Sometimes life can be a burden Tryna stay one step ahead I feel the world upon my shoulder each time I'm standing out on the edge And my hopes have all deserted me Like they washed away in the sand And it's hurting my pride Tryna survive But i know i stand a chance
When you lay your hands Oh yeah 'Coz it's the only thing I have that still makes sense
(Oh baby, when I'm calling out) Give me love and affection, Keep telling me, show me the way. (Oh, if you see me falling down) Lift me up from the shadows Will you take me away to a better place? (And when I'm in my darkest hour) You're by my side, to turn the tide, Until the suffering fades. When life is getting me down, getting me down, i'm close to defeat, Come and lay ur hands on me.
Feel this road is getting longer now And i'm too far away from home Still I gotta keep on moving on But I can't do it on my own Baby keep my head above water Help me swim for my life 'Coz the game is getting harder The strain is gettin stronger And I can only face the fight
When you lay your hands Oh yeah 'Coz it's the only thing I have that still makes sense
(Oh baby, when I'm calling out) Give me love and affection, Keep telling me, show me the way. (Oh, if you see me falling down) Lift me up from the shadows Will you take me away to a better place? (And when I'm in my darkest hour) You're by my side, to turn the tide, Until the suffering fades. When life is getting me down, getting me down, i'm close to defeat, Come and lay ur hands on me..
'Til I'm healed again, Rediscovered my strengths, Those bitter blues are gone... Oh, gone...
(Oh baby, when I'm calling out) Give me love and affection, Keep telling me, show me the way. (Oh, if you see me falling down) Lift me up from the shadows Will you take me away to a better place? (And when I'm in my darkest hour) You're by my side, to turn the tide, Until the suffering fades. When life is getting me down, getting me down, i'm close to defeat, Come and lay ur hands on me.
How time flies, in an instant it has almost been a year since Ms. S and i first spoke over the internet. =)
What began as a normal friendly chat soon became a daily affair or an activity which i would look forward to everytime i booked out of camp. I will purposely rush home in the evening so that i can spend a few happy hours chatting away with her. =)
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Life with her has been thoroughly engaging and interesting, in a space of 8 months, we have experienced so much together, happiness, sadness, anger, hardships, confusion, anxiety. We've been to many places together, tried many different foods together.
She has been there for me through my darkest hours, my most confused of days and my happiest moments. All shared with her and my family. =) She has integrated well with my parents and my parents seem to like her alot. =) Especially my mum Haha
=)
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What can i say, we're simply made for eachother, we think the same, act the same, behave the same, talk the same but above all, we love the same. =)
Now now, don't be envious. We do have our usual squabbles from time to time, but thats ok. =) whats a relationship without friction at times? It juts goes to show that we care enough about eachother to want to iron out our differences or make the opposite party aware of their actions and how it affects us without them knowing. =) Whats so wrong about that?
All these may seem too mushy for you all to take. But hey, this is how we are. =) Hahaha. We love, care and support eachother fully and unconditionally. =)
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I like the middle one the most!
Nice lighting eh?? =) I love you dear. my Ms. S
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Oh well, what can i say, its great we got to know eachother and its great i spent a great deal of this year loving nad making her happy. =) She is the best thing that has ever happened to me this year. =) I love her so. =D
And we all so naively thought that Buses being warm was enough reason to complain. Now somebody has upped the level and presented us a potentially life-threatening discovery.
Apparently. Buses are no longer too hot, people are now complaining that it is too cold!
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Before i get all too vituperative again. Let me just state that this entry is not intended to be a personal attack at anybody. I'm just trying to make sense of it all.
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Ok, back to my point. When the aircons are too hot, people complain. When it is too cold. People complain. I mean, these are just the minority of the buses. Most buses in fact, almost all my trips on the buses have good if not perfect climate control. More often than not, the air con is set just right. Occasionally i get freezing ones, but hey, these are often the buses that ply at night and are usually less populated. So in essence, we are just being people who like to blow a bout of hot air and make a big fuss out of nothing. Things get blown out of proportion JUST because people decide one day to gripe about it on a thoroughly useless, senseless but nonetheless entertaining web portal.
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For the detractors who are most probably seething now at my previous and current posts.
Yes, i HAVE experienced the trauma of having to bear the coldness, but as i said it is not a status quo that the buses are freezing all the time. Moreover, in hot and humid Singapore, aren't we all glad that we have buses that ACTUALLY blow cold air as opposed to one THAT DOES NOT AT ALL? (read my previous post) Think about it. When the wind blows, we complain that it is too strong. When it all stops, we all wonder where it went to and wish for it to be back.
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Back to the STOMPer,
Yes, at the end, she did place a good suggestion, showing to us that she does not complain for no reason. HOWEVER, i still stand that her STOMP picture should not be used as a general statistic and be related to all buses. Most buses are fine and have good airconditioning. I can attest to that as i take a bus almost everyday for about 45-50 mins traveling from Eunos to yishun or vice versa. Sometimes in a moment of craziness, i will take a bus to Changi Airport and Back.
