That someday it would bring me back to you
Thought of the day: Is it the upper blade of the scissors that cuts the paper or is it the lower blade that does so?
Econs s madness at work, yet again.
It's 12 plus, here I am again, a scene reproduced quite frequently, I'll be at my computer terminal, the rest of the family would be asleep, while I'll just engage in online chats or transformer surfing. Maybe I would be playing some music, or I'll have the radio on to listen to the late night shows.
Behind me would be my table, either spread out on top with books, notes, stray papers etc. or clean as I would have packed everything into my bag for the next day.
Just realised that ed is turning 18 on mon, and in 3 months time I'll be turning 19. Man time flies. Another thing I realised is that I would miss school. I would miss being able to take part in insituitionalised education.
Bah listen to me rant. Cue violin music please.
Now that I got the melancholy out of my system, I guess I've nothing to write. How infuriating. Is my life one whole melodrama?
Oh crap the lack of sleep is getting to me when i start asking stupid rhetorical questions. Which are directed to myself. Which I don't intend to answer as I view the fielder of such questions to be intellectually feeble. Wait a minute...
To bring some focus back, IT"S FINALLY HERE! THe mother of all exams, the death star, unicron, galactus, or whatever ultimate doom machine plot device in whatever show you prefer has descended upon us.
So, it is time we light our darkest hour.
Work hard, and you'll reap what you sow.
Question of the day: Why do new cruise liners do not have TV sets?
Ans: Cos xin chuan mei dian si :)
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
"Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5
Sunday morning rain is falling
Steal some covers share some skin
Clouds are shrouding us in moments unforgettable
You twist to fit the mold that I am in
But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
And I would gladly hit the road get up and go if I knew
That someday it would bring me back to you
That someday it would bring me back to you
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on sunday morning
And I never want to leave
Fingers trace your every outline
Paint a picture with my hands
Back and forth we sway like branches in a storm
Change the weather still together when it ends
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on sunday morning
And I never want to leave
But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
Sunday morning rain is falling and I?m calling out to you
Singing someday it?ll bring me back to you
Find a way to bring myself home to you
And you may not know
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow?
Sunday morning rain is falling
Steal some covers share some skin
Clouds are shrouding us in moments unforgettable
You twist to fit the mold that I am in
But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
And I would gladly hit the road get up and go if I knew
That someday it would bring me back to you
That someday it would bring me back to you
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on sunday morning
And I never want to leave
Fingers trace your every outline
Paint a picture with my hands
Back and forth we sway like branches in a storm
Change the weather still together when it ends
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on sunday morning
And I never want to leave
But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
Sunday morning rain is falling and I?m calling out to you
Singing someday it?ll bring me back to you
Find a way to bring myself home to you
And you may not know
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow?
Monday, October 25, 2004
Justice has been served
I went one step further in my pre-match rituals this time. Apart from using my Man Utd towel and watching the match downstairs, I decided to do a bit more to show I had faith in my team. I placed a $5 bet on them. The amount may be small, but it was more of a show of faith to my beloved team, the belief they could triumph against the odds.
They did, and how.
All eleven fought, ran and sweated it out, fire burning in their eyes, the hunger to bring down arsenal was so obvious. Caroll was steady behind, even teaching henry a bit about the fine art of possession play; Gary Neville was steady, cynical when necessary; Heinz, the "Argentinean Stuart Pearce" was at his blockbuster best; holding the fort, Rio Ferdinand, the wall which all arsenal's attacks couldn't penertrate, a almost peerless performance, with the assistance of his able deputy Silvestre, who has recovered the confidence of old. The wing masters of Giggs and Ronaldo were subdued somewhat, but they were always a threat; Scholes was in his element, making all those clever balls and being the creative force. Playing Phil Neville was a masterstroke, despite the absence of the Captain Keane, the Younger Neville ran around the pitch like a man possessed, harassing the arsenal players as they dallied on the ball, reminiscent to the last time Man Utd beat arsenal at Old Trafford.
But perhaps the story of the game can be better told by charting the fortunes of the two strikers. Rooney, the man-child of only 19, skipped around the imposing figure of sol campbell and was fell. Penalty. arsenal fans, before crying foul, should cast their minds back to the portsmouth where robert pires did a even more disgusting dive. Up stepped Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who only found the crossbar on the other side the last time the two sides met at Old Trafford. This time he found the wrong side of lehmann's dive, and the look he wore as he raced to the touchline in sheer ecstasy, skidded on his knees and let out a great shout. He wore the look of a man vindicated, the demons past exorcised from him in a single instant. A script only destiny could write.
