Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
7 May 2007: Amandae and my Hong Kong friends!
We visited the Kowloon Park with our Canadian friends, and I'm happy to know Amandae, Ying Hui and Hui Ping even better through this trip to Hong Kong! We had a sumptuous dim sum lunch at Professor Graham's treat, followed by a group visit to the infamous Chungking Mansions. It was my first time there despite many previous trips to Hong Kong. 
We visited the Kowloon Park with our Canadian friends, and I'm happy to know Amandae, Ying Hui and Hui Ping even better through this trip to Hong Kong! We had a sumptuous dim sum lunch at Professor Graham's treat, followed by a group visit to the infamous Chungking Mansions. It was my first time there despite many previous trips to Hong Kong. I met up with Debby in the evening, and she treated me to a kebab spread before we went to meet Fatpo at a dessert outlet (by the popular franchise 许留山). I had my favourite mango sago called 杨枝甘露 there while catching up with them on our lives and future plans. I was truly happy to have visited Hong Kong, my most preferred travel destination, again within mere months. Amandae will be heading for Hong Kong in the coming weekend, with my shopping list to look at if she gets too bored on the plane.
6 May 2007: Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong
I had gone to Hong Kong in May for the UBC-NUS Summer Programme to learn more about the Chinese Diaspora and migrations in Asia. Coincidentally, Francoise, Hisashi, Marvin and Jasmine were holidaying there as well, so I met up with them in the wee hours of the morning after my hectic schedule earlier in the day. We had drinks and snacks near the Avenue of Stars at Tsim Sha Tsui, and strolled the promenade before parting ways. That was the last time I saw the former three, whom I have known since last year in Taiwan. I often wonder how they have been so far. Wonder too when we will meet again in the near future.
I had gone to Hong Kong in May for the UBC-NUS Summer Programme to learn more about the Chinese Diaspora and migrations in Asia. Coincidentally, Francoise, Hisashi, Marvin and Jasmine were holidaying there as well, so I met up with them in the wee hours of the morning after my hectic schedule earlier in the day. We had drinks and snacks near the Avenue of Stars at Tsim Sha Tsui, and strolled the promenade before parting ways. That was the last time I saw the former three, whom I have known since last year in Taiwan. I often wonder how they have been so far. Wonder too when we will meet again in the near future.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Will I Survive?
I am currently taking 6 full modules that weigh 24 MCs in total, of which 1 is a level-5000 Course-Based Module offered at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and 2 are level-4000 Independent Study Modules taken with my favourite professors back at the Chinese Studies Department. To spice things up, I am also a Research Assistant in an academic collaboration between the Chinese Studies and Sociology Departments on the study of the City God belief system and temples in Singapore. To make matters worse, I have to submit proposals and make preparations for my Honours Thesis due by the end of my next semester.
I guess I need to frequent the temples for 2 reasons: to complete my research and to pray that I do not collapse before or upon such completion. Good luck to myself.
I am currently taking 6 full modules that weigh 24 MCs in total, of which 1 is a level-5000 Course-Based Module offered at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and 2 are level-4000 Independent Study Modules taken with my favourite professors back at the Chinese Studies Department. To spice things up, I am also a Research Assistant in an academic collaboration between the Chinese Studies and Sociology Departments on the study of the City God belief system and temples in Singapore. To make matters worse, I have to submit proposals and make preparations for my Honours Thesis due by the end of my next semester.
I guess I need to frequent the temples for 2 reasons: to complete my research and to pray that I do not collapse before or upon such completion. Good luck to myself.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Dissident or Distant?
It takes a simple mind to assume that things can be aboslute. As a matter-of-fact, they are not. This applies to any issue or policy, which dictates the rules that in turn govern a system. Lone actors within the system may oppose the way things are run, harbouring little more than a simple intention to improve it. However, those who concur with the system, especially those who have benefitted much from it, may dismiss their opinions as pointless ramblings from ones who seem too difficult to please. More often than not, apathy prevents such obliging souls from making critical judgements, and sadly speaking, these souls often constitute the bulk of the system. No constructive change can ever be effected, when the boundaries between conformity and loyalty are blurred.
