Friday, April 28, 2006

I'm not quite sure what's important.

Travis - Village Man

I don't wanna rock, baby don't wanna rock
I just feel I'm stuck up against the clock
I don't really wanna rock tonight
I only wanna hold you tight

I don't wanna roll, baby don't wanna roll
I just feel I'm cold like I'm getting old
I don't really wanna roll tonight
I only wanna hold you tight
Please, please don't turn out the light

Rock'n'roll village man
Northern soul peter pan
Rock'n'roll rocket man
Skater phase desperate Dan
Rock'n'roll never sounded better

I don't wanna be, baby don't wanna be
I just feel it's me falling off the tree
I don't really wanna be tonight
I only wanna keep you right

I don't wanna try, baby don't wanna try
I just feel I'm dry trying to get by
I don't really wanna try tonight
I only wanna hold you tight
Please, please don't turn out the light

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Ah Koh is going to talk about politics today.

Ah Koh got something to say to Dr Chee. He says: screw you, understand? You are the worst thing in Singapore politics now. Everyone know that you pok kai already, nothing to lose by talking cock. Ok lah, for you, nothing to lose means can anyhow talk right. Bankrupt already, gahmen want to take more money from you also cannot. But you never think leh. You represent not just yourself. You represent SDP. You represent the opposition also. You come out and say stupid things, you make everyone look bad, you understand? You only give PAP more things to bang the opposition about. You hurt your own people.

And you don't come and motherson tell me that opposition is not your own people. All fighting for same thing right? All fighting to give people another choice right? All fighting against the gahmen = PAP mindset right? All form one big happy group called SDA to fight for some GRCs together right? Then if you all fighting for the same thing, why the hell you want to make your own people look bad? My nephew says, you are a bloody li-a-bee-lee-tee to the opposition. I don't know what that word means lah. But I know what he means. Don't have person like you, is better for Singapore.

Lim pei also don't know how much your family is suffering. Your name is dirt already leh. Then you come out and do things like that, only make your family name worse. I tell you, if lim pei is your brother, lim pei die die won't let anyone know that you are my brother. You know why? Because you are the biggest bullshitter of the lot. Say you want to fight for our country, for democracy, then you go and do bloody stupid things to attract attention and make the opposition look like a bunch of cocks. Turn the SDP from a decent party to a joke. Run away from the country and only show face once in a while when elections coming. You say the gahmen lie to people. I tell you, you are the biggest liar when you say that you are fighting for Singapore.

And you don't come and tell lim pei that this is the only way to play politics in Singapore. You go look at Chiam See Tong. He do things sui-sui. He fight for his people. He talk to his people and know their problems. He got problems with the gahmen, he also say in a not-very-nice way, but he don't say stupid things to let them bang and sue. He use brains to fight. Everything he say, got fact one. And in the end he get voted and stay in Parliament where continue to fight. Dr Chee, that is how you earn respect, understand? Not bloody run about and kao pei. My england not very power, but I know one saying: empty vassal make the most noise. You know what, Dr Chee? You make bloody a lot of noise.

Ah Koh not saying that the gahmen does things sui-sui. Everyone got a lot of things to say about gahmen, how gahmen sometimes a bit too much. Bring SM in to fight for Potong Pasir and Hougang. How they suggest Potong Pasir and Hougang MP don't need party whip, if they kena voted in. How can, right? Not right lah. Like that it's special treatment already. How they give Potong Pasir and Hougang less money for upgrading. How they force Potong Pasir and Hougang to wait 20 years for upgrading, then when election comes they very happy to say "vote for us and you get upgrading!" How MM can come out and openly say that they give less things to opposition ward. This is not right. But Dr Chee, why you want to make up bullshit stories about the NKF and PAP, when gahmen already do some many other things that you can bang with more proof? Sometimes ah, the things you want to fight gahmen about is damn bloody stupid. Sometimes, the way you want to talk about the gahmen - use loudhailer at market, like lelong lelong like that, really damn bloody low-class.

Dr Chee, you ever look in the mirror or not? Wake up lah. People see you as a joke. They don't see you as freedom fighter. They stop listening already to the bullshit that comes out of your mouth. If you are a gentleman, then you siam politics and give the opposition chance to repair all the damage you have done.

Just keep running.

Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Follow You Into The Dark

Love of mine some day you will die

But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark

No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark
If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

In Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule
I got my knuckles brusied by a lady in black
And I held my tongue as she told me
"Son fear is the heart of love"
So I never went back

If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

You and me have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes are all worn down
The time for sleep is now
It's nothing to cry about
Cause we'll hold each other soon
The blackest of rooms

If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Then I'll follow you into the dark

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No particular reason; this song was just on infinite repeat in my mind as I was running. Speaking of running: ran 20 rounds around the SRC track, walked from SRC to PGP, walked from PGP to Sheares, walked from Sheares to KR, walked from KR to Fong Seng.

Tomorrow's gonna hurt.

Monday, April 24, 2006

A real update, for once.

