TOP 10 PUT-OFFS OF THE YEAR

1) Mr. Toot Toot Durian & his infamous gold tap (#*&%!^*!!!)

2) Annoying sales assistants who keep within 1m radius of you even though you've said repeatedly & in the most civil manner you could muster, "Thanks... But I'm just looking around" (READ: I don't intend to purchase anything). But they just trail behind you anyway

3) Commuters who simply refuse to move to the back of the bus or to the middle of the train, but clamour around the exit instead even though the station they're alighting at is 10 stops away

4) Those people without a backbone who find it absolutely necessary to lean on MRT poles even when it's the peak hours. Fancy feigning ignorance when others are trying to maintain their balance on the fast-moving train

5) Poorly-mannered cashiers who don't even look at you, much less give you a smile. More infuriating is when they give a mere nod when you say "Thank you" to them. Isn't it supposed to be the other way round??!!

6) People who stepped onto your toes & act blur

7) Impatient individuals who rush into the train without first waiting for the commuters to alight

8) Hot-tempered parents who hit their children in public, only to make them wail louder & cry faster (For goodness sake, why don't you try crying & I whack you instead?)

9) People who take their own sweet time walking & block the path of the others behind (I'm a speedy walker)

10) Ungentleman-ly men

P.S. 11) Those who did not give me even a tiny wheeny bit of chocolate for the entire year

REFLECT ON IT

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him.
When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar & proceeded to fill it with rocks right to the top, rocks about 2" diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.

The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The students laughed.
He asked his students again if the jar was full.
They agreed that yes, it was.

The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life.The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, your children - anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be nearly destroyed.

The pebbles are the other things in life that matter, but on a smaller scale. The pebbles represent things like your job, your house, your car.

The sand is everything else. The small stuff.

If you put the sand or the pebbles into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks. The same goes for your life.If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, material things, you will never have room for the things that are truly most important.
Pay attention to the things that are critical in your life.
Play with your children.
Take your partner out dancing.
There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.

Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just pebbles and sand."

Never let yesterday's failures shadow over tomorrow's successes.

SPARE THE ROD, TALK THE TALK...

And avoid raising up a brat.


That's right.This is THE way of parenting - not through absolute indulgence nor through violence & dominant ruling by the iron hand.
Not through manipulation but through love at its purest.

Someone once said that the greatest invention on Earth is the air-conditioner.
& I heartily agree with this statement.
Another famous statement of such is chocolate being the Earth's greatest discovery.
HAIL to that!!!

How about the worst invention on Earth?
The cane, in my opinion.

& how about the thing which I advocate most?
Skin the person who invented the worst invention on Earth, gouge out his/her eyes, burn all of his/her hair, rub his/her body with salt & spices & other condiments, then fry in boiling hot oil.
*****************************************************************

Violence under the disguise of so-called "discipline".
That's downright despicable & shameful.

Imagine a married man purchasing a claw hammer & telling the shopkeeper with the air of a long-suffering discipliarian, "Oh, between us men, you know how things are. We need to teach the womenfolk discipline from time to time least they get complacent, don't we?"

There would have been a massive brouhaha & public outcry!
The AWARE would interfere, the police & leading authorities would be called in, the PPO (Personal Protection Order) would be implemented, & the Dengue Fever mania would be kicked out of the headlines.
*****************************************************************

Let's us drift off no further. Back to the Earth's worst invention.
At times, I've wondered who is the idiot sicko of an inventor.
A real sadist, definitely.

How could anyone on Earth come up with such a device to inflict pain on another fellow being?

"I love my child. That's why I use the cane. I'm a parent too, don't you think i feel the pain in my heart?"
Yea, sure. You sure do love your child.
TWISTED LOVE, that is.


"Actions speak louder than words."
It's all bull.
Just search your heart & admit that you're a big bully who is too selfish to spend time & efforts on your young ones whom you so claim to love.


Yes, in case you're wondering (& I know that you are), I've have had my fair share of the cane in my younger days.
& no, it did not leave me deranged enough to loathe the cane so much.

