Another New Year...

No matter what you have at hand,
The year is closing to an end,
Now is the time to take out a pen,
And start writing down your future plans.
Be it about peace or be it about war,
Grudges from the past should be no more.
New paths are out there to explore;
Once chosen no one cares about before.
But we should always learn from our wrongs,
Or else we will be stuck very long.
The best way is to study the strong,
And train to be patient through qi gong.
Only then shall our minds be clear,
And our bodies fit to persevere.
Also remember that karma is sphere,
So what is given will be received next year.
Science cannot explain the basics of luck,
Nor can religion guarantee the buck.
If one is innocent and careful of trucks,
All should go well or thumbs we suck.
The main concern is to live life happily,
And not jump onto tracks or do something silly.
Everything in this world can be solved in a jiffy,
But it requires the person to believe, really.
Thus I wish you well and I wish you free,
Free from the worries that drives you up the tree.
May you read this and smile with glee,
For smiling is a good way to stay healthy.

Charity = Lottery?

Dictionary’s Definition for Charity: An organization that collects money and other voluntary contributions of help for people in need.

Dictionary’s Definition for Lottery: A large-scale gambling game, usually organized to raise money for a public cause, in which numbered tickets are sold and a draw is held to select the winning numbers.

My Definition for a Charity Show: A large-scale fund-raising event, usually organized to raise money for a public cause, in which viewers call to donate and a draw is held to select the winning callers.

I am not sure if anyone is aware of the similarity, but obviously the public is pulling their hair out because of an organisation squandering charity funds. However, they are not even the least concerned where the money placed for bets end up.

Let me try to set your mind thinking.

We urge charity organisations to be transparent with their budget allocation and spending, so that the public knows what they are doing and can be assured that the money is put into good use. Why don’t we urge gambling organisations to do the same, since they are also supposed to “raise money for a public cause” as quoted from the dictionary?

You might think that since gambling is not recommended by the government, and it is a destructive yet a necessary activity in any society, revealing where the money goes will be detrimental to the public’s mental health as it leads them to expect a larger jackpot pool. Furthermore, they are not obliged to do so as they are in fact a non-charity organisation, even though they provide sponsorship for educational television shows and counseling services.

So, where does the money go? You might think that the money is all in the jackpot pool. I can safely say that this jackpot pool represents only a small fraction of the total amount of money collected as bets. As I mentioned, some money will go towards sponsoring educational shows and counseling services. As for the rest, I presume it will flow back to the source of the organisation. It is not a small amount of money. We gamble billions of dollars every year, and I am sure not every single cent is spent on jackpot pools and sponsorships. Just imagine what the needy will get if the gambling organisation gives their earnings to charity!

It is also remarkable to note that charity shows offer condos as their top prizes, thus giving the public a choice to choose if they want to donate because they want a shot at winning the condo or they really wish to help those in need. A safe strategy indeed, but look where the money went! Does it really matter how one raises the funds? Does a charity organisation have to be free from the seven sins?

I shall not elaborate further, and let you draw your own conclusions.

PC Trouble...

The screen flickered,
The PC hanged.
I thought it’s my graphics,
Or maybe it’s my RAM.
I tested my video card,
At a shop in town.
I looked like a retard,
When my card was sound.
I went to a different shop,
To have my RAM changed.
When I got home my jaw dropped,
For the problem still remained.
I fiddled with all the parts,
But nothing seemed to work.
I really felt like giving up,
Before I turn berserk.
I decided to give one more try,
In case I overlooked.
I used another power supply,
And immediately the ground shook.
A miracle was born;
I was overjoyed.
The battle was won;
My PC is no longer spoilt.

People...

