The coveted eight post.

Yay! So after a few posts of BS, it's time for the last BS-filled post of the month! I'm so happy I reached 8 posts again... (((:

Before I go on, I would like to say that it takes a special kind of idiot to write a blog post at 3.30am in the morn. Especially when he has to attend school tomorrow. The idiot gives an excuse, saying that he has literally slept his morning and afternoon away. A less-idiotic idiot says: then do your homework, damnit. You gonna let down Mrs Z tmr?( Will happen, even if the assignment is started promptly now. Kinetics to make notes for, do tutorial, same for chemical equilibria before that is done.)

It also takes a special kind of idiot to not figure out how to work the induction hob in his (relatively) new house kitchen, spend about 10 minutes staring at the uncooked egg white, decide to switch to the conventional gas hob, and cook an egg, also at around 3.20am. Before trying to post on his blog.

It got devoured within a few seconds... too hungry >.<

Yesterday, I finally bought another clock for my room after the previous one got stolen by my mum to hang in the dining area. Yay! now my room looks complete... :D (acts cute and innocent, judging by the language)

So, anyway. I have received word from my father that I'm a control freak. I switch off his radio in the mornings because it disturbs my sleep. I yell at him most of the time when he tries to barge into my room or shouts from downstairs to get me to eat. I try to limit him from his mahjong. I call the shots in the house...

Okay, maybe he's right and I should restrict my level of 'control'. But then again, isn't it logical to not want people to disturb you when you're trying your best to write your GP essay for the next day? Doesn't yelling at someone from downstairs constitute an even deeper breach of respect compared to not answering the call? I mean, people should know that when they barge into someone's room, see the person bent over and (at least apparently) studying hard, he, or she for that matter, should not be disturbed at all costs, and quietly back off, shut the door gently and tell everyone to do things softly in order to not disturb the poor soul who's doing his best to study. You know, amidst the piano tuner plonking on the piano, shouts for lunch/dinner, drinks, older sisters coming in without warning to hide in the wardrobe and being utterly surprised when I say that i can see them and that I know they're there...
I mean, of course I'm also at fault for assuming that people are smart enough to not disturb others while they're doing something important, but assuming that people cooped in their rooms studying don't know when to eat their meals (when there's lots of noise below, and when the person in question has his/her tummy rumbling like thunder, and when there are at least two timepieces- a watch and a clock- to refer to), don't know when to bathe (I'm pretty sure I know that when my face feels sticky it's high time I took a shower), etc.
As to mahjong (and my dad's investments), this is the concern of the family... Shouldn't a father place his family in the first place- followed by his work, before whatever else he has in mind? Isn't the actions of someone who runs off to indulge in his personal entertainment (which requires the losing of copious amounts of money at the very worst) not befitting of a father? Especially when these outings get far too frequent for the family's liking? Or sinking a sum of money into an investment without even first reading up on the details, not to mention not having a background in finance and investing; and not consulting two daughters who are taking accountancy?
***
Alright, I probably shouldn't mention any more.

The gist of it is: I suppose I'm a kind-hearted despot. Kinda like Singapore (accused of being a nanny state). I just leafed through a copy of a book of quotes on Lee Kuan Yew (2001). There's a quote that says that he's probably the world's most intelligent, and yet most likeable, despot. I can empathise with him. An immature people of course need to be guided, even taken firmly into hand, but a mature population, on the other hand, just needs some advice on where to go, and they'll arrive there eventually while the leader watches from the sidelines and smiles contentedly.

Presidential Elections.

Well, what else can I talk about?

Okay, fine, I just passed the 53kg mark a few days back, but that's not as momentous as the 50kg milestone a while ago. Hopefully it's mostly muscle in the correct places where i need them (my legs, for example. 2.4... >_<").. and hopefully my weight gain peters out at about 55+kg. Hehe.

Anyways. I was quite surprised that Dr Tony Tan won. (I predicted, in order: Tan Kin Lian, Tan Jee Say, Dr. Tony Tan, Dr. Tan Cheng Bock.) I would have voted for Dr. Tan Cheng Bock because he seems more... human, somehow. I mean, at least from whatever little bit of information I could garner from the newspapers, Dr. Tan at least seems to give aid for the needy. Take his medical practice, for example. His family has said that he downplayed free treatment given to those who couldn't afford it/ would rather have something more necessary to spend on... and they only realised it when people came up to thank him during the 9 days of campaigning. Oh, and his Chinese standard is... marginally better than Dr. Tony Tan.

