Hello,
I'm in comp lab 2, somewhere near a wilson hall in uni of melbourne.
Arrived here on sunday night. Since the bunch of med pple i'm closest to
here have gone shopping for handphones, i have nothing to do (at least
until 6.30pm here, when i plan to give my brother in london a wake-up
call).
Sunday 17 Feb: Sent to ormond college. Settle down, unpack enough stuff
to put bedsheet on bed and have a bath. Sleep.
Monday 18 feb: First thing in the morning, spent A$2.00 on calls to my
father. Public phone calls cost $0.40 per minute or thereabouts, i got
a wrong no., then nobody in my dad's room picked up, then i called my
father's singapore handphone (he had global roaming activated at a high
price just before leaving) at $0.80 a minute. Walked down from college
to hotel ibis (next to the queen victoria market). Brought my father
and his friend (a relative- erm my father's cousin's wife's
brother-in-law- he came along for holiday and to check on a property here) around
ormond college, then went around the city for meals and a little
shopping. Bought kettle chips (still unopened, i have a sore throat and daren't
touch them), power adaptor, extra bedsheets, water bottle, aqua shoes,
shampoo, set up bank account. Met father's friend/relative's nephew-
this really cool guy called kelvin tan. He's 28, quite cute, good bod,
he's got a bachelor's and master's degree in media arts- sound spec!
ialisation, RMIT, and plans to work in the media industry. He's cut
one mini-album and his first major one's gonna be launched in 1 month's
time- techno sounds. Also going to love ballads because of the
popularity, but his real interest is in heavy metal- offspring, limp bizkit (?)
and stuff. Oh, and he used to be a saints' rugger in singapore a long
time ago but he's hardly the jock stereotype. And no i'm not providing
his number.
Then had supper with dr. peter lee- my father's uni classmate and good
friend. He's an obs/gyn with his own practice in ferntree gully (yes
the cartoon was based on a real place) in the more rural areas, near glen
waverly, east of melbourne. Got a really nice clinic (it's actually a
refurbished residential house converted into a clinic) with imacs
everywhere, and a wonderful home thereabouts.
Forgot to bring along my saline and contact lens case, so dr. lee had
to drive me back to ormond to get them so i could remove my contacts and
go to my father's hotel to sleep.
L'origine de Bert
Thursday, February 21, 2002
Tuesday 19 feb: Spent all following nights sleeping in my father's
hotel room. Some shopping again0 stationery/toiletries, then had lunch in
restaurant coretto in lygon st. Salmone pasta- quite fishy and
creamy/cheesy, but i liked the taste. Huuuge portion, $12. Must remember to
contact melvin tay's friend in lygon st to pass stuff from the former to
the latter.
Wednesday 20 feb: Can't really remember what i did... i think i went to
the uni international reception centre in the morning, met davin and
danny there as well as my student mentor- alvin. He's a malaysian,
schooled in singapore, did foundation studies in trinity, then entered uni of
melbourne, now 4th yr engine. Apparently a lot of similar cases. A LOT.
Then arranged to meet chaowan in ormond college and we spent the
afternoon wandering around college and uni (caught in a deluge of rain late
afternoon and discovered to my horror my umbrella was broken in many
places). Coincidentally bumped into dev chak- our batch, S02B, studying
engineering first year, was talking to him. Then i went down to city to
do a spot of shopping. Bought umbrella, tupperware, and a yellow
sleeveless tee with a barbed wire motif. My first clothes purchase (= @ $15.
Westco (yes, bought it at westco)'s shop assistant told me will smith
was going to village cinema for the premiere of Ali, and i saw a!
crowd of pple waiting there. Waited there with them for 3 minutes,
then got impatient with self-indulgent and tardy movie stars and left.
Dinner at china bar (cardigan st, really good asian fare, big portions,
abt $A7.00 ) with kelvin and father and father's friend, then went to
kelvin's apartment (there was an advertisement for a flatmate- a 25-yr
old male asking for a 20-25yr old female flatmate to share apartment,
included a picture of Robert Downey jr. which he claimed was his mug) Then
met up with another one of my father's friends- an indian couple from
singapore who migrated to melbourne. Husband was a psc scholar, did his
master's in criminollogy in melbourne, then was serving his bond in
police, then ministry of home affairs (btw he agrees heartily abt the
social engineering conducted here) and was not very happy abt career
prospects- that talented and suitable candidates had to wait their turn to
join the old boys' club and get promotions and move career-wise. Wi!
fe also did master's in social work in melbourne, both of them decided
to migrate to a small town off melbourne to stay. They travel quite a
lot, come back to singapore quite often (they don't have children),
very nice couple. Promised to look out for me and take me out sometimes.
Post ID: 9954602
Thursday 21 feb: Said goodbye to father (he's leaving later on), and
went for orientation. Wanted to eat fruits for breakfast but the stuff I
bought from queen vic market had gone soft and slightly rotten after 3
days�. Salvaged a peach. Lemme see..... there were the medics from rjc
chenyi, tingru, chaowan, danny, sarah, julia the J4 (singapore citizen,
waited one year and 2 months to get into melbourne, everyone keeps on
asking her what she's spent the whole last year doing, she claims she
was a kindergarten teacher), Jiamin who spent a couple of months in rj
then went to trinity college, melbourne to do 1-yr foundation studies
(equivalent of a-levels or pre-us). Sue-anne and another girl whose name i
have temporarily forgotten, the one with a boyfriend in ns, tall/slim,
from tjc/vjc i think. And xiumin, ri choir/vjc/ns, 2 yrs my senior.
Davin, tjc, indonesian. Albert, who've i've just discovered was my primary
school clasmate primary 1 through 3, acps/acs i/njc but still v!
ery ac-ish outwards, There's supposed to be atomic liao's daughter who
also did the trinity college 1-yr foundation studies but i haven't met
here yet. And a hwachong girl called trudy- could tell from the first
glance she was from singapore by the look and the giordano tee (my
theory is that every teeen from singapore owns a collection of giordano
apparel- which reminds me- SImply Giordano is out! With the suede ribbed
tees- are they nice??). Would be much easier to find out who she is if i
had something like a first name to work with. Malaysians from malaysia-
wayne, gan chun hao, NAVINA!!! my j1 asean scholar classmate who went
to malaysia for J2, oliver, a taiwanese, migrated to canada. And dev
from engineering, and a bunch of 3 dark short rj girls, definitely rjc,
they look pretty familiar- i think one of them is peishan or peixuan or
soemthing like that.
Rumour has it a level results out on 1 march, since o level results out
on the same week in february or thereabouts.
Andrew gan
went for orientation. Wanted to eat fruits for breakfast but the stuff I
bought from queen vic market had gone soft and slightly rotten after 3
days�. Salvaged a peach. Lemme see..... there were the medics from rjc
chenyi, tingru, chaowan, danny, sarah, julia the J4 (singapore citizen,
waited one year and 2 months to get into melbourne, everyone keeps on
asking her what she's spent the whole last year doing, she claims she
was a kindergarten teacher), Jiamin who spent a couple of months in rj
then went to trinity college, melbourne to do 1-yr foundation studies
(equivalent of a-levels or pre-us). Sue-anne and another girl whose name i
have temporarily forgotten, the one with a boyfriend in ns, tall/slim,
from tjc/vjc i think. And xiumin, ri choir/vjc/ns, 2 yrs my senior.
Davin, tjc, indonesian. Albert, who've i've just discovered was my primary
school clasmate primary 1 through 3, acps/acs i/njc but still v!
ery ac-ish outwards, There's supposed to be atomic liao's daughter who
also did the trinity college 1-yr foundation studies but i haven't met
here yet. And a hwachong girl called trudy- could tell from the first
glance she was from singapore by the look and the giordano tee (my
theory is that every teeen from singapore owns a collection of giordano
apparel- which reminds me- SImply Giordano is out! With the suede ribbed
tees- are they nice??). Would be much easier to find out who she is if i
had something like a first name to work with. Malaysians from malaysia-
wayne, gan chun hao, NAVINA!!! my j1 asean scholar classmate who went
to malaysia for J2, oliver, a taiwanese, migrated to canada. And dev
from engineering, and a bunch of 3 dark short rj girls, definitely rjc,
they look pretty familiar- i think one of them is peishan or peixuan or
soemthing like that.
Rumour has it a level results out on 1 march, since o level results out
on the same week in february or thereabouts.
Andrew gan
Post ID: 9954593
Tuesday, February 19, 2002
Monday, February 18, 2002
Maybe I should get a dog to lavish my love on. I think I'm quite fond of the Samoyed.
Sometimes I wonder what's the point. 18 months, and at the snap of a finger it's over. Despite how horrible I'm feeling now though, I still think I experienced a Pareto improvement.
It's very easy to become cynical and disillusioned, but I think that's not the path I will take.
Seeing how lazy and lax I've become, I'll probably combine my thoughts [for my bookout post] from the last (half-)week with those from the forthcoming (half-)week.
Sometimes I wonder what's the point. 18 months, and at the snap of a finger it's over. Despite how horrible I'm feeling now though, I still think I experienced a Pareto improvement.
It's very easy to become cynical and disillusioned, but I think that's not the path I will take.
Seeing how lazy and lax I've become, I'll probably combine my thoughts [for my bookout post] from the last (half-)week with those from the forthcoming (half-)week.
Post ID: 9848976
With the first cloning of an animal, feminists (or more often, female chauvinists) were often heard to proclaim arrogantly, "men are no longer needed".
Now it seems women can be made redundant too.
Men redundant? Now we don't need women either
"Doctors are developing artificial wombs in which embryos can grow outside a woman's body. The work has been hailed as a breakthrough in treating the childless.
Scientists have created prototypes made out of cells extracted from women's bodies. Embryos successfully attached themselves to the walls of these laboratory wombs and began to grow...
'We hope to create complete artificial wombs using these techniques in a few years,' said Dr Hung-Ching Liu of Cornell University's Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility...
Artificial wombs could end many women's childbirth problems - but they also raise major ethical headaches...
said organiser Dr Scott Gelfand, of Oklahoma State University. 'Some feminists even say artificial wombs mean men could eliminate women from the planet and still perpetuate our species. That's a bit alarmist. Nevertheless, this subject clearly raises strong feelings.'...
Crucially, both believe artificial wombs capable of sustaining a child for nine months will become reality in a few years...
It also has serious ethical implications, as Gelfand pointed out. 'For a start, there is the issue of abortion. A woman is usually allowed to have one on the grounds she wants to get rid of something alien inside her own body.
'At present, this means killing the foetus. But if artificial wombs are developed, the foetus could be placed in one, and the woman told she has to look after it once it has developed into a child.'
In addition, if combined with cloning technology, artificial wombs raise the prospect that gay couples could give 'birth' to their own children. 'This would no doubt horrify right-wingers, while the implications for abortion law might well please them,' he added.
Gelfand also warned that artificial wombs could have unexpected consequences for working women and health insurance. 'They would mean that women would no longer need maternity leave - which employers could become increasingly reluctant to give.
'It may also turn out that artificial wombs provide safer environments than natural wombs which can be invaded by drugs and alcohol from a mother's body. Health insurance companies could actually insist that women opt for the artificial way.
'Certainly, this is going to raise a lot of tricky problems.'"
Most interesting.
Now it seems women can be made redundant too.
Men redundant? Now we don't need women either
"Doctors are developing artificial wombs in which embryos can grow outside a woman's body. The work has been hailed as a breakthrough in treating the childless.
Scientists have created prototypes made out of cells extracted from women's bodies. Embryos successfully attached themselves to the walls of these laboratory wombs and began to grow...
'We hope to create complete artificial wombs using these techniques in a few years,' said Dr Hung-Ching Liu of Cornell University's Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility...
Artificial wombs could end many women's childbirth problems - but they also raise major ethical headaches...
said organiser Dr Scott Gelfand, of Oklahoma State University. 'Some feminists even say artificial wombs mean men could eliminate women from the planet and still perpetuate our species. That's a bit alarmist. Nevertheless, this subject clearly raises strong feelings.'...
Crucially, both believe artificial wombs capable of sustaining a child for nine months will become reality in a few years...
It also has serious ethical implications, as Gelfand pointed out. 'For a start, there is the issue of abortion. A woman is usually allowed to have one on the grounds she wants to get rid of something alien inside her own body.
'At present, this means killing the foetus. But if artificial wombs are developed, the foetus could be placed in one, and the woman told she has to look after it once it has developed into a child.'
In addition, if combined with cloning technology, artificial wombs raise the prospect that gay couples could give 'birth' to their own children. 'This would no doubt horrify right-wingers, while the implications for abortion law might well please them,' he added.
Gelfand also warned that artificial wombs could have unexpected consequences for working women and health insurance. 'They would mean that women would no longer need maternity leave - which employers could become increasingly reluctant to give.
'It may also turn out that artificial wombs provide safer environments than natural wombs which can be invaded by drugs and alcohol from a mother's body. Health insurance companies could actually insist that women opt for the artificial way.
'Certainly, this is going to raise a lot of tricky problems.'"
Most interesting.
Post ID: 9844522
Sunday, February 17, 2002
Saturday, February 16, 2002
I'm still feeling sick, so I'll just pen more shameless self-promotion:
Fortuitously, the Internet Wayback Machine - a wonderful site where you can revisit the web of old by viewing websites at various points in the past - archived my old Tripod site just before it was deleted. I feel blessed :)
Fortuitously, the Internet Wayback Machine - a wonderful site where you can revisit the web of old by viewing websites at various points in the past - archived my old Tripod site just before it was deleted. I feel blessed :)
Post ID: 9787895
Wow. 5 posts in a row. Oh wait, this makes it the 6th. Hah- all those "Show last (5) posts"!
Ooh. I'm in trouble. "Andrew, message from my friend Yaoi Girl: Stop plastering my name all over the Net." (hopeless defence: ) But it was only once! *Not* my fault if the other J3s and J4s find it intriguing and keep repeating it!
Overcoming bouts of self-pity. Flying off.
If you know me please keep in touch with me via email!!
Ooh. I'm in trouble. "Andrew, message from my friend Yaoi Girl: Stop plastering my name all over the Net." (hopeless defence: ) But it was only once! *Not* my fault if the other J3s and J4s find it intriguing and keep repeating it!
Overcoming bouts of self-pity. Flying off.
If you know me please keep in touch with me via email!!
Post ID: 9787060
I'm posting for the last time before leaving. Yesterday was hectic too, morning I went to yun nan bookshop to obtain medical textbooks. Could only get moore's anatomy textbook (the other texts i was looking for were sold out; next batch coming in a few weeks). Then I met up with melvin tay at bugis- spinelli's for a chat. Then I took the mrt down to NUS science co-op (this nice engine student called weijie helped me to get there via the internal bus system) and i met ben mui on the way there. He's temp working in nus- good pay- and was meeting his "lunch buddies mala and shangyee" at the science canteen (one wonders why, when there are other better ones).
Sorta bumped into all 3 of them on the way to co-op bookstore; they were standing outside the corridor. When i waved Shangyee gawked at my hair and started gossipping to mala abt it (mala merely gawked); not that i didn't expect it but COULD YOU AT LEAST BE A LITTLE MORE FRIENDLY??? 2 years hardly counts as mere acquaintances. Then she mentioned my leaving and went off. I got all the books i wanted from the co-op, plus co-op card discount. By that time it was almost 2, I went back home.
Packed my bag for 3 destinations; gelati place to meet huihui and loraine (at 3), driving basic theory test (at 6.30pm), sjsm costume party (immediately after driving test). I was 50 minutes late for gelati gathering because i had misplaced stuff i had to bring for the latter; huihui remarked that "damage had been done" by my description of their prom outfits as "vampish" on my homepage, i should not elaborate. Really good meeting up with them (= we also met Ms. wee (rj bio tutor) who dropped by to get a coffee from coffee bean; she wished me all the best. There was another acjc guy from sjsm in at the gelati place, think he's jonathan. Anyway i wasn't sure it was the same guy.
Sorta bumped into all 3 of them on the way to co-op bookstore; they were standing outside the corridor. When i waved Shangyee gawked at my hair and started gossipping to mala abt it (mala merely gawked); not that i didn't expect it but COULD YOU AT LEAST BE A LITTLE MORE FRIENDLY??? 2 years hardly counts as mere acquaintances. Then she mentioned my leaving and went off. I got all the books i wanted from the co-op, plus co-op card discount. By that time it was almost 2, I went back home.
Packed my bag for 3 destinations; gelati place to meet huihui and loraine (at 3), driving basic theory test (at 6.30pm), sjsm costume party (immediately after driving test). I was 50 minutes late for gelati gathering because i had misplaced stuff i had to bring for the latter; huihui remarked that "damage had been done" by my description of their prom outfits as "vampish" on my homepage, i should not elaborate. Really good meeting up with them (= we also met Ms. wee (rj bio tutor) who dropped by to get a coffee from coffee bean; she wished me all the best. There was another acjc guy from sjsm in at the gelati place, think he's jonathan. Anyway i wasn't sure it was the same guy.
Post ID: 9787040
Loraine gave me some tips for the driving test and taught me how to remember right-of-way at cross junctions (vehicles going straight get first priority; vehicles turning left into the lane have next priority, vehicles turning right into the same lane have least priority) all of which was a great boon, thank you (= Took 174 down to bukit batok and was lost and almost late, so took a taxi to driving centre.
Driving test was in ballpoint pen on an optical answer sheet- weird. Some pple weren't prepared and only had pencils.
Finished it within half an hour (1 hour allocated) and went to the bathroom to change into my beng outfit- fitted levi's jeans (which i was already wearing) worn hip-level, sleeveless light blue t-shirt i bought at a sample sale in london, gelled my hair. Plus 2 of my gold tattoos on my arms (my parents would hit the roof if they found out abt it; i hastily pulled on a t-shirt over my sleeveless tee as i went home, then removed them using soap and water in the toilet). Tied on my WWJD? bracelet as a choker. Then michael bought round chinese hats with tassels and pigtails for all the guys in the cluster (and insisted i wear it). Made a fool of myself during the cluster item- dance to Grease's "Summer days". Actually all of us made fools of ourselves- everything was impromptu/follow the leader kinda thing. Cheok and jeremiah also showed up- dressed in shirt and tie. Winson was dressed in a black suit- the "pastor daniel wee lookalike". Lots of fairy wings!
Shared a cab with marc to go home.
Photos forthcoming.
Today I had cell lunch- said some things I wouldn't have if i hadn't been going off. Already missing sue-anne and marc and josiah.
Andrew gan
Driving test was in ballpoint pen on an optical answer sheet- weird. Some pple weren't prepared and only had pencils.
