Quotes~

"Good times do not last because we are not yet in heaven."

"Do not live in the successes of the past, but persevere and repeat history."

-Rev Malcolm Tan

How apt:)

Amazing Grace~

Soft Side~

It is amazing how facebook, a utility tool invented by some Harvard graduate has evolved into a fad, from connecting students within Harvard University to connecting over 40 million people around the world. In my recent endeavour to be studious and attempt to catch up with my work which I've failed in certain aspects, I've explored further the realms of facebook, of those that I've been trying to escape from, leaving behing a long trail of notifications and requests waiting for my responses. Succumbed to them I have, and in my small little facebook adventure I've come to realised how technology has helped to liven up our monotonous and poor lives by creating small little things that paint smiles on people's faces. Gone are the days when you need to physically buy a flower to cheer a friend up, or even send a birthday card on the person's birthday. We can now "give a gift" to that person or write on the person's wall on facebook. These small little tools have eradicated the "hardware" and given us the "software" to communicate to our friends our emotions through a cheaper, less time consuming, more hassle free way. Bravissimo. You never know one day we could get married online, or even have a dinner party online through an online portal. Farfectched, but in my own humble opinion, the further you reach for, the further you will achieve.

Anyway, I've stumbled upon 2 amazing utility software that I would like to share. The first one's Registry Mechanic. It helps fix your screwed up registry such that your com will operate faster and stop lagging. The 2nd's SpeedUpMy Pc. Self Explanatary. These 2 gems made my com feel like a million bucks. So if you comm has a load of junk that acts like a chute behind a runing man, these two utilities are the gatorade.

Matlab = MADlab.

Recess is ending, time to upgrade the software and start up the hardware for another gruelling term, at the end of which would bring a deep satisfaction and an exciting anticipation:)

The Purpose of Reading~

That which is the end of their (author's) wisdom is but the beginning of ours.
- Marcel Proust

Disarray~

I've faced my demons
Wrestling these angels to the ground
And all that I could find
Was a thin line between
All the saints and villains
it was crossed in my own mind

Someday I'm gonna find it
Wish I knew what I was looking for
Inside the disarray
I woke up this morning
Don’t know where I’m going
But it’s alright
I wouldn't have it any other way

I’m struggling between the facts and fiction
I’m alone But I'm alive
Everyone around me is trying to make a statement
Then there's me
I’m just trying to survive

If this was any other day
I'd pretend to know where I stand
I just don’t know

Getting in Touch~

I realised that the recess week is for people to get in touch with whatever they've lost touch with during the busy and hectic schedule of the academic term. Be it getting back in touch with work, friends, family; emotional, social, physical, musical and spiritual life. For me, i've probably lost a bit of touch with everything, and am really making use of this term break to reconnect those ends that gotten loose over the term.

Managed to hit the books after a well deserved 3 day break, from which I've derived satisfaction in doing things not usual, as can be seen from the previous posts and the studio family picture, plus the playing for band in church on Sunday and having dinner at grandma's on Sunday. After which, went to NLB for a Tech comm discussion, which was quite disastrous due to the lack of proper facilities there. At night, I went for Sports camp programmers chalet! It brought back many good memories and it was heartening to see the enthusiasm in the freshie programmers, and in retrospect thinking whether our batch of programmers possessed an equal amount of enthusiasm. Nevertheless, I foresee a good programmers committee about to rise up.

The activities for the week will include mugging sessions, research and project sessions, chalet sessions, meeting up with friends sessions, fitness sessions(yes i still need to keep fit), watching rugby and soccer sessions etc etc. Fun filled but well filled to the brim. Recess week = Break?? U bet not:)

Family Potrait~

Not Norm~

What an invigorating,refreshing and happy Friday from5 all the stressful tests, tutorials and proposals. I decided to take the day off and give myself a good break after what seemed to be a full blown 1st term with infinite workload. All started well after lectures, when I went to see Prof Ng regarding subject matching for GIP. He was pretty happy with what i've matched except for aerodynamics which he said I have to see Professor Schluter to get approval for that. Amazingly, even though I only managed to do a 30% match on the course syllabus for the compressible flow module, Prof Schluter had no problems with UW's course syllabus and gave me the approval 30 seconds after I walked into his office. What a great man. Submitted my "Consent form" for GIP afterward which together with the approved subject matching aptly marked the end of Stage 2 of the GIP process.

Went to eat our long procrastinated (like 1 year) lunch with Charlene after that, and had a great chat with her. After I went back to Hall, I watched the movie "Just follow Law". Its so lame and funny man, every singaporean ought to watch it. If you want the film just drop me an email or something.

After dropping off my mom at my dad's camp where she went for a badminton session with him after she came to pick me up, went to NUS to pick Sarah up to have dinner with her and her sister with her 3 kids. Became babysitter for about 2 hours, making sure the kids didn't get lost in borders, carrying 18 months old Daniel(he looks like wayne rooney) from Takashimaya to Centrepoint on my left arm(it ached real badafter tt) and watching the dinner table turn into a war zone while appreciating my food.

After that, we met up with Sarah's exchange friend Pavla from Czech Republic for the movie "The Rogue Assassin". What a rogue movie it was.....haha....After that, drove to Kent Ridge park for a midnight walk and in the process spotting 2 cars we suspected that had couples making out inside.