Speaking of 9 days of campaigning, Mr Tan Kin Lian has professed that that was too short a time for voters to get to know him. Well, all of the candidates were given the same amount of time, and if he doesn't treasure it... well, it's his fault, no? And how much time does he need to convince voters to vote for him? Another few weeks? Months? Years...? I guess he should just be happy, be a gentleman and support the new President.  (I'm not going to say who it is until the overseas votes are in, although Dr. Tan is still probably going to be President, anyways. I'm not exactly biased against him, but let's wait till he does something in his new position.). You know, just like how Hillary Clinton threw her weight behind Obama when she lost before the elections in the US back then. I'm not implying any good benefits given to her because of that, and it's not like Singapore can do the same (our President doesn't head Parliament) but it's a good example of havng good sportsmanship. Instead of sulking after you lost something, you know.

Anyway. The two Dr. Tans were quite evenly tied and the winner (I really don't like to phrase it as such, it makes it seem that the presidential candidates were vying for only the $4 million salary. Then again, perhaps so.) only scraped past by about 0.34% of the total votes cast. The Straits Times likes to call it a 'razor thin margin' and the translation from 0.34% to a magic 4-digit number (can't remember, don't bother to remember) is so blaring on the headlines. Apparently Singapore Pools banned betting on that number for 4-D early in the morning because it was so popular. Sigh. When will people learn to save their money and not spend it on such meaningless bets? (Then again, getting them to do so is the same as getting me to give up collecting cards and knives and my other paraphernalia.)

And the grousers are complaining that even though one-third of "mindless Singaporeans" voted for him, two thirds of the country are, well, feeling very sad now. Heh. If Dr Tan Cheng Bock won, they'd be harping on the fact that an overwhelming one-third voted for him (if the razor-thin margin was reversed) even though the older-generation mindlessly voted for the endorsed candidate. Just one of life's little ironies to think about.

Guilt.

Oh, well, it seems as though i really won't be able to get my 8 posts this month. Anw, perfectionism aside, there's kinda nothing much to talk about... >.< Nothing's really happening in my life!! And perhaps that's the problem, because stuff (like PW) is supposed to happen... Which explains the title of the post.

So I'm not going to dwell on PW, but it's safe to say that i just spent the entire of today (it's 7.30pm now)sleeping and reading various stuff (2 copies of Time, 4 sets of newspapers, 4 Chinese essays). Oh, and reading the darned things somehow isn't really helping my languages. my GP score for the latest compre is less than that of both my current best friends! So sad... I hope there's at least a subtle change that justifies trying to dig my way out through a knee-deep sea of words every day and setting back all other subjects...

Oh, and the presidential elections results are probably going to be up at about midnight. Announced by Returning Officer Yam Ah Mee (why is he a Returnng Officer, anyway? What does it mean? Why is Prof. Tommy Koh an Ambassador-At-Large? ._________.") will be a triumphant Tan. Well, not me, at the very least. Honestly, if I were of voting age, I'd be absolutely clueless as to who to vote for. So many imputs from a myriad of sources... The newspaper (which my senior claims is shallow, which is true to a certian extent); TOC (full of people pushing for their favourite Tan and slamming most others, especially Dr. Tony Tan); my friends; my parents (my mother's working in PA and listens to people complaining about how the entire presidential elections is simply 'wayang wayang' (Chinese drama) and that the Government just wants to show the people and foreign countries that Singapore has a choice of presidential hopefuls, when in fact they're all affilated to the PAP at one point or another in their lives).

So I guess i'm spared from agonising over who to vote for for now... I shall wait and see how the new President carries out his duties. Hopefully the actions taken will be enough to quell the cynics and push for a better Singapore.

Quote Of The Day

By a friend in VJC. I find it really surprising that he's now more emo than even me. And since those who know me know that i tend to be quite emo most of the time, this is a pretty big revelation. This might have something to do with the fact that i'm shirking many of my responsibilities as a student as of now. I don't want to see the repercussions because they would be, to understate, pretty ugly.

This is with regards to SPA (Science Practical Assessment).

I might just kill myself over it
for every moment I stay awake
it threatens to consume me with every passing moment
every second seems like eternityand my future is shrouded in darkness
the path before me covered in uncertainties
yet all I can do

is but watch

as the future unfolds itself

On things not very interesting to talk about.

