Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Trackback
Date: 21 Jun 2004
Venue: Some internet cafe
Hello world.
It has been more than a week since I've last used the internet. I don't miss it that much, contrary to popular belief and certainly to my own disbelief. The computer keyboard seems almost foreign to the touch, fingers less nimble - familiarity I'd left behind in someplace sunny.
Amid mixed blaring from Bhangra beats and a random Tamil song, what I find most hilarious has to be the rapidfire typing and frequent yahoo messenger alert sounds from an Indian-occupied next booth. [Insert private joke about Indian chatters]
Finally a quick update to all in the know, I am doing very well at 2,240m above sea level albeit with a persistent cough but otherwise fine. I love every moment of it and am used to being stared at, exhibit-like, wherever I go (no photo-taking at feeding times, please).
The longer I stay here, the more impossible I find it to adjust back to my previous lifestyle when it all comes to an end. I am missing out on so much if I remain cooped up in that sunny someplace. The world has so much to offer, I can't just turn my back on them. As thoughts become too breathtaking for me to digest, I better end here (reality check: the streets outside beckon), but not without first letting N know I so wish he could have been here taking all of this in with me.
Date: 21 Jun 2004
Venue: Some internet cafe
Hello world.
It has been more than a week since I've last used the internet. I don't miss it that much, contrary to popular belief and certainly to my own disbelief. The computer keyboard seems almost foreign to the touch, fingers less nimble - familiarity I'd left behind in someplace sunny.
Amid mixed blaring from Bhangra beats and a random Tamil song, what I find most hilarious has to be the rapidfire typing and frequent yahoo messenger alert sounds from an Indian-occupied next booth. [Insert private joke about Indian chatters]
Finally a quick update to all in the know, I am doing very well at 2,240m above sea level albeit with a persistent cough but otherwise fine. I love every moment of it and am used to being stared at, exhibit-like, wherever I go (no photo-taking at feeding times, please).
The longer I stay here, the more impossible I find it to adjust back to my previous lifestyle when it all comes to an end. I am missing out on so much if I remain cooped up in that sunny someplace. The world has so much to offer, I can't just turn my back on them. As thoughts become too breathtaking for me to digest, I better end here (reality check: the streets outside beckon), but not without first letting N know I so wish he could have been here taking all of this in with me.
I'm back. Back to the humdrum of city (shitty) life. Yea. [Insert habitual Indian shake of head when giving positive replies]
Thursday, June 10, 2004
Fuzzy thoughts, of everything, of how my life is still so unaccomplished going on twenty-two, of how I would miss him.. cloud my mind the past few days. The urgent art of packing sufficient clothes and neccesities into bags to last three weeks has but eluded me. The mess on the floor, a stark reality of inevitable traveling. This is almost the adventure (not quite, but a good start all the same) I've been awaiting, within my grasp, yet I am caught in a mixed-bag of emotions, non too excitable. I blog from South Asia in less than twenty-four hours should I be able to find a terminal in an internet cafe along a busy dusty street. Will things still be the same when I return?
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Good luck to he who needs it. This is but the final onslaught.
When you get bored
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Goethe-Institut Singapur on a lazy monday afternoon
For reasons not entirely out of my control, I lost my mobile in the early hours of Sunday morning. Another issue notwithstanding, the end of an era failed to move me in the face of several more pressing concerns. I now live with the consequences of my own undoings, without the trusty FM receiver function of a (familiar, worn-out) phone, the only up-to-date list of contacts I had previously taken for granted and, more so sorely missed,
the many text messages that sentimentalist in me has kept and not bear to delete.
Money can get me a new mobile complete with sleek features, but irreplaceable are those text messages, many from N, that make me smile. Bah, I know things could be worse, if I hadn't remembered a particular number or am stuck with no mobile for weeks.. I guess I ought to thank my lucky stars, or rather D, for providing me with a spare mobile to tide over the coming months before the emergence of something functionally affordable.
the many text messages that sentimentalist in me has kept and not bear to delete.
Money can get me a new mobile complete with sleek features, but irreplaceable are those text messages, many from N, that make me smile. Bah, I know things could be worse, if I hadn't remembered a particular number or am stuck with no mobile for weeks.. I guess I ought to thank my lucky stars, or rather D, for providing me with a spare mobile to tide over the coming months before the emergence of something functionally affordable.
