Conquering IT Bit-by-Bit

Today is my first time using Visualizer during lecture. Silly me, I even find the experience exciting enough and wish to talk about it.

I am always a little uncomfortable with IT. I may know a little about it, but I never really understand what’s happening and how it actually works. Besides the must-use softwares like MS Word and MS Excel, I think I know practically nothing about the others. Oh well, I am quite okay at following instructions and somewhat still managed to get by.

The better ones are telling me, we are the so-called end-users and we really need not actually understand what’s happening within. We just need to know how to use some softwares / hardwares effectively. Still, such fear of IT has always been with me. I even coined a word to describe myself : IT-scary. Haha..

It will usually take me substantial effort to try something new (regarding IT). I will usually delay it, until I am really forced to use it.

Just a simple illustration here. It takes me quite a while to switch from pager to handphone. I think I had decided to switch over only when pager’s subscription rate didn’t quite make sense to me when compared to handphone’s. Besides, pagers were fast disappearing from the market and my pager was ageing. Yet it was a few months later after I got my handphone, I got to learn about sending short messages (in late year 2002). Erps.. I think some readers will be laughing so hard (in disbelief). Probably you were sms-ing well before I do.

I recall another event. I remember I felt a little strange carrying my brother’s digital camera. The idea of saving the quality of our captured moments within an almost flimsy storage card seemed “unnatural” to me. But, I was forced to use it, when I needed a camera on my trip to Australia. At that time, only a few days before departure, I realized my family’s film-based camera was lost. The only one left behind was my brother’s digital Canon camera. Heh .. I remember having quite a hard time, going through the manual figuring out the functions of the different buttons. But the experience was worthwhile, I guess. Why? I got a new digital camera myself after that.

When the college announced that the plan to phase-out OHP was on, I was like.. erm.. stunned. During the transition period when we have both the OHP and the Visualizer existing together in the classroom, I practically left the Visualizer alone. Before today, I still insisted on using OHP during lecture (since the OHP is still there, and the Visualizer used in the LTs are of different make compared to those in the classrooms). To me, today’s little experience with the Visualizer was also a little break through somewhat. I think I had gathered enough courage after observing how the others had used it for so many times, and then finally decided to give it a go. Just like the digital camera experience, I think there is no turning back. :P

Oh, how about ICQ and MSN?
I started using ICQ only in year 2003. The first such conversation was with J, after he patiently guided me practically throughout the entire set-up process. I really needed that kind of guidance at that moment. Just imagine, prior to that, I had zero concept of such communicating tools. Mm.. Those were the days. I ...
I think I only started using MSN, early last year. Not too sure about that. Never mind.

I think I still remember the little excitement when I first explored the blogging scene around July last year. The silly little things like posting something (just anything) on the web, creating hyper-links, inserting pictures, text-formatting and replying to comments were enough to thrill me for quite a while. I cannot imagine myself writing / publishing in cyberspace before that. Now this is already the.. erm.. 263rd entry. Aiyah.. Quantity doesn’t equate to quality hor! ;)

I think I have somewhat conquered my “fear” of IT bit-by-bit. Slowly, but surely, I think I will be more and more comfortable with IT. Still, many thanks to everyone who has directly or indirectly assisted me in my many little break-throughs along my IT journey. :)

~ Keep On Going ~
We may be small and tiny in might (now), and find the hurdles in front of us unsurpassble.
We shall grow, and surely surmount many hurdles alike. Just keep on going, but remember to set our directions right.

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有一位圣者这么说：

有言曰：『没有天，那有地，没有祖先，那有子孙』。
如不知报本，更比禽兽不如。
受人点水之恩，则当涌泉以报。
时存感恩报本之心，则无嗔恨暴躁，不和之气消。
如何感恩报本，并非言语口头禅，而是要一点至诚之心。

考、兵、业

考
正在考试的、将要考试的、已经考完试的，
希望你们都能够考得好成绩、试出真本领。

兵
正在服兵役的、将要服兵役的、即将队伍的、已经队伍的，
希望你们都能够拿出男儿本色，认真对待你们另(这)一段旅程。

业
正在打工的、正在创业的、正在找工作的，
希望你们都能够称心如意、圆圆满满。

HOPE is such a vital source of “energy” (to go on).
No doubt, the outcome may not be (always) exactly the way we want it to be, but let’s maintain a hopeful outlook and enjoy the “journey” at the same time.

