Cough..kaff..acckks..xcus-zimoi

Apologia for the long intermission (snickers)... just returning from the limbo to have a look see.

However, will update soon, with pictures.

Meanwhile adieu.

limbotic post

My father who raised me for 26 years had passed away on the 17th November 2005.

I don't know what I am feeling now.

I still have things to do and his last wish for me to fulfil.

But I feel stuck.

I am irritable at every small issue now. This is bad.

I remember crying uncontrollably for the first time in many years on that day.

There was so much I had wanted to do for him when I would have come back from Sydney.

But now, it all became a mere possibility that remains stuck on 17th November 2005.

I miss him alot.

I really hope his essence, his soul will go on to the Western Paradise as described in the Buddhist scriptures.

I really do miss him.

Numbers for thought...

According to an article in the Goodweekend (29 Oct 2005), a weekend magazine of the Sydney Morning Herald, there are some interesting statistics with regards toimmigration figures to Australia.

Settler arrivals by birthplace,

Singapore

1993-1994

502

2003-2004

2224

So over a period of ten years, the numbers from Singapore jumped by a factor of four.
China, India and Sudan showed a similar jump in terms of factor, while South Africa and Zimbawe increased by a factor of five and ten respectively.

Interestingly, the numbers from Hong Kong dropped drastically by a factor of three (from 3333 in 93-94 to 1125 in 03-04).

This clearly is not the aggregate numbers but rather it seemed to be a year on year basis. However, the numbers indicated do not differentiate between permanent migration to those who are on a temporary basis (like students for example). Still, it gives some food for thought. The numbers are from DIMIA.

The zazzle

Sometimes, fate plays a cruel joke. Like the legends of the past, what one lech for, always seems to be around the corner, but never, within my grasp.

Kind counsel abound, the fog of war twirls round the mind, stumbling steps I take. Yet again. And again.

The sounds of the ship horn blast through the air, and I will, sink again to the cold depths, akin to the destiny of the cursed maiden, fair Titanic.

3 old ladies

Once upon a time, there were three old ladies. They didn't want to die out in the open. So they came up with a plan.

The plan was to rob a bank. For one, is to live out her dream, to do what she want. Before she fades away into the shadows, away with Death.

They eventually got caught, and the one who dreamt, saw Death waiting, and slept peacefully away on the hard prison bed.

Her dear two friends, waited, And being like any other good old ladies, they behaved well, and were released soon after 8 months of prison life. They were lucky, their klutzy adorers had found the money that was spirited away (the police never found them because the driver of the getaway car hid the money in an old folks home).

The money was used to buy a rusting old fishing boat. The two old ladies were understandably non too happy with it, but it was all good.

Last stick of ciggie

Ciggie, heh, I've used the bastardised form for cigarette. Nice, life should be convenient.

It's just 6 mnutes past 3 am (AEST), and the last stub lies miserably together with its two cousins in a lid that I conveniently use as a makeshift ashtray. Like an awkward threesome with no voyeurs.

It's a cool dusk, wet from the smattering of rain, falling where it is not needed the most. That, my friend, is not convenient. Firstly, it drives the mosquitoes into my room, through the balcony door left ajar. Thus the motivation to fill the room with ciggie smoke to literally smoke out the mosquitoes. Heh, a failed experiment of course, cigarette smoke are never meant to substitute for mozzie coils.

Secondly, it makes you feel just a tad more miserable than you already are, especially if you are still staying up.

Thirdly, it just mocks at you, for not having another warm body by your side when you lay down beneath the cover. Of course this betrays one of my desires, need, want, dreams. For now, I make do with a faux version of the vulpes vulpes.

But, there is just something magical about the sounds of rain falling amongst the veil of the eventide.

小薇 from the past

小薇

有一个美丽的小女孩 她的名字叫作小薇
她有双温柔的眼睛 她悄悄偷走我的心
小薇啊 你可知道我多爱你 我要带你飞到天上去
看那星星多美丽 摘下一颗亲手送给你
有一个美丽的小女孩 她的名字叫作小薇
她有双温柔的眼睛 她悄悄偷走我的心
小薇啊 你可知道我多爱你 我要带你飞到天上去
看那星星多美丽 摘下一颗亲手送给你 小薇啊
你可知道我多爱你 我要带你飞到天上去
看那星星多美丽 摘下一颗亲手送给你

Random meanderings

"Who are you?"

