Saturday, March 21, 2009
Some things
I love tennis.
It's my absolute passion. Training was pretty wicked this week, probably will stay reddish-black for life. Now I wouldn't mind that sexy over-tan, if it weren't just my face haha. Singapore's weather rocks my polka-dotted socks. It reminds me of a mood-swinging girlfriend who just can't make up her mind to either rain or to burn. Messed up bro.
Nothing beats the satisfaction that comes from a well-placed forehand and backhand. In a game, you just give it your all. Run down every damn ball like a dog and when you get a winner, oooh yea, it's a winner. That burst of accomplishment is addictive, especially when you know that you deserve it.
The technique behind the game is immense, top spin, drive throughs, slicing and all. You have to be 100% aware of all your shots. From the crouching to the back swing to the ball contact and drive through. I think the most satisfaction comes from having improved your game. The drive to constantly emmulate the best, ehem Nadal, is always there, so it seems.
Yep, Nationals are coming. I'm hoping to make it into the first team. That means I'm going to push it even harder. I can make this, for the love of the game. The aching shoulders, screwed up ankles, black face, it's all worth it.
~~~~~~
Today has got to be the greatest JTS I've been to. Not that I've been to any other but yes hell, it beat last year. Dang, you can't help but love the juniors, totally surpassed expectations. Impressive indeed. Hopefully we are really cutting it out as seniors given their wacked up enthusiasm.
Hehe, it's weird to see the girls so hyped up in the juniors. A complete reversal from us. I would say that us guys are the more crazy ones in class. Fish & Co. was an excellent choice. Didn't know it was that in, what with their fishy cheer or something like that. And not to mention the mother lode of Victorians present.
Right so I'm pretty much aquainted with the juniors and that's great. So on to STJ then shall we. Such dinners are the ultimate stress relievers. You just forget all else but the good time you had with your friends.
Oh yea, Happy Birthday Teng and Sze Zhin. Lucky buggers =)
~~~~~~
Ok, a couple of friends asked me why I didn't plan for a tag box here. Well, truth be told, I did consider that option. Yet, I felt it better not to do so. People have different purposes for different things. I prefer not to have a tag box to keep things thinking here.
I've seen so many blogs wasted for mindless purposes. Usually, people just regurgitate every specific detail of their day in their posts and expect their friends to tag something spectacular. You become very dependent on it and it somehow kills your desire to truly write when all you care about are the tags.
Your blog becomes shallow and it won't last long. There's no purpose in broadcasting every mundane crook and cranny of your life because there's no thought into it. There's no sincere reflection, and I think that genuine reflections or feelings are the ones worth sharing and reading. I don't give a damn that you changed your toothpaste or that your dArlinG xxBoIFreWnXX ate polka and was so cute as he munched away this morning. Seriously.
It's my absolute passion. Training was pretty wicked this week, probably will stay reddish-black for life. Now I wouldn't mind that sexy over-tan, if it weren't just my face haha. Singapore's weather rocks my polka-dotted socks. It reminds me of a mood-swinging girlfriend who just can't make up her mind to either rain or to burn. Messed up bro.
Nothing beats the satisfaction that comes from a well-placed forehand and backhand. In a game, you just give it your all. Run down every damn ball like a dog and when you get a winner, oooh yea, it's a winner. That burst of accomplishment is addictive, especially when you know that you deserve it.
The technique behind the game is immense, top spin, drive throughs, slicing and all. You have to be 100% aware of all your shots. From the crouching to the back swing to the ball contact and drive through. I think the most satisfaction comes from having improved your game. The drive to constantly emmulate the best, ehem Nadal, is always there, so it seems.
Yep, Nationals are coming. I'm hoping to make it into the first team. That means I'm going to push it even harder. I can make this, for the love of the game. The aching shoulders, screwed up ankles, black face, it's all worth it.
~~~~~~
Today has got to be the greatest JTS I've been to. Not that I've been to any other but yes hell, it beat last year. Dang, you can't help but love the juniors, totally surpassed expectations. Impressive indeed. Hopefully we are really cutting it out as seniors given their wacked up enthusiasm.
Hehe, it's weird to see the girls so hyped up in the juniors. A complete reversal from us. I would say that us guys are the more crazy ones in class. Fish & Co. was an excellent choice. Didn't know it was that in, what with their fishy cheer or something like that. And not to mention the mother lode of Victorians present.
