I THINK I'M IN THE CORRECT MAJOR

Education/Counseling 88% Nursing/AthleticTraining/Health 88% English/Journalism/Comm 88% HR/BusinessManagement 81% Biology/Chemistry/Geology 81% French/Spanish/OtherLanguage 75% PoliticalScience/Philosophy 69% Visual&PerformingArts 56% Accounting/Finance/Marketing 56% Religion/Theology 56% Psychology/Sociology 50% History/Anthropology/LiberalArts 38% Physics/Engineering/Computer 31% Mathematics/Statistics 13% WHAT MAJOR IS RIGHT FOR YOU? created with QuizFarm.com

81%!!! Whoohoo~

Guess I don't really have the hots for Anthropology, Mathematics and Statistics, Computer Science, IT, Liberal Arts, History, Engineering, and Physics (How can I enjoy them? I think numbers and mathematical/physics formulas totally suck. A load of crappy garbage which frustrates students - especially me - to their death prematurely).

WHAT YOU SEE MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU GET


As some of you may have probably noticed, I've changed the font colour from yellow to this current weird colour that fits no proper description (brownish-peach? brownish-yellow? Orangey-brown?). The main reason being, I've always thought that the former yellow crashes a tad too magnificent with the background black, and the glare in contrast is sometimes bad enough to inflict upon my eyes some discomfort. Perhaps it's just me; my eyes have always been a little on the sensitive side. But then again, maybe not.

Anyway, I'm actively looking for a secondary school student tuition assignment. Currently having 2 primary school little girls and though entertaining, diligent, and eager to learn as they are, I have half a mind to go on to greener pastures (who doesn't?). A secondary school student gives a higher per hour pay, and the tuition workload is only 2hours/week. Currently, with the 2 little girls that I've been tutoring for the past approximately 4 months, the overall pay per hour is about $8/hour lesser than what tutoring a secondary student would offer, and the tuition workload is 5hours/week.

*mumbles grumbles*


If I were to take up a secondary school student, and give up the current 2 primary school girls, benefits are that I would be able to devote more time to my own studies, and not forgetting, the higher $$$ receivable.

So, I called up some tuition agencies/coordinators found in The Straits Times, Classified for some "match-making" services. This brings to mind a certain unpleasant which I so unfortunately encountered during my previous "tuition-hunting".

It was a normal Saturday afternoon and I was on my way out. Putting on some earrings, my cellphone rang, and an unfamiliar number showed on the screen. It turned out to be one of the tuition agencies which I've approached a few weeks earlier.

"I've got a tuition assignment for you. A secondary school student. Is Potong Pasir an agreeable location for you?"

"Yes, I'm absolutely fine with it."

"Ok. You're studying, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Ok. Tell you what. Listen here. I'll give you a personal demography. Tell them that you're a graduate from the university, and are currently a FULL-TIME TUITION TEACHER, and that you've been tutoring full-time for a couple of years now."

"Huh?" I've always been a bit slow on the uptake. "Sorry, but I think you're mistaken. I'm still studying. Year 1. Majoring in Chemistry."

"Ya I know." She clicked her tongue and rumbled away superciliously. "But this is what I want you to tell them - that you've already graduated, and are giving tuition full-time."

"Huh... Oh..." I was arrantly and utterly flabbergasted.

"Ok? You understand what I'm saying?"

"Uh-huh..."

"I'll call you back in a moment's time. I need to check with with them what timeslots are ideal for them."

We put down the phone. I was struck-dumbed. For a moment, I thought I was hearing things, or that I've unintentionally misinterpreted what she has just said. I played back the conversation in my head. Yes, there's no way that it could have been misinterpreted. She has made her point so pristine clear.

I was disgusted. Tongue-tied.

A customer is giving you money for your service, and trusts you to get a reputable, qualified, full-time tutor for his/her beloved kid. And here you are, conspiring and scheming with a tutor - who is only an undergraduate - to cheat and hoodwink them?
GOSH.

And if you think that I'm going to conspire and work under such a pretentious, cheating, scheming, and lowlife agency which stabs its own customers in their back; you're gravely mistaken.
If you can treat your own customers - who keep your business alive and going - with such disdain and dishonesty, then how about me; an one-time tutor who was just once under your "match-making service"?
And because I'm too noble to lie lying is bad and undersirable, I never picked up any of her calls after that.