Finished it within half an hour (1 hour allocated) and went to the bathroom to change into my beng outfit- fitted levi's jeans (which i was already wearing) worn hip-level, sleeveless light blue t-shirt i bought at a sample sale in london, gelled my hair. Plus 2 of my gold tattoos on my arms (my parents would hit the roof if they found out abt it; i hastily pulled on a t-shirt over my sleeveless tee as i went home, then removed them using soap and water in the toilet). Tied on my WWJD? bracelet as a choker. Then michael bought round chinese hats with tassels and pigtails for all the guys in the cluster (and insisted i wear it). Made a fool of myself during the cluster item- dance to Grease's "Summer days". Actually all of us made fools of ourselves- everything was impromptu/follow the leader kinda thing. Cheok and jeremiah also showed up- dressed in shirt and tie. Winson was dressed in a black suit- the "pastor daniel wee lookalike". Lots of fairy wings!
Shared a cab with marc to go home.
Photos forthcoming.
Today I had cell lunch- said some things I wouldn't have if i hadn't been going off. Already missing sue-anne and marc and josiah.
Andrew gan
Post ID: 9787036
Courtesy of Hazel:
http://www.engrish.com/
"It's hard to believe the Engrish masquerading as real English over in Japan. It can be seen on signs, people's jackets, t-shirts and shopping bags, in menus and on TV. But nowhere is it more prevalent than on the various consumer products found in convenience stores and supermarkets...."
http://www.engrish.com/
"It's hard to believe the Engrish masquerading as real English over in Japan. It can be seen on signs, people's jackets, t-shirts and shopping bags, in menus and on TV. But nowhere is it more prevalent than on the various consumer products found in convenience stores and supermarkets...."
Post ID: 9777601
Walked over to bras basah complex to have a look at yun nan bookstore for textbooks- it was closed. Hrrmmmph. Will have to go there again tomorrow.
Then walked over to Bugis junction with chaowan- i wanted to get some beng accessories for tomorrow's SJSM costume party (i'm supposed to dress as either a beng or a lian; needless to say i chose the former) where i am required to wear a "tight tee and tight pants". Will probably wear a dark-coloured or red fitted sleeveless tee with tight jeans. Bought temporary stick-on tattoos from 77th Street- wheeeee!!!- 6 chinese characters for $2.90- wheeeeee!!!!!!!- meng3, lie4, kuang2, and a few others. Hmm, will have to borrow someone's toner/make-up remover/cold cream to remove them before going home that night.
Then hopped off the MRT at buona vista, dedicated 4 songs (for a buck) at the council dedication booth to the "creative writing clubbers"- friendship week thing, proceeds to charity.
Megan: What songs did you dedicate to us?
Andrew: Alanis Morissette's "Ironic".
Megan: Wha-aat???
Grace: (speechless, does the burying face in hands thing)
And this is what creative writing's doing this year for friendship week:
>Friendship Week valentine veggies -
>Vegetables/ fruits sold are:
>dates - 'would you like a date with me?'
>raisins - 'raisin' the temperature'
>barley - 'i can barley contain my love'
>pears - 'we make a good pear'
>carrots - 'you are the root of all desire'
>peanuts - 'i'm nuts about you'
Then walked over to Bugis junction with chaowan- i wanted to get some beng accessories for tomorrow's SJSM costume party (i'm supposed to dress as either a beng or a lian; needless to say i chose the former) where i am required to wear a "tight tee and tight pants". Will probably wear a dark-coloured or red fitted sleeveless tee with tight jeans. Bought temporary stick-on tattoos from 77th Street- wheeeee!!!- 6 chinese characters for $2.90- wheeeeee!!!!!!!- meng3, lie4, kuang2, and a few others. Hmm, will have to borrow someone's toner/make-up remover/cold cream to remove them before going home that night.
Then hopped off the MRT at buona vista, dedicated 4 songs (for a buck) at the council dedication booth to the "creative writing clubbers"- friendship week thing, proceeds to charity.
Megan: What songs did you dedicate to us?
Andrew: Alanis Morissette's "Ironic".
Megan: Wha-aat???
Grace: (speechless, does the burying face in hands thing)
And this is what creative writing's doing this year for friendship week:
>Friendship Week valentine veggies -
>Vegetables/ fruits sold are:
>dates - 'would you like a date with me?'
>raisins - 'raisin' the temperature'
>barley - 'i can barley contain my love'
>pears - 'we make a good pear'
>carrots - 'you are the root of all desire'
>peanuts - 'i'm nuts about you'
Post ID: 9777042
Hi, ( **Mental note: Must stop writing "Hi" or any equivalent greeting. This is a blog not an email!!** )
Spent 7 hours straight out of the house. That must be some kind of record (=
Left home at 11 something, went down to church of the good shepherd to look for the SERVE people. They were writing out song lyrics on mahjong paper; I wrote some of them (okay, i made booboos one of which was spotted- "With christ in the vessel" i wrote "And we'll go sailing on" instead of "And we'll go sailing home". Thankfully it could be rectified without mutilation).
The orang asli team was preparing their dance item in sign language to LeAnn Rime's "I need you"- track on the album "Music inspired by the Jesus Mini-series"- a really good mix of music according to Kimberly (you can tell there's a song by steven curtis chapman). Quite entertaining.
Then I met chaowan for lunch- was late. He suggested City Bayview Hotel's popiah buffet- $7.80 +++- quite horrible popiah. The turnip was quite bad, and so were most of the ingredients. I should have known, since there were only 4 other people eating there. And they were ang mohs who didn't know how to eat popiah- they scooped big heaps of the sliced ingredients on their plates and ate them.
Spent 7 hours straight out of the house. That must be some kind of record (=
Left home at 11 something, went down to church of the good shepherd to look for the SERVE people. They were writing out song lyrics on mahjong paper; I wrote some of them (okay, i made booboos one of which was spotted- "With christ in the vessel" i wrote "And we'll go sailing on" instead of "And we'll go sailing home". Thankfully it could be rectified without mutilation).
The orang asli team was preparing their dance item in sign language to LeAnn Rime's "I need you"- track on the album "Music inspired by the Jesus Mini-series"- a really good mix of music according to Kimberly (you can tell there's a song by steven curtis chapman). Quite entertaining.
Then I met chaowan for lunch- was late. He suggested City Bayview Hotel's popiah buffet- $7.80 +++- quite horrible popiah. The turnip was quite bad, and so were most of the ingredients. I should have known, since there were only 4 other people eating there. And they were ang mohs who didn't know how to eat popiah- they scooped big heaps of the sliced ingredients on their plates and ate them.
Post ID: 9777033
Wednesday, February 13, 2002
More terribly old stuff (from Sunday to Tuesday):
Those squeaky shoes parents like to give to toddlers are very irritating. Doesn't the sound drive them mad?
Tim, who is now a private, claims he kept his mind alive by doing mental sums - counting the number of people in the file. Trust an F Maths student.
People always talk about moderate versus radical muslims. Funny how no one ever talks about the other end of the spectrum. What exactly is a liberal muslim? I don't think those who eat pork and don't pray count.
A new era has dawned - students in the School With The Most Indecent Uniform In Singapore Bar One no longer have to keep short hair. Evidence that I'm really cut off from civilisation? Not really - quite a few people I commented on this breaking news too did not know of the new liberty available in that institution!
On Monday, it was back to RJC.
I saw another aficionado of the RGS jacket, with short hair and wearing in the morning. Huihui would be proud.
Disconcerting stuff: While looking at people coming into the school building from the vantage point beside 2-1, I discovered that from there, you can peer into the first floor female toilet. Luckily nothing risque was visible.
And people are getting more and more daring - this ex-CHIJ (which branch of the franchise she was from, I know not) girl strode in past the aforementioned level one female toilet toting her handphone. And I saw dear Johann with earrings!
2 idiot Raffles Guys were doing a dance, that one where you lock your arms and trot around in a circle.
Jason Lau was busy connecting to a whole new generation at the Speakers' Corner, and they seemed quite intent on what he had to say.
The girl and her boyfriend who stare at each other in the mornings are still there, doing their thing. And the Harmonica Club ("Harmon", please, not "Harmock") is still doing bad renditions of Holiday Favourites. For some reason, "Jingle Bells" appeared towards the end of the medley. Maybe they were disappointed at not being able to perform during Christmas. I'm still not able to decide which instrument is more irritating / sounds worse - the guitar or the harmonica.
Mrs Lim Guat Ching asked me to remove her quotes. Ah well, since she asked, I will (and have done so). Farewell, adieu. Those were good gems, yes they were.
Quanxing was wearing the same thing as his favourite teacher Ho Weng Kin. And he *still* owes me $16.30 from last August. Ware loaning money to him!
I don't understand why the Council always gets to walk around in civvies during Celebration Days. It doesn't serve any purpose - maybe it's just them taking advantage of their prerogatives.
The Hall was very full during the celebrations - there was even spillover upstairs. I wonder how they kept them from running away, back to their Secondary Schools this year.
If it is possible, there was an even greater number of Raffles Guys in Hot Socks this time around. Mayhap it has some relation to the theory many of us came up with last year - RJ people grow uglier every year (and it did seem to hold this year).
There were quite few J3s who came back. Ah well. Most of the guys were wearing baseball caps. Ahem.
The poor bookshop uncle had his cash register's tray stolen. Now how did that happen? How is it possible for someone to carry off a tray, replete with all the money? I'd have thought any thief would just have lifted the money.
Mr Lim told me that he had the Tekong Flu all 3 months he was there - how's that for severity? Apparently service jobs are bad because time passes slowly. Mr Raufie felt his 2 months as a clerk passed slower than his 2 years 3 months as a medic - is that possible? And the job of a medic supposedly sucks too. Well, I still think I'd rather slack than run up hills (not that I am capable of the latter, anyhow).
Later, I even bothered to return to RI. They've upped the shameless quotient during Shameless Week now and posters with people's faces plastered on them and unlikely promises jumping out at you are everywhere.
Sample questionable posters:
'Let me lead you along in the whirlpool to SUCCESS and ACHIEVEMENTS!!!'
Whirlpool? Maybe he'll get shipwrecked.
"'Voteforme' is not a town in CHINA!"
Some PRC's poster. Not bad, actually, notwithstanding the shamelessness.
At World of JJ later, Andrew and I saw the Poser Carabinas, those that people like to put on their bags. They are labelled, "not for climbing". And on the MRT, I saw an advertisement which wasn't too bad. It had the chinese words "Very Painful" (Hao3 Tong4) but with some parts of each word highlighted, such that it read "For Female Use" (Nu3 Yong4). Gold Label Bak Foong Pill for menstrual pains!
The rationale for the Cosmetic Bra puzzles me - why would anyone want to have unevenly moisturised skin? Or could it have something to do with the frequency of skin contact on those areas.
Snoopy Place has bad descriptions for the items on the menu - they're practically non-existent. And the ribs do not fall apart easily - they're very tough.
Tuesday:
I went to Great World City to watch "I Not Stupid" with my parents. They only watch movies on recommendation.
At Guardian, "Personal Care" was filled exclusively with sanitary pads and tampons. And stain remover. The logic eludes me.
I saw 2 people in the McDonald's uniform going to KFC. Tut tut.
Why I get sick during long bookouts is very suspicious. Perhaps I have been poisoned, and the antidote in placed in the water they give us.
I believe another freezing fit will come upon me soon. Farewell.
Those squeaky shoes parents like to give to toddlers are very irritating. Doesn't the sound drive them mad?
Tim, who is now a private, claims he kept his mind alive by doing mental sums - counting the number of people in the file. Trust an F Maths student.
People always talk about moderate versus radical muslims. Funny how no one ever talks about the other end of the spectrum. What exactly is a liberal muslim? I don't think those who eat pork and don't pray count.
A new era has dawned - students in the School With The Most Indecent Uniform In Singapore Bar One no longer have to keep short hair. Evidence that I'm really cut off from civilisation? Not really - quite a few people I commented on this breaking news too did not know of the new liberty available in that institution!
On Monday, it was back to RJC.
I saw another aficionado of the RGS jacket, with short hair and wearing in the morning. Huihui would be proud.
Disconcerting stuff: While looking at people coming into the school building from the vantage point beside 2-1, I discovered that from there, you can peer into the first floor female toilet. Luckily nothing risque was visible.
And people are getting more and more daring - this ex-CHIJ (which branch of the franchise she was from, I know not) girl strode in past the aforementioned level one female toilet toting her handphone. And I saw dear Johann with earrings!
2 idiot Raffles Guys were doing a dance, that one where you lock your arms and trot around in a circle.
Jason Lau was busy connecting to a whole new generation at the Speakers' Corner, and they seemed quite intent on what he had to say.
The girl and her boyfriend who stare at each other in the mornings are still there, doing their thing. And the Harmonica Club ("Harmon", please, not "Harmock") is still doing bad renditions of Holiday Favourites. For some reason, "Jingle Bells" appeared towards the end of the medley. Maybe they were disappointed at not being able to perform during Christmas. I'm still not able to decide which instrument is more irritating / sounds worse - the guitar or the harmonica.
Mrs Lim Guat Ching asked me to remove her quotes. Ah well, since she asked, I will (and have done so). Farewell, adieu. Those were good gems, yes they were.
Quanxing was wearing the same thing as his favourite teacher Ho Weng Kin. And he *still* owes me $16.30 from last August. Ware loaning money to him!
I don't understand why the Council always gets to walk around in civvies during Celebration Days. It doesn't serve any purpose - maybe it's just them taking advantage of their prerogatives.
The Hall was very full during the celebrations - there was even spillover upstairs. I wonder how they kept them from running away, back to their Secondary Schools this year.
If it is possible, there was an even greater number of Raffles Guys in Hot Socks this time around. Mayhap it has some relation to the theory many of us came up with last year - RJ people grow uglier every year (and it did seem to hold this year).
There were quite few J3s who came back. Ah well. Most of the guys were wearing baseball caps. Ahem.
The poor bookshop uncle had his cash register's tray stolen. Now how did that happen? How is it possible for someone to carry off a tray, replete with all the money? I'd have thought any thief would just have lifted the money.
Mr Lim told me that he had the Tekong Flu all 3 months he was there - how's that for severity? Apparently service jobs are bad because time passes slowly. Mr Raufie felt his 2 months as a clerk passed slower than his 2 years 3 months as a medic - is that possible? And the job of a medic supposedly sucks too. Well, I still think I'd rather slack than run up hills (not that I am capable of the latter, anyhow).
Later, I even bothered to return to RI. They've upped the shameless quotient during Shameless Week now and posters with people's faces plastered on them and unlikely promises jumping out at you are everywhere.
Sample questionable posters:
'Let me lead you along in the whirlpool to SUCCESS and ACHIEVEMENTS!!!'
Whirlpool? Maybe he'll get shipwrecked.
"'Voteforme' is not a town in CHINA!"
Some PRC's poster. Not bad, actually, notwithstanding the shamelessness.
At World of JJ later, Andrew and I saw the Poser Carabinas, those that people like to put on their bags. They are labelled, "not for climbing". And on the MRT, I saw an advertisement which wasn't too bad. It had the chinese words "Very Painful" (Hao3 Tong4) but with some parts of each word highlighted, such that it read "For Female Use" (Nu3 Yong4). Gold Label Bak Foong Pill for menstrual pains!
The rationale for the Cosmetic Bra puzzles me - why would anyone want to have unevenly moisturised skin? Or could it have something to do with the frequency of skin contact on those areas.
Snoopy Place has bad descriptions for the items on the menu - they're practically non-existent. And the ribs do not fall apart easily - they're very tough.
Tuesday:
I went to Great World City to watch "I Not Stupid" with my parents. They only watch movies on recommendation.
At Guardian, "Personal Care" was filled exclusively with sanitary pads and tampons. And stain remover. The logic eludes me.
I saw 2 people in the McDonald's uniform going to KFC. Tut tut.
Why I get sick during long bookouts is very suspicious. Perhaps I have been poisoned, and the antidote in placed in the water they give us.
I believe another freezing fit will come upon me soon. Farewell.
Post ID: 9672321
This is weird:
"oh yeah....ur Fierce Girl has teh impression tat u r scared of her...=)
oh...cos crystal mentioned that her nick was Fierce Girl...and she guessed it was u...and she told us how one day, when u were talking with one of her friends, she started waving to her friends, and according to her, u sort of did a double-take or something...ar
nothing. just that apparently you seemed dismayed and somewhat panicked by her arrival. to quote her quoting her friend quoting you, "she's here! hide me!""
I don't think I ever did that. Okay, maybe I was trying to be farnie and playing on the "Fierce" bit.
"oh yeah....ur Fierce Girl has teh impression tat u r scared of her...=)
oh...cos crystal mentioned that her nick was Fierce Girl...and she guessed it was u...and she told us how one day, when u were talking with one of her friends, she started waving to her friends, and according to her, u sort of did a double-take or something...ar
nothing. just that apparently you seemed dismayed and somewhat panicked by her arrival. to quote her quoting her friend quoting you, "she's here! hide me!""
I don't think I ever did that. Okay, maybe I was trying to be farnie and playing on the "Fierce" bit.
Post ID: 9670722
Maybe Coolconnect isn't so good after all.
Cheery and prompt tech support reply (for a free account none less!):
"Hi Gabriel,
We're glad you like PicoSearch!
But with your new hoster you seem to have a problem. Besides the fact that they are painfully slow, they do seem prejudiced against indexer robots. We can test internally looking like a browser and we eventually get the page, but as PicoSearch/1.0 we eventually get [Internal Server Error]
http://homex.coolconnect.com/member3/gssq/
See what the hoster says, good luck.
best wishes,
PicoSearch Support"
Cheery and prompt tech support reply (for a free account none less!):
"Hi Gabriel,
We're glad you like PicoSearch!
But with your new hoster you seem to have a problem. Besides the fact that they are painfully slow, they do seem prejudiced against indexer robots. We can test internally looking like a browser and we eventually get the page, but as PicoSearch/1.0 we eventually get [Internal Server Error]
http://homex.coolconnect.com/member3/gssq/
See what the hoster says, good luck.
best wishes,
PicoSearch Support"
Post ID: 9661115
Tuesday, February 12, 2002
The dangers of putting "Slave" as your first name on your ICQ info - you get messages from BDSM enthusiasts.
"BDSM, humiliation, punishment, party's, groups, forced, S&M, I have had many experances around the would in real life!
And the fun never stops.
i will do anything to please my Mistress.
i am allowed to talk to other slave's and those Mistress or Masters that will."
"BDSM, humiliation, punishment, party's, groups, forced, S&M, I have had many experances around the would in real life!
And the fun never stops.
i will do anything to please my Mistress.
i am allowed to talk to other slave's and those Mistress or Masters that will."
Post ID: 9635920
Sunday, February 10, 2002
My attempts to find a webhost with unlimited bandwith turned up 4 sites just now. 1's FTP is down, 2's confirmation emails haven't arrived and the last cannot even accept the registration form.
Further searching reveals mostly adult webhosting. Cough. Maybe my Afghan Spice Girls picture will qualify.
Further searching reveals mostly adult webhosting. Cough. Maybe my Afghan Spice Girls picture will qualify.
Post ID: 9575262
This should be long.