Life is such (for many).
Life is such only? Haha.. Think about it.

人生就是这样而已吗？多探讨也无妨 ……
望各自都有所突破。

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People of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.

~ Leonardo Da Vinci

Getting Exciting..

Teaching some really bright students can be really exciting.

Try imagining a few of them coming to you and question about the questions two / three tutorials ahead. They were not asking about how to do question 1, but they ask how to do the last few questions (when questions are usually arranged in increasing order of difficulty).

I see sparks of intelligence surrounding them. Heh..

I don’t remember myself to be that good before. Never. I mean, I admit I have quite a feeling for the subject I am teaching. But I am often just at the pace determined by my tutors and was never really ahead of them. And occasionally, I may even slip behind a little.

Ha.. It’s certainly a humbling experience for me. It really feels great to see promising young *little pals around.

Coincidentally, I was sharing with JM the other day. I told him it is better for us to always assume that other people are better than us, so that we can always learn something from them. JM cleverly summarized it as “humility”.

~ Highflier : Flying High ~
Some people are destined to be highfliers, I guess. I do admire their abilities. Let's hope besides the mental faculty, they are equally well-developed in their EQ and can contribute to the society wholesomely.

I must clarify. I enjoy "teaching" anyone, not just only the bright ones. Yes, please, you are not left out. Haha.. What's being "bright" anyway? Besides, I often really learn from you, during the so-called "teaching". Yes, I am learning from you too. In brief, "teaching" is exciting, as "teaching" and "learning" often come together.

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有一位圣者这么说：

一个会观察自己的人，必然见到自己的美与丑。
会勉励自己的人，必然见到自己的是与非。
会反省自己的人，必然见到自己的对与错。
美与丑不是形相的美丑，真正的美，是心灵、良心上的美；
真正的丑，是不知己过，此乃丑。

Warming Effect

I am going to talk about Geography. Nay.. I’m kidding.

The class asked, “Where is your birthday?”

“Oh, it’s over already.” That being always my standard reply.

Some echoed, “Huh? Over already? Aiyah… ”

I continued, “Of course lah, I’m so old. My birthdays were over for 3x times already.”

One of them persisted, “Haha.. Tell us leh . So that we can bake a vegetarian cake¹ for you.”

I pretended that I didn’t hear the last statement. However, I can’t deny that the last statement did have some kind of warming effect to my heart. :)

I think their thought was kind of sweet. Don’t you think so? But, no thanks, I don’t want them to waste time on that, for their time is too precious.

~ Simple Words Can Warm Our Hearts ~
Perhaps, we could be more generous in our use of kind words and appreciation for each other. Be it on the receiving-end or on the giving-end, the feeling is just as great.

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¹ By the way, cakes are vegetarian in generally, if we take diary products. Silly me, just self-imposed a non-egg policy for myself some years back. And these little pals know about it, after I rejected their kind offers of cakes on numerous occasions when they celebrated each others’ birthdays.

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有一位圣者这么说：

人莫不爱子，何不以爱子之心侍其父？
人莫不爱妻，何不以爱妻之心侍其母？
子何以顺，亲何以逆？
愿天下儿女以一分爱子之心顺其亲；
女何以爱，媳何以虐？
愿天下公婆以三分爱女之心爱其媳。

First Army Call Up

I woke up early. I was really the earliest to report there. Erm.. I was early enough to go in together with the administrative staff in-charged of the in-processing. I was there early enough to help-out¹ in the setting up of electronic equipments for the in-processing. Xiao on right? Haha.. If not how to get Best Service Man of the month in 1997²? :P

The road in to the briefing area is kind of long from the main gate. However, with the assistance of Google Earth, every twist and turn is so predictable. :P

I also realised the nominal roll was arranged by NRIC Number. In other words, we are more or less arranged by age. Duh! I was numbered 21, out of the 341 in the list. These 341 are all newly posted to the camp (some were transferred from other camps). I feel super lao jiao! The youngest among the list is only 21-year-old, born in the year 1985. Mm..

I met one super familiar face. His is K – an ex-*little pal³. What a small world??!! He graduated from the college in 2001. And now we are in the same camp as reservists. He told me this was the first time he was being called up. I told him this was also my first time. He was.. erm.. stunned for a while? :)

Looking at those who had turned up, I’m a little concerned. Quite a few didn’t turn up in full-uniform. There were so many guys with super long and/or coloured hair. One even appeared in long-4, but was wearing a pair of track shoe. A bit too off, right? Many people were still strolling in after half an hour of the stipulated time. Some were playing games with their handphones or chatting during the briefing. Oh well, are these standard behaviours of reservists? Mm..

