"The Nazgul have done more than land. The HPF video was the lead story on Channel i News tonight." - ICQ SMS received last night.
Student's ticking-off goes from RJC to Net
'Counselling' for teacher whose tirade in class is recorded secretly and posted online; college investigating incident
By Sandra Davie
WHEN a Raffles Junior College teacher hauled up a student and gave him a thorough ticking-off, she did not know that another student was recording it all on video.
(picture) The teacher tears the student's homework, as seen in this video-grab sequence.
He then posted the three-minute video clip on the Internet.
It shows the General Paper teacher telling a male student his homework was 'outdated and irrelevant' and calling him a 'sly, crafty, old rat'.
When he tries to respond, she tells him: 'You are trying to cover up your insolence, your defiance, your laziness, your apathy, your lethargy and your bad attitude.'
She then tears his homework in two.
The boy who captured it all used a personal digital assistant with a built-in-camera. Calling himself 'bw', he put the videoclip on one website, but over the past month, it has been copied onto several others frequented by students.
After The Straits Times called the school, principal Winston Hodge showed the teacher the videoclip. She is not being named here at the school's request.
Mr Hodge said he spoke to the boy with the camera and his parents yesterday. The boy was 'apologetic' and said he regretted his action.
The school was still investigating, Mr Hodge said.
The Internet posting attracted 12 pages of comments on just one website [Ed: Read the SPUG forums for more views on this issue], including some from students criticising the RJC student for recording the incident secretly.
Responding online, he said the teacher should not have 'crucified' the student in front of the class. He said that the boy being scolded was from China and Chinese nationals tended to be weak in General Paper.
He claimed that he went public with his recording to find out what other students thought, not to entertain people or humiliate the teacher.
His principal yesterday appeared to agree with him that the teacher might have gone overboard and said that she had been 'counselled'.
'In the course of a teacher's work, there are times when there is a need to chastise students for tardy work and attitude,' Mr Hodge said.
'I believe this is what happened here, although based on the video, the teacher did lose her temper and went beyond what was necessary.'
RJC students are allowed to use cellphones and palmtops in school, but not in the library, classrooms, laboratories or lecture theatres.
'Responsible use also means requesting permission of the people being photographed or videotaped rather than to do it without them being aware,' said Mr Hodge.
An Education Ministry spokesman confirmed that schools are free to set the rules on the use of cellphones and palmtops by students.
But teachers who were told about the RJC incident told The Straits Times it was time the ministry imposed a ban.
Said an RJC teacher who declined to be named: 'The policy needed a rethink now that electronic devices have advanced to the point that students can intrude into your privacy.
Defending her colleague, she added: 'A teacher has every right to scold a student if he is handing in copied work or sub-standard work.'
Another junior college teacher said: 'Teachers are already under a lot of stress. And now we have students with snooping devices trying to catch them off-guard.'
I suppose it was inevitable, in this age of fast internet transmission, that the press would get wind of this. I didn't expect it to be blown up so greatly, and to make Page 3 news, though. I suppose the New Paper will be doing a story in greater depth soon.
With my shocking, immoral, hippy-libertarian credentials, it will come as no surprise to many that I largely condone, or at least am ambivalent, about this whole matter. If you want to look at it from the "mature" point of view that people love to take, one has to take responsibility for one's actions. If you dare to call a student a "sly, crafty old rat" and tear up his homework in front of a class, you should dare to call him one in front of the whole world. Oddly enough, this taking of responsibility does not seem to apply often when the Powers That Be are concerned.
Granted, teachers do not like scolding students, but sometimes they go overboard. Perhaps this incident might act as a sort of check. Granted, too, that teachers are due their share of privacy. While the video wasn't of her at her cubicle, hard at work over her next nature poem, relaxing at home or even showering (eeks!), this does constitute an invasion of her privacy. At the same time, though, students also have their dignity. Is it not hurtful to be told that you are "trying to cover up your insolence, your defiance, your laziness, your apathy, your lethargy and your bad attitude"? Not knowing the details of the situation, though knowing something of the teacher, I cannot comment, but this is a rebuke of a great magnitude, and is not very professional of an experienced teacher. Further, I am given to believe that this was most assuredly -not- an isolated incident. Also, a classroom is already a semi-private setting. As a poster on the SPUG forum put it:
"if what teachers do in the classroom is "private"... then why bother to come to class at all? the teacher would probably be better off at her grandfather's house, where he/she can do whatever he/she wants in total "privacy". similarly, teachers should not correct students if they see them doing something wrong, as they would be invading the student's "privacy". isn't that lovely."
People are bound to see the posting of this video as a form of revenge taken upon a disliked teacher by a vengeful student. While I have never been under Ho Poh Fun, I get the impression that she is insufferable, and a quick search will reveal that non-professional/academic references to her are invariably distasteful. At least we can take comfort in the fact that there is a tacit admission that Ms Ho might have gone overboard.
As someone else has put it so eloquently in the aforementioned forum, so sparing me the effort of composing a similar paragraph: "having read the article in today's papers about the incident, i can only say that i'm quite disgusted by the slant towards protecting the teacher as i feel that moe and the government should be open, honest and transparent (just like they say in the social studies textbook) about the incident... instead of trying to cover up and throw their weight around trying to cover up things when their dirty laundry gets discovered. i think singaporeans would have a bit more respect for the education system if they at least knew what was really going on behind it (especially with regard to the dirty laundry bit), rather than having all this lovely, utopic information fed to them from little leaflets with the MOE logo. i'm sure that with so many intelligent and mature people in the society, such frank and possibly stark information should not hurt.
the most ridiculous part was the one where a "fellow jc teacher said" that teachers were already under a lot of stress so students should stop secretly recording all these "off-guard" moments to add to their stress. goodness, imagine what school would be like if teachers simply took out their own "stress" (which i can assure you is exponentially less than the stress placed on today's students) on students and simply dismiss these as "off-guard". of course there will be "off-guard" moments; i'm simply saying that we should not close an eye to it and let it pass. if we do, it conversely would mean that students are entitled to rage, storm, tear up their teachers' and classmates' work and probably stomp on their desks while they were at it, just because they were "off-guard" and "under stress" (since teachers are allowed to rage, storm and tear up students' homework when they are "off-guard" and "under stress"). how lovely. i wish the teacher in question a ball of a time "de-stressing" together with her students and i sincerely hopes she is teaching in a jc where the students are all the "ah-beng" kind and will teach a good sharp lesson in professional ethics 101. if we can't weed out this sort of "i'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" kind of thing, students will have to bear the brunt of all this unprofessionalism. and i'm sure that no 17 or 18 year old wants that."
I think PDAs are going to be banned soon. Looks like they didn't learn their lessons from me and my quotes (though a piece of paper would have been just as, if not more effective, though having admittedly less panache) :)
Meanwhile, Mr Qingru had the impression that it was a video of a RJC teacher screwing a girl that was making the rounds. I suppose when he heard me say "RJC teacher" and "screwing a student", he immediately assumed that I was referring to the carnal type of screwing. *sputter* And I was wondering why he was so interested.
Someone asked why it wasn't Yaodong? :) Other comments (highlight to read - if you are easily offended, as I know many of you are, you should skip this portion): "but she's a kind old lady . ive never never seen her this mad", "i hope u had nothing to do with it.." (am I that notorious?), "the teacher deserved it.", "from a relief teacher's point of view...i can see how some teachers can really lose it at times...", "ouch. i think she was very cruel", "man! she did [deserve it]... what a bitch.... now everyone's gonna think rj students are terrorised by teachers like those. she could eat a few for bfast!", "[Me: she has a long track record] maybe that's why she was targeted..hiayh". Others feel she deserved it.
its precisely cos u "know", or rather, think/believe u know... abt the person and circumstances... that you're biased =P u lack distance from the event and the personalities...
he got to play the "heroic vigilant", and is probly piss-proud of his little self now. not to mention blowing it up on the net. if he were a little older n wiser, he could have lodged a private complaint with Mr. Hodge. but no no no, he has to go and make a scene like some toddler in a supermarket on the other hand Ms Ho shouldnt have gotten so full of herself either
Me: if you just complain, maybe they talk to her. or observe her and she puts on an act but they don't know what she does. no proof
well now uy got proof. the real challenge is showing enough maturity to know what to do with the proof and there the student is at fault. cos he went and did something rash that he's now regretting
Me : so he should have showed the proof to the principal?
yup that's what i meant by "launch a complaint" at least try the official channels before acting smart and shaming everybody including himself remotely connected to RJ... many tragedies happen because one "just wants to show off to friends"...
Me: I don't think it was a "show off" kind of thing
hmm... then, a "righteous exposure" kind of thingy?
Me: possibly. more of a "see what ms ho has done now!"
sounds like the pharisees who caught the woman in adultery and brought her to Jesus... i'm not greatly impressed
Me: *shrug* ahh, people have advanced in their stunts since my day *wistful*
ah well but JC students... arent very mature. oh yeah i'm sure they have... the wonders of technology =P in any case, what's doen cannot be undone...
Zhengfei tells me that Weiyi got into MDC. Haha, I didn't know he made it in!
L'origine de Bert
Saturday, July 12, 2003
Strange but Clever Advertising...
On the way to Nags Head, North Carolina from Virginia there is a sign for a seafood restaurant that says, "I get my crabs from Dirty Dicks."
On a hospital door to the colonoscopy unit: "To expedite your visit, please back in."
On a plumber's truck: "We repair what your husband fixed."
On the trucks of a plumbing company: "Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber."
Pizza shop slogan: "7 days without pizza makes one weak."
Sign over a gynecologist's office: "Dr. Jones, at your cervix."
Another pizza shop slogan: "Buy our pizza. We knead the dough."
At a tire shop: "Invite us to your next blowout."
Door of a plastic surgeon's office: "Hello. Can we pick your nose?"
At a towing company: "We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows."
On a taxidermist's window: "We really know our stuff."
In a podiatrist's office: "Time wounds all heels."
At a car dealership: "The best way to get back on your feet -- miss a car payment."
At the electric company: "We would be de-lighted if you pay your bill. However, if you don't, you will be."
In a restaurant window: "Don't stand there and be hungry. Come on in and get fed up."
In the front yard of a funeral home: "Drive carefully. We'll wait."
At a propane filling station: "Tank heaven for little grills."
And don't forget the sign at a radiator shop: "Best place in town to take a leak."
Amputee wannabes
11 more months to ORD!
On the way to Nags Head, North Carolina from Virginia there is a sign for a seafood restaurant that says, "I get my crabs from Dirty Dicks."
On a hospital door to the colonoscopy unit: "To expedite your visit, please back in."
On a plumber's truck: "We repair what your husband fixed."
On the trucks of a plumbing company: "Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber."
Pizza shop slogan: "7 days without pizza makes one weak."
Sign over a gynecologist's office: "Dr. Jones, at your cervix."
Another pizza shop slogan: "Buy our pizza. We knead the dough."
At a tire shop: "Invite us to your next blowout."
Door of a plastic surgeon's office: "Hello. Can we pick your nose?"
At a towing company: "We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows."
On a taxidermist's window: "We really know our stuff."
In a podiatrist's office: "Time wounds all heels."
At a car dealership: "The best way to get back on your feet -- miss a car payment."
At the electric company: "We would be de-lighted if you pay your bill. However, if you don't, you will be."
In a restaurant window: "Don't stand there and be hungry. Come on in and get fed up."
In the front yard of a funeral home: "Drive carefully. We'll wait."
At a propane filling station: "Tank heaven for little grills."
And don't forget the sign at a radiator shop: "Best place in town to take a leak."
Amputee wannabes
11 more months to ORD!
Post ID: 105799171837893393
Thursday, July 10, 2003
Hello Andrew!
Dog Adolf in Nazi salute - A racist who trained his dog Adolf to give the Hitler salute outside a school of Asian and Turkish children is facing six months in jail.
Dog Adolf in Nazi salute - A racist who trained his dog Adolf to give the Hitler salute outside a school of Asian and Turkish children is facing six months in jail.
Post ID: 105784527930128707
Sunday, July 06, 2003
SOC Remedial Training (RT) has started, and it is weighing heavily on me. The rundown, the terrifying obstacles, the exhaustion, the shouting and more are all getting to me. People keep saying that it's all in the mind, that SOC is all mental, and that one can do anything if one puts one's mind to it. If that is the case, then I think I had better try flying by jumping off the 4th floor, and ascribing my failure to soar aloft to a lack of willpower. People also say that once you have done something, you will be able to do it again. But then, things can never be used indefinitely, as wear and tear will result in them, ultimately giving way one day. The Final Solution is attractive, but why let the slave drivers take from you more than they have to? What's the point of injuring yourself for the SAF, and especially to boost some unimportant numbers which will be reset the next year?
Adding to my worries has been work. Now is a bad time to be the Docu I/C - the recruits report sick in swarms, and further, I have a lot of referrals to book everyday. I've been doing overtime everyday the past week (and on Friday the previous week too), just to keep my backlog of work still-manageable - a task made ever more onerous by the time and energy taken up by concurrent training and remedial training. What's more, I have the feeling that I am less than competent. I think I'm going mad. Maybe I should have been like Johann and gone mad right at the start - during BMT.
With the combination of these 2 major headaches (RT and work), a whole host of problems-normally-minor-but-suddenly-major-due-to-stress and the cancellation of our company's nights off for the week due to dirty weapons, I just broke down. 3 times in the course of the week, I was reduced to a quivering, quavering, whimpering blob, the worst episode being after the SOC RT where I went to hide in a laundrette, and the recruits probably thought that the cries coming from inside were from the ghosts that haunt the place. I don't think I've collapsed so completely in these 19 months, not even in the first days of BMT (where I cried often, but softly and discretely), nor on the day I booked in after Chinese New Year last year, when a certain unfortunate thing happened to me.
I feel slightly better after seeing my MO and Senior Medic, but I don't know if I will fall apart during the next SOC RT. If worse comes to worst, I can always call the much-talked-about-but-never-used SAF hotline, or declare myself psychiatric. Luckily, I will be getting a Little Elf or two (to my Santa) to help me with work (yeh!), so I can concentrate on running and RT (...). Incidentally, Lenny kindly offered to help me do some of my work on one day, seeing how stressed I was. He also commented that I'd become a great deal less cheery this week, so I guess the stress was really taking its toll on me.
In their latest act of gross, flagrant and baffling stupidity, the Powers That Be have confiscated our extra pillows. That would not be so bad, except that they also took my clearly marked non-SAF pillow, which I had brought from home. What happened next defies belief - they threw the extra pillows away. I am really at a loss for words at the sheer mindlessness of it all. Could it be that, in a vindictive rage, they are just trying to spite us all? But then, making our lives more miserable *is* part of their job description.
This week, we marked SAF day with an observance parade. Meanwhile, I was also commemorating this special day, by re-dedicating myself against the SAF and most of what it stands for - slavery, sadism, disregard for the individual, bullying, anger, stupidity, lust, acting, mindlessness and much more. "Give me liberty or give me death" - Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775. Unfortunately, there are fates worse than death for 2 1/2 year soldiers, and I, being the craven that I am, have not courage such as the Jehovah's Witnesses possess to face them. If only I had been born female, I would not have had to betray my principles by accepting my conscription. Some people like to dress National Slavery in the clothes of honour, duty and patriotism ("Doing NS is a duty and an honour"), but just like the Emperor's New Clothes, these are all illusory. If it is really such an honour, why is the alternative prison, and why do so many loathe it? If there is any honour in it at all, it is the honour accorded to the sacrificial victim, who is feted by all, while everyone secretly rejoices that they were not the one chosen to be sacrificed to the god of the volcano.
We now have our very own Medical Centre puppy, adopted by Max from some litter. Maybe it can help us catch the rats :)
It's not fair. Someone is as fat as I, yet he can wear one set of uniform for the entire week, and though there are white streaks of dried sweat on the back by week's end, it does not stink!
The regimentation we are facing is going up by the day, in tandem with that faced by the recruits. I wonder how much more we can take.
It's really quite a pain to book medical appointments for people at Alexandra Hospital. For some reason, AH wants to know the patients' dates of birth and addresses - maybe they send out birthday cards to their patients every year or something.. The other hospitals don't seem to ask for such silly details, only for contact numbers. Or maybe the other hospitals have linked networks to pool patient information.
The HDB has cancelled its annual cleanest estate competition as it realised that residents were not enthusiastic about it, and the competition was really between the cleaners of the estates. This decision is most wise, and I applaud it. By the same token, the SAF's Best Unit Competition should be scrapped too, as its results just depend on how hard each unit's commanders (and S3 department, especially) manage to push their men, and to play with the system (see: 1st Commandos Battalion). If you ask the NSFs, I'm sure that you'll find that more then 95% do not care whether they are the top combat unit or the last combat unit.
[continued below]
Adding to my worries has been work. Now is a bad time to be the Docu I/C - the recruits report sick in swarms, and further, I have a lot of referrals to book everyday. I've been doing overtime everyday the past week (and on Friday the previous week too), just to keep my backlog of work still-manageable - a task made ever more onerous by the time and energy taken up by concurrent training and remedial training. What's more, I have the feeling that I am less than competent. I think I'm going mad. Maybe I should have been like Johann and gone mad right at the start - during BMT.
With the combination of these 2 major headaches (RT and work), a whole host of problems-normally-minor-but-suddenly-major-due-to-stress and the cancellation of our company's nights off for the week due to dirty weapons, I just broke down. 3 times in the course of the week, I was reduced to a quivering, quavering, whimpering blob, the worst episode being after the SOC RT where I went to hide in a laundrette, and the recruits probably thought that the cries coming from inside were from the ghosts that haunt the place. I don't think I've collapsed so completely in these 19 months, not even in the first days of BMT (where I cried often, but softly and discretely), nor on the day I booked in after Chinese New Year last year, when a certain unfortunate thing happened to me.
I feel slightly better after seeing my MO and Senior Medic, but I don't know if I will fall apart during the next SOC RT. If worse comes to worst, I can always call the much-talked-about-but-never-used SAF hotline, or declare myself psychiatric. Luckily, I will be getting a Little Elf or two (to my Santa) to help me with work (yeh!), so I can concentrate on running and RT (...). Incidentally, Lenny kindly offered to help me do some of my work on one day, seeing how stressed I was. He also commented that I'd become a great deal less cheery this week, so I guess the stress was really taking its toll on me.