It's been a very long time since I really posted. I know, the last few posts have been mostly filler, but it's the exam period afterall, and time is really short. Still, I guess you lot deserve a decent update.

The last couple of weeks have basically been spent mugging all day in the Students' Lounge, the final snail-free bastion. Well, ok, that's only because I wasn't kiasu enough to book a classroom the moment booking was open. Still, the lounge is a pretty good place to study, once you get used to the funny smell. And the fact that you're basically Exhibit A in the specimen case, open to scrutiny by all passerbys. Then again, I've got my quiet little corner, I've got my power plug, I've got my music, and I've got friends who come and either kacheow me or study in silence with me - what else could I ask for?

Broke my routine last Friday night and went for dinner and drinks with my fellow sufferers. The original idea was to have a snack at 8ish, then go back and work somemore before we went for dinner/supper. Somehow, I don't think we really got any work done after that snack - people started going all crazy in the lounge. Jumping around, filming advertisements, bopping to their own beat...you get the idea. If you don't get the idea, don't sweat it, it's just another embarassing little scene that will always remain at the back of our minds, no matter how much we try to forget.

So, we gave up eventually and decided to speedwalk down to Blooies', because their kitchen was closing and we needed food. Like BADLY. Made it down in 12 minutes flat. Well, Tris, Pet, Huiying and I made it; Adrienne and Weishan lagged behind and strolled in 5 minutes before last orders. Still, we made it! Good food, entertaining patrons (a birthday celebration; aww, how sweet!), and good beer. And, most importantly: good company. Some days just end well.

So, that was Friday. Followed by a mugmug weekend, interspersed with good family time on Saturday night and church on Sunday. For those interested: my brother's now 17. Young still, but the years have a funny way of catching up. Seems just like yesterday that he was still a little RI kid...oh, wait, that was just last year. Nevermind.

Legal Theory today was...ok. I managed to draw a Venn Diagram in my essay about the law and morals. If that doesn't set my essay apart from the rest, nothing will. And all the time I spent fleshing out my personal conception of the law actually helped, to my surprise. Am thankful. Had a good prayer meeting afterwards, just meeting and sharing with all the prayer group people, and giving thanks for everything that has happened in our lives.

Prayer meeting was followed by an unwinding session at Essential Brew at Holland V, with the usual TG8 group, plus Jean, Weishan and Ven, sans Ahbert. Again, excellent food, excellent atmosphere, and most excellent company. It's true; I'm not sure how I could ever get through this lawschool thing without all my friends. I'm not really good at expressing myself, but all I can say is that I'm thankful for all the people surrounding me who keep me laughing, who keep me sane. Who make me glad to be alive. Who remind me of my place and purpose.

Crim awaits; I know I should start work, but I'm also reluctant to. Ah well, abang is relaked, but he should also be wary of being too relaked. He runs the risk of missing the chances that life offers him. And that applies to so much more than just schoolwork. Still, we'll see how things go, eh? No stress, nosiree!

Just 9 more days to go!

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Gahmen quite power ah.

PAP quite bastard lah. But SDP is really bloody stupid also.

Aiyah, Ah Koh don't dare say too much lah. Later ISD come and catch me when I lim kopi downstairs. Liddat not good lah, later also troublesome for my nephew. Like that SDP newspaper print one stupid story, suddenly every single SDP member and his father also kena sue. Cannot lah. You want to know what Ah Koh think, you come and find me downstairs and we talk cock.

Friday, April 21, 2006

How NOT to write an exam.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Daily Routine.

Life seems to have settled into a nice daily routine.

9-11am: Wake up, wash up, breakfast, head to school.
11am-2pm: Start working in the lounge.
2-3pm: Late lunch.
3-8pm: Back to work.
8-9pm: Go for dinner, or head home.
9pm-2am: Waste time before bed.
2-9am: Sleep.

The times change a little each day, but they're normally accurate to an hour. Or two.

2 more weeks to go.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Such great heights.

Sorta apt, in a weird way.

Friday, April 14, 2006

And now for an Important Announcement.

On this day about 2000 years ago, give or take a few years, Jesus Christ died for our sins.

Mine and yours.

And what in this world could compare to this awesome sacrifice?

Thursday, April 13, 2006

So hard to find the right words.

I'm just very tired, physically and mentally. A potential which I didn't want to acknowledge has surfaced. I didn't acknowledge it before because of fear; but now the moment of fear has come and gone, to be replaced by a spirit of truth-seeking.

It's funny, how sometimes fear is the only thing to fear.

Hang on for the ride, we're gonna see just how far we can go!

Saturday, April 08, 2006

And now for a TMI announcement:

The beer coupled with the lack of exercise is finally catching up with me.

I am getting fat.

If you have advice for how to fry away midriff fat, tell me.

Like brothers on a hotel bed.

I wish I could say I haven't been blogging because I've been busy doing productive things, but I'd be lying if I said that. So, time for a rather lengthy post, in (sorta) chronological order, before I hit the books.

