Last Minute Work or Lack Of Funds? (NDP 2011)

This post contains spoilers on the actual show on August 9th. Please leave if you don't want to be spoilt. Thanks.

If none of you ever experience doing work at the very last minute, you are not human. Alright, maybe some of you don't, and I'll show you what will "Last Minute Work" results into. Come August 9th 2011, Singapore's National Day, you'll view one of the worst show in the history book.

(Picture credit: MinDef.gov.sg ;Funpack)

First, the thing that everyone wants to get at the event, the Fun Pack. Are we seriously in an economic crisis? I've been live at NDPs on countless occasions and they'll give us sling bags or back packs as part of their "Fun Pack". This year, its a Tote Bag, are you kidding me? They are scrimping on the cost of the bag for this tote bag and claimed that it can be reused at supermarkets as a convenient excuse. Fair enough, National Day its about patriotism, I admit I'm a patriot and the parade should count only right?

(Picture credit: Screenshot of the Funpack Song off YouTube)

Next, the stage setting.The audience and television camera have such a wonderful and fantastic backdrop of the Singapore skyline, MBS, Marina Bay Sands Art & Science Museum and the Double Helix Bridge. And instead of placing the humongous set on the right side which is the tall skyscrapers, the ExCo decided to place it on the left, obstructing the view of the Museum and the Bridge to some of the audience. And don't you notice the whole platform is empty

(No picture credit, photos taken by blog author.) 

They didn't put it into consideration on how it'll be like at all angles of the spectators seat? Even the 2009 one was much better and showed that time and effort was spent on planning whereas for this year's one was such a mess. Do note that the set is just made up of LED or even worst some projection behind the screen and even the scaffolding skeleton.

Into the contents of the show, they had the parade show kicked off with the "Fun Pack Song", a rip off the Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance". If you think Bad Romance was a crappy song, the Fun Pack version revolutionized the song into a song you want to put earplugs on. And they started singing Abba's "Dancing Queen" and Wonder Girls' "Nobody". How in the world does this fits or link with the show?! Never in 46 years will you see those "motivators" singing original songs in a solo stage.

(Picture credit: NDP'11)

In one of the Acts, as NDP usually has different acts or section to categorise each item performed, there was an emphasis on the MRT. They dance and sang to a customised song with inferior lyrics quality in my honest opinion. I can't remember the song's title however, but I think they may be plagiarizing a song.At the end, the "singer" sang "Singapore is a home to the world". Damn right its sure a home for foreigners to seek refuge in? Its overcrowded in Singapore, much less trains, and do "they" get the message?

(Picture credit: NDP'11)

In addition to the "economic crisis" the ExCo is facing, the pyrotechnics has been drastically reduced. During the National Anthem, less than 10 seconds of pyrotechnics going off. Is this some kind of joke? The National Anthem usually have a prolonged pyrotechnics display to bring out the patriotism in all of the Singaporeans.Not sure for the rest of the items but its already a sign to what it will be for the other items.

Don't get me wrong, I'm an extremely patriotic and proud Singaporean. The show don't portray what the parade should be. And sometimes, its just that the family don't accept you and don't make concessions and privileges for their own flesh and blood.

Charity Begins At Home

(picture credits to World Vision Organization)

Just yesterday, many Singaporean youths voluntarily joined together to raise the awareness of hunger and poverty worldwide by having no food for 30 hours in the "30 Hour Famine Camp" held in Ngee Ann Polytechnic. That would mean that they want others to know that while we're still enjoying good food in Singapore, I'm not saying all, there're still many around the world that die of famine.

Famine is an increasingly the cause of deaths in those poorly-developed countries. They have to starve because they didn't have enough money for meals or food is scarce in their country. So point is, many of us can even waste food by not finishing them and throwing away those huge portions of leftovers. I got it.

What I don't get is that while we're trying to raise the awareness of those in places like Ghana and even controversially North Korea, we all overlooked the poverty faced right here in Singapore. Yes, Singapore is well known for being a well-developed country with a prosperous economy, but there are many who didn't even have the money for their daily meals.

(pictures credit to singstatistician.bs.com; elderly citizens working low-paid job and picking cardboards to earn a living by themselves.)

As a result of Singapore's advancement in economic growth, basic necessities must increase as well, leading to an increase in cost of living. Many homeless and poor elderly citizens still exist in Singapore. They're all abandoned by their children and left to fend the harsh life in Singapore all by themselves. They can't work to earn a living, so you'll see them scavenge for used cans, newspapers, cardboards etc. all over Singapore. We see them doing that almost every single day, but instead of helping our own Singaporeans first, we're trying to help those in another country?

(picture credits to saawinternational.org; malnourished Kenyan child)

Of course I'm not saying we should abandon those in other parts of the world that are experiencing famine or to say we should just care about ourselves. What I'm trying to say is that every time we see those poor elderly citizens or those families experiencing poverty scavenging for food, we despise and have another attitude towards them. So what makes you think those who took part in campaigns against famine around the world would meant what they say to help those people experiencing famine worldwide?

The Samaritans in Singapore that will provide shelter, care and the basic necessities to all those who only drinks water daily to survive can only do this much. The government, religious, private, racial organizations can't cover every family or individuals experiencing poverty or famine in Singapore. Regardless of their financial status, I believe those needy should be the priority to aid in any famine campaign.

(picture credits to lucy6.bs.com; The group of Singaporeans we often overlooked.)

Awareness for poverty and famine around the world of course must continue but if we can't help those people who are struggling in Singapore, what position are we in to aid those around the world?

A Place Called Home?

In case if you didn't realise it, I live in a suburb known as Yew Tee. Improvements can be seen for the past 5 years. Yew Tee Point was built, more sheltered access from amenities to housing estates, wheelchair-accessible facilities around the estate and more. But I'd like to reiterate on a point I've been biting on for a very long time, and that is the transportation.