And perhaps destiny was indeed playing a part, as as arsenal pressed forward, in their desperate search for an equaliser, the substitutes Louis Saha and Alan Smith combined to initiate a quick counter attack, putting paid to any notions that the 4 strikers at Man Utd cannot work together. With a simple square pass, Smith found the 27 million Wayne Rooney, 19 on the very same day, the same player who ended a similar unbeaten run of arsenal's to announce his arrival at the highest level, sweeping it into the net with the simplest of finishes to produce the coup de grande.
Destiny's hand was apparent.
Form is temporary, class is permanent.
And ultimately, justice, has been served.
I went one step further in my pre-match rituals this time. Apart from using my Man Utd towel and watching the match downstairs, I decided to do a bit more to show I had faith in my team. I placed a $5 bet on them. The amount may be small, but it was more of a show of faith to my beloved team, the belief they could triumph against the odds.
They did, and how.
All eleven fought, ran and sweated it out, fire burning in their eyes, the hunger to bring down arsenal was so obvious. Caroll was steady behind, even teaching henry a bit about the fine art of possession play; Gary Neville was steady, cynical when necessary; Heinz, the "Argentinean Stuart Pearce" was at his blockbuster best; holding the fort, Rio Ferdinand, the wall which all arsenal's attacks couldn't penertrate, a almost peerless performance, with the assistance of his able deputy Silvestre, who has recovered the confidence of old. The wing masters of Giggs and Ronaldo were subdued somewhat, but they were always a threat; Scholes was in his element, making all those clever balls and being the creative force. Playing Phil Neville was a masterstroke, despite the absence of the Captain Keane, the Younger Neville ran around the pitch like a man possessed, harassing the arsenal players as they dallied on the ball, reminiscent to the last time Man Utd beat arsenal at Old Trafford.
But perhaps the story of the game can be better told by charting the fortunes of the two strikers. Rooney, the man-child of only 19, skipped around the imposing figure of sol campbell and was fell. Penalty. arsenal fans, before crying foul, should cast their minds back to the portsmouth where robert pires did a even more disgusting dive. Up stepped Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who only found the crossbar on the other side the last time the two sides met at Old Trafford. This time he found the wrong side of lehmann's dive, and the look he wore as he raced to the touchline in sheer ecstasy, skidded on his knees and let out a great shout. He wore the look of a man vindicated, the demons past exorcised from him in a single instant. A script only destiny could write.
And perhaps destiny was indeed playing a part, as as arsenal pressed forward, in their desperate search for an equaliser, the substitutes Louis Saha and Alan Smith combined to initiate a quick counter attack, putting paid to any notions that the 4 strikers at Man Utd cannot work together. With a simple square pass, Smith found the 27 million Wayne Rooney, 19 on the very same day, the same player who ended a similar unbeaten run of arsenal's to announce his arrival at the highest level, sweeping it into the net with the simplest of finishes to produce the coup de grande.
Destiny's hand was apparent.
Form is temporary, class is permanent.
And ultimately, justice, has been served.
Friday, October 22, 2004
Question the question.
Econs S mantra. Anyway, there are some issues I need some help in as I can't seem to find the answers to these questions.
1) What do you call the manoverve when you drive at full speed, then do a 180 degree skid turn? Happens a lot of times in movies during car chase scenes. Apparently every american president is supposed to know it to escape pursuers.
2) Who else is taking LNAT on 3/11? What time does it start? It says 6.30 but it could be greenwich meridien time for all we know. Really help. The St Francis Methodist people are just as clueless.
Answers would be appreciated. Thanks!
Econs S mantra. Anyway, there are some issues I need some help in as I can't seem to find the answers to these questions.
1) What do you call the manoverve when you drive at full speed, then do a 180 degree skid turn? Happens a lot of times in movies during car chase scenes. Apparently every american president is supposed to know it to escape pursuers.
2) Who else is taking LNAT on 3/11? What time does it start? It says 6.30 but it could be greenwich meridien time for all we know. Really help. The St Francis Methodist people are just as clueless.
Answers would be appreciated. Thanks!
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Maybe it's the champagne talking, but I'll still say it.
Oh man, bio prac is macham. Lilian wong invilgilated my prac. Plus the fact we were counting grains of rice on this lousy sheet of graph paper it felt like RI all over again. The second question was the worst of all, with powerful mark allocationa like 9 freaking marks, plus the controvesy over the axis for the graph. And kidneys are the worst thing to draw. Add the fact I almost had a heart attack when I saw that I had left the report form empty, it was a harrowing prac for me. Don't know whether I expressed what I tried to say properly or not. And I flouted the rule about not using correction fluid.
And to round off the machamness, a bird shit fell into my claypot chicken during lunch. For all the 4D enthusiats, buy 0224, my index number.
Had a comforting rest of the day chatting, playing games, watching OC, snippets of champion and singapore idol. Watching the champion reminds me of the times when I actually enjoyed swimming competively. Still have those medals from cat high times to remind myself of them. Oh well, can't do that anymore, I think my speed is quite hopeless now.
