War~

What is war? War is the internal struggle of your body's immune system against the bacteria and diseases that invade your body. War is when your neighbour throws something over ur fence that doesn't belong to you. War is when a group of friends go LAN. War is when the politicians in Taiwan get violent in parliament house. War is when a country attempts to obtain oil through forcible actions. War is politics between countries turn into action, due to the break down of diplomatic and friendly means. Politicians talk with ease as they give inspirational speeches to the masses to rally them to war, inevitably sending their fellow men to their deathbeds. The aim of war is clear, but the process is not. Soldiers are trained to think that they are doing the right thing, but some may falter when they start to see their comrades fall down in battle. Both sides suffer damages. Who wins? As always said, there are no winners in war, only losers. The cost of the war may far outweigh the benefit that come with it. Are we able to put a price tag on a human life? In my opinion, the value of how one cherish another human's life is how close u are to the person. If i lost a loved one, i would mourn much more than if someone else i do not noe passed away. It is easier to send someone u do not know to fight a war for you than someone close to you as it would hurt you more if you were to lose that person, as no amount of money in this world would be able to replace that loved one of urs. Once we go to war, there is no turning back, infrastructure can be repaired, order will rise from chaos, new authorities will come into place, but those lost loved ones will be lost forever, their existence will only remain in our memories. Who or what will u be fighting for if we go to war?

Some things are worth dying for: "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself"

- John Stuart Mill

Pays~

Did you know that the basic salary of the ministers in Singapore is S$1,166,844 to S$1,458,040 a year? Do the calculations and the maths, and its an average of S$100,000 a month. No wonder people are complaining about the ministers' pay. Why should our ministers draw such a high pay? Why are we complaining about it? To the first qn, i can only say good for them. Considering that they have "done such a good job" in running the country, maybe they should earn that much. Considering that maybe they have shed more hair white ones take their place and grown some eyebags, they should earn that much. Why are we complaining? Maybe because we are jealous. Maybe because we don't earn as much as them. For the record, Singaporeans are complain Kings and Queens. We are the perfect examples of the human race that will cause headaches to customer service departments. We Kau Pei alot. But to kao pei isn't bad. Maybe the reason why we are so competitive as a country is because we kao pei alot. The more we kao pei, the more things get done more efficiently. It is in our nature to kao pei, maybe because when we are young we always kao pei kao bu and kao kang lang.

In my honest opinion, and i know that Charles will certainly disagree with me, I do not see why we should complain about our ministers' pay. Comparing our ministers' pay with ministers from other countries is just like comparing the CEO's pay between a large firm and a small firm(careful not to name any firms here). If one firm is larger than the other and is probably doing better than its other counterparts, the CEO will naturally earn more.Not to say that Singapore is doing better than its counterparts, but the outlook is certainly positive. I would certainly hope that the pay of the ministers are incentive based and are based on certain Key Performance Indicators. In that way, if these KPI's are made known to us, perhaps we wouldn't complain that much. I certainly am not complaining. As long as I don't have to live my life knowing that i will get shot in the head or having my guts get blown out by some lurking terrorists, or mugged along the streets or have to pay income tax of 50% of my gross income, having to live in ultmiate poverty, I'm happy the way I am. I think we need to be more objective in this matter and maybe ask ourselves why they are earning so much, and we are not. Maybe that is the more burning issue in our hearts.

Meanwhile, I'm sick of being sick. Exams are around the corner and we all have to be in tiptop condition to ensure optimum performance. Next Monday would be a horrendous day with the ultimate combo of french test, maths test, aerospace exhibit presentation and formal report submission, followed by Programmers GM at night. It will truly be a bluey monday. Maybe i should practice some blues lick on my guitar to commmerate Mondays. Nvm.

I love Singapore.(For lyanna) I love my Pays.(Pun intended)

The Last Supper~

One last supper, one last gathering, before the final burst to the finish line. At the end of this journey, I will look back, knowing i could have started off better, knowing that i could have run faster. Let the race be one to learn from, for without falling, you will never know wat a bruise is. For without trying, u will never know how far your strides can go.

Hall 2 Jam Band is going to play at a private party on Sat night. I can't believe it when i heard the news. Totally unimaginable, totally unexpected, totally cool. We'll try to be at our best after our "fiesta" at cultural night. Morale was really low as technical hiccups really caused us to lose our momentum and mood. We will make ammends for this. We will practice hard.

Playing for the first Charimatic Service in Church on Sunday. It is so exciting knowing that you can be part of something new, and help contribute to its success. Ever since i picked up the guitar after jc/during army, I've come a long way in the musical journey in church. From starting out serving in Chinese service, to playing for Praise and Prayer Ministry, now Shine Forth Service(contemperary) and Upper Room Service(Charimatic). I really thank god for giving me the ability and skill to serve him in this manner.