If I'm ever getting a tutor for any of my kids in future, I'll ask to see the tutor's qualification and certificates. Yes. Most certainly.

It's one thing to be trusting, but it's absolutely another to be a naive apparatchik.
It's always good to question, and be inquisitive.


After all, sometimes, what you see on the surface may not be what you get.

CONFIDENTIALITY? NOT.


Every now and then, I would casually flirt with the indulgent idea of encrypting this blog with a password. But alas, I'll end up deciding against it each time; and the reason is simple.

There are only 24 hours in a day. Take it or leave it.
Assuming that 6 hours are spent sleeping, only 3 quarters of a day is left. Take into consideration working hours, meal times, transportation and etc, approximately 1 quarter of 24 hours is unoccupied.

And if someone doesn't mind wasting a small fraction of his/her limited 6 hours to read a 21-year-old-TO-BE rattling on and rumbling senselessly in blogosphere - and actually bothers to pop by occasionally just to read this blog and update himself/herself about my life: it can only mean 2 things:

1) My writing is highly entertaining and has a magnetic, ethereal attractive pull (which I honestly doubt so)
2) You're kaypoh and are trying to dig up some juicy nuggets concerned about my life


Yep. And not forgetting, blogging is also a great expressive tool.


Perhaps it's because of the fact that unlike most girls, I don't really fancy chit-chatting over the phone for hours; that's why you're here reading about my life.
Perhaps we're too busy to catch up on each other even in MSN (and I don't really enjoy having heart-to-heart chats in MSN; because it just literally seems so wrong without the personal touch); that's why you're here.
Perhaps we're just mere friends and acquaintances - and our sporadic MSN or SMS chats and conversations have never got beyond "Hi", "How's day?" and "Bye"; that's why you're here.
Perhaps we're just normal friends and hardly have any reason to meet up, and the only times we caught sight of each other are when our path crossed and we coincidentally bumped into each other in church or school; that's why you're here.
Perhaps we were once schoolmates/classmates in primary school or secondary school, or coursemates in TP, and perhaps our friendship has drifted apart with the passage of time; that's why you're here.
Perhaps you've noticed this totally amazing pretty and awesome and cute and charming and witty and dazzling girl (that is, yours truly) prancing around church or school, and you know my name, but we never got around to being acquainted personally; that's why you're here too.
Perhaps we don't know each other, and you chanced upon this blog through your friend's links; that's why you're here.
Perhaps you've been secretly carrying a torch for me in your heart, and the feeling of attraction is eating and gnawing away at the insides of you; that's why you're here.

Whatever the case, whoever you are, whatever you do, wherever you hail from, regardless of whether are you having a crush or infatuation on me, boy or girl, man or woman, rich or poor, young or old, fat or slim, tall or short, balding or not; YOU'RE HERE.
And this reason alone, is more than sufficient to deter me from encrypting this blog with a password and making the contents of this wonderful blog available to only a few selected close friends (come to think of it, I've heard loads of people commenting that encryption does not really effective help much in fencing off outsiders from entering a website. It doesn't take much of a computer/IT geek to hack in somehow).


I heartily welcome people from all walks of life - even if the level of intimacy in our friendship only warrants meeting only once in a blue blue blue blue blue blue blue blue very blue moon when our path so coincidentally cross each other's. Perhaps we don't really have much of a real friendship to speak of. It's perfectly ok. I appreciate your spending time on reading.



Of course, this has - in a way - made blogging kind of restricted, and it's not convenient for me to blog as freely as I would like. There are certain things that I can't talk about and certain feelings which I can't vent out - especially on a blog that is accessible world-wide. The only redeeming solution is to make such entries as vague as possible.
And of course, not forgetting, there exists certain personal problems and challenges which I can't complain about, vent out and/or rant rampantly on the internet because I would very much like to keep it private. So private that currently, only 2 friends - dead or alive - know most, if not all, of them in finer details. Thus, these 2 are the only 2 people on the surface of the Earth whom I turn to for advice, words of wisdom, encouragement, a listening ear, comfort, consolation and etc. And I would gladly prefer to keep it that way; I don't see the need to publicize my personal challenges or hurting heartaches to a wide circle of friends. Not even about giving a vague idea.