It's more of the brutality & violence behind it that lead me to pen my two-cents worth.

It's the principle of "Actions speak louder than words. Using the cane is a more effective way of getting my message across."
I say you're just lazy.
Then don't be a parent.


Using the cane is just taking a short-cut in bringing up a child.
It's a mentality of, "I'm busy to do the talk, let my trustworthy cane do the communication instead."
See, twisted love.
Too busy? Then don't bother wasting your time concieving & giving birth.
Be merciful for once.

It's been said that a child's brain is like a bank.
You get back what you've put in years later, plus interest.

You know what I think?
A child's brain is more of a sponge, if you ask me.Good or bad, harmful or beneficial, they absorb everything & grow laden with weight.

Why bother bringing a life into this world only to add misery to it?

No one on Earth deserves substandard love.
I'd rather settle for none rather than having to compromise & accept love that's dysfunctional, incomplete, & of inferior standards.


Love requires much efforts.
People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.
You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving.
How can you claim to love your child if you can't even spare a bit of your time on him?
Don't bull.
& don't make me puke.

People always claim to "love" so-and-so, but have they paused for a brief moment & reflect on whether if they've done anything for them?
Talks are, afterall, empty.


Love without real communication is not love.
Simple as that.

& the best solution to problems is definitely communication, never violence.
Simple as that, too.
What then, do you think our throats & vocal cords are for?
Building a relationship calls for much efforts, maintaining one requires much more. How many relationships have you seen soar off awesome & graceful, only to crash & burn towards the end?

If you just want a punching bag to vent your anger on, channel it into fighting the war against the Aedes mosquitoes.
Or against another group of sadists - terrorists.

Pick on someone of your own size, instead of one who is just a young, ignorant, innocent, defenceless child. Don't ever inflict harm, be it mentally, psychologically, or even verbally, just because of your own lack of self-control.

& yes, anyone whom I catch practices the pathetic art of twisted love which i've been harping on in this blog entry would undoubtlessly earn a deep frown & a dirty look of obvious disdain from me blatantly.

Ditto.

THE BIG D

Seems like THE word that's hanging from everyone's mouth lately is the big D.
No, not D for Divorce.
Yes, divorce would be just as bad. It is much more worse, in my opinion.

I'm talking about the red-hot (No pun intended) topic of Dengue Fever.
Yes, it's the same Dengue that I'm referring to which has been hogging the news telecasts & hitting the big headlines in the press, giving the Bird Flu season a hard kick in the butt & into small inserts alongside the detailed, extensive reports of Dengue.

Not even Mr. Toot Toot Durian stands a chance of making it into the headlines now.

Was reading the papers while I learnt something new that i've never known about mosquitos (How could I not? With the radio & TV news blaring away with the loathsome D word & the headlines screaming out from the prints?).

The fact is, mosquitos only suck human blood.
Kind of makes sense really, I mean, have you ever seen a dog spoting a big red swell courtesy of a stupid mosquito?

Wow!!! It left a burning question in my mind.
What the heck of a vengence has it got with mankind?

Following few weeks of pondering, I've come to the logical conclusion that it's got to be the fogging that causes it.
I mean, who else but we human hoist a hose around & start fogging here, there, & everywhere?

At times, I've also wondered how the poor, innocent normal breed of mosquito feel, being killed in the crossfire between mankind & its more lethal & fatal fellow counterparts?
Imagine, there you are, just a normal, full-time mosquito minding your own business dutifully, lurking in your niche lazily, & all of a sudden, WHAM!!!!! Au revoir!!!

No wonder the vengence & hatred. Need I elaborate more?
Doesn't 1 + 1 = 2, & 2 + 2, 4???

Houston, have anyone actually given this matter more considerable thoughts?
Who knows, what if one day, the mosquitos decide to launch an all-out attack on the human race, & cross-hybrid with the similarly renowned & equally deadly Bird Flu virus H5N1?What would we get then, in addition to Dengue Fever & Bird Flu?
Dengue Flu & Bird Fever?
How about cross-hybridization with the SARS virus & HIV then?
Oh my goodness! I can't even bear that thought. Spare me.