Sorry for the lack of thought in language, cos its like almost 2 and i don't wanna think that much. It was a busy but fufilling day. So not routine and mundane. Only if everday could be like this. Well, reality always kicks in and I figured i got to hit the books again tomorrow. What a wonderful friday it has been:)

Purpose~

I've been so convicted that everything happens for a purpose in life. Especially so this semester, where a series of unfortunate events have actually turned out to be blessings in disguise. Starting with the Hall allocation fiasco, when I thought I know why I was thrown here without rhyme or reason, only to suddenly realise that there is a bigger picture to be seen. Not only is it for me to concentrate on my studies and learn to live away from distractions and friends, it is for me to prepare for my exchange programme overseas. Out of all the Aero people who've gotten GIP, I'm the sole ranger to trek on the terrain of the University of Washington. I was caught so off guard by the result initially, only to realise later that God has a plan for me. To illustrate the point that I did not even think of going UW, I have done research for UMich and GIT but never even visited the home page for UW.

Moreover, a pleasant surprise came to me yesterday as I found out that the pianist playing with me in the makeshift band today for the Praise and Prayer Service is curently studying in UW. I have never seen this guy at all, cos he's been in UW for probably a few years already, and he's subbing in to play keyboard only for today. Wait there's more, the acoustic guitarist Dan who's playing alongside me today as well in the makeshift band is goin to Seattle in January to do community college. Like...What the Holy Cow..... unexplainable, unfathomable, but real. I just can't explain what just happened this week, but I know who can:) There's a plan that's crafted out for me, and I'm happy that I'm looked and watched after for.

Just wanna thank David for all the prayers!! Thanks for being there when it really matters:)

What a poster~

The Right Track~

Last Sunday, I made a decision to put my chrisitian life back to track, by making the effort to pay attention during the sermon and not allow my mind to drift elsewhere by taking notes on my pda. Pastor Malcolm preached about God not letting us down, about the 2nd coming of God, and how we should prepare for his return. Having a sanctified heart, having no unconfessed sins in our hearts were a few of the points that he mentioned. But a burning question rose in my mind. Am I living my life such that I am prepared for his God's arrival if he comes tomororw? Am I living without regrets such that I will not regret if I were to leave earth tomorrow? What does it mean to live life without regrets?

If you were to ask me that question last year, I would say to live life without regrets would be to try everything out there, to see the world, to pack your time with activities such that you live your days efficiently. However, I would tell you now that to live life without regrets is to make the right decisions that will change your life.

In my recent struggle with life's issues (aren't we all struggling with issues in life), I've always wondered whether I've made the right decisions. Honestly, sometimes I do things without putting much thought into it. Heart over mind eh?? And sometimes I do things by putting too much thought into it. Nevertheless, I pray that God gives me the wisdom to make the correct decisions, and to reveal to me his plans for me.

I am going to put my life on the right track.

Cool Videos~

this baby is so cute~!!






The Ronaldinho of basketball

Intense~

University of Michigan. I'm probably 1 step closer to going for exchange. Not entirely excited as I know realistically there's still a long way to go before I know whether I can go. There is subject matching to do, there is still the results of GIP that has yet to be released which might change my exchange destination if I even get to go, and there's the pending acceptance from UMich itself. So, there's alot of work to be done.

Saturday doesn't sound like a day to go to school, but I went to school for a 3 hour Maths 4 lecture. If you think Maths 4 sounds easy, wait till you hear fourier transformation and complex number integration.

Apollo Banana Leaf Restaurant. Today we had a mini aerospace lunch outing there with Subbiah, the guy from Gerogia Institute of Technology who came here for a semester of exchange in humble NTU. Amazing. I thought the exchange will mostly be one way, but apparently we are known to people in the USA, who more often than not do not know where Singapore is, not to mention that they don't even know we exist. It was an intense lunch of fish and mutton curries and popeye's spinach.

I'm gonna hibernate at home for 6 weekends for 1 reason and 1 only. The Rubgy World Cup 2007. Tonight, All Blacks will be playing the Italians at 1930. I bet it will be a mouth watering game. Somehow I seem to enjoy rubgy more than soccer, perhaps because of the passion and honour that is injected into game which makes it more exciting to watch. I'm probably more of a blood, sweat, tears and glory kinda person than a money, fame, money, money kind of person. Haha!! (No offence)

Durian Juice~

I've figured out a revolutionary way to make durian juice which will allow you to enjoy both the succulent meat of the durian and sip on its juice. NO more tedious squeezing of the durian meat which will probably yield you 0.0001ml of juice. Just eat the durian, drink loads of water, wait for 10 mins, bring a cup to the toilet and viola!!!

4th University~

They should set it up like real fast. I don't wanna spend the last years of my education eating lunch along the road or staying in Hall 17.

The Result of a Very Happy Childhood~

Over the Limit~

You know its over the limit when you decide to spend $318 in 2 hours on a 320GB hard drive and an altec lansing 2.1 speakers system that you just couldn't take your ears off. You know its over the limit when you have to go out without completing your tutorials for the next week. You know its over the limit when u down so many shots you don't know how many you've downed. You know its over the limit when you tried to control your puke from coming out but to no avail. You know its over the limit when you start talking nonsense even though you know are talking nonsense.You know its over the limit when you can't concentrate on sermon. You know its over the limit when you fall asleep in cell group. You know its over the limit when you are writing this blog, waiting to go for a birthday party when you haven't finished your tutorials and study for a quiz next week.

You know its over the limit when you don't do anything about an attraction so strong you can't avoid.