Some people are smart,
Some people are dumb.
Accepting this fact,
Is the rule of the thumb.
Some have the brains,
Some have the luck.
Blame it on yourself,
If you can’t reach the mark.
Stand aside and drool,
As the smart becomes smarter.
Or you can start striving,
To study even harder.
It’s useless asking the smart,
To teach the weaker minds.
Not many are so modest;
Not many are so kind.
You could ignore them totally,
Unless they are humble.
For reality will supersede pride,
And all their faith shall crumble.
It could be elitism at its prime,
Or simply just a social norm.
People find pleasure and comfort,
In groups where they belong.
So ultimately it’s up to you,
To look for your own help.
If you wish for true success,
Hardships must first be felt.

Choking Smoke...

When a cold wind blows on a windy day,
There will be smoke coming my way.
I am unlucky or in another word suay,
Long ago I gave up running away.
No matter where I stand in open space,
A cloud will appear in front of my face.
Even if I am walking in a fast pace,
The cloud never ceases to give chase.
Clouds of smoke are everywhere,
Consuming me like a gummy bear.
I am innocent though sometimes I swear,
But the way I am treated is so not fair.
A moment in the cloud I will succumb,
And sneeze, tear and cough my lungs numb.
It is amazing how some can be so dumb,
To take the smoke like it is chewing gum.
It stains their teeth and dulls their mind,
Causing their life to be misaligned.
If that doesn’t happen we will soon find,
Their tar-filled bodies lying beside a shrine.
What I can do for them is to pray for rain,
Such that they will all light up in vain.
So long as there is no smoke to drive people insane,
They can curse all they want or even complain.

Relax...

Your work piles high,
Way above the sky.
Stressed out of your mind,
You couldn’t help but sigh.
Lying on your bed,
Massaging your head,
Living worst than dead;
You detest your fate.
Exams here and exams there,
They were just everywhere.
Truthfully it wasn’t fair,
To use papers to compare.
But meritocracy is the way,
So you are frazzled everyday.
Striving so hard till your hair turns gray,
You think if in the end it’s just about the pay.
Life is short and doesn’t move slow,
For a few years back is not long ago.
Add some years and you will know,
All that studying is not for show.
The rewards will be a certificate,
And the molding of your personal trait,
As well as becoming a donor of your state,
Plus more chances of meeting your soul mate.
Motivation is quite easy to get,
Just think of your goals and never fret.
As long as you’re calm and with no regrets,
Really, it doesn’t look so bad.

Guard Duty Woes...

The room was cold;
The seat had mould.
You could see them grow,
If you bent really low.
But I did not care;
It was not my chair.
I just left it there,
Hoping everyone’s aware.
I had a duty to fulfill,
That was a day to kill.
I needed a will of steel,
Such that I would not feel.
No hate for the night;
I did not want a fight.
No wandering of sight.
I rather miss a fright.
But then I got no sleep;
I sowed but cannot reap.
Those RPs are so steep;
They never look before they leap.
Their voices were loud,
And they moved all about.
If around me they crowd,
I really vowed to shout.
In a while I had to wake;
No more time to eat my snake.
They just never gave me a break;
I did not sleep for goodness sake!
However I had to serve,
Even with my boiling nerve.
They suffered manpower dearth;
I would take it that I owe Earth.

A Day of Activities...

My work just tumbled on me when I reported from physiotherapy to work. As usual, apart from clearing my own work, I helped others clear theirs. In the process, I hooked myself with a request to help order and carry food back from a food centre.

Ever since I was posted in, I never received such requests, because there was enough manpower in that section to handle such orders. That day however, was different as an NSF has recently been released into national service, and the other was enjoying himself in the US. Leaving one sad NSF behind, he has no choice but to seek for helping hands. Out of curiosity, I learnt that he actually had no intent of leaving camp in the scorching sun. It was his kind heart that gave way when his supervisor politely asked that he did her a favor. Before he knew what was happening, almost everyone else in that and a nearby section jumped on the opportunity and expected my stunned friend to buy for them as well. “It’s on the way,” they proclaimed, but to me, that was a simple typical everyday scenario of exploitation in that section. Helping people is one story, but helping people who stabs your back when you are of no use is another altogether. That is one disgusted fact in office politics. It is fortunate for me at least that I did not suffer the upsetting fate of my friend, but I do hope that in the future when I hold a position of higher authority, such things will never happen.