Okay, the briefing was boring. It was just information dissemination which could be done through mails / emails, etc. Alright, I understand the need of our physical turn-out, so not complaining actually.

Ha…
Finally I have a codeword (to look out for during mobilization).
Finally I know which unit I belongs to.
Finally I would be occasionally wearing military uniform, eating military meals, walking military grounds, doing military tasks. :)

- - -

¹ I only help out a little. I think the army is still very cautions of rank. The two guys keep saying,
“Sergeant, you come in and take a seat first…”,
“Never mind, you don’t need to help…”,
“Just take a seat here first…”, or something along that line, all said in very polite tones.
I later learnt these two guys are really very trustworthy assets of the unit.

² We were given a list of our own information to verify. That’s how I recall such insignificant event. I think I have already thrown away the plaque given.

³ I only taught him for a few months though.

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有一位作者这么说：

有一个欧巴桑在首饰店里...
看到二只一模一样的手环，
一个标价五百五十元，
另一个却只标价二百五十元。
她大为心喜，立刻买下二百五十元的手环，得意洋洋的走出店门。
临出去前，听到里面的店员悄悄对另一个店员说：
「你看吧，这一招屡试不爽。」

试探如饵，可以轻而易举的使许多人显露出贪婪的本性，然而那常常是吃亏受骗的开始。

CAB, You Can’t Hide.

I was trying to use a map/directory trying to find my way to my new reporting military camp. No luck! Military buildings are all not featured. I resorted to an always-okay method : asking around. Bingo, W is the one, as we belong to the same camp. But he can only guide me vaguely for the roads (within the huge camp) are “imaginary” as they are not on printed maps/directories. I took down his directions anyway.

Something came to my assistance and it made W’s directions more concrete and I can easily picture myself moving around the camp now.

What was that something? You are right! It’s Google Earth.

My reporting place is actually, exactly beside the runway shown in the picture above. Yes, that’s the kind of detail Google Earth can provide. A little scary when “security” is concerned, isn’t it? Oh, the many trees planted around Singapore do help to break the shape of some structures (to a certain extent).

Okay... So, CAB, you can’t hide, I am coming. Yeah!

Let me play around with Google Earth a little while more...
Wa!

This picture shows part of the estate that I’m living in. The elongated red roof top is a MRT station. Mm..

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有一位作者这么说：

有一支掏金队伍在沙漠中行走，大家都步伐沉重，痛苦不堪，只有一人快乐的走著，别人问：「你为何如此惬意？」
他笑著：「因为我带的东西最少。」

原来快乐很简单，拥有少一点就可以了。

(My) Chicken Little

This is not a proper review.
(Proper review may be found here.)

I knew the rating of the film wasn't too good, well before I watched it.
We watched what we feel like watching and not really what others telling us what to watch, right? :)

It's a simple animation and of course the story plot wasn't too heavy (for anyone).

Some scenes in the animation set me thinking though :

(a) If the "sky is really falling" (as in the story), do we always expect such serious message from someone of great importance, from someone with status, from... ? Imagine me telling you the “sky is falling”, you will probably give a scornful stare and walk away? Heh.. this year.. erm..

(b) If someone whom we have always trusted, turned away from us, do we still stand tall and strong? Eventually we will, I think. Chicken Little took a year to more or less normalised.

(c) In the face of a major challenge, do we belittle ourselves or do we bravely accept the challenge much like our responsibility? Did Chicken Little teach us something in this aspect?

(d) What do we mean by saving the world? Does it mean by stopping whatever disasters from happening? What is the point of letting man lives only to allow him to perform more sins (however you fancy defining what sins are) in his added years?

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有一位作者这么说：

住在田边的青蛙对住在路边的青蛙说：「你这里太危险，搬来跟我住吧！」
路边的青蛙说：「我已经习惯了，懒得搬了。」
几天後，田边的青蛙去探望路边的青蛙，却发现他已被车子压死，暴尸在马路上。

原来掌握命运的方法很简单，远离懒惰就可以了。

Passing Comments..

I picked up a phone call. Well before I could figure out who’s the caller was, the caller went, “The reason I call is not to quarrel with you. I need to … ”
I only know who he was in the midst of his “introduction”. Haha..
The content of our conversation is not important.
I was only thinking : Am I that quarrelsome?

