games I'm looking for:

Wipeout Pure
Twisted Metal: Head on
Need for Speed Carbon: Own the City
Thrillville
WTF
Gitaroo Man Lives!
MTX MotorTrax
Worms Open Warfare
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth

I'm keen on doing a one to one trade with any of these games, or buying them second hand at $35 each.

Also, those who own any of the GTA title, I'm willing to trade the above two games for 1 GTA game.

Interested? Please drop a comment or email me.

JC Life Part 6: My Struggle

2006-12-03T13:34:00.000+08:00

One of the most impactful events that happened to me right after the first three months of illusion was the presidential election for President of cXtreme. I was keen keen to excel in Anderson Junior College, and was convinced that I can bring to club to greater heights. I took out my mighty pen and paper, and analyzed the current situation of cXtreme and came out with various solutions for them. A light hearted approach to tackling many of cXtreme's inherent problems is the key to winning this election, and bringing the club to greater heights. Although I lack the leadership and experience, I had lots of ideas and goals for what the club should achieve. I was even prepared to stand in as a Vice President to have a say in club policies, even when I know I may not be able to lead the club properly as a President due to my inexperience.

Then I discovered something dark cooking underneath. Something that was born a year ago, when the presidential election for my senior's batch was held. Something that only ended along with the departure of my batch from club politics.

That "something dark" was called power struggle.

From what I gathered, W, the President of cXtreme when I entered, held no power and had little respect from the other members of the cXtreme ex-co. He was only elected President as the strongest contender for that position, (I shall call him V), was late for the election. V managed to assume the position Vice President, and a terrible power struggle followed between V and W, with the mass of the ex-co siding with V. V became very influential, gaining the trust of everyone including that of Mr Hong, the teacher-in-charge.

Enter my batch. Among those running for the President are me, Darren Tay, Shankar, and Vinoth. Shankar and me came under the care of W, who promised to protect the election from being a Kangaroo one, after hearing that V and Vinoth friends, and V had every intention of putting Vinoth as the President, by hook or by crook.

A surprise interview for the Presidential candidates took place, and according to W, it was pretty obvious that Vinoth was well prepared for the surprised interview. So well prepared that the interview did not seem to be a surprise for him at all.

V was in charge of bringing candidates to the interview room, and I fell right into his trap. After he brought me into the interview room, where all the panelist were V's supporters other than W, he told everyone that I seem to be in a bad mood, and was unwilling to come for this interview. I was marked down instantly. Then he posted me a question, "What should you do if two members of the club do not see eye to eye with each other?" My answer was that I can try my best to help them, to find out what their problems were, but if their problem is not within my ability to solve, and trying to help them hinders the progress and the functioning of the club, I am going to let them be. It sounded like a perfectly reasonable answer to me. It is not 100% possible that such a problem can be solved. And V attacked. "So you meant that if two people in the club argue, you will let them be?" I stupidly nodded, thinking that he was refering to the second part of my answer. But no. He misinterpreted my response that I will let them be only when the problem is not within my ability to solve, and convince everyone that what I was trying to say was that I'll just fuck care those two pseudo problematic people in the club. V got me again.

Next came the surprise speech. As I had already prepared a throughout analysis of what needs to be done for the club, I volunteered myself as the first speaker, sprinkled light jokes throughout my speech, and generated thunderous applause when I finished. Other candidates that made their speech after me merely repeats my point blindly, as if they had not given any thought to what they would do if they were the President.

Voting commenced, and the result tallied was not released to the members of the club at all. However, according to W who had accessed to the count, I won the election by landslide. I had 16 votes. Vinoth 6 and Darren Tay 9. By rights I should be the President, and Darren Tay should be the Vice President. But with V around, shifty convincing Mr Hong that I had bad attitude (as seen during the interview), and that Vinoth was highly recommended because he had prior leadership experiences, Vinoth won the election and became the President instead. Me and Darren became the two Vice Presidents.

I never cast my suspicion on Shankar until days before writing this article.

There was an upcoming competition soon after the election, and it was called iHPC quest. Anderson Junior College sent two teams, one consisting of V and his friends, and the other consisting of W, me and Shankar.

My team lost, terribly, despite the fact that we were one of those few teams who managed to get a working program. V's team won best presentation award, and each team member won a Play Station Portable each. They did not manage to code out any working program, despite the fact that it was a programming competition.

Why did my team lose? Two factors that pointed down to one source. Shankar. During the presentation, despite the fact that we had allocated properly which section of the presentation was to be done by which presenter, Shankar went ahead, and presented the entire presentation, rattling on and on words that seemed to float out of mid air, and with zero reference to the slides we prepared, since he was talking outside what he was supposed to say. And for the written report that had to be submitted, Shankar's section was written like a four year old english composition.

Why did we lose? It seemed clear enough. Shankar.