So before you blast me as a hypocrite, i have laid down my credentials and have laid down my experiences. I do not just blow hot air (pun intended...if you know what i mean)
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I really want to see a compliment that compiments SBSTransit for maintaining their air con at a comfortable level and for transforming their entire fleet to air conditioned buses. Gone are the days of the old, rickety window buses that are REALLY damn hot and stuffy too when it rains. Not to mention the watershow that happens everytime it rains heavily. Remember how dirty those buses really were? No TV mobile to watch, the sides of the buses almost always had some black grimey residue, the windows were never clear and the bells did nto give off a nice ring, but a high pitch and rough sounding PEEEETT
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Singaporeans are never satisfied.
If that is the case.
SBSTransit and SMRT, please do all the complainees a favour and change all your buses back to the Old ones. At least like this, Singaporeans will only have one thing to complain about - the lack of aircons. Only then will they realise thier idisyncracies and naiveness in complaining all the time.
Satisfied?
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Thank You once again fellow citizens for being such a wonderfully vocal society of intolerence and dastardedness. You all have proven to the world that we are indeed. Uniquely Singapore
Recovering from my vituperatove spurt yesterday, i cannot help but feel often in shock that Singaporeans have so much to complain about.
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Is it because we demand too much as citizens? Are we really being sidelined by the Govt? Are we being treated as second class citizens? Are we really being maltreated by a government who has provided so much for us? I seriously do not think so.
We as a nation, are just spoilt by all that stability and afluence we have. We take everythign for granted and forget the virtues of hardwork, hierarchy and tenacity.
Lets take a look at what Singaporeans often complain about.
Education
Singapore is too Competitive, very stressful for the child!!
Is it really? Yes i do agree that Singapore's education is years ahead of our neighbouring countries, but really, it is for the good of the child. So what if your Pri 5 kid is learning Sec 2 science? In the long run, it will put him years ahead of other children. Stress? What is an education without stress? Stress is a baptism of fire for the young children to get used to adult life later. If a child is not exposed to controlled and reasonable amounts of stress, then what happens when he reaches adulthood? Break down and cry everytime he feels that the boss is giving too much work for him to do? Is that what you ant your child to be?
Singapore education is too rigid/stressful, my child has no room for a proper childhood
PLEASE. This is what we do best, complain about the government when in actual fact it is our own actions that causes this perceived lack of childhood. Depending on what is a PROPER childhood, many people have many different ideas of how a Childhood should be.
To me, a proper childhood involves spending quality time with the children, bringing them - not to shopping centers where they can indulge in toys (which i will come to later) but to actually go for family orientated activities like a walk at the park, going to the theme park, lots of laughter and family bonding. If your idea that a proper childhood is for the child to have time to play his GBA or PSP. Then i feel sorry for you.
Don't you see? Toys brings the child away from the parents, they pull them away. There is no real family touch in a child playing toys all the time. You claim the education system strips your child away of this priviledge, but in effect, are you really just griping that your child is severely lacking a childhood or are you just being a hypocrite by giving him more tuition and assessments and such? Are there any conscientious effort on your part to ensure that your child gets a balanced childhood? That he grows up being upright and matured and not spoilt by all the toys you give him and all the complains you throw to help "cushion" and "protect" him? Why are they complaining about stress when a majority of them give their own kid extra tuition all the time? Isn't that stress and ripping away their "Childhood"? Hypocrites.
Maybe we should all stay in Africa one day and see how school is like there. Under a tree with just a tiny blackboard. Then we will fully realise how lucky we are to have proper school uniforms, school buildings and proper school buses to bring the kids to school.
My precious kid cannot wake up so early, he needs his sleep
WHAT? Part of the growing up process in a kid is to wake up early and go to school. It trains their body clock to engage itself in productive activities! I for one woke up at 0500 almost everyday when i was in Primary school since my bus uncle will come pick us up at 0530. And considering that my school is in Telok Blangah while i stayed in Jurong East, it was an arduous 1.5 hr ride everyday to school. EVERY SINGLE DAY for almost 5 years. Just because your child has to wake up at 0630, you gripe and gripe and gripe as if an hour lost makes your child intellectually less abled to cope with the rigors of school. Kids do not start studying or attending lessons on the bus, they get to sleep.
I wonder if all this "protection" is actually doing any of the youths good. We are stripping them of discipline and such. I used to get caned ins chool and even slapped in Primary school. Which brings me to my next point.
My child's teacher touched my child! OMG! I want to complain!!!
Gone are the days whereby the Discipline Master will walk around the school with a rattan cane in hand, tied with a rubber band at the end to make the whole harrowing experience of caning a much more memorable one. Gone are the days when the DM will line up the students in front of the school and publicly cane each one for their wrongdoings.
Now even when a teacher touches a child, the parents go into prehistoric protection mode and instead of scolding the child (like my parents did) for not doing their homework or throwing paper balls at their classmates. They scold the teacher and complain about them for touching thier precious kid. I mean. HOW RIDICULOUS is that?