It takes a simple mind to assume that things can be aboslute. As a matter-of-fact, they are not. This applies to any issue or policy, which dictates the rules that in turn govern a system. Lone actors within the system may oppose the way things are run, harbouring little more than a simple intention to improve it. However, those who concur with the system, especially those who have benefitted much from it, may dismiss their opinions as pointless ramblings from ones who seem too difficult to please. More often than not, apathy prevents such obliging souls from making critical judgements, and sadly speaking, these souls often constitute the bulk of the system. No constructive change can ever be effected, when the boundaries between conformity and loyalty are blurred.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Realism in Life
All men are self-interested, rational beings who believe that they lead sober existences to face the miseries of the harsh reality of life. Nonetheless, precisely because they are so sober, as well as aware of their own existence, they make a conscious effort to survive in this world of anarchy, and the discreet way to do so in this seemingly civilized world is through mockery and trickery. Breaking psychological defences of others and the sneak-attacking of back-stabbers were more of novelties in the past than they are now.
Laws, rules and principles are simply some of the stardards or norms that reinforce a loose form of conformity upon mankind, and these intangibles constitute a false veneer beneath which an emerging kind of brutal savagery and blatant exploitation lies. In specific terms of gaining a global ethos and thus allowing humility and morality to reign in our worldly realm, we have all failed terribly as global citizens. Disregarding the narrow definitions of progress, the world has certainly not improved in such aspects, and an envisaged future of gratuitous wars and ever-starving children filling our global landscape appears reasonable.
We urgently need a second Enlightenment, before the world tilts beyond its final phase of redemption.
All men are self-interested, rational beings who believe that they lead sober existences to face the miseries of the harsh reality of life. Nonetheless, precisely because they are so sober, as well as aware of their own existence, they make a conscious effort to survive in this world of anarchy, and the discreet way to do so in this seemingly civilized world is through mockery and trickery. Breaking psychological defences of others and the sneak-attacking of back-stabbers were more of novelties in the past than they are now.
Laws, rules and principles are simply some of the stardards or norms that reinforce a loose form of conformity upon mankind, and these intangibles constitute a false veneer beneath which an emerging kind of brutal savagery and blatant exploitation lies. In specific terms of gaining a global ethos and thus allowing humility and morality to reign in our worldly realm, we have all failed terribly as global citizens. Disregarding the narrow definitions of progress, the world has certainly not improved in such aspects, and an envisaged future of gratuitous wars and ever-starving children filling our global landscape appears reasonable.
We urgently need a second Enlightenment, before the world tilts beyond its final phase of redemption.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Our Defeat
Sunderland lost 0-2 to Liverpool. My heart goes out to this underdog team, as always, for we are indeed two of a kind. Something seemingly (or truly) as rotten and incapable as I am dodging ahead in life in the midst of adversity and condemnation. I wish I can survive in this game of life but I doubt so. Life has proven itself too much for me to take. Thanks :)
Sunderland lost 0-2 to Liverpool. My heart goes out to this underdog team, as always, for we are indeed two of a kind. Something seemingly (or truly) as rotten and incapable as I am dodging ahead in life in the midst of adversity and condemnation. I wish I can survive in this game of life but I doubt so. Life has proven itself too much for me to take. Thanks :)
Monday, August 20, 2007
I am really not Mr. Tan
I'm truly amused by my new joke book. I have the spontaneous urge to laugh at every word or sentence of so-called inspiration.
The book offers high levels of sheer entertainment and comic relief. The author hallucinates so much that he had lived on the false impression that the world is bent on fixing (I think he needs to be fixed, in a different way) him for the past three decades, and he feels unduly exploited and oppressed in the heavy-handed system. With this comical work he seriously tarnishes the reputation of his fellow counterparts. Using his vivid and often incredulous imagination, he distorts views and theories at whim, hopelessly trapped in his very own world of self-delusion and spectacle. He quotes little citation to substantiate the content, and his arguments and reasoning are horrendously flawed.
There are many modes of resistance or retaliation available that seem more practical and sensible to me, leaving the book a hard, weird, and therefore, distasteful nut to crack and chew on.
I'm truly amused by my new joke book. I have the spontaneous urge to laugh at every word or sentence of so-called inspiration.
The book offers high levels of sheer entertainment and comic relief. The author hallucinates so much that he had lived on the false impression that the world is bent on fixing (I think he needs to be fixed, in a different way) him for the past three decades, and he feels unduly exploited and oppressed in the heavy-handed system. With this comical work he seriously tarnishes the reputation of his fellow counterparts. Using his vivid and often incredulous imagination, he distorts views and theories at whim, hopelessly trapped in his very own world of self-delusion and spectacle. He quotes little citation to substantiate the content, and his arguments and reasoning are horrendously flawed.