Yep. So, the bottom line is: even if we bump into each other once in a pink, purple, black, red, orange, yellow, beige, maroon, white, grey, navy blue, sea blue, dark blue, or light blue moon; even if our conversations usually do not go beyond "Hi", "How's day?", "How's school?", or "Bye"; even if we've never gotten much of a chance to say all these things and only know each other by sight; I still love you (although frankly, it's just a matter of how deep the love is).

And I appreciate your being here. Even if you're one of those silent, freaky stalker of a reader.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?


Mandarin meaning

Paul Chan - Bankrupt
Anne Chang - Dirty
Faye Chen - Dusty
Anne Chin - Keep quiet
Henry Mah - Hate your mum
Jane Tan - Fry eggs
Nelson Tan - Bird lays eggs
Leslie Tong - Rubbish bin

*********
Hokkien meaning

Carl Chng - Buttock
Monica Chng - Touch your buttocks
Lucy Leow - You are dead
Suzie Leow - Lose till death
Lim Yew Lin - Drink urine
Lim Teh Peng - Drink iced tea
Danny See - Squeeze you to death
Corrine Tai - Poor fellow
Rosie Teng - Screws and nails
Carmen Tng - Leg hair long
Pete Tsai - Nose droppings

*********
Cantonese Meaning

Connie Mah - Call your mother
Macy Koh - Never die before
Jean Tan - Fry eggs
Michael Tan - Sell eggs


Disclaimer's note: Don't subject your children to a lifetime of pesky humiliation. No kids of mine is ever going to spot such names. =)

CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL 2007


It was nearing 5.15pm, and passing by The Coffee Connoisseur located in the ground level of SMU's Li Ka Shing Library for the second time this week, I found myself wondering what on earth is the difference between TCC, Starbucks, and Coffeebean.
Having only drank Coffeebean before, I am certainly in no position or whatsoever to compare and comment on the quality of the different type of coffee beans each company offers. But, definitely, I think that TCC pays more attention to cosiness and patron's comfort, and puts in more effort in interior design than the other two.

I waited for the Green Man at the traffic light junction, heading towards the SMU School of Accountancy and Law. Boy, the sweltering afternoon heat is killing me. On Thursday night, we've been reminded not to wear flamboyant and colourful clothing (read: no lime green, yellow, orange, turquoise and the likes).
But, on the other hand, we're advised not to wear the predictable, gloomy black and white put-together as well. Sure, such ceremonies are supposed to be solemn, but it is absolutely another thing to make it seem downright depressing like a funeral.

So, I found myself in a dark blue jeans, white spaghetti, and a cream beige sweater to boot; just in case the temperature gets a tad too low for my comfort. And now, I'm practically melting under the cruel sun, in the same beige sweater which I had been too lazy to slip out of after PM has ended.


When everyone had arrived, we had a final rehearsal. The 30+ of us were each given a red tag, each bearing the initials of 2 different names. Our role is to go up to the stage when the initials are called, and stick in the tag into the big styrofoam which has been cut into the shape of a ribbon and painted red.

I looked at the tag resting on my right palm and read the initials silently. This feels weird. An indescribable emotion rose inside me. I wonder about the faceless names - the people who will never talk, or smile, or laugh, or cry, or walk on this Earth anymore.
Each name tells of a different story. And I wonder, has our presence somehow helped make their last journey in life a little less lonely and painful?


The two singers took their place on stage. There were a lot of sound checks and "mike check, 1, 2, 3...". By then, my stomach was starting to squirm in protest, having had practically nothing to digest and churn on for the whole day. The singers, Serena and Alex, performed "Flying Without Wings" and "That's What Friends Are For". And it's really nice, hearing talented singers singing live upfront in a modest Lecture Theater-sized Conference Hall, instead of some stadium-sized auditorium.
Following which, the 2 little girls - who look no older than 14 - from Oschool came up and performed their item. It was a really beautiful and aesthetic slow dance, with loads of graceful leaps and artistic turn-abouts.

And soon, it was our turn. As the Republic Polytechnic students were not involved in the rehearsal on Thursday night, the 14 of us from the ministry had to do it a couple of times for them to get the gist of the whole thing.

Finally, at 7.00pm, the guests and VIPs started streaming in. The turn out was quite big, and there were some guests standing at the back of the Hall. The ceremony started promptly at 7.15pm. There was the usual thanking speech from the emcee (who, in my opinion, is an Adrian Pang lookalike), expressing gratitude to the Chairman of "blah blah blah", organizer of "blah blah blah", and more blah blah blah.
Following which, Dr. Lee from TTSH gave an opening speech, and the singers performed their first item, "Flying Without Wings".