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I remembered in Pri 1, i was slapped so hard across the face by my form teacher (Mrs. Bridget Lim =) ) that i cried the whole day. When i went home with her hand mark still freshly imprinted on my face, my dad, instead of consoling me. Chided me for making her angry. It was a learning process for me. From then on, i dared not do what i did again. I had learnt my lesson from the get-go.
You see, in the past, teachers were viewed to be authoritarians in education. They always had the final say. Child never do homework? Fine. Hold him back till 5pm let him cry and complete his work. I was always metted out such punishments last time and my parents were supportive of my teacher's methods. They never once complained. To them they entirely trusted the teachers to do their job - disciplining their children academically and morally. If they did complain, i would have felt very bad that they are standing up for my wrong doing. It is that integrity you had in school that the teachers words are the final say. Parents respected that and parents do not argue.
Right now its a whole different ball game. Teachers are expected to concede to the parents demands. I've seen unruly parents in my primary school too. Those who gripe and complain about everything as if the school is not doing their child a favour by reprimanding them. Yes, parents do need to protect their children, but come on, the school is a place for LEARNING and growth. It is not as if the school goes around caning children. They do it within an established framework of rules and regulations. You flout it when it is made so clear to you, you pay the consequences. By standing up for their wrongdoing. What kind of message are we really putting across to the child? That is is ok for someone else to take the blame for your mistake? That someone will always be there to bail you out for your wrongdong?
The old school way of punishments instills the notion of "cause and effect", and paying the consequences into our everyday lives. It teaches us to be upright and not go against any rules that are meant to keep us in place and for the school to function properly.
Detractors may think that it brainwashes a child. But even they want some control over their own lives. So don't be a hypocrite and say that this is brainwashing. It isn't. and YOU KNOW IT. It is a necessity. a REQUIREMENT.
My child needs more time for himself. He has not enough time to play his toys and have dinner with us
The answer to this? Simple. Stop giving him so much tuition. It is so rare nowadays to see a child without tuition. Yes i had tuition when i was in primary school and it was REALLY taking up alot of my "childhood" time. Not only did i have to prepare for my normal lessons, i had to prepare my tuition HW too. I had to fret over and cancel my wholesome school activities because i had tuition for only 1.5 hours. I missed out on the joy of baing able to run free on a field kicking a plastic bottle around because i had to go home and attend a tuition class. I hated it as i felt constrcited and i hated it because it kept me away from more normal activities a child should indulge in.
Tuition is good yes. but too much is bad. It places too much pressure on a growing child. Yes you may think i contradict myself from my above posts. But What i mean here is that with excessive tuition, it places amounts of pressure far too great for a child to handle at such a age. I've seen Pri 1 kids (my cousin) having tuition almost everyday, with mock test papers stacked up high in the living room and have overheard parents complaining that their child isn't doing well in school despite all the tuition, so as a way to ameliorate, they increase the freq of tuitioning. It is no wonder such kids cannot do well, they are under too muh restictionsand are not focussing because they are not happy! These are the parents that complain that their child isn't having a proper childhood. you get the picture now?? Stress is good in a controlled amount, but too much can be detrimental too.
In secondary school, i did not have tuition and i prided myself in that fact that even without tuition i was able to perform well. Scoring good grades in all in my tests and exams as opposed to my classmates who had tuition. Even in JC. I did not receive any tuition. It was all hardwork on my part.
So my tip is, give tuition. But don't over do it. It will backfire. Being a kid myself once, i hated tuition. I would run away from it as far as i could. I was happy just being attentive in class and doing my homework and hading it up on time. Money spent by my parents can be spent elsewhere better.
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I've said much today, these are just some thoughts i have whenever i read the forums or the papers that Singaporeans gripe about a certain issue. It is definitely not worth griping about if you think about it. They are just making a mountain out of a mole hill to try an illicit a response fromt he govenrment so that they can feel good about themselves and their own personal causes to be antithetical in their way of thinking. To which i say, good job people continue and gripe. For the only thing you gain is the irritation of people who see the value in the government and those who see the nonsense you are spouting.
I will add mroe to my series soo. I stillg ot lots to rite on about.
This post is specially going out to all those people in Singapore who complain about everything other than what they say and what they do.
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Recently, i've been doing alot of reading up on STOMP. Straits Time's interactive web portal whereby narrowminded mortals have the liberty to bear and showcase their grudges online by unrepentedly down-trodding fellow Singaporeans over menial acts and lambasting the Government or the related companies for thier lack of blah blah blah. Why blah blah blah? Well, simply put. WHAT THE F-ing HELL ARE YOU ALL COMPLAINING ABOUT?
I'm not sure about their motives but i guess to such people, a clean, corruption free and effective government is just not good enough for them? That a world class transportation system, credible in its services and efficiency isn't as good as any other perceivably "High Class" country's? I mean, i'm sorry if SBS buses have broken handles and oily windows, but come on. GET A LIFE.