In their latest act of gross, flagrant and baffling stupidity, the Powers That Be have confiscated our extra pillows. That would not be so bad, except that they also took my clearly marked non-SAF pillow, which I had brought from home. What happened next defies belief - they threw the extra pillows away. I am really at a loss for words at the sheer mindlessness of it all. Could it be that, in a vindictive rage, they are just trying to spite us all? But then, making our lives more miserable *is* part of their job description.
This week, we marked SAF day with an observance parade. Meanwhile, I was also commemorating this special day, by re-dedicating myself against the SAF and most of what it stands for - slavery, sadism, disregard for the individual, bullying, anger, stupidity, lust, acting, mindlessness and much more. "Give me liberty or give me death" - Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775. Unfortunately, there are fates worse than death for 2 1/2 year soldiers, and I, being the craven that I am, have not courage such as the Jehovah's Witnesses possess to face them. If only I had been born female, I would not have had to betray my principles by accepting my conscription. Some people like to dress National Slavery in the clothes of honour, duty and patriotism ("Doing NS is a duty and an honour"), but just like the Emperor's New Clothes, these are all illusory. If it is really such an honour, why is the alternative prison, and why do so many loathe it? If there is any honour in it at all, it is the honour accorded to the sacrificial victim, who is feted by all, while everyone secretly rejoices that they were not the one chosen to be sacrificed to the god of the volcano.
We now have our very own Medical Centre puppy, adopted by Max from some litter. Maybe it can help us catch the rats :)
It's not fair. Someone is as fat as I, yet he can wear one set of uniform for the entire week, and though there are white streaks of dried sweat on the back by week's end, it does not stink!
The regimentation we are facing is going up by the day, in tandem with that faced by the recruits. I wonder how much more we can take.
It's really quite a pain to book medical appointments for people at Alexandra Hospital. For some reason, AH wants to know the patients' dates of birth and addresses - maybe they send out birthday cards to their patients every year or something.. The other hospitals don't seem to ask for such silly details, only for contact numbers. Or maybe the other hospitals have linked networks to pool patient information.
The HDB has cancelled its annual cleanest estate competition as it realised that residents were not enthusiastic about it, and the competition was really between the cleaners of the estates. This decision is most wise, and I applaud it. By the same token, the SAF's Best Unit Competition should be scrapped too, as its results just depend on how hard each unit's commanders (and S3 department, especially) manage to push their men, and to play with the system (see: 1st Commandos Battalion). If you ask the NSFs, I'm sure that you'll find that more then 95% do not care whether they are the top combat unit or the last combat unit.
[continued below]
Post ID: 105742834722812220
[continued from above]
In the midst of my troubles, some people were still trying to convert me:
- "Why don't you pray - you've nothing to lose". Maybe I (and they) should try praying to Amon-Ra instead - the currently worshipped gods are obviously ineffective : just look at what happened to the dreams and prayers for world peace, so we've nothing to lose by praying to Amon-Ra too!
- "You deserve it." I was perplexed by this. Presumably this is what a "loving" god does to people.
- "Who knows, it may turn out to be good.". I should try getting knocked down by a car. In a way, that would turn out to be good as well.
So my conclusion, in the end, was that when people start talking about their gods, it's time to stop listening, for they have run out of ideas on how to help you with your problem.
It seems that whenever Christians are stressed, it is because their god is "testing" them, or "strengthening" them, and it is all part of the "plan". Conveniently, though, when non-believers are similarly stressed, it is because they have "turned away from god" and have "no peace" because they don't "know god". What dishonest logic.
Religious people always complain when their religious beliefs are offended, but how come no one bothers about the religious beliefs (or lack thereof) or non-theists? Bah. Somehow all this brings to mind Chinx's account of how some well-meaning but still evil people gave this guy a christian burial when he died - something tantamount to sacrilege of the dead. Since he doesn't have permalinks, I'll just reproduce most of the post below (^__^ - normal smilies don't fit well in circular brackets):
"My neighbour died recently.
No, this is *not* going to be a depressing piece. Don't run away yet, y'all. However. What follows is also perhaps the most honest and blunt piece I've written for a while. Sensitive folks will want to avoid this.
Yes, my neighbour died recently. How recently? I don't know. I only knew he died when I saw the wake, and his huge photo staring out at me.
Yes yes, we're horrible neighbours. Yes, yes, we're not close to our neighbours at all, unless you count physical distances. Yes yes. That's not the point of this rant. Shush.
So, as I'm writing this, our neighbours have just finished singing a joyous hymn of praise to our dear lored gawd. Now, this is what really gets me going. See, I may not have known my neighbours very well, but I knew one thing for sure about him- he was not a Christian.
This isn't the 1st time I've seen it happen either. About 2 years ago, an uncle of mine died, well before his time. Our family (with the notable exception of cold-hearted bastard Stranger) reeled from the impact, and was sent into deep mourning. He was well-liked by all, and his death certainly came as a shock to us all. He was, however also not a Christian, but his siblings saw fit to bury him with a Christian ceremony.
This isn't something I take lightly. A funeral is a chance to honour the deceased, to remember the great things that he did, to weep at his passing, and to bid him goodbye. It is NOT an occassion to force your religious beliefs upon him.
I mean, my gawd, he had his entire life to decide if he believed in your gawd or not. If he didn't, why make it as though he accepted it with his last passing breath? Why force YOUR beliefs on him now when he can't fight back? You think you're doing him a favour? You think you're helping him see the light as the darkness claims claims his mortal spark? You think you're saving his bloody soul by singing a few paltry songs while his corpse lays stiff and frozen?
Screw you. Screw you for clothing him upon his death in robes he refused to wear in life. Screw you for turning his death into a vehicle for your preaching. Screw you - you don't say goodbye to someone by corrupting his image. You don't force an 80 year olde grandmother who's just outlived her eldest son to wonder why there's a man from the church to speak at his funeral. You don't make her wonder, as she's sitting there wiping her tears, her heart about to give way, what exactly they're saying about her son when she doesn't speak a word of the language you're praising your gawd with.
Screw you."
"We are born this way and they are born that way, but they are like you and me" - PM Goh on gays. I'm quite impressed.
Coca-Cola Light with Lemon is interesting. I think they're trying to beat Pepsi at their own game.
Quotes:
Gabriel has been looking depressed ever since he became the Docu I/C. [Someone: I've been stressed ever since the recruits came in] [Me: That makes it {my depression} worse]
No, don't call me 'Bob'. Later all 10 [new medics] call me Bob, I boo (pronounced as a dialect work) you.
In the midst of my troubles, some people were still trying to convert me:
- "Why don't you pray - you've nothing to lose". Maybe I (and they) should try praying to Amon-Ra instead - the currently worshipped gods are obviously ineffective : just look at what happened to the dreams and prayers for world peace, so we've nothing to lose by praying to Amon-Ra too!
- "You deserve it." I was perplexed by this. Presumably this is what a "loving" god does to people.
- "Who knows, it may turn out to be good.". I should try getting knocked down by a car. In a way, that would turn out to be good as well.
So my conclusion, in the end, was that when people start talking about their gods, it's time to stop listening, for they have run out of ideas on how to help you with your problem.
It seems that whenever Christians are stressed, it is because their god is "testing" them, or "strengthening" them, and it is all part of the "plan". Conveniently, though, when non-believers are similarly stressed, it is because they have "turned away from god" and have "no peace" because they don't "know god". What dishonest logic.
Religious people always complain when their religious beliefs are offended, but how come no one bothers about the religious beliefs (or lack thereof) or non-theists? Bah. Somehow all this brings to mind Chinx's account of how some well-meaning but still evil people gave this guy a christian burial when he died - something tantamount to sacrilege of the dead. Since he doesn't have permalinks, I'll just reproduce most of the post below (^__^ - normal smilies don't fit well in circular brackets):
"My neighbour died recently.
No, this is *not* going to be a depressing piece. Don't run away yet, y'all. However. What follows is also perhaps the most honest and blunt piece I've written for a while. Sensitive folks will want to avoid this.
Yes, my neighbour died recently. How recently? I don't know. I only knew he died when I saw the wake, and his huge photo staring out at me.
Yes yes, we're horrible neighbours. Yes, yes, we're not close to our neighbours at all, unless you count physical distances. Yes yes. That's not the point of this rant. Shush.
So, as I'm writing this, our neighbours have just finished singing a joyous hymn of praise to our dear lored gawd. Now, this is what really gets me going. See, I may not have known my neighbours very well, but I knew one thing for sure about him- he was not a Christian.
This isn't the 1st time I've seen it happen either. About 2 years ago, an uncle of mine died, well before his time. Our family (with the notable exception of cold-hearted bastard Stranger) reeled from the impact, and was sent into deep mourning. He was well-liked by all, and his death certainly came as a shock to us all. He was, however also not a Christian, but his siblings saw fit to bury him with a Christian ceremony.
This isn't something I take lightly. A funeral is a chance to honour the deceased, to remember the great things that he did, to weep at his passing, and to bid him goodbye. It is NOT an occassion to force your religious beliefs upon him.
I mean, my gawd, he had his entire life to decide if he believed in your gawd or not. If he didn't, why make it as though he accepted it with his last passing breath? Why force YOUR beliefs on him now when he can't fight back? You think you're doing him a favour? You think you're helping him see the light as the darkness claims claims his mortal spark? You think you're saving his bloody soul by singing a few paltry songs while his corpse lays stiff and frozen?
Screw you. Screw you for clothing him upon his death in robes he refused to wear in life. Screw you for turning his death into a vehicle for your preaching. Screw you - you don't say goodbye to someone by corrupting his image. You don't force an 80 year olde grandmother who's just outlived her eldest son to wonder why there's a man from the church to speak at his funeral. You don't make her wonder, as she's sitting there wiping her tears, her heart about to give way, what exactly they're saying about her son when she doesn't speak a word of the language you're praising your gawd with.
Screw you."
"We are born this way and they are born that way, but they are like you and me" - PM Goh on gays. I'm quite impressed.
Coca-Cola Light with Lemon is interesting. I think they're trying to beat Pepsi at their own game.
Quotes:
Gabriel has been looking depressed ever since he became the Docu I/C. [Someone: I've been stressed ever since the recruits came in] [Me: That makes it {my depression} worse]
No, don't call me 'Bob'. Later all 10 [new medics] call me Bob, I boo (pronounced as a dialect work) you.
Post ID: 105742823501188838
Saturday, July 05, 2003
Look what got Screwed Up Girl 44 mails and 345 page views in one day!
I can't believe she actually went to do this. Must be the stress of Common Tests.
The fanmail is damn funny:
"you looks sexy and gergeous..nice photo there"
"n u look lovely too...maybe someday i will see ur lovely face in some magz"
"You are the one look so cute & pretty !!!"
"Hi..How\'s ur life over there?Do you enjoy ur life now?If no..let\'s enjoy wif me together.Life is so short.We need to know how to enjoy our life when we still young.Let\'s start know me from today k.Hope to hear from u soon..See you !!"
"you sound great to be with can i date you out and spend some quality time with you ? maybe have a drink and have some fun? give me your number i will call you"
"Hi, u like singing ??? mmm... U look so cute."
"One thing I have to say is that you look great."
"Phewittt..! Hello Ariella ....U r most beautiful & sweetest when u smile... Hello my gracious beautiful friend... Ariella Please do take a few minuets of your time to read on okay... Please I beg you my friend.. TQ... I would really like to be your friend... To be honest with you... I am seriously & sincerely attracted to you... you are a very very Beautiful & Gourgeous young lady...your lovely sweet smiles & your eyes look cool ... I mean you are very beautiful ...Very beautiful indeed... You really caught my eyes & triggered my instinct to make a move to try to approach you... May be I am not \"Attractive\" enough to become a friend to such a beautiful girl like you...? Or may be I am not up to your standards I guess... Mum always says if you don\'t try... you will never know if you will make it right...? I know that it is sometimes a waste of time or useless to \"layan\" us guys... most girls will assume or think that guys are trying to take advantage of girls... vulnerable as we are, human being like us are trying to protect our own interest in life... who doesn\'t right...? But please do have faith in me... Really hope that I can have your PHONE NUMBER coz I personally will prefer to chat on the phone sometimes... I do know that I am very much still a stranger to you; that giving me your phone number ill be a risk that you might not want to gamble upon... But do have faith in me cause I am not those crazy guys giving missed called & prank calls... Do wish you have faith in me & trust me that I do not have any bad intention on you ... It is really hard to convince you but I hope you will trust me as I am sincere & honest.."
"So, how about u? how r u? May i know more about u? and one question, frankly, are u attached at the moment?:p"
"Would you like to meet SOMEONE ? Someone who care Someone who listen.. Someone who is kind Someone who is gentle Someone who jokes a lot Someone who is romantic Someone who make you smile Someone who make you laugh
Someone who lend you a shoulder to cry on.. Someone who know how to make you feel good Someone who is there when you needed him most If you want to befriend SOMEONE do reply this email…. "
"I started an appreciation for fine art especially those from the early Impressionist period ie Monet, Renoir, Degas and Seurat. I wish one day I could be rich enough to own a genuine masterpiece. " - I think this one is promising :)
"Very nice introduction you have there. As much as I was dazed by your beauty, I was more intrigued by your command of the language and how you project yourself to others. I think you should be a highly intellectual person bubbling with lots of energy to surge forward in life."
"yup...u sound like the typical singaporean bitch. hope you grow up soon to realize that." - Wah. So much for dating via that site.
I wonder where they get these people from. She must be very flattered. Wonder what will happen if her "better" juniors go post their profiles and photos there.
And I wonder what will happen if I set up a profile and put Asian Prince's face there :)
I can't believe she actually went to do this. Must be the stress of Common Tests.
The fanmail is damn funny:
"you looks sexy and gergeous..nice photo there"
"n u look lovely too...maybe someday i will see ur lovely face in some magz"
"You are the one look so cute & pretty !!!"
"Hi..How\'s ur life over there?Do you enjoy ur life now?If no..let\'s enjoy wif me together.Life is so short.We need to know how to enjoy our life when we still young.Let\'s start know me from today k.Hope to hear from u soon..See you !!"
"you sound great to be with can i date you out and spend some quality time with you ? maybe have a drink and have some fun? give me your number i will call you"
"Hi, u like singing ??? mmm... U look so cute."
"One thing I have to say is that you look great."
"Phewittt..! Hello Ariella ....U r most beautiful & sweetest when u smile... Hello my gracious beautiful friend... Ariella Please do take a few minuets of your time to read on okay... Please I beg you my friend.. TQ... I would really like to be your friend... To be honest with you... I am seriously & sincerely attracted to you... you are a very very Beautiful & Gourgeous young lady...your lovely sweet smiles & your eyes look cool ... I mean you are very beautiful ...Very beautiful indeed... You really caught my eyes & triggered my instinct to make a move to try to approach you... May be I am not \"Attractive\" enough to become a friend to such a beautiful girl like you...? Or may be I am not up to your standards I guess... Mum always says if you don\'t try... you will never know if you will make it right...? I know that it is sometimes a waste of time or useless to \"layan\" us guys... most girls will assume or think that guys are trying to take advantage of girls... vulnerable as we are, human being like us are trying to protect our own interest in life... who doesn\'t right...? But please do have faith in me... Really hope that I can have your PHONE NUMBER coz I personally will prefer to chat on the phone sometimes... I do know that I am very much still a stranger to you; that giving me your phone number ill be a risk that you might not want to gamble upon... But do have faith in me cause I am not those crazy guys giving missed called & prank calls... Do wish you have faith in me & trust me that I do not have any bad intention on you ... It is really hard to convince you but I hope you will trust me as I am sincere & honest.."
"So, how about u? how r u? May i know more about u? and one question, frankly, are u attached at the moment?:p"
"Would you like to meet SOMEONE ? Someone who care Someone who listen.. Someone who is kind Someone who is gentle Someone who jokes a lot Someone who is romantic Someone who make you smile Someone who make you laugh
Someone who lend you a shoulder to cry on.. Someone who know how to make you feel good Someone who is there when you needed him most If you want to befriend SOMEONE do reply this email…. "
"I started an appreciation for fine art especially those from the early Impressionist period ie Monet, Renoir, Degas and Seurat. I wish one day I could be rich enough to own a genuine masterpiece. " - I think this one is promising :)
"Very nice introduction you have there. As much as I was dazed by your beauty, I was more intrigued by your command of the language and how you project yourself to others. I think you should be a highly intellectual person bubbling with lots of energy to surge forward in life."
"yup...u sound like the typical singaporean bitch. hope you grow up soon to realize that." - Wah. So much for dating via that site.
I wonder where they get these people from. She must be very flattered. Wonder what will happen if her "better" juniors go post their profiles and photos there.
And I wonder what will happen if I set up a profile and put Asian Prince's face there :)
Post ID: 105741804583288254
The Illustrated Catalog Of ACME Products
"ACME is a worldwide leader of many manufactured goods. From its humble beginnings providing corks and flypaper to bug collectors ("Buddy's Bug Hunt/1935") to its heyday in the American Southwest supplying a certain coyote, from Ultimatum Dispatchers to Batman outfits, ACME has set the standard for excellence.
For the first time ever, information and pictures of all ACME products, specialty divisions, and services (from 1935 to 1964) are gathered here, in one convenient catalog. For more information about any ACME product, simply click on the thumbnail picture. Thanks to Warner Bros. studios and their fine animation department for advertising ACME products in their cartoons!!"
I haven't even seen half of these in action! Tis hard to say what catches my eye, but some of the more outstanding products are the ACME DEHYDRATED BOULDERS, , ACME ATOM RE-ARRANGER, ACME FEMALE ROAD RUNNER COSTUME, ACME ROCKET POWERED ROLLER SKATES, ACME STRAIT-JACKET EJECTING BAZOOKA, ACME SUPER OUTFIT and best of all - the ACME INSTANT GIRL!
I've heard so much about Xenogears, but never found out what the hell it was about. Now, I've found a novelization - though how much of the story it's retold so far I don't know
Lightning Strikes Preacher Who Asked For Sign
Ink more expensive than champagne
"ACME is a worldwide leader of many manufactured goods. From its humble beginnings providing corks and flypaper to bug collectors ("Buddy's Bug Hunt/1935") to its heyday in the American Southwest supplying a certain coyote, from Ultimatum Dispatchers to Batman outfits, ACME has set the standard for excellence.
For the first time ever, information and pictures of all ACME products, specialty divisions, and services (from 1935 to 1964) are gathered here, in one convenient catalog. For more information about any ACME product, simply click on the thumbnail picture. Thanks to Warner Bros. studios and their fine animation department for advertising ACME products in their cartoons!!"