Back to cXtreme, after Vinoth was elected, he did not perform his duty and exercise his responsibilities as a president. He would often not prepare for any special events, such as open house and orientation, and then claim credit, speaking as if he was the one who planned everything (It was always me and sometimes Darren who planned those things. Members with eyes and brains all know that.) when Mr Hong was around. He would also be absent from club session. However, whenever Mr Hong finished his staff meeting and came to visit the club, he would magically appear. It was later observed that Shankar would sneak out and make a phone call whenever Mr Hong came to the club, after which Vinoth would magically appear.

I had to fight back against the unfairness of it all. Together with the rest the ex-co with eyes to see, we confronted Mr Hong, and told him about all the evil sins of Vinoth. It was a good thing that Mr Hong finally acknowledged the problem and Vinoth went on to become one the few CCA President who did not win Anderson Junior College CCA Contribution Merit Award. I won it for him. I won the struggle.

But, I lost to Shankar, who led this year's iHPC quest team, and managed to clinch second (or is it third?) place for the competition, swifting winning Distinctive Contribution Award for himself. I started to wonder, why did his performance at the competition contrasted so drastically with that of last year's?

Because he was deliberately screwing my team up last year.

I won the struggle against Vinoth, but lost against Shankar, the traitor.

0205 Chalet 2006: Sights and Sounds

2006-11-29T21:09:00.000+08:00

Today marks the end of 0205 Chalet 2006. By having fun halo-ing, drinking (that sounded bad, doesn't it?), eating and sleeping together for the past 2 days, 0205 had bonded even tighter together!

1) Collection of 157 photos [ View with captions | Download All ]

2) Chalet 2006 photos [ View with captions | Download All ]

3) Video of Gordon putting out the BBQ fire [ View ]

4) Video of us going wild [ View ]

5) Video of AJC J2 Farewell 2006 [ View ]

0205 Chalet 2006: Vomit Tiger

2006-11-29T15:29:00.000+08:00

Tried drinking Tiger Beer last night. Felt like vomiting it out every sip, but I persevered and drank 1/4 of a can. Then I went a bit wild when playing cards, and got awed by stars and physics analysis at Changi Village. James drank a can and turned red in the face literally. His eyes became bloodshot and I almost thought he was turning into either a rabbit or a mutant. Luckily, he turned back into good old James 2 hours later.

Jobfactory ask me watch movie again!

2006-11-29T15:27:00.001+08:00

Crazy marketing revenue generating and quality compromising guys over at the barely successful Jobsfactory portal BrightSparks sent me the third email to invite me to go to watch Eragon, and once again insulted me by calling me a mugger.

My reply to their email?

enuff of of this shit?

Reply from BrightSparks:
"dershing here from BrightSparks. the emailer above is a free movie given by BrightSparks. We sent it twice to JC students who opted in for emailer and who registered with us on their own choice. In total, 200+ JC students attended the session. I am sorry that the email bothered you, but you could have logged in anytime to change your email subscription options or could have emailed us at any time to delete your account.

As for the accusation of being barely successful and quality compromising, BrightSparks is used by over 5000 top JC students and hundreds find scholarships through us. There is very little ground to accuse us of being quality compromising. If you have any questions, feel free to email me. Thanks!

0205 Chalet 2006: Crazy Taxi!

2006-11-29T15:00:00.000+08:00

When to Changi Village to witness whose who had rebelled against nature and to glaze the beautiful stars blinking in the cloudless sky at around 1am. When we want to go back to the chalet at 3am, we splitted ourselves into small groups and took taxi back.

A taxi arrived at the opposite road, following path indicated by the red arrow, stopping at all the points indicated by the blue circles where there are people flagging for taxi. My position was at the blue circle with an inner yellow circle. The destination for people waiting at each of the spots were written in green. This information was later gathered from the taxi driver during our journey, after he rejected 2 groups of people going to the same destination as us, after we begged and argued with him. How come taxi drivers chose their customers like a patrons at a buffet?

We hoped on his taxi, and although had the lowest fee ($7.35 when it was $4.90 during off-peak hours) among my friends who had taxi drivers crawling at 60kmh on an empty road, my taxi driver reminded me of the game I played, Crazy Taxi. After properly fastening my seatbelt, he shot off at an average of 110kmh throughout the entire journey, dropping only to 90kmh for turns and 80kmh when a police patrol car was spotted. Because of the high speed and inertia when changing direction, my seatbelt locked a few times to prevent me from hitting my head against the window. There was also this hump on the road which escaped his detection, and rocketing at 110kmh over a hump gave me the general impression that the taxi had lost all its wheel for a fraction of a second.

Luckily, we arrived safely at Downtown East, and the Crazy Taxi shot off into the night.

chalet

2006-11-27T11:08:00.000+08:00

gg chalet for nxt few days will blog on my psp if got wifi. now at
geylang lib meeting wif ang moh.

Moving Pictures Makes Me Cry

2006-11-24T21:10:00.000+08:00

Super touching...