"Where did you come from?"

"Why are you here?"

"Where are you trying to go from here?"

"What is most important to you...?"

-Tsubasa Chronicles 20-

---------------------------------------

Why blogging is seditious?

Premise 1: Blogging requires some thinking

Premise 2: Thinking is dangerous, mostly.

Conclusion: Blogging is therefore dangerous.

(May be removed/edited)

It's friday night...

and what are you doing?

It's a cold tonight in Sydney. I wonder if you still remember the nights here.

The puffs of your warm breathes fascinates me to no end. Does it still do for you as well?

I remember the wet nights that often accompanies spring's entrance, do the falling rain still makes you look out the window?

The distant sounds of the traffic, ever unceasing, the infrequent stillness of the night, broken by the screams of piercing sirens. Do you still hear them often?

The wet sounds emmanting from every step pounding on the uneven pavement, and the cold biting winds, harshly tells me that Spring is coming.

Spring is coming. It is Friday night, and what are you doing?

September 11

Wow, it's September 11 again.

*Closed my eyes and wished hard for world peace world peace world peace....*


Listening to: Yoru Wo Kakeru

AGM 2005

The agm was over a couple of hours ago. Just can't help thinking we could have done it much more properly and organised. Blame it on my pedantic need to get things done right. Why organise something where we do it the SAF way: rush to wait wait to rush.
No one else seemed to know what to do and the one who should look more presidential was happy to wait. Fine. I am just another kancheong spider that will be blown away in the wiind.

And surprisingly there was some politicking going on in the presidential elections, since I was expecting just a straight fight between the two contestants without any other third parties.

But guess I was wrong. But the right person did get elected and so shall it be.

The pacing of the agm didn't feel very comfortable and there is the perennial sydromne where people leave after voting for the president.

Fact of life: nobody gives a shit about the rest of the supporting committee.

Fact of life number 2: it's also the very well connected people that gets to high places. I am pretty sure hard work and effort is a factor in success as well but how much of it also depends on the aforementioned.

Now to await the dreaded awards.

The last post

must be some of the shittest post I ever written. But i don't believe in authoritarian censorship, so it shall be left behind to torment whoever dares venture here.

Sometimes

The world of the looking glass.

Is so unreal.

And, yet, can bring real pain.

Then, you, sometimes, sometimes dream.

About that, auric, blazing star rise.

In the, thin boundary yonder.

And, as I gaze, upon your silhouette.

Cast upon the cold surface.

Listening, wondering, of the tales.

From the hearts asunder.

Then before, the rays' strength is at its zenith.

Silently, swiftly, gently shall my shadow fade.

Wondering skeptic

I was trying to see if I can view the NDP rally speech online, to see what sort of goodie bag the government is giving out.

Unfortunately, our very competitive media industry have only one main broadcaster, and the main source of such a livestreaming was to have come from the ChannelNewsAsia (at the rate that we import CHinese people, it's going to be called ChinaNewAsia soon, wahaha...oops oops, falling into the insular singaporean mode again).

Anyway, because our CNA see themselves as the BBC of Asia, they also put all their videocasting of their shows through the Real Network, and you have to subscribe to their premium version of the Realplayer to get access to premium content. And as I am a poor student, with no credit card, I am left with no option but to give RealPlayer a middle finger and say goodbye to the live webcast.

So much for trying to connect to all Singaporeans.

The skeptical cynic strikes!

From Todayonline (18 August 2005)

Letter from Janaine Lau
Press Secretary to Minister for Law

Your article "Changing Istana" (Aug 13-14), although purporting to be based on views of experts, contained misleading and inaccurate statements about the constitutional role of the President and his relationship with the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA).
.
First, the article said that in 2004, Parliament passed new provisions "to make it possible for the Government to transfer its reserves to selected statutory boards and Government companies, without such transfers being regarded as a draw on past reserves".
.
In fact, the amendments merely enabled the Government to transfer its past reserves to the past reserves of protected statutory boards and Government companies. This would not enable the Government to draw on these past reserves.
.
Secondly, the article said the majority of the six-member CPA "must agree with the President before he can effectively veto the Government's budget or key appointments".
.
There is no requirement that the CPA has to agree with the President before he can exercise his veto. However, if the President vetoes the budget or key appointments contrary to the CPA's recommendation, the veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority in Parliament. But if the CPA agrees with the President, then his veto is final and cannot be overridden by Parliament.