I walked past a group of *little pals. We greeted each other and I left. Just as I was leaving, C called out, “Hey sir, my friend D said you look like my daddy.”
I thought she was saying “you look like my 弟弟” and therefore I playfully pretended not to have heard her clearly and asked her to repeat again.
Wa lah.. What a rude shock! Her daddy quiet old liao lor.
I wasn’t angry lah.
I was only thinking : I am really old liao lor.

Met K during lunch time today. He said, “You made quite many mistakes during lesson today.”
I have to admit my mind went blank for a while during that lesson. My concentration was on… haiz… never mind. The “snow-ball-ing” effort after the “blankness” was rather disturbing (even to myself).
K added, “Do you feel sad?”
I thought he was reading my mind.
I asked, “What do you mean?”
K continued, “I mean do you feel sad that you had made some mistakes, since you are such a perfectionist?”
I only smiled.
I was only thinking : When did I project a perfectionist image?

I updated a silly display picture. Z commented, “your pic like angel”. I was stunned for a while, trying to read between the lines (since the surface meaning makes no sense to me). Haha..
I can only admit that, if anyone with picture taken with the sky as a background is an angel. Something to work towards to, anyway.
I was only thinking : At times, I may be worst than a devil.

~ Comments ~
I take comment / feedback as a healthy way of exchanging opinion.
It makes me grow too.

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有一位圣者这么说：
幸福就是欢喜心、感谢心。

A Simple Trip to Malacca

Malacca has a rather rich historical past. I’m not going to talk about that, I don’t know how.

I don’t think we can expect many gorgeous buildings and breath-taking nature sights in Malacca, yet the pretty laid-back feel is already quite a draw to me. You don’t feel worried, the atmosphere is just so relaxed, there’s nothing to rush for. Just strolling around, looking, seeing, chatting and absorbing the atmosphere is cool enough. On this note, I am thinking certainly the company makes a great difference.

Oh sure, Malacca does possess certain rustic charm. However, I can see many development plans are on the way. How much rustic charm can they “preserve”?

There were just so many Singaporean vehicles along the narrow streets of Malacca. I think it was because of the (long) weekend. And of course, it made me think of the possibility of driving down the next time, instead of taking bus. Heh.. We do play a significant part in pushing their economy.

Some pictures to share :

A part of a room meant for 9 of us.
It works out to be less than $25 per person, per night.
Breakfast provided.
Cheap right?!

Jonker Walk by Night and by Day
Get a feel of how tourist-focused it can be. Nevertheless, quite happening, in fact.

This famous ice chendol is unbeatable.
*Drooling*

St. Paul’s Church
The ruins left behind. This church has a commanding view of Malacca.

What is this to you? Fish balls?
It is the chicken rice balls.
It is pretty famous. The queue is so long during lunch time. I gave it a pass though.

A few more photos here.
My focus wasn’t on photo-taking. What you see here is only a small fraction of what I have in my mind. ;-)

Thanks everyone for making the experience so simple, yet enjoyable and memorable.

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有一位圣者这么说：

对于人生、宇宙要有一个透彻的了解，要先了解人生是无常，来去都无常。

Feeling so Singaporean (Again)

I had just received a love note from big boss. It says ...

You are required under Section 14 of the Enlistment Act, Cap 93 to report for service at (Time) xxx on (Date) xxx at (Place) xxx for the purpose of xxx .
Your service will be up to (Date/Time) xxx .
KINDLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREEN COPY WITHIN 7 DAYS UPON RECEIPT.
PLEASE BRING ALONG PINK IC & SAF100.

The other guys at my age should find this love note so familiar, but it’s really my first. I am finally being called upon by big boss to serve the nation. Haha.. Feeling so Singaporean all over again. Mm..

Where’s my boots? Where’s my No. 4? Where’s...?
They are all hiding some where deep inside the stall room, I think. I need to dig them out.

Will I be meeting familiar faces?

Memory flashes with the days of wearing green, seeing green, walking in the green ...

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有一位作者这么说：

在故故宫博物院中，有一个太太不耐烦地对她先生说：
「我说你为什么走得这么慢。原来你老是停下来看这些东西。」

有人只知道在人生的道路上狂奔，结果失去了观看两旁美丽花朵的机会。

Blissful Irrelevance

He is a rather soft-spoken guy and we had a simple lunch together.