Games I'm getting for PSP

2006-11-22T11:14:00.000+08:00

Burnout Legend (supposedly the BEST racing game on PSP)
Ridge Racer (getting it cheap)
Syphon Filter (best FPS on PSP, at least, I think until call of duty comes out)

JC Life Part 5: Three Months of Illusion

2006-11-21T11:40:00.000+08:00

Orientation ended, and we were being separated from our orientation friends with whom we had bonded closely over a period of 5 days. Unlike most other Junior Colleges that re-shuffle your orientation group so that you will be able to bond with your classmates after the first few days of orientation, Anderson Junior College decided to just let us bond closely with our orientation mate, then separate us terribly over the first week end.

Then, bonding need to start all over again, with your real classmates.

Being rather ambitious and due to my top notched maths results in The Chinese High School, my subject of choice were Further Maths, Maths, Physics and Computing. Lessons during the first three months were fun.

During Further Maths tutorials, I had fun copying homework from a particular girl, Chan Si Hui in my class, who would later go on to become my first and only girlfriend. During Further Maths lectures, I had fun sleeping to the droning voice of the lecturer, Mr Andy Quek.

Physics was wonderful. Lectures made by most of the lecturers really boasted your confidence that your physics are better than them. Tutorial by Mr Patrick Lim, one of the most remarkable teacher with unique personality was exciting and never boring.

Computing was a case of super poor planning on Anderson Junior College's part. There was no cure difference between lectures and tutorials, and there were three teachers looking after seven Computing students!

General Paper was the best of all. Every General Paper session were literally movie watching sessions. I love it most.

What I found out later was that the general order passed down from the top of the Anderson Junior College to the teachers was that, due to the high turnover rate (estimated 50% of students in Anderson Junior College for the first three months will leave), teachers were not to seriously impart any form of knowledge to the students. The justification for this was "No point spending time and resources on students who will leave Anderson after the first three months".

I joined cXtreme, a dying Computer Club with zero female member, with the intention of bringing the CCA to new heights by running for its presidential election. I found it amazing that computer related skills was one the lousiest in EC3, The Chinese High School's computer interest club, but I became the top in Anderson Junior College. The lack in standard motivated me to improve the CCA.

All was going on well in Anderson Junior College, with nothing to hate and nothing to love about it. So when my Olevel results was released, and discovering that I lack 1 point to get into Hwa Chong Insitution, I stupidly wrote down Anderson Junior College as my college of choice, and I am officially reposted to Anderson Junior College, for the one year and seven months that followed.

And that very gesture of pressing the submit button on my computer screen, signified the end of illusion put into place carefully by Anderson Junior College.

Photo Essay: Play Station Portable

2006-11-20T12:24:00.000+08:00

I bought a PSP recently for my multimedia needs on the go. Although during music playback, the sound quality stinks compared to my DH10P, PSP is still feature packed, and well worth the $230 I spent on it.

Some (badly taken) photos here.

JC Life Part 4: The Orientation

2006-11-19T19:46:00.000+08:00

In the lengthy three hours talk by various self proclaimed person of importance within the school, four poor students had their belonging suffered the diving fate, obeying Newton's Law of gravity and falling onto the floor with relative ease and grace, due to the poor design of the side tables in the auditorium. Because there was insufficient siting capacity, many who had to sit on the stairs complained of stiff and aching legs when it was time to get up. A handful of guys complained of nose bleed due to excessive upskirts. Nah, only kidding.

Due to the inability on the school's part to determine the proper temperature to maintain in the auditorium, tonnes of people were taking "toilet breaks" to thaw themselves from the cold. I remembered my Orientation Group Leader telling me that the auditorium is infamous for freezing people to death. Nobody died in that three hours, but it must be pure luck.

We proceed to some other venues, where ice-breaking games were played. A fitting name, because the games thawed us from the cold. Unlike many muggers whose formula to good O Level results involves senseless memorising of data, I did fairly badly during the introduction session when we were supposed to remember everyone's name in a pretty short period of time. I can only remember things that make sense. Calling a personwho looks like a pile of shit "Ru Hua" (like flower) doesn't make much sense, does it?

We had a first taste of Anderson Junior College canteen food after we had thawed. Lunch for that day was chicken rice and consisted of an additional otah. I wanted to complain about the lack of balanced diet, but in order to not behave like some weirdo, I decided to pass.

Lots of people commented that I ate slow for a guy. Almost all the girls stopped eating before me. However, the way I see it, the reasons are simple:

1) Food is terrible, and they didn't finish eating all of it.

2) Food was so bad, I find it hard to consume, so I ate slowly.

3) My first time eating in front of girls.

4) The food is too little, eat too fast, I'll finish it too quickly and have nothing to do.

Orientation T-shirts were given out, and we were asked to change into them. Half an hour later, some weird skit started on the stage unannounced. Good effort though. Good effort by the mother of the particular good looking girl on stage.

After the short meaningless skit of which understanding slipped me, we were told to move off to the multi-purpose hall, where we began to practise cheer. The complete lyrics of the cheer:

fight to win, win to fight.
All the rest can go fly kite.
Fly kite
Fly kite
Fly kite
Fly kite
Fly kite
Fly kite
Fly kite
Fly kite

I felt like making a kite on the spot and flying it.