I haven't even seen half of these in action! Tis hard to say what catches my eye, but some of the more outstanding products are the ACME DEHYDRATED BOULDERS, , ACME ATOM RE-ARRANGER, ACME FEMALE ROAD RUNNER COSTUME, ACME ROCKET POWERED ROLLER SKATES, ACME STRAIT-JACKET EJECTING BAZOOKA, ACME SUPER OUTFIT and best of all - the ACME INSTANT GIRL!
I've heard so much about Xenogears, but never found out what the hell it was about. Now, I've found a novelization - though how much of the story it's retold so far I don't know
Lightning Strikes Preacher Who Asked For Sign
Ink more expensive than champagne
Post ID: 105740541103967469
Monday, June 30, 2003
DR MAHATHIR MOHAMMED BLAMES MARTIANS FOR WORLD PROBLEMS
By J. Blair
SOME SOURCES THAT HAVE PROVIDED DR MAHATHIR WITH HIS INCONTROVERTIBLE EVIDENCE ON THE EVIL AND SEXUALLY WANTON NATURE OF MARTIANS
In his latest tirade one week after his scathing attack on Europeans, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed has now targeted a "greater menace to mankind's future, more than the Europeans".
"Yes, it is the Martians." says Dr. Mahathir Mohammed.
"And they have a long history offering incontrovertible proof of their violent, evil and sexually wanton nature." He noted that the Martians have an "advanced civilization, that contained huge canals and cities to upstage earth's and craters that are actually huge missile silos." And he also complimented the Martians by saying that they're "very clever and brave, but also very greedy and have a history of attempting to conquer other planets, as their history will show."
According to Dr Mahathir, the martians have already been attempting to conquer earth by creating a string of natural disasters, including global warming, earthquakes, twisters and floods. "All these have been caused by Martians, who are now far more advanced in their weaponry than we can imagine. Their latest example has been the biological weapon known as SARS."
Dr Mahathir also says that the Martians are a "people of wanton and overt sexuality who have the exhibitionistic tendency of seeming to enjoy showing off their unusually well-proportioned bodies".
The documents that Dr Mahathir produced to reinforce his argument include a book by Edgar Rice Burroughs called "A Princess of Mars" ,a book by HG Wells called "The War of the Worlds", and some short films directed by a man who Dr Mahathir called a "superb Martian authority", Chuck Jones. He has recommended these sources for public patronizing.
"The Martians will not stop until they have taken away everything from us Malays." he concluded as he broke down in tears.
He also added that he is not a "speciesist" or a "planetist", adding that he has many "friends and acquaintances who are Martians."
But, he added, "he would tell the truth about the Martians as he sees fit."
Paradox is disrupting in 2 weeks!
By J. Blair
SOME SOURCES THAT HAVE PROVIDED DR MAHATHIR WITH HIS INCONTROVERTIBLE EVIDENCE ON THE EVIL AND SEXUALLY WANTON NATURE OF MARTIANS
In his latest tirade one week after his scathing attack on Europeans, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed has now targeted a "greater menace to mankind's future, more than the Europeans".
"Yes, it is the Martians." says Dr. Mahathir Mohammed.
"And they have a long history offering incontrovertible proof of their violent, evil and sexually wanton nature." He noted that the Martians have an "advanced civilization, that contained huge canals and cities to upstage earth's and craters that are actually huge missile silos." And he also complimented the Martians by saying that they're "very clever and brave, but also very greedy and have a history of attempting to conquer other planets, as their history will show."
According to Dr Mahathir, the martians have already been attempting to conquer earth by creating a string of natural disasters, including global warming, earthquakes, twisters and floods. "All these have been caused by Martians, who are now far more advanced in their weaponry than we can imagine. Their latest example has been the biological weapon known as SARS."
Dr Mahathir also says that the Martians are a "people of wanton and overt sexuality who have the exhibitionistic tendency of seeming to enjoy showing off their unusually well-proportioned bodies".
The documents that Dr Mahathir produced to reinforce his argument include a book by Edgar Rice Burroughs called "A Princess of Mars" ,a book by HG Wells called "The War of the Worlds", and some short films directed by a man who Dr Mahathir called a "superb Martian authority", Chuck Jones. He has recommended these sources for public patronizing.
"The Martians will not stop until they have taken away everything from us Malays." he concluded as he broke down in tears.
He also added that he is not a "speciesist" or a "planetist", adding that he has many "friends and acquaintances who are Martians."
But, he added, "he would tell the truth about the Martians as he sees fit."
Paradox is disrupting in 2 weeks!
Post ID: 105690911932680133
On idealism and liberalism:
Rationally Speaking: A monthly e-column by Massimo Pigliucci
N. 28, September 2002: Why bother? Why being liberal is not a lost cause
Quote of the month:
"What used to be called liberal is now called radical, what used to be called radical is now called insane, what used to be called reactionary is now called moderate, and what used to be called insane is now called solid conservative thinking." - Tony Kushner
I am what most people in the United States would describe as an idealist, a progressive, a liberal, a social democrat, or worse. Consequently, the question that a few of my friends and I often ask ourselves is: why bother? Let me explain. The world some of us would like to see, and are fighting to help bring about with our actions and writings, is one in which more people will use reason to make their decisions; fundamentalist religion will be seen as silly at best, and profoundly misguided and dangerous at worst; the environment will be thought of a real priority; war will not be possible because of a truly civilized international system of police and tribunals (you know, just like modern societies are an improvement over the law of the jungle?); and human beings will engage not in the search for profit or shallow consumerism but in the pursuit of true happiness and fulfillment. Scary, eh?
Now, the world in which we actually live is apparently characterized by rampant superstition and nonsense; fundamentalist religion is seen as a respectable, even enviable, way of life; the environment keeps taking a beating notwithstanding international conferences and political pledges; wars are been fought all over the planet and more are in the planning; and many of our society’s role models are among the shallowest (movie and sports stars) and meanest (corporate executives) people one can think of.
I repeat: why bother? I mean: in order to be a liberal freethinker one has either to be a masochist or a hopeless optimist, completely out of touch with reality. We are bombarded with bad news every day and from every corner. Yes, we had eight years of Clinton, blessed be the memory of his presidency, but he wasn’t really a liberal or a progressive. Rather, he was a fairly moderate Republican (yes, you read correctly), and hardly slowed down the onslaught of corporate interests and environmental catastrophe that has been the hallmark of this country’s policy since Reagan. To make it even worse, now we have a president who was not elected democratically (hey, I thought that happened only in Third World countries!), who keeps showing a callous disrespect for the environment and an equally abominable close tie to big business, and of whom (for some reason) most people keep approving because he has “character” (by which they must mean that he is able to lie about his past better than Clinton did).
All of this sounds hopeless, and no matter what my friends and I write or do, it will likely not change perceptibly during our lifetime. Then again, before yielding to depression and committing suicide or, worse, going on annual pilgrimages to DisneyWorld, we should consider the idea of different temporal horizons of activism. You see, all that I have described so far happens at what I think of as the mid-time horizon, i.e., stretches of time that can be measured on the order of a human life. But there are at least two additional horizons to consider if you are as stubborn an optimist as I am.
First, there is the near-time horizon. This is the here and now, in which we can make a huge difference at the local level. Our doings and writings can touch people in countless ways. It’s true: I get testimonials via email every week. Our actions can make a difference between a school board adopting a textbook that teaches the nonsense of creationism and another based on the best science available. This will affect thousands of kids, immediately! True, a protest at the local nuclear plant may go completely unnoticed; but other causes, like the No-Global movement, have made themselves heard the world over (despite the obvious irony intrinsic in such success…). Furthermore, things do change in major ways, from time to time. Let’s not forget that the Soviet Union and the Berlin wall crumbled in front of our eyes after having been apparently unfaltering symbols of oppression for decades. Equally surprisingly, Nelson Mandela went from political prisoner to head of state in South Africa, and the Milosovic government in the former Yugoslavia disappeared. These things don’t happen if we leave the field entirely to conservative and regressive forces.
Then there is the long-time horizon. I know most people think history is boring, but that’s a pity, because they would find that things do change during the course of human history and, often enough, for the better. A few decades ago it would have been perfectly acceptable to enforce racist laws in the United States; today this is unthinkable. Not long before that, women were not allowed to vote, while now all political parties consistently court them. Slavery was sanctioned in Western countries until the 19th century, but it is now actively fought everywhere in the world. Religious fundamentalists may have a large influence on the cultural and political life of the United States and the Middle East, but that is a far cry from the absolute dominance of religious bigotry that characterized several centuries of Western history deservedly referred to as “the dark ages.” And the environment wasn’t even an issue until the second half of the 20th century. These long-term changes, like the short-term ones listed above, were made possible by the continuous action of people who kept protesting, marching and writing to further human flourishing in the broadest possible sense. Most of them saw no perceptible change for the better during their life times, but they believed it would eventually come if they kept up the struggle. They were right.
I am under no illusion that this column or anything I do will change the world, but I do know that people are positively affected by what is written and done in the here and now. And I know that it is because of my friends and colleagues who keep protesting against nonsense, greed and repression that we can conceive of a better future for humanity. Indeed, to some extent, that future has already happened.
Rationally Speaking: A monthly e-column by Massimo Pigliucci
N. 28, September 2002: Why bother? Why being liberal is not a lost cause
Quote of the month:
"What used to be called liberal is now called radical, what used to be called radical is now called insane, what used to be called reactionary is now called moderate, and what used to be called insane is now called solid conservative thinking." - Tony Kushner
I am what most people in the United States would describe as an idealist, a progressive, a liberal, a social democrat, or worse. Consequently, the question that a few of my friends and I often ask ourselves is: why bother? Let me explain. The world some of us would like to see, and are fighting to help bring about with our actions and writings, is one in which more people will use reason to make their decisions; fundamentalist religion will be seen as silly at best, and profoundly misguided and dangerous at worst; the environment will be thought of a real priority; war will not be possible because of a truly civilized international system of police and tribunals (you know, just like modern societies are an improvement over the law of the jungle?); and human beings will engage not in the search for profit or shallow consumerism but in the pursuit of true happiness and fulfillment. Scary, eh?
Now, the world in which we actually live is apparently characterized by rampant superstition and nonsense; fundamentalist religion is seen as a respectable, even enviable, way of life; the environment keeps taking a beating notwithstanding international conferences and political pledges; wars are been fought all over the planet and more are in the planning; and many of our society’s role models are among the shallowest (movie and sports stars) and meanest (corporate executives) people one can think of.
I repeat: why bother? I mean: in order to be a liberal freethinker one has either to be a masochist or a hopeless optimist, completely out of touch with reality. We are bombarded with bad news every day and from every corner. Yes, we had eight years of Clinton, blessed be the memory of his presidency, but he wasn’t really a liberal or a progressive. Rather, he was a fairly moderate Republican (yes, you read correctly), and hardly slowed down the onslaught of corporate interests and environmental catastrophe that has been the hallmark of this country’s policy since Reagan. To make it even worse, now we have a president who was not elected democratically (hey, I thought that happened only in Third World countries!), who keeps showing a callous disrespect for the environment and an equally abominable close tie to big business, and of whom (for some reason) most people keep approving because he has “character” (by which they must mean that he is able to lie about his past better than Clinton did).
All of this sounds hopeless, and no matter what my friends and I write or do, it will likely not change perceptibly during our lifetime. Then again, before yielding to depression and committing suicide or, worse, going on annual pilgrimages to DisneyWorld, we should consider the idea of different temporal horizons of activism. You see, all that I have described so far happens at what I think of as the mid-time horizon, i.e., stretches of time that can be measured on the order of a human life. But there are at least two additional horizons to consider if you are as stubborn an optimist as I am.
First, there is the near-time horizon. This is the here and now, in which we can make a huge difference at the local level. Our doings and writings can touch people in countless ways. It’s true: I get testimonials via email every week. Our actions can make a difference between a school board adopting a textbook that teaches the nonsense of creationism and another based on the best science available. This will affect thousands of kids, immediately! True, a protest at the local nuclear plant may go completely unnoticed; but other causes, like the No-Global movement, have made themselves heard the world over (despite the obvious irony intrinsic in such success…). Furthermore, things do change in major ways, from time to time. Let’s not forget that the Soviet Union and the Berlin wall crumbled in front of our eyes after having been apparently unfaltering symbols of oppression for decades. Equally surprisingly, Nelson Mandela went from political prisoner to head of state in South Africa, and the Milosovic government in the former Yugoslavia disappeared. These things don’t happen if we leave the field entirely to conservative and regressive forces.
Then there is the long-time horizon. I know most people think history is boring, but that’s a pity, because they would find that things do change during the course of human history and, often enough, for the better. A few decades ago it would have been perfectly acceptable to enforce racist laws in the United States; today this is unthinkable. Not long before that, women were not allowed to vote, while now all political parties consistently court them. Slavery was sanctioned in Western countries until the 19th century, but it is now actively fought everywhere in the world. Religious fundamentalists may have a large influence on the cultural and political life of the United States and the Middle East, but that is a far cry from the absolute dominance of religious bigotry that characterized several centuries of Western history deservedly referred to as “the dark ages.” And the environment wasn’t even an issue until the second half of the 20th century. These long-term changes, like the short-term ones listed above, were made possible by the continuous action of people who kept protesting, marching and writing to further human flourishing in the broadest possible sense. Most of them saw no perceptible change for the better during their life times, but they believed it would eventually come if they kept up the struggle. They were right.
I am under no illusion that this column or anything I do will change the world, but I do know that people are positively affected by what is written and done in the here and now. And I know that it is because of my friends and colleagues who keep protesting against nonsense, greed and repression that we can conceive of a better future for humanity. Indeed, to some extent, that future has already happened.
Post ID: 105690585937618204
Sunday, June 29, 2003
The 6th Mono-Intake has come to the Cutting Edge (my unit)! It's time for all of us to practise uttering the sentence: "Never mind, whole lot knock it down!", or variants of the above. Some time before they came in, 2 posters went up on 2 facing walls. One says: "BMT. It's not what you leave behind. It's what you gain in the days ahead". Below, you see this forlorn guy and his sad-looking girl friend. So I suppose the message is you lose your girlfriend, and you get a bad haircut, courtesy of the 42SAR barber and friends. The other poster says "Welcome to 42SAR". I think a good subtext for that poster would be: "You die. All die." People say that BMT at a unit is more slack than at the Isle of Doom, and this seems to be borne out by the fact that the recruits aren't confined at the start of BMT!
We've gotten 10 new medics. This unexpected generosity has us overwhelmed. For once we will be at (sorta) full strength. Unfortunately, none of them are my juniors. All of them are privates, so the 2 1/2 year soldiers (most of them) will get to go through everything with the just-enlisted recruits, and ORD together with them. Joy! Meanwhile, people like me will get to skip ATEC :)
Now that the recruits have come, life has gotten worse for us. Perhaps it's to set the standards for the recruits, or so that they don't complain. For one, we can't sleep in bunk during lunch time anymore. So one of the few advantages of having a bunk is now gone, and we have even less reason to leave our work places.
I returned from NCC cover to discover that my Secret Garden had been desecrated! Argh. It took me all of a few minutes to re-sanctify it and re-consecrate it, so now it's back to normal.
The promising initiative whereby we could choose what meals to eat in order to save taxpayers' money has been killed in its prime. People will continue not to eat, regardless. More's the pity.
We've been made to purchase these "Free Singapore From SARS" combination lucky draw/scratch and win tickets issued by Singapore Pools at $3 each. The top prize is $1 million - maybe it's what they decided to do with the surfeit money is the Courage Fund. Now, how buying lucky draw tickets is supposed to kill SARS is a mystery. I don't think throwing yet more money at this particular problem is going to make it go away any faster. Anyhow, the tickets proclaim that all proceeds will go to "SARS-related community causes". This is a marvelously vague term. I suppose it could mean that the money is used to subsidise the purchase of floor disinfectant bought by Community Centres. Or maybe it goes to helping MOE and MINDEF pay for the thermometers that all pupils and soldiers got :) Now, all of this wouldn't bother me all that much, but for the fact that we've been -forced- to buy these tickets. Now, I remember that, a few weeks ago, some guy wrote in to the Straits Times forum asking why his son was forced to collect money for the Army Half Marathon. Colonel Bernard Toh, Director of Public Affairs at Mindef, naturally wrote in to assure everyone that no, servicemen are not forced to collect money for AHM. They're just given "targets". So now, with this dirty business made public, I assume that all servicemen are no longer forced to reach a target for AHM collections - hell, it came out on my unit's Routine Orders. The trouble is that, while AHM donations are no longer compulsory (unlike last year), the "Free Singapore From SARS" tickets are still being forced down our throats. Now, I could be a jolly chap and write in, like the father of that serviceman, and complain to Colonel Bernard Toh, and shame the SAF again. However, seeing my history of having letters rejected by the ST, and how, if they're feeling nasty, they'll invoke the Official Secrets Act and throw me into DB, I suppose that might not be such a wise course of action. Maybe I should just call the SAF Hotline :) 1800-6278-0022.
I felt a sudden urge to opine on Singapore's own Day of Infamy (a la Pearl Harbor, December 7th, 1941), while my feet were collapsing during the SAF Day parade rehearsal, but I find that it isn't really suitable.
The SAR-vivor rap is so bad that it will forever be seared into my mind, causing my untold horrific nightmares for all eternity.
I really should be careful when deleting CLSIDs from my Registry. I've had to re-install Windows twice already because I cocked something up.
Travelling on the new North East line gives me a feeling of deja vu. The stations are massive, multi-levelled and cavernous and you have to walk a lot to get to and from it from the old MRT lines. In the trains, you have signs reading "Mind The Gap". The air in the trains and stations isn't very cold, and smells slightly stale, with a little of the tunnel about it. And to complete it all, you have the Circle Line coming up in a few years.
One of the stated aims of the Circle Line is to let commuters bypass the crowded city. Somehow, I don't think building a new line will have much effect. For one, the stations bypassed by the new line aren't very many. Also, looking at the North East line and how much you have to walk to transfer to it, it is likely that any time saved by bypassing the City stations will be lost both to walking and waiting for the connecting trains.
I saw this device to give you a flashing belly button. It was advertised as being "for girls of all ages". Wth.
I finally saw a Scarlet Ibis (after which a short story I did in Sec 1 for Lit was named after) at the Zoo/Bird Park exhibit in Orchard.
In Korea, getting a tattoo gets you out of their conscription. People also try other ways of getting downgraded. Looks like Singaporeans aren't the only ones who detest being slaves.