If anyone were to ask for my opinion, my stand in the fight against Dengue Fever is to STOP THE FOGGING!!!
Don't repay evil with evil. Heap hot coals on their head instead.

Stop fogging, declare peace with the mozzies, & give them big juicy kisses (*MuaCkz muAckZ!!*).

We are civilized people. Don't take the easy way out, never ever resort to violence.
Afterall, the way-old cliche goes, "Love conquers!"


Mercy can & does triumph over judgement

PAUSE. THINK. REFLECT. ACT.

Know this is the 2nd time I'm using this title as a topic, but pardon me, for I honestly feel that it is totally apt on what i'll be blogging on today.

Heard from my Dad that a 23-yrs-old NSmen in the air force school passed on on 13th Sept, Tues at 11.07pm after collapsing 2hrs before in the midst of a game of soccer. Sadly, it so happens that he's in the same company as my bro is in.

A young, fit man dead at the tender age of 23. & he's someone indirectly connected to me.
Words can't express how & what i'm feeling now.
********************************************************

Life is so unpredictable, sudden, & fragile.
One moment they were having a whale of a time playing the sport which the male species swears so ardently & fervently by, & the next moment, losing conscious & being cart off to a clinic in Nee Soon, before finally being sent to TTSH for medical attention.

From the perspective of the decreased, a thought keeps drilling into my head. As I was laying awake on my bed last night, I can't help pondering:
What would he have done if he had known he has less than 24hrs left on Earth???

Would he have called up all his loved ones & affirm of his love for them?
Would he have sent his apologies to whoever he felt is due?Or just a simple, big-bear hug to those who matters to him? A kind of physical closeness, a human touch in the form of love.

I don't know.
A young life, a bright future taken away so abruptly.
He must have his whole life mapped out in front of him - What he's doing after ORD, his goals in life, his ideal career, further studies, his family etc.
But yet it's all dashed so unpredictably, so swiftly, so mercilessly.

From the perspective of my bro.
How does he feel, seeing one of his company mate leaving without a word so unexpectedly?
How does he feel, being 1 of the 3 who rendered medical aid after he collapsed on the grass patch?
How does he feel, staring at death so upfront in the face & seeing it strike so close to home?
How does he feel, losing a mate, a friend, a "brother-in-combat" who had gone through thick & thin, the sweet & bitter times together?
How would he feel, carrying the coffin in which his buddy lays this coming sat?
I really can't imagine.

Feeling so solemn & down now. He replied to an sms I sent last night & mentioned, "Life's so unpredictable, ya? It could have been me for all you know."
I can sense his mood behind the words, as well as the gravity of life & death.
From the perspectice of the loved ones left behind. His family, his significant other. I shudder to think what they must be going through now. The stabbing pain, the overwhelming, piercing grief, the excruciating hurt, the deep regrets, the poignant agony.

A company of 12 NSmen now reduced to 11, 8 of whom would be carrying their mate's coffin this coming sat.
A mate. A friend. A bro-in-combat. Gone before them just like that.

What would be going through their mind? How would they feel?
********************************************************
What would you do if you know you've less than 24hrs remaining on Earth?

Call up your loved ones & say the 3 words which somehow always so amazingly gets stuck at your throat - I LOVE YOU?
"You know, even though I've hardly ever said this to you, but you matters. Yes, you really do. I love you. Yes, I LOVE YOU. And I really, truly do."

Call up your loved ones & acquintances & say the 2 words which ever so often gets in the way of your pride - I'M SORRY?
"Do you still remember the slight disagreement we had back then? You know, actually, I don't hold it against you anymore. & I'm so apologetic for whatever hurtful words I have said in the heat of the moment. I'm sincerely sorry for the hurts & auguish I've brought you. That was so childish & unneccessary. I'M SORRY."
Unforgiveness??? Does past hurts seem so significant now? Does anger matters now? Regrets??? Is it time for regrets?

