More pictures! End-of-semester bash, more students

Perlini's Silver - Chunk necklace

Very expensive - $100 bucks and above but DASHING! Sigh!

Futile day

Today was quite a futile day.

Futile? Indeed it was. What happened was that 2 weeks back, I thought I would be most excited to be part of the welcoming gang to a group of Japanese-Malaysians. Not only do I look forward to that as a form of learning experience as to how to being a gracious host in an academic setting (I seriously think I am quite good at being a gracious host... hey!), I felt it might be fun to speak some Japanese as well. So I went to work this morning in my best: a green Domanchi long-sleeved shirt and Domanchi pants to boot. Not only do I look radically different from the usually more casual and laid back style of dressing (it's polo tee and pants), it was a Friday too and people are even dressed more casually as the weekend is at the doorstep.

I went to work, and after a meeting on being an emcee for an/the upcoming major event, I turned back to the thing that sucked up my life since a week back and burnt my Chinese New Year holidays, compiling a book. So after sweating so much and doing so much OT there wasn't a word of recognition or encouragement. Now I'm being blamed for not getting it out on time. Where's the logic?? Anyway so what happened was there were more changes which had to be made and seriously they were all done by the time lunch came (they were pretty minor).

The hosting of the Japanese-Malaysians was supposed to start at 2pm and I was asked to wait in the car park (which was in vain) as the guests came another way. My role in the end? A runner between the department and the conference room. Excuse me, a runner doesn't require that kind of attire!

Just a moment back my supervisor messaged me, "Hi, thanks for helping out with the visitors. Had there been no book crunch, this is a good hosting session you could learn a lot from. Thanks!"

My response? "Hey no worries about that, there wasn't any book crunch for me after we met in the morning actually. I'll compile the book once it's done tonight. Cya!"

I hope I sounded polite enough.

Qualities to look for in a girl?

- pleasant looking / good grooming
- charming personality
- sensitive
- patient
- intelligent to hold a sensible conversation
- secure enough to forgive occasional glances at other women
- compassionate and understanding
- willing to try new things
- accomodating
- friendly

Overeating in the CNY

How is this Chinese New Year?

Sinful and against my resolutions for the year!

Just as I was having fun integrating exercise into my lifestyle (i.e. swimming) and starting to see results, argh I reversed the clock by over-eating over the past few days! Specifically:

Last Wednesday (14/2), I went back to my previous workplace and my superiors treated me to this sumptuous buffet feast at (forgot which) hotel. I ate and ate! There was roti prata of various flavours, yu sheng, chocolate fondue amongst others! ARGH!

I went back to work last Thursday and the department had this buffet as a form of end of semester celebrations. Lots of carbohydrates in the noodles and snacks. ARGH!

Then Friday I went on a course regarding Basic Counselling, where I essentially devoured lots of curry puffs and cakes during the tea breaks. ARGH!

Saturday was staying at home and having a rich steamboat buffet. ARGH!

Sunday was hopping around houses of relatives and snacking yet again, ARGH!

Today was slightly better, though I gave myself away by snacking hard at my cousin's place. ARGH!

I promise to do good tomorrow and I cannot wait to hit the pool on Wednesday again to atone for my misdeeds!

Sob!

A wild night of losing myself

I must say I am so half-sober now that although I am able to respond to comments made by my parents, I can barely walk straight..

Last night/this morning was fantastic. Upon AD's invitation I pushed myself to gel my hair at 10pm and went to Tampines Mall to have the wild time of my life. For the record, AD's a colleague of mine, an intellectual and stimulating person! After he picked me up in a cab, we headed to Woodlands (argh back to work..?) to pick up his friend K 'cos it's her belated birthday celebration.

We first headed to Cheeky Monkey and boy was it full of caucasians! We had gin tonic though it didn't felt exactly very potent. I had a bit of dancing (or maybe wriggling) and K didn't get into the mood as well, so we went hopping to another bar.