Right so I'm pretty much aquainted with the juniors and that's great. So on to STJ then shall we. Such dinners are the ultimate stress relievers. You just forget all else but the good time you had with your friends.
Oh yea, Happy Birthday Teng and Sze Zhin. Lucky buggers =)
~~~~~~
Ok, a couple of friends asked me why I didn't plan for a tag box here. Well, truth be told, I did consider that option. Yet, I felt it better not to do so. People have different purposes for different things. I prefer not to have a tag box to keep things thinking here.
I've seen so many blogs wasted for mindless purposes. Usually, people just regurgitate every specific detail of their day in their posts and expect their friends to tag something spectacular. You become very dependent on it and it somehow kills your desire to truly write when all you care about are the tags.
Your blog becomes shallow and it won't last long. There's no purpose in broadcasting every mundane crook and cranny of your life because there's no thought into it. There's no sincere reflection, and I think that genuine reflections or feelings are the ones worth sharing and reading. I don't give a damn that you changed your toothpaste or that your dArlinG xxBoIFreWnXX ate polka and was so cute as he munched away this morning. Seriously.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
EIE camp pics
There, I finally got the pics yes =) Haha, if you click on the pic to enlarge it, there's this girl in white, the very first from the right, second row. She's a Mrs teo spawn right haha, she's ST by the way yup. Oh damn, can't imagine Mrs teo doing that mid genetics lecture.
It's really coincidental, but I recently met up with 4 of them last Saturday for the economics talk. Speaking of which, it was fuggly boring. All I remember is there were a bunch of fuggly old dudes who seriously must form a superhero band to rid the world of insomnia. Ok there was this game theory prof who was not bad. The last ang moh speaker wasn't bad too, just that his armpits were uber sweaty. Yikes.
Good thing I met some old pals. Not only from EIE but from pre-u sem too, imagine that! Didn't know my friend took H3 econs. Impressive. Rashid (first guy from the left, first row) shaved botak haha, he's really friendly.
Cheers
Thursday, March 12, 2009
For I wander alone
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
- William Wordsworth
Beautiful poem. Who'd knew he'd quote Wordsworth...
Every June, as my birthday comes round the corner, my grandfather would send me a pink envelope wishing me fortune. There, at the back of the envelope, is a short paragragh, written in cusive. The first of these 4 paragraghs came 5 years ago, the last coming in in 2008. I never knew who he quoted from, till now, he never said, but each paragraph would end in a "to be continued..."
I treasured these 4 letters. Although I was puzzled by his choice of poem, especially when I received the first one, it seems clearer to me now. Life as a teen is full of incidences and laughter, it is fast and it is furious. With one getting so caught up in his coming-of-age party and the world, it is rather easy for him to forget himself, or the simple pleasures that solitude can bring.
We chase after wealth. We chase after companionship and recognition. We chase after grades. We chase after trends. We chase after that cute girl in school. We chase and we chase and we chase. Life is always in motion, a constant pursuit of new found material wants. We innundate ourselves in our hedonistic ways, oblivious to the world, yet fully immersed in it.
One day, when we look into the mirror and see the first signs of aging, will we start to panic about the youth lost accomplising nothing? Will we see ourselves moving so fast, dashing through all the beauties of this world yet not truly experiencing any of it?
One has to take a step back from the faceless crowd. To bask in himself as he breaks away from the presto pulse of it all. Solitude cannot be underestimated. It allows a person to enjoy, not life, but his living it. Solitude tempers the soul, strengthening one from within as he removes himself from this malestrom called society.
To live in this flux-ed up world and yet hold on to the simple truths that Man was created to uphold. Optimism, contentment, fortitude, kindness, charity, temperance, justice... All of this characters cannot be forged while we are still caught up in the corporal. We have been distracted for too long now, pushing Solitude out of our lives. It beckons us to return, when we are bogged down by school and when the weight of it all bears down on us. We should listen and do so.
So for once, fight that incessant need for your cellphone to be switched on 24/7 and seek Solitude for a minute. You may just find that rejuvenating daffodil field that Wordsworth did.
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
- William Wordsworth
Beautiful poem. Who'd knew he'd quote Wordsworth...