He catches her at the security gate and tells her he knows she loves him and he never meant to hurt her. Anna says she does love him, as a friend, but she knows they don’t have any chemistry. He doesn’t want her to go, but she tearfully tells him she has to, she couldn’t make Newport a home. Then she says maybe one day they’ll be perfect for each other. She hugs him goodbye and walks through security. Seth wants to know what he’ll do without her. Who will play Jenga with him? What will he do without her sage wisdom? A tearful Anna says, “Confidence, Cohen.” As she walks down the terminal Seth bangs on the plastic partition, yelling her name. She turns around, her cheeks wet, her gaze pained. Neither speaks. She simply gives him a small tearful smile and leaves.
And she's gone.
"I'm leaving because I have to."
Oh man, bio prac is macham. Lilian wong invilgilated my prac. Plus the fact we were counting grains of rice on this lousy sheet of graph paper it felt like RI all over again. The second question was the worst of all, with powerful mark allocationa like 9 freaking marks, plus the controvesy over the axis for the graph. And kidneys are the worst thing to draw. Add the fact I almost had a heart attack when I saw that I had left the report form empty, it was a harrowing prac for me. Don't know whether I expressed what I tried to say properly or not. And I flouted the rule about not using correction fluid.
And to round off the machamness, a bird shit fell into my claypot chicken during lunch. For all the 4D enthusiats, buy 0224, my index number.
Had a comforting rest of the day chatting, playing games, watching OC, snippets of champion and singapore idol. Watching the champion reminds me of the times when I actually enjoyed swimming competively. Still have those medals from cat high times to remind myself of them. Oh well, can't do that anymore, I think my speed is quite hopeless now.
He catches her at the security gate and tells her he knows she loves him and he never meant to hurt her. Anna says she does love him, as a friend, but she knows they don’t have any chemistry. He doesn’t want her to go, but she tearfully tells him she has to, she couldn’t make Newport a home. Then she says maybe one day they’ll be perfect for each other. She hugs him goodbye and walks through security. Seth wants to know what he’ll do without her. Who will play Jenga with him? What will he do without her sage wisdom? A tearful Anna says, “Confidence, Cohen.” As she walks down the terminal Seth bangs on the plastic partition, yelling her name. She turns around, her cheeks wet, her gaze pained. Neither speaks. She simply gives him a small tearful smile and leaves.
And she's gone.
"I'm leaving because I have to."
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Exodus '04
Oh man, this is Utada Hikaru at her sultry best. Fans of her previous works will either find her 180 degree change refreshing or get turned off by it. I fall under the former category. This album departs from her usual J-pop fare, plus it's all in English, her first. I must say some of the songs are very sensual, with the lyrics painting various imageries, making some people hot under the collar, or horny to use a more direct term. I highly recommend it, as it is not your usual radio fare, it's a mix of R&B with strong synthesizers in the background. What makes it stand out is of course her voice which is distinctive. Some people may still prefer her previous pop offerings, but I'm fine with the change as I felt she was getting a bit formulaic. This album will appeal to some people only, so I don't expect a mainstream release anytime soon. Anyway, the song below, Exodus '04, is ironically the most popish song of the album, it could even be an English version of "deep river", with the strong Indian beats in the background.
Exodus '04
With you these streets are heaven
Now home feels so foreign
They told me I was mistaken; infatuated
And I was afraid to trust my hunches
Now I am ready
Daddy don't be mad that I'm leaving
Please let me worry about me
Mama don't you worry about me
This is my story
Through mountains high and valleys low
The ocean through the desert snow
We'll say goodbye to the friend we know
This is our exodus '04
Through traffic jams in Tokyo
New music on the radio
We'll say goodbye to the world we know
This is our exodus '04
Landscapes keep changing
His story teaches something
I know I could be mistaken but my heart has spoken
I cannot redirect my feelings
The waves have parted
Daddy don't be mad that I'm leaving
Please let me worry about me
Mama don't you worry about me
This is my story
Through mountains high and valleys low
The ocean through the desert snow
We'll say goodbye to the friend we know
This is our exodus '04
Through traffic jams in Tokyo
New music on the radio
We'll say goodbye to the world we know
This is our exodus '04
I'm listening to a music never-ending
My baby don't you know I'll never let you down
You've opened me to so many different endings
But baby I know that you'll always be around
Through mountains high and valleys low
The ocean through the desert snow
We'll say goodbye to the friend we know
This is our exodus '04
Through traffic jams in Tokyo
New music on the radio
We'll say goodbye to the world we know
This is our exodus '04
Through mountains high and valleys low
The ocean through the desert snow
We'll say goodbye to the friend we know
This is our exodus '04
Through traffic jams in Tokyo
New music on the radio
We'll say goodbye to the world we know
This is our exodus '04
Oh man, this is Utada Hikaru at her sultry best. Fans of her previous works will either find her 180 degree change refreshing or get turned off by it. I fall under the former category. This album departs from her usual J-pop fare, plus it's all in English, her first. I must say some of the songs are very sensual, with the lyrics painting various imageries, making some people hot under the collar, or horny to use a more direct term. I highly recommend it, as it is not your usual radio fare, it's a mix of R&B with strong synthesizers in the background. What makes it stand out is of course her voice which is distinctive. Some people may still prefer her previous pop offerings, but I'm fine with the change as I felt she was getting a bit formulaic. This album will appeal to some people only, so I don't expect a mainstream release anytime soon. Anyway, the song below, Exodus '04, is ironically the most popish song of the album, it could even be an English version of "deep river", with the strong Indian beats in the background.