Restored Post
A philosophical note to start with. Many people think that I dislike slavery because of the hardship, but actually I do have moral and ethical objections, about being a slave, and killing none the least. Alas, I lack the courage to stand up for my beliefs and go to jail to stand up for my convictions. I am rather ashamed about that. I had a talk with my erstwhile (and now presumably submerged in his work since he doesn't lurk on ICQ anymore) Jehovah's Witness friend in the UK about National Slavery in Singapore. Those people would rather go to jail than betray their principles. Apparently there was one in RJ, in my year. I'd like to talk to him one day. Perhaps being too free is bad - there's too much to think. Anyhow, I seem to be doing better now. Instead of tearing almost every day, it's now every few days.
Before I last booked in ("checked in" as my mother sometimes says), I had my Last Dinner at the SAFRA Country Club. My parents asked me to join SAFRA because the facilities were good and cheap, and the food likewise. I want as little to do with the SAF as possible.
The water in Tekong sucks. It's not as bad as the water on Ubin, but it's quite bad. Maybe it's the mind controlling drugs they slip into the water.
Some person was rasping the march timing, "loop right loop right loop right loop" Gollum-like one day for some reason.
At night in the bunk, people seem to like to shout a lot. It's probably because we're trained to shout in the day, so even when we are not required to do so, most of us continue shouting. That and the natural loudness of boys. It is most irritating, especially when you are on the phone. Kumar and I tried to persuade those in our bunk to speak more quietly. Unfortunately, it does not seem to be working.
On the 29th, I went to see the Medical Officer for my foot pains (on the top of the feet). I got the shotgun doctor - my consultation time was all of 1 minute. I got various excuses for 7 days, one of which was "Excused Running and Jumping", so my tag said "Ex-RJ", something which some people chose to point out with glee. I suppose if I'd tried, I could have gotten home leave - the other people in my company who reported on the same day mostly got ATTN C, and one asked why I didn't fake a more grevious injury. Which is the greater evil - indenture or lying to get out of it? I'm musing too much nowadays. The feet still pain me, though, so on the first day of the Situational Test (3 glorious days outfield), I will report sick if they hurt even then. Ahem. The medicine doesn't really work though. Maybe they give us placebos because so many people fake injury, or they're using us as low-(almost no-)cost guinea pigs!
I met Kairen at the Medical Centre that day, and his knee had just popped. He's been downgraded and is none too happy - his hopes of going to OCS have been dashed. I think most would be happy to be downgraded - I know I would, but to each his own.
I was a route marshal for a jog a day or two after I reported sick. There was a Major (I think) walking around. I greeted him but didn't salute, and he absently saluted back. Later during the jog itself, people tried to steal my red flag and sling bag. Reminds me of 2L. Actually my whole platoon reminds me of 2L in a way - everyone wanting primacy and vocalising their views, a lack of co-operation etc. I got to talk to another route marshal, this ex-VJ guy in Hawk, Ming Xiang.
Someone commented that during Bayonet Fighting we are like dogs - we move on the whistle. I agree.
Almost everyone I know who enlisted during the 22/1-24/1 period is in Hawk Company, for some reason.
Lucky Jiaxiang has OOCed and will be downgraded. Good for him! He is also a former classmate of my buddy.
On being weighed after booking in, I found that I'd lost 1 kg, even after my eating a Teppanyaki buffet at Goodwood Park Hotel and the meal at the SAFRA country club restaurant (cf the 1st confinement week where, eating cookhouse food the whole week, I didn't lose any weight). Booking out is good for health.
The Grenade Assualt Course sucks. Crawling is painful. I got an abrasion on my left elbow from doing the Leopard Crawl, and my watch got even more scratched. For some reason I can't break my fall very well - I tend to land on my knees first. Breaking it properly is painful. Luckily I escaped the Bayonet Assault Course, where much water was poured onto the ground to create mud. Muaha.
I've picked up some rudimentary sewing skills sewing the strap of my [low quality] slingbag and my helmet strap.
The cacophony of 4 platoons marching, each singing a different song and in a different tempo, is horrible.
We had a talk with the Commander. As is usual in these situations, few questions were asked. I had, at the same time, both too much and too little to say. In the end, I, infamous for asking troubling questions, asked none, troubling or otherwise. Perhaps they'd have made no difference, and just have irritated people or made me more infamous. Or has my defiance been squashed? I'm really becoming too philosophical nowadays. Kairen told me some person in his company asked the Commander for his view on the American bombing of Afghanistan. Ahem.
More evidence of vocabulary degenration: People always say "row" even when they mean "column". Or have I mentioned that in a previous outburst?
The peril of having recruits lead songs: Someone changed the line "Two years of our time" in the "Training to be soldiers" song to "What a waste of time". I was most amused.
We are now disallowed from bringing food back from the Cookhouse. Da baoing fruit was started a few weeks ago, one trick that we relative "lao jiaos" have picked up. After we were told of the new order, someone brought at least 10 Mandarin Oranges out of the cupboard to the tune of Lunar New Year music, thus vindicating the order (on the basis of hygeine and health).
Too many people in platoons 1 and 4 were caught using their handphones after Lights Out and everyone in both platoons was banned from using them for 2 whole weeks. Ouch. Lucky for them, this was rescinded by the Commanding Officer on a plea.
We were supposed to go for a Night Off, but we had a Route March the next day, so for safety reasons we couldn't. !@#$%^&*().
People have started eating the (expired on 02/01 and destined to be disposed of) biscuits plundered from the store. But they're still eminently edible. And tasty too. Anyhow, the field rations that we got during field camp contained biscuits only a few months newer - they expired on 04/01 or 05/01. Kheng Hwa bemoaned the phasing out of dog biscuits a few years back, but the present ones are quite good and I think they too expand somewhat in the stomach to fill you up - they're rather dry, though not as hard as the dog biscuits.
News that baffled me while in camp: Selangor plans to ban 24 hour food outlets as they "promote unhealthy eating habits" and "encourage youths to stay out too late". Must be something in Palm Oil that makes them a little kooky.
A lot of people like to smoke in the toilet. It is very irritating and choking. They conducted an inspection and discovered the transgression, but only 3 people (and not the major culprits too) owned up. I look forward to a cleaner and more enjoyable (inasmuch as it can be) toilet.
Their motto is "Safety First". This does not explain why the fire alarm has had a general fault for at least 5 weeks.
Recruits do stupid things. Perhaps what one sergeant said is true - we lose our brains when our hair is cut. Apparently one person in Jaguar (or Hawk, I may have remembered wrongly) company was rushing to fall in and slipped over the parapet, and was hanging on to the railing. Lucky he was on the second floor. I am aghast :)
People like to strip in the bunk. It is bad enough when they strip to their underwear, but some strip totally, exposing their gonads to the world. Disgusting.
Confinement Weekend was very very boring. We were supposed to have a movie, but it was cancelled. I think they want to drive us mad with boredom.
Stuff magazine is another popular magazine. I think I must be the only person who reads magazines which don't have half (or three quarter) naked females prancing about.
We only have 3 confinement weeks. Hurrah! 2 down, one to go.
There was a surprise inspection. They found a charger... and a portable TV!
I had guard duty. It was tiring and I was disorientated, but hey I don't have it today and it was weekday duty - 12 hours instead of the 24 for weekends! And I had only one shift to boot since I was in the third detail. Praise the Lord.
We took yet another photograph. Yet another 9 dollars gone. I was told to shave my sideburns. As it was the first time I'd used a razor, I shaved too high on the right, so now I have a bald area above where my sideburns used to be. But no one after the day itself noticed it, so maybe it isn't *that* bad. Or everyone's too polite to say anything.
We were given ice cream at the cookhouse again. Aha!
We had a 8km route march. Ouch. Ugh. I got abrasions on my inner thigh.
Someone's Bart Simpson boxer shorts amused a sergeant greatly for some reason.
I still haven't recovered from the infamous Tekong Flu. My sergeant claims it's because our bunks are dirty and that at SISPEC no one coughs. I wonder.
Scribbled at field camp:
I wonder if Camo Stick/Cream is toxic, and how bad it is for the skin. I slept with it in both nights of field camp. My sergeant says it gives people a lot of pimples. I think black camo cream stings the skin.
One of our sergeants entertained himself at Field Camp by making us practice "tactical eating" which involved half of each section eating while the other half had to guard them in the prone position. And then he sent one section against the rest in "wargames". And threw many mock grenades. He also made us camo our helmets in addition to our skin.
Sleeping on a rifle is very uncomfortable. They made veiled threats about stealing rifles or rifle parts on the first day, but waited until the second night to carry out their dastardly deed. They also had a simulated attack on the third morning, but were kind enough to hold it at about 5:55am.
There were many insects, though not as many as I'd feared, and they didn't bother me at night. I did have to squash ants while they were crawling under my clothing, though. I don't want to think about it.
I saw fireflies for perhaps the first time while waiting to practice night movement and reaction to flares. Nice sight.
Now my Platoon Commander calls me "Porn Star". Yeh. I probably made the situation worse when I turned up for the powder bath inspection in boots and underwear, as I hadn't brought slippers.
They made us do xxx skits for people in makeshift observation posts to observe. Some people professed to be shocked when I asked "do I pee on him [my captive]?" when I was asked to go off and pee at some point in the skit.
Even across from the rubber plantation, there is a chinup bar. These people are mad.
Field rations are very filling - I couldn't finish them. Apparently they put something inside to make you shit less, it clumps up your faeces.
I was wondering why there was a rubber plantation in the middle of nowhere. Apparently it was deliberately planted, and there's an oil palm plantation elsewhere on the Island of Doom.
No barbed wire was placed around the side of the urination hole facing outside. Maybe that's how wild boars get in (though we didn't get any this time).
The fruit bars (which won the "2000 Gold Taste Award) that they give us contain palm oil, although they are made in California. Perhaps that is done to cater to the Singaporean palate, carefully nurtured on a diet of palm oil.
Powder baths are a little surreal, though the amount they require us to put is ridiculous.
All in all, field camp wasn't that bad because it didn't rain! And field camp / route march has improved my packing skills.
Back to bunk:
After field camp, the bunk was really a welcome sight.
I've yet to figure out what dialect "lam pah" / "lampah" is in. I don't think I heard it before I was enslaved, actually.
My feet are mysterious. The feet pain that I reported sick for the week before field camp (and which didn't heal even after my 1 week of excuses had expired) mysteriously lessened in severity and even at times, disappeared during field camp. But as I got off the tonner back to BMTC, they started hurting again. Weird.
Everyone started cooking Maggi Mee when we came back.
The rubber sap from the plantation stuck to our clothes and dried. Gah.
On coming back I had to clear rubbish, and lots of it. 2 people came to help me of their volition. I was touched.
"You're adopting well to army life" - Norman. For some reason I was disconcerted by that remark.
The confinees ate field rations during their confinement. Oh dear.
OCS and SDC visit:
Before we booked out, we went to OCS. Yeh.
There is a drive thru Burger King opposite SAFTI MI. The first I've seen so far, I believe.
The last time I went to SAFTI MI was in Secondary 2 I believe. The GEPs had proved to be disloyal in a NE test/survey so they sent us there. At that time, I'd wondered about a place called "Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute Military Institute", an example of the fine naming of our Intelligent Soldiers. My theory was that at first it was called SAFTI, then some intelligent person thought that that was too short and SAFT Training Institute sounded funny, so they renamed it the SAFTI Military Institute. Then, everyone in Singapore, and the SAF especially being lazy and fond of acronyms, they shortened it to SAFTI MI. Wallah. "Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute Military Institute".
After OCS, we went to the Singapore Discovery Centre. Double joy. I've been there at least twice already.
While we were waiting outside the SDC, some [not very outstanding] girls from a neighbourhood school walked by, so our sergeant gave a "kerkiri loo roos" order.
We had an enthusiastic guide, who enthused that the Fall of Singapore shows us that we must depend on ourselves to defend us. That's rather shaky logic. If that's the case, Vichy France and Thailand show us that we can defend ourselves and escape harm by betraying our allies and collaborating with aggressor nations. And the fall of Belgium and the Netherlands shows that it is impossible to defend ourselves, so why bother? Hurrah.
They are incredibly humble. Under "Great Leaders" they placed Lee Kuan Yew. That wasn't so bad. Then I walked further down and saw Goh Chok Tong. Further inside, under "Super Troopers" was "the SAF Commando".
The guides at SDC, at least those we got, are all ex-officers - all Majors and one or two Lieutenant Colonels. The SAF gives good retirement packages. And apparently our photographer used to be a Commanding Officer.
Quotes:
"[On someone having Pi Pa Gao {Pei Pa Go} in the toiletries section of the cupboard] I don't understand why you all mix your food with non-edibles... One day you'll wash your hair with Pi Pa Gao."
"The first lesson for tomorrow is a brisk walk. [Consternation from Recruits] Yes, we all know that this is not true [It is actually a jog]"
"Unfortunately, the OOCs will also confined, together with everyone else... Why are you [all] so happy?"
"[On a VIP from Indonesia's visit] No crab, no bars but star, so tomorrow all the crabs walking around, all the seafood."
"[On a demonstration of bayonet fighting] You see Yap, he die already still can smile (still can smile after death)"
"[On Platoon 4] Those are not men, they are dwarves"
"[On my fondness for allegedly feminine postures while on the bed] Gabriel, I want to ask you, your cock, is it there or can it be pushed inside to form a hole?"
"Can you lend me your handphone? I need a vibrator"
"[Allegedly quoting from a magazine, perhaps to vindicate himself] 70% of women said they masturbate daily or more often. The rest are lying"
"[On me, after I commented about the resetting of pushups to the Commanding Officer] You're totally a civilian. Cannot make it."
"[On the MOs] Their OCS, like Kilo Company, come in, 5 days orientation, come out as privates. They go into OCS, 5 days, come out, Captain."
"The biggest rank in Tekong, you know what?... Civilian."
"Captured enemy personnel, first thing you do, don't go and sodomise them please... got girl bring to me first (if there is a girl, bring her)"
"[On reporting verbal exchanges with captured enemy personnel] If they scold you na beh jee bye don't report that, please"
"Leadership and Command. Do you dare to take up the challenge? [Recruit: Yes, Sir.] Lam pah."
"A lot of bad influence. Like me, OC, I also... [Recruit: Chao keng] How to chao keng? As OC I already nothing to do already (have )"
"If you are not loyal to Singapore, then why are you here? [Recruits: We don't want to be here]"
"[On me] He uses all the funny funny words"
"Gabriel, I realise you have the same lips as Shu Qi, only you are not pretty"
"[On the Ghost Walk] You will be impressed at how the army learn from Pontianak and Chinese Vampires (learns, Pontianaks)"
"When you smoke, you become an intelligent human. When you don't smoke, you become like cock... When you smoke, even when I talk to you in Tamil you understand."
"Smells like shit ah, the shit"
"[On my incessant scribbling] I can't stand you. Today you write 'Today, the shit, 500 grams, brown in colour...'"
"How come on Wednesday, 12 OOCs reported sick, all got ATTN C ah?"
"[To someone who heard the bookout timing wrongly] You OOC because of what ah? [Another recruit: Deaf]"
"For air force [training] they will go on to AFST. Advanced... Fuck lah, I also don't know what is that. (that is)"
"You all are not responding, fuck lah. You all want to book out now ah?... You all are forced to come here ah?... I am also forced to conduct this [talk] for you"
"[On the SAF retirement package] Don't be surprised if next time you see Lieutenant ****** selling drinks at the canteen... Next time you see the commander ah, sweeping the floor."
Restored Post
A philosophical note to start with. Many people think that I dislike slavery because of the hardship, but actually I do have moral and ethical objections, about being a slave, and killing none the least. Alas, I lack the courage to stand up for my beliefs and go to jail to stand up for my convictions. I am rather ashamed about that. I had a talk with my erstwhile (and now presumably submerged in his work since he doesn't lurk on ICQ anymore) Jehovah's Witness friend in the UK about National Slavery in Singapore. Those people would rather go to jail than betray their principles. Apparently there was one in RJ, in my year. I'd like to talk to him one day. Perhaps being too free is bad - there's too much to think. Anyhow, I seem to be doing better now. Instead of tearing almost every day, it's now every few days.
Before I last booked in ("checked in" as my mother sometimes says), I had my Last Dinner at the SAFRA Country Club. My parents asked me to join SAFRA because the facilities were good and cheap, and the food likewise. I want as little to do with the SAF as possible.
The water in Tekong sucks. It's not as bad as the water on Ubin, but it's quite bad. Maybe it's the mind controlling drugs they slip into the water.
Some person was rasping the march timing, "loop right loop right loop right loop" Gollum-like one day for some reason.
At night in the bunk, people seem to like to shout a lot. It's probably because we're trained to shout in the day, so even when we are not required to do so, most of us continue shouting. That and the natural loudness of boys. It is most irritating, especially when you are on the phone. Kumar and I tried to persuade those in our bunk to speak more quietly. Unfortunately, it does not seem to be working.
On the 29th, I went to see the Medical Officer for my foot pains (on the top of the feet). I got the shotgun doctor - my consultation time was all of 1 minute. I got various excuses for 7 days, one of which was "Excused Running and Jumping", so my tag said "Ex-RJ", something which some people chose to point out with glee. I suppose if I'd tried, I could have gotten home leave - the other people in my company who reported on the same day mostly got ATTN C, and one asked why I didn't fake a more grevious injury. Which is the greater evil - indenture or lying to get out of it? I'm musing too much nowadays. The feet still pain me, though, so on the first day of the Situational Test (3 glorious days outfield), I will report sick if they hurt even then. Ahem. The medicine doesn't really work though. Maybe they give us placebos because so many people fake injury, or they're using us as low-(almost no-)cost guinea pigs!
I met Kairen at the Medical Centre that day, and his knee had just popped. He's been downgraded and is none too happy - his hopes of going to OCS have been dashed. I think most would be happy to be downgraded - I know I would, but to each his own.
I was a route marshal for a jog a day or two after I reported sick. There was a Major (I think) walking around. I greeted him but didn't salute, and he absently saluted back. Later during the jog itself, people tried to steal my red flag and sling bag. Reminds me of 2L. Actually my whole platoon reminds me of 2L in a way - everyone wanting primacy and vocalising their views, a lack of co-operation etc. I got to talk to another route marshal, this ex-VJ guy in Hawk, Ming Xiang.
Someone commented that during Bayonet Fighting we are like dogs - we move on the whistle. I agree.
Almost everyone I know who enlisted during the 22/1-24/1 period is in Hawk Company, for some reason.
Lucky Jiaxiang has OOCed and will be downgraded. Good for him! He is also a former classmate of my buddy.
On being weighed after booking in, I found that I'd lost 1 kg, even after my eating a Teppanyaki buffet at Goodwood Park Hotel and the meal at the SAFRA country club restaurant (cf the 1st confinement week where, eating cookhouse food the whole week, I didn't lose any weight). Booking out is good for health.