The last part of our conversation went (something) like this :

I asked him, "Hey, any holiday plan this June?"
He replied, "Oh, this June, don't have leh."
I invited, "Wanna go Tioman or Redang? Last night, L said Redang until so nice. W and me are considering."
He answered, "This June, I'm registering for my marriage." And he went on ...

Did he answer my question at all? Haha.. He didn't know the irrelevance, but I wouldn't want to break his "momentum".

When he announced that statement, the facial expression of his was unmistakably a blissful one. I met his wife-to-be before. A wonderful match, I think. Wishing them happiness always.

Preparation of marriage is a happy process, although some claim it can be a little stressful too. I think they find it stressful because they have a high expectation for themselves, and also to meet the “expectations” of their parents.

He asked me, “So, when is your turn?”
I answered, “I just saw some Redang’s pictures. I tell you damn solid ah.” And I went on...

I know I didn’t answer his question. I was deliberately being irrelevant. My facial expression was unmistakably a blissful one too. Haha...

Some pictures of Pulau Redang :

~ I wish to be there ~

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有一位作者这么说：

有两个台湾观光团到日本伊豆半岛旅游，路况很坏，到处都是坑洞。
其中一位导游连声抱歉，说路面简直像麻子一样。
而另一个导游却诗意盎然地对游客说：
「诸位先生女士，我们现在走的这条道路，正是赫赫有名的伊豆迷人酒窝大道。」

虽然是同样的情况，然而不同的意念，就会产生不同的态度。
思想是何等奇妙的事，如何去想，决定权在你。

Blood Donation

Some people needed quite a forceful initial “push” (encouragement) for their first attempt in blood donation. They want to donate, but the blood sucking needle is just kind of too thick and it scares them away. No worries, let me assure you, the initial anaesthetic jab will do the trick. A minute or so after the anaesthetic jab, we don’t feel a thing when the thick blood sucking needle pierces through your skin, wiggles through the vein drawing your blood.

Some were turned down by the medical team due to some medical reasons / history. I think they must have felt a little disappointed. Nevertheless, I still think their attempts were beautiful.

There were inevitably some cases where the “nurses” will take a longer time finding the veins to draw out the blood. Ha.. Today, I witnessed a multiple-poking scene just to see red flowing in the drawing tube. :P

I must say, improvement is everywhere, even in the art of drawing blood. This year, I witnessed another simple-looking gadget that can effectively and neatly take multiple samples of our blood for testing purposes. Cool!

And while waiting for my turn, I was chatting with some *little pals. I was telling them that was the best time for vampire attack. Heh.. I must be already hallucinating even before seeing red.

~ Blood Donation ~
I believe in it.. and.. participate in it.
Just give lah.
Just given lor.

Just for a little laugh (Please don't be too serious with the pictures below) :

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有一位作者这么说：

晚饭后，母亲和女儿一块儿洗碗盘，父亲和儿子在客客厅看电视。
突然，厨房里传来打破盘子的响声，然后一片沉寂…
儿子望著他父亲，说道：「一定是妈妈打破的。」
「你怎么知道？」
「她没有骂人。」

我们习惯以不同的标准来看人看己，以致往往是责人以严，待己以宽。

I Was Questioned..

I was again “challenged” why I choose not to eat animal’s meat. Haha.. Ok, “challenge” is just too strong a word. Mm.. “Question” (as a verb), perhaps.

The “question” came, because to him
- Animals don’t have feelings (when I said they are rather pitiful).

The discussion went on for a while. It was all done in a friendly manner, anyway. He allowed me to show him my views and I allowed him to show me his views. He concluded, “不过牛肉真的很好吃”. I can only smile... mm...

Have you visited a slaughter house?

Have you seen how the meat is “gathered” from the livestock?

Give yourself a slight-cut on the arm. Don’t be silly! Don’t literally do it! Imagine will do. How would that compare to the first deep slit on an animal’s throat?

Do you know that even the seemingly harmless gummy, chewy sweets got their texture from (mostly beef) gelatin?
I am saying this because there are many Chinese out there who claim they don’t take beef. Yet, they don’t really know why they don’t take beef. Many say the practice is related to Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy). I am glad at least they respect Guan Yin that much. But I’m so certain Guan Yin did not say, go eat all you want, the goat, the chicken, the duck... Heh...

Do you know... ?

I need not go on, as the convinced are already convinced (not because of this silly article of mine, of course), and there are some who are already saying to themselves :
"So?" (when they know ...)
"I don’t care!" (when they do...)

