Saturday, March 22, 2003
Hmmm today is a long day for a Saturday. Woke up at 7 to reach school at 9 and had lessons till 3 plus then rush to church service. And guess what...now I'm still awake.
I was watching the news about the war avidly, and something ironic caught my eye. Whenever I see "Peace protests turn violent", I find it amusing. Don't you? Here you are, talking about peace, peace and peace, and you are in fact, going around vandalizing the place, causing traffic jams, hurling abuse at police enforcers who have absolutely nothing to do with starting the war. Something just feels funny somewhere doesn't it? And one of the reporters said something quite brilliant. She said that all these protests are costing the police department a lot of manpower to control, and this actually reduces the number of people to keep a watchful eye on terrorists. And worse that they cost each city at least half a million dollars per day. That's a lot of money spent for this. And looking at some shots of the protests in progress, I seem to see more people taking a stroll happily among the crowd than protesting. Hmmm.
I was watching the news about the war avidly, and something ironic caught my eye. Whenever I see "Peace protests turn violent", I find it amusing. Don't you? Here you are, talking about peace, peace and peace, and you are in fact, going around vandalizing the place, causing traffic jams, hurling abuse at police enforcers who have absolutely nothing to do with starting the war. Something just feels funny somewhere doesn't it? And one of the reporters said something quite brilliant. She said that all these protests are costing the police department a lot of manpower to control, and this actually reduces the number of people to keep a watchful eye on terrorists. And worse that they cost each city at least half a million dollars per day. That's a lot of money spent for this. And looking at some shots of the protests in progress, I seem to see more people taking a stroll happily among the crowd than protesting. Hmmm.
Friday, March 21, 2003
I find it a little disturbing that quite a few of my classmates have not formed any opinion about the war simply because they had not read enough about it. True, not everyone shares the similar concern or interest for world affairs, and I don't claim to be a very current affairs kinda person, but I just think that now that war has been declared, and history has been marked, shouldn't people generally try to find out why and how people are shedding blood somewhere else across the world. This is a historic point in time, be it for better or for worse, and few seem interested. Is Singapore that far off the world map? Or are we even on the globe at all?
On a side note: I was on the way home earlier and saw the advert for the bachelor 2. Anyone else seen it? Frankly I find it derogatory to women. Somewhat to men also. I quote the slogan here, "Rich, handsome, athletic. He's every woman's dream." My goodness...girls, are you letting that go without saying a word? In essence that one advertisement has reduced a woman's ideal man to physical attributes, none of character and insinuated that every woman is materialistic and shallow. It also insults men who are not rich, handsome or athletic. I will gladly boycott the show just like the first one. Bad ethics, and now a bad image and slogan to boot. Booooo.
On a side note: I was on the way home earlier and saw the advert for the bachelor 2. Anyone else seen it? Frankly I find it derogatory to women. Somewhat to men also. I quote the slogan here, "Rich, handsome, athletic. He's every woman's dream." My goodness...girls, are you letting that go without saying a word? In essence that one advertisement has reduced a woman's ideal man to physical attributes, none of character and insinuated that every woman is materialistic and shallow. It also insults men who are not rich, handsome or athletic. I will gladly boycott the show just like the first one. Bad ethics, and now a bad image and slogan to boot. Booooo.
I am going to school now, early in the morning, for a presentation of a project done about half a year ago, printing 24 coloured A4 size sheets to paste over a 1 by 2 m board that would only last 8 hours (my classmates laser printed theirs, and it costs about 12 to 14 bucks), and to answer the queries of a moderator (or examiner) who doesn't know nuts about my project. Nice way to start the day.
I was eager to watch the channelnewsasia update on the Iraq situation, being glad that they were showing it on TVmobile (hmm the dumb thing has its good points sometimes). I find it intriguing that very few people are avidly concerned about the happenings. From my sharp ears (i.e. eavesdropping openly...ok ok I know it's bad) I hear people talking about movies, handphones, projects, lecturers, American Idol blah blah blah, but nothing about the war. As far as I can see, there was only another guy who was paying attention to the news. Hmm I guess there's no excuse there. You can't claim to be too busy to pay attention to current affairs when the information's right there staring at your face, can ya?
I was eager to watch the channelnewsasia update on the Iraq situation, being glad that they were showing it on TVmobile (hmm the dumb thing has its good points sometimes). I find it intriguing that very few people are avidly concerned about the happenings. From my sharp ears (i.e. eavesdropping openly...ok ok I know it's bad) I hear people talking about movies, handphones, projects, lecturers, American Idol blah blah blah, but nothing about the war. As far as I can see, there was only another guy who was paying attention to the news. Hmm I guess there's no excuse there. You can't claim to be too busy to pay attention to current affairs when the information's right there staring at your face, can ya?