Next we have this game tour, during which we were supposed to run around the school like mad dogs, trying to familarise ourselves with the school facilities.

After much running about, the ingenious planning for the orientation commands us to play Ice-Breaking games again, so we started smashing ice into bits.

Along other boring activities, the day ended with us being ordered to clean up one of Anderson Junior College's toilet. When we protested, the Orientation Group Leader said simply: Don't worry, just go and flush the toilet.

Gallons of water wasted.

The remaining four days were pretty much as senseless and boring as today. In fact, there were lots of duplications of activities and evidence of poor planning that I could not ignore no matter how hard I tried.

As god's way of punishing Anderson Junior College, a small fire accidentally broke out during the lighting of the camp fire on the last day.

And once the camp fire was lighted, God sent a big rain.

Busy with slacking

2006-11-19T19:14:00.000+08:00

Sorry man, I am so busy with slacking recently that I am too "busy" to blog. PSP pictorial coming real soon, I promise. But the photos damn hard to take because of how easy it attracts finger print.

PS3 Commericals

2006-11-19T09:51:00.000+08:00

Power of Photoshop

2006-11-18T12:54:00.000+08:00

Link

WOW

Photo Story: Anderson Junior College

2006-11-16T01:54:00.000+08:00

What exactly makes Anderson Junior College, Anderson Junior College?

Today me and CyGiG spent more than an hour of our time, exploring and capturing interesting images around Anderson Junior College. We brought back over 100 photos on our 1.3MP and 3MP cameras respectively.

Click here to view.
You won't regret it.

When I say mee siam, I meant laksa

2006-11-15T21:05:00.000+08:00

"When we implement the GST increase, it's not a GST increase, it's a package which will fully offset the impact of GST for these groups and begin to strengthen the safety nets and tilt the balance in favor of the lower income Singaporeans," said Lee, according to radio station 938Live.

Translation: When I said mee siam mai hum, I don't really mean a mee siam.

By increasing the spending of the lower income group, they enjoy more benefits.

That is the wisdom of high income group.

End of struggle is here...

2006-11-15T20:44:00.000+08:00

... too busy playing to blog. Check back tml for AJC photos and updates about my PSP purchase.

Of AJC

2006-11-14T14:35:00.000+08:00

Recently I received this email from AJCAA:

Dear Class of 05/06,

The Anderson Junior College Alumni Association (AJCAA) was officially established in March 2001, to promote friendship amongst AJC graduands as well as to build union with our alma mater. Over the last five years, the Alumni Association has organized many activities for our AJC graduands. For instance, we organized the Homecoming Dinner, the Night Cycling Expedition and the Flea market in 2001. In 2003, public performances such as ‘Chu Zhan 2003’ were staged successfully. In 2004, ‘Colours of Emotion 2004’ and the AJC 20th Anniversary Dinner received overwhelming response. In 2005, the AJC Dance Alumni staged the 'Qi' Dance performance while the AJCAA Exco organized the Tree Top Expedition, Pulau Ubin Adventure and started our very first AJCAA Bursary Award, which serves needy ex-AJCians studying at NUS, NTU or SMU. This year, the AJCAA did a Health Talk in February. The CO Alumni staged their cultural performance, 'Xian Xu Qin Yuan' while the CLDDs Alumni, 'Cha Dian 7, Wo Xin Zhong De Cai Hong' in August, not forgetting our annual and second AJCAA Bursary Award in late November.

Our Executive Committee is as follows:

The AJC Alumni Association Executive Committee 2006 – 7

- President: Ng Gek Hong Peggy

- Vice-President: Lau Kiat Meng (Marketing/ Funds Raising Committee Director)

- Honorary Secretary: Chu Siew Hwa

- Asst. Honorary Secretary: Koh Chee Kang

- Honorary Treasurer: Ong Han Wee (Marketing/ Funds Raising Committee Director)

- Asst. Honorary Treasurer: Kok Yi Ting (Recreations Committee Director)

- Members:

*
Tan Joy (College Events Director)
*
Teo Chun Yong (Special Projects Director)
*
Ting Siau Hui (Public Relations Director)

Whatever happened to year 2002? Cock up so no events?

Establishment of "AJCAA Bursary Award, which serves needy ex-AJCians studying at NUS, NTU or SMU"? The grand total of 1998 from the fund came from AJC Family Day, which according VP Tay was not organized with raising funds in mind. Hell, 2000++ of the proceeds went into paying for Uncle Ringo.

So I sent back a reply, since the message was sent manually (the sender email address was yuhong@singnet.)

Whatever happened to 2002? Nothing was conducted?
Alumni was established to seek funds from the school instead of contributing to the school?
So am i from class of 05 or 06?
Is there an option to unsubscribe from this mailing list?

And you guys know how much I love to revisit VP Tay's precious emails to me, and digging out insightful quotes?

Today's quote:

Remember the Sexuality Education issues , even if more than
90% of our students found the session useful and they have no issues...