What do you expect SBS or SMRT to do? Change they're whole friggin fleet just because of a few cockroaches? A few broken handles and some oily mucky window pane? Yes, i know many of you proponents for the LETS-COMPLAIN-BECAUSE I FEEL-SO-CHEATED-THAT-I-PAY-10 CENTS-MORE-FOR-BROKEN-HANDLES clause will debate that SBS can do more to hire more clenaers to clean the buses, but lets put this whole matter into perspective all you narrow minded complainees.
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SBS operates not 10 or 20 buses, we are talking hundreds possibly thousands, (coupled with SMRT's) of buses at any given time plying the WHOLE of Singapore almost 20 Hours a day. Do you think it is possible that all buses will be spick and span for your Too Clean to be dirtied asses to sit on? I'm sorry if the dust gets to you or the grease on the handle bars cause you to go into a bout of seizures. BUT hey, ARE YOU GONNA DO THE JOB OF CLEANING THEM? Before you even open that mouth of yours. ARE YOU NOT A HYPOCRITE BY POSTING SUCH UNABASHEDLY ARROGANT POSTS? Do you deny that you do not litter or smudge the windows with your Brylcreem and like? Or stuff rolled up pieces of wrapper between the seats? All of us know that it is common and it is happening. But do you blame ourselves for it? NO, you conveniently shift the blame on to the operates on the premise that they are not doing enough to maintain their buses. HYPOCRISY.
Perhaps you half-expect that a lowly, Blangadeshi worker or some Foreign worker will help clean up the mess that you have nonchalantly left behind (that you all complain so vehemently about) and all will be fine, the seats will be clean, the handle bars shimmering happily under the bright sun. Maybe you expect that for 60 cents worth of your money, you want a Limousine service complete with Givenchy Leather or maybe the best Chrome Silver Italy has to offer for you to rest your Delicate and gentle hands on.
But NOO...you complain, complain and complain WITHOUT ameliorating the situation! All you people do is lament that the government isn't doing enough this, isn't doing enough that. But what about you? DO YOU DO ENOUGH?
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I quote from a STOMPer.
"Every time the bus fares go up, the maintenance standard of SBStransit buses go down. This is the only item that SBS Transit allows it to go down every year."
I mean, SBS Transit operates an ISLAND WIDE services to you, the daily commuter, to get from one place to another SAFELY and COMFORTABLY. Though yes, you will not get personalised services or High quality leather or upholstery to rest on. But let me tell you. For Singapore as opposed to the rest of the world. IT IS GOOD ENOUGH.
Perhaps you have never been to UK, where perceivably, the standard of living there is high class and everything is clean, spick and span. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but let me tell you the truth. It is far from that.
I've been to UK and against all preconceived notions i so naively had, i was shocked to be greeted by the pungent smell of urine at the back of a bus i took in LONDON, beer cans carelessly strewn all over the place in a SUBWAY train. Seats torn and worse of all, Urine coated floors and litter laiden pavements along the train platforms. HELL, their Train service do NOT even have as much staff as we do. They're train stations are not as clean or as user friendly as ours, neither are they as brightly litted. Everything there is definitley not as efficient, or as clean as ours in Singapore.
Yes, you may not get oily windows, or greasy handle bars (cos they wear gloves), but count yourselves lucky that you do not have to put up with the pungent smells of freshly ejected urine, still steaming hot merrily rolling along the back of a bus! Or the memorabilia so carelessly abandon by a drunked as he makes his way home.
And do the londoners complain as much as we do? THEY DON'T! WHY? Because it is INEVITABLE that somewhere out there, there will be public enemies who go around leaving their marks all over the place. And they know it. Talking about Public Spiritedness. Is it PUBLIC SPIRIT to complain about ourselves? Do we do a good deed by lambasting the Company for they're perceived inherent lack of initiative to clean thousands of buses everyday?
What is more important now my dears SAFETY or oily windows etc? Do you want these precious money to go into maintaining the fleet so that they can perform their job properly and bring you people to places on time, or would you rather them spend more of it cleaning up the mess you all left behind? Now which is more pragmatic. you tell me.
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Back to Singapore. I really do not see why must Singaporeans complain that much. Are you poor? Are you living on the streets? Do you not have enough to eat? Even the poor in Singapore at least have a HDB flat to stay in. How about spending a night out in a park bench? Or maybe scrape pieces of meat off a bowl that someone has just discarded? I know because in my travels, i have SEEN such misfortunes and it makes me DAMN lucky to be in SIngapore. I have seen with my OWN TWO EYES, real BEGGERS in the streets of london. Haggard, freezing and unkempt. In addition to starving kids in China who will crowd around you because they think you're some God just by that Pasar Malam shirt you wear.