Interesting fact #1.
I usually end my blog post titles with a full stop. And it usually begins with "On..." Hey, I can't help it if Darwin influenced me somewhat. You know, "On the Origin of Species......" Stupid long names.

Interesting fact #2.
As mentioned earlier, life has been quite boring so far. It mostly consists of me feeling guilty over PW and homework because i keep sleeping the moment i touch the newspaper (before i touch anything else). So nothing gets done, ever. That's why i try to do homework in school in between breaks. So, sorry to those who think i'm really hardworking, because i'm not. (,:
Well, I used to think my parents were really weird for dozing off after a few pages of reading the papers. Now I'm like them! Oh, joy, the thing called the JC lifestyle that saps the energy from your life...

Interesting fact #3.

I might not meet my self-imposed quota of 8 blog posts this month. Nothing much to chat about, really. What? Presidential elections, you say? I think the choices are all.. Well... Whatever. I mean, hey, there's no point unless i actually know them well, right? My mum asked me who i would vote for if I could. As with the GE, i can't possibly pick one old dude (yeah, all the 4 Tans are old people) to vote for, right? I mean, I just entered the age of political awareness a few months ago. I can't say anything deeper apart from commenting on Dr Tony Tan's crappy hairstyle, how he never ever changed it, Mr Tan See Jay looking younger than the rest, Mr Tan Kin Lian being really plump-looking back then, or Dr Tan Cheng Bock's (also) really crappy hairstyle. Not as though i have any hair to boast of now, at any rate. But hey, my frends all say that my hair grows damn fast. I guess my mop of hair will come back to Papa in a few more weeks, right?

Interesting fact #4.

Performed at Appena La Voce: Terzo yesterday. It was quite fun apart from the fact that i botched up on a few parts. Mostly to do with trying to learn two songs last-minute. Kai Wen really rocks. Beatboxing is really cool if you know how to do it. Like him. Maybe that's how guys hook up with girls... hahaha -.-

Anyway, so, yeah. That basically concludes the highlight of yesterday. Also, i can't discredit the RI year 1-4's guys a capella group Vox which also rocked with funky jazzy-bluesy songs. Really nice to listen to. And the beneficiaries, Eden School... The autistic kids performed several nationalistic songs. I don't think it's very easy at all to do that in front of many people.. especially when you don't receive training, are not in a choir (I assume) and would much rather play with things from your imagination, or something nearby rather than singing to (gasp) a huge audience. It's really commendable of them. And I somehow felt like a parent when people started singing along with them and clapping hard and long for them. And of course at the autistic kinds who didn't really care for applause but went back to wiping their hands on their green shirts, twisting their upper body backwards and forwards, etc...

Of course, me being me, overslept on the bus ride home. So i had to walk back one bus stop and then open the stupid grille (I hate it because i have to attach the key to my wallet, and i have to turn my wallet as i turn the key) and then of course proceeded to sleep on the newspapers- without bathing- even though i had made up my mind to DO FRIGGING HOMEWORK. Then i got woken up at 2am by my dad, bathed, and went back to sleep.

...

National Day(!).

Happy National Day Singapore!

Well, apart from the fact that i had to read through tons of newspapers because of sleeping prematurely these few days. And so i have to stay up late (hopefully i'm able to!) to do homework. Status of PW EoM: Untouched. CRAPPPPP.

National day, in my opinion, is a day where we put down our differences and celebrate this nation; celebrate having the privilege of being Singaporeans and revel in the atmosphere and feel a renewed vigour to want to give back to this nation whom has given us so much.

This is apparently all idealistic drivel. I was quite disillusioned by the rampant grumblings of netizens on The Online Citizen (TOC), which i now try to sieve through every day. We have become increasingly polarised and we feel displeasure towards the PAP ('affectionally' referred to as Pappies, Papayas, or MIW: Men In White. Notwithstanding the fact that there are those of the fairer sex in the party, too.) and support the WP unconditionally, it seems. We go to the NDP for only the goodie bags. We hail fireworks as a waste of taxpayers' money. We claim that the best part of the parade was when President SR Nathan left... and that it would be his last time waving to the audience from his post in the military vehicle. Not to mention slamming NDP songs as uncreative, etc. (I find that remixing old classics and reusing Lady Gaga's songs is utterly nonsense, but anyway...)

Is this what we have become? Now I may be young and idealistic, but when people don't celebrate National Day for what it is- to celebrate our sovereign independence, instead choosing to grouch, to criticise, to complain about everything under the sun, be they CPF, housing prices, public transport, ...