Every June, as my birthday comes round the corner, my grandfather would send me a pink envelope wishing me fortune. There, at the back of the envelope, is a short paragragh, written in cusive. The first of these 4 paragraghs came 5 years ago, the last coming in in 2008. I never knew who he quoted from, till now, he never said, but each paragraph would end in a "to be continued..."
I treasured these 4 letters. Although I was puzzled by his choice of poem, especially when I received the first one, it seems clearer to me now. Life as a teen is full of incidences and laughter, it is fast and it is furious. With one getting so caught up in his coming-of-age party and the world, it is rather easy for him to forget himself, or the simple pleasures that solitude can bring.
We chase after wealth. We chase after companionship and recognition. We chase after grades. We chase after trends. We chase after that cute girl in school. We chase and we chase and we chase. Life is always in motion, a constant pursuit of new found material wants. We innundate ourselves in our hedonistic ways, oblivious to the world, yet fully immersed in it.
One day, when we look into the mirror and see the first signs of aging, will we start to panic about the youth lost accomplising nothing? Will we see ourselves moving so fast, dashing through all the beauties of this world yet not truly experiencing any of it?
One has to take a step back from the faceless crowd. To bask in himself as he breaks away from the presto pulse of it all. Solitude cannot be underestimated. It allows a person to enjoy, not life, but his living it. Solitude tempers the soul, strengthening one from within as he removes himself from this malestrom called society.
To live in this flux-ed up world and yet hold on to the simple truths that Man was created to uphold. Optimism, contentment, fortitude, kindness, charity, temperance, justice... All of this characters cannot be forged while we are still caught up in the corporal. We have been distracted for too long now, pushing Solitude out of our lives. It beckons us to return, when we are bogged down by school and when the weight of it all bears down on us. We should listen and do so.
So for once, fight that incessant need for your cellphone to be switched on 24/7 and seek Solitude for a minute. You may just find that rejuvenating daffodil field that Wordsworth did.
Monday, March 2, 2009
EIE camp
It was a 2 day, 1 night camp, entitled Explorations in Ethnicity by onesingapore.sg. Despite it being so short, I believe I had a rather raw and unrestrained discussion regarding this issue of racial discrimination in Singapore. It does happen, indeed it is rather naive to think of us as a completely racially blind nation. Although we are not as bad as others, ahem, think neighbour, it still is present.
As part of the majority, it is impossible to fully understand what your fellow friend of another race is experiencing in his daily life, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't care. I am very blessed to have led such a life hitherto, and I finally have an insight into the lives of other races.
~~~~~~
The camp was pretty fun. Our facils, Shera and Audrey were really friendly and the group I was assigned to was really awesome, other than the quirky 2.. xS Too bad I had to mug econs till late at night.. kinda ruined things. My new friends were mainly from PJC, seems like it was some sort of class chalet thing haha. But yea, I met really cool people. Rashid, the poledancer, Fareez, the shredder and Daryl, the insurance salesman wannabe. Hmm, there was giggly Vivien, with an "e", ST, who looked and behaved exactly like Mrs Teo and XY, the anime prodigy.
WE ARE THE "BALL BANGERS"! hehe
~~~~~~
Sigh, after such a break, it's now back to work.. So I'll leave with a poem.
Looking out
It must be odd,
to be a minority
he was saying.
I looked around
and didn't see any.
So I said,
Yeah
it must be.
As part of the majority, it is impossible to fully understand what your fellow friend of another race is experiencing in his daily life, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't care. I am very blessed to have led such a life hitherto, and I finally have an insight into the lives of other races.
~~~~~~
The camp was pretty fun. Our facils, Shera and Audrey were really friendly and the group I was assigned to was really awesome, other than the quirky 2.. xS Too bad I had to mug econs till late at night.. kinda ruined things. My new friends were mainly from PJC, seems like it was some sort of class chalet thing haha. But yea, I met really cool people. Rashid, the poledancer, Fareez, the shredder and Daryl, the insurance salesman wannabe. Hmm, there was giggly Vivien, with an "e", ST, who looked and behaved exactly like Mrs Teo and XY, the anime prodigy.
WE ARE THE "BALL BANGERS"! hehe
~~~~~~
Sigh, after such a break, it's now back to work.. So I'll leave with a poem.