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PERSPECTIVE. PERSPECTIVE PEOPLE. We have all been clouded by our affluence that we take things all for granted. That it is our birth right to expect Top Class service and spick and span public utilities. You all do not see how lucky we are to have PAP. All you do is complain and lament about the government. Yes, to you, your definiton of Poor in Spore may be that you do not have enough money to buy that Big Mac or that GBA that your son wants. It is not a matter of life and death for you. The Government cares and has policies in place well established enought to AT LEAST grant you a place of residence, in a home or whatsoever just so that you do not have to sleep on the streets at night. You DO NOT HAVE TO STRUGGLE THAT HARD as opposed to people in other countries to get a decent place to stay. Even If you have no where to sleep in, void decks can be a warm and cosy, sheltered place of temporary residence.
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Instead of showing appreciation, you all complain about the Govt raising a few cents and in return, BLAST them so DASTARDLY and NARROWMINDEDLY for minor short falls in our public service sector? Don't the buses still bring you from place to place in comfort? Don't you still reach your destination on time? Don't the air cons in the buses still work? Though i understand sometimes it may get alittle warm. But why complain about it? You are not paying $5 for a ride, you are merely parting with a few dollars. A few dollars in exchange for REASONABLE COMFORT, EFFICIENCY and most importantly, SAFETY.
So why complain about broken handles, litters or oily stains? Don't you think its all a little too unfair to the hardowrking bus drivers who wake up very early everyday so that we all can get our butts to work on time? to school on time? Is this all worth the fuss?
Why don't you all donate some money to upkeep the equipment rather than sit back, relax and finger point while drinking your Tiger beers from the comfortable couch that is only possible through the efforts of PAP and the like. Maybe only then you all will truly realise the contempt and hypocrisy you all show to the authorities.
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Perhaps you all have forgotten that everything we have now, everything we own and everything we get, be it education, safety, stability is due to the unwavering sacrifices that normal people like you and me, bus drivers, police men, NSFs and people behind the scenes alike make each day to make our place a Home worth living in.
So please, stop all these menial complains and seriously. GET A FRIGGIN LIFE and start being THANKFUL for what we have for once.
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Be grateful we even have buses that arrive on time. And for the internet that you use to complain and complain.
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On another note, STOMP is really getting out of hand with simple minded Sporeans stomping other fellow citizens for mostly trivial things. It should be moderated more closely. We are not America, we do not need such freedom of speech. We are Singapore. We operate on Meritocracy and equality for all. We do not need naive Singaporeans faulting other Singaporeans because what they do makes their clean butts itch or thier delicate hands bleed.
Haha, last friday, i accompanied Ms. S to watch Strawberry Shortcake Live Performance at Taka. It was quite eventful to say the least of our little adventure =) I bumped into Mr. Tan! I was SHOCKED ok! Hahaha.
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But thats not the point!! The point is, while Ms. S and i were browsing through the Christmas Sale at Taka Atrium, something caught my eyes. Its unmistakable buzzing sound oming from the rotor. I turned and looked around to see what it was, to my utter amazement.....there it was, a mini RC Helicopter, rising above the shopping shelves and flying high up into the Taka Atrium Skies!.
It was the PICOOZ MINI-RC HELICOPTER!!!
I was stunned! I was so amazed! I was so ENTHRALLED! I was so CAPTIVATED by the helicopter that Ms. S had to DRAG me away to break away my attention from it. Hahaha.
I was so amazed by it i HAD TO BUY IT. For the price of $39, i felt it was a good deal since its not everyday you get to buy a RC Helicopter for such a price. Against her much displeasure of me wasting money on such trivilities ( i know you care dear. =) And i love you for wanting me to be thrifty with money. I love you!) i finally laid my hands on my very own Picooz.
Hahaha.
I bought the red one.
Hahaha. YAY!~!
If you wanna see how it flies, you can check out this video.
This is the original Picooz advertisment.
More vids of people flying the Picooz...
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I'm sorry but as i told my dearest Ms. S, when it comes to flying toys, guys are always enthralled Hahaha. =)
Apart from the fact that it can actually fly, what really makes it cool is that when you switch it on, it has a blue LED strobbing light, much like a real helicopter has. =) Oh and it is also rechargable thru a cable fitted ont he transmitter. How cool is that?
=D
You guys out there who wish to fly but can never get a chance too, i totally reccommend you the Picooz! It is fun! =D You won't be disappointed!
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I'm off on a mission! See you guys later when i land!~!~ Hahaha
PICOOOZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz
I know i sound like a small kid, but it really birngs out the Kid in me~!~
Just inc ase you're wondering, nope i did not go overseas after i ORD-ed. Haha. Well, i was surfing thru my Secondary Sch's webbie last night and came across so many photos chronicling my 4 years in Pioneer SS. From 2000 till this year, just about every event was well documented in photos. It was great reminicising about events which happened so many years back.
I was particularly interested in the photo archive that documented my trip to Kumamoto prefecture in March 2001. =) Then i was only sec 3 and i was given the opportunity to do an exchange program with Seizan Junior High School in Japan. It was a wonderful experience as we went there in between winter and spring. So we got to see some snow AND Cherry Blossoms. It was organised by YMCA Singapore. So we got to stay at a YMCA mountain cabin for most parts of the trip save for the part where we had homestay.