Wish you had spent more quality time with your loved ones instead of gaming away on your com?
Wish you had taken the time & trouble to enter into their life?Wish you had done something special, sweet, & totally unexpected, & brighten their face with a smile?
Wish you had taken the initiative & asked them about their day?Wish you had been less occupied with your own things & take on a slower pace in life?
Wish you had shared your life & all of its ups & downs with them?Wish you had given them a surprise big-bear hug, leaving them nonplussed?
Wish you had taken your parents out for dinner & paying for the bills yourself?
Wish you had say "Thanks", "I'm sorry", or "I love you"?Or just a simple kiss? A simple conversation? A simple hug?

Life is short, time is precious.
Spend time with those who truly matters.

Pause. Think. Reflect. Act.


When you come into this world, you were crying and others around you were smiling. Live your life in such a way that when you die, you are smiling and the others are crying.

PEANUTS III

After harping so much on peanuts, I guess it's time for some visuals instead of mere words.

Source: Click here

Your Dominant Thinking Style:

Visioning You are very insightful and tend to make decisions based on your insights. You focus on how things should be - even if you haven't worked out the details. An idealist, thinking of the future helps you guide your path. You tend to give others long-term direction and momentum.

Your Secondary Thinking Style:

Modifying Super logical and rational, you consider every fact available to you. You don't make rash decisions and are rarely moved by emotion. You prefer what's known and proven - to the new and untested. You tend to ground those around you and add stability.

What's Your Thinking Style?

PEANUTS II

In view of the recent much-publicized brouhaha, I would like to recommend Mr. Durian to build a helipad at the rooftop of NKF building.

After doing some math, I've come to the conclusion that it might be much more economical to travel via air, as compared to travelling in and maintaining 8 cars. Makes more sense, doesn't it?
Think of the COE, Mr. CEO.

Oh ya! He's quit his job already, hasn't he? Not applicable, then.

Or perhaps he should build a water catchment above his house.
With such a fat pay check, I seriously doubt that he lives in a oh-so-normal boring government HDB flat?
More likely a bungalow or penthouse.
Just as well. With the water garnered from the catchment area, a desalination plant would also be essential to process the water.
I don't suppose a homey humble HDB flat can actually contain such a facility.

Gold taps coupled with a personal water supply. How cool is that!

And to those creative spunksters who vandalized the NKF building - I have a better suggestion. Maybe it might be better if you consider channeling your efforts and talent into spraying your masterpiece on his house instead.
At the very least, you won't be wasting public funds. Not that it needs any, anyway.

The sick and needy need the cash much more desperately than the contractors and painters do.

********************************************************

Kind of silly really.

If I'm the one sitted behind the CEO desk, I most certainly would NOT sue SPH. Neither would I dig a grave for myself, no matter how fat my pay check or how bulging my bank account may be.

In a lawsuit, lawyers are bound to probe and poke their nose in where it does not belong.
Questions will be fired. Investigations will be carried out.
Isn't it tantamount to pulling a grenade and throwing the pinhead instead?
DUH!

What really infuriates me is the total lack of transparency. It's a public funds, for goodness sake!
The public was led into believing that all those hard-earned cash was donated to help the poor, sick and needy.
On the contrary, it somehow ended up into the pocket of the high authorities in the form of S$25 000/mth salary, travel perks, and 10 - 12mths bonus.

AND TALKING ABOUT BONUS!

A bonus of 10 - 12mths!!!
What an awesome deal.
Perhaps I should try running for the position of CEO someday.
Be sure to petition for me though. Don't worry, my pay check would be slightly slimmer.
And I might even be considerate and modest enough to install silver platinum taps instead of gold ones.

And why were we told that the reserves could only last for 3 yrs when the actually figure is 30 years?!?! 30 YEARS!!
I'm rendered speechless with disgust.
And I'm even more so to learn that there are people who are actually capable of doing such an dishonorable thing.
Urgh!!!

