Rainie Day @ Bishan Junction 8
Friday, December 30, 2005
In a nutshell, the movie is about the Stone family uniting on Christmas with the favorite son (called Everett) bringing home his girlfriend (called Meredith). The Stone family is quite hostile to the gal and the latter broke down. Feeling overwhelmed, she begs her sister (called Julie) to join her at this family and this triggers a series of complications...
The gay issue was mentioned in the movie and I thought the movie is at one of its emotional pinnacle when the mother tells the gay son something like "being gay doesn't suggest that he is abnormal and she will love him just like she does to the other sons". 
Zhiwei left for home after the movie shortly while Yingkit and I waited till 7 pm for Rainie's autography session. We arrived at the open plaza at 6.30 and was in the middle of the crowd. At around 6.45, the security suddenly open the queue gate and I told Yingkit to rush for the gate. By this act, he was actually placed quite at the front of the autography queue. He even beat some who started queuing at 4+ pm. Around me, there were some interesting people.
There were two ladies with video cams that swivel and tilts (above: first row third photo). So, even though I can't really see the stage with my eye, the view from the screen is very good. Just three meters away, there were the photographers with the at-least-400mm-$10000+ canon lens. Super pro... These photographers were standing on an elevated platform and were blocking the views of those behind them. Before the session started, they were shouted down from their position and I think the photos taken wouldn't have turned out very well after that. The instant Rainie made her appearance, hundreds of cameras just snap and snap her pictures (above: second row second photo). Just look at the picture; did I capture the spirit of that moment? 
Rainie sang 爱昧 and 理想情人, following which the autography session began. The queue stretched all the way from the open plaza to Seiyu (inside Bugis Junction); there must have been at least 500 people crowding the whole place. Photographers were looking at the pictures taken while Rainie was signing autograph (above: first row second photo) and security guards were watching attentatively to maintain crowd control. Of course, Yingkit was exceptionally pleased (center photo) after getting the autograph.
Well, this is the first time I attempt photo-journalism and I will improve from here. Very fast pace, very exciting and lots of challenges during this session. I love this feeling of taking photographs.
posted byWilliam at 12:18 AM 0 comments
CG15/00: Gross, Gore and Romance
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
1. He knows where to bring a gal to a scenic and romatic sunset/sunrise.
2. He is willing to fight for his love.
3. He knows how to make a gal laugh by acting silly.
4. The rest, I forgot... hehe...
Candy was very analytical: she asked why would the T-rex go for a human when it just ate a giant iguana. She says:"The human would be like a toothpick for the T-rex only mah!" Yeah, it really make no sense when T-rex wants to challenge King Kong for a toothpick.
The gang went to TCC at Circular Road for a coffee after the movie. Too bad, photography not allowed since there are some art pieces on exhibition at that time. The decor is very very cozy: bean bags, cushions and low tables only. For those who don't know my class; Siew Fung is a doctor; Corde is a pharmacist; Sook, Candy and Ant are life scientists while I am the chemist. This created a very potent mixture: our topic went from cute, sweet gals to "jump from at least a 10-storey building to die" (Siew Fung: the chance of dying from jumping increases by 10% with every storey increase). The topics were really literally revolving around how to die and what happens when someone dies traumatically. Of course there are some moments of silliness from me: can we use a cobra to stage a robbery? Say: I will make the cobra bite you if you don't give me the money. And there are questions which are really illuminating: call the zoo if you bitten by a snake for the anti-venom. Well, the first thing I thought would to be call the ambulance. But Siew Fung said that only the zoo can identify the snake and only then would the effective anti-venom be administrated by the hospital. Make sense. Chatting with CG15/00 is never boring and I always learn something new :)
Outing ended with a dinner @ 2245 @ Lau Pat Sat.