Exodus '04
With you these streets are heaven
Now home feels so foreign
They told me I was mistaken; infatuated
And I was afraid to trust my hunches
Now I am ready
Daddy don't be mad that I'm leaving
Please let me worry about me
Mama don't you worry about me
This is my story
Through mountains high and valleys low
The ocean through the desert snow
We'll say goodbye to the friend we know
This is our exodus '04
Through traffic jams in Tokyo
New music on the radio
We'll say goodbye to the world we know
This is our exodus '04
Landscapes keep changing
His story teaches something
I know I could be mistaken but my heart has spoken
I cannot redirect my feelings
The waves have parted
Daddy don't be mad that I'm leaving
Please let me worry about me
Mama don't you worry about me
This is my story
Through mountains high and valleys low
The ocean through the desert snow
We'll say goodbye to the friend we know
This is our exodus '04
Through traffic jams in Tokyo
New music on the radio
We'll say goodbye to the world we know
This is our exodus '04
I'm listening to a music never-ending
My baby don't you know I'll never let you down
You've opened me to so many different endings
But baby I know that you'll always be around
Through mountains high and valleys low
The ocean through the desert snow
We'll say goodbye to the friend we know
This is our exodus '04
Through traffic jams in Tokyo
New music on the radio
We'll say goodbye to the world we know
This is our exodus '04
Through mountains high and valleys low
The ocean through the desert snow
We'll say goodbye to the friend we know
This is our exodus '04
Through traffic jams in Tokyo
New music on the radio
We'll say goodbye to the world we know
This is our exodus '04
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Friday, October 15, 2004
Curtain call
This is the end,
there is no more.
And so another chapter of my life closes.
I didn't cry, nothing in me choked up, nothing really to indicate that the feeling of severing all ties with a place which I called school for the last 2 years. It was more of a confused feeling, not the warm fuzzy feeling as john described, more like that feeling mixed with the relief in knowing it's all over, plus a sudden realisation that 2 years have just zipped past so quickly. Throw in a feeling of introspection as I think back over the 2 years you've got a very confused zhao yang.
It seems just like yesterday when I got that phone call from sally welcoming me to RJC and telling me she was my OGL. I can remember how lost I felt on the first day, how I fretted over stuff really insignificant now. And then things accerlerated at a mad pace, at one point I felt so overwhelmed that I didn't want to go to school at all.
But at the end of it, I think when I look back on these 2 years, I'll have enough happy memories to get me by. JC sure taught me a lot of things in the short 2 years, helped me to be a better person.
I just like to thank all those people I got to know in RJC, my classmates, people in fencing, faction, outlook, assorted ex-RI mates, 22nd o team, my J1 OG Qaeas, and my J2 OG Apsytus and the teachers. And most of all, the Guys, for managing to stick together despite being different classes and pursuing different goals. Cheers to all the new and old friendships.
I guess the occasion got to me somewhat. At times I really wanted this day to come, but now that it has, I wish I could go back and do some things differently. Like not betraying Jimmy in the 2nd week of school, saying things I shouldn't, playing the fool instead of doing things right. All that said and done, I'll cherish every experience, every nugget of wisdom gathered.
Next stop, university or the army. It just hit me that after prom, I'll really never see some people ever again. We'll go our seperate ways, even the Guys would have to split up.
Maybe for all those who knew me, in the future, just remember me as the irreverent idiot, and allow yourself a nice chuckle.
"Tell my tale to those who ask. Tell it truly, the ill deeds, along with the good, may I be judged accordingly. The rest .... is silence."
This is the end,
there is no more.
And so another chapter of my life closes.
I didn't cry, nothing in me choked up, nothing really to indicate that the feeling of severing all ties with a place which I called school for the last 2 years. It was more of a confused feeling, not the warm fuzzy feeling as john described, more like that feeling mixed with the relief in knowing it's all over, plus a sudden realisation that 2 years have just zipped past so quickly. Throw in a feeling of introspection as I think back over the 2 years you've got a very confused zhao yang.