The Grenade Assualt Course sucks. Crawling is painful. I got an abrasion on my left elbow from doing the Leopard Crawl, and my watch got even more scratched. For some reason I can't break my fall very well - I tend to land on my knees first. Breaking it properly is painful. Luckily I escaped the Bayonet Assault Course, where much water was poured onto the ground to create mud. Muaha.
I've picked up some rudimentary sewing skills sewing the strap of my [low quality] slingbag and my helmet strap.
The cacophony of 4 platoons marching, each singing a different song and in a different tempo, is horrible.
We had a talk with the Commander. As is usual in these situations, few questions were asked. I had, at the same time, both too much and too little to say. In the end, I, infamous for asking troubling questions, asked none, troubling or otherwise. Perhaps they'd have made no difference, and just have irritated people or made me more infamous. Or has my defiance been squashed? I'm really becoming too philosophical nowadays. Kairen told me some person in his company asked the Commander for his view on the American bombing of Afghanistan. Ahem.
More evidence of vocabulary degenration: People always say "row" even when they mean "column". Or have I mentioned that in a previous outburst?
The peril of having recruits lead songs: Someone changed the line "Two years of our time" in the "Training to be soldiers" song to "What a waste of time". I was most amused.
We are now disallowed from bringing food back from the Cookhouse. Da baoing fruit was started a few weeks ago, one trick that we relative "lao jiaos" have picked up. After we were told of the new order, someone brought at least 10 Mandarin Oranges out of the cupboard to the tune of Lunar New Year music, thus vindicating the order (on the basis of hygeine and health).
Too many people in platoons 1 and 4 were caught using their handphones after Lights Out and everyone in both platoons was banned from using them for 2 whole weeks. Ouch. Lucky for them, this was rescinded by the Commanding Officer on a plea.
We were supposed to go for a Night Off, but we had a Route March the next day, so for safety reasons we couldn't. !@#$%^&*().
People have started eating the (expired on 02/01 and destined to be disposed of) biscuits plundered from the store. But they're still eminently edible. And tasty too. Anyhow, the field rations that we got during field camp contained biscuits only a few months newer - they expired on 04/01 or 05/01. Kheng Hwa bemoaned the phasing out of dog biscuits a few years back, but the present ones are quite good and I think they too expand somewhat in the stomach to fill you up - they're rather dry, though not as hard as the dog biscuits.
News that baffled me while in camp: Selangor plans to ban 24 hour food outlets as they "promote unhealthy eating habits" and "encourage youths to stay out too late". Must be something in Palm Oil that makes them a little kooky.
A lot of people like to smoke in the toilet. It is very irritating and choking. They conducted an inspection and discovered the transgression, but only 3 people (and not the major culprits too) owned up. I look forward to a cleaner and more enjoyable (inasmuch as it can be) toilet.
Their motto is "Safety First". This does not explain why the fire alarm has had a general fault for at least 5 weeks.
Recruits do stupid things. Perhaps what one sergeant said is true - we lose our brains when our hair is cut. Apparently one person in Jaguar (or Hawk, I may have remembered wrongly) company was rushing to fall in and slipped over the parapet, and was hanging on to the railing. Lucky he was on the second floor. I am aghast :)
People like to strip in the bunk. It is bad enough when they strip to their underwear, but some strip totally, exposing their gonads to the world. Disgusting.
Confinement Weekend was very very boring. We were supposed to have a movie, but it was cancelled. I think they want to drive us mad with boredom.
Stuff magazine is another popular magazine. I think I must be the only person who reads magazines which don't have half (or three quarter) naked females prancing about.
We only have 3 confinement weeks. Hurrah! 2 down, one to go.
There was a surprise inspection. They found a charger... and a portable TV!
I had guard duty. It was tiring and I was disorientated, but hey I don't have it today and it was weekday duty - 12 hours instead of the 24 for weekends! And I had only one shift to boot since I was in the third detail. Praise the Lord.
We took yet another photograph. Yet another 9 dollars gone. I was told to shave my sideburns. As it was the first time I'd used a razor, I shaved too high on the right, so now I have a bald area above where my sideburns used to be. But no one after the day itself noticed it, so maybe it isn't *that* bad. Or everyone's too polite to say anything.
We were given ice cream at the cookhouse again. Aha!
We had a 8km route march. Ouch. Ugh. I got abrasions on my inner thigh.
Someone's Bart Simpson boxer shorts amused a sergeant greatly for some reason.
I still haven't recovered from the infamous Tekong Flu. My sergeant claims it's because our bunks are dirty and that at SISPEC no one coughs. I wonder.
Scribbled at field camp:
I wonder if Camo Stick/Cream is toxic, and how bad it is for the skin. I slept with it in both nights of field camp. My sergeant says it gives people a lot of pimples. I think black camo cream stings the skin.
One of our sergeants entertained himself at Field Camp by making us practice "tactical eating" which involved half of each section eating while the other half had to guard them in the prone position. And then he sent one section against the rest in "wargames". And threw many mock grenades. He also made us camo our helmets in addition to our skin.
Sleeping on a rifle is very uncomfortable. They made veiled threats about stealing rifles or rifle parts on the first day, but waited until the second night to carry out their dastardly deed. They also had a simulated attack on the third morning, but were kind enough to hold it at about 5:55am.
There were many insects, though not as many as I'd feared, and they didn't bother me at night. I did have to squash ants while they were crawling under my clothing, though. I don't want to think about it.
I saw fireflies for perhaps the first time while waiting to practice night movement and reaction to flares. Nice sight.
Now my Platoon Commander calls me "Porn Star". Yeh. I probably made the situation worse when I turned up for the powder bath inspection in boots and underwear, as I hadn't brought slippers.
They made us do xxx skits for people in makeshift observation posts to observe. Some people professed to be shocked when I asked "do I pee on him [my captive]?" when I was asked to go off and pee at some point in the skit.
Even across from the rubber plantation, there is a chinup bar. These people are mad.
Field rations are very filling - I couldn't finish them. Apparently they put something inside to make you shit less, it clumps up your faeces.
I was wondering why there was a rubber plantation in the middle of nowhere. Apparently it was deliberately planted, and there's an oil palm plantation elsewhere on the Island of Doom.
No barbed wire was placed around the side of the urination hole facing outside. Maybe that's how wild boars get in (though we didn't get any this time).
The fruit bars (which won the "2000 Gold Taste Award) that they give us contain palm oil, although they are made in California. Perhaps that is done to cater to the Singaporean palate, carefully nurtured on a diet of palm oil.
Powder baths are a little surreal, though the amount they require us to put is ridiculous.
All in all, field camp wasn't that bad because it didn't rain! And field camp / route march has improved my packing skills.
Back to bunk:
After field camp, the bunk was really a welcome sight.
I've yet to figure out what dialect "lam pah" / "lampah" is in. I don't think I heard it before I was enslaved, actually.
My feet are mysterious. The feet pain that I reported sick for the week before field camp (and which didn't heal even after my 1 week of excuses had expired) mysteriously lessened in severity and even at times, disappeared during field camp. But as I got off the tonner back to BMTC, they started hurting again. Weird.
Everyone started cooking Maggi Mee when we came back.
The rubber sap from the plantation stuck to our clothes and dried. Gah.
On coming back I had to clear rubbish, and lots of it. 2 people came to help me of their volition. I was touched.
"You're adopting well to army life" - Norman. For some reason I was disconcerted by that remark.
The confinees ate field rations during their confinement. Oh dear.
OCS and SDC visit:
Before we booked out, we went to OCS. Yeh.
There is a drive thru Burger King opposite SAFTI MI. The first I've seen so far, I believe.
The last time I went to SAFTI MI was in Secondary 2 I believe. The GEPs had proved to be disloyal in a NE test/survey so they sent us there. At that time, I'd wondered about a place called "Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute Military Institute", an example of the fine naming of our Intelligent Soldiers. My theory was that at first it was called SAFTI, then some intelligent person thought that that was too short and SAFT Training Institute sounded funny, so they renamed it the SAFTI Military Institute. Then, everyone in Singapore, and the SAF especially being lazy and fond of acronyms, they shortened it to SAFTI MI. Wallah. "Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute Military Institute".
After OCS, we went to the Singapore Discovery Centre. Double joy. I've been there at least twice already.
While we were waiting outside the SDC, some [not very outstanding] girls from a neighbourhood school walked by, so our sergeant gave a "kerkiri loo roos" order.
We had an enthusiastic guide, who enthused that the Fall of Singapore shows us that we must depend on ourselves to defend us. That's rather shaky logic. If that's the case, Vichy France and Thailand show us that we can defend ourselves and escape harm by betraying our allies and collaborating with aggressor nations. And the fall of Belgium and the Netherlands shows that it is impossible to defend ourselves, so why bother? Hurrah.
They are incredibly humble. Under "Great Leaders" they placed Lee Kuan Yew. That wasn't so bad. Then I walked further down and saw Goh Chok Tong. Further inside, under "Super Troopers" was "the SAF Commando".
The guides at SDC, at least those we got, are all ex-officers - all Majors and one or two Lieutenant Colonels. The SAF gives good retirement packages. And apparently our photographer used to be a Commanding Officer.
Quotes:
"[On someone having Pi Pa Gao {Pei Pa Go} in the toiletries section of the cupboard] I don't understand why you all mix your food with non-edibles... One day you'll wash your hair with Pi Pa Gao."
"The first lesson for tomorrow is a brisk walk. [Consternation from Recruits] Yes, we all know that this is not true [It is actually a jog]"
"Unfortunately, the OOCs will also confined, together with everyone else... Why are you [all] so happy?"
"[On a VIP from Indonesia's visit] No crab, no bars but star, so tomorrow all the crabs walking around, all the seafood."
"[On a demonstration of bayonet fighting] You see Yap, he die already still can smile (still can smile after death)"
"[On Platoon 4] Those are not men, they are dwarves"
"[On my fondness for allegedly feminine postures while on the bed] Gabriel, I want to ask you, your cock, is it there or can it be pushed inside to form a hole?"
"Can you lend me your handphone? I need a vibrator"
"[Allegedly quoting from a magazine, perhaps to vindicate himself] 70% of women said they masturbate daily or more often. The rest are lying"
"[On me, after I commented about the resetting of pushups to the Commanding Officer] You're totally a civilian. Cannot make it."
"[On the MOs] Their OCS, like Kilo Company, come in, 5 days orientation, come out as privates. They go into OCS, 5 days, come out, Captain."
"The biggest rank in Tekong, you know what?... Civilian."
"Captured enemy personnel, first thing you do, don't go and sodomise them please... got girl bring to me first (if there is a girl, bring her)"
"[On reporting verbal exchanges with captured enemy personnel] If they scold you na beh jee bye don't report that, please"
"Leadership and Command. Do you dare to take up the challenge? [Recruit: Yes, Sir.] Lam pah."
"A lot of bad influence. Like me, OC, I also... [Recruit: Chao keng] How to chao keng? As OC I already nothing to do already (have )"
"If you are not loyal to Singapore, then why are you here? [Recruits: We don't want to be here]"
"[On me] He uses all the funny funny words"
"Gabriel, I realise you have the same lips as Shu Qi, only you are not pretty"
"[On the Ghost Walk] You will be impressed at how the army learn from Pontianak and Chinese Vampires (learns, Pontianaks)"
"When you smoke, you become an intelligent human. When you don't smoke, you become like cock... When you smoke, even when I talk to you in Tamil you understand."
"Smells like shit ah, the shit"
"[On my incessant scribbling] I can't stand you. Today you write 'Today, the shit, 500 grams, brown in colour...'"
"How come on Wednesday, 12 OOCs reported sick, all got ATTN C ah?"
"[To someone who heard the bookout timing wrongly] You OOC because of what ah? [Another recruit: Deaf]"
"For air force [training] they will go on to AFST. Advanced... Fuck lah, I also don't know what is that. (that is)"
"You all are not responding, fuck lah. You all want to book out now ah?... You all are forced to come here ah?... I am also forced to conduct this [talk] for you"
"[On the SAF retirement package] Don't be surprised if next time you see Lieutenant ****** selling drinks at the canteen... Next time you see the commander ah, sweeping the floor."
Post ID: 9569118
My SAT II results finally arrived. 760 for Writing, 800 for Math IIC and 800 for World History. Looks like the question about what happened to Cambodia after the Khmer Rogue took over didn't take too much off my score.
Took a walk down to Orchard Road yesterday. A giant balloon in the shape of a McFlurry now flies outside Shaw Centre. Apparently they've replaced M&Ms with a new flavour. Mmm.
Andrew Gan was toting tons of his VCDs from Ma-laysia like some vendor. I took the opportunity to borrow some. Wonder if I'll get down to watching any of them from now till Wednesday. I still have my 4 (5 including today) episodes of PRLG on tape to finish (assuming my brother-in-law didn't, like the last time, erase them through his non-practice of VHS etiquette).
And Dairy Queen has come to Singapore.
I'm so out-of-touch with Civilisation.
More gems from my spies:
'Anyway, your wake /is/ very visible, by the way. There was an inscription on one of the LT5 tables (the one which keeps falling down when I try to sleep) which reads "I love Gabriel Seah".'
Took a walk down to Orchard Road yesterday. A giant balloon in the shape of a McFlurry now flies outside Shaw Centre. Apparently they've replaced M&Ms with a new flavour. Mmm.
Andrew Gan was toting tons of his VCDs from Ma-laysia like some vendor. I took the opportunity to borrow some. Wonder if I'll get down to watching any of them from now till Wednesday. I still have my 4 (5 including today) episodes of PRLG on tape to finish (assuming my brother-in-law didn't, like the last time, erase them through his non-practice of VHS etiquette).
And Dairy Queen has come to Singapore.
I'm so out-of-touch with Civilisation.
More gems from my spies:
'Anyway, your wake /is/ very visible, by the way. There was an inscription on one of the LT5 tables (the one which keeps falling down when I try to sleep) which reads "I love Gabriel Seah".'
Post ID: 9564057
Tripod mysteriously shut down my page, claiming I violated the terms of service. I will move the blog to blogspot first, and slowly reconstruct my site.
This will cause problems with the pictures I'd embedded, but I don't have the energy to dig up all the old links, so the previously featured pictures of the PSC's suspicious questions, Pork Instant Noodles, Wo-Hen Nankan and Flesh Parade will not be available for now, until I re-establish my webpage.
This will cause problems with the pictures I'd embedded, but I don't have the energy to dig up all the old links, so the previously featured pictures of the PSC's suspicious questions, Pork Instant Noodles, Wo-Hen Nankan and Flesh Parade will not be available for now, until I re-establish my webpage.
Post ID: 9563342
Friday, February 08, 2002
Guess who ....
Update: Huanqian's relief teaching chem in RJC. Fierce girl is relief teaching GP in rj. Circumstances under which i found these out are unusual:
I approached mr. david leong to certify my academic transcripts. He grumbled abt it (previously he outrightly refused to certify some other pple's ones, saying it was very ma fan) and then, seeing huanqian gleefully suggested I get her to sign them (=
I was talking to grace chua at the staircase at the concourse.
Grace: Peggy's teaching here (indicates stairs)
me: Peggy Pao??!! (turn my head to look and see someone familiar; quickly turn back but not before she gives me an odd look)
Grace: She's teaching gp
me: Oops.
Update: Huanqian's relief teaching chem in RJC. Fierce girl is relief teaching GP in rj. Circumstances under which i found these out are unusual:
I approached mr. david leong to certify my academic transcripts. He grumbled abt it (previously he outrightly refused to certify some other pple's ones, saying it was very ma fan) and then, seeing huanqian gleefully suggested I get her to sign them (=
I was talking to grace chua at the staircase at the concourse.
Grace: Peggy's teaching here (indicates stairs)
me: Peggy Pao??!! (turn my head to look and see someone familiar; quickly turn back but not before she gives me an odd look)
Grace: She's teaching gp
me: Oops.
Post ID: 9513387
Tuesday, February 05, 2002
hmm, no posts for so long.
argh, today marks the end of my 9 day mc from ns. *sigh* i really dont wanna go back there... in any case, i think ill be put out of course for too long an mc...
hopefully i can be downgraded, so my recourse will be as a pes c one...
oh well, nothing much to say actually. just hope i wont get confined somehow during my next few weeks b4 i get posted out.. yeah.
oh, the tripod site appears to be down.
argh, today marks the end of my 9 day mc from ns. *sigh* i really dont wanna go back there... in any case, i think ill be put out of course for too long an mc...
hopefully i can be downgraded, so my recourse will be as a pes c one...
oh well, nothing much to say actually. just hope i wont get confined somehow during my next few weeks b4 i get posted out.. yeah.
oh, the tripod site appears to be down.
Post ID: 9390690
Thursday, January 31, 2002
Hi,
I have in my possession 2 Babylon 5 books: Book 2 and Book 3 of the Technomage series (Invoking Darkness and Summoning Light) practically free of charge. Bought them at sunny bookshop, in pristine condition and I will sell them off at the sell-back price; i.e. if you can finish reading them by 20 February you can return them and get All your money back; or you can choose to keep them; I think it's $8 a book. Interested? Email me at marshmall0w@yahoo.com ASAP.
As you can work out it's much cheaper than buying retail or anywhere else; practically mint condition.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0345438337/qid=1012477762/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_11_1/102-3677329-6082565
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/034542722X/qid=1012477762/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_11_2/102-3677329-6082565
I loved the books; gripping storyline and great add-on to the legendary Babylon 5 series. Also insight to the Technomage order; I suspect we'll see much more of technomage stuff in Crusade, once u read you'll see the connections (=.
I have in my possession 2 Babylon 5 books: Book 2 and Book 3 of the Technomage series (Invoking Darkness and Summoning Light) practically free of charge. Bought them at sunny bookshop, in pristine condition and I will sell them off at the sell-back price; i.e. if you can finish reading them by 20 February you can return them and get All your money back; or you can choose to keep them; I think it's $8 a book. Interested? Email me at marshmall0w@yahoo.com ASAP.
As you can work out it's much cheaper than buying retail or anywhere else; practically mint condition.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0345438337/qid=1012477762/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_11_1/102-3677329-6082565
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/034542722X/qid=1012477762/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_11_2/102-3677329-6082565
I loved the books; gripping storyline and great add-on to the legendary Babylon 5 series. Also insight to the Technomage order; I suspect we'll see much more of technomage stuff in Crusade, once u read you'll see the connections (=.
Post ID: 9228770
Tuesday, January 29, 2002
Hi
With boiled coke: Try the mary poppins method!
congrats on the 2.4 timing!
I've just had my last 2 wisdom teeth extracted in one session. On painkillers, have had to keep on replacing the gauze because of the blood.
Got emails from ormond college, the residential college i'm going to stay in at uni of melbourne. The letter from the students' club is unusual.. items to bring for super-her- O(rientation)-week:
Evening wear suitable for Black Tie functions (needn�t be costly or upmarket; some type of formal wear will be useful as throughout the year there will be approximately a half-dozen of these functions).
60�s/70�s disco gear for a Shagadellic night on the Yarra (try mum�s bell-bottoms or your local Opportunity Shop).
An old sheet suitable for a toga party (ie not a fitted sheet).