posted byWilliam at 12:40 AM 1 comments
Spicy Hot Pot with Yingkit & Raymond
Monday, December 26, 2005
What a crowd @ Liang Seah Street! The three of us walked around the area before settling on 川一品. The restaurant opened last week and I haven't been walking around Bugis very much so didn't know it exist. The cheapest hot pot jacked up the price from $10 to $12; looks like it is making big money. The ingredients are ok but more like another spin-off of steamboat from Marina Bay. 川一品 is more restaurant-like and with a ala-cart menu. Price is of course much higher at $17.90+++. Once again, we over-estimated the volume of our stomach and ordered too much. In the end, Yingkit suggested adding more broth to the pot so that when the pot is 深不可测, we throw our left-overs into the fiery-red furnance. I think I got high on the steamboat and became very corny and cheesy at the conversations in the end. Reminiscene of the secondary school days was really funny when it comes to Marc and Dr Tan Hong Ling. All the bickering and arguments between a student and a teacher are interesting to recall but I hope I wouldn't bump into such an argumentative student like Marc next time.
Dinner ended up much cheaper than expected. $17.90+++ and a 2 cans of soft drink would have easily cost $25. We ended up paying less that $20 per person. Lucky? I hope I don't have to pay back in some other ways for "cheating" the restaurant.
A Prudential insurance agent tricked us into a "psycho-you-to-buy" session using some lucky draw gimmick. Haha, just their luck to bump into a William that is on high. I think the session didn't go as she wished with me around. Try to psycho us into Prucash. I was interested in this policy about three years back but after doing some research, it wasn't the best option for me and I think for most of us. The money would be stuck in the policy for two years before getting cash-backs. I have been dwelling in unit trusts since then. The agent couldn't handle us, the three of us were just too causual and corny to get into the buy-insurance mood. The session ended up rather fruitlessly for the agent except for the information from the survey forms she asked us to fill.
posted byWilliam at 10:51 PM 0 comments
Just a Recap Before I Forget
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Haven't been writing much cause I'm too lazy. Nah, just that I have been indulging myself in the TV for the past few nights. The Channel 8 9pm show (恋爱掌门人) is so funny; enjoy it tremendously.
Yingkit came over to watch the Superstar Concert VCD; watching VCD with a friend is so much more enjoyable than watching it alone. Can gossip, can ask each other what's the thing you miss... Then went to Muthu Curry @ Little India for dinner. The fish head curry was OK. The gravy turned fishy bitter and watery as the dish went cold. So if you want to eat fish head curry, eat it fast!
The past week has been eventful. I covered Xiaoling's birthday party @ Aranda Country Club as the photographer, armed with my Canon S2 IS with a slave manual flash with homemade bounce device. Went as professsionally as possible in posing the group. I have learnt to been assertive as a photographer. How many times have we ruined a great group portrait by not posing the group? As least I have. By letting the group pose itself, I have actually failed to capture a good portrait. I was shy and thought that people would think I am so "acting pro". Well, I have learnt not to think it this way. Come to think of it: who cares about how you pose them? As long as I'm not too demanding and the photo comes out great, who will remember how "act pro" you are? If anyone is having an event and wants someone to take group portrait, I will be willing to help as long as I am free. FOC but hope that you will give me a free meal at your event. Thanks :) Here's a sample of a group portrait at the party. Click to go to Flickr to see enlargement. Note the even skin tone and almost zero hot spots on the face (no manipulation).
Went KTV with Zigui and Shihui on last Thursday @ Kbox Marina. Always feel like a bulb when I'm with them.
Results were out. Did ok (actually better than projected). Still in the second upper range, but bordering the 4.0 mark. As long as I maintain an average of B+ in my fourth year, I would have scrape through Uni with the minimal effort yet enjoying it. Yeah!
posted byWilliam at 9:32 AM 4 comments
Leadership Challenge
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
posted byWilliam at 10:43 PM 0 comments
Sweden-Bound Student Outing
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Had an outing with fellow students going to Sweden next semester. Our Yahoo! Groups included students from NUS, NTU and SMU; going on exchange or NOC. I became the IC of this outing unconciously when I suggested the meeting place and time. Like what Danwei did during our VV2003 outing, I took attendance. This was especially important in this outing since we don't want to leave anyone behind.