It seems just like yesterday when I got that phone call from sally welcoming me to RJC and telling me she was my OGL. I can remember how lost I felt on the first day, how I fretted over stuff really insignificant now. And then things accerlerated at a mad pace, at one point I felt so overwhelmed that I didn't want to go to school at all.
But at the end of it, I think when I look back on these 2 years, I'll have enough happy memories to get me by. JC sure taught me a lot of things in the short 2 years, helped me to be a better person.
I just like to thank all those people I got to know in RJC, my classmates, people in fencing, faction, outlook, assorted ex-RI mates, 22nd o team, my J1 OG Qaeas, and my J2 OG Apsytus and the teachers. And most of all, the Guys, for managing to stick together despite being different classes and pursuing different goals. Cheers to all the new and old friendships.
I guess the occasion got to me somewhat. At times I really wanted this day to come, but now that it has, I wish I could go back and do some things differently. Like not betraying Jimmy in the 2nd week of school, saying things I shouldn't, playing the fool instead of doing things right. All that said and done, I'll cherish every experience, every nugget of wisdom gathered.
Next stop, university or the army. It just hit me that after prom, I'll really never see some people ever again. We'll go our seperate ways, even the Guys would have to split up.
Maybe for all those who knew me, in the future, just remember me as the irreverent idiot, and allow yourself a nice chuckle.
"Tell my tale to those who ask. Tell it truly, the ill deeds, along with the good, may I be judged accordingly. The rest .... is silence."
Down
Went through today feeling very lousy. No motivation to study, got scolded by my CT, friends falling ill etc. A day to forget.
A week to bio prac. Like my teacher said, the A's will be over before you know it, but whether I'll be finished when they're done is another thing. I don't want to live in blinded bliss for 3 months then live in denial for the rest of my life.
Was sec 4 better? I don't know, memory's too foggy.
A classmate asked me the other day, if I could get any car in the world, what would it be? I told her that it'll have to be a red lambogrini, and I'll put a large Autobot insignia on it and call it Sideswipe. She laughed and said it wasn't really me, which I agreed.
In reality, I would rather have a nice gray volvo. I would rather be a strong dependable person, one that people can count on, albeit boring and unadventurous. Something like my dad. I always described him as a volvo, which he is to our family. I guess my desire to want a volvo stemmed from his influence.
I guess, to take the analogy further, there are many people who are volvos, and there are many others who are also swanky sports cars. The sports cars are nice to look at, they get all the initial attention, but there will always be people who prefer the steadiness of the volvo to the speed of a sports car. Or maybe they decide that speed is not their style and prefer steadiness.
No matter how much attention a sports car gets, I would rather stick to being a volvo. I would make a very bad sports car.
Went through today feeling very lousy. No motivation to study, got scolded by my CT, friends falling ill etc. A day to forget.
A week to bio prac. Like my teacher said, the A's will be over before you know it, but whether I'll be finished when they're done is another thing. I don't want to live in blinded bliss for 3 months then live in denial for the rest of my life.
Was sec 4 better? I don't know, memory's too foggy.
A classmate asked me the other day, if I could get any car in the world, what would it be? I told her that it'll have to be a red lambogrini, and I'll put a large Autobot insignia on it and call it Sideswipe. She laughed and said it wasn't really me, which I agreed.
In reality, I would rather have a nice gray volvo. I would rather be a strong dependable person, one that people can count on, albeit boring and unadventurous. Something like my dad. I always described him as a volvo, which he is to our family. I guess my desire to want a volvo stemmed from his influence.
I guess, to take the analogy further, there are many people who are volvos, and there are many others who are also swanky sports cars. The sports cars are nice to look at, they get all the initial attention, but there will always be people who prefer the steadiness of the volvo to the speed of a sports car. Or maybe they decide that speed is not their style and prefer steadiness.
No matter how much attention a sports car gets, I would rather stick to being a volvo. I would make a very bad sports car.
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Karrrrannnggg Guuunnnniiii!
Well, I turned out my cupboard, and I found have a stack of CDs I don't want anymore. For a small and negotiable fee you can take them off me. All of them are original, mostly in mint condition (a few scratches here and there, nothing a closed eye can't rectify) Anyone interested just msg me or leave a tag.
And here's the embarassing list. My music tastes then was a bit weird I must admit.
N Sync - No strings attached
backstreet boys - millenium and black and blue
craig david - born to do it
westlife - 1st album, coast to coast (plus poster that I never got rid off), and swear it again single (got conned by jacob in sec 2 for this one, he told me the album was out and it was a steal for 10 bucks.)
boyzone- by request
max and now 4
code red- crimson (won it in the law quiz in sec 2)
So please help increase my coffers and decrease my shelf space. Bidding starts now! :)
Well, I turned out my cupboard, and I found have a stack of CDs I don't want anymore. For a small and negotiable fee you can take them off me. All of them are original, mostly in mint condition (a few scratches here and there, nothing a closed eye can't rectify) Anyone interested just msg me or leave a tag.