It was then our turn. One by one, the initials were called out, and we went up and poked our tags into the red styrofoam ribbon. When the last of the names were called, and everyone had returned to their seats, it was time to observe a minute of silence. Due to fire-safety concerns, all present were given a light-stick each, instead of candles.

After observing a minute of silence, the 8 representatives from the Inter-religious Organization (IRO) went up to say their prayers. There were the Hindu, Taoist, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Shik, and 2 others religion which name I could not catch.


It was then that the gravity of the whole matter really hit me. 77 names, 77 people. Passed on in the past 1 year in 2006.
Although I (thankfully) don't know any of them personally and they are just faceless names to me, the fact remains that they've passed on, and will never breathe again.

Lost dreams. Lost talents. Lost visions. Lost potentials.


They had indeed fought a brave, long fight, and had - sadly - succumbed in the end. It has been a long and painful journey for most - if not all - for them. And who would understand the pain and rejection that they've experienced for the past few arduous years?
I guess, ultimately, only they themselves know the pain in their heart.


Sometimes, I think that people nowadays are way too caught up in their own world. Living inside their own bubble, having this mentality that the world revolves around them.
That all is nice. All is sweet. All is peaceful. All is beautiful.
And that other's sufferings and pains are none of their business.

And I firmly believe that the correct mindset should be taught early in life. If I were a teacher, and if I were to have my way, I would cart my charges off to old folks' home, orphanages, AfA, nursing homes etc for them to fulfill their mandatory 6-hours of CIP involvement work.
No crappy nonsense such as picking up litters at beaches, collecting old clothes and newspapers from the neighbourhoods and etc. They're useless. Really. Bah!


Life's more than chilling out at TCC or Coffeebean or Starbucks. More than gushing over the latest fashion fad. More than sun-tanning under the sun. More than going ga-ga over the latest boyband or cute Korean or Japanese actors. More than getting attached in secondary school (STILL SO YOUNG!!!), and getting love bites all over - which is not considered uncommon, especially in co-ed schools.

I IS SLEEPING BEAUTY.


This morning, something plain idiotic happened. I woke up at 6.30am, and gave a morning call to Kelvin Lim. After re-setting the alarm on my mobile phone to 7.30am, I gladly plonked back on my heavenly bed and dashed back to Dreamland with all enthusiasm.

The blasted alarm went off promptly at 7.30am. With bleary eyes, I hit the Snooze button. 5 minutes later, at 7.35am, the freaking alarm went off again. So, I did the only sane thing to do, and that is to hit my favourite button again. Went again. Hit again. Went again. Hit again. And again. And again. And again. You get the idea.

Each time my blissful sleep was interrupted by the irritating alarm which goes off irritatingly every 5 minutes, I'll mumble to myself, "Never mind. Enough time. Can reach on time."

8.00am. *beep* Still so early. *hits button*
8.15am. *beep* Still can sleep. *hits button*
8.25am. *beep* Still got enough time. *hits button*
8.30am. *beep* Still can make it. *hits button*
8.45am. *beep* No problem. *hits button*

I guess this is a common phenomenon. When humans are tired, they'll generally become optimistic to the point of idiocy.

8.45am, and still "No problem", when I'm supposed to reach Expo at 9.00am??? Hohoho! I must have been the most optimistic person that morning. The bus journey from Punggol to Pasir Ris already takes 30minutes. And that is already a conservative estimation.


Guess I'm born to be a Sleeping Beauty. Bo bian lah.


Anyway, today has been a real busy one. Attended service from 10am - 1pm, PM from 2pm - 3.30pm. After that, I had to rush down to SMU by 5.15pm for a Memorial Service, which will only end at 9pm. Finally, I reached home at 10.15pm.

BUSY!!!
All that running about is making me see stars.


Anyway, I went to SMU on Thursday night and Sunday night. SMU campus is really nice. There is even 7-11, Watsons, TCC, and Kopitiam. Can you believe it?! And I ONLY visited the School of Accountancy and Law.
AND there are security guards manning the entrance to the inside of the building!!! And these guards operate an automated "gate" made of clear glass (or plastic?), which strongly reminds me of the ones in MRT stations.
AND the majestic glass doors in Level 2 leading to the Conference Hall is AUTOMATIC, can?! Got sensors one, leh!!! High-tech loh!
AND the best part is: THERE ARE ESCALATORS IN THE CAMPUS BUILDING!!!