I don't remember any survey being conducted, and even if it was conducted, how can a person who was conned know that he or she was conned?

Besides, unless you are a catholic or someone who knows about catholic beliefs (the former group definitely won't have any complains regarding the talk, and the later is rare in AJC mugging society), you definitely won't have problems with it.

Also, whether the talk is useful, or whether it broadcast truth are two different matter. I can say that a workshop filled with lies and misinformation is useful as it tells me how shallow other AJCians are and how the school care more about their reputation than providing students with proper education and information. In short, under VP Tay, AJC exists to win awards and reputation, not educate students.

it has aroused so much publicity on the presss
with the public giving their comments and questioning the college. It was
also mentioned by the MOE officials during meetings etc. It has created
quite a negative impact on the college and the school leaders.

Soon after, the Principal apologised to the students during one of the meetings insincerely, saying, other people have no problem with it, but if you are offended, then sorry lor. How about offering public apology? CNA happily reported that AJC is doing its part to educate its student sexuality, then this saga made CNA looks stupid. The earlier statement made by AJC regarding the workshop touching the values and heart of students is a lie. No apology. Lie and move on.

We can focus our energy and spend time on
more meaningful things than to answer to the press.

AJC won MOE's School Distinction Award.

Distinctive indeed. Distinctive disgusting. Totally unlike other colleges.

Brightspark Loves Muggers

2006-11-14T14:27:00.001+08:00

BrightSparks is Singapore’s only Scholarship, Higher Education and Careers portal for JC students. It contains hundreds of scholarship, higher education and career information with a state-of-the-art online scholarship application system. No more painful handwritten forms!

Seriously how many got their scholarships via brightspark? And brightspark is nothing but a spam mailing list because the admin constantly send offers of movies and what-nots to users' inbox. Rubbish.

I always thought that the word "mugger" has negative connotation, a word that meant "a student who is nothing but a harddrive who can only store and duplicate facts, with no thinking or understanding involved, and studies extensively."

I study everything with understanding. And I only studied for 3 weeks in these two years. I am definitely not a mugger, and resent being called one.

Another typical spam I got from brightspark. Is this related to scholarships?

And that is the last straw. Not only did I receive the above email TWICE, I perfectly resent being called a mugger.

And I don't give a damn about your freaking movies because I am getting a PSP on thursday.

If muggers are what scholarships are looking for, so be it.

I'm leaving BrightSparks. And if one day I have my own company, instead of offering scholarships to hire muggers, I'll invest on some computers.

Hell, access speed of computers is even faster than that of muggers, and you don't have to care about their welfare or education.

Reply from BrightSparks:

"dershing here from BrightSparks. I am sorry the usage of mugging has offended you. Read in context, all we are trying to say is don't worry too much about studying, just try your best and take a break and watch a movie on BrightSparks account. As for sending non scholarship/career related information, over 95% of our emails are on the topic of career and scholarships. It is not correct and fair to call us a "spam mailing list".

End of struggle is near

2006-11-14T10:14:00.000+08:00

And WTF, it was really one hell of a struggle.

Damn cool video

2006-11-13T21:23:00.000+08:00

Drums and Piano Stop Motion Cool stop motion video.

First Class Transport System

2006-11-13T20:16:00.000+08:00

After standing on the MRT for 40 minutes from Ang Mo Kio MRT to Chua Chu Kang MRT station, I rushed along with the rest of the Singaporeans to the LRT. The platform was packed. Really packed. Even when a LRT train came, and commuters filled it up, I still could not get onto the train, and the station was as packed as before. And the poor LRT that came? It was so full that in guy in green in the photo below was "hit" by the door twice when the LRT attempt to close its door. Save for the little air space above the commuters' head, the train was literally overflowing.

Another train came and arrive at the opposite platform. Since LRT at Chua Chu Kang station leave in the same direction, I hurried over to the next platform to board the train. Eyeing a spot where there is relatively few people and which will grantee me a seat, I stood there waiting for the door to open. The commuters in the train also stood up and stood by the doors, waiting to alight.

And so we waited.

And waited.

The doors refused to open. After about 5~10 minutes, a technician arrived and opened the doors manually. After the commuters already in the train alight, I entered the train and sat down.

And I waited.

And waited.

The train refused to move, even after the door closed. The technician took out his keys and opened the control panel. He pressed a switch and the driverless LRT began to move - with a driver.

Due to some safety feature inherent in the LRT system, manual drive is only possible at one super duper slow speed. And that speed is roughly 1/5 of the normal LRT speed.

By the time I reached home, what was a really pathetic 1hour of travel had became 1 and a half hour.

Seriously the only first class transport in Singapore is your own car.

That's why government claim Singapore's transport is first class.

Alevel: Physics Paper 1 and 2

2006-11-13T20:12:00.000+08:00

All my physics notes an entry proof... RUIN!

Placing them out to dry now...

And the paper today?

FUCK UP!

Just for that one thing in life

2006-11-12T23:28:00.000+08:00

Watch the above video before continuing.