Sunday night, meeting up with all the Asean University Games peeps at Coach Lai's house. Will be doing lots of catch up with the badminton peeps that i had fun with in Vietnam.

One final weekend of fun, excitement and social acitvities. One final weekend of enjoyment. One final weekend of realxing. One final burst.

Beautiful Sound~
Beutiful sound indeed. Thursday i got my hands on a US made Fender Stratocaster, courtesy of NIE. I almost couldn't bear to part with it...It was so well made, so beautiful sounding, it made my line 6 guitar sounds like thrash.... The handling, the body, everything was perfect. Now i noe the difference between a modelling guitar, and an actual guitar. It was just mesmerising. I keep trying to figure out why my own guitar can't produce that kinda sound. It's close, but something is just missing. The difference between digital and analog sound is very stark indeed. When i have deeper pockets I got to get my hands on one of those Fenders, and that Harmon Kardon Soundsticks II too.

Signs~

In art, realists paint life with blemishes, wrinkles, and scars. Idealists paint a subject as they imagine it could or should be. On the road of life, ideals give us direction, realism gives us traction.

-Mart De Haan

If only I could paint the future like Isaac Mendez. What would the painting be?If only I could be in the future like Hiro Nakamura. What will i see? I pray that the Lord will show me the way and paint the path for me.

I need directions. I need signs. From you.

He will not leave you nor forsake you~ Deuteronomy 31:6

Take a break, Take 6~

A break from studying, a break from meetings, a break from band practices, a break from the hectic schedule, not as if it didn't contribute to it. Went to catch Take 6 today with Krystal, which was a concert part of the Mosaic Music festival held in Singapore. Personally I am a fan of the festival, and i was there 3 out of the 7 days of the festival last year. This year though, i don't think i'll have the time to equal my record. Take 6 isn't just an ordinary acapella group. Its an acapella group with attitude and charisma. They did so well in captivating the audience not only through their magical singing and harmonizing, but also through their witty acts and their interaction and involvment of the audience. Certainly brightened up my day:) A 10/10.

Meanwhile, i'll prepare to brave the onslaught of tests and quizzes coming up this week. Have to meet up with my prog group soon to finalise details abt sea ex. Got to meet jan b4 she goes to the UK for exchange. Got to go for hall dinner on thursday, not to mention universe dinner as well. Got to meet up with robbie for accounting tuition(yes i need accounting tuition). Got to prepare myself for bible study leading this sat. Got to practice songs for Worship this Sunday. And on top of tt, im gonna slip a timeslot to catch 300...prob on Wed:) I am not superman, but nothing's impossible:)

I wanna...

I wanna go watch a movie....any movie!!!... but no time:(
I wanna go buy a new pair of Micro Seba freestyle skates!!...but no money
I wanna play the guitar like Joe Satriani!!...but no skill...
I wanna study hard and do well for my tests!!....still in the process..haha..
I wanna play badminton!!...but i just can't find the time to do so...
I wanna go to a pub to listen to live music!!...but i'm stuck in pulau NTU...
I wanna be able not to pang seh so many things!!.but sometimes just no choice..

Pek Chek, as defined by talkingcock.com is a hokkien term denoting exasperation or frustration.

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is presing you down a bit,
Rest if you must bu don't you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems far.
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
Its when things go wrong that you musn't quit.

Annonymous

Meat & Mahjong Rush~

If you wanna experiene a meat rush, or u are a meatatarian, and u have money to spare, u should go try Brazil Churrascaria at 6th Avenue. As the name suggests, its a Brazilian restaurant and it serves great meat and salad brazilian style on a buffet that is a wooping $38 per pax. The salad's like standard on a buffet table, whereas the meat is served by chefs coming out carrying the meat poked on a stick and cutting it and putting it on ur plate for you upon request. The meat is....tenderlicious and mouth watering. The succulent-ness of the meat which melts in ur mouth, especially the chicken and fish will just melt ur heart away.... But beware....if u have small appetite or have a low tolerance for meat, do stay away...cos this ain't for the faint hearted.

4th of March, a day to be remembered as the day my family took out the dusty mahjong set and table from the gallows of the storeroom and sat down to play mahjong together. Talk abt family bonding. The blurry concept & definition of gambling still lingers in my head. What is wrong with gambling? Both in a morally and religiously? Issit not gambling that is wrong but the repercussions and effects of gambling? Issit true that a game of mahjong can't be enjoyed without playing with money??

I really need to find some non money mahjong pals......

Phuket~
Guys, thanks for making the trip so fun and memorable :)