My intention is never to “convert”.
But if you wish to talk about it, anytime ... :o)

Our diet – it’s a rather personal decision after all. I’d long learnt to respect individual’s decision. But, it is only fair to yourself that you know what you are eating, how your plateful of food come about.

我也明白那一种“口腹之欲”是不容易克服的。
我选择放弃它。
换来的是心安。

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有一位作者这么说：

同样是小学三年级的学生，在作文中说他们将来的志愿是当小丑。
中国的老师斥之为：
「胸无大志，孺子不可教也！」
外国的老师则会说：
「愿你把欢笑带给全世界！」

身为长辈的我们，不但容易要求多于鼓励，更狭窄的界定了成功的定义。

Trying to Reach a Fine Balance

H almost pleaded, “Sir, can you please don’t call me to answer question during lecture? I will be very stressed lor.”
By the way, this young man is progressing very fine. He has escalates to the grade B range now and I can see that he is striving towards grade A.

N almost protesting (but still smiling), “Sir, why you didn’t ask me to answer question during lecture today? I was so attentive today, you know... ? (literally dragging the last word)”
Anyway, N is W’s student. I was jokingly telling her the other day that I should be calling her to answer question during lecture. She is that serious. I’m glad. I can see that she is working pretty hard too.

K said he doesn’t like to be called, but I observed that when he answered correctly, he has a “glow” on his face.

Just a little funny to observe how different people can react.

Frankly, I remember pretty well that as a student myself (once upon a time), I didn’t quite like to be called upon to answer questions during lesson. In general, I did have views and I did answer mentally to myself for every questions being posted by the tutors/lecturers. But just don’t ask me to answer in the presence of so many people, okay! I just don’t enjoy the lime-light.

People do have opinions, but many choose not to go too public about their views, I think. Of course, I understand there are many people out there who don’t mind (and don’t understand why anyone should mind) airing their views so openly.

Now that I’m in the position of a tutor / lecturer, I don’t know why I exercise what I don’t like myself. Haha.. Strange me. Perhaps, I should not always give the students just what they like, but also to give them what I think is good for them.

~ Fine Balance ~
While I agree that striking a fine balance (between anything) is no easy task, but at least let’s approach it to our best ability.

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有一位作者这么说：

妻子正在厨房炒菜。丈夫在她旁边一直唠叨不停：
「慢些。小心！火太大了。赶快把鱼翻过来。快铲子起来，油放太多了！把豆腐整平一下。哎唷，锅子子歪了！」

妻子脱口而出:
「请你住口！我懂得怎样炒菜。」

丈夫平静地答道：
「你当然懂，太太。我只是要让你知道，我在开车时，你在旁边喋喋不休，我的感觉如何。 」

学会体谅他人并不困难，只要你愿意认真地站在对方的角度和立场看问题。

An Unexpected Visitor

In the midst of the lecture, I noticed one student packed up and he got up gently, slowly walked up the stairs and exited the lecture venue. I looked at him. He looked so unfamiliar. He couldn’t be one of my *little pals. I conveniently assumed that he could be one of the new PRC students who are supposed to join us for a few months.

My concentration wasn’t on him actually. I was told, not too long after his exit, he re-entered the lecture venue again. He quietly chose the same seat and was nodding with agreement while listening to my lesson. In fact, he made a few trips in and out of the lecture venue. I must be so engrossed in the lesson to have missed him. I only noted at certain points in time, there were slight, unusual commotion in the lecture venue. I wasn’t sharp enough to identify that he was the source. I actually got a little self-conscious and the silly thought of “did I zip up properly” crossed my mind. I sat down quickly and checked discretely. Okay leh. Never mind, the lesson went on.

What I learnt later from my colleagues was a little saddening.

(1) This guy is a JC1 student. I am teaching JC2. See the contradiction? When approached by W who happened to be in the same lecture venue, to explain his numerous entrances and exits, he only apologized profusely and said he was going to the bookshop to purchase the notes as so to attend my lecture. Mm.. His reaction only stunned W.

(2) Once, this guy “erupted” his emotion in the LT (in the midst of a lesson), explaining aloud to the ones next to him, why he just went to the toilet, why he wasn’t a nuisance and that he didn’t mess up the toilet, etc.

(3) Once, he was walking about in the library basement, talking pretty aloud to himself for quite sometime. That only got his CT (a rather young lady teacher) panic and ran for assistance.