A �crazy hat�.
Boardies, Bathers, towel, sunscreen (slop), hat (slap).
Some old �knockabout� clothes.
Bed linen, pillows, towels, etc. (Ormond supplies a pillow and blankets, but not sheets(!). Most people choose to bring a doona/duvet).
Some pocket money.
Red Briefs (yes jocks!)
A Kinder Surprise or its Cadbury Equivalent.
With boiled coke: Try the mary poppins method!
congrats on the 2.4 timing!
I've just had my last 2 wisdom teeth extracted in one session. On painkillers, have had to keep on replacing the gauze because of the blood.
Got emails from ormond college, the residential college i'm going to stay in at uni of melbourne. The letter from the students' club is unusual.. items to bring for super-her- O(rientation)-week:
Evening wear suitable for Black Tie functions (needn�t be costly or upmarket; some type of formal wear will be useful as throughout the year there will be approximately a half-dozen of these functions).
60�s/70�s disco gear for a Shagadellic night on the Yarra (try mum�s bell-bottoms or your local Opportunity Shop).
An old sheet suitable for a toga party (ie not a fitted sheet).
A �crazy hat�.
Boardies, Bathers, towel, sunscreen (slop), hat (slap).
Some old �knockabout� clothes.
Bed linen, pillows, towels, etc. (Ormond supplies a pillow and blankets, but not sheets(!). Most people choose to bring a doona/duvet).
Some pocket money.
Red Briefs (yes jocks!)
A Kinder Surprise or its Cadbury Equivalent.
Post ID: 9152641
Sunday, January 27, 2002
I have exchanged my 3 year 4 month old Canon BJC-210SP printer for a Lexmark Z43, won by my brother-in-law in a lucky draw last night. Early tests have promising results.
And now I must go, to prepare for my 2 week sojourn on the Island of Doom. Chinese New Year, sweet Chinese New Year, do come soon. Chinese New Year guard duty, stay away!
And now I must go, to prepare for my 2 week sojourn on the Island of Doom. Chinese New Year, sweet Chinese New Year, do come soon. Chinese New Year guard duty, stay away!
Post ID: 9087263
I am presently being forced to drink boiled Coke, which is supposed to be good for my cough (according to my mother-in-law). It is terribly bitter, not as bad as Chinese medicine, but the boiling has done something to the composition. Ugh.
Apparently some Chinese Physician at Redhill MRT recommended it to her friends, who tried it and said it works.
Apparently some Chinese Physician at Redhill MRT recommended it to her friends, who tried it and said it works.
Post ID: 9086711
This fortnight's bookout post:
[NB: Because I am bored, I will listen to "The Messiah" while I pen this post]
Restored Post
Grr. The four and a half days of shit became almost twelve thanks to the wonders of a Confinement Week. For the previous week, to bookout, we needed to fulfill 2 of 3 criteria - lose 1 kg a week since enlistment, do a chinup or run the 2.4km run in less than 15:30. So much for our main purpose in coming to BMT being losing weight - we still won't be able to bookout. To make matters worse, the criteria for the next confinement week has gone up to 2 chinups and less than 15:15 for the run. Maybe that's why I see chocolate wrappers in the dustbin - people giving up hope? 1 down, 3 to go. Ironically, I didn't lose any weight from just before the confinement weekend to the day before booking out.
On booking in, the sergeant inspecting my fieldpack saw "The Economist" and proceeded to quiz me on the Law of Demand. And he cautioned that we must use "Quantity Demanded" and not "Demand" when stating the law. Mmm.
At the start of my most recent 2 week imprisonment, Geraldine said that the "pre-NS Gabriel is hiding". Such is the insidious hold that it has over people, so I've been fighting it. My section mate tells me that I've been lightening up these few weeks, and I know that I've been depressed less, so I think it's working. They may enslave my body, but they shall not have dominion over my mind, they shall not control me intellectually (ergo, the blog and the Economist [as opposed to FHM]), emotionally and mentally. Though it shall be hard in a place where you can get pumped for smiling (Yes, it's happened to me). Nevertheless, I shall fight the oppressive atmosphere. A platoon mate of mine, Khairuldin, told me to smile more, and threatened to force me to smile if I didn't :)
Presumably, the reason why people kept telling me I'd die in NS is my usual argumentative and contrary nature. To date, I've been quite successful in turning it off, though.
We were shaved again, so we're back to what we looked like after Enlistment. Ironically, many of the people shaving us have long hair, probably to mock us.
We've started on our regime of route marches. On the first one, the 3km one, I got blisters on both feet. Ouch. A more liberal sprinkling of powder and the wearing of an extra pair of socks has prevented more from coming, but I think my toes are now getting injured, as their state after today's 4km march shows. Due to the heavy weight of the fully-packed fieldpack, the webbing and the rifle, some of the veins on my foot popped out but they have now gone down. I hope they don't stay popped out permanently, as I do not wish to be physically deformed by my indenture. Being branded with 2 BCG scars is bad enough.
Apparently many people lose their faith while they are indentured. I don't intend to let that happen. In fact, so far it has become somewhat stronger. And I attended my first Bible Study session (though it was interrupted by our little activity at the cookhouse - more on that later).
We're given the Straits Times to read, but whether we have the time or not is another matter. At least it's useful for cleaning purposes. In one of the infrequent times I glanced at Life!, I saw that Cats was closing. Pity, the longest running musical closing. At least I saw it in March 2000 in London (with my 20 pound front-most row seat, gotten by flashing the International Student Card identifying me as Seah Shuri Gabriel).
I think I've said this before, but the different sergeants' standards for Stand By Bed is terribly infuriating, because we will have to rearrange our things after one inspection for the other sergeant's benefit. Stand By Bed should be scrapped - as long as the things are laid out neatly, it should be allowed.
One day, people in my section were very bored and started poking and wrestling with each other. I was trying to sleep with my head on the table, so I was largely left alone, except for one time when Ken tried to irritate me, whereupon I whacked him and promptly went back to sleep [or attempted sleep, anyway]. Royston is very susceptible to poking, and shrieks loudly and maniacally when people approach him menacingly or when he is poked. I suggested that he wear body armour, and I happenned to remember my own experiences with "armour", during the Nanyang days, when people liked to poke me.
The people leading the pre-exercise warmups are always very cunning - when it comes to the number of requisite jumping jacks, he will almost always start with a number lower than his target, and no matter how loud the recruits shout, he will raise the number.
Now I have seen 2 cats, one a kitten. But there are still many more dogs.
The dearth, nay, absence of shower curtains has interesting consequences. Some of my section mates say that I have a small butt, or rather that I like thin there.
The company rest room, at least ours, is very much for show. Firstly, we need to ask for permission to use it, even after the Last Parade. Secondly, we just have no time to avail ourselves of its, erm, facilities. Which brings me to the possible most important point - it's not very well furnished. The television has a blurry picture and is fixed at Channel 5. There are 2 (?) carrom boards (not that I play the game, but I'll just note it here) and 2-3 board games. And one sofa seat is spoilt (as I discovered when I plonked my butt there, only to fall into the hollow where the seat was supposed to be). A pool table is supposed to be on its way, but it's been on its way for about 9 months already, so.
Leaky buckets are evil. Many of us have leaky buckets. Or cracked ones.
Apparently, venereal, umm, secretions were found in another platoon's stoilet.
I tested the reception, on the Island of Doom, for the only 2 radio stations I might want to listen to - 88.9 and 92.4. Both were bad. Ah well.
We watched Monsters Inc during confinement Sunday. Nice show.
Activites expand to fill the available time, so I postulate. One day, we were drafted to rearrange the tables and chairs in the cookhouse. Then, it was "samura", and we had to rearrange them to the original order. Thus was an hour an a half wasted.
Even at this age, people are still childish. Now, I'm no paragon of maturity myself, but I have my limits. Many people still like to play the "touch someone and pretend it wasn't you" game, which is immensely annoying.
Vaguely related sentences strung into a paragraph:
Some people were given ice cream by the cookhouse staff on wednesday. We're all sick of Cream of Mushroom soup - we've had it at all our [pseudo-]western meals since we enlisted but one (when it was a welcome Cream of Asparagus). I think we're also sick of variations on chicken - the one time we had Fish and Chips, it was a most joyous occasion. The fries we had the past 2 times were not soggy - someone probably complained.
The SAF's ridiculous standard for situps caused my count to drop from a hearty 34 (or so) last year to a miserable 17. For the 2.4km run, I almost died but I got my fastest ever timing - 18:06, my first sub-20 timing.
The mosquitos on the Island are evil. They swarm around you and their poison is very strong.
We were walking in a line past a sergeant, and so many people greeted him that he said, "Don't greet".
People like to read FHM and Maxim, but I don't really see why they are so interesting. I flipped through an issue of the former - the jokes were lame and the bikini clad girls failed to interest me.
We got another bout of rainy weather. Our clothes couldn't dry, and even those that dried somewhat stank because of the lack of sun. Perhaps worse, the weather meant that we got really dirty when we went outfield. Going outfield sucks. It's muddy and dirty and slimy.
I tried to sit cross-legged on the chair. Many girls like to do it but I don't think I've ever seen a guy do it successfully. Our legs are probably too big.
Apparently someone (not me, I reiterate) complained to one of our sergeants that he used too many vulgarities. Thus he made a bet of sorts with us - if we move in the file, we do 20 pushups. If he uses vulgarities, he does 20. So far, he's winning.
For their sadistic enjoyment, the instructors like to make us practice the grenade drill. One came to our bunk to toss in the grenade, so since we would die anyway, I went to hide behind my cupboard door.
For the second or third time, my dear buddy Royston woke me up in the middle of the night to accompany him to the toilet. Gah.
Apparently there is a "Pegasus" company. I'm rather surprised that they chose that for a company name, seeing as they are concerned with masculinity and such.
I think that, by now, my olfactory glands have been largely desensitised to the smell of the camp, though the odour of unwashed bodies still perturbs me.
People have complained about my weird, even scary laugh. One of my platoon mates laughs even "worse" than I - he alternated between a hyena laugh and a monkey laugh.
People like to say that the best time of army life is BMT. So far, it's been the worst time of my life. I shudder to think of what lies ahead.
Quotes:
"Seah Shu... Seah Shuqi Gabriel, 109. I like your name."
"[Recruits while marching: Good Morning Sergeant] Hi."
"No questions? I have a question - who took my pen?... Since I was posted here all my pens have been stolen, that's why I carry this bag with me [hoists slingbag], so I can slot it in (them)"
"[On my forehead scar] Too many girls kiss him there"
"[On someone with measles] Don't share his razor blade, his vibrator"
"[On hand grenade throwing] If you have sweaty palms, you still throw. But no instructor will be in there with you. (will still)"
"[Heavily abridged] If you run out of rounds, will you go and do bayonet fighting? If you run out of rounds, what will you do? [Recruits: Run] You throw the rifle at the enemy, then you run... Don't say I say one ah"
"If I see you sleeping while you are standing, ah, then you can sleep"
"[On me holding my towel above my breast] Why you hold your towel so high ah? Like zha bor"
"[On "you can do anything you want, just don't get caught"] Don't you know that's the 8th Core Value?"
[NB: Because I am bored, I will listen to "The Messiah" while I pen this post]
Restored Post
Grr. The four and a half days of shit became almost twelve thanks to the wonders of a Confinement Week. For the previous week, to bookout, we needed to fulfill 2 of 3 criteria - lose 1 kg a week since enlistment, do a chinup or run the 2.4km run in less than 15:30. So much for our main purpose in coming to BMT being losing weight - we still won't be able to bookout. To make matters worse, the criteria for the next confinement week has gone up to 2 chinups and less than 15:15 for the run. Maybe that's why I see chocolate wrappers in the dustbin - people giving up hope? 1 down, 3 to go. Ironically, I didn't lose any weight from just before the confinement weekend to the day before booking out.
On booking in, the sergeant inspecting my fieldpack saw "The Economist" and proceeded to quiz me on the Law of Demand. And he cautioned that we must use "Quantity Demanded" and not "Demand" when stating the law. Mmm.
At the start of my most recent 2 week imprisonment, Geraldine said that the "pre-NS Gabriel is hiding". Such is the insidious hold that it has over people, so I've been fighting it. My section mate tells me that I've been lightening up these few weeks, and I know that I've been depressed less, so I think it's working. They may enslave my body, but they shall not have dominion over my mind, they shall not control me intellectually (ergo, the blog and the Economist [as opposed to FHM]), emotionally and mentally. Though it shall be hard in a place where you can get pumped for smiling (Yes, it's happened to me). Nevertheless, I shall fight the oppressive atmosphere. A platoon mate of mine, Khairuldin, told me to smile more, and threatened to force me to smile if I didn't :)
Presumably, the reason why people kept telling me I'd die in NS is my usual argumentative and contrary nature. To date, I've been quite successful in turning it off, though.
We were shaved again, so we're back to what we looked like after Enlistment. Ironically, many of the people shaving us have long hair, probably to mock us.
We've started on our regime of route marches. On the first one, the 3km one, I got blisters on both feet. Ouch. A more liberal sprinkling of powder and the wearing of an extra pair of socks has prevented more from coming, but I think my toes are now getting injured, as their state after today's 4km march shows. Due to the heavy weight of the fully-packed fieldpack, the webbing and the rifle, some of the veins on my foot popped out but they have now gone down. I hope they don't stay popped out permanently, as I do not wish to be physically deformed by my indenture. Being branded with 2 BCG scars is bad enough.
Apparently many people lose their faith while they are indentured. I don't intend to let that happen. In fact, so far it has become somewhat stronger. And I attended my first Bible Study session (though it was interrupted by our little activity at the cookhouse - more on that later).
We're given the Straits Times to read, but whether we have the time or not is another matter. At least it's useful for cleaning purposes. In one of the infrequent times I glanced at Life!, I saw that Cats was closing. Pity, the longest running musical closing. At least I saw it in March 2000 in London (with my 20 pound front-most row seat, gotten by flashing the International Student Card identifying me as Seah Shuri Gabriel).
I think I've said this before, but the different sergeants' standards for Stand By Bed is terribly infuriating, because we will have to rearrange our things after one inspection for the other sergeant's benefit. Stand By Bed should be scrapped - as long as the things are laid out neatly, it should be allowed.
One day, people in my section were very bored and started poking and wrestling with each other. I was trying to sleep with my head on the table, so I was largely left alone, except for one time when Ken tried to irritate me, whereupon I whacked him and promptly went back to sleep [or attempted sleep, anyway]. Royston is very susceptible to poking, and shrieks loudly and maniacally when people approach him menacingly or when he is poked. I suggested that he wear body armour, and I happenned to remember my own experiences with "armour", during the Nanyang days, when people liked to poke me.
The people leading the pre-exercise warmups are always very cunning - when it comes to the number of requisite jumping jacks, he will almost always start with a number lower than his target, and no matter how loud the recruits shout, he will raise the number.
Now I have seen 2 cats, one a kitten. But there are still many more dogs.
The dearth, nay, absence of shower curtains has interesting consequences. Some of my section mates say that I have a small butt, or rather that I like thin there.
The company rest room, at least ours, is very much for show. Firstly, we need to ask for permission to use it, even after the Last Parade. Secondly, we just have no time to avail ourselves of its, erm, facilities. Which brings me to the possible most important point - it's not very well furnished. The television has a blurry picture and is fixed at Channel 5. There are 2 (?) carrom boards (not that I play the game, but I'll just note it here) and 2-3 board games. And one sofa seat is spoilt (as I discovered when I plonked my butt there, only to fall into the hollow where the seat was supposed to be). A pool table is supposed to be on its way, but it's been on its way for about 9 months already, so.
Leaky buckets are evil. Many of us have leaky buckets. Or cracked ones.
Apparently, venereal, umm, secretions were found in another platoon's stoilet.
I tested the reception, on the Island of Doom, for the only 2 radio stations I might want to listen to - 88.9 and 92.4. Both were bad. Ah well.
We watched Monsters Inc during confinement Sunday. Nice show.
Activites expand to fill the available time, so I postulate. One day, we were drafted to rearrange the tables and chairs in the cookhouse. Then, it was "samura", and we had to rearrange them to the original order. Thus was an hour an a half wasted.
Even at this age, people are still childish. Now, I'm no paragon of maturity myself, but I have my limits. Many people still like to play the "touch someone and pretend it wasn't you" game, which is immensely annoying.
Vaguely related sentences strung into a paragraph:
Some people were given ice cream by the cookhouse staff on wednesday. We're all sick of Cream of Mushroom soup - we've had it at all our [pseudo-]western meals since we enlisted but one (when it was a welcome Cream of Asparagus). I think we're also sick of variations on chicken - the one time we had Fish and Chips, it was a most joyous occasion. The fries we had the past 2 times were not soggy - someone probably complained.
The SAF's ridiculous standard for situps caused my count to drop from a hearty 34 (or so) last year to a miserable 17. For the 2.4km run, I almost died but I got my fastest ever timing - 18:06, my first sub-20 timing.
The mosquitos on the Island are evil. They swarm around you and their poison is very strong.
We were walking in a line past a sergeant, and so many people greeted him that he said, "Don't greet".
People like to read FHM and Maxim, but I don't really see why they are so interesting. I flipped through an issue of the former - the jokes were lame and the bikini clad girls failed to interest me.
We got another bout of rainy weather. Our clothes couldn't dry, and even those that dried somewhat stank because of the lack of sun. Perhaps worse, the weather meant that we got really dirty when we went outfield. Going outfield sucks. It's muddy and dirty and slimy.
I tried to sit cross-legged on the chair. Many girls like to do it but I don't think I've ever seen a guy do it successfully. Our legs are probably too big.
Apparently someone (not me, I reiterate) complained to one of our sergeants that he used too many vulgarities. Thus he made a bet of sorts with us - if we move in the file, we do 20 pushups. If he uses vulgarities, he does 20. So far, he's winning.
For their sadistic enjoyment, the instructors like to make us practice the grenade drill. One came to our bunk to toss in the grenade, so since we would die anyway, I went to hide behind my cupboard door.
For the second or third time, my dear buddy Royston woke me up in the middle of the night to accompany him to the toilet. Gah.
Apparently there is a "Pegasus" company. I'm rather surprised that they chose that for a company name, seeing as they are concerned with masculinity and such.
I think that, by now, my olfactory glands have been largely desensitised to the smell of the camp, though the odour of unwashed bodies still perturbs me.
People have complained about my weird, even scary laugh. One of my platoon mates laughs even "worse" than I - he alternated between a hyena laugh and a monkey laugh.
People like to say that the best time of army life is BMT. So far, it's been the worst time of my life. I shudder to think of what lies ahead.
Quotes:
"Seah Shu... Seah Shuqi Gabriel, 109. I like your name."
"[Recruits while marching: Good Morning Sergeant] Hi."