After we brought the food back, it was just a mad rush of leftover work, and then it was time for my first time to trek up Telok Blangah hill. Half-way up the hill, my friend and I deviated from the designated pathway and we went up to the peak of the hill. The scenery was quite breathtaking, but sadly there was not much of nature left in the horizon. We all know that land is scarce here, and that conservationists are fighting a losing battle when it comes to securing pieces of land for future generations to see. If such a battle is won somewhere, it is synonymous to a story of a traveler wishing for a bridge and the genie created segregated segments of a bridge instead. Not long after we descended from the peak, it was about to rain and the officer-in-charge hurried all of us back to camp.

Upon reaching our office, we packed our documents and left for Bedok for our dinner. I ordered some mutton noodles at the Bedok food center, and never will I order from that stall again. What happened was that my friend explicitly told the stallholder to not add any celery to his meal. He responded by nodding his head and a rumbling hum, but the meal was prepared by a lady and she just added the celery to my friend’s meal without hesitation! The stallholders seriously need to enroll in some communication skill workshops. Customer service is so widely advertised by the government that I feel that even the food centers should not provide anything less than restaurants. Many might argue that there are no service charges in food centers, but who would enjoy their meal if the one who prepares or delivers their meals is mean? Besides, service charges in restaurants do not necessarily end up in the attendants’ pockets, so you should consider tipping them the next time their service is good.

My friend purchased a portable speaker while some of us were still eating. He was thinking of attaching it to his bag while we cycle later. The effect would be almost the same as a Subaru with external speakers attached such that the driver has to wind down his windows to listen to his own music, and that everyone will turn their head when the car passes by, just to throw praises the sports car and groove to the rhythm. The difference is that when he rides by, people will most likely hurl expletives at him and puke to the music. Luckily, there were only a few tracks in his MP3 player that would produce such violent reactions.

Yes, we were going to cycle at night. The proposed route was from East Coast Park (ECP) to Lau Pak Sa, and back to ECP where we would head out to Changi Village and rest at the beach. After watching the sunrise, we would once again return to ECP to return our bikes.

We reached ECP via bus and the underpass, and hanged around in the fast food restaurant eating salty and oily fries dipped in hair-dropping and cancer-causing red or white sauce while waiting for the rest of the cyclists to arrive. I guess many people, including myself, misinterpreted the quote “we only live once”, by subconsciously adding the phrase “so we live it short and good” behind.

When all had gathered and our tasty but suicidal snack consumed, we collected our bikes. For just $7 each, we get a 7-gear manual transmission rear-wheel drive, with 20-inch tires, dual suspensions, sporting 1 man-power with acceleration and top speed of as-fast-as-you-can-pedal. It also comes equipped with superb rubber grips for powerful steering and pulsating front and rear lights for grabbing the attention of other road users. As soon as we had checked our bikes and emptied our bladders, the 12 of us set off for Lau Pak Sa. 10 are my colleagues and the remaining 1 is a lady who was invited by one of those 10 colleagues and had a previous personal connection with him. I was feeling confused but that feeling morphed into something else later.

It took some time before everyone assembled for a final check at the end of ECP, because someone was lagging behind. At first, I thought that it was due to a lack of stamina, as it was a long distance from the bicycle shop to the end of ECP. Being understandable, we moved off to the streets at a moderate pace. We breezed past the first few junctions without delay but stopped when we realised that some of the cyclists have gone missing. Initially, we guessed that they were stuck at the traffic junction, so we waited patiently. However, someone rode in our direction is a wobbly manner, thus instantaneously changing our moods and our expressions. Nope, someone was not injured, and neither was the bicycle damaged. It dawned upon us that if someone did not know how to ride very well, it might actually compromise our entire team’s safety and speed that we can travel. Looking at the assistance of someone’s closer friends, we felt that we could still reach our checkpoints with only a slight delay. Hence, to make someone to not feel left out, we continued the trip.