Friday, June 04, 2004
From The Straits Times Interactive:
The upper floor, which housed the Singapore Hai Sun Pugilistic Association, was not burned.
Two association members who had been asleep inside woke up when they smelt smoke and leapt to safety from the back.
K.C. Vijayan might not have noticed it, but I did. Sorry I can't help it but find his choice of words amusing, mildly inappropriate (when noticed) in a sombre news article.
The upper floor, which housed the Singapore Hai Sun Pugilistic Association, was not burned.
Two association members who had been asleep inside woke up when they smelt smoke and leapt to safety from the back.
K.C. Vijayan might not have noticed it, but I did. Sorry I can't help it but find his choice of words amusing, mildly inappropriate (when noticed) in a sombre news article.
From Reuters.com:
Soros, whose $11.5 billion Soros Fund Management is one of the world's largest hedge funds, has donated at least $15 million to groups like MoveOn.org and The Media Fund, which are working to help Democratic challenger John Kerry beat Bush in November.
"We have been deceived, and we have embarked on a policy that can't possibly succeed," said Soros, saying he was confident Bush would pay the price with a loss in November. The organizers convened the conference in a burst of optimism about the future of liberalism and the chances of beating Bush, whose approval ratings have dropped into the low or mid-40s amid the blizzard of bad news from Iraq.
But at a later speech at the National Press Club, independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader criticized progressives for rushing to back Kerry even though he has not sided forcefully with them on many key issues. "They are not putting any demands on him," said Nader, whose Green Party White House bid in 2000 was blamed by many Democrats for the narrow loss to Bush by Al Gore. He said the failure to hold Kerry accountable would leave him free to ignore progressive viewpoints if he takes the White House.
Given the less than ideal scenario when faced with two options, none of which we are heartfelt about, more often than not we are forced to make a choice between the two. Lesser of the two evils, they say and inevitably it turns out that we've become unwitting participants to ambitious plans and political grandeur. This is a force to be reckoned with; crucial factors that tip the scale towards victorious campaigns and indifferent voters, all in our hands.
Hands, black white and brown, who belong to relative unknowns at bottom of Kerry's concerns, that is until now. Incidental supporters, to be exact, who would pick one candidate over another just because they do not want to see a victorious smirk on the other's face. Naturally, it does help matters if a rich and influential someone like Soros is part of the incidentals. By a mere stroke of luck, this is the 44th President, sworn into office solely on account of the incompetent other. Kerry, you just might be the luckiest man around one of these days.
Soros, whose $11.5 billion Soros Fund Management is one of the world's largest hedge funds, has donated at least $15 million to groups like MoveOn.org and The Media Fund, which are working to help Democratic challenger John Kerry beat Bush in November.
"We have been deceived, and we have embarked on a policy that can't possibly succeed," said Soros, saying he was confident Bush would pay the price with a loss in November. The organizers convened the conference in a burst of optimism about the future of liberalism and the chances of beating Bush, whose approval ratings have dropped into the low or mid-40s amid the blizzard of bad news from Iraq.
But at a later speech at the National Press Club, independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader criticized progressives for rushing to back Kerry even though he has not sided forcefully with them on many key issues. "They are not putting any demands on him," said Nader, whose Green Party White House bid in 2000 was blamed by many Democrats for the narrow loss to Bush by Al Gore. He said the failure to hold Kerry accountable would leave him free to ignore progressive viewpoints if he takes the White House.
Given the less than ideal scenario when faced with two options, none of which we are heartfelt about, more often than not we are forced to make a choice between the two. Lesser of the two evils, they say and inevitably it turns out that we've become unwitting participants to ambitious plans and political grandeur. This is a force to be reckoned with; crucial factors that tip the scale towards victorious campaigns and indifferent voters, all in our hands.
Hands, black white and brown, who belong to relative unknowns at bottom of Kerry's concerns, that is until now. Incidental supporters, to be exact, who would pick one candidate over another just because they do not want to see a victorious smirk on the other's face. Naturally, it does help matters if a rich and influential someone like Soros is part of the incidentals. By a mere stroke of luck, this is the 44th President, sworn into office solely on account of the incompetent other. Kerry, you just might be the luckiest man around one of these days.
I'M GAME FOR SOME MAHA MELA, ARE YOU?