Flip open the street directory/Google Earth/Singapore Map or whatever, zoom out of the 'picture' a little more. Its like a small piece of heaven being surrounded by a sea of fire. Don't believe me? Let's take a look.

North: Sungei Kadut. A relatively large industrial estate. If you drive further up and out of Sungei Kadut, you'll land yourself in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. And if you can navigate better, it probably would lead you to Woodlands but if you take KJE and BKE, it would be a faster route anyway.

South: The only way out of the town. The main town known as Choa Chu Kang. If you were heading to work, you'll have no choice but to head down south. And what happens when everyone heads towards a same direction? If your answer was traffic congestion, you are absolutely correct. Entrance to KJE along CCK Drive and CCK Way are constantly being 'jammed'. Even a 3-lane/4-lane CCK Way couldn't even make way for a surge of vehicles during peak hour.

West: Ha! You wouldn't even want to know it. Its a camp. Extremely large forested area in the East of the town. Only a very small space is used as a Canine Camp and an Army Camp. Totally no access to the East area. Even if there is, you'll find yourself in a dense cemetery. But; could something be done more to the empty plot of land that is being situated between Yew Tee and Lim Chu Kang.

East: Guess what? Its another huge plot of forested land. Even bigger than the one dividing the town and cemetery. Underneath it, they're building a big train depot. On top? Just a dense forest. A little up north is Mandai and south is Bt. Panjang. The way out of the town would be by Woodlands Road. And connecting to Woodlands Road is Stagmont Ring, a road owned by Malaysia with only 1-lane and often causing traffic congestion especially when a train arrives, well not anymore.

Yes, we can get whatever we want in the town itself. But we're talking about connectivity with the world today. If we can't even 'connect' with the other towns of Singapore properly, how can we connect with the world?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not condemning the place I'm living in now. Don't you think that there's so much more that can be done to the town? People staying in CCK Street 51/52, CCK North Avenue 5, CCK Crescent needs to take a feeder bus just to get to the train station to go for work/home. During peak hours, the station platform will be full of people and I can safely say that even if SMRT were to roll out all the train-sets that they can afford, its not going to ease the congestion.

Bus 302 takes you around the town from CCK Loop. Bus 307 takes you to the furthest Teck Whye. And there's no other bus that you can possibly find in Yew Tee. Atrocious? Since introducing more trains will not help, why not make use of the bus? There can be bus-lanes that can be implemented down south and if possible another outlet to the other towns.

If you're thinking of how the trunk bus services is going to make its way from Lot'1 up to Yew Tee and back down to the other towns then I've got to say you're not using your brains. There's an open plot of land in the West. Leave it there to grow mushrooms? Built a terminal there. Just like a huge Hougang town with 2 bus interchanges, Hougang Central and Hougang South.

The man currently in charge of the area here is already in talks with the authorities on this. And you can be sure I'm keeping an eye on the matter.

The Mercedes Citaro Experience

(photo credit: SMRT, 851 heading to Bt. Merah (top), 75 at Bt. Panjang Interchange (bottom))

I got to say I'm actually impressed at the recently released EvoBus by SMRT. Went to hunt at about 1.30pm at Yishun Bus Interchange and I didn't see any Citaros at the Bus Park. Predicted the service would ply on 171 and 851, so sat near the berths and observed at all the buses that arrived at the alighting berth in hope for a Citaro. Waited for an hour and it finally came.

Was going to head to Bt. Merah but instead went to Hong Lim Complex to have good food. The Curry Chicken Noodles and Wanton Noodles are something I wouldn't want to miss out there. The prices aren't that friendly too, which makes me think of those old and poor residents under the wings of LKY in Kreta Ayer. How are they going to afford hefty prices of food that goes way above $5? I guess they'll have the privilege of getting food at low prices.

Wanted to head to Marina Square but it was a little late, so walked over to Pearl Center and took 190 home. The Citaro bus was really smooth-sailing with hardly any jerks. The design gave me a kind of cozy feeling but their chair design needs a little modification. Not many know that the board at the Wheelchair area was actually a foldable chair. And the conference chairs took too much space at the back of the bus. Other than that, bus was almost flawless, the driver's dashboard and chair looks pretty classy too.

Sleague Match 94 Review

Formation: 4-1-3-2
GK: Shahril Jantan
DF: Shaiful Esah, Bah Mamadou, Daniel Bennett, Hafiz Osman
MF: Noh Rahman, Rhysh Roshan Rai, Ivan Jerkovic, Erwan Gunawan
FW: Fazrul Nawaz, Mislav Karoglan

Down to technical reviewing, SAF has the disadvantage of having Akiyoshi suspended. Moreover, the flanks of SAF is drastically weakened. The flanks has been the core of the attacking force and for that match, they have to rely on the central offense.

RRR is on the left and Erwan is on the right wing. RRR is built for a defensive role of midfield, taken by Noh Rahman, down the middle but is called to the wing which is the wrong option right from the start. Erwan is good but in my opinion lacks of experience and agility; his right wing is seldom played throughout the match.

Mislav was a little too selfish during the game but as usual, his flicks are ever so deadly to set up an attacking move. The 2 defensive towers, Daniel and Bah, were very strong at the back with only minor hiccups. At the last 20 minutes, its clear Richard Bok wanted to secure the 1-0 lead by bringing in Hammond for RRR, building a 5 defenders formation and Ruzaini to come in for Erwan with the same role of operating down the flank. Once the final substitution was made for Syaiful Iskandar to come in for Fazrul Nawaz, majority of the players were in their own half playing possessively.

The goal from Mislav stood throughout 44 minutes with many chances of equalizing as well as extending. His sharp turn and a snapshot nailed the only goal of the game. The man of the match was Bah Mamadou which in my opinion deserves the award as much as Mislav does.

Next game will be on June 16th against Phnom Penh in the RHB Singapore Cup KO round.

Oh We're Halfway There...