Life is always full of regrets. After countless stops, hours of traveling, and multiple photo shots, we arrived at Lau Pak Sa. We were way behind schedule, but we needed some food, so we just helped ourselves to desserts and drinks. At the rate that we are traveling, my friend calculated that we will not be able to make it to Changi Village on time to make the return trip to ECP. Therefore, he adjusted the route to insert some shortcuts and thus, shortening the trip.

We continued our trip back to ECP after we are done with our desserts. Experiencing again the same situations of waiting for someone, we began to feel agitated and displeasured. Someone’s attitude of giving up cycling fuelled our annoyance so much that we longed for someone to stop at ECP so that we can still make it to Changi Beach for our breakfast, but somebody had already asked someone and the answer we got was that someone will tag along all the way. The saga did not end so early. The slower paced amongst us took a different turn at one junction and by doing so we have two groups at each corner of Geylang. This time, it took even a longer time for us to assemble as the lead rider from our group had to ride out to look for the lost riders. After much patience and tolerance, we finally arrived at ECP, and were riding towards the other end. It was at this moment that we were enlightened by the fact that someone suffered from night blindness. Our jaws just dropped right there. It was disbelieving that someone went cycling with us all night and did not even inform us of such medical condition. Well, at least someone finally did update us, for it was always better late than never. But then again, it was extremely insane for someone to ride during the night on the streets! It was like asking a deaf man to operate the fire station, which is suicide!

Before we reached the other end of ECP, my colleague pointed out to us that someone was turning pale and that they would wait for us to return from Changi Village at the fast food restaurant. We do not wish to be mean, but someone is one whom locals would classify as “not automatic”, which is also known as someone without initiatives. Someone knew that we were going on night cycling, and should be wise enough to know that it was dangerous to not know now to ride on the streets. The bottom line was that we welcomed her to join our activities but someone should have taken the initiative to let us know that someone did not know how to ride well before we started cycling. However, who would know how well one cycle? There is no classification out there that determines one’s ability to cycle. Let us say we give someone the benefit of the doubt, that someone did not know it was so difficult to ride on the streets and that someone’s current skill level is inadequate to engage in such high risk activity. In any case, someone should have volunteered to back off when we returned to ECP. However, someone did not do so and still wishes to continue to Changi Village with everyone else. I do not sense that someone felt any remorse or guilt in holding back the entire group, which is a character trait that I doubt anyone can tolerate.

Therefore, when someone finally gave up because of physical constraints and not by choice, everyone was overjoyed, but also exhausted by the constant starting and stopping that we had to go through. That was why when we reached the beginning of the infamous “road that never ends”, 5 of us gave up and made a turn back to the fast food restaurant. The remaining 5 continued to Changi Village. Okay, I know that I am one of the 5 who gave up, but I am no sissy. Instead, if I continued riding, I might turn into one when my shorts are reduced to nothing by the never-ending friction and pressure with the bicycle seat. In fact, all of us were already emitting orgasmic sounds when we raise our bottoms from our seats once in a while. They should invent those seats that moulds to the shape of your bottoms, such that riding long distances will no longer be a pain in the ass. There were many reasons that spurred me to not carry on cycling. Firstly, it was already 3:10am. There would definitely not be any time for us to enjoy the sunrise nor the beaches. Secondly, it was going to rain. Lightning strikes were seen in the horizon, and it would not be long before we experience heavenly water. Thirdly, as explained earlier, my bottoms hurt like I had been spanked 1000 times, and that I still wish to celebrate my father’s day. Fourthly, I was about to sleep. I could feel that I am already in hyper-drive mode and that everything I was doing bypassed my central system. I just needed a break and decided that I should just end my trip there.