There are many modes of resistance or retaliation available that seem more practical and sensible to me, leaving the book a hard, weird, and therefore, distasteful nut to crack and chew on.
I am not Mr. Tan
I just bought a Chinese joke book for SGD 12, with Jiahao contributing SGD 2 to subsidize the cost. I read it to de-stress, breaking into some of my biggest laughs in my life. At its introduction, the book promises to inspire and empower me with the strength and courage to launch a massive onslaught against certain inequalities and monopolies, but I was so tickled pink after reading that my legs could not even pick themselves up. The author indulged himself in some form of self-induced persecution and ridicule, and I'm impressed by the way he interpreted his world. I'm guilty of such ridicule as well, for buying the book in the first place. Small regrets experienced here, but it's still worth the purchase for all the smiles on my face. Shall lend the book to Jiahao when he wants it.
I just bought a Chinese joke book for SGD 12, with Jiahao contributing SGD 2 to subsidize the cost. I read it to de-stress, breaking into some of my biggest laughs in my life. At its introduction, the book promises to inspire and empower me with the strength and courage to launch a massive onslaught against certain inequalities and monopolies, but I was so tickled pink after reading that my legs could not even pick themselves up. The author indulged himself in some form of self-induced persecution and ridicule, and I'm impressed by the way he interpreted his world. I'm guilty of such ridicule as well, for buying the book in the first place. Small regrets experienced here, but it's still worth the purchase for all the smiles on my face. Shall lend the book to Jiahao when he wants it.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Fulfilling Life
Tackling life's tasks now seems easier with clear goals in mind. Spiritual contendment is the essence, and material needs are, ironically, immaterial and therefore, not needs in reality.
View everything objectively, keeping the heart void at best. Albeit difficult, never be judgemental. Accept the lifestyles of individuals and tolerate their differences. A world of elites, officers and scholars is unthinkable. A world that comprises just you or I will be meaningless to live in.
Tackling life's tasks now seems easier with clear goals in mind. Spiritual contendment is the essence, and material needs are, ironically, immaterial and therefore, not needs in reality.
View everything objectively, keeping the heart void at best. Albeit difficult, never be judgemental. Accept the lifestyles of individuals and tolerate their differences. A world of elites, officers and scholars is unthinkable. A world that comprises just you or I will be meaningless to live in.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
In suspense
溏心风暴 is better than either 金枝玉孽 or 火舞黄沙. The TVB drama serial is a star-studded production that features many veteran actors and actresses in their best performance, all of whom seem determined to take me by storm with the wondrous plot that they are portraying. Definitely not to be missed, in Cantonese perferably.
溏心风暴 is better than either 金枝玉孽 or 火舞黄沙. The TVB drama serial is a star-studded production that features many veteran actors and actresses in their best performance, all of whom seem determined to take me by storm with the wondrous plot that they are portraying. Definitely not to be missed, in Cantonese perferably.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Just like the Mayflowers bloom in June,
look into the eyes of Capricon and discover,
within itself,
the fundamental basics of construction that define and redefine the present through the past;
the prisms that shred light into its components,
that shall point the way to bright and blight,
that is,
the fundamental idiocyncracy of the poetic journey that is life.
look into the eyes of Capricon and discover,
within itself,
the fundamental basics of construction that define and redefine the present through the past;
the prisms that shred light into its components,
that shall point the way to bright and blight,
that is,
the fundamental idiocyncracy of the poetic journey that is life.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Friday, August 03, 2007
CORS Bidding System
I love the system. I don't have the time to monitor it, but I hope to get my desired modules eventually. I only dumped 4200 points to bid for a particular module, and competition is stiff because there are currently many more bidders than vacancies for it. Bidders, including myself, are now left in a state of panic, no, anarchy, in the virtual system. How exciting!
I love the system. I don't have the time to monitor it, but I hope to get my desired modules eventually. I only dumped 4200 points to bid for a particular module, and competition is stiff because there are currently many more bidders than vacancies for it. Bidders, including myself, are now left in a state of panic, no, anarchy, in the virtual system. How exciting!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