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I'll narrate from the pictures as we go along. =)
Brings back memories for me. =)
The entire group just before we left Singapore on ANA. The teacher in charge was Mrs. Chia (last row, 4th from left), a God-darn-it excellent Chem teacher. =) I loved her teaching and her lessons. She was darn it good. =)
The gigantic fireplace int he mountain cabin that we stayed in. Over there, in the mountains, the temperature dipped to below 0 degrees celsius at night. =) It was very cold. =) But the fireplace helped warm up many cold feets and hands. =) I miss it there. I Will definitely go back there one day with my Darling. =)
The mountain cabin bunk beds. The beds are actually tatami styled. Each have their own balcony that stretches out into the mountains. At night you get to smell the chilly night air and in the day, you get crisp, light, cold fresh air coming into the cabin. =) Excellent place for a honeymoon trip. =)
Makan time! Organic Mountain food was served. It was surprisingly delicious! We were even treated to free flow of Japanese rice. Breakfast if i remebered correctly consisted of fermented Soy beans and green Tea. =) Notice the wood used in the kitchen. Literally the entire bunk was constructed of such temperate wood. Made the whole place warm and cosy. =)
Group photo before we ate. =) notice the background The entire cabin was made of wood. It was spacious, warm, well lit, but above all, it felt very very very homely. =). i remember clearly the night after this photo was taken. We were hungry in the middle of the night and there happened to be extra rice left in the warmer. So the few guys went down (led by me =P), in the darkness of the night (we weren't allowed to as my Tcher-in-chrge had a strict lights out policy.) But we did anyway creeping along the floors and gently making our way across the entire hallway before we reached the kitchen. We coped some rice, wrapped it up in tissue paper (which stuck to it.BAD IDEA.) and even brought a whole pot of soy sauce to our bunks to eat. Haha the next morning, we were too lazy or rather, too cautious to bring it down lest we got caught. We hid the soy sauce and water jug we brought up in the attic which could be accessed to through one of the guy's bunks. Hahaha. I'm not sure if its still there, hopefully not. =P
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Hmm i'm having Problems uploading the rest of the pictures onto blogger so i will do so another time. =) Thats all for now, till i blog again!
So finally, on the 7th of Nov 2006, i henceforth cease to be a NSF but a NS-man. I've completed my full time liability to the army. Not to say that i'm entirely thrilled about ORD-ing. I know many will be shocked as to WHY ARE YOU NOT HAPPY?
I am, i am happy now that i have more time to myself, my family and my dear. But, having to ORD means having to abandon a life i've gotten so used to in the past 22 months. Its like having to leave a family that you've grown to love. Especially more so in 1 Guards, i've gotten so used to the life, the people in it, the men, the commanders that it is really hard to leacve, though inevitable. We know eachother and we all live together, its an experience that is hard to find elsewhere.
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As i was walking out of the Bedok camp complex with my pink ic and my 11B in hand, somehow or another the timing was so perfect that the moment i stepped out of the guardroom, the daily flag-lowering music starts playing. Its a bugle call that has a very solemn tune to it. It is played everyday without fail at 1800 hrs when the flag is lowered on the Parade square. Every camp in the SAF adheres to this routine. So yes, you can say that the SAF literally halts to a stop at 1800 everyday.
As i was saying, as i was walking, the bugle call started playing, it was somehow very symbolic for me as the first bugle call i heard in the SAF was the flag lowering one back in BMT. So walking out of camp with the bugle call calling out somehow reflects me coming full circle, and just like the flag, it has to end. It will come down. It signalled the end of the most memorable 2 years of my life.
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2 Years in which i've fought hard, played hard, cried hard and laughed hard. I put in my best for every task, however meaningless or menial it was. I did not see NS as a waste of time, as i knew that NS was something i had always looked forward to and it was reflected in the way i did things.
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Many of my peers just could not wait to get their pink ic. For me, i deliebrately took my time. I just did not want it to end on such a low note. Many often tell me that NS is a waste of time. My response? Of course i will listen and advice, but to me, it will only be a waste of time if you choose it to be. It is not by choice that we have to serve, it is a duty, an HONOR to be able to serve our nation. Though we may not see its tangible rewards, but through NS, how many of us cannot deny that it made us realise something about ourselves that we never knew? or thought we could ever do? I'm not paying lip servcie to the SAF. Being in the army has taught many things.
About politics, about cause and effect, about tenacity, leadership, goals, visions, pushing my limits and ultimately breaking them. It was never a waste of time. Not for me at least. I relished every moment cause every task given to me was a challenge.
Like the War cry during Guards Day. It was a challenge that i undertook. I started out with not a single idea in mind, i had to come up with a war cry routine, i had to amass my strength, i had to coordinate my war cry team, i had to motivate them ad spur them on eventhough i needed it myself too. In the end? I emerged Champion during the 1 Guards Games day. And when i was asked to represent 1 Guards during Guards day, pitting myself against 3 Guards, ADF and other units, it was an even bigger challenge. But i never once felt like giving up, cause i know it was for the glory of my battalion. I revamped my guys, re-did the whole routine, came up with new ideas, costumes etc and we won, thumping the other battalions. The best part? We got the ENTIRE 1 Guards to recite the Guards creed with me and join us in the war cry. It was absolutely wonderful being able to win the support of my fellow comrades. I even won the approval of my CO and my RSM. Who personally came up to me and shook my hands.