"No questions? I have a question - who took my pen?... Since I was posted here all my pens have been stolen, that's why I carry this bag with me [hoists slingbag], so I can slot it in (them)"
"[On my forehead scar] Too many girls kiss him there"
"[On someone with measles] Don't share his razor blade, his vibrator"
"[On hand grenade throwing] If you have sweaty palms, you still throw. But no instructor will be in there with you. (will still)"
"[Heavily abridged] If you run out of rounds, will you go and do bayonet fighting? If you run out of rounds, what will you do? [Recruits: Run] You throw the rifle at the enemy, then you run... Don't say I say one ah"
"If I see you sleeping while you are standing, ah, then you can sleep"
"[On me holding my towel above my breast] Why you hold your towel so high ah? Like zha bor"
"[On "you can do anything you want, just don't get caught"] Don't you know that's the 8th Core Value?"
Post ID: 9068883
Saturday, January 26, 2002
A few notes before my usual bookout post:
My sources tell me that my wake is rather visible:
"The econs hod seemed rather angry about it though. She told us that all palmtops were banned, because a student had written "bad things" on it.. was she referring to you?"
"He made reference to this 'terrible, terrible review' on the internet, (although in a rather amused sort of way) and seemed rather disappointed when no one appeared to have read it."
Hehehe.
10:47PM:
I'm rather dazed now, so the bookout post will still not be posted. Yet.
Another snippet:
" The life of an RJCian sucks.
I shall not elaborate, because of the infamy associated with you in RJ. In the sense that I don't want random people from RJ or RJ teachers coming here and reading about my real thoughts. No offence by the way. You're a very nice person. :)"
I presume this refers to me :)
From the same place:
"'I'm currently reading the last of the Alexander the Great trilogy by Valerio Massimo.' (which I really am reading, I'm not shitting you here.)"
My sister bought me the first book of that. But I think I might not get through it in the near future. Herodotus is sitting in my cupboard at camp, barely touched since I brought it (I'm in the middle, maybe, of Book 5 [of 8]). I'll try to keep up with The Economist first, so I know what's happenning in the world.
My sources tell me that my wake is rather visible:
"The econs hod seemed rather angry about it though. She told us that all palmtops were banned, because a student had written "bad things" on it.. was she referring to you?"
"He made reference to this 'terrible, terrible review' on the internet, (although in a rather amused sort of way) and seemed rather disappointed when no one appeared to have read it."
Hehehe.
10:47PM:
I'm rather dazed now, so the bookout post will still not be posted. Yet.
Another snippet:
" The life of an RJCian sucks.
I shall not elaborate, because of the infamy associated with you in RJ. In the sense that I don't want random people from RJ or RJ teachers coming here and reading about my real thoughts. No offence by the way. You're a very nice person. :)"
I presume this refers to me :)
From the same place:
"'I'm currently reading the last of the Alexander the Great trilogy by Valerio Massimo.' (which I really am reading, I'm not shitting you here.)"
My sister bought me the first book of that. But I think I might not get through it in the near future. Herodotus is sitting in my cupboard at camp, barely touched since I brought it (I'm in the middle, maybe, of Book 5 [of 8]). I'll try to keep up with The Economist first, so I know what's happenning in the world.
Post ID: 9060058
Sunday, January 20, 2002
Heard from his mother that gabriel's still in confinement, dunno why.
I just came back from KL malaysia, spent last last friday to last thursday there. Stayed with relatives in ampang. I tried to contact zhe hui and ended up talking to his sis(?) in malacca- he's in KL studying A levels, will take the UCLES exams in may/june this year. Currently corresponding with him via email .
Spent my time with my relatives in the ampang area (and a hectic night with 3 juvenile cousins- aged 5,7,9 respectively. Fortunately, the next night they went off for tuition.) Aunty also drove down to Putrajaya- the new government centre off KL- grand architecture, giant mosques. Pavilions, parks, most of the gov. HQ stuff moved down there already.
I wanted to see the Paya Indah wetlands and the hippos there, go cycling, horseriding, trekking, nature-viewing but it was too late in the afternoon to take the tram and all that.
Then my cousin brought me down to ampang point- bought lotsa movie vcds. Also found things like spirited away and "the colour of paradise" (an iranian film- i'm obssessed with them). Wanted to buy Asoka ($20 ringgit in a legal CD store) but it was in hindi with malay subtitles.
Went to KLCC and walked around on my own... saw shops, got a RM$30 haircut, read harry potter in Kinokuniya.
My aunty's maid helped me dye my hair... it was a tube of ruby red dye, supposed to turn it brown, but ... it's orange. I like orange, but .... Do tell me whether it's noticeable if you see me round.
Since Utopia recently took a break, my cousin's onto another online web medieval strategy game that necessitates his logging on at odd hours to check on his kingdom.
Hey this is interesting, half the people who went to
http://www.geocities.com/marshmall0w/me.html
used google.com to search for the keyword "creative writing rjc". (manic grin) Publicity! Email me at marshmall0w@yahoo.com if you'd like to know more- or if you'd like to know some dastardly secrets of the J2s (heh heh heeee heee)
Most common keyword on search to my links page is QLRS, the toh hsien min web/print quarterly literary journal. If you go there you'll see at least one p-HO-to (look among the photos taken at the launch in book cafe)
*gasp* Even Giordano is selling hot socks now!
Andrew gan
I just came back from KL malaysia, spent last last friday to last thursday there. Stayed with relatives in ampang. I tried to contact zhe hui and ended up talking to his sis(?) in malacca- he's in KL studying A levels, will take the UCLES exams in may/june this year. Currently corresponding with him via email .
Spent my time with my relatives in the ampang area (and a hectic night with 3 juvenile cousins- aged 5,7,9 respectively. Fortunately, the next night they went off for tuition.) Aunty also drove down to Putrajaya- the new government centre off KL- grand architecture, giant mosques. Pavilions, parks, most of the gov. HQ stuff moved down there already.
I wanted to see the Paya Indah wetlands and the hippos there, go cycling, horseriding, trekking, nature-viewing but it was too late in the afternoon to take the tram and all that.
Then my cousin brought me down to ampang point- bought lotsa movie vcds. Also found things like spirited away and "the colour of paradise" (an iranian film- i'm obssessed with them). Wanted to buy Asoka ($20 ringgit in a legal CD store) but it was in hindi with malay subtitles.
Went to KLCC and walked around on my own... saw shops, got a RM$30 haircut, read harry potter in Kinokuniya.
My aunty's maid helped me dye my hair... it was a tube of ruby red dye, supposed to turn it brown, but ... it's orange. I like orange, but .... Do tell me whether it's noticeable if you see me round.
Since Utopia recently took a break, my cousin's onto another online web medieval strategy game that necessitates his logging on at odd hours to check on his kingdom.
Hey this is interesting, half the people who went to
http://www.geocities.com/marshmall0w/me.html
used google.com to search for the keyword "creative writing rjc". (manic grin) Publicity! Email me at marshmall0w@yahoo.com if you'd like to know more- or if you'd like to know some dastardly secrets of the J2s (heh heh heeee heee)
Most common keyword on search to my links page is QLRS, the toh hsien min web/print quarterly literary journal. If you go there you'll see at least one p-HO-to (look among the photos taken at the launch in book cafe)
*gasp* Even Giordano is selling hot socks now!
Andrew gan
Post ID: 8868536
Friday, January 18, 2002
Sigh... just heard from huijun that "Bryan's Brilliant Idea" aka S03B '2001 reunion outing thingy on 19 Jan. facing bad turnout. 5 people confirmed to be exact. Brilliant is Bryan's not turning up, Mala (who first spread Bryan's Brilliant Idea around) not in singapore, and most others are unconfirmed (which means they're waiting to see who else will turn up)....
Mum suggested i go for tennis lessons.
I'm halfway thru "A house for mr. biswas". Light enough reading,
Oh, Joshua 21 monthly concert thingy is in COOS- Church of our Saviour, This Saturday 19 Jan. 8pm. COOS is 5 min. walking distance from commonwealth MRT- alight and walk towards the queenstown market, the church is next to the market facing the main road. There'll be a large crowd there so you can't miss it.
Andrew gan
Mum suggested i go for tennis lessons.
I'm halfway thru "A house for mr. biswas". Light enough reading,
Oh, Joshua 21 monthly concert thingy is in COOS- Church of our Saviour, This Saturday 19 Jan. 8pm. COOS is 5 min. walking distance from commonwealth MRT- alight and walk towards the queenstown market, the church is next to the market facing the main road. There'll be a large crowd there so you can't miss it.
Andrew gan
Post ID: 8815255
Most vegetarians/hindus are careful abt consuming gummy sweets, since most have beef gelatine.
Those floral printed shorts must be BERMS !! Erm, triplet was wearing a pair of pink ones... somewhere in OOD photo gallery.
The way Britney spears sings All her songs is disgusting... in her defence she mumbled something about "Southern' gals" in USA wearing crop tops and hot shorts all the time
Have u seen the Ericsson wireles bluetooth headphone thingy? It's really cool! I saw this ITE guy talking on it on the MRT. Has a range of 10m, i think, but handphone is generally left in the pocket so u don't have to mess with wires
Those floral printed shorts must be BERMS !! Erm, triplet was wearing a pair of pink ones... somewhere in OOD photo gallery.
The way Britney spears sings All her songs is disgusting... in her defence she mumbled something about "Southern' gals" in USA wearing crop tops and hot shorts all the time
Have u seen the Ericsson wireles bluetooth headphone thingy? It's really cool! I saw this ITE guy talking on it on the MRT. Has a range of 10m, i think, but handphone is generally left in the pocket so u don't have to mess with wires
Post ID: 8814670
Monday, January 14, 2002
The marks the garters left on my lower legs, caused by day-long wearing during the 4 days of range, are still visible. Gah.
Leaving for dinner, then to the ferry terminal soon. The day of MC I took has done quite a bit for my cough. Zhongyong also took MC, and I hope he's feeling better now.
4 and a half days of shit, here I come.
Leaving for dinner, then to the ferry terminal soon. The day of MC I took has done quite a bit for my cough. Zhongyong also took MC, and I hope he's feeling better now.
4 and a half days of shit, here I come.
Post ID: 8673795
Sunday, January 13, 2002
More backlog:
I'm feeling the pain of the Adult farecard. The 54 from Orchard Road to Bishan cost $1.00, and the 855 home from MacRitchie cost $1.10. Ouch.
I saw this 8 year old boy on the 54. He was wearing a singlet which had "Endure and Excel", and the PTI crest on it. I didn't know the singlets came in such small sizes. Maybe he just ironed on the badge.
So far, quite a few people in camp have asked me about the scar I have on my forehead. Maybe I should tell them it was caused by doing too many pushups. Muahaha.
RI:
I went back to RI yesterday to watch the 1urv Affair concert video (the second best choice because the concert was held on the 28th, before my New Year bookout).
RI has sold out. They now make everyone spend $10 to buy those large combination locks a la RGS and ACS, the ones with large rotary dials and which can be unlocked with a master key. Guess maintenance was tired of walking around with the giant set of pliers.
Now they've a String Ensemble. Hurrah! Band band and more band just doesn't cut it.
Uncle Soon Kiat has a new T-Shirt! These say "SKC" [Soon Kiat Construction], on the front pocket, if I remember correctly. While there I saw a bearded girl! She was at the water cooler and when she turned around, I saw that she had a beard atop her feminine features. Gasp.
Raffles Voices:
Some things never change. The choir was as noisy and rowdy as ever. People still like to run around (as I once did) and play stuff on the piano. Cheapo songs are still sung during Raffles Trail to con the Secondary Ones into thinking that "fun" songs are what make up the repertoire. And they had "Listen to the Music" again! ARGH. I"m sick of that piece. Well, actually now they've sold out. I found 4-5 ABBA scored in someone's score book.
When I entered LT3, it was not to the usual noise that customarily greeted me when I returned on previous occasions. The last time I visited was, if I'm not wrong, in June 2001, and that time, as always happened when I returned after graduating, I was greeted with raucous applause and people shouting my name. Now, only those who were in Secondary One when I was in Secondary Four are left. And I didn't get to know them very well, since I stopped going for choir in the Second Quarter of 1999 due to my not being selected for Choral Excellence. So I had, what, 3 months interaction with them. Coupled with my being bad at names... A pity I didn't get to know them better. Maybe when I am free (during block leave, perhaps), I shall return to acquaint myself with the new generation of Secondary Ones as I did in 2000 and 2001, such that people I didn't know came up to me saying, "You're Gabriel, right?" and "You're the one who spoilt the LT3 chair!" [NB: I didn't. I rarely sat in that particular seat].
I heard 'blazer', not just once, but twice!. No 'brazer'. Yeh!
They used an iBook for the presentation. Nice. Yummy. Mmm.
People are still eating the disgusting Yupi. I tried it once and was neutral towards it. Until, that is, I looked at "Ingredients" and discovered that it contains Beef Gelatine! Eee. Sweets and confectionary should not contain meat. I wonder if vegetarians or Hindus know about what goes into their Yupi...
1urv Affair video:
Note: 1urv stands for 1 United Raffles Voices. It's quite interesting and the person who thought it up has quite good perception :) How sad am I? I'm reviewing a video! Gosh. And I'm probably much worse than all of the performers. Oh well, the benefits of being an observer as opposed to a performer.
The camera didn't like the lights. Everyone had a white face on camera. And Jasper, when he came out to sing, held his arms in front of him raised for some reason.
Fake conversations between emcees to explain things to the audience suck. They're contrived, fake and irritating. And the surfeit of corny jokes was irritating! I suppose corny jokes are "safe" because you won't offend anybody. Except those who hate corny jokes. And the most commonly heard MC line of all time is - 'Sit back, relax and enjoy'. No comment.
Of a total cost of about $1700, they made a grand profit of ~$130. The money is supposed to go to Afghanistan, but 90% will be lost to corruption, so.
Why do people like to sing along to videos? I can never understand. Maybe they are trying to relive the night. And they keep jumping parts for convenience! Tenor to alto to tenor. I refer to Sicheng, who was sitting behind me, here (Are you there? Jumping parts is irritating!). When we did Listen to the Music last time, there were *always* wannabe Tenors singing along at the part which went, "Listen to the beat and the sound of the city, listen to the rhythm of the street. Listen to the radio playing on a Saturday night." [NB: I'm listening to the 1997 RI and RGS choir version of the song and I find that RGS sounds rather sleazy :)]
Cheapo songs were also sung during the concert. The alumni sang Kiss The Girl. This is terribly common and a staple of male A Capella groups. And Joshua gave some girl in the audience a flower (now, where've I seen that trick before? :) )
They also did "Geographical Fugue", last attempted in 1998 at "A Musical Concoction 3". I daresay they did better than RV did in 1998, though there was rushing, and someone was visibly beating tempo on his thigh! The one we did in 1998 at VCH was atrocious... The tenors came in almost 1 bar late at the end! Jennifer Tham must have been very pissed that night.
BEATS (A Bunch of Enthusiastic and Atrociously Tuneful Singers) has really gone down in standard. They used to be better. They performed "And So It Goes". It wasn't very tight, and there were numerous early entries, but then comparing them to the King's Singers is terribly unfair. Or maybe I'm suffering from the "good old days when a bowl of noodles cost 1 cent" syndrome [My classic retort to this is that "those were also the days when you earnt one dollar a month".] - the past always seems better and bad things about the past are forgotten and only the happy times are remembered.
They also sung The Lion Sleeps Tonight. Argh. Yet more cliched songs. It's actually not a good idea to do this song, because everyone knows it and even those without musical background, ability or talent can tell if it's done well. BEATS did quite okay, though for some reason they kept changing the tempo.
When the alumni came back in, they did the Banana Boat Song, complete with the giving out of bananas and antics with bananas.
What concert would be complete without a rendition of "Listen to the Music"? And so it was sung. And as usual, people clapped at the wrong place. Oh well.
Final song: The Institution Anthem. "Specially arranged to thank the school". I didn't really see the logic behind that. Oh well.
The encore piece was "Auld Lang Syne". As often happens, Ms Chaing started conducting from her seat. I think it's unconscious. But then the choir usually needs it. In 1998, when we did Les Miserables with MGS as the finale of "A Musical Concoction 3 - ReVolution", we rushed, notwithstanding her conducting. In 2001, when they did Les Miserables with RGS as the finale of "Music's Alive" (which sounds suspiciously like "Dragon's Alive", the name of the 2000 RI choir concert), they rushed too, even though Ms Chaing was valiantly conducting from her seat.
On people:
Quick notes. Frank and some others can still scream. Hurrah!
And yangyang looks totally different. Face, looks, height, everything. No wonder I didn't manage to locate him in RJC last year. And he's much less irritating now.
Misc:
I saw the *longest* floral printed shorts ever. They were up to the knee. My perception of the world has been radically altered! The rock upon which my whole existence is based has eroded! The cornerstone of my mind has crumbled! I need to rest and compose my self.
*Wanders off*
*Returns*
Now that I've scared off some people who doubtless believe that I've gone mad (I've always said I'd come out of Slavery Dead, Broken or Crazy), a few last scribblings.
The way Britney Spears sings "I'm a Slave for you" is really quite disgusting.
And there's something that really irks me about those disreputable people you see by the road or in front of shophouses selling things. The ones who have a microphone around their heads and who tout their product, demonstrating how good it is. Maybe I just don't like the head-mounted microphones, because I get shivers down my spine too when I see Chinese pop performers with those earphones on.
It appears that Jessica Tay is in the army too, in the "Reserve Forces". But she only has to do it once a week and 1 weekend a month.
Power Rangers Lost Galaxy has started! Due to combination of lack of time, laziness and forgetfulness, I missed the finale of Power Rangers in Space - Countdown to Destruction. Apparently it's quite good. Ah well. Lost Galaxy looks interesting, and the budget has visibly increased. It looks less cheapskate now.
In front of me now is a packet of "Wang Wang" small buns. The small white things with a brown top. To my horror, I have spotted a Halal sign on them. Then again, with Tuck Lee Icework's Halal Ice, I think we had already hit the bottom. Maybe I shall make my own brand of the small buns, one with a little lard inside (lard does wonders for Chinese confectionary I tell you).
A final, indulgent thought:
Societal influence is evil. In movies, books and fairy tales (where people live 'happily ever after'), life is portrayed unrealistically. Humans are fickle and unpredictable creatures who change their minds moods and feelings constantly and the changes can be very swift.
Therein lies a central flaw of marriage, because in the heat of the moment, people pledge their lives away and many live unhappy lives, not divorcing because of peer and societal (ooo, divorce is against "Asian Values") pressure and "for the children". One cannot predict the future any more than one can predict if a radioactive nuclide will decay in the next time interval. People change, we move on.
Slavery is evil.
I'm feeling the pain of the Adult farecard. The 54 from Orchard Road to Bishan cost $1.00, and the 855 home from MacRitchie cost $1.10. Ouch.
I saw this 8 year old boy on the 54. He was wearing a singlet which had "Endure and Excel", and the PTI crest on it. I didn't know the singlets came in such small sizes. Maybe he just ironed on the badge.