On our way back, it started to rain. Having sensitive eyes, the rain got the better of me and I had to stop to wipe by eyes. I told my friend to go ahead while I tried to wash away the rainwater with my tears. When I picked up from where I left off, I entered a wrong path and ended behind the chalets. Interestingly, when I “reappeared” on the right track and reached my destination, one of my friends was worried that I was lost, as she did not overtake me but knew that I was in front of her. It sounded like some Copperfield act, but I was too tired to make any humorous comments at that time. I just stepped into the place and slept with my soaked clothes on. My friends asked me to change out but I refused, simply because I was too worn out too do so. Fortunately, I awoke to find myself shivering and not sneezing.

I had my breakfast and we all waited for the 5 to return from Changi Village. We never mentioned anything about someone, but I believed that our feelings are unanimous. Before we returned our bikes, I saw this young lady who could balance another bicycle beside her with one arm and still could ride easily around the park. Originally I thought she was a professional, until another of my friend saw a man who carried a bicycle by attaching in the wheel to his handle and carried the whole freaking bicycle chassis on his shoulder. He rode around with more flexibility, and thrashed the lady I saw hands up. It was a pity that we did not manage to see a kid trying to balance a bicycle on his forehead while riding, or else I would have called all my friends to witness a free acrobat show. Once we returned our bicycles, we bid farewell to each other, and found myself in a cab with 2 of my friends. The next thing I knew, I had showered and was lying on my bed, about to fall asleep. It is fascinating to know that our mind still functions even when we are very tired. It is detrimental to our health, but at least our mind ensures that we still live to tell the tale.

This is my story, described in less than 2500 words and not 8000 as previously mentioned to some of my colleagues. I was looking at the number of characters by mistake, and with my mind not fully functioning, I read that number as the words I had written. I am really sorry to you guys if this was too short. I will try to write more when we have the chance to go out together for such exciting activities with interesting some ones.

Dance Performance...

Silent my room was,
With me reading a book.
I felt a disturbance in the force,
And so my phone shook.
I thought the call was spam,
Until the voice belonged to my friend,
Whom I knew in Pre-U Sem,
And to watch a dance we planned.
I seldom watch performing arts,
And in fact this was my second.
The first was a play in parts;
And this one I was beckoned.
The show was by five dancers -
Each was exceptionally talented.
Their moves were encrypted answers,
That only deciphers when inferred.
They started by expressing hope after devastation,
Followed by portraying dreadful isolation,
And next illustrating desperation,
With the finale depicting compunction.
All were equally interesting,
As they require deep thinking.
I truly enjoyed watching;
Thank you my friend for treating.

EEEEE-ing...

Mosquitoes are so annoying,
As they emit nonstop buzzing.
Once they have done the stinging,
You’ll be doing the scratching.
You hate them when they are flying,
Because then you keep on missing.
When they land on something,
You’ll turn them into nothing.
If you keep on losing,
For you can’t do any killing,
Then soon you’ll be burning,
With the dengue fever they bring.
After that your head will be spinning,
Your eyes will be hurting,
Your joints will be stiffening,
And your skin will be reddening.
Soon you’ll be pleading,
That you can carry on living.
If all goes well during praying,
Your body will activate self-healing.
In a week or two of resting,
You will become fit for fighting,
And you will go around splattering,
Everything with wings that is moving.

Bye Bye...

One by one the seeds were sown –
That was how crops were grown.
Drop by drop the flood was formed –
That was how crops were gone.
Block by block the bricks were laid –
That was how walls were made.
Bomb by bomb the land was shelled –
That was how walls were felled.
Bit by bit the rubbers were torn –
That was how people were born.
Year by year the time went by –
That was how people aged and die.
Cent by cent the businesses grew –
That was how names were debuted.
Part by part the rumors were passed –
That was how names were last.
Day by day nothing had happened –
That was how our world thrived.
Side by side our brethren were threatened –
That was how our world dived.

Help Available...

