praying hard

praying hard this logo design for hall production will be accepted, so that my team can start work on other designs.....

*cross fingers*

*poof*

A *poof* and my life is gone.

Seriously, I have no life now. 24/7 in front of my mackie designing pages after pages.........

to the insane world

to the insane world that we are living in,
a Merry Christmas.

And hoping for the day,
where you remember what love and joy is.

Seasons Of Love
"Rent" the Musical

525,600 minutes,
525,000 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes
how do you measure,
measure a year?

In daylights,
in sunsets,
in midnights,
in cups of coffee.

In inches,
in miles,
in laughter,
in strife.

In 525,600 minutes
how do you measure
a year in the life?

How about love?
How about love?
How about love?
Measure in love.
Seasons of love.

525,600 minutes!
525,000 journeys to plan.
525,600 minutes
how can you measure
the life of a woman or man?

In truths that she learned,
or in times that he cried.
In bridges he burned,
or the way that she died.

It’s time now to sing out,
tho the story never ends
let's celebrate remember
a year in the life of friends.

Remember the love!
Remember the love!
Remember the love!
Measure in love.

Seasons of love!
Seasons of love

christmas

Me thinks that one need not be a Christian nor Catholic to celebrate Christmas. Me thinks that there is no need for whatever so-called political correct greetings like "X-mas", or "Happy Holiday", cause I don't interprate "Merry Christmas" as a form of imposing your religion on me, or implying that your religion is more superior than mine (religionS for my case.
I believe in all religion, but subscribe to the pratices of one). Me thinks that by saying "Merry Christmas" to me, you are just wishing me to have a nice Christmas, a season of joy and giving.

So for all everyone here, in a season of joy and giving, may I wish you a Merry Christmas.

To any Kent Ridgeans, Eguanas(E-blockers) who are reading this, may you have a Merry Christmas before the exams results are out (some of us have checked it already though), and don't get too busy with whatever holiday engagements you have!

To my ex-collegues and any teachers in service who are reading this, may you enjoy the last bit of whatever there is left before school reopens or before the adminstrative hell comes in (or has in come in already? ) I might join you all when my 3 months holidays arrive. Meanwhile, thank you for all that you have given me, and may you continue to find joy among the insanity, laughter among the sadness, time to give a nice pat on your shoulders among the buzz. May the kids continue to give you love for all the love you have been giving them.

To my secondary school and jc friends, may you continue to find joy in whatever you do. May you continue to be loved, and the ones you love love you back. Some of us may have losted our loved ones, but the love and the joy they have given us will never be lost.

To bloggers who read my blog, in partiular, Fearfull Opinionated, may you have yourself a Merry Christmas. Thanks for sharing your valuable insights and views, and may the blogging platform continue to be a place for ideas and views to flourish.

To my kids and ex-students, I used to groan at Christmas, cause it means that school is going to reopen soon. For those who are going on to sec 3, go to your new class with a open mind. Yes, I know, many of you wish to be with your friends, but hey! You all will be on the same floor anyway! Make new friends, and continue to learn. And no. Don't come and show off that you have grown taller, unless you reach my eyebrows!

For the boys who are going on to sec 3, you will get used to the long pants. The long pants is not just another piece of clothing - it symbolise the fact that you are becoming a young adult, and that you are no longer a boy, or a junior in school. It also symbolise the fact that you have reached the age to take on more responsiblity. Learn to take care of your juniors.

For those who are going on to 4N, continue to work hard! I can't wait to hear the news that all of you get promoted to sec 5. For those who got retained, don't give up on yourself! Remember what I told you, you have the intelligence, but just need a little bit more patience, and a little bit more perserverance (for those dota addicts, no. not ring of health + void stone). Hope to hear good news from you!


Have yourself a Merry Christmas.

cats and dogs

as mentioned before. rainy days don't get me down, but set me in a reflective mood.

It's been raining the whole day, cats and dogs. Drizzles, then cats and dogs, drizzles, then cats and dogs, and the cycle goes on(it's currently cats and dogs).

Perfect weather. Too bad I don't have the Tomato and Herb Soup from Business canteen right now. Then again, given my waistline, I shouldn't be consuming food at this hour.

Currently playing this song on repeat. "Cry Me a River" by Diana Krall (no, not justin timberlake). One of the best comback song. If i were to summarise the lyrics with a childish tone, it will be "haha, you dump me last time, now you got dump. Orbi Good!"

Great accompaniment with this weather(minus the childish version)




They say the perfect meal goes with the perfect wine.

I say the perfect song goes with the perfect mood. And the weather too.

meaningful lyrics

thanks to roamer for publishing such a nice song(9 crimes by Damien Rice) on his blog. It's been a long time since I seen such deep lyrics in English Songs, when the whole industry seemed to be filled with songs that's all about sex. With prevalent lyrics like "Loosen up my buttons" or "so scandalous" or "My milkshake is better than yours",(ok, they are catchy tunes), it makes the lyrics of "9 Crimes" even rarer.