Looking out
It must be odd,
to be a minority
he was saying.
I looked around
and didn't see any.
So I said,
Yeah
it must be.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Spam
With CTs in just 2 weeks away, all I can do now is hope that I fail gracefully, and not achieve another epic failure. Oh crap, so much for wanting a morale booster. All I need is to see myself getting at least a D for something, anything. It's not funny seeing yourself flop exam after exam you know. Argh, what a pain in the ass.
~~~~~~
You know how it's like to see someone exactly like yourself a few years back ago? Well, I mean to say that in those few years, you have experienced some changes, and suddenly, lo and behold, you meet someone who reminds you of your previous self. What a weird out of the body experience huh? Now you really see how people saw you, what kind of zany antics I was capable of doing. Hmm, now that I think about it, others must have thought I had a major screw lose back then. I was crazy, I didn't care. Now, I still am mad, but more of a matured madness. Ok I have no idea what that means.
~~~~~~
I hate people who bitch. Seriously, they are my ultimate anathema. It's such a drain on you to have people start complaining about their teachers, classmates, work, life, lack of attention from the ladies due to the lack of "goods" or whatever self-perceived nonsense life is hurling at them. These people suck big time. It's no wonder they have no friends. Only a masochistic being will allow himself be filled with all this pessimistic vibe. Honestly dude, change or f**k off. The reason why all this crap is happening to you is 'cause you see life that way. If you had the mindset of "my teachers just f**ked me upside down, inside out. ooohh I'm lovin' it" life would seem so much more fun.
~~~~~~
I love cross country. You wake up at 6, go to school, run till your balls drop, and go home. =)Muacks victoria. Haha but I did enjoy the run.
~~~~~~
Girls shouldn't be too sick. Not that I mind, quite sexy if done properly, but it does feel a wee bit weird in excess. Especially when you can't think of a reply which doesn't sound sicker. You have to make a 180 turn and go " Nice weather today *smile dammit maybe she won't notice. Oh crap smile's too horny..* "
~~~~~~
Have you ever wondered when people go "WAHAHAHA! HAHAHA! OMFG Josh you're so funny XD" on MSN, are they seriously laughing like that? I mean, damn, if they are, that's just freaky man. I should just log off for good. If I laughed like that for real, and if people saw me, that's it. Woo hoo I can go and dig a hole somewhere, stuff my face in and laugh all I want. I won't get another MSN convo ever again.
Right on people!
~~~~~~
You know how it's like to see someone exactly like yourself a few years back ago? Well, I mean to say that in those few years, you have experienced some changes, and suddenly, lo and behold, you meet someone who reminds you of your previous self. What a weird out of the body experience huh? Now you really see how people saw you, what kind of zany antics I was capable of doing. Hmm, now that I think about it, others must have thought I had a major screw lose back then. I was crazy, I didn't care. Now, I still am mad, but more of a matured madness. Ok I have no idea what that means.
~~~~~~
I hate people who bitch. Seriously, they are my ultimate anathema. It's such a drain on you to have people start complaining about their teachers, classmates, work, life, lack of attention from the ladies due to the lack of "goods" or whatever self-perceived nonsense life is hurling at them. These people suck big time. It's no wonder they have no friends. Only a masochistic being will allow himself be filled with all this pessimistic vibe. Honestly dude, change or f**k off. The reason why all this crap is happening to you is 'cause you see life that way. If you had the mindset of "my teachers just f**ked me upside down, inside out. ooohh I'm lovin' it" life would seem so much more fun.
~~~~~~
I love cross country. You wake up at 6, go to school, run till your balls drop, and go home. =)Muacks victoria. Haha but I did enjoy the run.
~~~~~~
Girls shouldn't be too sick. Not that I mind, quite sexy if done properly, but it does feel a wee bit weird in excess. Especially when you can't think of a reply which doesn't sound sicker. You have to make a 180 turn and go " Nice weather today *smile dammit maybe she won't notice. Oh crap smile's too horny..* "
~~~~~~
Have you ever wondered when people go "WAHAHAHA! HAHAHA! OMFG Josh you're so funny XD" on MSN, are they seriously laughing like that? I mean, damn, if they are, that's just freaky man. I should just log off for good. If I laughed like that for real, and if people saw me, that's it. Woo hoo I can go and dig a hole somewhere, stuff my face in and laugh all I want. I won't get another MSN convo ever again.