Fancy sueing someone over an article that's holding nothing but the truth. Certainly speaks much about a person's integrity and character.
OF COURSE you should be paying the legal fees through your own pocket instead of utilizing the public funds!
It's the rightful thing to do if you're not too busy installing yet another gold tap somewhere.

Thanks for marking NKF's history with a stubborn blemish and tearing down the strong foundation that's built up over the ardurous years.
The public trust has been breached terribly. Without any doubt, it'll definitely be an uphill task gaining it back.


If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead to anywhere

PEANUTS

Everything seemed to have quietened down.
My turn to make my 2 cents worth known then.

Had quite an enriching week.
Just learned that peanut = S$600 000

WHOA...

S$600 000... Nuts really!!!
No puns intended.

Well... Come to think of it, it might be worth the price, i guess.

Afterall, from what i've heard, peanuts have health-benefiting properties.
Something about peanuts having HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, which is actually the good cholesterol which everyone so hanker after.
See... Proves that i didn't sleep during my classes.

In case you've got it wrong... No, my lectures don't talk on food.
Duh.

Having carried out some research to ensure that my information are correct, peanuts actually improve cardiovascular health, provide essential nutrients, the risk of Type II diabetes, cancer, heart disease, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, breast cancer, and even depression.

Peanuts contain a higher amount of proteins compared to other legumen or nuts, and protein plays a crucial role in wound healing and skin regeneration. Ideal for those who have a real problem with balance.

One ounce (i.e. around a handful) of peanuts contains 2g of fibers, which aids in the gastrointestinal bowel movement. Great for those constipation!
The same amount of peanuts also provide about 15% of the daily requirement of Vit. E, and this vitamin has been proven to act as an antioxidant (thus reducing the risk of cancer).

In addition, peanuts are an important source for minerals (e.g. magnesium, copper, phosphorus, potassium and zinc), Vit B (e.g. folate), and phytochemicals.
Phytochemicals are natural substances found in plants and provides a wide range of health benefits such as decreasing the risk of coronary heart disease.

About 84% of fats in peanuts is monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. And unsaturated fats helps lower LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein), which is the "bad" cholesterol, without affecting HDL-C levels in the blood.
LDL-C are the main culprits that clog up your arteries and bestow upon you the well-known stroke and heart attack.

AND!!! They're cholesterol FREE!!!
Source1 Source2


On second thoughts, S$600 000 for a clean bill of health.
It's worth it definitely.

Especially for someone who has failed her NAPFA test only recently.

The only negative facts that I know about peanuts of date are that they're high in calories (due to the high fats content) and the renowned deadly peanut allergy.

*******************************************
The topic of peanuts haul back some sweet memories.

My dad loves peanuts, so do I. Although I perfer them in the cream state nowadays.
We would spread some newspaper on the floor, then proceed to position ourselves around it.
We talked, we bonded - amidst the crackling of peanut shell.

Those were the days.

*******************************************

I dare not harbour much hope of relishing those old days again, since peanuts are now so pricey.

Afterall, the last I heard, S$600 000 is peanuts.

So anyone who happens to know me personally or otherwise, if you would only be so kind, I would be truely overjoyed to receive a peanut from you.
Peanut shell will also do. I am hardly fussy.
=)


Hold on, if you feel like letting go
Hold on, it gets better than you know
Don't stop looking, you're one step closer
Don't stop searching, it's not over
Hold on, hold onHold on

Pause. Think. Reflect. Act.
Made a stupid mistake for my communication skills assignment. A really silly one.

Well, the story goes like this:
We were supposed to write a letter of adjustment (i.e. reply to a letter of complaint).

And the hiccup of the story:
I attributed the delay in delivery to a spate of earthquakes in Sweden, where our main manufacturing factory is located.