Don't play play, ah!


Having gone to SMU campus, I don't feel like going back to my pathetic campus anymore.


THURSDAY'S NIGHT VISIT TO SMU


This is the MRT-lookalike automatic "gates" in SMU. Got security guards manning them, okie? Don't play play ah.



I've told you that there are escalators. (Unfair. And all that climbing and "hiking" up the hilly and mountainous terrains in NUS are killing me.)





Upon passing the sensor-ed majestic glass door in Level 2 which I mentioned earlier, this is the "corridor" that leads up to Conference Hall 2. Man, even the "corridor" looks so sophisticated.


Conference Hall 2.

And I noticed that there are power sockets between each seat! OH MY!!!! This is such a stark contrast. Whenever I want to run my laptop using AC power, I have to either sit at one miserable corner in the Lecture Theater or untie and lay out the entire length of the laptop charger. Grrr...

And when the lights dimmed, I noticed that even the Conference Halls in SMU are SPECIAL!




This is the staircase on the slope of the hall.

And on closer examination...



Do you see the alphabet "D"? Feels like you're in a cinema, doesn't it?





And this is one of the dedicated leaders in the ministry, most of whom had "graduated" from the mandatory 6-weeks training as one of the pioneer batches. (Princess graduated last year as the 9th batch, which so happens to be her favourite number. The 10th batch is under recruitment. Yippie!!!) Doesn't he look very MAN and MACHO in this photo? But he's a really nice and amiable guy.


Anyway, despite all my gushing about how wonderful SMU is, my allegiance is still wholly with my school. Very much.


So much to blog about the Memorial Service. And more photos to upload.

But I'll continue another day.


Till then.

NAGGING IS MY HUMBLE LITTLE FORTE


A couple of months back, I was "surfing" around IVLE - an online "blackboard" for students (which is not unlike OLE used in Temasek Polytechnic) to receive updates/announcements and to download their lecture notes and tutorials and assignments and all the irritating rubbish - when something interesting, and kind of hilarious, caught my pretty, dainty, sparkling, gorgeous, and much-coveted pair of mesmerizing eyes.






This is the main IVLE webpage.








And this is a particular section of the Gradebook - an online facility which has, thus far, never been used by any of my Chemistry lecturers; save for a certain Biochemistry lecturer maverick.










A zoom-in of the words....





Still cannot decipher them?

Well then, let the lovely and benevolent Princess alleviate your agony. The first line actually reads: Q1 + Q3: Information overkill?!






Needless to say, I was dumbfounded. Since that particular assignment was uploaded for submission some donkey-monkey-cronky months ago, I retrieved that particular file from amongst the assignments I've saved in my ever-reliable lappy.



Q1: Consider the following reaction which is catalysed by a group of similar enzymes. Which Enzyme Commission class should the group of enzymes be classified under? Explain how you had arrived at your answer. (2 marks)

MY ANSWER:
Under the Enzyme Commission (EC) Classification of enzymes, this particular enzyme should be classified under Class 3 – Hydrolases. More specifically, this enzyme should be classified under EC 3.2. – Glycosidases (also known as glycosylases). Under EC 3.2.1. these enzymes hydrolyse O- or S-glycosyl compounds.

Hydrolases are enzymes which cause hydrolysis reactions – that is, cleavage of bonds by using water. The water molecule – H2O – is dissociated into a proton (H+) and a hydroxide ion (OH-). Upon bond cleavage - which, in this case, produces monosaccbaride products – H+ or OH- are added into the C1 one of the two sugar molecules involved in the bond.

Under the EC, there are a total of 6 different classes of enzymes.

1) Oxidoreductases – enzymes that catalyse a redox reaction. It involves the transfer of electrons usually in the form of hydride ions (H-) or hydrogen atoms.

2) Transferases – enzymes that transfer a function group from one molecule to another.

3) Hydrolases – enzymes that bring about cleavage of bonds by hydrolytic reactions.

4) Lyases – enzymes that break C-O, C-C, or C-N bonds.