Friday, March 14, 2003
It's almost 5 am now. If you think I woke up early, you are dead wrong. MadPoet doesn't wake up this early unless he absolutely has to. I'm up because I am replying in the forum! Nah that's just one part of it. I'm up at this hour when I can hear coffeeshop grills opening because I was doing my stupid design project till about 4 am. I'm way overworked.
Just felt like complaining a bit. I wonder what is in the heads of my professors. I mean, they give us 4 months to design an entire wastewater treatment plant when engineers take years to do so working at least 8 hrs a day, fine. Not like we don't have other modules. They give us tight deadlines, ask us to give them so much calculations and write-up and then they restrict our number of pages in our report. What the heck are they thinking? I mean, if they want us to do a lot and give us so little time, maybe it's tolerable, but heck at least give us more pages to write our stuff in lah. And they are SO INFLEXIBLE. They just won't lengthen the page limit. And they still insist on a certain quantity of content. Gosh. And then they tell us some more things we have to do just two days ago on Wed, and the whole cohort was complaining away. Too little time, and expecting us to churn out a detailed economic analysis and a piping & instrumentation diagram. Those who know what I'm talking about, good for you. For those who don't, just take my word for it that I'm choked up by work. I'm beginning to think that if I don't sleep for the next 2 months I am still unable to deliver what the profs are asking for.
Entrepreneurship? Sorry, no time to think about business. Only got deadlines to mark my calendar.
I should go sleep it off now.
Just felt like complaining a bit. I wonder what is in the heads of my professors. I mean, they give us 4 months to design an entire wastewater treatment plant when engineers take years to do so working at least 8 hrs a day, fine. Not like we don't have other modules. They give us tight deadlines, ask us to give them so much calculations and write-up and then they restrict our number of pages in our report. What the heck are they thinking? I mean, if they want us to do a lot and give us so little time, maybe it's tolerable, but heck at least give us more pages to write our stuff in lah. And they are SO INFLEXIBLE. They just won't lengthen the page limit. And they still insist on a certain quantity of content. Gosh. And then they tell us some more things we have to do just two days ago on Wed, and the whole cohort was complaining away. Too little time, and expecting us to churn out a detailed economic analysis and a piping & instrumentation diagram. Those who know what I'm talking about, good for you. For those who don't, just take my word for it that I'm choked up by work. I'm beginning to think that if I don't sleep for the next 2 months I am still unable to deliver what the profs are asking for.
Entrepreneurship? Sorry, no time to think about business. Only got deadlines to mark my calendar.
I should go sleep it off now.
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
I don't believe it. I'm watching the same episode of Movies, Games and Videos yet again. Goodness, they repeat it for more than ONE WEEK! Argh. Yeah yeah, I know I complain too much about TV mobile but man this is ridiculous. I finally identified why I detest this repetition of episodes. Because it's dull and monotonous. As it is, my life now is dull and monotonous, revolving around projects that cannot seem to finish. It doesn't help that there's a groundhog day feeling every time I take the bus.
Hmmm...let's see...on average I have a 5 day school week. So that makes 2 and a half hrs of travel per day (to and fro), adding up to 12.5 hrs on the bus. Plus I meet my gf about twice per week outside, and sending her home and returning would add up to another 4 hrs. Plus church service, another 2 hrs roughly. So that's about 18.5 hrs on the bus per week at least. Multiply that by 52 weeks in a year, I spend a whopping 962 hrs on the bus per year. That works out to be about 40 continuous DAYS. My goodness. 962 hrs of TV mobile in one year. Heck I only watch TV for about 3 hrs a week, so that works out to be 6 times as much TV mobile viewing than actual home TV watching. Now you know why I'm so bothered by the stupid thing in the bus?
Sorry, the engineering side of me got the better of me...now all I need to do is tabulate those results somewhere...
Hmmm...let's see...on average I have a 5 day school week. So that makes 2 and a half hrs of travel per day (to and fro), adding up to 12.5 hrs on the bus. Plus I meet my gf about twice per week outside, and sending her home and returning would add up to another 4 hrs. Plus church service, another 2 hrs roughly. So that's about 18.5 hrs on the bus per week at least. Multiply that by 52 weeks in a year, I spend a whopping 962 hrs on the bus per year. That works out to be about 40 continuous DAYS. My goodness. 962 hrs of TV mobile in one year. Heck I only watch TV for about 3 hrs a week, so that works out to be 6 times as much TV mobile viewing than actual home TV watching. Now you know why I'm so bothered by the stupid thing in the bus?