And here's the embarassing list. My music tastes then was a bit weird I must admit.
N Sync - No strings attached
backstreet boys - millenium and black and blue
craig david - born to do it
westlife - 1st album, coast to coast (plus poster that I never got rid off), and swear it again single (got conned by jacob in sec 2 for this one, he told me the album was out and it was a steal for 10 bucks.)
boyzone- by request
max and now 4
code red- crimson (won it in the law quiz in sec 2)
So please help increase my coffers and decrease my shelf space. Bidding starts now! :)
Friday, October 08, 2004
Democracy in Singapore is screwed up. Discuss.
How liberating. I ponned the last day of school, after never done so prior to that. Was changed and ready to go, until my inner voice told me this would be the last ever time I get to cut class, and "reason" won in the end.
Won't bore you with details of me studying here, suffice to say it was heartily interspaced with plenty of naps.
I must write this observation down. After seeing the results of the voting in Singapore Idol, I think it would be safe to say that democracy in Singapore needs a lot of work.
First off, addressing the problem of people who can actually sing getting voted off instead of those who pretend to be singing, let's assume a simple model. Out of the Singapore population, assuming that 40% don't vote because they have imperfect information or lack the ability to do so, eg. they don't watch the show at all or they cannot afford to vote. Continuing on, we assume that another 30% are those armchair critics, who watch the show but do not feel compelled to vote, for what reasons I'll touch on later. Then take another 15% who feel motivated enough to vote, but vote in small denominations, let's say less than 5 times. The final 15% are strong and avid voters, who would vote in larger denominations, possibly due to the fact they wish to support their friends/family members/relatives.
Taking this model, if it was an election, it is unconsituitional to form a government where only 30% of the population voted. So the results should not be upheld as they wouldn't form the majority opinion.
In addition, the last 15% that had voted a lot of times are not governed by the most important aspect of democracy, impartiality. They definately have a motive in voting for a certain person, which may and is likely to run counter to the idea of voting for what you think is the best idol.
To make the case more damming, the penultimate 15%, which voted impartially, would be drowned out by the last 15%, thus they would make little impact on standings.
Another point made is that voting ability is affected by affluence as well, so it seems like market forces are at work here, where dollar votes dictate.
Thus, I think there would be enough evidence to conclude that the Singapore Idol voting system is flawed.
Why is it flawed? I offer some insights:
1) Imperfect information, or to be put it bluntly, lack of an enlightened nation that doesn't vote in terms of talent or is unable to recognise talent.
2) Voting on wrong basis. One should only vote for a person if he or she deems the person worthy enough to stay in the competition, not because he or she is good looking/ is your friend/ is your eye candy.
3) Apathy. The portion of the pouplation that may or may not recognise talent do not vote and therefore do not make any difference. This may be due to many reasons, like they don't vote as they assume the next person would, do not feel enough to vote or would rather spend the 50 cents elsewhere.
4) Duplication. One person is entitled to infinite number of votes, so with a lot of thumbwork and money, it is possible for one person to influence the results. Which sickens me to the core.
I believe that Mediacorp should reduce the number of votes per number to 4 only, thus it reduces the likelihood that an interest group can influence the results with their endless texting. Also, the population of Singapore should vote according to the main objective of voting, which is vote in who you deem is worthy to come back, and not due to other reasons. Lastly, it would really really REALLY help if Singaporeans become more enlightened and don't vote irresponsibly. There are no walkovers here.
How liberating. I ponned the last day of school, after never done so prior to that. Was changed and ready to go, until my inner voice told me this would be the last ever time I get to cut class, and "reason" won in the end.
Won't bore you with details of me studying here, suffice to say it was heartily interspaced with plenty of naps.
I must write this observation down. After seeing the results of the voting in Singapore Idol, I think it would be safe to say that democracy in Singapore needs a lot of work.
First off, addressing the problem of people who can actually sing getting voted off instead of those who pretend to be singing, let's assume a simple model. Out of the Singapore population, assuming that 40% don't vote because they have imperfect information or lack the ability to do so, eg. they don't watch the show at all or they cannot afford to vote. Continuing on, we assume that another 30% are those armchair critics, who watch the show but do not feel compelled to vote, for what reasons I'll touch on later. Then take another 15% who feel motivated enough to vote, but vote in small denominations, let's say less than 5 times. The final 15% are strong and avid voters, who would vote in larger denominations, possibly due to the fact they wish to support their friends/family members/relatives.
Taking this model, if it was an election, it is unconsituitional to form a government where only 30% of the population voted. So the results should not be upheld as they wouldn't form the majority opinion.