When a person want something in life, so madly and so badly, desperation can really make people attempt just that one thing, that very thing, that will make the dreams come true, even at the expense of life.

Life is the very thing that makes that desire, that desperation possible, and it is only fitting that everything that comes with life end with it.

Then what is the purpose of life? To seek reasons to end it?

Various Singaporeans had attempted to exchange their own life for a better life of their dear ones. By ending their life, their plight is known and help is given. But isn't that an encouragement of escapist attitude?

Singaporeans should all follow and obey what Lee Hsien Long said. For once, he said the right thing.

Mai Hum(ji).

Live on.

Parking at No-Parking Sign

2006-11-12T18:03:00.000+08:00

How can you drive when you are blind?

Mr Brown loves my Headphone!

2006-11-10T22:13:00.000+08:00

http://www.mrbrownshow.com/?p=455

Wow, Mr Brown is recommending the headphone I bought early this year. LOL. Now people will stop saying that my headphone looks outdated.

Real Aftermath

2006-11-10T14:05:00.000+08:00

After overcoming maths, the number one focus of my short mugging lifespan for A levels, I found it hard to get myself to study once again. I need to study Physics for next week's paper, but my brain just didn't want to start working. Perhaps an afternoon nap will cure it.

Also, watch my blog next week as I'll be taking photos all over AJC next Wednesday to compile into an album, and will also be getting my PSP. So stay tuned.

It all began with a wheelchair

2006-11-10T12:31:00.000+08:00

It all began with a wheelchair.

An unfortunate indian living at my block was wheelchair bounded. Looking at our society, we all know that even the most abled bodied person could not find any job. The endless queue of job seekers that appeared every weekday at Ang Mo Kio MRT station is an evidence to this. When I first saw the queue I thought people were queuing for freebies or lucky draw, since everyone seems to hold a number car.

Unwilling to defy expectations, the wheelchaired indian at my block seemed to be without a job, as I often see him around the area at times where people were jailed in their offices and factories. Perhaps his job involves rolling around the neighbourhood on wheelchair? I highly doubt it.

However, it never fail to puzzle me how did he support himself. Judging from the look of it, he has no family. And his wheelchair looks quite expansive. Certainly not a gold one, but a feature packed one.

This questioned puzzled me for several months, until the study leave came and I get to be at home on weekdays in the day.

It was then, when I saw his purpose in life.

It was then, when I saw what kept him alive.

It was then, when I understood the value he stood for (although he can't stand).

It was then, when I discovered that a tiny grass patch at my block had turned into Jurong Bird Park, but with only one species of bird and nobody to clean the bird shit.

Presenting to you, the pigeon's haven.

The pole you see at the left of the first picture actually held a sign saying "No feeding of birds", but I guess he is iterate as well, which is why he could not, or did not want to find a job.

Granted, the sight of feathered fiends swooping from the sky towards you and hoping about infront of you is a rare and fine sight. But what about the environment? The exterior wall of the second storey of the HDB flat right above where the birds are is already molested with piles of slimy bird droppings.

Other than the birds, he had new visitors when I went down to take this photos today. 3 to 5 more people, evidently his friends, were happily talking loudly goggling at girls and birds alike.

That gives a new meaning to "bird-brained".

Note: I'm not trying to be racist here, and neither am I one. But in order to describe that guy as much as possible and without disclosing his identity, I can only mention Wheel-chaired indian. Noticed that displeasure is directed towards him, but not his race. If the person is a Chinese I will also display similar displeasure.

Just a quick update

2006-11-10T10:16:00.000+08:00

General Paper 1
General Paper 2
Mathematics Paper 1
Computing Paper 1
Mathematics Paper 2
Physics Paper 1
Physics Paper 2
Physics Paper 3
Computing Paper 2

Then, NLB job, Escape Theme Park, Playstation Portable, Class Chalet, Genting Highlands, 3 months of REST.

Then NS :(

Video WTF

2006-11-10T09:05:00.000+08:00

Alevel: Computing Paper 1 and Maths Paper 2

2006-11-09T22:28:00.000+08:00

Woke up early in the morning to go school for Computing Paper 1. Granted, I know that because only 6 students in AJC took Computing, and we the computing students are a small small minority group.

But what is the big idea of cordoning off our examination room?

Computing Paper 1 was ok, despite several strange questions such as "What is the differences between analogue and digital data?", and a question asking me how speech is generated on a computer using computer data.

All in all, most of the questions are those kinds that chao muggers do not know how to answer, wish I feel is a good way to set the questions. Afterall, harddrives are cheap nowadays and there is no point in hiring an organic one (brainless mugger who only knows how to store and output data).

Maths Paper 2 was hell. The questions were very fun. Like Maths Paper 1, there are 3 marks I left blank, 5 marks unsure. Unlike Maths Paper 1, there is a 5 mark question where I worked until the last step before I ran out of time.

I felt so sad to let my maths knowledge go. I mean, I only learnt all the topics last week for the first time these 2 years, and only understand what statistics was about this monday. After absorbing knowledge like a sponge for 2 weeks, these knowledge will no longer be needed. Examinations are nothing but a waste of time.