-------------

Notice the words in bold above.

From the dictionary.com, the definition of veto:

n. pl. ve·toes

1.
1. The vested power or constitutional right of one branch or department of government to refuse approval of measures proposed by another department, especially the power of a chief executive to reject a bill passed by the legislature and thus prevent or delay its enactment into law.
2. Exercise of this right.
3. An official document or message from a chief executive stating the reasons for rejection of a bill.
2. An authoritative prohibition or rejection of a proposed or intended act.


tr.v. ve·toed, ve·to·ing, ve·toes

1. To prevent (a legislative bill) from becoming law by exercising the power of veto.
2. To forbid or prohibit authoritatively.


Then let's see the make up of the Council of Presidential Advisors (from http://www.istana.gov.sg/cpa.html):


The Council comprises six members, of whom two are appointed by the President at his discretion, two are the Prime Minister's nominees, one is the Chief Justice's nominee and the sixth, the nominee of the Chairman of the Public Service Commission.


And then let's see who makes up the majority of the Parliament (from here):

Total of 84 seats in Parliament.
seats by party - PAP 82, WP 1, SPP 1


And we just wonder why was there so much hoo ha about the non-president elections earlier.

This guy is good

Hope the newspaper don't sue me for copying direct but am rather tired of having to hyperlink stuff.


Man busted by three wives
From correspondents in London
August 12, 2005



WHEN Melvyn Reed went into hospital for a heart bypass operation, his loved ones were anxious to be with him as he recovered.
But things got unexpectedly crowded around the bedside of the 58-year-old car salesman. And while his heart was on the mend, three others were soon broken.

For first, one of his wives turned up to comfort him. Then another. Then another. All within minutes of each other.

It was only then that the three women, who live in different parts of England, realised the bespectacled, portly businessman was a bigamist who had been living several secret lives for years.

Two weeks after he was discharged, Reed walked into a police station on the advice of his solicitor and admitted his deception.

He was later given a four-month suspended prison sentence by magistrates in Wimbledon for two counts of bigamy.

Advertisement:
Recalling the fateful day the three women all turned up at the hospital, Reed told police: "Unfortunately, the timing of the visits went out of sync and they all arrived at once."

His first wife -- his only legitimate one -- is said to be standing by him.

Patriotism?

Exactly what does it mean by being patriotic? Why do some people like to quote latin sayings that essentially means to sacrifice for the greater good? Where is the sense of that? I do not claim to know nor do I really care how good is it for the people that I should cut off my own tongue for them.

I like life, I don't want to die or get incaerated unnecessarily. I like the kind of socially constructed freedom that I currently enjoy. I despise those who try to take that away from me. Unfortunately, some of us don't have a choice.

When I was younger, I used to clamour for the chance to go for any of the national day parade. It conveyed a sense of awe and even some sort of inspiration in me, to strive and become someone as useful as those who were marching in the impressively neat columns. It was of course a great treat to see fireworks then, since it was restricted to only national days and new year eve countdowns.

I remembered once I attended a national day parade rehersal, it was indeed quite overwhelming, what with the seemingly rousing national day songs, flag fly past, I even saluted the flag when I was still just only barely 17. Nothing wrong with that, I love my country then, and I think I still do, although in a very different manner from what some above said people thinks the best way to do.

I don't know what will I do in the near future, with graduation looming, I fear the grasp of my homeland with her ice cold fingers, the sunny island belies a certain dark character underneath her veneer of propserity. But know this I will, and some way I will find, soon.

I believe...

in ACIDFLASK!

What a night!

Oh man...this is crazy..it was originally a dinner outing with Adrian and Chris..a lovely pizza dinner at Arthurs.

In the end we ended back up at Adrian's place with a few of his colleague from Rex. much drinks was passed around and Adrian got really smashed. I was half gone but still ok enough, Sarah the lovely girl cheated at the game of Bluff (she threw down half her deck at below the table, none of us noticed cos we were all quite gone cept for a couple of people). Weiye (internee at Rex, from NUS) drank the most hard liquor tonight, think more than 3 shots of Vodka. All thanks to Indian Poker.

And it is only the second day of the semester...

What do I do...

I don't know what to do...with a friend of mine. Sigh.