So you see, we need not recieve any tangible rewards, any plaques or "Best Trainee" things to make us feel that our time in the SAF was worthwhile, it is the culmination of little things that will ultimately define out NS experiencw. I was never Best Recruit in BMT (though i know i was #2), i did not get my silver bayonet. HOWEVER, at the end of my 2 yrs in NS i have achieved much more than those who garnered awards along the way.
In BSLC, i was Best Trainee, in GCC i was the Best Specialist, I went for PS course, i went for CSM course and graduated top 5 trainee. In 1 guards i received a Best Commander award.
I did not get my Silver Bayonet but it did not deter me from doing my best in everything i did or undertook. I always finished what i started and never once wanted to throw in my towel.
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I have always been asked, both specialists and officers alike why is it that i'm not an Officer. I ponder that question many times myself too. But i guess for everything that happens, there must be a reason. To gain the recognition from them is a reqard in itself. Though i do wish that i had gone to OCS having fought so hard for 8 months. The fact that i didn't gave me the opportunities to go Guards and attend the PS and CSM courses as a Guardsman. I was recognised as a spec who did his job well not just by my CSM but by my RSM as well. Its a gratifying feeling that i contribute to the image of the Spec Corps.
I'm not blowing my trumpet but this is what i feel. That it is an HONOR for me to represent and contribute to the Spec corps. Life might be different if i'm an officer. I will miss out on the feeling of leaving 6 men behind, people whom you've single handedly groomed from recruits to fighting soldiers. Its a feeling that officers will never be able to understand as the specs are usually very close to thier men and they do not really like it when the officer steps across the line and tries to get close to the men too. I don't really like it when my pc does that anyway. I'm not being selfish but by doing so, it really makes it hard for the spec to do his job as it might open the door for comparison. So sometimes as a spec it makes me understand how officers should conduct themselves. Perhaps next tiem when i decide to sign on as an Officer, such experieces will put me in good stead because i will view things from a bottom-up and not a top-down perspective.
=)
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What lies ahead is still unknown, i most probably will not be called up so early as my men have another year to go. I hope that by the time they ORD and they go into reserve i have the opportunity to go back to Rawdy and be their CSM. AT least if only for a week every year, we get to relive what it was like to be part fo a family that lived, suffered, ate and slept together as one body as one company and as one brotherhood.
I will miss everything that the Army has given me, the opportunities, the experiences the sorrows, the hardships but above all, the satisfaction of being able to do things and be recognised for it. =)
My time in NS was definitely a fun, fulfilling, memorable and a positive experience. =)
I'm really impressed with Bill Clinton. As a former President, he exuded the confidence, intelligence and sharp wit needed by the leader of a powerful nation. For the lack of a better word. Owned.
Haha.
Fox got pawned. =D
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I feel that PERHAPS the fight against terror might be different under the hands of Bill Clinton. If not for the folly of a few hours, we might be seeing a stronger US now. I'm sure Bush did his part well, but i feel that PERHAPS the US under Bill had a far better standing in the global stage.
Part 1
Part 2. He totally impressed me through and through. So much flair and panache. He made a Great President. =D
Now...
Look at the differences. =| Interesting...
some parodies. =D Haha
Haha. tickled me funny bones. =D
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I understand the risks involved in blogging about politcal figures, so i am writing a disclaimer...
Disclaimer : I, author of www.firedlunacies.blogspot.com, am in no way, in part or in whole, affirming a political view as of my posts. I do not stand nor agree and/or disagree, in full or in part, to the views or opinions expressed in the above clip. I am in all essence of the word, a mere consumer of today's media freedom and i seek no responsibility as a perpetrator of any politcal views or rifts, whichever applicable. I henceforth do not accept any affliations and/or affinity to any of the people involved in the above few clips. The clips are meant only as a reference to how a Leader must compose himself and/or conduct himself to enxude confidence. It is not in any way, in whole or in part, an attempt to create a polarisation of sorts. It is also not in any way an attempt to project my political views. This disclaimer is not in whole or in part, to showcase my use of superfluous langauage, but in fact as a safeguard against any accusation or politcal heresy, in whole or in part. I fully understand the risks involved but do not attempt to succumb to it as i feel that i'm entitled to such rights as long as i do not publicly, in whole or in part, actively promote, sell, showcase, braodcast, send and make vocal the opinions and/or views expressed in the above few clips.