The group decided on something cheap; so we went to Raffles City Food Junction. Everyone was excited talking about our travelling plans, the parties in Sweden, a proposed gathering in Sweden... Jerald (NUS Yr 3 PS) gave us a tutorial on electrical plugs in Sweden and the most cost-effective methods of transferring money there. Junde (moderator of Yahoo! Group) suggested posting lecture notes in the Files section. Leng Lee became the secretary of the Group when she pulled out a typed contact list for everyone to counter-check their contact details. Seems like many wants to watch the World Cup in Germany, but the exorbitant ticket price and more importantly the sold-out situation made this wish very expensive and almost impossible to fulfil.
Will be on the same flight with Alec (NUS Yr 3 SDE). Flying 10 Jan 0100 (Singapore time) and will reach Copenhagen 10 Jan 0730. The flying time is ~13 h but since Denmark is 7 hours behind us so it seems like the flight took 6 hours if we look at our watch. Will be staying at a hostel for one night and also tour around Copenhagen for a day. Jerald will arrive on 11 Jan 0630 (Meeting him for breakfast) and Sharmaine 11 Jan 1000 so the four of us will most prob. proceed from Copenhagen to Lund together.
posted byWilliam at 11:54 PM 0 comments
K-Lunch @ Marina
Monday, December 05, 2005
Went to K-Lunch with Anita and Zhaoyue today.
posted byWilliam at 10:10 PM 0 comments
Day @ the Zoo with Zigui & Shihui
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Zigui was at the zoo as a volunteer ranger. Shihui's duty was cancelled at the last minute. We met at AMK MRT and took bus 138 to the Zoo. Proceeded to the dining area for our lunch. Luckily, Zigui was there on work; or we would have to pay $7.90 for the Chicken and Nann set. Staff discount was 25% but the cashier obviously miscalculated. We paid $8.90 for three sets: less than $3 per set.
So while Zigui was on duty, Shihui brought me around. Remember the lemurs from the movie Madagascar? Shihui and I managed to touch one in the Fragile Forest. It sounded like a baby and it was so docile.
So Zigui was at Wild Africa where he presented some facts about animals on the African savannah. There were rhino and hippo hides; skulls of big cats; furs of antelope; furs of the mother and kid lion. It was really interactive at Zigui's station.
How could we leave the zoo without Ben and Jerry's? I had a cup of BNJ smoothies before leaving the zoo at 4.30 for the Broadway musical Rent @ Kallang theatre.
posted byWilliam at 9:01 PM 0 comments
Proposed 40+ Days Europe Trip
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
The semester in Lund is going to end on the 7th of June. I have planned to return for USC FOC which is around 15-20 July. Let's say I board the home-bound plane on 19th of July; I will have exactly 42 travelling days.
I have planned to cover the Scandinavia during the term:Oslo in Norway; Stockholm, Kiruna, Malmo and some other near-Lund citities in Sweden; Finland (haven't planned where to go); Copenhagen in Denmark.