5) Isomerases – enzymes that rearrange/transfer functional groups within a molecule to yield isomeric forms.

6) Ligases – enzymes that join two molecules; formation of C-C, C-S, C-O, and/or C-N bonds by condensation, coupled with ATP cleavage.



Q3: An enzyme belonging to this group of enzymes was isolated from a bacterial culture. It was then found to have a molecular mass of 266kDa. However, when the enzyme was denatured with urea and mercaptoethanol, two different values of 105 kDa and 150kDa were obtained. Explain the observed results. (3 marks)

MY ANSWER:
Most enzymes are not just merely a single peptide strand. Instead, they are usually a combination of several proteins – that is, they are an aggregate of smaller globular proteins. Thus, enzymes can also be referred to as quaternary proteins – that is, these proteins are made up of several subunits of tertiary-structured proteins. In addition, there might also be the presence of prosthetic groups (i.e. organic molecules such as vitamin, sugar, lipid) or inorganic molecules (e.g. metal ions such as Mg2+) incorporated into the quaternary structure of the protein. Such proteins – with prosthetic groups – are called holoproteins or conjugated proteins. These prosthetic groups usually bind to the peptide chain via covalent bonds.

Urea acts by breaking up hydrogen bonds, while mercaptoethanol breaks disulphide bonds. When treated with urea and mercaptoethanol, only the Hydrogen bonds and disulphide bonds (both of which, are non-covalent bonds) are cleaved; while the covalent amino acid backbone (made up of covalent peptide bonds) of the primary structure of the protein is not affected.

When the enzyme, with a molecular mass of 266kDa, is treated with urea and mercaptoethanol, two different protein subunits are obtained – with one weighing 105kDa, and the other weighing 150kDa. The difference in molecular mass could be due to a number of reasons – such as the dissociation of prosthetic groups, or the running of SDS-PAGE etc.

Even though most prosthetic groups usually bind to the peptide chain via covalent bond, there is still a possibility of cleavage of certain non-covalently-bonded prosthetic groups (e.g. lipoproteins or their derivatives may be bound to proteins either covalently or non-covalently http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipoprotein). Thus, when the enzyme is treated with urea and mercaptoethanol – both of which affect non-covalent bonds – the non-covalently bonded prosthetic groups might get dissociated, and this results in a decrease in the overall molecular mass.

Alternatively, the discrepancy in molecular mass could be due to the protein separation technique – electrophoresis. For proteins, a discontinuous polyacrylamide gel is used as a supporting medium, while negatively-charged Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (otherwise known as SDS) is used to denature the proteins. This particular technique involving the separation of protein chains is, more specifically, known as SDS-PAGE (Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis).

SDS destroys the complex structure of proteins, reducing it to its primary structure (i.e. linear chains). Being negatively-charged in nature, the SDS-denatured proteins will be attracted to the anode when the polyacrylamide gel is run through an electrical discharge. Thus, the final separation of proteins will depend almost entirely on the difference in molecular mass in peptide chains – the bigger the peptide chain (i.e. the more the molecular mass), the slower it’ll migrate down the gel. The obtained protein bands can be tallied and matched with the protein molecular mass “ladder” standard.

For this case, the quaternary-structured enzyme – being more complex in structure – is naturally harder to denature than the protein subunits, which are tertiary in structure.

Thus, the quaternary-structured enzyme might not have been fully denatured yet when SDS-PAGE was carried out. This results in a higher molecular mass reading. In contrast, the tertiary-structure protein subunits are denatured to a linear state, and thus, are able to “travel” down the polyacrylamide gel more efficiently. Hence, this results in a lower – and more accurate – molecular mass reading.



Okie, fine, I admit it's a little too extreme for questions which are allocated only 2 marks and 3 marks respectively. But hey, this is generally what educators get when students (in particular such as yours truly) are given 1 whole entire week to complete an OPEN-ESSAY assignment - with no word limit - which is to be uploaded online into IVLE by (insert date), (insert time).
Saves them the hassle of printing and dropping the assignments into the "pigeon hole", you see.


After all, isn't there a saying which goes "Better late than never"? Similarly, it's better more than less, too (my cool logic =P).


Anyway, I think my tutor marked my assignment script until his eyes nearly combusted. Maybe that's why he resorted to adding an exclamation mark to the end of his sentence (Information overkill?!) to express his amusement and exasperation, comical effect not withstanding.