9 Crimes
Damien Rice & Lisa Hannigan

Leave me out with the waste - this is not what I do
It's the wrong kind of place to be thinking of you
It's the wrong time for somebody new
It's a small crime and I've got no excuse

Is that alright with you?
Give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright with you?
If you don't shoot it, how am I supposed to hold it?

Leave me out with the waste - this is not what I do
It's the wrong kind of place to be cheating on you
It's the wrong time but she's pulling me through
It's a small crime and I've got no excuse

Is that alright with you?
(It's not alright) Give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright with you?
(It's not alright) If you don't shoot it, how am I supposed to hold it?

Is that alright with you?
(No...)



The video is a little morbid though.

The last time I saw lyrics as beautiful as this was "Insensitive" by Jane Arden (hence the phoenotic spelling of the blog address). I was amazed how "Insensitive" was able to convey the feelings of having unrequited love without saying things like "oh i can't live without you" or "i will die without you", ala the melodrama you can find in korean drama that is all so cliche. The elegant lyrics, in my opinion, is much more powerful.

Insensitive
by Jane Arden

How do you cool your lips
After a summer’s kiss
How do you rid the sweat
After the body bliss
How do you turn your eyes
From the romantic glare
How do you block the sound
Of a voice you’d know anywhere

Oh, I really should have known
By the time you drove me home
By the vagueness in your eyes
Your casual good-byes
By the chill in your embrace
The expression on your face
That told me
Maybe You might have some advice to give
On how to be
Insensitive
Insensitive
Insensitive

How do you numb your skin
After the warmest touch
How do you slow your blood
After the body rush
How do you free your soul
After you’ve found a friend
How do you teach your heart
It’s a crime to fall in love again

Oh, you probably won’t remember me
It’s probably ancient history
I’m one of the chosen few
Who went ahead and fell for you
I’m out of vogue, I’m out of touch
I fell too fast, I feel too much
I thought that you might have
Some advice to give on how to be
Insensitive
I really should have known
By the time you drove me home
By the vagueness in your eyes
Your casual good-byes
By the chill in your embrace
The expression on your face
That told me
Maybe You might have some advice to give
On how to be
Insensitive
Insensitive
Insensitive

mindset

I just realised, that the song used for the scene where the silly little girl hum the tune to the old tree during "Patchwork", is actually 梁祝. Darn I shouldn't have known this, cause it makes me think that the old tree is a pedophile. Just kidding.

Kids got their posting a few days back. I think the biggest controversy is that many of them, having the same subject combination, is being split into 2 different classes. So they are away from their cliques, their good friends or whoever-they-want-to-be-in-the-same-class-with.

It's funny that despite repeating reminders that I'm no longer their teacher and they should address me by my name instead, they still call me "Mr ???". One of them even ask me how to appeal to change class. Like how would I know? Hehe.

Have talked to those who talked to me about the above-mentioned matter. Glad that they took the optimistic side to things and hope they continue to have an open mind about their new class. I'm more worried about the 2 of them who went on to normal stream. I hope the slower pace will help them get back on track, instead of feeling inferior or giving up on their studies.

Kak Zul was right. Even the most talented and academic able student will fail if the emotional and mental state is not taken care of. Mrs Chua was right, when she said during the sharing session, "A teacher can make or break a student". I

Have we given enough time to our kids to make sure that they do not break? How much is giving too much, such that they will not learn to be stronger on their own? How much is too little, that it will cause them to fall? It is easy to say that if they are mentally strong, no teacher can influence their will. But given their age, where their hormones is changing, and their confuse about their identity, is it too much to ask for to ensure their emotional well-being?

I'm still heart-broken, that one of the scholars, mentioned during the sharing session, "Kids these days are getting harder to teach. How can we teach them well if their parents don't teach them values and stuff?".

I mean what's his problem? Can't we teach that? Just because it's the parents' job, and they are not doing it, will it kill you for you to teach them character and values too? Besides, we are teachers, not professors. We do not just cover academia only. There is so much more about teaching than just academics.

I simply hate it, when groups of people get together for the purpose is to serve a cause, yet the priority and reasons behind its actions is not aligned to the cause. Will it kill you to do a little more, if the cause will be better served? Will it kill you to do a little more beyond your scope, so as to serve the cause better?

Sigh. I wonder how long I can survive this uphill battle in a particular committee in hall. It sucks when the leadership and majority say things like "we should do this because we got less things to do" when that path makes life much more difficult for the people you are suppose to serve. It sucks when the leadership and majority says that they want to redo something, and yet, their mindset is still the same. End result? Likely to be something like the old one, with a different look that's all.

On a unrelated note, I have gotten my results through a leaked means. Dunno if it is moderated or not, but judging from the "satisfactory" result i got from my physics module which I thought I would fail badly, I guess the results have been moderated. My CAP? Let's just say, it is ok enough for MOE not to call me down for academic counselling.

poof!