So far, quite a few people in camp have asked me about the scar I have on my forehead. Maybe I should tell them it was caused by doing too many pushups. Muahaha.
RI:
I went back to RI yesterday to watch the 1urv Affair concert video (the second best choice because the concert was held on the 28th, before my New Year bookout).
RI has sold out. They now make everyone spend $10 to buy those large combination locks a la RGS and ACS, the ones with large rotary dials and which can be unlocked with a master key. Guess maintenance was tired of walking around with the giant set of pliers.
Now they've a String Ensemble. Hurrah! Band band and more band just doesn't cut it.
Uncle Soon Kiat has a new T-Shirt! These say "SKC" [Soon Kiat Construction], on the front pocket, if I remember correctly. While there I saw a bearded girl! She was at the water cooler and when she turned around, I saw that she had a beard atop her feminine features. Gasp.
Raffles Voices:
Some things never change. The choir was as noisy and rowdy as ever. People still like to run around (as I once did) and play stuff on the piano. Cheapo songs are still sung during Raffles Trail to con the Secondary Ones into thinking that "fun" songs are what make up the repertoire. And they had "Listen to the Music" again! ARGH. I"m sick of that piece. Well, actually now they've sold out. I found 4-5 ABBA scored in someone's score book.
When I entered LT3, it was not to the usual noise that customarily greeted me when I returned on previous occasions. The last time I visited was, if I'm not wrong, in June 2001, and that time, as always happened when I returned after graduating, I was greeted with raucous applause and people shouting my name. Now, only those who were in Secondary One when I was in Secondary Four are left. And I didn't get to know them very well, since I stopped going for choir in the Second Quarter of 1999 due to my not being selected for Choral Excellence. So I had, what, 3 months interaction with them. Coupled with my being bad at names... A pity I didn't get to know them better. Maybe when I am free (during block leave, perhaps), I shall return to acquaint myself with the new generation of Secondary Ones as I did in 2000 and 2001, such that people I didn't know came up to me saying, "You're Gabriel, right?" and "You're the one who spoilt the LT3 chair!" [NB: I didn't. I rarely sat in that particular seat].
I heard 'blazer', not just once, but twice!. No 'brazer'. Yeh!
They used an iBook for the presentation. Nice. Yummy. Mmm.
People are still eating the disgusting Yupi. I tried it once and was neutral towards it. Until, that is, I looked at "Ingredients" and discovered that it contains Beef Gelatine! Eee. Sweets and confectionary should not contain meat. I wonder if vegetarians or Hindus know about what goes into their Yupi...
1urv Affair video:
Note: 1urv stands for 1 United Raffles Voices. It's quite interesting and the person who thought it up has quite good perception :) How sad am I? I'm reviewing a video! Gosh. And I'm probably much worse than all of the performers. Oh well, the benefits of being an observer as opposed to a performer.
The camera didn't like the lights. Everyone had a white face on camera. And Jasper, when he came out to sing, held his arms in front of him raised for some reason.
Fake conversations between emcees to explain things to the audience suck. They're contrived, fake and irritating. And the surfeit of corny jokes was irritating! I suppose corny jokes are "safe" because you won't offend anybody. Except those who hate corny jokes. And the most commonly heard MC line of all time is - 'Sit back, relax and enjoy'. No comment.
Of a total cost of about $1700, they made a grand profit of ~$130. The money is supposed to go to Afghanistan, but 90% will be lost to corruption, so.
Why do people like to sing along to videos? I can never understand. Maybe they are trying to relive the night. And they keep jumping parts for convenience! Tenor to alto to tenor. I refer to Sicheng, who was sitting behind me, here (Are you there? Jumping parts is irritating!). When we did Listen to the Music last time, there were *always* wannabe Tenors singing along at the part which went, "Listen to the beat and the sound of the city, listen to the rhythm of the street. Listen to the radio playing on a Saturday night." [NB: I'm listening to the 1997 RI and RGS choir version of the song and I find that RGS sounds rather sleazy :)]
Cheapo songs were also sung during the concert. The alumni sang Kiss The Girl. This is terribly common and a staple of male A Capella groups. And Joshua gave some girl in the audience a flower (now, where've I seen that trick before? :) )
They also did "Geographical Fugue", last attempted in 1998 at "A Musical Concoction 3". I daresay they did better than RV did in 1998, though there was rushing, and someone was visibly beating tempo on his thigh! The one we did in 1998 at VCH was atrocious... The tenors came in almost 1 bar late at the end! Jennifer Tham must have been very pissed that night.
BEATS (A Bunch of Enthusiastic and Atrociously Tuneful Singers) has really gone down in standard. They used to be better. They performed "And So It Goes". It wasn't very tight, and there were numerous early entries, but then comparing them to the King's Singers is terribly unfair. Or maybe I'm suffering from the "good old days when a bowl of noodles cost 1 cent" syndrome [My classic retort to this is that "those were also the days when you earnt one dollar a month".] - the past always seems better and bad things about the past are forgotten and only the happy times are remembered.
They also sung The Lion Sleeps Tonight. Argh. Yet more cliched songs. It's actually not a good idea to do this song, because everyone knows it and even those without musical background, ability or talent can tell if it's done well. BEATS did quite okay, though for some reason they kept changing the tempo.
When the alumni came back in, they did the Banana Boat Song, complete with the giving out of bananas and antics with bananas.
What concert would be complete without a rendition of "Listen to the Music"? And so it was sung. And as usual, people clapped at the wrong place. Oh well.
Final song: The Institution Anthem. "Specially arranged to thank the school". I didn't really see the logic behind that. Oh well.
The encore piece was "Auld Lang Syne". As often happens, Ms Chaing started conducting from her seat. I think it's unconscious. But then the choir usually needs it. In 1998, when we did Les Miserables with MGS as the finale of "A Musical Concoction 3 - ReVolution", we rushed, notwithstanding her conducting. In 2001, when they did Les Miserables with RGS as the finale of "Music's Alive" (which sounds suspiciously like "Dragon's Alive", the name of the 2000 RI choir concert), they rushed too, even though Ms Chaing was valiantly conducting from her seat.
On people:
Quick notes. Frank and some others can still scream. Hurrah!
And yangyang looks totally different. Face, looks, height, everything. No wonder I didn't manage to locate him in RJC last year. And he's much less irritating now.
Misc:
I saw the *longest* floral printed shorts ever. They were up to the knee. My perception of the world has been radically altered! The rock upon which my whole existence is based has eroded! The cornerstone of my mind has crumbled! I need to rest and compose my self.
*Wanders off*
*Returns*
Now that I've scared off some people who doubtless believe that I've gone mad (I've always said I'd come out of Slavery Dead, Broken or Crazy), a few last scribblings.
The way Britney Spears sings "I'm a Slave for you" is really quite disgusting.
And there's something that really irks me about those disreputable people you see by the road or in front of shophouses selling things. The ones who have a microphone around their heads and who tout their product, demonstrating how good it is. Maybe I just don't like the head-mounted microphones, because I get shivers down my spine too when I see Chinese pop performers with those earphones on.
It appears that Jessica Tay is in the army too, in the "Reserve Forces". But she only has to do it once a week and 1 weekend a month.
Power Rangers Lost Galaxy has started! Due to combination of lack of time, laziness and forgetfulness, I missed the finale of Power Rangers in Space - Countdown to Destruction. Apparently it's quite good. Ah well. Lost Galaxy looks interesting, and the budget has visibly increased. It looks less cheapskate now.
In front of me now is a packet of "Wang Wang" small buns. The small white things with a brown top. To my horror, I have spotted a Halal sign on them. Then again, with Tuck Lee Icework's Halal Ice, I think we had already hit the bottom. Maybe I shall make my own brand of the small buns, one with a little lard inside (lard does wonders for Chinese confectionary I tell you).
A final, indulgent thought:
Societal influence is evil. In movies, books and fairy tales (where people live 'happily ever after'), life is portrayed unrealistically. Humans are fickle and unpredictable creatures who change their minds moods and feelings constantly and the changes can be very swift.
Therein lies a central flaw of marriage, because in the heat of the moment, people pledge their lives away and many live unhappy lives, not divorcing because of peer and societal (ooo, divorce is against "Asian Values") pressure and "for the children". One cannot predict the future any more than one can predict if a radioactive nuclide will decay in the next time interval. People change, we move on.
Slavery is evil.
Post ID: 8649713
hm the bio lecturer who mentioned gabriel and dropping bio must be mr. nah. He always starts off the year telling the J1s to drop bio, then spends the next 2 years asking his students repeatedly "why do you still insist on taking bio" while distributing test results
More Photos up (including prom!)
http://www.geocities.com/marshmall0w/
More Photos up (including prom!)
http://www.geocities.com/marshmall0w/
Post ID: 8649095
The perils of infamy:
"Upon closer inspection, the person who submitted that Bugzilla entry mentioned earlier is none other than Gabriel Seah , the infamous former RJC student who used to haunt the school's forums until they were taken down late last year. That guy scares me... And it's a pretty good thing I don't know him in real life."
Dubious honour :)
The VJC review is up on JC Guide, and it's quite "high class" too :) I kind of like the author's style.
I've learnt some things about VJC :) I didn't know that Lee Phui Mun would wash the toilets if she was free!
Purple Raine
"Today, I had tution again, and the fragrances from the ppl's hair infront and to the side of me really irritated me. I love the scent, but it makes me hungry and overly emotional, thinking about all the people I noe who smell nice, and what they usually smell like, and being totally unable to concentrate on E Maths and A Maths. Girls just smell so good.... mmmmmmmm". Err. Kenneth you have a sensitive nose.
"Upon closer inspection, the person who submitted that Bugzilla entry mentioned earlier is none other than Gabriel Seah , the infamous former RJC student who used to haunt the school's forums until they were taken down late last year. That guy scares me... And it's a pretty good thing I don't know him in real life."
Dubious honour :)
The VJC review is up on JC Guide, and it's quite "high class" too :) I kind of like the author's style.
I've learnt some things about VJC :) I didn't know that Lee Phui Mun would wash the toilets if she was free!
Purple Raine
"Today, I had tution again, and the fragrances from the ppl's hair infront and to the side of me really irritated me. I love the scent, but it makes me hungry and overly emotional, thinking about all the people I noe who smell nice, and what they usually smell like, and being totally unable to concentrate on E Maths and A Maths. Girls just smell so good.... mmmmmmmm". Err. Kenneth you have a sensitive nose.
Post ID: 8645833
Delayed bookout post (because of going to the doctor and a busy night yesterday):
Restored Post
4 weeks are over! 25% of BMT has passed. Whee. Though it was probably the easiest quarter... Ugh.
I need a belt. My pants are loose. Hell, half the platoon needs a belt. Maybe someone will go down to Beach Road and buy some for everyone. Ken said he'd buy one for me if/when he goes to buy a replacement rifle cleaning kit.
They expect conformity and uniformity from us (stand by bed, short hair et al) but they themselves aren't that uniform. For example, everyone conducts warmups differently - some omit the hip flexor and some say "thousand" instead of "one thousand" while others start "one thousand" and then continue "thousand" (Okay, so I'm being picky). And at the 100m range, we're not supposed to bring our rifles into the toilet (it's probably too dirty).
Last week was range week. Official reveille timing: 4:30am, which means people set their alarms for 3:30am or 3:45am, and we slept at 1am one day and 12am on two others, since the fall in time was 4:40am (thus do they find time to give us our "7 hours of uninterrupted sleep"). Actually, ironically, the 7 hours of sleep are one of the safety guidelines for range days, but it is on range days that we get the least sleep. What can I say? We are one of the slowest companies that the sergeants have seen (then again, they probably tell that to all of the companies).
The first day of range was incredibly boring - we were not allowed to sleep, talk too loudly or read, not even the newspapers that were brought along. The other 3 days were better, but we weren't allowed to lie on the floor and sleep (ahh the luxury of doing so! Tis greatly refreshing). It's very irritating, because most of our time at range was spent stoning, but we went back to the bunk very late.
We're actually checked for empty cartridges before we leave the range, but I'm sure anyone who is determined and ingenious enough will find a way to smuggle them out.
We had "night" firing during the day, when it was still bright. What can I say?
Some people with a master eye opposite to their master hand (eg left master eye and right handed) brought along eye patches. It really looks quite dumb and I'm glad I didn't get one. My shooting still turned out fine - 17/24 for the day shoot.
I wonder if the noxious miasma of gunpowder fumes is poisonous. Maybe that's why my cough still has not gone away after 2 weeks.
Running even short distances in Standard Battle Order is tiring. I hate to think of what it would be like running in Full Battle Order.
Tonner suck. They really really suck. The buses are much better.
Marching from point to point is stupid. It is slower than walking and so it wastes a lot of time.
I'm getting pimples from where the chinstrap of my helmet touches my chin. Ouch.
My physically more able buddy dislikes the mental part of training too - the ceaseless rush, punishment of everyone for one's wrongs, the rigidity of the system. If we could give up, I think most of us would. "The system is very fucked up" - Someone. People are punished for little or no reason - even for smiling!
Slavery really does mature people a lot, it is true. The sergeants and officers have a bearing and an air - they are more mature than the recruits who are older than them. But then Singapore women still complain that Singapore men are childish, immature and chauvinistic, so I suppose it's not full maturation. Indeed, it might make many immature in certain ways, or if not, at least more testosterone-driven / dicky / chauvinistic.
I'm still holding out against the temptation (though it's not very great) of going around topless or swearing ("shit" is the worse I've ever used).
Echoing is evil. It is noisy and the different tempos and entries of the shouting ensure that the original message cannot be heard clearly, to say nothing of the mangling of the message due to its being passed on - the Broken Telephone game anyone? And some pranksters are fond of echoing wrong messages. Because of echoing, I almost got one Guard Duty (luckily I was forgiven!) because of turning on the white lights in the training shed during range.
"I need intelligent reading material" - Jiaxiang. I think and hope that keeping the weblog alive will do something to stem my mental decline :) As will my bringing along of the Economist: [Officer on me reading it during range] Shit, you're a man, you read this sort of magazine?
More evidence of the desperation of NS guys: The mating of 2 monitor lizards attracted no small amount of attention.
Various events so far have proved the truth of that old adage : "You can do anything in NS, just don't get caught".
V. Ambiavagar is dead. We'll never see him at RI Founders' Days (all 4 of which I religiously attended for some reason) again. Sigh.
Apparently there's a "Ninja" company. That's if we heard the company name correctly. That must be the stupidest company name ever.
On Saturday morning, I had another injection. It actually went very well. I wasn't in tears before it, or even after (Note to all: Please don't give me any crap about "NS has toughened you"). Perhaps the medic was being very careful after I asked him to be gentle.
I saw and talked to Sing Pou and he was in Kilo for one week for his "Residential Course". Apparently they *don't* get to learn rifle shooting, and it's just propaganda lectures and more propaganda lectures. The PES E people don't even have to swing their arms when they march. (...)
Booking out and walking to the Pasir Ris MRT station, I saw a familiar group of people walking by. I guessed that it was 3S05B, and sure enough, Gilbert called out my name (and remarked that I looked burnt). That class is very enthusiastic about class outings.
Restored Post
4 weeks are over! 25% of BMT has passed. Whee. Though it was probably the easiest quarter... Ugh.
I need a belt. My pants are loose. Hell, half the platoon needs a belt. Maybe someone will go down to Beach Road and buy some for everyone. Ken said he'd buy one for me if/when he goes to buy a replacement rifle cleaning kit.
They expect conformity and uniformity from us (stand by bed, short hair et al) but they themselves aren't that uniform. For example, everyone conducts warmups differently - some omit the hip flexor and some say "thousand" instead of "one thousand" while others start "one thousand" and then continue "thousand" (Okay, so I'm being picky). And at the 100m range, we're not supposed to bring our rifles into the toilet (it's probably too dirty).
Last week was range week. Official reveille timing: 4:30am, which means people set their alarms for 3:30am or 3:45am, and we slept at 1am one day and 12am on two others, since the fall in time was 4:40am (thus do they find time to give us our "7 hours of uninterrupted sleep"). Actually, ironically, the 7 hours of sleep are one of the safety guidelines for range days, but it is on range days that we get the least sleep. What can I say? We are one of the slowest companies that the sergeants have seen (then again, they probably tell that to all of the companies).
The first day of range was incredibly boring - we were not allowed to sleep, talk too loudly or read, not even the newspapers that were brought along. The other 3 days were better, but we weren't allowed to lie on the floor and sleep (ahh the luxury of doing so! Tis greatly refreshing). It's very irritating, because most of our time at range was spent stoning, but we went back to the bunk very late.
We're actually checked for empty cartridges before we leave the range, but I'm sure anyone who is determined and ingenious enough will find a way to smuggle them out.
We had "night" firing during the day, when it was still bright. What can I say?
Some people with a master eye opposite to their master hand (eg left master eye and right handed) brought along eye patches. It really looks quite dumb and I'm glad I didn't get one. My shooting still turned out fine - 17/24 for the day shoot.
I wonder if the noxious miasma of gunpowder fumes is poisonous. Maybe that's why my cough still has not gone away after 2 weeks.
Running even short distances in Standard Battle Order is tiring. I hate to think of what it would be like running in Full Battle Order.
Tonner suck. They really really suck. The buses are much better.
Marching from point to point is stupid. It is slower than walking and so it wastes a lot of time.
I'm getting pimples from where the chinstrap of my helmet touches my chin. Ouch.
My physically more able buddy dislikes the mental part of training too - the ceaseless rush, punishment of everyone for one's wrongs, the rigidity of the system. If we could give up, I think most of us would. "The system is very fucked up" - Someone. People are punished for little or no reason - even for smiling!
Slavery really does mature people a lot, it is true. The sergeants and officers have a bearing and an air - they are more mature than the recruits who are older than them. But then Singapore women still complain that Singapore men are childish, immature and chauvinistic, so I suppose it's not full maturation. Indeed, it might make many immature in certain ways, or if not, at least more testosterone-driven / dicky / chauvinistic.
I'm still holding out against the temptation (though it's not very great) of going around topless or swearing ("shit" is the worse I've ever used).
Echoing is evil. It is noisy and the different tempos and entries of the shouting ensure that the original message cannot be heard clearly, to say nothing of the mangling of the message due to its being passed on - the Broken Telephone game anyone? And some pranksters are fond of echoing wrong messages. Because of echoing, I almost got one Guard Duty (luckily I was forgiven!) because of turning on the white lights in the training shed during range.
"I need intelligent reading material" - Jiaxiang. I think and hope that keeping the weblog alive will do something to stem my mental decline :) As will my bringing along of the Economist: [Officer on me reading it during range] Shit, you're a man, you read this sort of magazine?
More evidence of the desperation of NS guys: The mating of 2 monitor lizards attracted no small amount of attention.
Various events so far have proved the truth of that old adage : "You can do anything in NS, just don't get caught".
V. Ambiavagar is dead. We'll never see him at RI Founders' Days (all 4 of which I religiously attended for some reason) again. Sigh.