Patriotism is, among other things, an urge to do what is best for one's country. However, in Singapore, the country is inextricably bound up with the government. To criticise or distrust the government is almost to be unpatriotic. In fact, the paper that people are forced to sign upon enlistment, and the oath that they swear (invalid, of course, under duress), contain copious references to the Government. So the question is: what happens when the Government is not acting in the interests of the country, and true patriots will be obliged to defy it?
I look into a crystal ball, and I see nothing. That's bad.
Quotes:
[On my observation that his hair had gained in volume during his ORD leave] You know why you're so fat? It's because you're so full of shit.
Only Ah Bengs like to go to Pasar Malams. Then they can buy their "No Fear" shirts.
We've gotten 10 new medics. This unexpected generosity has us overwhelmed. For once we will be at (sorta) full strength. Unfortunately, none of them are my juniors. All of them are privates, so the 2 1/2 year soldiers (most of them) will get to go through everything with the just-enlisted recruits, and ORD together with them. Joy! Meanwhile, people like me will get to skip ATEC :)
Now that the recruits have come, life has gotten worse for us. Perhaps it's to set the standards for the recruits, or so that they don't complain. For one, we can't sleep in bunk during lunch time anymore. So one of the few advantages of having a bunk is now gone, and we have even less reason to leave our work places.
I returned from NCC cover to discover that my Secret Garden had been desecrated! Argh. It took me all of a few minutes to re-sanctify it and re-consecrate it, so now it's back to normal.
The promising initiative whereby we could choose what meals to eat in order to save taxpayers' money has been killed in its prime. People will continue not to eat, regardless. More's the pity.
We've been made to purchase these "Free Singapore From SARS" combination lucky draw/scratch and win tickets issued by Singapore Pools at $3 each. The top prize is $1 million - maybe it's what they decided to do with the surfeit money is the Courage Fund. Now, how buying lucky draw tickets is supposed to kill SARS is a mystery. I don't think throwing yet more money at this particular problem is going to make it go away any faster. Anyhow, the tickets proclaim that all proceeds will go to "SARS-related community causes". This is a marvelously vague term. I suppose it could mean that the money is used to subsidise the purchase of floor disinfectant bought by Community Centres. Or maybe it goes to helping MOE and MINDEF pay for the thermometers that all pupils and soldiers got :) Now, all of this wouldn't bother me all that much, but for the fact that we've been -forced- to buy these tickets. Now, I remember that, a few weeks ago, some guy wrote in to the Straits Times forum asking why his son was forced to collect money for the Army Half Marathon. Colonel Bernard Toh, Director of Public Affairs at Mindef, naturally wrote in to assure everyone that no, servicemen are not forced to collect money for AHM. They're just given "targets". So now, with this dirty business made public, I assume that all servicemen are no longer forced to reach a target for AHM collections - hell, it came out on my unit's Routine Orders. The trouble is that, while AHM donations are no longer compulsory (unlike last year), the "Free Singapore From SARS" tickets are still being forced down our throats. Now, I could be a jolly chap and write in, like the father of that serviceman, and complain to Colonel Bernard Toh, and shame the SAF again. However, seeing my history of having letters rejected by the ST, and how, if they're feeling nasty, they'll invoke the Official Secrets Act and throw me into DB, I suppose that might not be such a wise course of action. Maybe I should just call the SAF Hotline :) 1800-6278-0022.
I felt a sudden urge to opine on Singapore's own Day of Infamy (a la Pearl Harbor, December 7th, 1941), while my feet were collapsing during the SAF Day parade rehearsal, but I find that it isn't really suitable.
The SAR-vivor rap is so bad that it will forever be seared into my mind, causing my untold horrific nightmares for all eternity.
I really should be careful when deleting CLSIDs from my Registry. I've had to re-install Windows twice already because I cocked something up.
Travelling on the new North East line gives me a feeling of deja vu. The stations are massive, multi-levelled and cavernous and you have to walk a lot to get to and from it from the old MRT lines. In the trains, you have signs reading "Mind The Gap". The air in the trains and stations isn't very cold, and smells slightly stale, with a little of the tunnel about it. And to complete it all, you have the Circle Line coming up in a few years.
One of the stated aims of the Circle Line is to let commuters bypass the crowded city. Somehow, I don't think building a new line will have much effect. For one, the stations bypassed by the new line aren't very many. Also, looking at the North East line and how much you have to walk to transfer to it, it is likely that any time saved by bypassing the City stations will be lost both to walking and waiting for the connecting trains.
I saw this device to give you a flashing belly button. It was advertised as being "for girls of all ages". Wth.
I finally saw a Scarlet Ibis (after which a short story I did in Sec 1 for Lit was named after) at the Zoo/Bird Park exhibit in Orchard.
In Korea, getting a tattoo gets you out of their conscription. People also try other ways of getting downgraded. Looks like Singaporeans aren't the only ones who detest being slaves.
Patriotism is, among other things, an urge to do what is best for one's country. However, in Singapore, the country is inextricably bound up with the government. To criticise or distrust the government is almost to be unpatriotic. In fact, the paper that people are forced to sign upon enlistment, and the oath that they swear (invalid, of course, under duress), contain copious references to the Government. So the question is: what happens when the Government is not acting in the interests of the country, and true patriots will be obliged to defy it?
I look into a crystal ball, and I see nothing. That's bad.
Quotes:
[On my observation that his hair had gained in volume during his ORD leave] You know why you're so fat? It's because you're so full of shit.
Only Ah Bengs like to go to Pasar Malams. Then they can buy their "No Fear" shirts.
Post ID: 105689834309704594
4 days at NCC:
I finally prevailed upon Ban Xiong to send me to Amoy Quee to cover NCC courses over 4 days the past week, so I got to stay out for 4 days and have fun slacking over there. I and Bob were assigned to cover the Specialists' Course for Boys for the Central district, so we didn't get to shake our heads much at how girls' NCC is much slacker (for one, on the occasions you are in No 3, you can't get knocked down!), though what little I saw from the other contingents already confirmed my suspicions. Meanwhile, I was entertained and enlightened by Bob's many profound observations on life, the universe and everything.
After observing NCC training, I am more perplexed than ever about why young schoolchildren would want to spend a day or two each week, and more during the holidays, being tortured. Especially the boys. Aren't 2 to 2 1/2 years of full time bondage more than enough? Maybe it's all the masochists who join NCC, so they can perversely rejoice in their suffering. Or maybe they're just channeling their innate and hormonal urges to play at being soldiers, the same way children play with toy soldiers, tanks, planes and what not.
In some ways, NCC is even more regimental than the SAF. When the cadets sit on the floor, they adopt a posture reminiscent of the lotus position, sitting cross-legged with straight backs and stretching both arms out to rest on their knees. They then have to ask their ICs permission to relax and adjust themselves or to drink water. Why the ICs don't give this permission every now and then as a matter of course, or just ask the superiors for carte blanche permission for the cadets to rest, is beyond me. Hell, even their eating is regimental! The ICs are also very fierce, even though they are the same rank as their men. Maybe it's all the vying for recognition so they can get promoted faster, or get the title of Best Trainee. Anyhow, everything can probably be summed up in one word: "discipline" (read: stupidity). Of course, they have their home, their parents, their siblings, a soft, fluffy bed and lots of soft toys waiting for them at the end of the day (or the week, at most), and if worse comes to worst, they can always quit.
In some ways, too, it seems the NCC cadets learn more than we did during BMT. For example they learn how to search people at rifle point. But then they have even less practice than us, so.
I've always wondered why the SAF needs medics to cover all sorts of trivial things. In fact, in the past, I have even had to cover a *reception*. I don't know, maybe they feared some General would choke on a fishball, or something. In the first two days of my NCC cover, people managed to cut themselves while loading magazines into and stripping rifles, so I suppose we were there to stop parental complaints. Anyway, the Police and just about everyone else (schools, organisations holding outdoor activities and more) manage to get by without medical cover, so I suspect maybe they're just finding work for SAF medics to do so we don't become too slack.
I saw what should be all of the Army Recruitment Posters in the "who has the ~" series! I tried to think of spoofs of each, but I didn't succeed. Results of my brainstorming below:
- "Who has the spirit?" -> "Who has flagging spirits?". Picture will show soldiers after a 40km route march - shagged, demoralised and close to exhuastion.
- "Who has the firepower?" -> "Who has insufficient firepower?". Picture will show a M1A2 Abrams beside an SM-1.
- "Who will keep us safe?" -> The lack of tenacity, will, patriotism and determination of many SAFs (and not a few regulars) is well known. Nonetheless, I could not come up with a counterpart to this poster.
- "Who has the motivation?" -> "Who has no motivation?". Picture will show the miserly pay that NSFs get every month. "You pay me peanuts, you get a monkey". What else can be added to show why NSFs lack motivation?
- "Who has the vigilance?" -> "Who has no vigilance?". Picture will show people slacking and sleeping during guard duty, or sleeping at various other places, like in a tonner.
- "Who has the courage?" -> "Who has no courage?". Picture will show someone (me?) hesitating at the high ramp.
Quickies:
Shit rolls downhill. Officers get specialists or officer cadets to do their dirty work, specialists get enlistees or recruits, and enlistees get NCC cadets (if available) :)
There was this short SCGS girl who put her bag near ours, flashed a shy smile and walked away. Gah. I actually felt tempted to throw her bag at her. There should be a law to regulate people's acting cute.
As some NCC specialists were marching past Bob, who was eating Ikan Perdas, I was looking for the guy who was chanting the traditional "loop, loop, loop right loop". To my great shock, it was the person mentioned in the above paragraph! Looks like Raffles Guys is not the only institution which provides this sort of training.
Somehow, this quote from BMT came to mind while watching the NCC ICs count strength: "[Recruit to sergeant while counting strength: X and X blank files, IC!] Fuck. I go to SISPEC for 5 months, come out and become IC. Knock it down!"
In the NCC office, there was this Army recruitment poster claiming that girls got turned on by guys in uniform. Hmmph. Even if there are people whose heads are so easily turned, you won't get to meet many of them in uniform!
It was relatively easy to tell the NCC Cadets from KC apart from the other female cadets (ahem). Oddly, though, some wore a T-shirt which said, at the back, "KC NCC Land Girls". I didn't know there was a boys' contingent in that school.
You always hear people talking about when the weather status "Cat 1" (lightning), but you never get to hear of the other categories - kind of like Hongkong movies, in fact. You always hear about Cat III movies, but never about Cat I, Cat II, Cat IV and Cat V movies. Anyway I found that Cat 2 means that it is raining, and Cat 3 indicates sunny weather.
Some of the older NCC females were wearing green boots with a splash of black. They don't use these anymore nowadays. Interesting. I wonder what the rationale for green boots last time was anyway. Guess SAF wanted to save money.
Amoy Quee seems like a nice, empty, relaxed, slack camp to be in. And it's near civilisation too.
Amoy Quee provides lockers for you to put prohibited items in, but you are "advised" not to put valuables in there. Right. So what could be prohibited without being valuable? Diskettes? CDs? Pirated/pornographic VCDs?
Bob likes to walk so fast. He walked so fast, in fact, that I got abrasions on my left toes, and became all sweaty. Bah.
Sign seen at 20th Singapore Artillery: "Safety habits need to be grilled". Wth?!
I think 20SA's cookhouse can clinch the coveted prize of "Worst Cookhouse In The SAF".
Since it's their lull period, people from 2SIR get to book out daily after their Company Runs. Looks like we in 42SAR really got shortchanged. Hell even 46SAR company line people are stayout during lull.
Strangely (or otherwise) enough, it was rather nice to be addressed as "Sir". I never knew I took even a smidgen of delight in such shallow and trivial things.
It's nice to be able to change your uniform daily.
The NCC song in its full horror! You can (naturally) listen to the mp3 too.
There's actually a further incident that I would put here, but someone accused me of being sick, so I won't talk about it :)
[continued below]
I finally prevailed upon Ban Xiong to send me to Amoy Quee to cover NCC courses over 4 days the past week, so I got to stay out for 4 days and have fun slacking over there. I and Bob were assigned to cover the Specialists' Course for Boys for the Central district, so we didn't get to shake our heads much at how girls' NCC is much slacker (for one, on the occasions you are in No 3, you can't get knocked down!), though what little I saw from the other contingents already confirmed my suspicions. Meanwhile, I was entertained and enlightened by Bob's many profound observations on life, the universe and everything.
After observing NCC training, I am more perplexed than ever about why young schoolchildren would want to spend a day or two each week, and more during the holidays, being tortured. Especially the boys. Aren't 2 to 2 1/2 years of full time bondage more than enough? Maybe it's all the masochists who join NCC, so they can perversely rejoice in their suffering. Or maybe they're just channeling their innate and hormonal urges to play at being soldiers, the same way children play with toy soldiers, tanks, planes and what not.
In some ways, NCC is even more regimental than the SAF. When the cadets sit on the floor, they adopt a posture reminiscent of the lotus position, sitting cross-legged with straight backs and stretching both arms out to rest on their knees. They then have to ask their ICs permission to relax and adjust themselves or to drink water. Why the ICs don't give this permission every now and then as a matter of course, or just ask the superiors for carte blanche permission for the cadets to rest, is beyond me. Hell, even their eating is regimental! The ICs are also very fierce, even though they are the same rank as their men. Maybe it's all the vying for recognition so they can get promoted faster, or get the title of Best Trainee. Anyhow, everything can probably be summed up in one word: "discipline" (read: stupidity). Of course, they have their home, their parents, their siblings, a soft, fluffy bed and lots of soft toys waiting for them at the end of the day (or the week, at most), and if worse comes to worst, they can always quit.
In some ways, too, it seems the NCC cadets learn more than we did during BMT. For example they learn how to search people at rifle point. But then they have even less practice than us, so.
I've always wondered why the SAF needs medics to cover all sorts of trivial things. In fact, in the past, I have even had to cover a *reception*. I don't know, maybe they feared some General would choke on a fishball, or something. In the first two days of my NCC cover, people managed to cut themselves while loading magazines into and stripping rifles, so I suppose we were there to stop parental complaints. Anyway, the Police and just about everyone else (schools, organisations holding outdoor activities and more) manage to get by without medical cover, so I suspect maybe they're just finding work for SAF medics to do so we don't become too slack.
I saw what should be all of the Army Recruitment Posters in the "who has the ~" series! I tried to think of spoofs of each, but I didn't succeed. Results of my brainstorming below:
- "Who has the spirit?" -> "Who has flagging spirits?". Picture will show soldiers after a 40km route march - shagged, demoralised and close to exhuastion.
- "Who has the firepower?" -> "Who has insufficient firepower?". Picture will show a M1A2 Abrams beside an SM-1.
- "Who will keep us safe?" -> The lack of tenacity, will, patriotism and determination of many SAFs (and not a few regulars) is well known. Nonetheless, I could not come up with a counterpart to this poster.
- "Who has the motivation?" -> "Who has no motivation?". Picture will show the miserly pay that NSFs get every month. "You pay me peanuts, you get a monkey". What else can be added to show why NSFs lack motivation?
- "Who has the vigilance?" -> "Who has no vigilance?". Picture will show people slacking and sleeping during guard duty, or sleeping at various other places, like in a tonner.
- "Who has the courage?" -> "Who has no courage?". Picture will show someone (me?) hesitating at the high ramp.
Quickies:
Shit rolls downhill. Officers get specialists or officer cadets to do their dirty work, specialists get enlistees or recruits, and enlistees get NCC cadets (if available) :)
There was this short SCGS girl who put her bag near ours, flashed a shy smile and walked away. Gah. I actually felt tempted to throw her bag at her. There should be a law to regulate people's acting cute.
As some NCC specialists were marching past Bob, who was eating Ikan Perdas, I was looking for the guy who was chanting the traditional "loop, loop, loop right loop". To my great shock, it was the person mentioned in the above paragraph! Looks like Raffles Guys is not the only institution which provides this sort of training.
Somehow, this quote from BMT came to mind while watching the NCC ICs count strength: "[Recruit to sergeant while counting strength: X and X blank files, IC!] Fuck. I go to SISPEC for 5 months, come out and become IC. Knock it down!"
In the NCC office, there was this Army recruitment poster claiming that girls got turned on by guys in uniform. Hmmph. Even if there are people whose heads are so easily turned, you won't get to meet many of them in uniform!
It was relatively easy to tell the NCC Cadets from KC apart from the other female cadets (ahem). Oddly, though, some wore a T-shirt which said, at the back, "KC NCC Land Girls". I didn't know there was a boys' contingent in that school.
You always hear people talking about when the weather status "Cat 1" (lightning), but you never get to hear of the other categories - kind of like Hongkong movies, in fact. You always hear about Cat III movies, but never about Cat I, Cat II, Cat IV and Cat V movies. Anyway I found that Cat 2 means that it is raining, and Cat 3 indicates sunny weather.
Some of the older NCC females were wearing green boots with a splash of black. They don't use these anymore nowadays. Interesting. I wonder what the rationale for green boots last time was anyway. Guess SAF wanted to save money.
Amoy Quee seems like a nice, empty, relaxed, slack camp to be in. And it's near civilisation too.
Amoy Quee provides lockers for you to put prohibited items in, but you are "advised" not to put valuables in there. Right. So what could be prohibited without being valuable? Diskettes? CDs? Pirated/pornographic VCDs?
Bob likes to walk so fast. He walked so fast, in fact, that I got abrasions on my left toes, and became all sweaty. Bah.
Sign seen at 20th Singapore Artillery: "Safety habits need to be grilled". Wth?!
I think 20SA's cookhouse can clinch the coveted prize of "Worst Cookhouse In The SAF".
Since it's their lull period, people from 2SIR get to book out daily after their Company Runs. Looks like we in 42SAR really got shortchanged. Hell even 46SAR company line people are stayout during lull.
Strangely (or otherwise) enough, it was rather nice to be addressed as "Sir". I never knew I took even a smidgen of delight in such shallow and trivial things.
It's nice to be able to change your uniform daily.
The NCC song in its full horror! You can (naturally) listen to the mp3 too.
There's actually a further incident that I would put here, but someone accused me of being sick, so I won't talk about it :)
[continued below]
Post ID: 105689737514795016
[continued from above post]
Quotes from and about NCC:
Just hang yourself around here (around)
[On adolescence] It's natural for a girl to act cute, c'mon, especially at that age.
Ask her to take a seat and have an interview with us. [Me: What interview?] Medical checkup. [Me: ...]
[On items in the Medical Orderly Pouch being useless during peace time] The girl comes to you. "Sir, can you spare me one FAD?" [Me: For what? Padding ah?] Yah.
[Me on NS breakups: A lot, especially during BMT. That's if the girls are fickle.] Girls are all fickle, come on.