Now this was amazing. They brought me to an indian bar at Little India, and boy was that an exciting experience! Being the only chinese there, I was greeting with curious stares as I walked into the room. I guess I had the earlier gin tonic (and a bottle of Long Island Tea while waiting for AD at Tampines Mall) to help boost my courage. Nevertheless it was alright after a while I guess, though I cannot help but had the feeling that all the bouncers were keeping their eye on me wherever I went, be it to the dance floor or otherwise. That was the time when AD tried to teach me some indian dance steps (to no avail thanks to my two left feet) and gave me a cultural note or two as well, such as how indian women are perceived to be 'loose' if they appear on the dance floor. Indeed, at all times most of the people on the dance floor are males.

We next moved on to another Indian pub, and by that time I think I was spent. My speech was slurred and I had difficulty walking straight. Things became vague from here, where I remembered pestering them to do the sunrise for me and after that some puking (YES!) and then before I knew it I was home and my agitated mom dropped me on a mattress and I blanked out.

So scary! But Fun! Maybe I should call AD and K up to apologize later.

Hehe!

UOB-Singtel & Little Children

Argh, I got the UOB-Singtel card a little late to use it and get a discount for Little Children. It's a first rate show by the way and I strongly recommend everyone to watch it, especially for the intricate layers of content that the movie has so cleverly woven in. Two thumbs up!

The Final Class of the Semester

The Final Problem

A dilemma

SG and I went for this speed dating session last Saturday afternoon and we had a whale of a time! There were 12 guys and 12 gals and SG and I were easily the youngest there..

Anyway my current dilemma is that out of the 12 gals, 8 of them indicated that they will like to know me better and 2 other guys said so as well. ARGH! Frankly, I've forgotten their looks and what transpired that day (poor memory lah!) so I don't really know how to customize responses. Am I doomed to write form letters to all of them??? That's so insincere!

Hi there XXX!

This is Ned here, thanks once again for the wonderful afternoon last Saturday! My apologies for waiting till today to respond as its been a tad busy these days grading the students' performance. I am honoured that you have indicated that you will like to know me better and indeed, I look forward to knowing you as a friend further! Do you MSN by the way? You can add me at YYY and I guess we can chat there!

Hope everything's going well on your side and life's been sweet. Catchya around!

Regards,
Ned

A great weekend!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6321351.stm
- Video on research explanation
How do they defend their thesis?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6320515.stm
- how has advancement in technology improve experimentation?

How are the scientific findings supported? Implications?

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=5457
- what are some potential areas where the experiment/s carried out are biased? Are the errors purely scientific?

Steve Cole

Steve Cole - http://stevecole.net/

True
Take Me 4/5

Spin
Thursday 5/5
The Real Me 3/5
Simple Things 3/5
Spin 4/5
Letter to Laura 2/5
Now that you're here 4/5
Serenity 4/5
I was alright 2/5
The things I do 3/5
Confounded 4/5

Nyla
Nyla 4/5
Everyday 2/5
Tonight it's on 4/5
Love letter 3/5
Off broadway 4/5

A memorable class

Is it me that's taking things too seriously or what? Today I had this class again after a nightmarish session last week and while I expected to meet with ambivalence when I step into class on Thursday. It wasn't the case however, when everyone was bright, cheery and friendly.

I was really astounded!

They were also very willing to let me take potshots of them on my camera-phone which I greatly appreciate. Our aim this week was to discuss the issue of systematic exploration (via experiments) and the philosophical aims of how and why it contributes to knowledge. (cheem ah, I know!)


Don't ask me what they were doing!

I just love this shot of them acting cool. I asked them to pose to take a shot and they were instinctively in this formation. Some kind of teen culture phenomenon?

What do we know? What don't we know? What we need to find out?



Now now, that's not exactly what I was trying to encourage in class...

FRD on a shooting spree as well.

I think I'll really miss them after our last class next Thursday! Sobsob!