Apparently there's a "Ninja" company. That's if we heard the company name correctly. That must be the stupidest company name ever.
On Saturday morning, I had another injection. It actually went very well. I wasn't in tears before it, or even after (Note to all: Please don't give me any crap about "NS has toughened you"). Perhaps the medic was being very careful after I asked him to be gentle.
I saw and talked to Sing Pou and he was in Kilo for one week for his "Residential Course". Apparently they *don't* get to learn rifle shooting, and it's just propaganda lectures and more propaganda lectures. The PES E people don't even have to swing their arms when they march. (...)
Booking out and walking to the Pasir Ris MRT station, I saw a familiar group of people walking by. I guessed that it was 3S05B, and sure enough, Gilbert called out my name (and remarked that I looked burnt). That class is very enthusiastic about class outings.
Post ID: 8642632
Saturday, January 12, 2002
Quickie (seen on Just Eat Me):
"Melissa: "There's this Econs teacher, she's a short old woman, I'm not sure what her name is-"
Me: "MRS LIM! GUAT CHING! THE COMMANDER! You've got her?"
Melissa: "Yeah, that's the one. Back to equilibrium! Back to equilibrium!"
Nice to know some things don't change."
Also:
"You might like to know- The bio lecturer (didn't quite catch his name) mentioned you and your JC review..."
and corroboration:
"if i remember correctly he said it was quite accurate... then he started convincing us to drop bio."
And something else:
"haha I'm thinking of going to RJ miss all the RGS girls..." - some VJ guy
"Melissa: "There's this Econs teacher, she's a short old woman, I'm not sure what her name is-"
Me: "MRS LIM! GUAT CHING! THE COMMANDER! You've got her?"
Melissa: "Yeah, that's the one. Back to equilibrium! Back to equilibrium!"
Nice to know some things don't change."
Also:
"You might like to know- The bio lecturer (didn't quite catch his name) mentioned you and your JC review..."
and corroboration:
"if i remember correctly he said it was quite accurate... then he started convincing us to drop bio."
And something else:
"haha I'm thinking of going to RJ miss all the RGS girls..." - some VJ guy
Post ID: 8627341
Sunday, January 06, 2002
hmmm ive been repeatedly asked to post here.. so here's my post..
*post* =)
julian must be busy playing daoc still.. he hasnt posted in ages, i havent seen him online (not that im home much).. but then lucky fellow only has a 7 day induction course into ns.. =(
hmmmm ns.. i attempted to lead the 2nd stanza of a song during a march, and got mixed up with my np-version of the song.... went all out of tune and stuff =P heheheh...
food.. is still relatively good...
section mates r nice..
platoon mates r ok...
yep..
*post* =)
julian must be busy playing daoc still.. he hasnt posted in ages, i havent seen him online (not that im home much).. but then lucky fellow only has a 7 day induction course into ns.. =(
hmmmm ns.. i attempted to lead the 2nd stanza of a song during a march, and got mixed up with my np-version of the song.... went all out of tune and stuff =P heheheh...
food.. is still relatively good...
section mates r nice..
platoon mates r ok...
yep..
Post ID: 8452362
Went to watch "Spirited Away".
Eye candy galore. I was intensely irritated by the plot (close to none). Things happen for no reason, there are inconsistencies and many things are not explained. The show's just a jumble of loosely connected (putting it charitably) events.
Yong Lin: "but the story is not the point of the show..."
Ahh.
In other news, Fierce Girl is the coach of the RGS debate team! Woo!
ACJC people are allowed to use their handphones anywhere, anytime, except when the teacher is talking. Bah.
Eye candy galore. I was intensely irritated by the plot (close to none). Things happen for no reason, there are inconsistencies and many things are not explained. The show's just a jumble of loosely connected (putting it charitably) events.
Yong Lin: "but the story is not the point of the show..."
Ahh.
In other news, Fierce Girl is the coach of the RGS debate team! Woo!
ACJC people are allowed to use their handphones anywhere, anytime, except when the teacher is talking. Bah.
Post ID: 8432951
Saturday, January 05, 2002
The usual bookout posting:
Restored Post
It seems that I've less and less to write each time, probably because I've already covered much. I shall pad this entry with quotes at the end.
I saw a picture of Tim's class, the one in the 2000 yearbook. Not bad. And he-who-provided-the-picture says that many of them, er, blossomed in J2.
People were still looking at the pictures that I brought. No, I don't intend to hand them over to the sergeants in the set of 36 photos that we were supposed to bring so that they could "know us better" (someone had pictures of dogs and another had pictures of when he was 12). Anyway, someone tried to "chope" 2 members of vis-a-vis, Rebecca and Melissa (not that I know them, or that I would disclose their personal information to him, so he can dream on :) ). People were looking at the NJ and PJ yearbooks and pointing out supposedly pretty girls. Someone voiced his dislike for A-line skirts, saying they made girls look "too mature". And he was telling me how much he "appreciated" the RJ skirt, which apparently is very, err, free to move. I still don't have a complete and fleshed out theory to explain why guys in NS are so desperate and sex driven.
We were given a small mango for our dessert one lunch. Wah.
We've been doing bayonet fighting. It's the same as Taekwando (which, believe it or not, a long time ago, I learnt) - patterns are useless, and in a real fight, you'd use your own style to attack and defend instead of all the moves (or worse, the patterns).
We were offered $150 to take part in a hydration study where, over 48 hours, they would monitor out water intake and urine output and take 6 ml of blood and our nude weight 6 times. $25 for each drawing of blood? Count me out...
Seen on a T-Shirt: "Pain is temporary, glory is forever". My response: "Satisfaction from testosterone-driven acts undertaken under peer pressure is temporary, injury is forever". Needs some work.
We can now use the vending machines. They cunningly replaced Root Beer and Pepsi with Diet 7-up and Diet Pepsi. The day after we were freed to patronise the vending machines, the dustbin was full of empty cans. And the trashbag fell from its position (such that it was no longer wrapped around the opening of the dustbin). [NB: I have the glorious duty of changing the trashbag everyday.]
I actually have had the flu since last Sunday (what a convenient timing, during my 3 full day bookout), and my sore throat has gotten worse since Tuesday due to 3 days of shouting. And I think I've a secondary throat infection now. I can barely rasp now. I should create a new status tag - "Excuse Shouting".
I had a chat with my choir junior last week, who said that most of the deaths in Slavery are due to suicides. In response to my point that not committing suicide was a victory of sorts because you'd have survived the torture and not let it drive you to the brink, he countered that "tt's not true....by u getting thru NS, *they* have won.....they have successfully nurtured another soldier....by killing urself, they have failed....". Good point.
So far, I've seen 0 stray cats but quite a few stray dogs wandering around. Quite the opposite of what would normally be.
My sister says my hands have become a bit rougher. Gah.
My arms are going to drop off from all the pumping. Ouch.
Quotes:
"RJC girls, the green skirt, wah lan eh. [Me: Go ACJC] ACJC, cannot. Too power." Erm.
"You will be doing 2 positions today. One is doggie style, the other is 69 (foxhole, prone)" His speech is always peppered with sex references :)
"Don't go JC and teach... go into the lecture theatre, look up, all the girls zaogeng... [Recruit: Good what] Can't concentrate"
"[On the standing hip position] Not the cock, I see some people just now, [adopted the] standing cock position."
"Anybody not feeling well? [Recruits: No sergeant, fighting fit, yeah!] Gryphon company, when I'm here, don't try do that fighting fit shit (doing)"
"One thing, when you get married then you'll know. Your size, is it difficult?... What style do you want to adopt? [Recruit: Standing shoulder position]"
"Just imagine, if your wife see you, wah lan. Then you take off your shirt. Your breasts are bigger than hers. (sees)"
Restored Post
It seems that I've less and less to write each time, probably because I've already covered much. I shall pad this entry with quotes at the end.
I saw a picture of Tim's class, the one in the 2000 yearbook. Not bad. And he-who-provided-the-picture says that many of them, er, blossomed in J2.
People were still looking at the pictures that I brought. No, I don't intend to hand them over to the sergeants in the set of 36 photos that we were supposed to bring so that they could "know us better" (someone had pictures of dogs and another had pictures of when he was 12). Anyway, someone tried to "chope" 2 members of vis-a-vis, Rebecca and Melissa (not that I know them, or that I would disclose their personal information to him, so he can dream on :) ). People were looking at the NJ and PJ yearbooks and pointing out supposedly pretty girls. Someone voiced his dislike for A-line skirts, saying they made girls look "too mature". And he was telling me how much he "appreciated" the RJ skirt, which apparently is very, err, free to move. I still don't have a complete and fleshed out theory to explain why guys in NS are so desperate and sex driven.
We were given a small mango for our dessert one lunch. Wah.
We've been doing bayonet fighting. It's the same as Taekwando (which, believe it or not, a long time ago, I learnt) - patterns are useless, and in a real fight, you'd use your own style to attack and defend instead of all the moves (or worse, the patterns).
We were offered $150 to take part in a hydration study where, over 48 hours, they would monitor out water intake and urine output and take 6 ml of blood and our nude weight 6 times. $25 for each drawing of blood? Count me out...
Seen on a T-Shirt: "Pain is temporary, glory is forever". My response: "Satisfaction from testosterone-driven acts undertaken under peer pressure is temporary, injury is forever". Needs some work.
We can now use the vending machines. They cunningly replaced Root Beer and Pepsi with Diet 7-up and Diet Pepsi. The day after we were freed to patronise the vending machines, the dustbin was full of empty cans. And the trashbag fell from its position (such that it was no longer wrapped around the opening of the dustbin). [NB: I have the glorious duty of changing the trashbag everyday.]
I actually have had the flu since last Sunday (what a convenient timing, during my 3 full day bookout), and my sore throat has gotten worse since Tuesday due to 3 days of shouting. And I think I've a secondary throat infection now. I can barely rasp now. I should create a new status tag - "Excuse Shouting".
I had a chat with my choir junior last week, who said that most of the deaths in Slavery are due to suicides. In response to my point that not committing suicide was a victory of sorts because you'd have survived the torture and not let it drive you to the brink, he countered that "tt's not true....by u getting thru NS, *they* have won.....they have successfully nurtured another soldier....by killing urself, they have failed....". Good point.
So far, I've seen 0 stray cats but quite a few stray dogs wandering around. Quite the opposite of what would normally be.
My sister says my hands have become a bit rougher. Gah.
My arms are going to drop off from all the pumping. Ouch.
Quotes:
"RJC girls, the green skirt, wah lan eh. [Me: Go ACJC] ACJC, cannot. Too power." Erm.
"You will be doing 2 positions today. One is doggie style, the other is 69 (foxhole, prone)" His speech is always peppered with sex references :)
"Don't go JC and teach... go into the lecture theatre, look up, all the girls zaogeng... [Recruit: Good what] Can't concentrate"
"[On the standing hip position] Not the cock, I see some people just now, [adopted the] standing cock position."
"Anybody not feeling well? [Recruits: No sergeant, fighting fit, yeah!] Gryphon company, when I'm here, don't try do that fighting fit shit (doing)"
"One thing, when you get married then you'll know. Your size, is it difficult?... What style do you want to adopt? [Recruit: Standing shoulder position]"
"Just imagine, if your wife see you, wah lan. Then you take off your shirt. Your breasts are bigger than hers. (sees)"
Post ID: 8429858
Friday, January 04, 2002
I'm still waking up at 4 in the morning. Ah well, packed room, had QT, then went for a run when the sun rose.
Went back to school for a large part of today- objective to talk to teachers. David Liew's growing a goatee!!! Don't think very "highly" of it at all. None of the teachers I know have transferred out... new faces around. Moses pointed out a "liqing" who allegedly has a reputation for her looks. Ms. Wee, strangely enough, still remembers me (though i think she can't recollect my name). Eugene Huang went all-out auburn. Met a lot of 4K pple/other assorted people. Reasons for many j3s going back: see teachers, get letters (recommendation) from teachers, play b-ball, crash orientation. Apparently it's getting very obvious: at least 1 J3 in every OG. Admin tried to clamp down to no avail.
Triplets cropped hair. Waiyi referred to hairdos resembling Joanna Yeo's bob as the "Joanna".
Sin tong and zewei are humans students; I mean they chose humans.
Had a peek at cambridge/oxford results from nice mr purvis but i couldn't recognise most of the names (in some cases, only the initials were given) and some were missing.
Qiying told me Rit. performed in a no. of exciting n' happening gigs during the hols, including a stint in Ritz-Carlton hotel and at a private party thrown by Mediaworks!!!
Just got my second batch of prom photos (plus london photos) developed. Remind me to show them if i run into any of u. Will upload them to homepage some time. Geocities only gives 15 mb of space- wonder how many i can squeeze in. Rest of my upload space consists of tiny html files since I don't use images as a rule.
Went back to school for a large part of today- objective to talk to teachers. David Liew's growing a goatee!!! Don't think very "highly" of it at all. None of the teachers I know have transferred out... new faces around. Moses pointed out a "liqing" who allegedly has a reputation for her looks. Ms. Wee, strangely enough, still remembers me (though i think she can't recollect my name). Eugene Huang went all-out auburn. Met a lot of 4K pple/other assorted people. Reasons for many j3s going back: see teachers, get letters (recommendation) from teachers, play b-ball, crash orientation. Apparently it's getting very obvious: at least 1 J3 in every OG. Admin tried to clamp down to no avail.
Triplets cropped hair. Waiyi referred to hairdos resembling Joanna Yeo's bob as the "Joanna".
Sin tong and zewei are humans students; I mean they chose humans.
Had a peek at cambridge/oxford results from nice mr purvis but i couldn't recognise most of the names (in some cases, only the initials were given) and some were missing.
Qiying told me Rit. performed in a no. of exciting n' happening gigs during the hols, including a stint in Ritz-Carlton hotel and at a private party thrown by Mediaworks!!!
Just got my second batch of prom photos (plus london photos) developed. Remind me to show them if i run into any of u. Will upload them to homepage some time. Geocities only gives 15 mb of space- wonder how many i can squeeze in. Rest of my upload space consists of tiny html files since I don't use images as a rule.
Post ID: 8401693
Thursday, January 03, 2002
This is really interesting:
Apparently for my page
www.geocities.com/marshmall0w/prom.html
describing Moonlight Masquerade,
Top search engine used to access this page: 100.00% use www.google.com
Top search word used to find this page: 50.61% typed "kylie minogue's white dress" .
"Swing when you're winning"- Robbie Williams.
Heh heh. *Plants kinky phrases surreptitiously all over homepage to increase no. of hits*
Apparently for my page
www.geocities.com/marshmall0w/prom.html
describing Moonlight Masquerade,
Top search engine used to access this page: 100.00% use www.google.com
Top search word used to find this page: 50.61% typed "kylie minogue's white dress" .
"Swing when you're winning"- Robbie Williams.
Heh heh. *Plants kinky phrases surreptitiously all over homepage to increase no. of hits*
Post ID: 8372388
Went for a run at 7am today, then bought dosa back for parents' breakfast. Haven't recovered from jet lag: woke up at 4 something in the morning with nothing in particular to do, so I started packing my room. And napped from 3 to 8 into the evening: thank goodness I woke up- it's Frasier nite!
Worst part of this jetlag is the intermittent flu symptoms. Hope it doesn't develop.
Re: what I'm going to do in my gap period. Circumstances may compel me towards something that wasn't even on my list- my father's main nurse retired this month (she's 60+ and has grandchildren) and he can't find another clinic assistant at such short notice. So I may be required to fill in- for an unspecified period of time. Daily, 9 to 5. (ah-hemm)
Spent yesterday and today morning doing my melbourne photo gallery. Didn't expect 108 photos to take that long... and just discovered the link back to the index page Ood can't work. Anyone know why
www.geocities.com/marshmall0w/melbourne/index.htm
Worst part of this jetlag is the intermittent flu symptoms. Hope it doesn't develop.
Re: what I'm going to do in my gap period. Circumstances may compel me towards something that wasn't even on my list- my father's main nurse retired this month (she's 60+ and has grandchildren) and he can't find another clinic assistant at such short notice. So I may be required to fill in- for an unspecified period of time. Daily, 9 to 5. (ah-hemm)
Spent yesterday and today morning doing my melbourne photo gallery. Didn't expect 108 photos to take that long... and just discovered the link back to the index page Ood can't work. Anyone know why
www.geocities.com/marshmall0w/melbourne/index.htm
Post ID: 8372249
Wednesday, January 02, 2002
In defence of my bid:
a) It's not an animal documentary Or a cartoon dubbed in chinese
b) If you de-select the bahasa indonesia audio channel then it's perfectly okay since it's all in english
c) Beast wars are only released on VCD in this part of the world
d) The 4-5 other people auctioning off Beast wars VCDs haven't received any bids either. And most of them got theirs with chinese subtitles. Hmm, "porkypig2000" is from singapore and selling exactly the same thing for 4 times the price.
e) Not really in defence: comment that if you are interested in them or you have a friend interested in them, i'll pass it on FOC. Simply trying to clear my collection of stuff-
www.geocities.com/marshmall0w/shop.html
a) It's not an animal documentary Or a cartoon dubbed in chinese
b) If you de-select the bahasa indonesia audio channel then it's perfectly okay since it's all in english
c) Beast wars are only released on VCD in this part of the world
d) The 4-5 other people auctioning off Beast wars VCDs haven't received any bids either. And most of them got theirs with chinese subtitles. Hmm, "porkypig2000" is from singapore and selling exactly the same thing for 4 times the price.
e) Not really in defence: comment that if you are interested in them or you have a friend interested in them, i'll pass it on FOC. Simply trying to clear my collection of stuff-
www.geocities.com/marshmall0w/shop.html
Post ID: 8331393
Tuesday, January 01, 2002
In the "things on eBay nobody bids for" series:
VCD Beast Wars Episodes 1-13
"Collection of first 13 episodes, season 1, of Beast Wars on Video Compact Disc (playable on computer and DVD players); audio channels in English and Bahasa Indonesia; relatively crisp and clear picture. Used only once! Beast Wars is the cartoon sequel of Transformers (the 80's animated series) "
Must be the Bahasa Indonesia that did it :)
$1.90 VCDs are all either:
1) Animal documentaries
2) Cartoons subbed/dubbed in Chinese
Then again, the "My Little Pony" movie went for 99 cents, for obvious reasons, because no one but screwed up people want it.
VCD Beast Wars Episodes 1-13
"Collection of first 13 episodes, season 1, of Beast Wars on Video Compact Disc (playable on computer and DVD players); audio channels in English and Bahasa Indonesia; relatively crisp and clear picture. Used only once! Beast Wars is the cartoon sequel of Transformers (the 80's animated series) "
Must be the Bahasa Indonesia that did it :)
$1.90 VCDs are all either:
1) Animal documentaries
2) Cartoons subbed/dubbed in Chinese
Then again, the "My Little Pony" movie went for 99 cents, for obvious reasons, because no one but screwed up people want it.
Post ID: 8313810
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