And the fact is:
No surprises here. You can guess it...
Earthquakes in Sweden are as likely as snow in Singapore.
Real snow. Not those in Snow City. Haha...
Earthquakes in Sweden. I might as well have written "Staff abducted by Martians".Bumper. Bumper. Bumper.
Lol~

*********************************************

Had an enjoyable time on Fathers' Day.
For the first time, my bros and I contributed and shopped together for the gift. An unity there's never been experienced before.

The look of pleasant surprise written all over his face when the three of us returned together (my younger bro said he was going to the lib, my elder bro hanging out with frenz, and me to a proj meeting), the beam on his face when we presented the gifts to him, the smile which crept sneakily over his face, the smile which he cant hide... It makes everything worthwhile.

It's the 1st time I've shopped for gifts with members of the opposite gender. Well, what more can i say? This is certainly my record-breaking time.

MEN!!
Just yet another vast differences between the 2 genders of creation. Haha...
Men are from Mars, Women from Venus. There might be some truth in it afterall.
Oh well, gotta give them some credits here. They waited for ... like... 45 mins while I was pawing through the apparels in Metro and darting in and out of the changing room, without any grouses. Cool~
Yep.

***************************************************
That's my elder brother.
Cool, composed, and armed with an even temper that rarely ever flares up.
Good-natured, he certainly is.
We've had our fair share of disagreements and conflicts in our younger days.
In my opinion, it's always been one of life's greatest mystery why males mature slower than females do. After entering NS, well... I'm beginning to love him more and more.

My younger bro. 7 years my junior.
The generation gap is there, without any doubt.
There have been times when he makes that Osama guy seem like an innocent angel.
These are the times when he drives me so crazy that I was on the very verge of pulling my hair out.
But well, the witty half in me has vowed to start on his before laying my hands on mine.
Haha...
Nonetheless, he's a sweet guy.
Like that time when he asked whether would i like to have some toasted bread with margarine.
I love toasted bread. I love melted margarine. And I love toasted bread with melted margarine.
So naturally, obviously, and unhesitantly, i said yes.

He toasted 2 slices of bread, and spreaded margarine on them, but surprised me by presenting them on a plate, coupled with an unexpected cup of coffee.
So, in addition to "room service", i sort of ended up having a supper-in-bed. What a luxury.

A 12-years-old. Only a 12-years-old little boy.

My mum.
She and her cold jokes which always fail to tickle anyone's funny bone.
The "drama director" in the Phua family who loves to "prophesy" over the upcoming scenes of the drama series, along with sentences like "There!!! I TOLD YOU!!!", "Chey, so easily predictable! I knew it... I knew it!!!"
A family joke has been going around that we should and would NEVER EVER bring her to the movies.
Haha...
But she sacrifices for the family silently, caring for and loving each and every one of us in her own way.

My dad.
The angel, the entertainer in the household.
I love his cooking. I love his jokes. I love his personality. I love his everything.
Always giving, never complaining. Love is indeed amazing and all-conquering.
The pillar, the light of my life.
My knight in shining amour.

And the brother who I don't have the chance to know.
Assuredly, you're part of the family. You're part of my life.
I do think of you. I do wonder about you.
But I know you're happy. I know you're by His side everyday.
I'm awaiting the day when we would meet at the gates.
Thoughts of this just never fails to comfort me, and to keep me perservering on.

I cant imagine life without any of you guys.

Progress is never brought about by contended people

PSYCHO...

FIRST: The Scientist INTJ
You have a head for ideas - and you are good at improving systems.Logical and strategic, you prefer for everything in your life to be organized.You tend to be a bit skeptical. You're both critical of yourself and of others.Independent and stubborn, you tend to only befriend those who are a lot like you.
You would make an excellent scientist, engineer, or programmer.
SECOND: The Duty Fulfiller ISTJ
You are responsible, reliable, and hardworking - you get the job done.You prefer productive hobbies, like woodworking or knittings.Quiet and serious, you are well prepared for whatever life hands you.Conservative and down-to-earth, you hardly ever do anything crazy.
You would make a great business executive, accountant, or lawyer
THIRD: The Protector INFJ
You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity.Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is.You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience.You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them.
You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher.
FORTH: The Nurturer ISFJ
You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal.A good listener, you excell at helping others in practical ways.In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music.You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for.
You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist.
FIFTH: The Executive ENTJ
You are a natural leader - with confidence and strength that inspires others.Driven to succeed, you are always looking for ways to gain, power, knowledge, and expertise.Sometimes you aren't the most considerate person, especially to those who are a bit slow.You are not easily intimidated - and you have a commanding, awe-inspiring presence.
You would make a great CEO, entrepreneur, or consultant.http://www.blogthings.com/mbtiquiz/