Right on people!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Organ transplant
A question that's been bugging me for a few days now. This issue of organ transplant was highlighted by the cause celebre case of Mr tang wanting to buy a kidney illegally.
So pardon me as I list down some pointers to assist in my analysis of this problem.
YES to legalising kidney sale.
- We own our bodies, thus, we have been endowed by the god-given right to do with our body as we see fit.
- Kidney sales increases the donor pool, thus resulting in more saved lives. The average time a person must wait for a kidney is 9 years. This can be cut down with legal sales.
- If there is a demand, there is a market. Better have it out in the open than to allow such risky procedures to take place in shady regions.
- Exploitation of the poor can be kept in check by laws. (But how? Easier said than done)
- It is a win-win situation. Since no one loses out (yeah, losing a kidney isn't much huh) why not?
and lastly, can anyone out there give me an answer to this very irritating rebuttal. "If prostitution is legalised, and it is the epitome of the act of commodification of the body, why can't something helpful and not as harmful like organ sales be done?"
Try as I might, I just can't seem to differentiate the two. At an empirical level, both are the same. Both treat the body as a good to be exploited for money. So indeed, if prostitution is allowed, why not organ sales? What is that factor which makes the two different? Anyone, if you have an answer, please tell me.
NO
- There can never be a right, standard price for a human organ. A poor Indonesian farmer might think $20 000 is a lot, but a Singaporean might think otherwise.
- Let us not set potentially self-destructive antecedents for the future. If organ sales are allowed, it makes the argument for the non-commodification of the body less impactful. Next, we'll have liver sales, teeth sales, sperm sales etc.
- For all that you might say about regulation, the fact is, only the poor will sell. This is outright discrimination and exploitation. Instead of being helpful to these poor farmers, you rip out their kidneys and say this is a good thing.
- Moral issue of seeing the body as a good.
- Our right over our bodies is not infinite.
- With legal sales, exploitation will increase, not decrease. There will be firms set up specially to harvest poor people for their kidneys. Eg. Look at your maid firms now. (The way we work them, we'd might as well take out their kidneys and let them go).
- As with all government policies, there must be a weightage between the individual and the nation. Look at YES, all its arguments lead to the same point - individualistic benefits. But with NO, we stem exploitation. We stop consumerism of the body. We encourage altruism. We make it more imperative to research for medical technologies.
Hmm, I just have to settle this issue or I'll be bugged down for days. Of course, there are many other pointers which I have yet to write here. I would say NO, but why?
HOTA
"The Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) allows for the organs (kidney, liver, heart and cornea) of Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents to be donated in the event of death, for the purpose of transplantation only... HOTA was again amended in August 2008 to include Muslim Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who were excluded from HOTA when it was first enacted in 1987. The amendment meant that Muslims who have not opted out of HOTA would receive the same priority as those who are included under HOTA or MTERA should the need for a donor organ arise." taken from www.liveon.sg
So pardon me as I list down some pointers to assist in my analysis of this problem.
YES to legalising kidney sale.
- We own our bodies, thus, we have been endowed by the god-given right to do with our body as we see fit.
- Kidney sales increases the donor pool, thus resulting in more saved lives. The average time a person must wait for a kidney is 9 years. This can be cut down with legal sales.
- If there is a demand, there is a market. Better have it out in the open than to allow such risky procedures to take place in shady regions.
- Exploitation of the poor can be kept in check by laws. (But how? Easier said than done)
- It is a win-win situation. Since no one loses out (yeah, losing a kidney isn't much huh) why not?
and lastly, can anyone out there give me an answer to this very irritating rebuttal. "If prostitution is legalised, and it is the epitome of the act of commodification of the body, why can't something helpful and not as harmful like organ sales be done?"
Try as I might, I just can't seem to differentiate the two. At an empirical level, both are the same. Both treat the body as a good to be exploited for money. So indeed, if prostitution is allowed, why not organ sales? What is that factor which makes the two different? Anyone, if you have an answer, please tell me.
NO
- There can never be a right, standard price for a human organ. A poor Indonesian farmer might think $20 000 is a lot, but a Singaporean might think otherwise.