I thought I could breathe after the exams.

Then deadlines came in.

Arts Website
Production
Info Tech

Was that my life that poofed into the air?

Love and Hate

Why is it that a soldier can carry so much hatred for his enemies and yet, at the same time, hold love for his family back home?
Why is it that a cat can be motivated to attack anyone that touches her kittens, while at teh same time, hold love for its kittens?

Hate and Love coexist. They feed each other, they grow each other. It is because you want to protect or serve something that you love, that you hate things that threaten it. The stronger your love is, the stronger your hatred will be.

Why do people hate someone? Well, obviously, that someone has pushed his or her buttons. You don't see people hating strangers for no apperent reasons, do you? And how do one push another person's buttons? By threatening what he or she loved, cared about, or matters to him or her.

So if you are hated, obviously you have pushed someone buttons. And to push more button, don't acknowledge what you have done, and don't apologise. That is why after so many years, the Japanese are still being hated by the Chinese and Koreans, cause they did not acknowledge what they have done to them during WWII, despite so many years.

And to push even more buttons, not only do you not apologise, but trivalise the matter to with ethno-class-centric perspective. And blame people for harping over such a small matter, that is long over. Sounds insenstive, but hey, blame otheres for not being mature enough so that you can climb on the moral high ground.

Running away from your mistakes is cowardance. Not accounting for your mistakes, and to trivalise it is insensitive and immature. Weren't kids the ones who goes something like "I only take $1 what! What's the big deal? Why are you harping over it"

People do want to forgive. Hate is something tiring and draining. No body enjoys hating. But if you were to forgive a person who did not account for his or her mistakes, aren't you sending the wrong signals to people that what they did is ok, and chances are, allowing them to make the same mistakes to others again? If China and Korea were to forgive Japan for what they did during WWII, without Japan acknowledging it, how would future generations of Japan learn about the mistakes their past generations make, learn about the impact it has on others, and make sure it doesn't happen again? If China and Korea did not make noise when Japanese history textbook glorified or made false justifications of the atrocities of the Japanese soldiers, imagine the wrong things that are being taught to their future generations.

That is why people still harp about WSM incident on blogs. Heck, they even made a machinima out of it. Cause she have yet to acknowledge her mistake, nor her father's statement apologise for the incident. If they were to forgive her at this point in time, wouldn't they be sending the wrong signal to this kid, that what you said is correct, just that the tone is wrong, when its her arguements, not tone, that is insensitive(class-centric to a certain degree) and pushed many buttons?

So if you are hated, don't blame people for not forgiving you, if you are not doing things to seek their forgiveness. Cause you show that you are unrepetent, that by forgiving you if you do not acknowledge your mistake, we are as good as agreeing to the horrible things you have done.

Do I hate J, the campmate who i never trusted and got involved in the credit card scam? Quite, but more of detest. But do I want to continue detesting him? Of course not. But I can't forgive him as yet. I thought this incident would teach him a lesson and make him change. I even told Francis, when he's meeting up with J, that if he shows any remorse, tell him that I although i detested him in the past, I will stand by and support the changed him. Yet, he have yet to show any remorse.

Do I hate KQH? Not really, but some of her actions during council irked and pushed many of my buttons. Well, I did many immature acts then in response to being irked, but that doesn't mean I think that my actions were justified. It wasn't, and looking back I shouldn't have done some of the things that I have done. But what irks meup till today is the fact that she has yet to acknowledge her mistake, and continues to trivalise it. Why do we still bring it up? Cause it pushed our buttons, and continues to irk us. Yes, it's tiring and irritating to exclude people, and I want to put it aside. But to forgive her actions when her mindset has yet to change, is as good as endorsing it.

Nobody hates someone who has changed for the better. Remember hating someone who irritated the hell out of you in primary school? Why have you stop hating that person? Cause he or she has changed. I think the success of the Yellow Ribbon Project is a telling sign of people wanting to give a 2nd chance for those who wants to change.

In another weird way, if you look at it in another perspective, you don't hate people you don't care about. We don't go around hating strangers do we?

Love and hate, do coexist.

Daily Show and Colbert Report

Oh goodness. I'm addicted to clips from "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "Colbert Report". These guys are simply smart at the way they poke fun of the Bush mis-administration. It helps to keep me sane and tickling during this boring and crazy period (exam lah).



"At this point, 49% of the country also solemnly swore". You forgot the rest of the world, which i think could account to at least 60%.



"The terroist attacked us and killed 3000 of ours citizens, even before we started the freedom agenda in the Middle East!"
"What have, What have Iraq got to do with what?"
"The Attack on World Trade Centre?"

"Nothing!"

You may call me a conspiracy theorist or naive or whatever, but judging from what has happend, it is hard for me to deny that the US government has some involvement in 9-11 attacks.