2nd day of the D&D Camp. Not so boring as I initially thought. Time passes quickly and I think its still somehow or rather a good avenue to revise on our studies. 8am to 4.30pm, 8 hours 30 minutes, come to think of it, its longer than the working hours the Ministry of Manpower has designated as the daily minimum hours of full-time work. But I can safely say its beneficial.

I just went to watch the Armed Forces vs Balestier Khalsa at the CCK Stadium. SAF has really de-proved a great deal since I first saw them, and its still a doubt if they can bag their 9th trophy this season. Source of entertainment can only come this much, most of which were from the true fans of the Armed Forces.

I don't understand how some other fans can tell those out-spoken ones to keep quiet, but I think a football match really needs this kind of people to support, it just show how much he want the team he support to win that he voiced out his anger that really made sense, though it might contain profanity.

SAF supporters are usually professional, meaning they just watch and voice all the thoughts within themselves. That makes those out-spoken fans really out-shine. There are a few more that are out-spoken these days. They are really true at most of their points. Winston (pictured above 3 years ago) is still one of them, notoriously known for his outrage of profanities.

At the final whistle, Armed Forces won 1-0, disappointing but still 3 points in the bag after all. Guess they're still conserving energy for their Singapore Cup clash against Phnom Penh on June 16th

CLIF=Conning Little Innocent Fans?

(picture credits to www.xinmsn.com)

Another most 'anticipated' drama from MediaCorpse. They couldn't decide on the English name of the show that they used Courage.Loyalty.Integrity.Fairness. Reminds me of that phony John Cena tag line of Hustle.Loyalty.Respect. Only thing is Cena is a one man army that believes the military revolves around him.

Back on track, CLIF is no difference either. I'd admit that many would like watching police dramas where men in the blue uniform catches the villains, use their revolver to annihilate their psychopathic counterparts in a nail-biting encounter scene etc. But as the word/term "Drama" comes into play, everything and anything is simply amplified and exaggerated beyond proportion. 

I've always took a liking towards Singapore dramas for its diverse genres and aspects. It really tells a story on the life in Singapore, covering the very rich to the middle-class folks and not to ever forget the poor people where MediaCorpse loves to focus on. The wide variety of drama just entices me, but some just exclusively don't.

Look at other countries production. Hong Kong drama loves focusing on really old times, where there was Emperors, law and the police force. Taiwan drama focuses on gangs, family domestic disputes, business tycoons fighting for ownership of assets. Shanghai drama focuses on wealthy individuals always holding a ruger and people in uniform holding a bayonet. American drama will be on science-fiction, like out of space stuffs, investigating crime and mysteries like CSI.

All are so predictable except for Singapore ones. Look at the CLIF show now, the trailer involves rioting in modern Singapore, gunfights with men in uniform shooting at will, comrades dying in the line of duty and the police always wins in the very end. How ludicrous? This doesn't reflect on the real police force in Singapore. Yes, Singapore Police Force has a reputation for keeping baddies at bay with their efficiency, hence the low crime rate. However, how ubiquitous is it that you read the newspapers on police involving in a gunfight or a riot control? It happens frequently in the drama that makes it unrealistic. 

I can't believe how the SPF can support a show that doesn't reflect on what they are really doing. A commendable drama that truly depicts the SPF will be "Heartlanders" by the better channel known as Channel 5 if anyone could recall the Wushu guy Vincent in it. That's really what portrays the SPF, not pointless arguments and vows for revenge that don't really bode well for young kids to learn. 

In the end, the huge fans' support for this show will just boost ratings and will win themselves numerous awards, clear predecessors of mediocre shows that made it to the top like "The Little Nyonya", "Together", "The Ultimatum", "Breakout" and the list just goes on and on. Channel 8 isn't about good shows and dramas anymore that will boost ratings, its the fans now. They'll support even if the show sucked. Will this just be a repeat of history? We'll find out soon enough after this insanely boring show known as "The In-Laws" ends.

(video credits to MediaCorp Pte Ltd, Channel 8.)

Ceased Procrastination

The sun rose from the east, and is waiting to set in the west. It doesn't procrastinate on when to rise and set. Well, maybe its the duty of the Earth revolving anyway. Some things aren't exactly what they seem.

Those sophisicated stuffs aside, I spent 2 hours on the PTM last Friday and I'm starting to feel that meeting the teacher seems to be like waiting for your Queue Number to be called in a clinic. Only thing is that no one wants to visit the doctor in my classroom that he's marking other class' assignments. My L1B4 is at a peak of 31, quite disheartening but also a blessing in disguise as I've found a long-term motivation to study from it as well.

Spent last evening in the city, it has been quite awhile since I've spent some time in these crowded places. Had a steamboat dinner at Golden Mile Complex, has been 10 years since I've went there and surprisingly its still there with the good ol' taste. Went to Bugis Junction to do some shopping, nothing much to buy anyway. Drop by King Albert Park to have some supper at McDonalds before heading home. Only if this could be done in a daily basis.

For today, I'm going to spend a great deal of time on my Mother Tongue. Its the big day tomorrow. I'm going to need some luck. =)

Are You Sure They're Motivational Philanthropist(s)?

(photo courtesy of www.akltg.com)


At a young age of 26, Mr Adam Khoo made his first million dollars. Today, at the age of 37, he's a multi-millionaire continually giving "motivational" talks to people all over South-east Asia. Many will regard him as a philanthropist as he wants to "help" others to find their source of motivation and his secrets on earning his first million dollars.

This will just be a food for thought and there's no intention to scar his reputation. Adam owns a company know as the Adam Khoo Learning Technologies Group (AKLTG) that provides workshops and talks targeting working adults, professionals, youths etc. I'll not beat around the bush any further by proclaiming that that he charges extremely high rate for a talk. I've experienced it myself. My school, engaged his 'apprentices' to talk for a whole day at an audience of about 100 students and each has to pay $200 odd for this talk.