After the crim presentation the Friday before, which went fairly well, I basically spent the whole weekend and Monday trying to work on the contract tutorial. Which was extremely tough. Still, we'll see if it comes out for the exams.

On Tuesday, somehow managed to get persuaded into digging out my old VJ uniform for another random weird TG 8 thing to commemorate the last contract tutorial. Since a picture paints a thousand words...

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Before the madness began.

When you gotta go, you gotta go. Yue-En looks disturbingly amused...

Obligatory defamatory shot.

Ambushed as I emerged from the classroom.

Punching above my weight! Assault, battery, abetment, and probably grievous injurt, in a single photograph...

The aftermath.

"What? It was self-defence!"

Sepia shot.

Less serious this time.

Uhm, not serious at all.

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Ahem. No, I don't know how I get suckered into these strange situations. Still, it's been a blast, TG 8. Our weird group dynamics started in a contract class, and I suppose the last tutorial deserved a worthy flourish. Not like we're not gonna meet up anymore, even though school's out.

The moots were on Thursday. I suppose I did well; while I cannot really judge my own performance, I was comfortable and poised, and was able to answer the probing questions. Good comments from 2 out of 3 tutors; the 3rd tutor had some insightful things to say about my answering ability and my grounding in basic principles, but I suspect that I did the best I could have, given the knowledge I possessed.

Also, big props to Audrey, my lovely partner, for supporting me and putting up with my antics throughout the whole process. You rock, girl. And to Trissypoo, Petripoo, and Weichin, for the support. Am super appreciative, as I said; your presence made all the difference in the world.


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The lovely Audrey, looking very very sharp.

Friendly, isn't she?

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Dinner and drinks with TG 12 at Timbre after the moots. Aside from the 2 jugs of cat's piss we got instead of the Heineken, it was an enjoyable evening out - we finally understood some things that had been bugging us, and it was good company. Also, special congratulations to Jo-Ann, who is pregnant! Thanks for doing your best for us despite the physical challenges you faced quietly. I finally understand...and appreciate it.

KBox on Friday afternoon with Tris, Pet, Mag, Weichin. I shall not comment on my singing ability. Neither shall I comment on the unkind remarks I got about my choice of music! I maintain that I am merely surrounded by musical philistines who are unappreciative of true art! Still, good fun, good company, even if the singing was really really horrendous at times. I absolve myself of all responsibility!

The final 40 Days of Purpose campaign cellgroup was held on Friday night. It was very very powerful and insightful, largely thanks to the hard questions that Adrienne and Zhengfeng posed. I'm thankful for the chance to share my beliefs. And that, really, is all that I can say...all I can do now is to pray that I am fulfilling the Great Commission in my own limited way, and that God will touch hearts and change lives.

Headed down to Pet's room at PGP after cellgroup for a night of drunken debauchery with Ahbert, Big K, Rui, Tris, Pet, Mag, and Weichin. Well, actually, we didn't get drunk. Surprisingly limited quantities of alcohol were consumed. There was no debauchery either. Oh, sure, all 7 guys and girls were squeezed into one small PGP room, and the bed was definitely jam-packed, but it was all 100% clean. As far as I know. So, what did we do in the end? Talked, cracked jokes, shared our thoughts, embarassed the crap out of each other, and forced secrets to the surface. Some probing went further than it should have; but that's really an academic point, given that things have already happened. Ah wells.

In other words, business as usual.


And thus concludes my narrative of the events of the past week. You'll have to wait for another post if you want insights or musings.

Oh, and on a sidenote, more photos will be uploaded when I get them.

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Inexplicably edgy.

I promise that there will be the mother of all blogposts put up soon, to commemorate the various (arguably) interesting things that I have been doing. But for now, I'm too tired and busy because moots are tomorrow.

And for some reason, I'm somewhat tense about it. Which is ironic, considering how much effort I've put into this and how much I believe in the strength of my case.

Well, no point worrying about what I cannot control. Enjoy the sneak peek below, and stay tuned. We're gonna take a short break and come right back!

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Sunday, April 02, 2006

Takin' it slow.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Soul to Squeeze

I got a bad disease

Up from my brain is where I bleed
Insanity it seems
It's got me by my soul to squeeze
Well all the love from me
With all the dying trees I scream
The angels in my dream
They turn to demons of greed
That's me

Where I go I just don't know
I got to, got to, gotta take it slow
When I've found my piece of mind
I'm gonna give you some of my good time

Today love smiled on me
It took away my pain, said please
I'll let your ride be free
You gotta let it be
Oh yeah

Where I go I just don't know
I got to, gotta, gotta take it slow
When I find my piece of mind
I'm gonna give you some of my good time

You're so polite indeed
Well I got everything I need
Oh make my days a breeze
And take away my self destruction

It's bitter baby and it's very sweet
I'm on a rollercoaster but I'm on my feet
Take me to the river lay me on your shore
Well I'll be coming back baby
I'll be coming back for more.

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At the moment, this song says it better than I ever could.