Platoon 3, on your berets - up! (put on)
[On screwing NCC cadets] Look at it this way. They enjoy being tortured, otherwise they won't be here... Those who don't like to be tortured would have quit after the first week.
All so ugly... How come I don't have luck this time?... No nice bodies, no nice faces, no nice features.
[Me on why the gender ratio is not demoralising: Because Singaporean men are shit] Yes, just like you and me... Those who are not shit are bastards.
I conclude that girls who join NCC aren't very feminine.
Wah kao, I saw a girl with muscular legs. *walks off* I like girls with well-toned legs. I don't like girls with masculine legs.
Quotes from and about NCC:
Just hang yourself around here (around)
[On adolescence] It's natural for a girl to act cute, c'mon, especially at that age.
Ask her to take a seat and have an interview with us. [Me: What interview?] Medical checkup. [Me: ...]
[On items in the Medical Orderly Pouch being useless during peace time] The girl comes to you. "Sir, can you spare me one FAD?" [Me: For what? Padding ah?] Yah.
[Me on NS breakups: A lot, especially during BMT. That's if the girls are fickle.] Girls are all fickle, come on.
Platoon 3, on your berets - up! (put on)
[On screwing NCC cadets] Look at it this way. They enjoy being tortured, otherwise they won't be here... Those who don't like to be tortured would have quit after the first week.
All so ugly... How come I don't have luck this time?... No nice bodies, no nice faces, no nice features.
[Me on why the gender ratio is not demoralising: Because Singaporean men are shit] Yes, just like you and me... Those who are not shit are bastards.
I conclude that girls who join NCC aren't very feminine.
Wah kao, I saw a girl with muscular legs. *walks off* I like girls with well-toned legs. I don't like girls with masculine legs.
Post ID: 105689115739335421
The Secret Garden - I Heard Someone Crying
[LILY]
Oooooooooooh
[MARY]
I heard someone crying
Who tho' could it be
Maybe it was Mother
Calling out, come see.
Maybe it was father
All alone and lost and cold
I heard someone crying
Maybe it was me
[LILY]
Ooooooooh
[ARCHIBALD]
I heard someone singing
Who tho' could it be
Maybe it was Lily,
Calling out to me
Maybe she's not gone
So far away as I've been told
I heard someone singing
Maybe it was she
[MARY]
Maybe it was someone I could
Find and have a cup of tea
Maybe it was someone who
Could bring the tea and come find me
[LILY]
Ooh
I heard someone crying
Tho' I can't say who
Someone in this house
With nothing left to do
Sounded like a father
left alone his love grown cold
I heard someone crying
Maybe it was you
[MARY AND ARCHIBALD]
Maybe I was dreaming of a garden growing far below
Maybe I was dreaming of a life
That I will never know
[MARY (LILY)]
I heard someone crying
Who tho' could it be
Someone in this house (Ooo...)
Whom no one seems to see (Ooo...)
Someone no one seemed to (Ooo...)
Hear except for me(Ooo...)
I heard someone calling
Maybe it was he
(Ooo...)
(Ooo...)
[ARCHIBALD]
Lily, where are you, I'm lost without you
I can't walk these halls without you
Lily, where are you, I'm lost wihtout you
I have searched the world but you're not there
Come and tell me why you
Brought me home if you're not here
My Lily, where are you, I'm lost without you
Lily, I am lost
Without you
[MAJOR HOLMES]
I heard someone crying
Who else could it be
Surley it was Mary
Why can no one see
[ROSE, CLAIRE, ALICE]
Crying for her mother
For the life she's never known
[ALBERT]
So lost
See her lying
In her room alone
[LILY]
Ooo...
[LILY]
Oooooooooooh
[MARY]
I heard someone crying
Who tho' could it be
Maybe it was Mother
Calling out, come see.
Maybe it was father
All alone and lost and cold
I heard someone crying
Maybe it was me
[LILY]
Ooooooooh
[ARCHIBALD]
I heard someone singing
Who tho' could it be
Maybe it was Lily,
Calling out to me
Maybe she's not gone
So far away as I've been told
I heard someone singing
Maybe it was she
[MARY]
Maybe it was someone I could
Find and have a cup of tea
Maybe it was someone who
Could bring the tea and come find me
[LILY]
Ooh
I heard someone crying
Tho' I can't say who
Someone in this house
With nothing left to do
Sounded like a father
left alone his love grown cold
I heard someone crying
Maybe it was you
[MARY AND ARCHIBALD]
Maybe I was dreaming of a garden growing far below
Maybe I was dreaming of a life
That I will never know
[MARY (LILY)]
I heard someone crying
Who tho' could it be
Someone in this house (Ooo...)
Whom no one seems to see (Ooo...)
Someone no one seemed to (Ooo...)
Hear except for me(Ooo...)
I heard someone calling
Maybe it was he
(Ooo...)
(Ooo...)
[ARCHIBALD]
Lily, where are you, I'm lost without you
I can't walk these halls without you
Lily, where are you, I'm lost wihtout you
I have searched the world but you're not there
Come and tell me why you
Brought me home if you're not here
My Lily, where are you, I'm lost without you
Lily, I am lost
Without you
[MAJOR HOLMES]
I heard someone crying
Who else could it be
Surley it was Mary
Why can no one see
[ROSE, CLAIRE, ALICE]
Crying for her mother
For the life she's never known
[ALBERT]
So lost
See her lying
In her room alone
[LILY]
Ooo...
Post ID: 105685174578176161
Saturday, June 28, 2003
Whee.
Hotmail Popper has been updated to version 2. It finally supports SMTP, and it's still free. It seems faster than what seems to be its only competitor, Izymail, and the company coding the latter has recently been making its standalone application more and more expensive and crippled so people take out a subscription to its online service, thus ensuring the company a continuous cash flow. Cunning.
Other POP3/SMTP gateway clients (only the AOL one is not free) for Yahoo and AOL available on the same page I found out about Hotmail Popper 2.
Remote Operating System Build in Netscape (Robin) is
"a window manager using DHTML, Javascript, XUL and some crazy hacks". With it, you can play, among other things, XulMine, Mozteroids, Pagman, Snake, Xultris and MozInvaders.
A new twist on an old concept. I first heard the WAV many years ago, in Lower Secondary if my memory serves me right. All thanks to Tim, of course.
Oh, and apparently the artist is this guy called Dennis Leary. I always knew it wasn't Monty Python (just like many of those "Weird Al Yankovic" mp3s aren't by him), but I never got down to finding out who that guy with the sonorous voice was.
The Straight Dope on 2B, B, HB and other types of pencils.
Harry Potter and the Meaning of Life - Gah. It's just a book. Just like The Matrix is just a movie.
I can't believe there is anyone who can read this (An Interview With Ann Coulter) without cringing or feeling sick. Many forms of conservatism are just sick.
A virtual glass ceiling in 'EverQuest'?
Hotmail Popper has been updated to version 2. It finally supports SMTP, and it's still free. It seems faster than what seems to be its only competitor, Izymail, and the company coding the latter has recently been making its standalone application more and more expensive and crippled so people take out a subscription to its online service, thus ensuring the company a continuous cash flow. Cunning.
Other POP3/SMTP gateway clients (only the AOL one is not free) for Yahoo and AOL available on the same page I found out about Hotmail Popper 2.
Remote Operating System Build in Netscape (Robin) is
"a window manager using DHTML, Javascript, XUL and some crazy hacks". With it, you can play, among other things, XulMine, Mozteroids, Pagman, Snake, Xultris and MozInvaders.
A new twist on an old concept. I first heard the WAV many years ago, in Lower Secondary if my memory serves me right. All thanks to Tim, of course.
Oh, and apparently the artist is this guy called Dennis Leary. I always knew it wasn't Monty Python (just like many of those "Weird Al Yankovic" mp3s aren't by him), but I never got down to finding out who that guy with the sonorous voice was.
The Straight Dope on 2B, B, HB and other types of pencils.
Harry Potter and the Meaning of Life - Gah. It's just a book. Just like The Matrix is just a movie.
I can't believe there is anyone who can read this (An Interview With Ann Coulter) without cringing or feeling sick. Many forms of conservatism are just sick.
A virtual glass ceiling in 'EverQuest'?
Post ID: 105678455282784384
Thursday, June 26, 2003
More Search Referrals
8 year old singaporean kid makes porn site - That's a big young, isn't it?
"raffles girls" "lesbian" - I thought it was the franchise school that was famous for this sort of thing.
"Muslims want to take over the world"
muhammad satanic paedophile
pictures of young girl drinking one liters of cum - Won't she choke?
"ong chiau jin"
"rosie smith" ri - :)
zaogeng
what does zaogeng mean - Interestingly, this is no longer the only coherent site you get when you search for "zaogeng". Guess everyone likes to talk about it nowadays. Maybe they got inspired after searching for zaogeng and finding little of relevance. Also, some psycho set up a poll about which HCJC girl zaogengs the most - "We all know jc gals like to zaogeng a lot! Dun be selfish! Let's share with us all your peeping experiences from your 2 yrs in hjc!!!". Right.
bestiality and sars - That's a really sick thought.
pretty rgs girl
Seven Habits of Ah Beng - Erm. 1. Scratching their ears with their little fingers 2. Wearing gold chains 3. Perming their hair 4. Speaking bad english 5. Squatting 6. Perpetually walking around on the handphone, or with the hands free set draped around their necks 7. Beating people up
sweaty scgs uniform
uniform fetish scgs - I'm not surprised
HPFterror.mov - It's spread so quickly.
tomoko fuck - Interestingly, a new version of Hentai Simgirl is out. They've completed one of the girls and added 2 more. Anyhow, I gave up after a while. I couldn't find a way to talk to the girl they'd finished.
naked sundal - I believe "sundal" means "prostitute" in malay or some Indian language.
serbee rjc culottes - See! I'm not the only one who noticed!!!
Argh, somehow the Ho Poh Fun video played at the same time as "Mountain Battle II" from Baldur's Gate II. Strangely appropriate. Or maybe not :0
8 year old singaporean kid makes porn site - That's a big young, isn't it?
"raffles girls" "lesbian" - I thought it was the franchise school that was famous for this sort of thing.
"Muslims want to take over the world"
muhammad satanic paedophile
pictures of young girl drinking one liters of cum - Won't she choke?
"ong chiau jin"
"rosie smith" ri - :)
zaogeng
what does zaogeng mean - Interestingly, this is no longer the only coherent site you get when you search for "zaogeng". Guess everyone likes to talk about it nowadays. Maybe they got inspired after searching for zaogeng and finding little of relevance. Also, some psycho set up a poll about which HCJC girl zaogengs the most - "We all know jc gals like to zaogeng a lot! Dun be selfish! Let's share with us all your peeping experiences from your 2 yrs in hjc!!!". Right.
bestiality and sars - That's a really sick thought.
pretty rgs girl
Seven Habits of Ah Beng - Erm. 1. Scratching their ears with their little fingers 2. Wearing gold chains 3. Perming their hair 4. Speaking bad english 5. Squatting 6. Perpetually walking around on the handphone, or with the hands free set draped around their necks 7. Beating people up
sweaty scgs uniform
uniform fetish scgs - I'm not surprised
HPFterror.mov - It's spread so quickly.
tomoko fuck - Interestingly, a new version of Hentai Simgirl is out. They've completed one of the girls and added 2 more. Anyhow, I gave up after a while. I couldn't find a way to talk to the girl they'd finished.
naked sundal - I believe "sundal" means "prostitute" in malay or some Indian language.
serbee rjc culottes - See! I'm not the only one who noticed!!!
Argh, somehow the Ho Poh Fun video played at the same time as "Mountain Battle II" from Baldur's Gate II. Strangely appropriate. Or maybe not :0
Post ID: 105663632585428979
I've finally been moved to Dano. It's looking good. Yeh!
On those ridiculous OB markers (though I wonder why there's a need to refer to the economic aspect of stifling free thought and speech in the headline):
TO PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE AND CREATIVITY...
Why have OB markers?
I REFER to the Insight articles on OB markers revisited (ST, June 21). What concerns me are the consequences of having out-of-bounds, or OB, markers.
In such an environment, is it any surprise that there is a stifling of entrepreneurial drive? The idea that some things cannot be challenged is surely not the mentality of a risk-taker.
Sterility and a lack of creativity are surely tied to the decision to tell people what they can and can't think about. Not to mention a feeling of being an alien in one's place of abode.
Are apathy and lack of awareness among the public not clearly linked to being told what one can or cannot think about? After all, if you are not interested in what I have to say about the most important of issues, why should I bother saying anything at all?
Shall I limit my comments to bus-fare hikes and the new train line? Indeed, these are the sort of discussions which engage the nation presently.
Is a lack of social cohesion a surprise? Avoiding public discussion of what are considered explosive issues only means that the society never gets a chance to grow in understanding. How long are people supposed to be protected from their own supposed irrationality?
The idea that one should not think about some things because otherwise there will be trouble stems from a patronising view of the mass of society. Maybe it is valid. I really can't say I know.
But again, not discussing things openly does not mean that people don't have opinions. It does not mean that issues will go away. All it means is that there is an artificial environment of people living beside each other but not with each other.
Strange ideas grow in strength because they are not challenged in open discussion. For what is not aired in open discussion will be whispered among like-thinking people in corridors. Woeful it will be when somehow these ideas gain momentum despite attempts to control the ideas that can be circulated.
When I think about the basis for a belief in the need for OB markers, what comes to mind is a father with a brood of children who aren't really able to think straight and make the right choices. So the father draws lines and says, thus far but no farther.
Whether this is a true portrayal of Singapore society, I cannot say. I do know that I am not a child and have little interest in discussing things when treated like one.
As for the rest of the society, as long as the father goes on treating them as children, he can only expect that they will behave like children. To treat them as children and then expect them to be creative, entrepreneurial individuals with passionate opinions on issues seems misguided to me.
THOMAS KOSHY
On those ridiculous OB markers (though I wonder why there's a need to refer to the economic aspect of stifling free thought and speech in the headline):
TO PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE AND CREATIVITY...
Why have OB markers?
I REFER to the Insight articles on OB markers revisited (ST, June 21). What concerns me are the consequences of having out-of-bounds, or OB, markers.
In such an environment, is it any surprise that there is a stifling of entrepreneurial drive? The idea that some things cannot be challenged is surely not the mentality of a risk-taker.
Sterility and a lack of creativity are surely tied to the decision to tell people what they can and can't think about. Not to mention a feeling of being an alien in one's place of abode.
Are apathy and lack of awareness among the public not clearly linked to being told what one can or cannot think about? After all, if you are not interested in what I have to say about the most important of issues, why should I bother saying anything at all?
Shall I limit my comments to bus-fare hikes and the new train line? Indeed, these are the sort of discussions which engage the nation presently.
Is a lack of social cohesion a surprise? Avoiding public discussion of what are considered explosive issues only means that the society never gets a chance to grow in understanding. How long are people supposed to be protected from their own supposed irrationality?
The idea that one should not think about some things because otherwise there will be trouble stems from a patronising view of the mass of society. Maybe it is valid. I really can't say I know.
But again, not discussing things openly does not mean that people don't have opinions. It does not mean that issues will go away. All it means is that there is an artificial environment of people living beside each other but not with each other.
Strange ideas grow in strength because they are not challenged in open discussion. For what is not aired in open discussion will be whispered among like-thinking people in corridors. Woeful it will be when somehow these ideas gain momentum despite attempts to control the ideas that can be circulated.
When I think about the basis for a belief in the need for OB markers, what comes to mind is a father with a brood of children who aren't really able to think straight and make the right choices. So the father draws lines and says, thus far but no farther.
Whether this is a true portrayal of Singapore society, I cannot say. I do know that I am not a child and have little interest in discussing things when treated like one.
As for the rest of the society, as long as the father goes on treating them as children, he can only expect that they will behave like children. To treat them as children and then expect them to be creative, entrepreneurial individuals with passionate opinions on issues seems misguided to me.
THOMAS KOSHY
Post ID: 105662152454890812
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
What is whichbook.net?
whichbook.net gives readers an enjoyable and intuitive way to find books to match their mood.
Instead of starting from the overwhelming choice of books available, whichbook.net starts from the reader, and enables each individual to build the elements of that elusive 'good read' we are all looking for but don't quite know how to define.
The standard way of organising books for choice, on shelves in a library or a bookshop, or on the web, starts from the products available - the authors, titles, publishers or genres. Using innovative software from Applied Psychology Research Ltd, whichbook.net enables, for the first time, the choice of book to start from the individual reader and what he/she is looking for...
Instead of looking for a crime novel, you can look for a book that is unpredictable, very romantic and a little bit sad. Or a challenging book that's also funny with plenty of sex. whichbook.net will find titles which match your preferences. If you don't fancy any of the books offered, change your choices and try again - there are 20 million different individual permutations possible!
whichbook.net gives readers an enjoyable and intuitive way to find books to match their mood.
Instead of starting from the overwhelming choice of books available, whichbook.net starts from the reader, and enables each individual to build the elements of that elusive 'good read' we are all looking for but don't quite know how to define.
The standard way of organising books for choice, on shelves in a library or a bookshop, or on the web, starts from the products available - the authors, titles, publishers or genres. Using innovative software from Applied Psychology Research Ltd, whichbook.net enables, for the first time, the choice of book to start from the individual reader and what he/she is looking for...
Instead of looking for a crime novel, you can look for a book that is unpredictable, very romantic and a little bit sad. Or a challenging book that's also funny with plenty of sex. whichbook.net will find titles which match your preferences. If you don't fancy any of the books offered, change your choices and try again - there are 20 million different individual permutations possible!
Post ID: 96012202
He Who Must Not Be Named is really insufferable.
Not content with the various little niggly ways in which he spreads Death, Famine, Plague and Prestilence throughout the world, he has this annoying habit of seeking to ruin people's enjoyment of various things that they have not yet seen. Case in point: Star Wars 2, Harry Potter 5.
Now, I am by no measure a rabid fan of either of these over hyped series, but at the time at which he spoilt them for me, I was planning to getting down to watching/reading them.
I am sorely tempted, at this juncture, to block him, to prevent further aggravation as well as pictures of nude sumo wrestlers, but he does provide some small measure of amusement on lonely winter nights when the coals in the fireplace have gone out. I was also tempted to reveal - horror - his name, so his adoring fans can go adore, stalk and lynch him, but I decided, at this juncture, that it wasn't quite the time to do so.
Anyhow, the castigation and ostracism that he has enjoyed, is enjoying and will be enjoying in the Past, Present and Future, are sufficient punishment for him - though I suspect that, like a true-blue masochist, he revels in flagellation, and especially in griping about his sad tales of how he is despised.