The rest of Europe will be covered after the academic semester. Here is my itinerary:
Day 1 Arrive in Prague (Czech Republic)
Day 2 Prague
Day 3 Prague
Day 4 Krakow (Poland)
Day 5 Krakow, day trip to Auschwitz (Nazi concentration camp museum) (Poland)
Day 6 Krakov, day trip to Warsaw (Poland)
Day 7 Eger (Hungary)
Day 8 Early to Budapest (Hungary)
Day 9 Budapest
Day 10 Budapest, day trip to Danube Bend (Hungary)
Day 11 To Ljublijana (Slovakia)
Day 12 Ljublijana
Day 13 To Bled (Solvakia)
Day 14 Day trips around Julian Alps
Day 15 To Zagreb (Croatia)
Day 16 Plitvice hike then to Split (Croatia)
Day 17 Split
Day 18 Boat to Korcula (Croatia)
Day 19 Korcula
Day 20 To Dubrovnik
Day 21 Dubrovnik (Croatia)
Day 22 Fly to Venice
Day 23 Venice/Florence
Day 24 Side trip to Siena (Italy)
Day 25 Fly to Rome, Rome
Day 26 Rome
Day 27 Rome
Day 28 Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre, Vernazza
Day 29 Hiking along the Riviera (Or slack; cause by this time I would have been half dead)
Day 30 To the Alps
Day 31 Alps
Day 32 Alps, night train
Day 33 Paris
Day 34 Paris, Versailles
Day 35 Paris, to Amsterdam
Day 36 Amsterdam, stay in Haarlem (Netherlands)
Day 37 Amsterdam
Day 38 To Rhine, Bacharach (Germany)
Day 39 Rheinfels Castle
Day 40 Rothenburg
Day 41 Munich
Day 42 Side trip Munich to Salzburg (Austria)
Day 43 Train back to Copenhagen
Day 44 Settle every thing and come home (Exceeded by two days! May have to skip FOC if need to)
I hope for a travelling partner but till then I will be alone. Wanna join me?
Total cost estimate: SGD 6000 (I am going to exhaust my savings)
Itinerary planned with the help of Rick Steve.
posted byWilliam at 8:11 PM 2 comments
Dinner @ Sweden Ambassador's Place
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
I was invited by the Embassy of Sweden for a dinner; all Singaporeans going on exchange, had gone for exchange and Swede on exchange were invited. I don't know the place well so took a cab there; the place is near Mediacorp Broadcast Station so the driver had little trouble finding the place.
Mixed around and settled down with Jakob and Erik, two Swedish exchange students in NUS, for a long chat. They shared their exchange experience through Singapore-Sweden life comparision.
Went home @ 2130. Mugging continues...
posted byWilliam at 11:51 PM 0 comments
Lappy Died
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Lappy died this morning. She was fine yesterday: watched NUScast, touched up essay, surfed around for useless entertainment... She was still fine tis morning: checked my mail and defrag my drives, until... until I reboot it after defrag... Perhaps, she has already shown sign of her age: her head is broken (the screen flips like a book), she is always breathless (the fan is noisy) and her movements are so slow (takes 5 min to boot). Time for an over-haul operation.
So went to the PC center in the hope of emergency treatment to revive her... it failed. Her mind/brain was failing her (can't even boot-up with the help of technical experts). Was directed to her primary consultant surgeon (the Toshiba PC center), the doctor told me to jog her mind so as to recover my VIP papers inside her. She did her last job fairly well: I was able to recover most of my data. After that, she was sent into the operation room for a brain, head and lung transplant... And it was be till next week that I will be able to see her...
P.S.
It seems like a premonition that is calling me to back-up my data last Sat and Sun. I never really like backing up since it takes such a long time copying and burning data. But somethings drove me to do this task over the weekend (actually I had wanted to postpone it after exam), I don't know what. So lucky loh, all my photos and important e-books are saved. The uncanny thing is that I actually sent in my Instrumental Analysis critique yesternite. Ya, just before Lappy died. To think I had wanted to postpone it till today. So an advice for all: Please back-up your data during important periods like the end of the semester.
posted byWilliam at 12:32 PM 0 comments
The Authoritative Status of a Teacher
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Over the last couple of days, I have been bombarded by talk shows on Channel U that revolved round the topic of teachers. One show had Xiaxue argue that if teachers do not want students to visit grammatically-problematic blogs, the teachers should educate the students not to visit these blogs, instead of commenting on the blogger (the teacher on the show was obviously targeting Xiaxue prior); the other had students expressing their views on blogging negative comments about teachers. If all these are not enough, the morning topic for 933 was "Experience with Teachers".