You are troubled and lost. Your sense of direction is camouflaged by your problems, and you wish to talk about it but just couldn’t seem to find anyone who is willing to listen to you. Some of them who listened to you provided immature solutions to your troubles, which are of little help and even aggravating the situation at times.

Therefore, you try to hide your troubles by ignoring them. However, hiding your troubles does not necessarily mean that they will be solved naturally with time. Somewhere down your road in life, these troubles will return to haunt you, thus damaging your mental and physical health as you once again try to suppress them.

You attempt to solve your troubles by confronting them. Unfortunately, it is easier said than done. The correct strategies have to be applied to optimally eradicate a problem, which you might think that you have done so, but the result just doesn’t turn out as expected. In fact, most people will just crash head on with their troubles and hope for the best. Sadly, the chances for success are no better than buying a lottery ticket.

Then here I come, to save your day. I am no superhero, nor am I a businessman. I do not simply zap away your troubles, but will help you solve them effectively and efficiently. I will offer my listening ear and my helping hand for free. I believe in helping someone for the good of mankind, and that money is evil and it makes the world go blind. I have high myopia and I do not wish to go blind so early in my life.

Now here come the barriers. You are shy, think that it is not nice to trouble me, or just find it troublesome to tell someone else your troubles. If you are shy, you can always email me anonymously. I’m here to solve your troubles and not trying to win your love or expecting something in return. If you think that it is not nice to trouble me, don’t think. You are of course troubling me by telling me your troubles, but sharing your troubles with me is one of the nicest things that you can do. Solving your troubles gives me one of the greatest satisfactions in life. If you find it troublesome to tell someone else your troubles, then I’m sorry I cannot help you unless you meet up with me and let me have a shot at reading your mind. It might take some time, but if you are willing to be helped, I am determined to help.

You can contact me on MSN/E-Mail. Be hearing from you soon.

Friendship...

A friend missing with time,
Is like the sun setting in the sky.
Sooner or later one will find,
Brightness will once again say hi.
One’s reluctance to congregate,
Is like the clouds drifting in the sky.
It frustrates the camaraderie formed by fate,
By blocking all contact at a blink of an eye.
Luckily the clouds though thick have rifts,
And is one of the things that will never change.
But as aims adjusts and focus shifts,
The sunlight that shines through is not the same.
So one constantly has the chance,
To meet a changed lost friend out there.
Even if it is just a glance,
It reignites the friendship both have once shared.

Is Being Kiasu Always Rewarding? Think Again...

As the temperatures soar,
Puddles of sweat merge on the floor.
Competition is fierce amongst us;
Everyone wants to be the first.
Finally the bus arrives at the bay;
Passengers rush up without delay.
Shoving and squeezing they try their best;
Once they sit down they feel very blessed.
They smirk at the others who yet to board;
Savoring the air-con and seat they hog.
The world is unfair though it is round;
In numerous ways that are too profound.
Somehow suddenly the bus breaks down,
Making the “winners” look like clowns.
The driver ran away to seek for help,
Leaving the unfortunate to sit and yelp.
Help arrives promptly but the bus is dead;
Those that think they are early are late.
After a while another bus came by;
As usual passengers rush up like they fly.
The previous “winners” are jumping like mad,
For they are trapped and not very glad.
When they ultimately manage to alight,
The bus is full and ready to take flight,
Much to the new winners’ delight.

Wisdom Teeth...

My heart is racing,
And my blood pressure is high.
My palms are dampening,
And my throat is dry.
I keep thinking of the stories,
My friends related to me.
They mentioned about the agonies,
And the pain they guarantee.
I stepped into the OT.
Feeling a bit queasy.
But come to think of it,
It wasn’t that freaky.
My dentist was nice,
And so were the other nurses.
Up that bed I was enticed –
Something I would not rehearse.
Then the needle was inserted;
Both eyes automatically closed.
My face and body were covered,
With only my mouth exposed.
Then came the agonizing wait,
For my gums and lips to numb.
To have those teeth is just fate;
I just anticipated what was to come.
First came the scalpel,
Slicing open my gums.
The start of my tooth’s disposal;
I just remained mum.
Next came the audible drill,
And immense pressure on my tooth.
I am grateful I could not feel;
It is best not to know the truth.
Cracking sounds were heard,
Indicating my tooth was breaking.
I tasted something sour like mustard,
Which I guess was my blood spurting.
My lower tooth was gone,
And it was my upper’s turn.
Again pain I felt none,
But the sounds all returned.
My gums were sewn,
When all was done.
The extracted teeth were then shown;
The experience was not fun.