(4) Once (at least), while using one of the urinals in a crowded toilet (that means, all the urinals were occupied), he blatantly turned his head to the left, tilted his body towards a little bit more, and stared at the .. erm.. “member” of the guy next to him. As if such was not enough, he did the same thing to the guy to his right. Of course, that made the two guys (J and B… I happened to know both of them) very angry. J and B questioned him pretty loudly, “Ooi! 你看什么看？”
He was agitated and challenged J and B to a fight and even threatened to snip their.. erm.. “member” away using a pair of scissors.

Yes, all his actions (reactions) were abnormal (I hope you don’t find them normal). This guy needs treatment (badly). Why is he here? He should be recuperating somewhere. I am not looking down on him or not being accomodating, please. I mean on one hand he is scaring many people around him. On the other hand, I don’t think the teachers and his fellow mates know how to deal with him professionally enough. The JC1 curriculum has only went on for about a month. In time to come, the pressure of study would definitely affect his conditions negatively, wouldn’t it?

For his own good, my shallow mind thinks that he needs rest, professional treatment and recuperate somewhere.

好像会有什么不好的事情就快发生似的。
是我过于敏感吗？
BLESS HIM

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有一位作者这么说：

有个小孩很想当天使，上帝给他们一人一个烛台，叫他们要保持光亮，
结果一天两天过去了，上帝都没来，所有小孩已不再擦拭那烛台。

有一天上帝突然造访，每个人的烛台都蒙上厚厚的灰尘，
只有一个小孩大家都叫他笨小孩，因为上帝没来，他也每天都擦拭，结果这个笨小孩成了天使。

原来当天使很简单，只要实实在在去做就可以了。

涂涂写写九月时光

在这个虚拟世界涂涂写写也有九个月了。
我也不太记得当初为何要设立这个网站。
也许是当初低档不了一股潮流的带动吧。
想想有这样当个小作家的经验也算还好。

方才从阅了过去我在此草拟的一些篇章。
还真觉得没有什么水准附加有些失态呢。
可还是有一些可爱的读者撑得住耐得了。
不知不觉也伴了这个网站走了数月时光。

其实一直以来我都会有涂涂写写的习惯。
九个月前不知那来的傻劲使然才有此站。
我只不过是把一天部分的想法公诸于世。
我在想没有公诸于世的会不会更为精彩。

我每天会抽空回顾一天的所为所思所言。
然后再试着以比较简单的文字拼凑成章。
想要与众分享的部分我再重新整理一遍。
所以你们看到的往往只是我片断的回忆。

想写一些比较有营养的还真是不容易啊。
没有关系我会继续对周遭多加参考体悟。
也继续在人生旅途中多加磨练提升造就。
只要时间许可加上我不懒就应该有的看。

累了。夜了。安了。好睡。美梦。再会。

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有一位作者这么说：

有个小孩对母亲说：「妈妈你今天好漂亮。」
母亲回答：「为什么。」
小孩说：「因为妈妈今天都没有生气。」

原來要拥有漂亮很简单，只要不生气就可以了。

Needle-&-Thread and Some Firsts . .

Just yesterday,
- I have noted a button on one of pants had fallen off.
- I have noted a split in the seam of one of my favourite shirt.
- A piece of cloth (for hand-drying purpose) needed a fabric loop to be sewn on as that it could be hooked up.

No worries..
I didn’t run to my mum or my sis to get them fixed.
I picked up a needle and some thread and get them fixed all by myself.
I am not particularly good at it (of course), but it seems to work.

Actually, those weren’t my first attempt.
My first major attempt was a few years back, when I suddenly think my printer needed a dust-cover. Mm.. I was bored enough (or was it courageous enough) to hand-sew one for it. I am still using that cover now. Okay, I am also looking at it now. Haha..

I don’t know why, with zero prior training at all, I just needle-and-thread my way through. I tell you the outcomes were not too bad. No pictures here hor, in case they contradicts what I wrote here. :P

I also remember the first time I had decided to cut my own hair. I just went to a shop, bought a clipper, chose a time when there wasn’t anyone at home to "kajiao" me, next I just proceeded to clip and cut my hair away. No one knows I cut it myself, until I told them so. Again, it wasn’t perfect, but it seemed to work. Of course, the experience gave me more courage to try many more times when I have the time and don’t mind clearing the mess after the cut.