I also felt proud of myelf while revising (studying for the first time) maths without any reference to any of the notes or tutorials given by AJC. Despite that fact that AJC is filled with those typical muggers who mugged all year round for two years, the total number of weeks I've mugged in these two years amounted to only 3 weeks.

Thus, if I can get my As, AJC muggers will always be a laughing stock in my mind. Hope that I don't get to see any AJCians reading or studying on public tranports, or highlighting newspapers like donno what desperate shit after I graduate. I can't warranty I can control myself from laughing.

All that, if I can get my target of at least 60 points by mugging only 3 weeks.

And if I really get it, good baragin isn't it?

I MUST GET MY 60PTS.

Mugging Damn Sian

2006-11-08T21:32:00.000+08:00

Studying computing is super sian. Hell lots of notes. Nothing you don't already know. And then when the questions come out, you don't know how to answer them because it is hard to phrase and write down everything.

So no choice. Mug lor...

Just like Elvin.

The After(maths)

2006-11-08T11:33:00.000+08:00

I am quietly slacking at home, taking life easy, releasing stress despite the fact that there are two papers tomorrow. Life is good.

Time for another round of Gunz.

Laugh out Loud

2006-11-08T00:55:00.000+08:00

Kangaroo are human too!

And be amazed by "Made in Singapore" "Entertainer", Steven Lim

Microsoft Live Write

2006-11-08T00:50:00.000+08:00

Testing out microsoft write.

Is it right? Seems quite good to me, just that image upload is NOT supported. Yawns

Alevel: Maths Paper 1

2006-11-07T19:43:00.000+08:00

The above photo was taken in the final hours before maths paper 1 today.

I was damn stressed, as I was very weak in jc maths, and had never passed jc maths before in any of the examinations this year.

But after two weeks of solid mugging?

I do expect an A.

Where are my keys?

2006-11-07T19:39:00.000+08:00

This man was seen drunk, stripping before a female, molesting the white and blue vehicles, slapping the vehicles windshield, and yelling "Where are my keys?" this afternoon.

After taking off his shirt, he soon left the carpark and was trailed by a bangala who wanted to make sure that man didn't do anything weird.

World's Greatest Magic

2006-11-06T22:01:00.000+08:00

Old people should just retire

2006-11-05T16:27:00.000+08:00

Nov 4, 2006
Reporting the news as it is

'If you listen to Reporters Without Borders, we rank very low down for press freedom because we don't allow this, we don't allow that. We are down with Iraq, Zimbabwe.

'You read our newspapers... We do not put out false news and we make sure our people are well-informed. What we do not want is contentious reporting and a clash of contentious reporting.

'If you watch American television, if you watch Fox, and you watch NBC and you watch CNN, at the end of the day...you don't know where is the truth because the truth does not support a certain line that they are choosing.*

'So we tell the press, don't shoot any line. Just report it as it is and if you have an agenda, you write a commentary, don't include it as facts, as news.

'And the question of press freedom, I say never mind, I've got the best-informed press in the world, they measure up.**

'We know our Chinese (newspaper Lianhe) Zaobao has six million hits every day from China. They (the Chinese) want to know what's happening. The Straits Times is being accessed by many think-tanks in America for regional news. They know it's straight, it's not biased, it's reported as it is.'

Is it just me, or something strange is going on above?

*"you don't know where is the truth because the truth does not support a certain line that they are choosing."
Something is not truth if it does not support their "line"?

**"And the question of press freedom, I say never mind, I've got the best-informed press in the world, they measure up."
Don't care about press freedom. As long as the press is best-informed, it is good press.

Did I read wrongly somewhere?

And next up, Johor Sultan

’Dismantle the causeway’
He says it undermines Johor’s economy, launches attack on ‘dirty foreigners.’ AFP.
Nov 4, 2006

Johor Baru - The sultan of Malaysia's southern Johor state Saturday called for the scrapping of the nation's first land link to Singapore, and launched an attack on "dirty" foreigners.

Speaking at the launch of ambitious plans to turn Johor into a thriving economic hub, the state's Sultan Iskandar al-Marhum said the 83-year-old causeway to neighbouring Singapore was undermining the state's economy and was a vestige of colonialism.

"The colonialists built it to develop Keppel Harbour in Singapore," Sultan Iskandar, 74, said in remarks broadcast live on television.

"Many people think foreigners are great but I think they are dirty," he added.

"If the causeway is removed, then the economy will develop," he told a crowd of some 2,000 onlookers, who cheered and clapped at his suggestion.

The causeway was completed in 1923 in pre-independence Malaysia and Singapore, then both under British colonial rule.

Carrying piped water from Malaysia to Singapore, it also serves as a road, rail and pedestrian link from the state capital Johor Baru to the town of Woodlands in northern Singapore, and sees daily heavy traffic.

The causeway has been at the centre of a bitter dispute between Malaysia and Singapore, with Malaysia calling for its replacement with a new bridge until dropping those plans in April this year.