For those who are eager to find out how lucky they are not to be bothered by said person, a transcript (of sort) follows below (highlight the text to read it):
mindgame: have you read order of the phoenix?
kimberly: no
should I?
mindgame: i have
kimberly: how?
no don't spoil
mindgame: during my sojourn in singapore, i had some spare time
kimberly: in that 'spare' time you finished all of it?
mindgame: so i guess you don't want me to tell you that ron weasley dies:)
i read fast.
and borders has comfortable seats
kimberly: i hate you
anyway that's a rumour that was quenched by a friend
her friends flipped to the end and found that he was still talking
mindgame: oh fine, fine.
it was mcgonagall.
kimberly: whatever
for all I know it could have been draco
aww. no more slash stories
kimberly: anyway I'm not a rabid fan
and anyhow, you wonder why people dislike you?
hmmph
mindgame: hahah
okay. seriously it was sirius black. he got nailed by the Death Eaters at the climax when the prophecy about Voldemort being Harry Potter's uncle was revealed.
bwahahahaaha
i have been enjoying myself telling rabid fans at my office who died
kimberly: I should put you on ignore or something
anyhow I won't let you spoil what's left of my day
hmmph
mindgame: bwahhahaha
once again, darkness has prevailed over light
kimberly: I know what I will do
I will shame you publicly
mindgame: *shrugs*
slander me on your website, if you will
it doesn't change the fact that aunt petunia is actually a witch in denial
Not content with the various little niggly ways in which he spreads Death, Famine, Plague and Prestilence throughout the world, he has this annoying habit of seeking to ruin people's enjoyment of various things that they have not yet seen. Case in point: Star Wars 2, Harry Potter 5.
Now, I am by no measure a rabid fan of either of these over hyped series, but at the time at which he spoilt them for me, I was planning to getting down to watching/reading them.
I am sorely tempted, at this juncture, to block him, to prevent further aggravation as well as pictures of nude sumo wrestlers, but he does provide some small measure of amusement on lonely winter nights when the coals in the fireplace have gone out. I was also tempted to reveal - horror - his name, so his adoring fans can go adore, stalk and lynch him, but I decided, at this juncture, that it wasn't quite the time to do so.
Anyhow, the castigation and ostracism that he has enjoyed, is enjoying and will be enjoying in the Past, Present and Future, are sufficient punishment for him - though I suspect that, like a true-blue masochist, he revels in flagellation, and especially in griping about his sad tales of how he is despised.
For those who are eager to find out how lucky they are not to be bothered by said person, a transcript (of sort) follows below (highlight the text to read it):
mindgame: have you read order of the phoenix?
kimberly: no
should I?
mindgame: i have
kimberly: how?
no don't spoil
mindgame: during my sojourn in singapore, i had some spare time
kimberly: in that 'spare' time you finished all of it?
mindgame: so i guess you don't want me to tell you that ron weasley dies:)
i read fast.
and borders has comfortable seats
kimberly: i hate you
anyway that's a rumour that was quenched by a friend
her friends flipped to the end and found that he was still talking
mindgame: oh fine, fine.
it was mcgonagall.
kimberly: whatever
for all I know it could have been draco
aww. no more slash stories
kimberly: anyway I'm not a rabid fan
and anyhow, you wonder why people dislike you?
hmmph
mindgame: hahah
okay. seriously it was sirius black. he got nailed by the Death Eaters at the climax when the prophecy about Voldemort being Harry Potter's uncle was revealed.
bwahahahaaha
i have been enjoying myself telling rabid fans at my office who died
kimberly: I should put you on ignore or something
anyhow I won't let you spoil what's left of my day
hmmph
mindgame: bwahhahaha
once again, darkness has prevailed over light
kimberly: I know what I will do
I will shame you publicly
mindgame: *shrugs*
slander me on your website, if you will
it doesn't change the fact that aunt petunia is actually a witch in denial
Post ID: 95984747
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Woah. Word spreads fast.
No less than Mr Brown has now highlighted the Ho Poh Fun video.
Methinks the subject of the video has heard of this by now! Good luck to the camera man. Maybe he can film part 2 :0
No less than Mr Brown has now highlighted the Ho Poh Fun video.
Methinks the subject of the video has heard of this by now! Good luck to the camera man. Maybe he can film part 2 :0
Post ID: 95977281
Since my 6 months' excuse (given thanks to a certain MO) has ended, I have run SOC twice - once in clean fatigues and the second with everything on, under test conditions. My regression since last October or so is clear - my balance, confidence and fitness are all much worse now, resulting in greatly magnified agony, and greatly decreased performance when throwing myself against this figurative brick wall. Hell hath no fury like my Ops Sergeant when confronted with a definite IPPT/SOC failure with no way to exclude him from the rankings. I trust that fate will lead me to the prophesied Final Solution. As do the Powers That Be - for some reason, they scheduled me for the SOC test -before- I'd passed IPPT, even though it is definitely harder to pass the former.
Being a cheapskate in some areas and not really caring about how my hair looks, I risked the 42 SAR barber again. Only this time, I caught him napping. Now, I wouldn't have wanted to wake him, but a drill lesson was scheduled later in the week, and I had no care to trudge up to his shop again, so I woke him up as gently as I could. He shaved around my ears and trimmed a little slope at the back of my head, then proclaimed the job finished. Feedback from someone: "A bit wai1... Here a bit short, here a bit flat". Now, even for my wretchedly low standards, this sort of haircut is unacceptable, so in my disgust, I did not tip him $2 as I was about to do, more out of pity than anything else.
I am surprised that MINDEF came clean to the public about 1st Commandos being disqualified for this year's Best Unit Competition (one of the worst ideas to sprout in the SAF ever). Actually, on a closer reading of the tell-all article, one can intuit why - the Defence Correspondent heard the rumour on an internet chat room and then queried MINDEF, which didn't have the heart or the wherewithal to stonewall. I wonder how many more open "secrets" are going to leak out next! Considering that everything is given a security classification one level above what is sensible, it probably wouldn't be much of a loss. As a reservist told me, "Restricted stuff will embarass the SAF if it is leaked". Or as I put it, "Restricted stuff is just classified for the heck of it".
Ever since moving bunk, we've had the same number of people in fewer bunks, with fewer toilets and corridors. Infuriatingly, however, our area cleaning chores have multiplied like the heads of a Hydra. We now have to clean all sorts of odd, faraway areas. For example, I (and I alone) got saddled with the canteen and the corridor above the squash courts which is shrouded in darkness in the morning, so nowadays I might as well go for breakfast.
It seems there are 2 Inet terminals in my canteen and 1 in my cookhouse, but they're never open. Tut tut. In other news, the food stall at my canteen - All Ranks Canteen - has opened again, in anticipation of the new recruits. I wonder how long it'll be before the recruits realise that the 42SAR canteen definitely isn't the best canteen to spend your canteen breaks in.
My cookhouse served "Spanish Omelette" one day. Intrigued, I tried to make enquiries, but no one had anything useful to tell me, the most I got out of the SFI staff being, "The Spanish Omelette was cooked by Spanish people". (...)
I bought, for $1, an artificial potted plant to brighten up my Docu Table. Now we know how $1 shops make money. Meanwhile, I came to work one day only to find that my trusty fly swatter was broken! I assume people were hitting each other with it too often. Oh well, it's only $1. At the same time, the pin of my fragile and lousy Number 3 "Agagooga" nametag fell out, so I can't pin it to my black slingbag anymore. Gah.
Our ceiling fans were spirited away one day, leaving us with only 2 standing fans that our CSM kindly acquired for us. As such, the bunk was a furnace at night. Yet, someone could still sleep with a blanket on. Argh. Thank god for my Secret Garden.
Some time ago, I meditated and got a revelation about the Holy Trinity, the Holy Trinity that keeps all of us safe, protected and out of trouble. Simply, no one Knows, no one Checks and no one Cares. May it always be that way :)
Irritating quotes seen inside a toilet in my unit:
"The significance of a man lies in not what he attains but rather what he longs to attain" : In that case, madmen and megalomaniacs would be very significant. Or how about if I aspire to be a god? Ahh, then I would have lots of significance, wouldn't I?
"The thoughtless are rarely wordless" - Howard W Newton : So by implication, those who speak the most are the most daft. How about those who have a "meaningful" or "inspirational" quote for every situation, and then some?
Melvin and I finally saw one of Ban Xiong's unspecified friends! He went off with her for half an hour, then came back looking pleased - a "quickie", according to the former. At least one of them is now specified. Unfortunately, he will continue to shroud his actions in an impenetrable cloak of secrecy, meeting unspecified friends in unspecified locations at unspecified times for unspecified periods of time doing unspecified things (Ooh, delicious line).
It seems RI has changed their PE T-Shirt again. Not satisfied with giving all the boys left nipple abrasions with the ironed on crest (as opposed to the former printed one), it seems that the Powers That Be have now decreed that the word "Raffles" on the back of the T-shirt, with the black bars be moved higher to be near the neck of the wearer. Eech!
I was killing time in Choa Chu Kang Community Library and I noticed that it was awfully noisy. I think the former RJ librarians should be sent there - they'll go nuts.
I was playing Dungeons and Dragons, Shadow Over Mystara for the first time since I completed it with Marc at Segaworld Sydney (free play is the -only- way to go for this sort of game unless you're filthy rich!), and I realised that it's more complex than I thought. For example, you can whack enemies who are prone on the floor. And I found out how to Turn Undead! Only problem is that there's some key jamming problem - sometimes when one player presses his magic/use item button, the other player's magic is activated. Oh, and Synn has this cheapskate move where, in dragon form, she can deplete your full health bar, and she does it 2-3 times.
Quotes:
[Me to an RP: Do you want to see my camp pass?] No, I want to eat your Long John's
[Fellow medic to me: Where is the coastal margin?] Let me see... Costal margin. 'Coastal' is by the sea
[Someone on the Documentation Room: All the other tables, don't have zhar bor {pinned underneath the glass}] Wang cannot. Wang put there, jialat. Everyday sit there and wank. Grab the table.
Being a cheapskate in some areas and not really caring about how my hair looks, I risked the 42 SAR barber again. Only this time, I caught him napping. Now, I wouldn't have wanted to wake him, but a drill lesson was scheduled later in the week, and I had no care to trudge up to his shop again, so I woke him up as gently as I could. He shaved around my ears and trimmed a little slope at the back of my head, then proclaimed the job finished. Feedback from someone: "A bit wai1... Here a bit short, here a bit flat". Now, even for my wretchedly low standards, this sort of haircut is unacceptable, so in my disgust, I did not tip him $2 as I was about to do, more out of pity than anything else.
I am surprised that MINDEF came clean to the public about 1st Commandos being disqualified for this year's Best Unit Competition (one of the worst ideas to sprout in the SAF ever). Actually, on a closer reading of the tell-all article, one can intuit why - the Defence Correspondent heard the rumour on an internet chat room and then queried MINDEF, which didn't have the heart or the wherewithal to stonewall. I wonder how many more open "secrets" are going to leak out next! Considering that everything is given a security classification one level above what is sensible, it probably wouldn't be much of a loss. As a reservist told me, "Restricted stuff will embarass the SAF if it is leaked". Or as I put it, "Restricted stuff is just classified for the heck of it".
Ever since moving bunk, we've had the same number of people in fewer bunks, with fewer toilets and corridors. Infuriatingly, however, our area cleaning chores have multiplied like the heads of a Hydra. We now have to clean all sorts of odd, faraway areas. For example, I (and I alone) got saddled with the canteen and the corridor above the squash courts which is shrouded in darkness in the morning, so nowadays I might as well go for breakfast.
It seems there are 2 Inet terminals in my canteen and 1 in my cookhouse, but they're never open. Tut tut. In other news, the food stall at my canteen - All Ranks Canteen - has opened again, in anticipation of the new recruits. I wonder how long it'll be before the recruits realise that the 42SAR canteen definitely isn't the best canteen to spend your canteen breaks in.
My cookhouse served "Spanish Omelette" one day. Intrigued, I tried to make enquiries, but no one had anything useful to tell me, the most I got out of the SFI staff being, "The Spanish Omelette was cooked by Spanish people". (...)
I bought, for $1, an artificial potted plant to brighten up my Docu Table. Now we know how $1 shops make money. Meanwhile, I came to work one day only to find that my trusty fly swatter was broken! I assume people were hitting each other with it too often. Oh well, it's only $1. At the same time, the pin of my fragile and lousy Number 3 "Agagooga" nametag fell out, so I can't pin it to my black slingbag anymore. Gah.
Our ceiling fans were spirited away one day, leaving us with only 2 standing fans that our CSM kindly acquired for us. As such, the bunk was a furnace at night. Yet, someone could still sleep with a blanket on. Argh. Thank god for my Secret Garden.
Some time ago, I meditated and got a revelation about the Holy Trinity, the Holy Trinity that keeps all of us safe, protected and out of trouble. Simply, no one Knows, no one Checks and no one Cares. May it always be that way :)
Irritating quotes seen inside a toilet in my unit:
"The significance of a man lies in not what he attains but rather what he longs to attain" : In that case, madmen and megalomaniacs would be very significant. Or how about if I aspire to be a god? Ahh, then I would have lots of significance, wouldn't I?
"The thoughtless are rarely wordless" - Howard W Newton : So by implication, those who speak the most are the most daft. How about those who have a "meaningful" or "inspirational" quote for every situation, and then some?
Melvin and I finally saw one of Ban Xiong's unspecified friends! He went off with her for half an hour, then came back looking pleased - a "quickie", according to the former. At least one of them is now specified. Unfortunately, he will continue to shroud his actions in an impenetrable cloak of secrecy, meeting unspecified friends in unspecified locations at unspecified times for unspecified periods of time doing unspecified things (Ooh, delicious line).
It seems RI has changed their PE T-Shirt again. Not satisfied with giving all the boys left nipple abrasions with the ironed on crest (as opposed to the former printed one), it seems that the Powers That Be have now decreed that the word "Raffles" on the back of the T-shirt, with the black bars be moved higher to be near the neck of the wearer. Eech!
I was killing time in Choa Chu Kang Community Library and I noticed that it was awfully noisy. I think the former RJ librarians should be sent there - they'll go nuts.
I was playing Dungeons and Dragons, Shadow Over Mystara for the first time since I completed it with Marc at Segaworld Sydney (free play is the -only- way to go for this sort of game unless you're filthy rich!), and I realised that it's more complex than I thought. For example, you can whack enemies who are prone on the floor. And I found out how to Turn Undead! Only problem is that there's some key jamming problem - sometimes when one player presses his magic/use item button, the other player's magic is activated. Oh, and Synn has this cheapskate move where, in dragon form, she can deplete your full health bar, and she does it 2-3 times.
Quotes:
[Me to an RP: Do you want to see my camp pass?] No, I want to eat your Long John's
[Fellow medic to me: Where is the coastal margin?] Let me see... Costal margin. 'Coastal' is by the sea
[Someone on the Documentation Room: All the other tables, don't have zhar bor {pinned underneath the glass}] Wang cannot. Wang put there, jialat. Everyday sit there and wank. Grab the table.
Post ID: 95949259
Sunday, June 22, 2003
Completed Age of Mythology. Very fun. Of course, now I've had enough of Real Time Strategy Games for at least 3 months.
I think one reason they've moved to 3D engines is to save money on cut scenes - you can just manipulate the game engine and add narration for your 'cutscenes'. Bah.
I've also taken a fancy to "A Cat Named Mittens" (the main theme).
I bought action figures of the Black, Pink and Yellow Space Rangers on impulse in times of yore. Sadly, Cassie lost her face piece some time back. On the up side, the toy makers endowed her and Ashley with unnatural bosoms.
Become Smarter by Bombarding your Brain with Electro-Magnetic Waves (New York Times, registration required)
I think one reason they've moved to 3D engines is to save money on cut scenes - you can just manipulate the game engine and add narration for your 'cutscenes'. Bah.
I've also taken a fancy to "A Cat Named Mittens" (the main theme).
I bought action figures of the Black, Pink and Yellow Space Rangers on impulse in times of yore. Sadly, Cassie lost her face piece some time back. On the up side, the toy makers endowed her and Ashley with unnatural bosoms.
Become Smarter by Bombarding your Brain with Electro-Magnetic Waves (New York Times, registration required)
Post ID: 95914475
Saturday, June 21, 2003
I daily get traumatised by ever more horrific sights.
Somehow, following links on a survey MIW sent me to try to entice me into letting them spam me, I came across this:
Our Army Songs Website
The music has been updated and beats can be heard in the background, but most of the lyrics are still sickeningly jingoistic and deceiving. I *am* surprised that they have a song called "Knock It Down", though:
"Hello, I am your Sergeant. And you are all my men.
You will listen to exactly what I say, understand?
When I ask you to eat, you eat...
When I say sleep, you sleep!
Do you know what I will do for you
If you screw up my plan?
Knock it down Knock it down
Get your hands on the ground and
Knock it down Knock it down
Just take it like a man and Knock it down"
*shudder*
I've seen 2 of the music videos (yes, all the songs there are available in MUSIC VIDEO format, with karaoke style higlighting of lyrics too), and it seems that almost all of the footage was taken during Obedience School on the Island of Doom.
Somehow, following links on a survey MIW sent me to try to entice me into letting them spam me, I came across this:
Our Army Songs Website
The music has been updated and beats can be heard in the background, but most of the lyrics are still sickeningly jingoistic and deceiving. I *am* surprised that they have a song called "Knock It Down", though:
"Hello, I am your Sergeant. And you are all my men.
You will listen to exactly what I say, understand?
When I ask you to eat, you eat...
When I say sleep, you sleep!
Do you know what I will do for you
If you screw up my plan?
Knock it down Knock it down
Get your hands on the ground and
Knock it down Knock it down
Just take it like a man and Knock it down"
*shudder*
I've seen 2 of the music videos (yes, all the songs there are available in MUSIC VIDEO format, with karaoke style higlighting of lyrics too), and it seems that almost all of the footage was taken during Obedience School on the Island of Doom.
Post ID: 95893163
Thursday, June 19, 2003
More typing. This time on grammar tests.
Joyful jovial jubilation!
Britain's heart is broken
HUNDREDS of tearful David Beckham fans swamped The Sun's grief helpline yesterday after news of his move to Spain. Some readers were so upset by his departure from Man Utd to Real Madrid that they said they were considering SUICIDE. Others claimed they would have trouble performing in BED with the England skipper playing abroad. And many gay men rang in saying they were devastated by the departure of one of their most popular icons...