I think he's pretty nice already. If I were him, I would have gave a big, ugly X cross, and smack the student upside down and inside out.

So young, then so lor soh like some old granny like that. HOW CAN???!!!

CHEW ON IT


Read this from somewhere, and I thought it is oh-so-true.
Have been storing it in my personal folder for months.
Thought it would be a pretty useful thing to share.

Anyway, just as the topic suggests; chew on it. Slowly.


*********


I believe -
That we don't have to change friends
if we understand that friends change.

I believe -
That no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.

I believe -
That true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
The same goes for true love.

I believe -
That you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.

I believe -
That it is a process for everyone
to become the person they want to be.

I believe -
That you should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

I believe -
That you can keep going long after you can't.

I believe -
That we are responsible for what we do,
no matter how we feel.

I believe -
That either you control your attitude
or it controls you.

I believe -
That regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first,
the passion fades;
and there had better be something else to take its place.

I believe -
Courage is doing what has to be done
when it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.

I believe -
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe -
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing
and still have the best time.

I believe -
That sometimes the people whom you expect
to kick you when you're down,
will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe -
That sometimes when I'm angry, I have the right to be angry;
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel or rude.

I believe -
That just because someone doesn't love you
the way you want them to
doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I believe -
That maturity has more to do
with what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them,
and less to do with the number of birthdays you've celebrated.

I believe -
That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you need to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe -
That no matter how badly your heart is broken or crushed,
the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I believe -
That our background and circumstances
may influence who we are,
but we are ultimately responsible for who we become.

I believe -
That just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do.

I believe -
That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret.
It could change your life forever.

I believe -
That two people can look at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.

I believe -
That your life can be changed in a matter of hours
by people who don't even know you.

I believe -
That even when you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you,
you will somehow, somewhere find the strength to help.

I believe -
That credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.

I believe -
That the people you care about most in life
are, most often than not, taken from you too soon.

I was at a park earlier this afternoon. Beautiful day. Beautiful weather. Beautiful people. Beautiful kids.

And it was only about 4 hours later then did I learn something precious.

IT VERSION OF PSALM 23


The Lord is my Programmer, I shall not crash.
He installs His softwares on the hard disk of my heart; all His commands are user-friendly.

His directory guides me to the right choices for His Name's sake.
Even though I scroll through the problems of life, I will fear no bugs, for He is my Backup.

His passwords protect me.
He prepares a menu before me in the presence of my enemies.
His help is only a keystroke away.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
and my file will be merged with His and saved forever.
Amen

Hokkien man trying to take a photo

HOKKIEN MAN TRYING TO TAKE A PHOTO

Crazy. Take a photo also so jialat.

And would I, as a member of the public, feel compelled and enticed to purchase an Olympus camera?

Over my sexy dead body.


Take a photo also machiam want to die liao. HAha

Dick Lee's Singing

BORED, DEFINITELY


I know it spells desperately of boredom when you're up to blogging 3 entries in a single day.

It has only been the 4th day of my 3-months-long vacation, and already, I'm bored to death. It feels so strange, having nothing to do day after day. It's as though my life is stagnating like still waters. I want to do something and be useful!!! But I can't look for a job, given that I've camps for SCAMP for almost 2 weeks in the month of June, as well as school attachment in late June - July. The only feasible idea is to take up more tuition assignments. Gosh, pray that the tuition agency calls me up soon.


Anyway, I was reading the Strait Times earlier, when a particular article caught my eyes. Turns out that Ms. M.S. has been awarded some prestigious award. And yes, I agree that she totally deserves it too. The passion and love that she has, it's rare to personally feel and witness something so real and genuine. And man, has she changed. She looks sooo different since the last time I saw her during the training sessions, which is like, a year ago.

Reading the article reminded me of that love, that main motivation, which seemed to have faded after being subjected to the passage of time. It's not just a weekly routine, an obligation, or even a duty. Rather, it's about helping others; especially when they're so unfairly stigmatized by society and cut off from the world.
It's about reaching out and touching those who are shunned, to let them know that they're still loved and cared for.
It's about bringing hope and love into their darkness, when they feel so overwhelmed by the facts of life.
It's about being a friend and offering a listening ear, when they have no one to share their burdens with. When they need to get something off their chest. When they just need to talk.
It's about giving them a much-needed human touch, something which even any normal person on the streets hanker so hungrily after.
It's about offering support and rendering encouragements when things look grim.
It's about making their lives more bearable and happier.
It's about letting them know that they're being treated as an equal.