Sorry, the engineering side of me got the better of me...now all I need to do is tabulate those results somewhere...
Tuesday, March 11, 2003
I was on the bus on my way home after sending my gf home first. Happen to be at the right time slot and was watching Fear Factor. The jump across the building part was pretty interesting...wonder if I'll be able to make the jump if it was me. Anyway, when it came down to the eating of the bloodballs, man, it was gross.
But I really wonder...you know, sometimes we go like "Ewwww...this is disgusting" or something like that when we watch Fear Factor, Guiness Book of Records or Ripley's Believe it or Not...that kind of show, but then we still go on watching with captive interest. Now doesn't that seem strange? On one hand, you dismiss it as disgusting and stuff, but still watch on anyway? I think this must be the underlying reason why people passing by an accident site (other than scouring for numbers to buy 4-D) will try to see if there's any victim. What is this compulsion leh? I really wonder.
But I really wonder...you know, sometimes we go like "Ewwww...this is disgusting" or something like that when we watch Fear Factor, Guiness Book of Records or Ripley's Believe it or Not...that kind of show, but then we still go on watching with captive interest. Now doesn't that seem strange? On one hand, you dismiss it as disgusting and stuff, but still watch on anyway? I think this must be the underlying reason why people passing by an accident site (other than scouring for numbers to buy 4-D) will try to see if there's any victim. What is this compulsion leh? I really wonder.
Sunday, March 09, 2003
That does it. I'm really considering sending a complaint letter to Mediacorp about TVmobile. Goodness, I saw the same episode of Movies, Games and Videos on the same day...AGAIN! This must be the 8th time by now. I can tell you how the program runs...(hmm reminds me of the movie "Groundhog day" suddenly). It starts with the new release for movie "life or something like that" featuring a peroxide blonde Angelina Jolie, followed by an intro to a new game "Sly cooper" about some raccoon looking like hero, then followed by Mario Party 4, followed by a behind the scenes look at Solaris, followed by the game Superman. Gee. *MadPoet tears his hair out.
Unfortunately I also discovered that they are doing this for the Fann Adventure show also. Saw the same episode for the third time today. Which is mild compared to the others of course.
I take back my comment about the media not being interested in Israel and Palestine. It appears that there really wasn't anything happening (anything major I guess...nobody died) in 2 months. But guess one happy little suicide bomber spoilt it all again. There goes the tank shells in retaliation once more. Makes me wonder why there are still people living in the West Bank. Seems that the mortality rate there is exceedingly and unnaturally high.
Was fairly drenched in the downpour today. First I complained about the heat, then now got rain...but I resolved not to complain about it. Hmmm...but why does it have to rain the whole time I was out?
Unfortunately I also discovered that they are doing this for the Fann Adventure show also. Saw the same episode for the third time today. Which is mild compared to the others of course.
I take back my comment about the media not being interested in Israel and Palestine. It appears that there really wasn't anything happening (anything major I guess...nobody died) in 2 months. But guess one happy little suicide bomber spoilt it all again. There goes the tank shells in retaliation once more. Makes me wonder why there are still people living in the West Bank. Seems that the mortality rate there is exceedingly and unnaturally high.
Was fairly drenched in the downpour today. First I complained about the heat, then now got rain...but I resolved not to complain about it. Hmmm...but why does it have to rain the whole time I was out?
Saturday, March 08, 2003
Hmm you know, I've always been puzzled about something. Ever wondered why people taking buses when they find a seat they swing around, and then drop their WHOLE WEIGHT on the seat as if their legs crumbled underneath them? Doesn't matter whether there's a guy (or gal) already on it. They just swing around and plop. I sometimes wonder if they do it to see how high the other person bounces off his seat.
And you know what's the most amazing thing? (The next comment will mark me as an engineer for sure) It doesn't matter how big the guy (or girl) appears to be! Interesting. It's not an issue of mass, but rather...you guessed it! Acceleration! How gently you sit down affects the impact. The wonders of physics. D**n, dunno how that Newton fella figured it out so early. That's why sometimes a skinny girl can land on the seat even harder than a big fat guy. It's just an issue of whether you BOTHER to sit down gently. I know I always do. I just marvel at the etiquette of my fellow countrymen sometimes. Never fail to surprise me any day.