Personally, I, too, had bad experience with teachers. I was taped on the mouth when I was in primary school (for talking incessantly) and ordered to stand outside the class-room for the WHOLE day (I had visited the toilet without permission during reading period). Did I hate my teachers? No, I did not. Because I know I was at fault. But why are students today so defendant of their own actions even if they are at fault? Maybe they believe that the customer (student) is always right. Maybe they are thinking:"My parents pay taxes to let you teach me something and here I am being scolded by you. What the heck?!"
What I am advocating is quite simple. Maintain the authority of the teachers in the classroom and be prepared to face the music if you do something wrong. Don't take it personally that the teacher is chiding you in the class. (A teacher should never abuse that authority conferred to him/her though.) Outside the class, that level of authority can be brought down and I am for group-outing with students after class. What I sense is that youngsters are unable to differentiate the relationship in and out of class. They expect teachers to be nice to them in and out of class. I don't blame them for they are still growing up and this is part of the process.
Of course, in addition, a teacher should never show favoritism or discrimination in the class. I know its difficult, a teacher is with emotions and these will undoubtedly show up. The bottom line is that a teacher should be impartial and authoritative in class while showing his/her personal human touch outside curriculum.
Easier said than done. I shall see whether my advocations work when I am facing all the challenges as I embark on my teaching career in a few years.
posted byWilliam at 12:17 PM 0 comments
Get Online with a Mouse
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Andy sent me a link to a video clip; it's about a rabbit and a hamster trying to get online with a mouse. Have a good laugh and relax (I suppose people reading this might be taking a study break).
posted byWilliam at 11:25 AM 2 comments
Application for Accomodation in Lund, Sweden
I finally applied for an accomodation online. I have been put off by the fact that I need to navigate on a Swedish website. (Well, not quite; there is a English mirror site. But the main online application still needs to be done in Swedish.) The accomodation admin has sent me a step-by-step mail to navigate through the Swedish site; the problem is that they have changed one of the buttons on the site and "Ansök om bostad" could not be found. In the end I have to bash around the site to find the correct page. These were the words that I clicked:"Uppdatera din bostadsansökan en gång per termin!" Don't you think it is quite (or VERY) different?
I applied for a korridorrum (corridor room) in Sparta and was 9th on the waiting list. (It's not too bad to be the 9th, I was expecting a later queue number.) The monthly rate for the room is 2427 KR (~485 SGD); and for six months of accomodation it will cost me close to 3000 SGD. Compared to the States, I think it is cheap. I remember Bernice telling us that she had to work at a Co-op to get a rate reduction from ~1000 USD to ~300 USD (~510 SGD) in the States. I am checking my NUS mail now, still no news from IRO/ Lund University...
posted byWilliam at 10:57 AM 0 comments
Meeting with Edmund for YLF Singapore
Monday, October 24, 2005
I had a group-meeting (Lingesh, Laremy, Shane, Shamantha and Joseph were there too) with Edmund regarding the participation in Youth Leaders Foundation (YLF) Singapore. I was tired from the lab session and the test; closed my eyes for a few times during the meeting.
Just a bit on YLF. It is a non-governmental organization that envisioned to be the "foremost youth leadership developer in the world". They do this by partnering schools and providing resources for youth leadership development. There are chapters in Australia and New Zealand; the Singapore chapter was setup 2 years ago. Edmund covered many points. But the gist is that he is recruiting a core team of 15 members to formulate the syllabus for the leadership training workshops to be held for secondary and JC students. As members of this core group, we will also be the pioneer training facilitators for Boon Lay Secondary School.