This contradicts the fact that they're concerned about our well-being and tries to motivate us right? Apparently, their targeted customers are those who are rich, because if you send your child to his workshop with only has 5 people in it, it easily cost about $4000. I've done my researches on this. Adam trains about 20-odd of his staff on how to give talks and of course professional and dynamic speeches. Technically speaking, if you're running 3 hotels and earning big-time, will you want to give talks to people to work as him and not wanting to care about your hotels and earn yourself maybe around a $1000 for a talk?

Now into what goes into the talk. The workshop splits into 2 groups with about a 100 students in it. I happened to be in a group that starts at a later date. The trainers were talking about his life story for all we care, and astonishingly, their 'special' stories like they told us that they ordered McDonalds the day before, and this was repeated at the second talk. It was all staged and rehearsed! It goes to show that the whole group consists of what I call actors, I wouldn't call them con-artists because they did what they wanted to do, to motivate.

Group of actors indeed, I'm extremely disgusted at the fact that we already paid a hefty amount of money for this talk and the trainers were attacking their audience emotionally. How ridiculous! I guess those whom really needs motivation like those from poor family background can't even attend this course with such high rates.

Back to Adam, where he supposedly earned his million dollar from giving speeches at a rate of $1000/hour. Who gives talk and earns so much? Its like asking yourself if a beggar can even a thousand dollar a month by begging near a graveyard. Did he do something else to earn so much like investments?

He was said to be an 'under-achiever' when in primary school but after attending a camp, he was motivated and has all the accolades imaginable. Is this a make-up as well that he's born smart and the "under-achiever" thing was just another way to make people motivated?

I feel an air of hypocrisy around him, there'a chain email some time back when he was asked why he was taking an economy class flight and not business one since he's a millionaire. Then he starts to tell the person that that's how he became a millionaire by saving and scrimping, taking economy flights, drive a normal 'car'. Ok, I'll end it here. Adam owns a private apartment in East Coast. On top of that, he has 2 maids and drives a red Chevrolet convertible. You call that normal car and scrimping?

Of course he may manage to motivate a few and is a good person, but I feel he's so focused on earning money . Not that I'm jealous of his wealth,  butI don't think he's the kind philanthropist that many made him out to be.

PTM: Time Wasting Tactic?

(photo courtesy of DSS Photography Club Archives: Sec 2 Mass-PTM 2011)

I'll admit that I find the Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) one of the most paradoxical event started by an apparent dullard. I personally find PTM totally unnecessary and a complete waste of time. Perhaps that was why I rather not strike this lottery of getting PTM for 4 years. But my number was called.

I really feel a sense of unjust for those who frequent the meeting. What can the form teacher possibly say during the meet?

"Fail English, work harder on it, if not difficult enter Poly/JC"
"Fail so many subjects, L1R4 aggregate so high, can't enter most courses"
"You might want to consider dropping the subjects that you have been failing"
"How do you want to improve on the subjects you fared badly?"
"*Miscellaneous complaints on students' behaviour in class*"

How predictable this event works. All this questions had already been asked by my parents the day the light had shed on my examinations. And its already answered at the couch where I had a small talk with my parents. The ludicrous part was to have the questions asked again, by our teacher this time in the presence of our parents. First of all, I do agree that the teachers has the right to know why we achieve such poor grades but is it necessary for them to ask us with our parents around. Some parents have to take leave because of this and to listen the same tune being played by them days ago.

I also understand that my school is one of the really few school which only require the attendance of the pupil's parents should they fare badly for their grades. Its compulsory for most secondary schools to have the parents to turn up for a meeting with them.

Why can't the teachers arrange a time to have a conversation over the phone with the parents? Its not as if the meeting will take up to an hour or even 30 minutes. A few questions and cautions to let the parents know and that's it! I wonder how a simple thing can't even be brought to the mind of those people who are much educated than most of us.

And of course, I empathise with the teachers because I believe they also have the same ideology as me but its the school that insists on it. I bet they also feel dolt asking the those questions that parents would normally ask first. If you're a parent and your child gets such low grades, the first thing that you will do is to ask why right? The next probable question is how you're going to improve right? And the teachers are going to ask that. Horrendous.

There's some parents who will also like to meet their child's teachers perhaps as a form of formality and to understand the mentors behind their child's education. They also want to know how competent is the teacher, hence the meet. All this can be arranged at a date after the examinations or any time during curriculum hours so parents can have ample time to request for a leave from their work. I think its too impromptu to issue the form only 2 days before the meeting.

In this way, the objective is equally achieved as the teachers get to communicate with the parents and extract results to talk about via the phone. And for those parents who were so desperately to meet the teachers, they can arrange a time to meet and have sufficient time to request for a leave. Its a shame some people can't think of this brilliant idea.

You Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks

(Photo courtesy of www.daylife.com)

Raddy Avramovic named his list of "new" squad of National players a few hours ago. And I've got to say this is one of the most absurd decision. That inexperienced new FAS President Mayor Zainuddin axing the whole team. Guess what? 16 out of 33 players are "Old Guards" aka players that has been in the team before it was axed.

No doubt it is a very good experience for the other 17 players comprising both of youth players and those who earned the spot to represent Singapore. Question is, in the 33-player squad, who really shouldn't be there and should have been there.

Noticeable fault in the squad would have to be Aleksandar Duric. This 41 year old can even pass a Beep Test, but when it comes to the pitch, it seems as though age has caught up with him and he had a bye through the Beep Test. Shahdan Sulaiman, Jumaat Jantan and Shukor Zailan are another part of this category. Both didn't have a very good records in their caps for Singapore, inconsistent. Lionel Lewis, another really inconsistent goalie that would be a gamble for Raddy to field as the result will either be him at his top or lowest form.

Noticeable additions would include Hamqaamal Shah and Ruzaini Zainal. Great platform for them to develop further out of their clubs. And the miss will be Precious, Baihakki and Ridhuan Muhammad. Can't agree further with this, Precious' a little too aggressive, Ridhuan is plain dribbling up and down the flanks and Baihakki is rather rash when deciding for an offense or defense.