Worried Steve, 26, from Sheffield, said: "My wife fancied Becks so much. The heat is now on me to perform in bed and I'm worried about getting aroused."
Another caller, who didn't want to be named, said: "Beckham defined my sexuality. Now he's gone I don't feel I'll be able to perform in bed."
Colin Stuart, 25, from Mill Hill, North London, said: "Becks has helped me realise I am gay. I think I will have problems with my partner now as we both liked him."
Dan, 35, from London, said: "I'm terribly upset. He was a gay icon and I loved him. I can't concentrate on my work."
Student Rob, 21, also from London, said: "He was a gay icon. I feel abandoned now he has gone. I feel empty - I thought he would always be there."
Chef Lee Brown, 23, of Preston, said: "My wife is Beckham nuts and is moving to Spain to be near him. If I don't go our relationship's over."
Another caller who didn't want to be named said: "My friend has Beckham tattoos on his arm and has threatened to cut it off."
Dad Frank Wilson, 33, from London, said: "I've never been so upset. My whole family are crying.
I cried myself to sleep after hearing the awful news.
Grandmother Mary Richards, 85
"I'm going to burn my Manchester United kit and give up my season ticket."
Telesales worker David Phillips, 27, had similar problems.
He said: "My whole family are in tears. What am I supposed to tell the kids?"
Daniel Payne, 21, from Bromley, Kent, said: "I'm so upset. I can't believe he's gone."
And 24-year-old salesman Akhmed, of Oxford, said: "He was like a god to me. I have a tattoo of him on my chest. I feel powerless that he's gone."
Hannah, 17, said: "I've followed Becks all my life. I don't know how I'll get through my A-levels now."
Gran Mary Richards, 85, said: "I cried myself to sleep after hearing the news."
London cabbie Colin Bennett said: "The world's gone mad � he's only a bloody footballer."
Counsellor Dai Lloyd-Hughes: "The most important thing to do if they're upset is talk about it. If their feelings persist they should talk to the Samaritans or visit their GP."
Psychotherapist Mick Walsh: "Because we see Becks so often, many feel they know him personally. Now he's gone it's like someone they know has died."
Joyful jovial jubilation!
Britain's heart is broken
HUNDREDS of tearful David Beckham fans swamped The Sun's grief helpline yesterday after news of his move to Spain. Some readers were so upset by his departure from Man Utd to Real Madrid that they said they were considering SUICIDE. Others claimed they would have trouble performing in BED with the England skipper playing abroad. And many gay men rang in saying they were devastated by the departure of one of their most popular icons...
Worried Steve, 26, from Sheffield, said: "My wife fancied Becks so much. The heat is now on me to perform in bed and I'm worried about getting aroused."
Another caller, who didn't want to be named, said: "Beckham defined my sexuality. Now he's gone I don't feel I'll be able to perform in bed."
Colin Stuart, 25, from Mill Hill, North London, said: "Becks has helped me realise I am gay. I think I will have problems with my partner now as we both liked him."
Dan, 35, from London, said: "I'm terribly upset. He was a gay icon and I loved him. I can't concentrate on my work."
Student Rob, 21, also from London, said: "He was a gay icon. I feel abandoned now he has gone. I feel empty - I thought he would always be there."
Chef Lee Brown, 23, of Preston, said: "My wife is Beckham nuts and is moving to Spain to be near him. If I don't go our relationship's over."
Another caller who didn't want to be named said: "My friend has Beckham tattoos on his arm and has threatened to cut it off."
Dad Frank Wilson, 33, from London, said: "I've never been so upset. My whole family are crying.
I cried myself to sleep after hearing the awful news.
Grandmother Mary Richards, 85
"I'm going to burn my Manchester United kit and give up my season ticket."
Telesales worker David Phillips, 27, had similar problems.
He said: "My whole family are in tears. What am I supposed to tell the kids?"
Daniel Payne, 21, from Bromley, Kent, said: "I'm so upset. I can't believe he's gone."
And 24-year-old salesman Akhmed, of Oxford, said: "He was like a god to me. I have a tattoo of him on my chest. I feel powerless that he's gone."
Hannah, 17, said: "I've followed Becks all my life. I don't know how I'll get through my A-levels now."
Gran Mary Richards, 85, said: "I cried myself to sleep after hearing the news."
London cabbie Colin Bennett said: "The world's gone mad � he's only a bloody footballer."
Counsellor Dai Lloyd-Hughes: "The most important thing to do if they're upset is talk about it. If their feelings persist they should talk to the Samaritans or visit their GP."
Psychotherapist Mick Walsh: "Because we see Becks so often, many feel they know him personally. Now he's gone it's like someone they know has died."
Post ID: 95823462
Hahaha oh dear.
Someone sent me a video, taken surreptitiously on a Clie, of Ho Poh Fun scolding a student. This is probably the modern day equivalent of what I was doing with my Palm IIIc in J2 :)
I was never taught by her, but this is what I always imagined her lessons were like :)
http://synthesis.port5.com/stuff/HPFterror.mov [Not hosted by me, btw]
Enjoy.
Someone sent me a video, taken surreptitiously on a Clie, of Ho Poh Fun scolding a student. This is probably the modern day equivalent of what I was doing with my Palm IIIc in J2 :)
I was never taught by her, but this is what I always imagined her lessons were like :)
http://synthesis.port5.com/stuff/HPFterror.mov [Not hosted by me, btw]
Enjoy.
Post ID: 95813679
Wednesday, June 18, 2003
Gah. I take a day off, then when I come back my mother makes me type schoolwork for her again.
Learning English for Japs - Home English Home
Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream
Mao Zedong communist posters! God, they even have some against Falungong, the "Evil Cult" - "To combat Falun Gong, the Party has sought recourse to propaganda techniques not seen since the Cultural Revolution. These include character assassination (of Li Hongzhi and others), cartoons reminiscent of the lampooning of class enemies, endless essays depicting the deleterious effect of the doctrine, documentaries exposing movement leaders as frauds and followers as dupes, etc. The "struggle" against Falun Gong has even resulted in a revival of the use of propaganda posters beyond merely educational or congratulary purposes."
M'sia: Don't buy original CDs and DVDs. A rare insight from Ma-laysia: "The refusal of recording companies to lower prices despite repeated calls by the government was helping fuel the trade in pirated movies, music and software, alleged Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister S. Subramaniam. The minister pointed out that some genuine movie video CDs (VCD)--a popular format in Asia--cost as little as US$2.60, indicating that some profit is possible even at that price. These cheaper discs also do not get pirated, he said. 'Those priced at RM$30 (US$7.90) and above are normally the ones that get pirated. This proves that the price factor is the main reason consumers buy pirated CDs and VCDs,' he told the news daily the New Straits Times."
'In Malaysia, prices are fixed individually by the respective recording company. If one company fixes a price too high, it will find itself priced out of the market.' - Recording Industry Association of Malaysia's General Manager. Right. Not heard of oligopolies, monopoly profits and collusion, has he?
Tailors for cats
Haha.
SNE 86
22. That a father wrote in to complain that the his son's unit wanted donations for the Annual Army Half-Marathon donation card to be at least a certain amount.
The official reply from Mindef was that no minimum amounts were asked for, just guidelines given.
In other words,
-the CO tell the S4 he wants the men to fall in at 0800h
-the S4 tells the OC that the CO wants the men to fall in at 0700h in Smart 4 uniform
-the OC tells the PC that the CO wants the men to fall in at 0600h in Smart 4, SBO, Helmet, and Rifle
-the PC tells the Platoon Sgt the CO wants the men to fall in at 0500h in Full Battle Order
-so the Platoon Sgt tells the men to fall in at 0300h in Full Battle Order and go for 24km Forced march
23. That Pte Teo will now go back to camp and enjoy the blanket party from his Platoon mates because all of them will be enjoying weekend guard duty for the next 20 years (there is no minimum number of guard duties, it is just a guide).
All because "one of you buggers go and complain your fardder mardder over a stoopid donation card".
Next time your enemy come to your foxhole, remember to complain to your fardder marder too.
24. That Pte Teo will now get to enjoy many "coffee sessions" and heart-to heart talks with his CO about the personal problems he seems to be having with his Army Half-Marathon donation card.
"Thought control is a copyright of totalitarianism, and we have no claim to it. It is not the function of government to keep the citizen from falling into error, it is the function of the citizen to keep the government from falling into error." - Robert H Jackson
"What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist." - Salman Rushdie
Learning English for Japs - Home English Home
Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream
Mao Zedong communist posters! God, they even have some against Falungong, the "Evil Cult" - "To combat Falun Gong, the Party has sought recourse to propaganda techniques not seen since the Cultural Revolution. These include character assassination (of Li Hongzhi and others), cartoons reminiscent of the lampooning of class enemies, endless essays depicting the deleterious effect of the doctrine, documentaries exposing movement leaders as frauds and followers as dupes, etc. The "struggle" against Falun Gong has even resulted in a revival of the use of propaganda posters beyond merely educational or congratulary purposes."
M'sia: Don't buy original CDs and DVDs. A rare insight from Ma-laysia: "The refusal of recording companies to lower prices despite repeated calls by the government was helping fuel the trade in pirated movies, music and software, alleged Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister S. Subramaniam. The minister pointed out that some genuine movie video CDs (VCD)--a popular format in Asia--cost as little as US$2.60, indicating that some profit is possible even at that price. These cheaper discs also do not get pirated, he said. 'Those priced at RM$30 (US$7.90) and above are normally the ones that get pirated. This proves that the price factor is the main reason consumers buy pirated CDs and VCDs,' he told the news daily the New Straits Times."
'In Malaysia, prices are fixed individually by the respective recording company. If one company fixes a price too high, it will find itself priced out of the market.' - Recording Industry Association of Malaysia's General Manager. Right. Not heard of oligopolies, monopoly profits and collusion, has he?
Tailors for cats
Haha.
SNE 86
22. That a father wrote in to complain that the his son's unit wanted donations for the Annual Army Half-Marathon donation card to be at least a certain amount.
The official reply from Mindef was that no minimum amounts were asked for, just guidelines given.
In other words,
-the CO tell the S4 he wants the men to fall in at 0800h
-the S4 tells the OC that the CO wants the men to fall in at 0700h in Smart 4 uniform
-the OC tells the PC that the CO wants the men to fall in at 0600h in Smart 4, SBO, Helmet, and Rifle
-the PC tells the Platoon Sgt the CO wants the men to fall in at 0500h in Full Battle Order
-so the Platoon Sgt tells the men to fall in at 0300h in Full Battle Order and go for 24km Forced march
23. That Pte Teo will now go back to camp and enjoy the blanket party from his Platoon mates because all of them will be enjoying weekend guard duty for the next 20 years (there is no minimum number of guard duties, it is just a guide).
All because "one of you buggers go and complain your fardder mardder over a stoopid donation card".
Next time your enemy come to your foxhole, remember to complain to your fardder marder too.
24. That Pte Teo will now get to enjoy many "coffee sessions" and heart-to heart talks with his CO about the personal problems he seems to be having with his Army Half-Marathon donation card.
"Thought control is a copyright of totalitarianism, and we have no claim to it. It is not the function of government to keep the citizen from falling into error, it is the function of the citizen to keep the government from falling into error." - Robert H Jackson
"What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist." - Salman Rushdie
Post ID: 95788358
Tuesday, June 17, 2003
Hi everyone; i know this is short notice- i will be coming back to singapore on 8 july to 20 july. Would love to catch up with u guys (if you're a stranger who stumbled onto gabriel's blog ... i'm sure you're a wonderful person whom i would treasure if i got to know you); unsure if i will have a handphone in singapore so contact me by icq or call me at home. Even better if u can suggest a time/tell me when you're free. For those in JC- school starts already rite? In any case, appointments are more feasible esp if
a) they do not clash with dinner (have to be at home at that time)
b) they are near my house (i.e. places in the west, holland v etc)
My brother will be coming back as well so i'm really looking forward to spending this time with him and my parents.
Will try my best to contact u once i reach singapore, but no promises.
Do u want anything from melbourne? Kai, i'll try to get u fudge ... i'm trying to find a recipe for it now my exams are over actually so if mine turns out okay.... Gabriel kettle chips i suppose... they came up with new flavours u know! called "sensations". Anyone anything else?
a) they do not clash with dinner (have to be at home at that time)
b) they are near my house (i.e. places in the west, holland v etc)
My brother will be coming back as well so i'm really looking forward to spending this time with him and my parents.
Will try my best to contact u once i reach singapore, but no promises.
Do u want anything from melbourne? Kai, i'll try to get u fudge ... i'm trying to find a recipe for it now my exams are over actually so if mine turns out okay.... Gabriel kettle chips i suppose... they came up with new flavours u know! called "sensations". Anyone anything else?
Post ID: 95748223
Monday, June 16, 2003
I'm going to take over documentation work soon - argh. The day of reckoning had been postponed, but the Fates have finally caught up with me. Argh. Come, Clotho and Lachesis, I fear you not, for Cheong will be to my left, Gollum opposite me, and Boon Wei (my upper study) halfway across the Island in Temasek Poly, but just a phone call away!
Apparently, my sleep is disturbed in more ways than one - the drivers claimed I screamed in my sleep at 2 am one morning while on duty. Also, someone else also thinks that it's impossible to rest well in the medical centre, so it's not just me. Maybe it's the Sudol/Printol that interferes with the body's systems.
I'm being put on a training regimen again. Only, this time it seems that it will be followed up upon by my own Platoon Commander. So maybe it will work this time. Maybe. So maybe pigs will fly (I may pass IPPT), but the Palestinians will never bomb the Kabaa (I'll never pass SOC). On the bright side, I might finally grasp at The Final Solution this time, what with the daily training. Hopefully, it will be enough for my goals, yet not so strong as to incapacitate me seriously.
Sathiesh and Ban Xiong were laughing at Chemistry with me. It's such a joy to find people who appreciate bad TV, and who make snide remarks with you. Anyhow in our attempts to give credit where it is due, we noticed that the male in the female body left his/her legs open, while the female in the male body closed her/his legs. It's the little things like these that make of break a show!
The reservist cookhouse has Wireless Internet Surfing. Wah. But I thought laptops were illegal... Oh well, reservists can do anything, I suppose.
Apparently it is useless to wash any clothes in camp, due to the lack of sunlight, so I will stop doing so.
Jason is keeping track of the number of times I flip the bird. It stands at 4 now. Wah.
Boon Wei and I were at the bus stop when a convoy of trucks rolled past us, and some black sludge spilled out the back onto the road. This sludge smelled like shit - only worse, and we were over the moon when the bus finally came. Meanwhile, the trucks continued speeding on. I think by the time they reached their destination, most of the sludge was gone.
We've just shifted into new bunks, so we're now at the opposite end of the level. During the shifting day, I was on duty, so I didn't have to lug cupboards, but the flip side was that everyone "choped" all the good beds. No matter, the Workshop people will be leaving for good in about a month, and meanwhile I have my Personal Bunk in a Top Secret location. Either that or I can sleep on the floor like I used to do in SMM.
Pros of new bunk:
- More people
- Nearer to water cooler
- Showers are more powerful
- Mobile shoe cabinets
- New pillow!
Cons of new bunk:
- More people
- Hotter and more stuffy if you're not on the top beds just beside the fan
- If you take the top beds, climbing the ladder hurts your feet and transaction costs are high to either mount or dismount the bed
- Smaller cupboard
- Larger lock required for cupboards
To reduce the pain involved in mounting or dismounting the bed, I hit upon the idea of padding the ladder's steps. This was pronounced as being "very you" by Melvin, and is the latest in a line of things I have done against his advice of "Don't do stupid things".
I'm so touched!
Xephyris and Chinx took this picture for me while in Japan ^_^' <-- teardrop
Quotes:
Don't send me porn. I only have 10MB left on my hard disk.
[On screaming in my sleep] You must have been having a good dream. You sounded like you were making love.
[Review of Ju-On] When the show degenerates into Night of The Living Dead mode with a superfluous bunch of zombie schoolgirls, it is bye-bye time.
[On padding the steps of the ladder used for mounting the bed] You provide more entertainment than the TV
[On Lu Rui En] She sounds like she's from RJ... [Me: Do I sound like I'm from RJ?] Yes.
[On Lu Rui En] She can speak properly in this ad, why can't she speak properly in the show?
[Sees me brandishing a fly swatter] What are you doing? [Me: Trying to kill the fly] It's on your hear, dude, it's on your head. [Someone else: What's he doing?] He's trying to kill the fly [Someone else: These people are mad man, these people are mad]
[Geraldine] I don't look that good what
Apparently, my sleep is disturbed in more ways than one - the drivers claimed I screamed in my sleep at 2 am one morning while on duty. Also, someone else also thinks that it's impossible to rest well in the medical centre, so it's not just me. Maybe it's the Sudol/Printol that interferes with the body's systems.
I'm being put on a training regimen again. Only, this time it seems that it will be followed up upon by my own Platoon Commander. So maybe it will work this time. Maybe. So maybe pigs will fly (I may pass IPPT), but the Palestinians will never bomb the Kabaa (I'll never pass SOC). On the bright side, I might finally grasp at The Final Solution this time, what with the daily training. Hopefully, it will be enough for my goals, yet not so strong as to incapacitate me seriously.
Sathiesh and Ban Xiong were laughing at Chemistry with me. It's such a joy to find people who appreciate bad TV, and who make snide remarks with you. Anyhow in our attempts to give credit where it is due, we noticed that the male in the female body left his/her legs open, while the female in the male body closed her/his legs. It's the little things like these that make of break a show!
The reservist cookhouse has Wireless Internet Surfing. Wah. But I thought laptops were illegal... Oh well, reservists can do anything, I suppose.
Apparently it is useless to wash any clothes in camp, due to the lack of sunlight, so I will stop doing so.
Jason is keeping track of the number of times I flip the bird. It stands at 4 now. Wah.
Boon Wei and I were at the bus stop when a convoy of trucks rolled past us, and some black sludge spilled out the back onto the road. This sludge smelled like shit - only worse, and we were over the moon when the bus finally came. Meanwhile, the trucks continued speeding on. I think by the time they reached their destination, most of the sludge was gone.
We've just shifted into new bunks, so we're now at the opposite end of the level. During the shifting day, I was on duty, so I didn't have to lug cupboards, but the flip side was that everyone "choped" all the good beds. No matter, the Workshop people will be leaving for good in about a month, and meanwhile I have my Personal Bunk in a Top Secret location. Either that or I can sleep on the floor like I used to do in SMM.