Malaysians complain the height of the causeway limits shipping traffic to Malaysian ports and argue a new bridge would allow ships easier access.

"Let ships go through," said Sultan Iskandar, who was flanked by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the launch.

Sultan Iskandar, one of the few outspoken members of Malaysia's royalty, is the hereditary ruler of Johor and has a mostly ceremonial role.

He caused ripples in Malaysian society last month when he called on former premier Mahathir Mohamad to stop an ongoing feud with the government and "just behave like a pensioner" – AFP

The Malaysian daily, The Star, reported that the Sultan’s call shocked the 2,000-strong audience and thousands of viewers at home of the live telecast over RTM 1 and TV3

His call was a digression from his written text.

In his address the Ruler, who was clad in a T-shirt, said that he would not "give face" (bagi muka) to the foreigners (Mat Sallehs) and urged the people not to hold them in high regard.

He also reminded locals and their children to be wary of them as they were vultures.

He also paid tribute to former Johor state secretary Amar Abdul Rahman Andak who had fought against the British during his time. - Star

He has no idea how much tourists from Singapore are giving to Malaysia yearly.

And seriously, those very old should just retire.

Really.

Your Principal is flying in the air!

2006-11-05T09:41:00.000+08:00

Fourth Grader Suspended After Refusing to Answer Exam Question

By David Evans

Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Tyler Stoken was a well-behaved fourth grader who enjoyed school, earned A's and B's and performed well on standardized tests.

In May 2005, he'd completed five of the six days of the Washington State Assessment of Student Learning exam, called WASL, part of the state's No Child Left Behind test.

Then Tyler came upon this question: ``While looking out the window one day at school, you notice the principal flying in the air. In several paragraphs, write a story telling what happens.''

The nine-year-old was afraid to answer the question about his principal, Olivia McCarthy. ``I didn't want to make fun of her,'' he says, explaining he was taught to write the first thing that entered his mind on the state writing test.

In this case, Tyler's initial thoughts would have been embarrassing and mean. So even after repeated requests by school personnel, and ultimately the principal herself, Tyler left the answer space blank. ``He didn't want them to know what he was thinking, that she was a witch on a broomstick,'' says Tyler's mother, Amanda Wolfe, sitting next to her son in the family's ranch home three blocks from Central Park Elementary School in Aberdeen, Washington.

Because Tyler didn't answer the question, McCarthy suspended him for five days. He recalls the principal reprimanding him by saying his test score could bring down the entire school's performance.

``Good job, bud, you've ruined it for everyone in the school, the teachers and the school,'' Tyler says McCarthy told him.

`He Cried'

Aberdeen School District Superintendent Martin Kay ordered an investigation. ``My suspension was for refusal to comply with a reasonable request, and to teach Tyler that that could harm him in the future,'' McCarthy told an investigator. ``I never, for a second, questioned my actions.''

Tyler, who's 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and weighs 70 pounds (32 kilograms), hasn't been the same since, his mother says.

``He liked the principal before this,'' she says. ``He cried. He didn't understand why she'd done this to him.''

Now, Tyler blows up at the drop of a hat, his mother says. ``They created a monster. He'll never take that test again, even if I have to take him to another state,'' she says.

Tyler's attitude about school changed. He became shyer. He's afraid of all tests and doesn't do as well in classes anymore, his mother says.

`Blatant Defiance'

McCarthy's May 6, 2005, letter to Tyler's mother detailed her son's suspension. ``The fact that Tyler chose to simply refuse to work on the WASL after many reasonable requests is none other than blatant defiance and insubordination,'' McCarthy wrote.

In the letter, she accused Tyler of bringing down the average score of the other 10 students in his class. ``As we have worked so hard this year to improve our writing skills, this is a particularly egregious wound,'' McCarthy wrote.

Her accusation was wrong, state regulations show. There is no averaging of the writing scores. Each student either meets or fails the state standard.

Tita Mallory, director of curriculum and assessment for the Aberdeen School District, says school officials feel tremendous pressure because of the high-stakes tests.

While there's no academic effect on elementary school children taking the exams, there can be repercussions for school administrators. When schools repeatedly fail to show adequate yearly progress, as defined by No Child, the principal can be fired.

``In many ways, there's too much emphasis on the test,'' Mallory says. ``I don't want that kind of pressure on our kids.''

Out of 74,184 fourth graders taking the WASL test last year, 42.3 percent failed to meet the state standard for writing.

Juanita Doyon, director of Mothers Against WASL and author of, ``Not With Our Kids You Don't! Ten Strategies to Save Our Schools'' (Heinemann, 144 pages, $14.95), says Tyler's experience is representative of what's wrong with tests like the WASL.

``They took a student who loved his school and crushed his spirit,'' Doyon, 46, says.

``We've elevated test scores to be the most important part of school. The principal and teachers are so pressured by the test that they've lost good sense in dealing with children.''

I guess principals like VP Tay are fact of life.

No use crying or whining over it.