This is not a chance to be missed. Leadership has always been my interest and I am excited to know that I might be able to join YLF to come up with the training programme for students. Work will start in December and will take us through January. I have not seen the actual template, which is a 45- module course from the States, that we are going to work with; for now, I am impressed with the visions and goals of YLF. The idea of giving back to the community really excites me; furthermore, it is through something I like doing: being a leadership trainer. But I'm a bit concern about not being with the team should I be accepted by Lund Uni for SEP next semester. Which by the way, reminds me that I have not received the letter from Lund. Maybe I should write to IRO to ask them.
posted byWilliam at 9:37 PM 0 comments
Lynn's Bday @ Aloha!
Sunday, October 23, 2005
The Saturday started off as usual: finishing up my Space, Time and Matter paper on Thermodynamics Time Arrow and revising some chemistry.
The evening was much more exciting: went to
A lady's scream greeted us as we neared the chalet; and I was thinking loud: this is a real party: naughty and happening. It was hard to get lost, actually:
The interior decor was fantastic.
The food were prepared by Lynn's aunts and her uncles were doing live BBQ. To commercially cater for this kind of food would cost much. Excellent food. Too bad I din snap a picture of the spread.
Like I said, this party was happening. After blowing out the candles,
So after a shower, Lynn opened our present and we bidded farewell.
posted byWilliam at 1:56 PM 0 comments
Nano-outing @ Crystal Jade
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Yesterday (18 Oct) was another busy Tuesday: the whole day was filled with lectures and ISM meeting with Loan, Harman and Dr. Kang (who was not around today). I'm glad that I did "not-bad" for my instrumental analysis mid-term test. And talking about this module, I skipped the tutorial to join Lijie, Jiatong and Qing Zhang for dinner.
We had nice conversations: talked about reality TV (just found out Lijie is a fan of reality TV like me), management and leadership, and of course relationship. And so we talked about our experience and pestered Lijie (the only gal :) for some dating tips. This is such a coincidence: all the gals whom I talked to for the past week thought that I have a sense of humor and should have no problem knowing people, getting attached. Sad (?!) to say, I am still single. Should I move on?
posted byWilliam at 1:00 AM 2 comments
Normal PGP Dinner
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Met Zigui, Shi Hui and KC for dinner. KC and I went too much into USC politics; I can sense that Zigui and Shi Hui weren't too interested in our conversation (Well, perhaps I could be wrong abt this). KC gave some constructive comments on improving the USP curriculum and USC activities. They were good, but I feel that the admin wouldn't accede to these changes so easily: they were pretty revoluntionary. Like including the Pres and V.P in USP interviews in order to rate potential students' enthusiasm for Club activities.
Again, haven done much for my molecular dynamics ISM; the maths is putting me off. But no choice lah, this field is interesting. I definitely gotta do some work before Fri.
posted byWilliam at 10:42 PM 0 comments
Rag Day
Saturday, August 06, 2005
The 2005 USC Rag performance was the best out of the three I attended. There were more dancers than ever and the presentation was creative and wacky. Thanks Laremy, Yan Qing and Ling for doing a great job overseeing the performance. And, yup: thank you dancers. The back-drop was nice: Trinity College recreated. It was very durable: it fell and nothing much was broken. I could see the sadness in all of us when we dismantled it. Thanks Yuan Shuo, Qing Zhang and all the freshmen who have contributed to the back-drop. The standard of our Rag performance is improving and I believe that we’ll not be stuck to a small back-drop. One day, USC will be building a real float. Watch out!
We didn’t win anything. Everyone was sad. NUSSU Rag Comm has removed the presentation category and all who participated in the competition built a float. Joseph asked me to console the team when the award presentation was over; I didn’t do it. I believe that at that moment, it’s an essential moment of silence. Am I wrong? Maybe. But I believe that this moment of “defeat” must be sunken into people’s heart to make them come back next year stronger. I’m not a strong believer in giving loud speeches to energize people.
Whoever the next FOP, FOC, FOW and Rag Director will be, I believe you will do a better job than what we did. USC just keeps getting better.
posted byWilliam at 10:21 PM 1 comments