And you know what's the most amazing thing? (The next comment will mark me as an engineer for sure) It doesn't matter how big the guy (or girl) appears to be! Interesting. It's not an issue of mass, but rather...you guessed it! Acceleration! How gently you sit down affects the impact. The wonders of physics. D**n, dunno how that Newton fella figured it out so early. That's why sometimes a skinny girl can land on the seat even harder than a big fat guy. It's just an issue of whether you BOTHER to sit down gently. I know I always do. I just marvel at the etiquette of my fellow countrymen sometimes. Never fail to surprise me any day.
Had 9 am class today. Slept at 2 (wow...pretty early by my standards), woke up at 7. I think it's inhumane, having classes at 9 am in the morning. Never mind that I had to wake up earlier than 7 from pri sch to sec sch to jc and even army. Those 15 years of my life (wah that's a lot) are over man. Ok back to whining...to a nocturnal creature such as myself, having to wake up at any time earlier than 10 am is sheer torture! I think NUS should review the lecture and tutorial hours. Oh no, now I sound like the kid who wrote in to ST saying that youths lack of knowledge in current affairs (in response to public concerns I guess) these days is due to excessively heavy workloads, and there should be a curriculum change. Argh! It's horrible to find myself a typical Singaporean - full of complaints. But who cares? Hehe. I don't have that many what.
But one good thing about going to school early: being on the bus from 8 to 9 am lets me watch Channelnewsasia. No crappy hit squad gags (already crappy the first time...sheer torture to watch it rerun for 4th or 5th time), that entertainment news programme...can't remember the name...and Cybernet. At least Cybernet interests me. Watching it the first time that is. I seem to watch the same episode at least 3 times per week. Maybe I'll take the train instead. But oh no! I think they putting some internal TV in them too! My God! These terrible devices are everywhere. And worse, now they are testing it in the trains and guess what? They only show ADVERTISEMENTS! Man, that's watching reruns in the span of minutes. Heck. Think I'll buy a bicycle and cycle to school.
But one good thing about going to school early: being on the bus from 8 to 9 am lets me watch Channelnewsasia. No crappy hit squad gags (already crappy the first time...sheer torture to watch it rerun for 4th or 5th time), that entertainment news programme...can't remember the name...and Cybernet. At least Cybernet interests me. Watching it the first time that is. I seem to watch the same episode at least 3 times per week. Maybe I'll take the train instead. But oh no! I think they putting some internal TV in them too! My God! These terrible devices are everywhere. And worse, now they are testing it in the trains and guess what? They only show ADVERTISEMENTS! Man, that's watching reruns in the span of minutes. Heck. Think I'll buy a bicycle and cycle to school.
Friday, March 07, 2003
Horrible weather these days huh? Last night was pretty terrible too. The night was so warm that the fan blowing in my face was blowing hot air at me. And today, it rained a while, with the sun shining bright. Sigh. This marks the start of a few months when I regret not ever buying an air-conditioner. These are the months I will value getting an air-conditioner more than a PS2...hmmm...then again, I think I'd rather be sweating away playing games then being cool with nothing interesting to do. I eat my words. *Munch.
Was on the bus again. What's new? I watched (I swear) for the eighth time the same episode of the hit squad. I'm really beginning to hate the face of the host. And the third time re-run of (yes I finally got the name of the entertainment thing I was talking about) Movies Games & Video.
Was watching the trailer on the MJ interview..."the footage you were never meant to see". My foot man. There's nothing on TV the audience is never meant to see. They should rephrase it to be "the footage you were never meant to see the first time round because we wanted to save it and make another episode for higher ratings." Maybe it's all a conspiracy. For all you know, MJ may be getting royalties or something from the telecast. Maybe they'll make ANOTHER interview. They'll call it "the MJ interview: behind the scenes. The truth that you were never meant to know." And then they'll say "MJ: victim, freak or conspirator".
Was on the bus again. What's new? I watched (I swear) for the eighth time the same episode of the hit squad. I'm really beginning to hate the face of the host. And the third time re-run of (yes I finally got the name of the entertainment thing I was talking about) Movies Games & Video.
Was watching the trailer on the MJ interview..."the footage you were never meant to see". My foot man. There's nothing on TV the audience is never meant to see. They should rephrase it to be "the footage you were never meant to see the first time round because we wanted to save it and make another episode for higher ratings." Maybe it's all a conspiracy. For all you know, MJ may be getting royalties or something from the telecast. Maybe they'll make ANOTHER interview. They'll call it "the MJ interview: behind the scenes. The truth that you were never meant to know." And then they'll say "MJ: victim, freak or conspirator".
I think I must be taking too many buses. I've been seeing the same episode of the hit squad for the...um...I've lost count...number of times this week. I think on Mon I saw the same episode shown twice in the same day, once at around noon, the other around 5 pm. It's boring me to death. For something that has the word "mobile" in its name, it sure doesn't move or change at all. The only thing I'm glad to see on it is news. At least that one doesn't repeat on different days.