Noticeable misses would be Ahmad Latiff, Shahril Jantan, Eugene Luo and Jeremy Chiang. Raddy still can't f'n put away his prejudicialness of Ahmad Latiff, he's a great winger and can feed ball dangerously into the box. Shahril Jantan is very consistent as a goalkeeper and he has proven this from time to time. Eugene can dart and shake off players easily in the centre of the field. Jeremy on the other hand is a great full-back, can run back to defend after providing assist for an attack.

Raddy still can't tabulate his stuff properly, its the National Team we're talking about. Apparently, the fans can think and analyze things better than this 'veteran' does. Problem is whether they're hearing us and working on it.

Goalkeepers

Lionel Lewis (Home United)

Hassan Sunny (Tampines Rovers)

Izwan Mahbud (Courts Young Lions)

Defenders

Juma'at Jantan (Home United)

Shaiful Esah (SAFFC)

Daniel Bennett (SAFFC)

Ismail Yunos (Gombak United)

Hamqaamal Shah (Gombak United)

Afiq Yunos (Courts Young Lions)

Safuwan B Baharudin (Courts Young Lions)

Irwan Shah (Courts Young Lions)

Shakir Hamzah (Courts Young Lions)

Delwinder Singh (Tanjong Pagar United)

Midfielders

Shi Jia Yi (Home United)

Isa Halim (Home United)

Shahdan Sulaiman (Tampines Rovers)

Shukor Bin Zailan (Tampines Rovers)

Hariss Harun (Courts Young Lions)

Raihan Rahman (Courts Young Lions)

Faris Ramli (Courts Young Lions)

Zulfahmi Arifin (Courts Young Lions)

Nazrul Nazari (Courts Young Lions)

Fazly Ayob (Courts Young Lions)

Mustafic Fahrudin (Persela Lamongan)

Shahril Ishak (Medan Chiefs)

Ruzaini Zainal (SAFFC)

Andrew Tan Wee Tat (Balestier Khalsa)

Forwards

Qiu Li (Home United)

Sufian Bin Anwar (Home United)

Fazrul Nawaz (SAFFC)

Khairul Amri (Persiba Balikpapan)

Aleksandar Duric (Tampines Rovers)

Khairul Nizam (Courts Young Lions)

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

(photo courtesy of Dunearn ICC; happen to land myself in their camp's photo album.)

Finally received my Corre shirt, darn it was undelivered last Thursday because of the Preliminary Orals. That guy there couldn't believe I memorise the Article No. and started to have a conversation with me. The small little place they call Post Office contains a lot of mail but its located on the 5th floor of West Mall. What a hassle to transport all the mail up/down right? Still looks like a bank to me.

Anyway, I didn't fare as badly for my Chemistry paper than I initially thought. Its also disappointing that I scored 12 for Biology MCQ and 13 for Chemistry MCQ. Re-test for Additional Math tomorrow after today's Elementary was done, I'm honestly too lethargic for any more drilling. And guess what?

1)  I've this little test on my worst subject
2) 11 consecutive periods of Mother Tongue on both Wednesday and Thursday
3)  Friday's the day of reckoning
4) Next Monday is the Mother Tongue O Levels
5) Tuesday to Friday of next week is just hardcore mugging on core subjects

Suddenly have the urge to get into Polytechnic as quickly as possible, I don't have to sit for 8< papers for examinations anymore! Most importantly, the word "Mother Tongue" will cease to exist in the vocabulary book of Polytechnic!

Wish me luck for now... because I'm going to need it badly.

The Beginning of the End

For any sane Secondary 4 Express student, the supposedly last week of school isn't really their last. On the contrary, its just the mere beginning... the beginning of more tedious revisions. Look at the watch, its just 14 short days to the Mother Tongue O Levels. And we're fed with Mother Tongue periods from 8am to 1pm.

I use to have a mindset that Chinese is my weakest subject and I see no point in getting good results/excelling it. Guess what? Chinese is by far, my highest scoring subject, with Paper 1 and 2. (If I add 3 and 4, its another disappointing fail)

To be honest, I really wasn't expecting the kind of results I had. Disappointing but we must learn to pick up from where we fall. Intensive study on Wednesday and Thursday, D&D aka prison camp next Tuesday to Friday. Wish me luck. =)

When the tough gets going, the going gets tough.

The past can't be re-written, the future is not for us to see, the present is for us to live.

Here we are still living and breathing under the clear blue skies, doesn't look like the world will end today or anytime soon. I personally think that those preachers predicting May 21st as Judgement Day has badly failed buying Lotto/Toto. Cry wolf aptitude or undigested food in their rectum and can't pass it out?

The 2012 'phenomenon' won't even happen, trust me. Instead of worrying over Armageddon, why don't we continue with life? Why dwell on the past when it can't be changed? Why ponder on the limitless future? Why don't we live for the present, create more values right now? Earth don't function in a way where it is so fragile by the way.

Anyway, my grades for examinations were so atrocious I think its about time to pull up my socks. After an incident I've witnessed on Friday night, I'm motivated to get into that particular course. I'm going to pull people away from the gates of hell back into a paradise named Earth. =)

Scania K230UBs Euro V bus racing in AMK. LOL. Starting vehicles in front.

Today's Vesak Day, the public holiday which signals that the next one will be National Day! Kind of depressed my parents won't be participating this year, can't get to attend the event back at Marina Bay...

Played basketball and football in the morning, got traded over and I feel that all my steps seem heavier throughout the game. Gained weight? Haha... Spent the rest of the day at home and whipping up dinner, which let to the discovery of a special sauce I've invented. =)

Alright, school will be starting tomorrow unjustly because no marking days were given. Poor teachers, have to stay and mark our examination scripts right after they finished invigilating papers in the morning. On a positive side, tomorrow till Friday, dismissal time may be quite early... well except for Thursday as we have oral.