In addition, the last 15% that had voted a lot of times are not governed by the most important aspect of democracy, impartiality. They definately have a motive in voting for a certain person, which may and is likely to run counter to the idea of voting for what you think is the best idol.
To make the case more damming, the penultimate 15%, which voted impartially, would be drowned out by the last 15%, thus they would make little impact on standings.
Another point made is that voting ability is affected by affluence as well, so it seems like market forces are at work here, where dollar votes dictate.
Thus, I think there would be enough evidence to conclude that the Singapore Idol voting system is flawed.
Why is it flawed? I offer some insights:
1) Imperfect information, or to be put it bluntly, lack of an enlightened nation that doesn't vote in terms of talent or is unable to recognise talent.
2) Voting on wrong basis. One should only vote for a person if he or she deems the person worthy enough to stay in the competition, not because he or she is good looking/ is your friend/ is your eye candy.
3) Apathy. The portion of the pouplation that may or may not recognise talent do not vote and therefore do not make any difference. This may be due to many reasons, like they don't vote as they assume the next person would, do not feel enough to vote or would rather spend the 50 cents elsewhere.
4) Duplication. One person is entitled to infinite number of votes, so with a lot of thumbwork and money, it is possible for one person to influence the results. Which sickens me to the core.
I believe that Mediacorp should reduce the number of votes per number to 4 only, thus it reduces the likelihood that an interest group can influence the results with their endless texting. Also, the population of Singapore should vote according to the main objective of voting, which is vote in who you deem is worthy to come back, and not due to other reasons. Lastly, it would really really REALLY help if Singaporeans become more enlightened and don't vote irresponsibly. There are no walkovers here.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
No comment
I think my titles are lacking in the usual zip and spiffiness, must be due to the quagmire I got myself in.
Less spoken about the results, the better. Hopelessly underachieved. No use fuming about it now, need to grab my subjects by the scuff of the neck and change my failing fortunes.
So many observations of human behaviour in my life, yet cannot find the words to articulate them here in words. Maybe when all this is over, I can sit down and think thoroughly about them.
Till then, I'll make myself scarce here, the books need my attention more than my ego on show here.
I think my titles are lacking in the usual zip and spiffiness, must be due to the quagmire I got myself in.
Less spoken about the results, the better. Hopelessly underachieved. No use fuming about it now, need to grab my subjects by the scuff of the neck and change my failing fortunes.
So many observations of human behaviour in my life, yet cannot find the words to articulate them here in words. Maybe when all this is over, I can sit down and think thoroughly about them.
Till then, I'll make myself scarce here, the books need my attention more than my ego on show here.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Reap what you sow
Well well, the asphalt sure smells good, as I have my nose firmly placed against it for a rather long time. D for chem, kinda expected as papers 1 2 & 3 were disatrous, maths B, which sucks as everyone and his or her mother got an A and I should have joined their ranks if not for horrendous careless mistakes that made me feel sick to the core when I saw them. Econs, I need 13 marks from DRQ to scrape a B, and I'm still feeling sore over the essays. Bio is neither here bad nor good yet, as we haven't got the full paper back yet, but not really keeping my fingers crossed for it. Only silver lining is an A2 for GP, but it says a lot if I do the best for a subject which requires no studying.
Guess the time for the wishy washy studying is over. Time to knuckle down and study hard. It starts on the 21st of october and ends on the 30th of november, and I swear I'm going to do it right for this last time.
Well well, the asphalt sure smells good, as I have my nose firmly placed against it for a rather long time. D for chem, kinda expected as papers 1 2 & 3 were disatrous, maths B, which sucks as everyone and his or her mother got an A and I should have joined their ranks if not for horrendous careless mistakes that made me feel sick to the core when I saw them. Econs, I need 13 marks from DRQ to scrape a B, and I'm still feeling sore over the essays. Bio is neither here bad nor good yet, as we haven't got the full paper back yet, but not really keeping my fingers crossed for it. Only silver lining is an A2 for GP, but it says a lot if I do the best for a subject which requires no studying.
Guess the time for the wishy washy studying is over. Time to knuckle down and study hard. It starts on the 21st of october and ends on the 30th of november, and I swear I'm going to do it right for this last time.
Saturday, October 02, 2004
Life is waiting
Today was fun. Nice lunch, nice movie, nice issue of transformers, overall nice day.
The terminal is a good movie, thanks to edwin for recommending it. It did capture the human element of the show well, with many a hilarious moments thrown in for measure. I now realise that an airport is a mini city in itself, and the movie put faces on the normally faceless and nameless aiport staff, letting me realise they're just like you and me, normal human beings, with their own lives, desires and dreams.