Little India will burst into exotic colours and sound as spontaneous raga and thaala improvisations fill us in sonic joy. Bhaskar's Art Academy and Unnai Wariyar Kathakali Group will present a 7-hour performance marathon into the night depicting a story from the Mahabarata epic in Kathakali style with visual aplomb. Maha Mela will transform into a one-stop music destination with exhilarating live music from Nadaka (India/Canada), Evolution which features renowned local musicians, Mohd Noor and Mohd Rafi and Heartbeat Percussion, bringing the party to the people. Let Nrityalaya Music Ensemble illuminate your new day with morning ragas. The festival site will also feature stalls that serve delicious hot meals with Indian curry and spices. A sensual street feast is laid out for you, so be sure to come!
Venue: Open field at Race Course Road/ Northumberland Road (near Little India MRT)
Date : 5 & 6 June
Time : 6pm - 6am
Free admission
Little India will burst into exotic colours and sound as spontaneous raga and thaala improvisations fill us in sonic joy. Bhaskar's Art Academy and Unnai Wariyar Kathakali Group will present a 7-hour performance marathon into the night depicting a story from the Mahabarata epic in Kathakali style with visual aplomb. Maha Mela will transform into a one-stop music destination with exhilarating live music from Nadaka (India/Canada), Evolution which features renowned local musicians, Mohd Noor and Mohd Rafi and Heartbeat Percussion, bringing the party to the people. Let Nrityalaya Music Ensemble illuminate your new day with morning ragas. The festival site will also feature stalls that serve delicious hot meals with Indian curry and spices. A sensual street feast is laid out for you, so be sure to come!
Venue: Open field at Race Course Road/ Northumberland Road (near Little India MRT)
Date : 5 & 6 June
Time : 6pm - 6am
Free admission
Thursday, June 03, 2004
From TODAYonline:
Within weeks of Acting Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam's public comment that Singapore youths were too "soft", the Ministry of Education has taken the step of rewarding participation in more "rugged" co-curricular activities (CCA).
On Tuesday, Mr Tharman — a former hockey, football and cricket player — said that "sports and other rugged activities" would train children to cope with frequent and often unpredictable challenges that call for more than academic ability.
The revised CCA points scheme, which gives students up to two extra CCA points for taking part in a sport, aims to arrest the alarming drop in secondary school sports participation from 80 per cent in the 1990s to about 41 per cent now.
What more must it take for this government to realize that system changes do not necessarily construe reforms towards approved character developments in our youth? By all means go forth and reward participation in select leisure (repeat, leisure) activities. Parental peer pressure might do the trick, indeed rugged sports could be the next big thing. No kidding, so it is really only here in this island-state that taskforces, acronymned committees and politicians' edicts rule lives transform behaviors towards chosen paths deemed right by ageing men in short-sleeved white shirts and neatly-pressed matching trousers.
Within weeks of Acting Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam's public comment that Singapore youths were too "soft", the Ministry of Education has taken the step of rewarding participation in more "rugged" co-curricular activities (CCA).
On Tuesday, Mr Tharman — a former hockey, football and cricket player — said that "sports and other rugged activities" would train children to cope with frequent and often unpredictable challenges that call for more than academic ability.
The revised CCA points scheme, which gives students up to two extra CCA points for taking part in a sport, aims to arrest the alarming drop in secondary school sports participation from 80 per cent in the 1990s to about 41 per cent now.
What more must it take for this government to realize that system changes do not necessarily construe reforms towards approved character developments in our youth? By all means go forth and reward participation in select leisure (repeat, leisure) activities. Parental peer pressure might do the trick, indeed rugged sports could be the next big thing. No kidding, so it is really only here in this island-state that taskforces, acronymned committees and politicians' edicts rule lives transform behaviors towards chosen paths deemed right by ageing men in short-sleeved white shirts and neatly-pressed matching trousers.
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
I ADMIT - PART II
She plays hard to get but I'm really just this close to understanding her many moods. We would have made a great pair if only there is more time. (ref: consolidation)
She plays hard to get but I'm really just this close to understanding her many moods. We would have made a great pair if only there is more time. (ref: consolidation)
I ADMIT
The time is now where irony revisits. Probable efforts for fifteen weeks would be determined, fate sealed in three days four papers no less. Limitless possibilities of post-exams luxuries are enough to poison any starved mind.
The time is now where irony revisits. Probable efforts for fifteen weeks would be determined, fate sealed in three days four papers no less. Limitless possibilities of post-exams luxuries are enough to poison any starved mind.
