the lastsplash

Last night a close friend asked me where do I get the energy for work and study . The truth is I don't. But I have no choice. I had already committed to them two years ago. And what made me commit was the thirst for self-satisfaction , knowledge , recognition and better job prospect . As it is three weeks and one examination paper away from this chapter of my education life, I want to reflect. Perhaps it'll also serve as some kind of reference for people considering part time studies. So what did I go thru' so far? Looking back, it feels easy - only because I have gotten used to the hours and demands. It does not mean I did well,but at least I don't see the need to grumble anymore. I remember at the peak of my commitments, I was juggling work, tuition, a Java certification exam, and my coursework projects. Understanding colleagues, understanding family, understanding friends. Subsequently, I knew that I could handle them all. I must admit with really limited resource...

Does the Singapore law protects one from being hit? Is a slap by a stranger considered as an assault? An incident on the bus this morning set me thinking. It involved a middle age man, who looked educated and respectable, and a primary school boy, who looked like he was half awaken. Apparently the man had ask the boy to move aside for him to get into the inner seat. And the boy might have been the rebellious sort and asked 'why'. What came next shocked me. After getting in, the man turned around and slapped the boy. Piak ! It was awfully loud. And all the boy could do was to stare back and mutter some vulgarities. The man went on to say he hit him because the boy talked back. After the boy got off the bus, the man started to explain himself to the passenger seated beside him. Was there a need to explain his violent act against a helpless boy? Maybe it occurred to him that he was a big bully and had sinned. It strike me that whatever the man did was wrong. But I did nothing abou...

Oh great, finally have a lil' time to review and reveal my 2008 Birthday wish list! I guess in some way it'll save my dear friends from cracking their brains on what to get me. Heh . Hey I know how difficult it is! Afterall, I engineered the acquisition of a few of your presents horrrrr . lol. Let me just copy-and-paste last year's list, review with some comments, and highlight what changed and what is added to the list. 1. A chic Laptop Bag for 13.3" laptop. Why? >> Cuz my Fujitsu laptop bag is old and dull. Of cuz no need to get these high-end ones lah, I saw some really nice one at the Apple authorized store in Orchard Cineleisure as well. [Update: I got this for my birthday from you guys last year and it had served me really well! Thanks!] 2. A bottle of Designer cologne. Why? >> Cuz what makes one smell man enough is not his perspiration. Which brand of cologne do ladies like best? You decide! I tried Davidoff Coolwater, Hugo Boss Emotion, GF Ferre,...

The folks at movieland are definitely getting super-perfecto muy bien at the CG thingy. And Dr Seuss was a genius storyteller as another one of his books hit the big screen. As usual, every little details fall in nicely together at the end of the show. Throw in a a bad guy who is dying to do the dirty job for free, an amazing who does an amazing imitation of kungfu ninja using his ears, many many fuzzy wuzzy animals, an incredibly funny knock-knock joke, and a feel good theme song which everyone joins in, every minute of Horton Hears a Who! shouts out fun and creativity. 4 outta 5 stars for this movie!! Regardless you are a small boy, a small girl, or a big one, you'll love it! Just before the show, I had a lesson on big bang while pooping. Ewww ! Heh . Okay don't imagine that ! Just focus on the story. I overhead the conversation between a boy (about 5-year-old from the sound of him) and his dad in the cubicle next to mine. Boy : Daddy, how does nature come about? Dad : Nobo...

Eighth win in last nine worldwide events. Fifth consecutive US PGA Tour win. Fifth Arnold Palmer Invitational win. I like what Tiger Woods said after his latest win, " I have to keep working and keep progressing ," " And keep working on my game ." As the news article says, 'It's not mistake he said "working" twice. With Tiger the win never stop because the work never ends .' I will work work work too! Even tho' I am a lil' too tired right now. 冲啊!!!

" Side solution to taxi woes ". LTA finally realised the problems of its rule that forbid taxi to pick up or drop passengers in CBD other than at taxi stands. On the first thought, this rule seems to be logical to stop errant taxi drivers who stop whenever they like to pick up passengers, possibly causing accidents. And taxi stands make it safer to do so, as well as 'easier to pick up a cab' if there are sufficient taxis. But, all that is only on first thought and the logic stops there. LTA oughta think harder when making policies. Think twice or even thrice! Think carefully. Consider all stakeholders. Don't they learn SSM? =p On second thought, mind you just tthe second thought, you will realise this rule is really illogical for alighting passengers. Let me give you an example, I took a cab to Maxwell Road Hawker Centre two weeks ago. Upon reaching the area, the driver said he couldn't stop at the hawker centre for me as there wasn't any taxi stand there....

As the 2008 Formula 1 season kicked off today with the qualifying round and race in Australia tomorrow, it is an exciting year for fans in Singapore! Personally, I followed the races on Sundays when they still telecast F1 races on free-to-air channel. But the passion for it slowly died when these sports are shown only on paid cable channels. Hopefully all these will change this year when the race comes to Singapore. The 15th leg of the 2008 F1 Season, it is cool to find details of the Singapore GP on the official Formula One web site! It is interesting to read about what the organisers think about Singapore in the "Destination Guide". Just to highlight a few... " Singapore is a clean city; in fact it’s so spotless that you can’t buy chewing gum, just in case the temptation to litter the streets is too great. " I wouldn't say its spotless lah ... no chewing gum is true! "If you’re a fan of Far Eastern metropolitan life, you’ll love Singapore. There are two...

I wasn't exactly feeling good. Things didn't go exactly as I had pictured. I wonder if it has to to do with the gap between expectations and reality. Once again, we both had a lil' misunderstanding, trying to interpret what each other was thinking. Well the consolation was we had the same interpretation which was incorrect. Afterall, there was still some level of connection... Anyway, the evening smoothened up with some soothing music which I thoroughly enjoyed. You can read about Olivia Ong's live performance on 14 Mar, at the concourse of the Esplanade for Mosaic 2008 here from ZQ, here from Jax, and here from Stoney. Yeah, we met up after work for the short gig! I heard Olivia's tracks many times and it had been really popular. I once went to three different shops consecutively at Central Mall, all playing her songs! I guess it helped that Bossa Nova and other Jazzy genre are so soothing to our ears, and we are proud that she is a Singaporean who made it big. ...