I find it ironic that i ate sushi for lunch and dinner. Must be one of those days where everything becomes conincidental, like during campfire with the 72 bian hat trick. Dropped one whole packet of california rolls on the floor, one even rolled almost under the piano, had to finish the whole packet myself as "punishment" haha. Even drank quite a lot white wine as well, as it was a sweeter wine and I was feeling a bit reckless thanks to the nice day. Even my sis was nice enough to get me some ice-cream after dinner, even though she had the ulterior motive of wanting to use the whipped cream bottle and chocolate syrup, so much so it was so sweet that i just ate the ice cream and rejected the whipped cream, much to her chagrin.
Friday was my first meeting for quite a long time, and well, it was fun at times, settled quite a number of stuff, shuwei came up with SIGH! sign to GL anyone who talked out of point (i got it like 3? times), only person not to get it was brandon. Had coffee break courtesy of brandon, who only woke up at 2 when jun seng called him . Jolly. The meeting ended quite early at 9, (we expected to be able to get a mid-morning snack at 5 am) we went to J8's cafe cartel and ate dinner. Had a very stale fish and chips for dinner, with free flow of ice water and big hunk of bread to go along with it. The guys laughed at me cutting it up, they rather tear it apart with their hands. Ate till 2230, then don bought a very aptly named shandy called DNA. Took a small swig at it, tasted like sprite mixed with beer, with carbon dioxide bubbles in it. Headed home feeling a tad heady at one point.
Hmm, just realised I'm developing a very cavalier attitude to alcoholic drinks now. My mum must be fearing for the contents in her 5 well-stocked wine cellars.
I guess, the real meaning of "everything but the girl" was evident in the terminal, where the hero doesn't get the girl. Reality? Maybe. But not on my watch.
At the station, before I left for home, I heard the disabled musician sing a very heart rendering version of "leaving on a jetplane". The style i liked most songs sung, chock full of emotion and totally from the heart. They don't do that much nowadays. Having said that, english radio is saturated with rap and punk rock that my mum hankers for the periods when soft love ballads ruled the airwaves, and I do agree with her. Watching singapore idol she started singing along with most of the songs from yesteryear.
Next week will be a tough week. Hope I get the results I deserve. Final lap people, this break has been good, but it's back to business.
Today was fun. Nice lunch, nice movie, nice issue of transformers, overall nice day.
The terminal is a good movie, thanks to edwin for recommending it. It did capture the human element of the show well, with many a hilarious moments thrown in for measure. I now realise that an airport is a mini city in itself, and the movie put faces on the normally faceless and nameless aiport staff, letting me realise they're just like you and me, normal human beings, with their own lives, desires and dreams.
I find it ironic that i ate sushi for lunch and dinner. Must be one of those days where everything becomes conincidental, like during campfire with the 72 bian hat trick. Dropped one whole packet of california rolls on the floor, one even rolled almost under the piano, had to finish the whole packet myself as "punishment" haha. Even drank quite a lot white wine as well, as it was a sweeter wine and I was feeling a bit reckless thanks to the nice day. Even my sis was nice enough to get me some ice-cream after dinner, even though she had the ulterior motive of wanting to use the whipped cream bottle and chocolate syrup, so much so it was so sweet that i just ate the ice cream and rejected the whipped cream, much to her chagrin.
Friday was my first meeting for quite a long time, and well, it was fun at times, settled quite a number of stuff, shuwei came up with SIGH! sign to GL anyone who talked out of point (i got it like 3? times), only person not to get it was brandon. Had coffee break courtesy of brandon, who only woke up at 2 when jun seng called him . Jolly. The meeting ended quite early at 9, (we expected to be able to get a mid-morning snack at 5 am) we went to J8's cafe cartel and ate dinner. Had a very stale fish and chips for dinner, with free flow of ice water and big hunk of bread to go along with it. The guys laughed at me cutting it up, they rather tear it apart with their hands. Ate till 2230, then don bought a very aptly named shandy called DNA. Took a small swig at it, tasted like sprite mixed with beer, with carbon dioxide bubbles in it. Headed home feeling a tad heady at one point.
Hmm, just realised I'm developing a very cavalier attitude to alcoholic drinks now. My mum must be fearing for the contents in her 5 well-stocked wine cellars.
I guess, the real meaning of "everything but the girl" was evident in the terminal, where the hero doesn't get the girl. Reality? Maybe. But not on my watch.
At the station, before I left for home, I heard the disabled musician sing a very heart rendering version of "leaving on a jetplane". The style i liked most songs sung, chock full of emotion and totally from the heart. They don't do that much nowadays. Having said that, english radio is saturated with rap and punk rock that my mum hankers for the periods when soft love ballads ruled the airwaves, and I do agree with her. Watching singapore idol she started singing along with most of the songs from yesteryear.
Next week will be a tough week. Hope I get the results I deserve. Final lap people, this break has been good, but it's back to business.
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