Pros of new bunk:
- More people
- Nearer to water cooler
- Showers are more powerful
- Mobile shoe cabinets
- New pillow!
Cons of new bunk:
- More people
- Hotter and more stuffy if you're not on the top beds just beside the fan
- If you take the top beds, climbing the ladder hurts your feet and transaction costs are high to either mount or dismount the bed
- Smaller cupboard
- Larger lock required for cupboards
To reduce the pain involved in mounting or dismounting the bed, I hit upon the idea of padding the ladder's steps. This was pronounced as being "very you" by Melvin, and is the latest in a line of things I have done against his advice of "Don't do stupid things".
I'm so touched!
Xephyris and Chinx took this picture for me while in Japan ^_^' <-- teardrop
Quotes:
Don't send me porn. I only have 10MB left on my hard disk.
[On screaming in my sleep] You must have been having a good dream. You sounded like you were making love.
[Review of Ju-On] When the show degenerates into Night of The Living Dead mode with a superfluous bunch of zombie schoolgirls, it is bye-bye time.
[On padding the steps of the ladder used for mounting the bed] You provide more entertainment than the TV
[On Lu Rui En] She sounds like she's from RJ... [Me: Do I sound like I'm from RJ?] Yes.
[On Lu Rui En] She can speak properly in this ad, why can't she speak properly in the show?
[Sees me brandishing a fly swatter] What are you doing? [Me: Trying to kill the fly] It's on your hear, dude, it's on your head. [Someone else: What's he doing?] He's trying to kill the fly [Someone else: These people are mad man, these people are mad]
[Geraldine] I don't look that good what
Post ID: 95687553
Someone who wants to remain anonymous sent me this labour of love, which should be familiar to some RJ alumni. This person is very endearing and his/her lessons were always very memorable... Needless to say, names have been removed to protect the innocent:
jc1revision5thjune[1].doc
market failure:
goodness gracious me!
when the government wants to do a cost benefit analysis it must know which are private and external costs and benefits, HELLO hello.
Do you understand or not? And then for the other on - eh *** you got it wrong i worked out the answer for you if they give you 2 variables; if they give you mpc and mpm then you still have foreign trade mulitiplier. GO AND READ the notes. i prepared you very well.
YOU BETTER do your work or else I will send you to see the vp. Wah he's very fierce, you think he's very young but wah. i saw him scold ****** (*** ***) so don't play a fool with the big guns here.
If you play the fool - and i know that maths teachers are taking up a lot of your time. I think there is an inefficient allocation of resources like market failure in economics - you are spending too little time on your econs!
Ok question 49, remember the one i did for you change in consumption must be mpc x change in disposable income must cut taxes by a larger amount because indirect measures will save some of the additional income. These are very important concepts which i have explained very very clearly. You must know how to calculate inflation rate... see DRQ/case study in CT 1. you definitely must know this. and if there is inflation, the general price level is rising. the cost of living goes up. even though your inflation rate goes down. Still an increase in the price level. cost of living is living expenses.
(*****: Mrs *** do we need to study the multiplier?)
Of course multiplier need to know if you don't know you die flat ok... money banking prices in - you know the production poossibiltiy slope is the same no international trade. Determination of exchange rate. demand for a countries currencies is a derived demand. Singapore off the Sars list, tourism increases, demand S$ thus appreciation of sing dollar.
Know what is meant by visible and invisible trade. Know measures to correct deficits. you see ah when you devalue your currency and in this case your goods are cheaper. therefore demand must be elastic. Supply must also be elastic. Need excess capacity to meet the increased demand. if don't have, then the price rises again and nullifies the effects of inflation. AND i will reccommend you strongly to do current papers. you can do it ok.
so are there any questions to ask me? let me ask you a question, how many of you have done your mcq until BOP? you CHAM ah. you better do for your a level exams. Don't play the fool ok... mcq is VERY important. Also ah, please relate your case studies to the given preamble. If you give bikini clad answers you will get bikini clad marks. i'm telling you... you go and write all the learn by heart lecture notes cannot pass you you understand or not? you understand or not? and you got to read carefully. I believe you will do well. Henry you have any quesitons to ask me?
(*****: Ya, you know the national income, what is the value added approach?)
--
The markets becoming bullish because the sars virus is being killed by the heat but it will come again in autumn. and if it really comes it will wipe away a lot of people to death.
The capital gains is the gains you receive from the sale of all this. its not included right... i just set to test your understanding... you understand or not... that's why you must be very careful. it will be applied to government departments. definitely... pls ah... government expenditure for national income... the G ah, the G ah, it excludes transfer payments don't anyhow write ah... pls ah... pls be very careful. i expct you to learn very well mr ******'s topic. if you spot ah... you are going to be in big hot soup.
*** ah... i will tie your hands if you don't stop... DING DING... are you scared or not? I think econs you should not be scared... you should be scared of your further maths... they always want to kill you know... me ah, i don't want to kill you, but some people... they just want to CHALLENGE you (referring to mr ******)... to death, no... to the highest of the mountain. You will see stars... and when stars come out of your head ah... you cannot think. Those questions i set... can come out one ah... those questions that we do ah... these are the questions that are likely to come out in the A LEVEL exams.
That's why that time i ask **** **** **** ah,... why you set this question they never lecture that question you know... how can you set a question like this and never inform us...at least you are smart and never do. but there are still some weirdos who go and try... Really weirdos. NEVER try a question that is not to your advantage.
this ** *****... pls ah... don't do things that require too many things inside. that's why i teach you ah... i will only do questions that don't require too much concepts. you're playing TOTO with the teachers if you want to try... you shouldn't play toto.
(***: Mrs ***, what is toto?)
you don't know toto? Aiyah gambling lah... the five numbers, six numbers.... that time i bought you know... the other time i bought i won one thousand dollars. that time i bought ah i went to Bulgaria. i'm very lucky. then i transited at... aiyah dunno where lah... then that place ah the number came out first prize. i bought one dress 480 dollars. the number came out. don't know why i so lucky i can touch. so all these things i bought free. my diamond brooch free. my dress also free. i issue that check to that company, wed or thursday... on Saturday my number came out exactly. Wah that stupid number first prize. my husband ask me why i so STUPID. even when i was young my savings box ah...my sister in law touch ah that number... then she win. the house i buy... true indeed, when i step in ah, came out second prize. sometimes i avail myself of the opportunity, but other times i just cannot lah.
The fortune teller sees my face and told me (Me: Mrs ***, why did you see a fortune teller?) Oh, I never go and see her. You see, because the manager that time I was working not here lah, we go out for lunch then I met her. When she sees my face she says january and may i will strike 4D. just happens this manager of IT, he very pantang, he always ask her. She says his office cannot have pillar, so there's no load on his head. i don't believe in all this ah. She says I'm very lucky. i don't believe in all this... but its still happening to me. i have this luck to touch all this kind of money. only i can touch this kind of money. if other people buy my number, cannot come out.
When i first came as HOD in rjc, first year suay ah never come out that handphones question. second year came out exactly. tell you ah, i can't believe it my tutorial question came out. 1999 also, that's why ******'s brother that year all very happy. i think the ah-curls (UCLES) examiners saw my question. You know why, because my friend she works in ministry, she came to my house and then she said, this question **** *****, very good ah, how come you can set this kind of question so good ah?? then i say i give you one copy, its ok. Then you see, that year, came out that question. (triumphant grin)
(***: Mrs *** they copied your question.)
No. UCLES examiners they cannot copy exactly, how can they copy? they MODIFY. only my students damn lucky ah, they all do damn well. the prelim questions came out. three questions out of four came out exactly in the A levels exams like in my dreams.
(***: what are your dreams like this year, Mrs ***?)
(cackles happily). Aiyah i don't know about this year yet. i never pray hard enough, never dream. aiyar. the ri people go and tell the teachers, there is one HOD in the school very good at spotting question. then the academic head come back and tell me, i very sheepish cos i know they are referring to me. this last year.. the question very tough. they are going to set the same. same question but they are going to rephrase it with a very long preamble. even case study minimum wage i told mr ****** to set, and lo and behold it came out ah.
in 1999, they set questions on low rates of inflation. you better take my advice you better read. i've done for you already. things i do ah, you all think i... i... i ... i don't want to see ah... i haven't taken my temperature. those from the heartland jcs ah they won't do well. you will do well... i got a good record ah.. you have to study to tango with me,. the lowest grade you will get is a C. ok so you need any help or not? Ok you can go now.
jc1revision5thjune[1].doc
market failure:
goodness gracious me!
when the government wants to do a cost benefit analysis it must know which are private and external costs and benefits, HELLO hello.
Do you understand or not? And then for the other on - eh *** you got it wrong i worked out the answer for you if they give you 2 variables; if they give you mpc and mpm then you still have foreign trade mulitiplier. GO AND READ the notes. i prepared you very well.
YOU BETTER do your work or else I will send you to see the vp. Wah he's very fierce, you think he's very young but wah. i saw him scold ****** (*** ***) so don't play a fool with the big guns here.
If you play the fool - and i know that maths teachers are taking up a lot of your time. I think there is an inefficient allocation of resources like market failure in economics - you are spending too little time on your econs!
Ok question 49, remember the one i did for you change in consumption must be mpc x change in disposable income must cut taxes by a larger amount because indirect measures will save some of the additional income. These are very important concepts which i have explained very very clearly. You must know how to calculate inflation rate... see DRQ/case study in CT 1. you definitely must know this. and if there is inflation, the general price level is rising. the cost of living goes up. even though your inflation rate goes down. Still an increase in the price level. cost of living is living expenses.
(*****: Mrs *** do we need to study the multiplier?)
Of course multiplier need to know if you don't know you die flat ok... money banking prices in - you know the production poossibiltiy slope is the same no international trade. Determination of exchange rate. demand for a countries currencies is a derived demand. Singapore off the Sars list, tourism increases, demand S$ thus appreciation of sing dollar.
Know what is meant by visible and invisible trade. Know measures to correct deficits. you see ah when you devalue your currency and in this case your goods are cheaper. therefore demand must be elastic. Supply must also be elastic. Need excess capacity to meet the increased demand. if don't have, then the price rises again and nullifies the effects of inflation. AND i will reccommend you strongly to do current papers. you can do it ok.
so are there any questions to ask me? let me ask you a question, how many of you have done your mcq until BOP? you CHAM ah. you better do for your a level exams. Don't play the fool ok... mcq is VERY important. Also ah, please relate your case studies to the given preamble. If you give bikini clad answers you will get bikini clad marks. i'm telling you... you go and write all the learn by heart lecture notes cannot pass you you understand or not? you understand or not? and you got to read carefully. I believe you will do well. Henry you have any quesitons to ask me?
(*****: Ya, you know the national income, what is the value added approach?)
--
The markets becoming bullish because the sars virus is being killed by the heat but it will come again in autumn. and if it really comes it will wipe away a lot of people to death.
The capital gains is the gains you receive from the sale of all this. its not included right... i just set to test your understanding... you understand or not... that's why you must be very careful. it will be applied to government departments. definitely... pls ah... government expenditure for national income... the G ah, the G ah, it excludes transfer payments don't anyhow write ah... pls ah... pls be very careful. i expct you to learn very well mr ******'s topic. if you spot ah... you are going to be in big hot soup.
*** ah... i will tie your hands if you don't stop... DING DING... are you scared or not? I think econs you should not be scared... you should be scared of your further maths... they always want to kill you know... me ah, i don't want to kill you, but some people... they just want to CHALLENGE you (referring to mr ******)... to death, no... to the highest of the mountain. You will see stars... and when stars come out of your head ah... you cannot think. Those questions i set... can come out one ah... those questions that we do ah... these are the questions that are likely to come out in the A LEVEL exams.
That's why that time i ask **** **** **** ah,... why you set this question they never lecture that question you know... how can you set a question like this and never inform us...at least you are smart and never do. but there are still some weirdos who go and try... Really weirdos. NEVER try a question that is not to your advantage.
this ** *****... pls ah... don't do things that require too many things inside. that's why i teach you ah... i will only do questions that don't require too much concepts. you're playing TOTO with the teachers if you want to try... you shouldn't play toto.
(***: Mrs ***, what is toto?)
you don't know toto? Aiyah gambling lah... the five numbers, six numbers.... that time i bought you know... the other time i bought i won one thousand dollars. that time i bought ah i went to Bulgaria. i'm very lucky. then i transited at... aiyah dunno where lah... then that place ah the number came out first prize. i bought one dress 480 dollars. the number came out. don't know why i so lucky i can touch. so all these things i bought free. my diamond brooch free. my dress also free. i issue that check to that company, wed or thursday... on Saturday my number came out exactly. Wah that stupid number first prize. my husband ask me why i so STUPID. even when i was young my savings box ah...my sister in law touch ah that number... then she win. the house i buy... true indeed, when i step in ah, came out second prize. sometimes i avail myself of the opportunity, but other times i just cannot lah.
The fortune teller sees my face and told me (Me: Mrs ***, why did you see a fortune teller?) Oh, I never go and see her. You see, because the manager that time I was working not here lah, we go out for lunch then I met her. When she sees my face she says january and may i will strike 4D. just happens this manager of IT, he very pantang, he always ask her. She says his office cannot have pillar, so there's no load on his head. i don't believe in all this ah. She says I'm very lucky. i don't believe in all this... but its still happening to me. i have this luck to touch all this kind of money. only i can touch this kind of money. if other people buy my number, cannot come out.
When i first came as HOD in rjc, first year suay ah never come out that handphones question. second year came out exactly. tell you ah, i can't believe it my tutorial question came out. 1999 also, that's why ******'s brother that year all very happy. i think the ah-curls (UCLES) examiners saw my question. You know why, because my friend she works in ministry, she came to my house and then she said, this question **** *****, very good ah, how come you can set this kind of question so good ah?? then i say i give you one copy, its ok. Then you see, that year, came out that question. (triumphant grin)
(***: Mrs *** they copied your question.)
No. UCLES examiners they cannot copy exactly, how can they copy? they MODIFY. only my students damn lucky ah, they all do damn well. the prelim questions came out. three questions out of four came out exactly in the A levels exams like in my dreams.
(***: what are your dreams like this year, Mrs ***?)
(cackles happily). Aiyah i don't know about this year yet. i never pray hard enough, never dream. aiyar. the ri people go and tell the teachers, there is one HOD in the school very good at spotting question. then the academic head come back and tell me, i very sheepish cos i know they are referring to me. this last year.. the question very tough. they are going to set the same. same question but they are going to rephrase it with a very long preamble. even case study minimum wage i told mr ****** to set, and lo and behold it came out ah.
in 1999, they set questions on low rates of inflation. you better take my advice you better read. i've done for you already. things i do ah, you all think i... i... i ... i don't want to see ah... i haven't taken my temperature. those from the heartland jcs ah they won't do well. you will do well... i got a good record ah.. you have to study to tango with me,. the lowest grade you will get is a C. ok so you need any help or not? Ok you can go now.
Post ID: 95687402
Sunday, June 15, 2003
David contacted me yesterday, asking me if I wanted to go watch "Revelations" by The Necessary Stage, since someone wasn't able to go and they had an extra ticket.
"It can't be that bad, they've a reputation to uphold" - my favourite bard
I would have gone, just for the heck of it, since I get to stay out tonight (medical appointment) and I'd nothing better to do, but my former maths tuition teacher Mr Seow, uncle and auntie are over today for a Fish Head-Popiah dinner (party).
Besides which, I've long lost my faith in modern theatre being comprehensible and unpretentious, and the ticket was $20 (or was it $30?). And lucky for me too, for I just stumbled across this review by someone whom I had, for some reason, acted rather strangely towards in J2 and thus doesn't like me:
"revelations by the necessary stage was quite a letdown, horrid script. disjointed incomprehensible out-of-point ["on 28th january 1819 sir stamford raffles landed on st john's island.. constellations are starbursts of.. in 1992 singapore launched its courtesy campaign" one after another, all this while the actors had gay sex] after the first 20mins i caught no ball. at least the acting was superb. such a pity. until the end tkx and i just thought we weren't smart or artsy fartsy enough haha but that kinda changed when we were walking out and realised that
NO ONE understood the damn play. sheesh.
"It can't be that bad, they've a reputation to uphold" - my favourite bard
I would have gone, just for the heck of it, since I get to stay out tonight (medical appointment) and I'd nothing better to do, but my former maths tuition teacher Mr Seow, uncle and auntie are over today for a Fish Head-Popiah dinner (party).
Besides which, I've long lost my faith in modern theatre being comprehensible and unpretentious, and the ticket was $20 (or was it $30?). And lucky for me too, for I just stumbled across this review by someone whom I had, for some reason, acted rather strangely towards in J2 and thus doesn't like me:
"revelations by the necessary stage was quite a letdown, horrid script. disjointed incomprehensible out-of-point ["on 28th january 1819 sir stamford raffles landed on st john's island.. constellations are starbursts of.. in 1992 singapore launched its courtesy campaign" one after another, all this while the actors had gay sex] after the first 20mins i caught no ball. at least the acting was superb. such a pity. until the end tkx and i just thought we weren't smart or artsy fartsy enough haha but that kinda changed when we were walking out and realised that
NO ONE understood the damn play. sheesh.
still at a loss at what local theatre is trying to prove. everything has to do with sex, deviant sex, homosexuality, abuse, violence, beauty=pain kinda thing.. at the expense of a solid storyline. which is a big fat pity cos the actors have talent.
but the worst part of the show has got to be the post-show feedback form:
if you could spread SARS to any of the characters, which would you choose? and if you were forced to rape one of your siblings at gunpoint, would you rape your brother, sister, or would you rather die?
so damn sick. like honestly, what the eff. that's not art. that's just in complete bad taste."
Somehow, I expected that :)
Post ID: 95682776
Dah!
Just finished Dragons of a Lost Star, book 2 in the War of Souls trilogy which Mr Ban Xiong lent me, while I lent him Magician and Silverthorn.
I come all this way, grimacing at the disturbing monotheistic undertones, and I find out that the "One God" is Takhisis!
Gah. I feel so cheated. Couldn't they have come up with something better?
He Who Must Not Be Named: "what do youwant, Morgion?"
Just finished Dragons of a Lost Star, book 2 in the War of Souls trilogy which Mr Ban Xiong lent me, while I lent him Magician and Silverthorn.
I come all this way, grimacing at the disturbing monotheistic undertones, and I find out that the "One God" is Takhisis!
Gah. I feel so cheated. Couldn't they have come up with something better?
He Who Must Not Be Named: "what do youwant, Morgion?"
Post ID: 95678085
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