- Let us not set potentially self-destructive antecedents for the future. If organ sales are allowed, it makes the argument for the non-commodification of the body less impactful. Next, we'll have liver sales, teeth sales, sperm sales etc.
- For all that you might say about regulation, the fact is, only the poor will sell. This is outright discrimination and exploitation. Instead of being helpful to these poor farmers, you rip out their kidneys and say this is a good thing.
- Moral issue of seeing the body as a good.
- Our right over our bodies is not infinite.
- With legal sales, exploitation will increase, not decrease. There will be firms set up specially to harvest poor people for their kidneys. Eg. Look at your maid firms now. (The way we work them, we'd might as well take out their kidneys and let them go).
- As with all government policies, there must be a weightage between the individual and the nation. Look at YES, all its arguments lead to the same point - individualistic benefits. But with NO, we stem exploitation. We stop consumerism of the body. We encourage altruism. We make it more imperative to research for medical technologies.
Hmm, I just have to settle this issue or I'll be bugged down for days. Of course, there are many other pointers which I have yet to write here. I would say NO, but why?
HOTA
"The Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) allows for the organs (kidney, liver, heart and cornea) of Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents to be donated in the event of death, for the purpose of transplantation only... HOTA was again amended in August 2008 to include Muslim Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who were excluded from HOTA when it was first enacted in 1987. The amendment meant that Muslims who have not opted out of HOTA would receive the same priority as those who are included under HOTA or MTERA should the need for a donor organ arise." taken from www.liveon.sg
Saturday, February 7, 2009
With friday night's mass dance came with it a sense of surrealism and deja vu. Here I was, standing at that very exact spot as I did a year ago but so much has changed. All I saw were a bunch of revved up J1s screaming and shouting for what they were worth. I was looking through very different lenses.
A year ago, at this very moment, at this very spot, I was free. Free because I was released from the load of the O levels and not yet burdened by the As. Free because I did not know many, and thus had little commitment to any. Free because I had come of age. I was filled with intense anticipation and excitement at what I was about to embark on. An adventure of sorts.
Fast forward 365 days. How many of those prancing J1s would look at their juniors and feel the same electrifying intensity of the moment? How many would look forward with the same fortitude at their adventure? I always wondered why adults could never enjoy a good dance or song. You hardly see any adult smiling or laughing boisterously on the MRT or bus.
Why?
Have their adventures turned out to be disappointments, with the youth around them serving as a constant mockery of what they could have been? Is school merely an orientation to reality, a sheltered haven from which we would appear to know, and anticipate what is to come, but when it hits, damn it hits. Reality is a sledgehammer.
In 2 years, I've been propelled further than I had planned for. In some ways it's good for me, there's no waste of time and the best teachers are your mistakes. I'm past caring for all that I did once upon a time. This is the long shot. Ah, the freedom of letting go of all that's insignificant in your journey is sweet. It's like dropping all your luggage and just lunging forward with the wind in your hair. Perhaps I've finally decided to aim far and high. No more pubescent craving for social recognition or plain idiotic idealism for me that's more sure.
I'm heading down the road, to the faceless mass of unsmiling adults. But guess what, it feels so free not to care. It's not a bad thing, not like I'm going anti. It's just so free, to have only one ultimate aim.
A year ago, at this very moment, at this very spot, I was free. Free because I was released from the load of the O levels and not yet burdened by the As. Free because I did not know many, and thus had little commitment to any. Free because I had come of age. I was filled with intense anticipation and excitement at what I was about to embark on. An adventure of sorts.
Fast forward 365 days. How many of those prancing J1s would look at their juniors and feel the same electrifying intensity of the moment? How many would look forward with the same fortitude at their adventure? I always wondered why adults could never enjoy a good dance or song. You hardly see any adult smiling or laughing boisterously on the MRT or bus.
Why?
Have their adventures turned out to be disappointments, with the youth around them serving as a constant mockery of what they could have been? Is school merely an orientation to reality, a sheltered haven from which we would appear to know, and anticipate what is to come, but when it hits, damn it hits. Reality is a sledgehammer.