Oh yes, that main reason.

It's not a duty or a ritual or a routine or an obligation. It should NOT be something which I drag my feet to.


Recharge me.
Teach me to love them as You do.

TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NO MAN


Was sifting through my folder of pictures, when I stumbled upon some old pictures from secondary school days.

Gosh... It's been 5 long years. Perhaps it's time for the word "old" to begin to sink into my thick and dense skull.


Can you spot the 16-years-old sweet little Princess??? =)
(click to enlarge).

1 Litre Of Tears Episode 1 Part 1/4

This is One Litre of Tears, a non-fictional drama which plot is based on the diaries written by a Japanese girl who was struck with a cruel, slow-progressive, and incurable disease called Spinocerebellar Degeneration at the tender age of 15. She died at the age of 25 in 1988.

SICK


Examinations, for me, have officially ended as of yesterday. Had to sit for my last 2 papers on Monday - both of which are my core modules - and if you ask me, being tested on the contents of 2 core modules in a single day sure sucks big time.

While I'm generally blessed with good health and have never been so unlucky as to be sick on the days of examinations, I am not spared from "pre-examinations syndromes" and "post-examinations traumas". They are such a sickeningly familiar phenomenon to me that by now, I have coined my own terms of endearment for them.

On the actual day, before the commencement of any paper, I would feel terribly nauseant, with malevolent butterflies fluttering nervously in my stomach. Sometimes, I have to keep from vomiting by swallowing back the surging slime that's threateningly rising up in the back of my throat. Gross.
These are my pre-examinations syndrome.

And after the examination period is over, I would be almost immediately down with either a flu or cough - normally on next day. These are the post-examinations traumas. Tsk-tsk.

So now, I'm currently nursing a runny nose and the occasional "ahhh-chuuooo". And it ain't any fun.


Sometimes, weird schools of ideas just float randomly into my mind uninvited. Frankly, I'm still so amazed that a local tertiary institute has accepted me. Up till now, I could hardly believe it and part of me honestly suspects that an unwitting administrative error has resulted in my unlikely admission. After all, despite that my overall G.P.A at the end of the 3 years of tertiary education at TP was slightly more than acceptable, I'm still definitely not the creme of the crop, and neither am I anywhere near the top 10%, let alone 5%, of my poly cohort.

Sometimes, I think that this is a mistake. And the seat that I take up in the Lecture Theaters and Tutorial Classes comes with the sacrifice of an otherwise more deserving - and not to mention, more promising and brighter - student.


If you ask me, I believe firmly with all my heart that it's His Blessing and Grace. It's definitely not by my own might or human intellect that brought me through, but by the mighty move of His Hand. And am I humbled? Of course. Who am I, that You care?

I remember being in a service, when the preacher challenged us not to be afraid to ask of Him, and to believe in Him, for the greatest (with the right intention of heart, of course. Not robbing a bank or whatnots), because He never fails to deliver if it's in His Will.

It's just like a light bulb in my mind being switched on. Stirred in the Spirit, I posed the same question to myself, "Has He ever failed or disappointed me?".

I thought hard. I furrowed my eyebrows and cracked my brains. Despite having accepted Him as my Lord and Saviour on Easter Day 3 years ago (not so long, but not so short either), my mind drew a blank. And I realized too, for the past 1000 days, not once has He failed me or broke my heart. Instead, He replaced my sorrows with joy, wiped away my tears with love, picked up the little pieces, and restored the brokenness. He gave me a new mindset that's constantly being molded into perfection (how nice. It's just like having free anti-virus updates), and a new lifestyle with a different perspective that would have been beyond my wildest dream.

And it's not just with academic matters only. There are so many other things as well. Sure, there are times when I've been kept waiting. And of course, there exists things that, up till now, I am mystified by. These are the secret things of God as stated in Deuteronomy 29: 29. And at times when you can't see the Hand of God, you just have to simply trust in His Heart. And yes, I have tasted Him and I have found Him good. Almost too good to be true, in fact.


And above all, He is faithful - at times when I am not. Not once has He ever given up. He is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. His Mercy endures forever.


He is patient, He is kind, He is gentle, and most importantly, He is love.