Is this how a country is supposed to act? Have we become so apathetic that we reject everything else apart from the very best? Are we not content with what we have? If the current generation of baby boomers and younger parents are like this, how will their children turn out? Who will hold the country together? These Singaporeans would do well to look to to other countries and realise that they are blessed.

Speaking of CPF, I just read through two articles. One says that Singapore is the only country in the Asian (or was it Asia-Pacific?) region with an AAA credit rating. The other talked about how Singapore's public debt is 9th in the world, just behind Greece and Iceland (both bankrupt, or near there, anyway). This incited a debate on how the PAP has actually caused this huge public debt, held by the CPF (and thus arguing that we, the citizens, have been deprived of what was rightly ours; helped by longer retirement ages and inflaton causing the devaluement of the money over time); how there is a conspiracy that Dr Tony Tan seeks to be elected to the position of President in order to cover up this huge scandal. I grew up thinking that the Government ran smoothly, with well oiled cogs and the works. The ordinary Singaporean, i fancied, was just like me: largely ignorant, accepting the current state of government as long as things appeared to be well. This revelation has caused a paradigm shift in my ideals... but to what? What do i believe in, now that my previous beliefs have been crushed to nothingness? What is the truth behind the facade?

New background.

Well, this puts me to shame... I didn't know that i could change the background without having to design a new blogskin etc! Credits to SL for pointing out all this to me... >_<" It's such a traumatising experience (that i once again realised how stupid i am- like when i take four years to realise that bus 55 is not the only means home from VS) that i have to blog.

So, well. Updates on the hairdo: I got used to it quite soon. The problem is there are always weird girls (and guys) who will treat you like a specimen at the zoo and go up, tiptoe (they complained that i was too tall) and proceed to squeal in delight while rubbing my head, as if for good luck. Apparently it feels like a really good carpet. Well... I AGREE. :D so unconsciously touching my hair became unconsciously/ consciously touching and rubbing my own head. Hehe.  I don't mind people touching my head, but it warrants me a little too much undue attention... I prefer to keep a low profile. So i guess i'll have to put up with the constant swooning over the luxurious carpet situated on top of my head while the girls get bored, or when my hair grows out- whichever comes earlier. Well, it's already starting to become smoother instead of spiky- showing that my hair has already started to get longer again, as usual. I can't say for certain whether i welcome that or not, since being bald as well as having hair both have their advantages and drawbacks... So i'll just let nature take its course, and embrace my hair for what it is. Till later (:

Hair For Hope.

Well, I've spent the last week canvassing and extorting money from many different people, and finally got $80 worth of donations for the Children's Caner Foundation. Many thanks to people like my sis, SL/ 小妮子, Jo, etc etc kind people who donated.

So anyways, after finally hauling my tired self to the ISH (I-something Sports Hall) I did some more paperwork, turned over the money, and waited for my turn to shave. Well, i'll just gloss over the not-so-exciting and not-so-memorable parts (e.g. how some guy just forced me back into the queue and made me wait another few tens of minutes) and just skip to the shaving.

So after sitting down, getting a protection sheet to cover me, the hairstylist used an electric razor to shave off most of my hair. I closed my eyes and settled down to enjoy the few minutes of respite from- well- life. As i usually do during haircuts. When CTs came closer for a shot of me (using my oh-so-expensive camera that i brought, knowing full well the consequences...) i gave him a glare, and then he immediately went back to the seats behind. It was interesting. My inner sadist enjoyed that moment very much.

Now, after the dude was done i thanked him and went off. And noticed that my head was full of miniscule hairs that were very, very annoying. I couldn't do much about it but once i was in my father's car i started to brush them off onto tissue paper. It was quite itchy. Apart from the itch and the fact that i look pretty crappy (1. Like a monk
2. Like a tennaged offender (touch wood)
3. Like a young kid) , one other main grouch was that i now have a funny small bare patch in the middle of my forehead. It looks... well... queer.

I guess i'll just have to live with this hairdo until my hair grows out once more, then. No more unconsious playing with my hair while concentrating anymore. Sigh.

Anyway, i had a few reasons for shaving my head.
1. To placate my father, who has always wanted to see me bald. Ever since primary school, in fact.
2. To experience being bald.
3. To do my little bit for charity.
4. To prepare for NS.
5. To get a free haircut, so to speak. My inner kiasu is also quite strong. The sadist, however, overpowers it. Duh.