In 2 years, I've been propelled further than I had planned for. In some ways it's good for me, there's no waste of time and the best teachers are your mistakes. I'm past caring for all that I did once upon a time. This is the long shot. Ah, the freedom of letting go of all that's insignificant in your journey is sweet. It's like dropping all your luggage and just lunging forward with the wind in your hair. Perhaps I've finally decided to aim far and high. No more pubescent craving for social recognition or plain idiotic idealism for me that's more sure.
I'm heading down the road, to the faceless mass of unsmiling adults. But guess what, it feels so free not to care. It's not a bad thing, not like I'm going anti. It's just so free, to have only one ultimate aim.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Hope
A little passage I happened to chance upon by provenance.
"Joshua son of Nun... Remember how he held back the sun and made one day as long as two? When his enemies were threatening him from every side, he prayed to the mighty Lord Most High, and his prayer was answered with a hailstorm of devastating force..."
- Sirach 46
Yes, when you need strength, it will come. One way or another.
"Joshua son of Nun... Remember how he held back the sun and made one day as long as two? When his enemies were threatening him from every side, he prayed to the mighty Lord Most High, and his prayer was answered with a hailstorm of devastating force..."
- Sirach 46
Yes, when you need strength, it will come. One way or another.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Obama forever
OMG.
There, I can't think of a better way to describe Obama's 2009 inauguration speech. I am completely baffled, stunned, astonished, amazed and surprised that any man had the ability to rouse a nation the way he does. He's eloquence is one unmatched by any other politician living in this galaxy and his charisma is like a hook to the very inside of your heart. It pulls you to him, you thirst to follow him, your heart follows the rhythm of his words. As much as you try to stay objective and question his abilities, you can't.
What kind of man is this? His speech is so imaginative and colourful, abound with hope and certainty in this day of uncertainty. For that 20mins, I was uplifted, filled with intense excitement and anticipation at what this man could do, will do. To hell with all the naysayers. The fact that this "untested" man could, despite his origin, stand up against the clinton/mccain machines and push through successfully, bringing the most powerful nation to its knees in wonderment is testament to his gift.
This man is not a politician. He is a leader. An American god.
I say, never in my life have I been so spell-bound, so enchanted by any man than the salient Barack Hussein Obama. The way the crowd reacted to his every cue, excited by his every gesture, it was just so child-like, as if a father was reading a fairy tale to a mesmerised child... There was Bush sitting in a corner like the insignificant fool that he is, and here was Obama, teasing and stirring the crowd so easily and naturally. Unlike Mr B. who had to try so hard, yet still failing, to defend what little ounce of self-respect he has now.
The atmosphere was drunken, heady with Obamania. Seeing America so open and vulnerable to this man, I really wish and hope with all my soul that he does not disappoint. To do so would be downright cruel. When the world has placed her heart with him, let Obama take his responsibility with good stead.
God Bless America at last.
There, I can't think of a better way to describe Obama's 2009 inauguration speech. I am completely baffled, stunned, astonished, amazed and surprised that any man had the ability to rouse a nation the way he does. He's eloquence is one unmatched by any other politician living in this galaxy and his charisma is like a hook to the very inside of your heart. It pulls you to him, you thirst to follow him, your heart follows the rhythm of his words. As much as you try to stay objective and question his abilities, you can't.
What kind of man is this? His speech is so imaginative and colourful, abound with hope and certainty in this day of uncertainty. For that 20mins, I was uplifted, filled with intense excitement and anticipation at what this man could do, will do. To hell with all the naysayers. The fact that this "untested" man could, despite his origin, stand up against the clinton/mccain machines and push through successfully, bringing the most powerful nation to its knees in wonderment is testament to his gift.
This man is not a politician. He is a leader. An American god.
I say, never in my life have I been so spell-bound, so enchanted by any man than the salient Barack Hussein Obama. The way the crowd reacted to his every cue, excited by his every gesture, it was just so child-like, as if a father was reading a fairy tale to a mesmerised child... There was Bush sitting in a corner like the insignificant fool that he is, and here was Obama, teasing and stirring the crowd so easily and naturally. Unlike Mr B. who had to try so hard, yet still failing, to defend what little ounce of self-respect he has now.
The atmosphere was drunken, heady with Obamania. Seeing America so open and vulnerable to this man, I really wish and hope with all my soul that he does not disappoint. To do so would be downright cruel. When the world has placed her heart with him, let Obama take his responsibility with good stead.
God Bless America at last.
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