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In other words : This is all for fun and if you are gonna criticise me for posting something political, open your eyes and read properly. I DO NOT STAND FOR ANY POLITICAL VIEWS. I am simply posting funny videos online. Simple as that. =D
Oh what a delightfully fun day today! We made pancakes! Dear and i made deliciously home-cooked pancakes! Drizzled upon with a godlen stream of Maple flavoured syrup!! It was pure heavenly goodness enjoying a great episode of The Simpsons on my computer while gobling down slabs after slabs of eithe rplain or mixed berries pancakes! =)
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It was such a healthy, fun activity together that i just had to capture it all on my camera phone, albeit a little blurry and lousy, but nevermind! The memories are captured right here *points to heart* =D
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It all starts with placing the batter on the pan!!
The pancake cooking happily on the pan. =)
Our pancakes!! On the left is the mixed berries flavour while on the right is the plain buttermilk ones. =)
Enjoying the pancakes with maple flavoured syrup, some hershey's chocolate and of course, Simpsons!!
His and hers. =D Lovingly made by hand. =)
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The pancakes came out tasting absolutely delicious especially with the maple syrup. But what really made it taste good was that we did the pancakes together, it was filled with love. (i know, people are cringing now..but hey, give a man in love a chance will ya?) Haha. As i was saying, those pancakes were made with love, they were pancakes of love! Hahaha. They tasted really great tough. Espcially when drizzled upon with the maple syrup. The chocolate syrup did not come out tasting as good as we thought it would have, but nonetheless, it was still fantastic. =)
It was a fun day and i had tremendous fun with her. =) I really wish for more days like these. Simple, meaningful and healthy activities together. =) Dear, i love you and you are precious. I promise to make pancakes for you every sunday next time ok? I love you. =D
This song is quite painful....if you read the lyrics and if you read in between the lines.
Painful....just painful....
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Long ago Just like the hearse you die to get in again We are so far from you
Burning on just like a match you strike to incinerate The lives of everyone you know And what's the worst you take (worst you take) from every heart you break (heart you break) And like the blade you stain (blade you stain) Well I've been holding on tonight
[Chorus] What's the worst that I can say? Things are better if I stay So long and goodnight So long and goodnight
Came a time When every star fall brought you to tears again We are the very hurt you sold And what's the worst you take (worst you take) from every heart you break (heart you break) And like the blade you stain (blade you stain) Well I've been holding on tonight
[Chorus] What's the worst that I can say? Things are better if I stay So long and goodnight So long and goodnight And if you carry on this way Things are better if I stay So long and goodnight So long and goodnight
Can you hear me? Are you near me? Can we pretend to leave and then We'll meet again When both our cars collide?
[Chorus] What's the worst that I can say? Things are better if I stay So long and goodnight So long and goodnight And if you carry on this way Things are better if I stay So long and goodnight So long and goodnight
= Alan a.k.a Scionfire =
= 21 yr old M =
= Was from CJC =
= Ex-29th CJC SC Councillor =
= Hails from Pioneer and Proud of it =
= Enjoys Jazz, Zen and Gregorian =
= Jay Chou RAWKS =
= Loves living the simple life =
= Operationally Ready NS-MAN and Proud of it =
= Guards Specialist : Ready to Strike! =
= Has a wonderful Girlfriend =
= Struggling undergrad in NTU =
The entire group just before we left Singapore on ANA. The teacher in charge was Mrs. Chia (last row, 4th from left), a God-darn-it excellent Chem teacher. =) I loved her teaching and her lessons. She was darn it good. =)
The gigantic fireplace int he mountain cabin that we stayed in. Over there, in the mountains, the temperature dipped to below 0 degrees celsius at night. =) It was very cold. =) But the fireplace helped warm up many cold feets and hands. =) I miss it there. I Will definitely go back there one day with my Darling. =)
The mountain cabin bunk beds. The beds are actually tatami styled. Each have their own balcony that stretches out into the mountains. At night you get to smell the chilly night air and in the day, you get crisp, light, cold fresh air coming into the cabin. =) Excellent place for a honeymoon trip. =)
Makan time! Organic Mountain food was served. It was surprisingly delicious! We were even treated to free flow of Japanese rice. Breakfast if i remebered correctly consisted of fermented Soy beans and green Tea. =) Notice the wood used in the kitchen. Literally the entire bunk was constructed of such temperate wood. Made the whole place warm and cosy. =) 
Group photo before we ate. =) notice the background The entire cabin was made of wood. It was spacious, warm, well lit, but above all, it felt very very very homely. =). i remember clearly the night after this photo was taken. We were hungry in the middle of the night and there happened to be extra rice left in the warmer. So the few guys went down (led by me =P), in the darkness of the night (we weren't allowed to as my Tcher-in-chrge had a strict lights out policy.) But we did anyway creeping along the floors and gently making our way across the entire hallway before we reached the kitchen. We coped some rice, wrapped it up in tissue paper (which stuck to it.BAD IDEA.) and even brought a whole pot of soy sauce to our bunks to eat. Haha the next morning, we were too lazy or rather, too cautious to bring it down lest we got caught. We hid the soy sauce and water jug we brought up in the attic which could be accessed to through one of the guy's bunks. Hahaha. I'm not sure if its still there, hopefully not. =P