Speaking of which, how ludicrous it is to have preliminary oral days after the mid-year exams came to a long-last halt? Sigh, I'd bet that during the D&D camp, it'll be hardcore Math and Chinese. Guess what? Our Post-Exam Activities will include an exciting MT Intensive Study. *laughs sarcastically*

Finally, my mid-year examinations came to a long-awaited end today. However, preliminaries are starting... from Thursday, will have English oral... absurd. We deserve some kind of break right?

Anyway, I'm pretty upset now that I have completely lost my Train Simulation game's file. I downloaded it again and the whole gameplay lagged and sucked! Guess I'll have to play my trucking game then... but is always constantly low on memory. Maybe I'll get a RAM from Sim Lim while going to Istana with Jerome tomorrow. Haha...

And my tongue is seared last night, maybe sear was too hard on expression. I didn't know the soup I was drinking was boiling hot and I place it all inside my mouth without caution. Good grief... I spat it out but too little too late? Blisters all over my tongue, guess I'll need a week to recover... and especially at the part of your body where water is always present. Damn!

Kind of happy that we'll get to play soccer tomorrow yet again. Ain't it fun? Like 3 years ago, we started playing after school at a place named Beauty Garden. And thanks to some nonsensical plan by the girl in charge of that area, it has turned into a mediocre carpark. So much for nostalgia eh? Haha.

Tomorrow's the final paper of the mid-year examinations... Heck, I've considered it over since Thursday. Kind of weird they put 2 subjects into a single MCQ paper, the minimum chance of getting it right is 25%! How awesome!

That's of course if I didn't study... and that's the case for me throughout this whole examinations. To be frank, I'm extremely concerned for my subject combinations. I'm not optimistic on the subjects I am taking.

I dislike and have no interest for Physics because what's the deal with calculating force and such? I personally hate being an engineer so I dropped this subject as I thought it was pretty easy at first.

Chemistry? Great deal of interest since being in Primary school. My foundation of this subject was ruined by some intern teacher who even extended her stupid contract and suffered at her ridiculously low standard of teaching. After a year and a half, I can't even form a damn equation. _|_

As for Biology, that's the only subject I have interest in. In my opinion, I like studying a subject that can be practical in real life. We own our own body, so its essential that we know more about it right? Its such a shame this subject is a subject as a whole with Chemistry. Already paid for this subject in O Levels and Mr Aaron kept telling me that Chemistry will be very easy. Tsk.

For the other subjects, have no problems with them. Guess I'll need to work hard on it that's all. And the D&D camp requires us to go back to school for 5 days. Not to have any fun, but to grind on studying. Maybe there's sweetness in the bitterness.

And I'm hunting for a Logitech Momo. Hope to get it soon. =)

Currently back on blogging. But I'm not going to be constantly updating it, maybe once every full moon? Ok, I'm quite cold nowadays, in a sense. So this place will feel quite cold with all my silly rants, so please bear with me. =)

Been busy with the mid-year examinations. Totally unprepared for it... Maybe its for us to examine how good we can do whilst not studying for it? End results will always be disastrous, so its time to buck up already. Preliminaries is approaching as soon as you think 6 minutes is long to wait for a MRT.

Also, the General Elections just concluded recently... PAP back into the government body. Not that I dislike them, but I feel its beneficial to have about 15-20 out of the 84 seats in Parliament to be opposition members. Reason being that policies introduced by PAP can undergo a deeper level of stringency by opposition questioning the points that can make the policy/bill even better.

In my area, there's a new face serving here, pretty young to be a politician at 29. What's the deal? We already have a 27-year-old in Parliament right? *smile* Has it advantages though, like how I sent an email to him and feedback-ed on the poor transport system in my area. I've noticed people commenting on this constituency's facebook page on how they will be drenched when walking home from the MRT Station. All this would be lessened if trunk bus services had been introduced right? I've been around this place for close to 16 years, although I must say a lot of improvements had been made such as the introduction of Yew Tee Point, more condominiums etc. But 1 thing that remained the damn same is the transport. There were 301, 302, 305 and 307 about 14 years ago. Now? Only 302 and 307 remains, taking away 2 other feeder services. And the only way to get out of this suburban area? By train. So no matter how many trains LTA is going to roll out during peak hours, what use is it going to serve?

Of course, if my stand is not backed by other residents, my small little puny 'voice' might not be heard. However, I got a reply from him on how he will be working will relevant agencies on this. Hope I'll finally be able to hop on a trunk bus service right at my doorstep within 5 years or else.... =)

Happy Lunar New Year? A little belated but its still the 5th day so nothing's too late. =)

Day 1 went to my father's side relatives place. Not really close with them so stayed for a short while at those places. First house visit was kind of sad? Shows how materialistic people can be, even towards their own family. Next, went to my Granny's place to have lunch. Chatted there for quite awhile before heading to Serangoon to visit my other Granny. Sang karaoke there, played Band Hero there and had steamboat there as well. I should learn more Chinese songs. XD

Day 2, went to my grand uncle's house together with all my mother's side relatives, kind of close? Had lunch there and watch "New Shaolin"? Yet to be release next week but I don't know how they got the DVD already. Next, went to my 1st aunt house together and started gambling there. Really have no luck at all, crappy cards and tiles. -_- Napped there for awhile and went home.

Day 3, was supposed to visit my 2nd and 5th aunt but my mother refrained me from going out because its an inauspicious day to visit people as they something bad might happen to them. Ah well... napped and I was wondering why my mother didn't wake me up.

Stayed home all day on Day 4. Not sure why but I think my parents were tired.

Downloading 18 WoS Extreme Trucker. Hope its nice =P

Downloaded the full Royal Rumble ppv and it really has to be one of the best. Although its a 40-man thing, WWE did a great job to keep it short and sweet.