UNDERSTAND

A new school term just started this tuesday.
Just discovered that one of my subject is 100% PBL-based. It stands for Problem Based Learning, for your info.
PBL... I hate PBL subjects. 100% somemore (-_-")

Translation: It means no lectures and tutorials. Only laboratory work.

No lectures + no tuts = GO DO YOUR RESEARCH YOURSELF!!!

Research = library mugging + group meetings + group discussions + interviews with the lecturer + presentations + loads & loads of confusion & time wasted to understand the hard core stuff of infos you've garnered + lugging loads of library books home (that is, if you managed to get your hands on any before they're snatched away by coursemates) + reports to write up + yahoo + goggles + askjeeves + "dunno wad else" search engines.

ArrrrAAaghHHHh!!!
Aaarrrrgghh!!!
AaahhhHhh!!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is still the first week of school, and already, i feel so old.
While walking towards Cyber Center, I noticed a group of first-years (obviously) was gawping around a notice board, deep in discussions,

"I'm interested in Psychology. Woowow... hope I'm able to get in..."
"I prefer Sociology leh..."
"Eehh... I want one with a 4 credit units de leh..."
"When can we apple for these CDS subjects ah???..."
Blah blah blah... ... ...

Was in the library earlier (thanks to what else but PBL?), and a couple of (what else but) first-years walked past. They disappeared among the shelves behind me, and a second later, their voice came drifting over,

"Wow!!! Look at these books!!! Wah... DNA, Immunology, Histology, Haematology, wah!!!"
"Kao... I'm feeling stressed already. Wah lau..."
"Die la... So chim"
Blah blah blah... ... ...

Walked past the bookstore on Wednesday, & a guy asked for directions to Cyber Center.
Old... Old.. Old... ... ...

Just suddenly felt a deep sense of deja vu.
It seems like only yesterday when I took my very first step into the institution where I would be spending my next three years.
Could still recall that day in the school hall, anxiously awaiting my Os results.
Still remember the painful preparations for the then-upcoming Os.

Currently in first semester of my third year in school. This is the year that i have been pining for for the past two years.
Had been imagining the exhilaration & anticipitation of this final year. Now that it's here, well, the feeling's different.

I guess there'll always be a difference between imagining & being there in the actual situation.

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That's why I feel so strongly, never to use the word "understand".
So strongly, that it has more or less become part of my principle of life.

Be it consoling, comforting, whatever.
Don't say "I understand".

Imagine these senerios:
Someone who has lost his/her loved ones tragically overnight.
Someone who had been through the tsunami, the earthquakes, or famines & droughts.
Someone who has been abused, be it sexually, verbally, or physically.
Someone who has been afflicted with a terminal disease or mental illness.
Etc etc etc...

Don't say, "I understand".

Tell me, what do we, as onlookers, ever understand?
Even if you've been through it, dun say "understand".

Everyone is different.
Everyone is unique in their own rights.
Everyone has different priorities, expectations & perceptives.
& most importantly, their own thinking.

What is it exactly that we understand?
Their pains? Their feelings? Their thinking?

None of it actually.

That's the truth.

People just utilize the so often misused U-word merely as a means to offer comforts, when they don't know what else to say.

A source of comfort, coupled with eyes filled with sympathy & "understanding", with occassional nods of encouragement & gentle smiles.

Ponder over it and think just for a mere moment.

Meaningless, really.


Progress is never brought about by contented people