Hmmm...over the news they stated that one third of NUS graduates unemployed for past 6 months. How comforting to know. Would I have been better off in NTU or SMU? Hmm...they didn't say.
Was waiting for the bus after playing pool at a temporary bus shelter. I think they are going to replace every single bus stop that exists in Singapore with the new chic looking ones. I'm wondering if JCDecaux and the other advertising companies are sponsoring the changes so that they can put up their adverts all over the country. Has anyone else noticed that they are putting adverts on the walls of buildings nearly everywhere now? And in underpasses. I didn't know advertising space is really so limited. Wonder if HDB will liaise with these companies soon and hang advert banners on the walls of their flats. May be more popular than hanging Singapore flags.
Hmmm...over the news they stated that one third of NUS graduates unemployed for past 6 months. How comforting to know. Would I have been better off in NTU or SMU? Hmm...they didn't say.
Was waiting for the bus after playing pool at a temporary bus shelter. I think they are going to replace every single bus stop that exists in Singapore with the new chic looking ones. I'm wondering if JCDecaux and the other advertising companies are sponsoring the changes so that they can put up their adverts all over the country. Has anyone else noticed that they are putting adverts on the walls of buildings nearly everywhere now? And in underpasses. I didn't know advertising space is really so limited. Wonder if HDB will liaise with these companies soon and hang advert banners on the walls of their flats. May be more popular than hanging Singapore flags.
Thursday, March 06, 2003
Sigh. Another stupid day where I have to spend more than 2 hours going to and fro to attend a 1 hr class. How economically unviable. Huge waste of opportunity cost. So how do I handle it? Spend about 2 hours in the computer lab replying to posts in the forum! Well if I'm gonna waste the time on transport might as well lengthen my stay in school. And use the speedy connection that my house doesn't have. Now that I have spent 3 hours in school, the 2 hours spent on travelling looks a bit less significant. Now I only hope I don't hit a traffic jam.
Tuesday, March 04, 2003
Reading the papers on the arrest of terrorist Khalid. Read more about the current situation about Iraq and US. Was determined not to be one of the "apathetic youths" our government criticized. I still think war is necessary, but I would still hope for some kind of peaceful miracle of a solution. Hmmm...
It suddenly struck me that I haven't heard a whisper about Israel and Palestine. I suddenly also remembered the theme in "Chicago" which I watched last night. I guess I still think "Chicago" is a good social critique. I mean, look at the news now...it's essentially sensationalized information about US and Iraq. Now that they have taken the limelight, I guess we won't be hearing much about the conflict near the west bank. I'm wondering how many Israelis and Palestinians have killed each other in the meantime. Does anyone care at this moment at all?
I think "Chicago"'s right about the mass media. "Always out for fresh blood", Richard Gere's character said, or something like that.
It suddenly struck me that I haven't heard a whisper about Israel and Palestine. I suddenly also remembered the theme in "Chicago" which I watched last night. I guess I still think "Chicago" is a good social critique. I mean, look at the news now...it's essentially sensationalized information about US and Iraq. Now that they have taken the limelight, I guess we won't be hearing much about the conflict near the west bank. I'm wondering how many Israelis and Palestinians have killed each other in the meantime. Does anyone care at this moment at all?
I think "Chicago"'s right about the mass media. "Always out for fresh blood", Richard Gere's character said, or something like that.
Previous day bought a can of styling wax from gatsby. Haven't used anything on my hair for a long long time but thought I wanted to try doing something special. Actually woke up late for school already, but went ahead with the styling anyway.
10 mins past, and I still can't get the "raw wild look" (quoted from the description of the wax) I want. Mum comes in, looks at me, and bugs me to get on to school. I gave up and just brushed everything down to a pretty normal look.
You know, I really wonder about the irony of it all. You spend like 15 mins to half an hour, applying gel or wax carefully and style your hair so as to get a look that's "natural", "raw" and "wild"? Very contrived don't you think? I think it takes more effort to be "natural" than just leaving it to nature.
10 mins past, and I still can't get the "raw wild look" (quoted from the description of the wax) I want. Mum comes in, looks at me, and bugs me to get on to school. I gave up and just brushed everything down to a pretty normal look.
You know, I really wonder about the irony of it all. You spend like 15 mins to half an hour, applying gel or wax carefully and style your hair so as to get a look that's "natural", "raw" and "wild"? Very contrived don't you think? I think it takes more effort to be "natural" than just leaving it to nature.