It may seem I am quite impulsive. But.. As I begin to understand myself, I realize maybe I am not being impulsive. I have actually noted, well before I began all my first attempts, I already had a series of photographic mental pictures as to what I should do. Strange.

Same goes to my first roller-blading, tennis or badminton games. I mean I wasn’t particular good, but no one believed that those were my first times. I was actually watching the games for quite sometime, imagining I was playing and very physically involved, before I actually gave my first tries. This, they might not know.

I think the brain can be quite a powerful tool. I have yet to harness all its capabilities, of course.

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有一位作者这么说：

有个小弟在脚踏车店当学徒，有人送来一部故障的脚踏車，小弟除了将车修好，还把车子整理的漂亮如新，其他学徒笑他多此一举。

后来雇主将脚踏车领回去的第二天，小弟被挖角到那位雇主的公司上班。

原来出人头地很简单，吃点亏就可以了。

Checking out the Ferries

An appointment was cancelled at the very last minute and that gave me some time to explore a little. I decided to check out the Fairies Ferries.

Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal
It is rather secluded, but still may be accessed by bus service number 35 from Bedok Interchange. It’s not a big place. I don’t see many people around but the car park was pretty packed. My guess : those people drove there, parked their car and took a ferry to either Tanjung Pinang, Sebana Cove, Bintan Resorts or Batam.

Changi Ferry Terminal
It is ultra ulu man. The terminal was almost empty and I only saw 2 policemen by the terminal. Is the terminal still functioning? Yes it is, and there are only about 3 to 4 trips per day, with the earliest starting at around 8:15am. During the intervals between the departure timings, the ticketing office is shut down. The only destination to be reached from this terminal is Tanjong Belungkor. I feel that this terminal is somewhat dying.

More information about the destinations that could be reached by all of our ferry terminals can be found here.

Anyway, I find the stretch of beach beside Changi Ferry Terminal a little interesting. I wouldn’t say the beach is beautiful. (Singapore got beautiful beach meh?) Just that the trees planted along the beach are tall pine trees, making the area more shady than the usual ones we see at East Coast or anywhere in Singapore. 好浪漫哦 . Erps.. I mean 浪慢. The waters in Singapore are ever so sheltered. The waves (浪) are never strong and they always come in slowly (慢). Haha..

Nevertheless, the leisure ride along the straight, long, almost deserted Changi Coast Road was cool. :)

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有一位圣者这么说：

离开世界的方法有两种，一种在光明中，一种在黑暗中。
在光明中离去的不再回来，在黑暗中离去的还要重返。
既然要走超生了死的大道，那就要学着在光明中来走；唯有面对。
唯一困难的并不是那些事，或者是外境的一切，而是你的心；
所以你们要学者面对自己的心。

Reading Travel Guides

Reading travel guides can be real fun. In this area, I think most people would be familiar with the "big" names like

and so on..

Oh, the “smaller” name like Signpost Guide (Thomas Cook Publication) is also not too bad.

At present, Insight Guides appeal to me most as they are usually not too thick (which implies more concise writing and description) and they are always generously splashed with quality photographs for us to drool over.

If time allows, it’s always good to check them all out, for their emphases / recommendations can be different.

I find reading such guides fun. Particularly the hard copies, for I don’t really fancy facing the computer monitor for too long. Maybe because I am anticipating a get-away to become a reality. The more I read, the more “real” it becomes. Come this December, if I am still alive... travel : I would if I could. Ha.. There are plans! Thanks W for asking me along.

Side Note :
I realize Malaysia does have many great places. I find the islands and beaches, especially those at the eastern coastline of West Malaysia particularly charming. Maybe because it is facing the South China Sea. Our very own Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal can also bring us to some of these places. Oh, and how could I forget about Mount Kinabalu in Sabah?! One of these days.. sure.. sure.. I will set foot in some of these places for a brief get-away.

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有一位作者这么说：

转念也是很重要的，它是破除一切烦恼的良方，『能转念，万事皆圆满』，
一念转来，何其自在！一念转来，海阔天空。
任何挫折、考验、打击都是帮助你成长的助力。

人家把你绊倒了，你要感谢他，因为他要训练你具有更健壮的双腿；
人家把你遗弃了，你要感谢他，他是帮你早点独立的恩人；
人家不断的给你压力，你要感谢他，他是希望你快点成长的益友；
人家不断的给你挫折、打击，你要感谢他，他是培养你挫折忍受力的良师。