First match was for the World Heavyweight title, Edge's finisher, the Spear is banned but he still used it when the referee and Vickie was down. And he used his buddy Christian's finisher, the Killswitch Engage to win it. 

Second bout was the WWE Title match, New Nexus interfered and caused Orton the championship and Michael Cole is so happy that his idol retained. LOL. Second pic, the yellow guy behind is funny. 

Booker returned, huge pop, hit his Axe Kick, Book End and his Spinerooni. LOL. Was eliminated soon after... what a waste. Kevin Nash aka Diesel made a return as well, last longer and still as tall as he was. Eliminated soon after as well.

Morrison was almost eliminated but he held onto the barricade and jumped to the steps to avoid elimination. Ingenious ~

And winner of the Rumble. Alberto Del Rio~

Tomorrow is the eve of the Chinese New Year already... one of my favorite holiday on the calender!~ Might still need to shop for clothing because most were black. Old folks won't like that... I guess?

My spirits this weekend is dampened like how the climate is dampened right now. Beware, the next paragraph will be so vulgar, it might seem that I'm going to kill someone. Viewer discretion, thank you.

All because of that bitchy neighbour of mine... Fucking bitch, don't know how educate your kids, they grow up will be some scum of the society. You yourself also uneducated, go out shout so loud like want people know your fucking house affairs and gossip here and there, mouth like your fucking vagina can't stop closing. Don't blame you, because your father and mother die early? Never teach you properly, or else is both your parents got stroke and can't teach you. I don't even know why your husband would marry a fucking fat pig like you, I will be so disgraced I would just jump off the building. Your kids will grow up like some fucking retard in the near future under your fucking smelly wings. Still want stare at people is it? Go stare at your parents funeral la, more important than me. People like you should just deserve to die, but question is, you didn't.

I apologise for my extreme usage of profanities because I need an avenue to voice this thoughts out, I told both my parents my thoughts and they were taken aback on my usage of vulgarities. Ah well... I still need a lot of 'training' for my emotions control. =(

Anyway, was supposed to screen movies with Sigmund and his family but I need to pay my grandmother a visit so I didn't turn up. Heard from them that they waited 30 minutes for a cab and that time can be used to take a 180 to JP. =P

Speaking of bendy buses like 180, reminds me of the days SBS has 2 operational Volvo and Mercedes bendy buses. Used to take one in a 195 route to my father's working place a decade ago.

Both acceleration may not be smooth as the current Hispano body SMRT ones, but the interior just feel so much comfortable. This 2 buses has already been sold to New Zealand and not properly utilized, please bring it back SBS!~ =(

Sidetracking to the Royal Rumble tomorrow morning... can't believe Kevin Nash and Booker T will be surprise entrants in the 40-man Rumble. I'm anticipating Booker T's return but that might mean that Triple H's return may be pushed back to Elimination Chamber?

23rd Annual Royal Rumble PPV
January 30th 2011
TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts 

WWE Championship: 1 Fall
The Miz (C) vs Randy Orton

World Championship: 1 Fall; Edge's spear is banned
Edge (C) vs Dolph Ziggler

Diva's Championship: 2-on-1 Handicap
Natalya (C) vs Lay-Cool

40-Man Royal Rumble Match
Winner receives a title shot at Wrestlemania 27

Today was just like any other day, school stuffs especially boring. Ms Yvonne isn't here so a relief came in and I was doing TYS, less Mama Chao scolds me. Next was her lesson, usual stuff, go through TYS and sort. Free period during Physics and went to library to slack. Chemistry next and was already very sleepy halfway through... then the conflict beween Leow and Jon made me wide awake. English next and as usual pure boredom. Wish'd Sarah took us for another year. =(

Good grief... studying Math now and still don't really understand Arc Sector Area. Darn... even Standard Deviation formula also cannot remember. I'm almost done for... so still studying right now.

Happened to watch this show on Channel 5. What a 90s classic. I am still wondering how in the world did they do those graphics back in the days, about 20 years ago?! Still shocked... Robert Patrick was like melting into things and split into 2. How did they do that? Omg... even Arnold's skin can be tore open and metals inside his face also. Haha... the story is good as well, never fail to make me cry at the end. =)

And Singapore lost to Malaysia in the friendlies between the Olympic teams. 2-0. -_-

The Corre! Watched Friday Night Smackdown this morning since it was broadcast-ed live then. Starting to like this new group more and am starting to hate The Nexus more and more. The Corre can still recruit more people and make it more dominant than Nexus. =)

Scheduled to go out with my mother today since she claimed that I am starting to abandon her. -_- Because during the December holidays, I'm always at home like a hermit. I even set a record of staying at home for an unprecedented 88 hours aka 3 days 16 hours. So went to many random places today and bought a lot of stuffs. Sigmund asked me to watch the comedic horror flick with him but I couldn't make it because I was outside.

Arsenal will face Wigan later tonight and the previous few meetings had shown that Wigan is capable of pulling upsets, remarkably the one where Arsenal was leading 2-0 till the 83rd minute and Wigan made a comeback and scored thrice in a space of 9 minutes. Wigan also drew against Arsenal on several occasions and denting the hopes of Arsenal to reach the top of the table.

The January transfer window has opened and I think many would wonder why Wenger is not getting a custodian. Almunia is nursing an injury and Fabianski still lacks of experience. Even with Szczesny, a recently promoted keeper from the youth squad, there isn't any number one keeper yet. As always, Arsenal is plagued with injuries and the defense has been rudely shaken. Koscielny is still out from injury and Squillaci with Djourou can't really handle the offense well.

But I must say Arsenal is really a good team, not in terms of winning trophies, but instead on how the club can nurture youth players. Ever since losing players like Henry, Ljungberg, Cambiasso, Pires and many other legendary pioneers, Arsenal didn't splurge on buying other talents in. Instead, they trained youths into really good players themselves. They will still continue to amaze us with their selfless passes and 1-touch fancy football week after week, game after game. Kudos to them, wish they have a good match later on against Wigan.

It has been a really long time since I last post here. Nothing much happened ever since my previous post was published. Finally drop Physics, after considering it for like 3 days and giving much thought to it. Since I don't have any interest in engineering-related courses, maybe its best that I drop it. My initial idea was, must take sub-chem because lots of seniors already complaining how hard Pure Chemistry can be. So down to Biology or Physics. At that time I'm still quite unsure but a glance through the textbooks gave me an impression that Physics is just the appliance of theory and concept... but it took a year to prove me wrong.

Just came back from the usual weekly basketball game with my friends, just recalled of something halfway then had to rush home. Made it in time, fortunately. I managed to grab a copy of TNP today and it just shows how much TNP hates Singapore football. Not that I've anything against them, because personally we should learn to accept criticisms and comments and improve on them wherever possible.

There was a press conference 2 days ago by the FAS to announce the final participating team in the S.League which shockingly is the re-debut of Tanjong Pagar United. Another agenda on the press conference is to make clear Raddy's position as a coach of the Senior National Squad. Raddy apparently wasn't too happy as he accused the media of falsifying stories of himself, offering to quit as coach of the squad. He continued to comment on how the press and media is trying hard to fabricate a 'worthy' story as well. Although one thing's for sure that his pay can amount up to $35,000/month.

Nothing taken away from Raddy, he is a good coach after Uncle Choo's reign. He led the Lions to make a name for themselves in the Asean Confederation. However, the sports editor of TNP wrote an open letter addressing to Raddy and it claimed that TNP has its sources for news. And the source for which told them Raddy offered to quit was one of Raddy's employer himself. How contradicting? The letter ended a similar way on how Raddy answered a question, which involves a rat in a kitchen and the chefs are allowing a rat infestation.

Raddy's version when asked if Fandi Ahmad would replace him in future "I read abt that in the newspaper as well. I think this reminds me of something. If you go to a Sony shop and you ask agent of Sony which mobile phone he will recommend you, I don't think he will recommed you a Samsung or Motorola."


Well, other than Raddy himself, TNP and the source, no one will ever know the truth as to "Did Raddy really offered to quit?". Does it matter if he quits or not? I think its only fair if TNP could give him another chance to lead a future-newly-revamped squad in the World Cup 2014 Qualifiers and the SEA Games this year.


And leaving the topic, decided to abandon the plan of boycotting S.League like I did last year. If we don't support our local league, who will? =)

Hasn't update since the eve of the new year... wanted to but not much to update about. First day of school was literally spoilt by this stupid bitch early in the morning, how great was that? Still got to see her again the next day after school. This uneducated woman with obvious poor parental upbringing, ill-mannered scum and parasite of the society is just a complete waste of space on Earth.

With that aside, Lai became our form teacher this year, may not really be a bad thing after all. English teacher has changed to Au because Sarah Rhodes apparently is going back to her native land of Bristol if she doesn't renew her contract with the ministry. Hisham took over for SS and best of all, Chia Eiei took over for POA. The first day of her lesson was really good but half of the class was dropping the subject.

Sidetracking, if anyone got to see the news a few days back, apparently Zainudin decided to disband the entire Singapore National Football Squad. Maybe that's the best thing he's done for over a year in his office? Apparently, Raddy has godsons in the squad like Ridhuan; constantly using him and not others to engine the right flank and Precious against fast and agile team like Thailand. This whole sacking thing is generally positive to the public and Singapore football finally got its headline on all news shows.

I admit Singapore do not have many talents in this sport but we have adequate to compete in SEA and maybe in Asia. Now that players are being called up upon meritocracy, we will see more youth players already in the senior squad and this will no doubt gather experience for them to improve. So I came up with a list of players that didn't participate in the AFF Cup to be considered for call-up.

Goalkeepers:
Hands down, it got to be Yazid Yasin. I've never seen such an agile custodian, pulling out acrobatic saves from time to time and despite his height disadvantage, this guy make a good substitute for Hassan Sunny. Another one as a reserve should be Shahril Jantan.He deserves his long-awaited call-up because he has what it take to stop any shots only if he calm his nerves.

Defenders:
I would go with Bah Mamadou. He's the hybrid version of Precious and Daniel Bennett. The height and speed is a plus in the game as a Centre Back. He can pair with Adrian Dhanaraj at the back, although he's young, his performance during 2009 was great and showing he has what it takes to be at the Centre Back. On the flanks, Jeremy Chiang and Zulfadli Zainal can operate there. Jeremy is shown playing offense at times and defense at times when needed at Gombak. And Zulfadli is also more of an offensive player, his time with SAF saw him really sweeping the ball to the strikers when needed.

Midfielders:
Gabriel Quak from the youth squad can be a at either flanks or assisting the striker based on the U23 competition he has been in. Azlan Alipah also has proven his worth in his time in Woodlands to be at the engine of the squad. Naufal Omar can be a defensive midfielder as well.

Strikers:
If Raddy isn't biased, the first he would pick would be Ahmad Latiff. Despite the incident back then with Latiff throwing bottles, kicking signboards and smoking at the hotel lobby, Latiff has somewhat changed already. He's got a cultured right-foot so his pin-point crosses would be a plus. And another, without any prejudice would be Aliff Shafaein. No doubt he doesn't have the aerial ability to receive crosses, his tricky agility can see him dribble past centre backs very often into 1-on-1 situations.

Of course, I hope Raddy and his management can keep the services of Daniel Bennett, Mustafic Fahruddin, Khairul Amri and Shahril Ishak. With a blend of veteran with fresh young blood, the youths can gather experiences and on to the next generation and the next. Wise decision FAS, but the fans should also be supportive. Ever since the Kallang Roar has became nothing more than a Cat Meow, sleague turn up has witnessed a sharp decrease of fans including <1000. Let's hope fans would support them yet again and may they bring glory to Singapore~ =)