Timeline...

For every beginning,
There will be an end.
It is just the question,
Of when.
Within the period,
From birth to death,
Whatever can be grasped,
Is inexplicable by math.
In the hospital,
The babies are born,
With innocent minds,
That will soon be gone.
In the schools,
The students will find;
Knowledge is limitless,
And love is blind.
In the corporate world,
Everyone will learn;
Money is needed,
But hard to earn.
In the families,
Some parents will sigh,
When their children revolt,
And rules they defy.
In the planes,
Bodies will shake;
Health is waning;
Some bones might break.
On the beds,
Spirits are low,
When they reminisce,
How fast they grow.
At the funerals,
Some children will cry,
Regretting their actions,
Before their parents die.
So much to do,
But there is still time.
Now is the chance,
When we are at our prime.
After this age,
We will be old.
Hopefully we will do enough,
To blissfully enjoy our soul.

Personality Test...

Your view on yourself:

You are down-to-earth and people like you because you are so straightforward. You are an efficient problem solver because you will listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision that usually appeals to both parties.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:

You are a true romantic. When you are in love, you will do anything and everything to keep your love true.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:

You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you might that person.

The seriousness of your love:

You are very serious about relationships and aren't interested in wasting time with people you don't really like. If you meet the right person, you will fall deeply and beautifully in love.

Your views on education:

Education is very important in life. You want to study hard and learn as much as you can.

The right job for you:

You have plenty of dream jobs but have little chance of doing any of them if you don't focus on something in particular. You need to choose something and go for it to be happy and achieve success.

How do you view success:

You are confident that you will be successful in your chosen career and nothing will stop you from trying.

What are you most afraid of:

You are concerned about your image and the way others see you. This means that you try very hard to be accepted by other people. It's time for you to believe in who you are, not what you wear.

Who is your true self:

You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

From here. It's very accurate, considering I posted my poem titled "dilemma" before doing this test, and it appeared in this analysis of my character.

Dilemma...

Apart from the coming operation,
To relieve my wisdom toothache,
Now comes a decision,
I have to make.
They always say:
The grass is greener on the other side.
I am shown the way,
To cross I cannot decide.
There is this significant project
Entrusted to three of us.
To be able to connect,
We shall move to a new address.
But one wishes to stay,
And cover the other’s job.
I hope they do not delay,
Getting me someone besides a snob.
Now I am worried,
About my colleagues.
I am unsure if will be wearied,
When I am not around to fix.
The dilemma arises,
When my replacement is hard to find.
I detest such surprises,
Especially when problems combine.
Now I am vexed by the questions,
So will I get an understudy or not?
That is not in my jurisdiction,
But it determines if I cross or squat.
My friend is there depending on me,
I have to cross and lend my hand.
But with all outstanding debris,
How do I cross over as planned?

Your Country...

Ask not what your country can do for you;
Ask what you can do for yourself.
Fear not your country and all her rules;
It’s for the better of the nation’s health.
Quit not when your country is in a mess;
Think of the days when you’ve enjoyed peace.
Hate not your country if it makes everyone stressed;
Just picture your future salaries as it increase.
Jeer not when your country is hiking prices;
We must be competitive to stay alive.
Say not your country has no chances;
It’s up to you to be willing to strive.
Shun not your country when weather is sultry;
There’s less restraint in pubs and parties.
Fume not at your country for false democracy;
We are becoming a more inclusive society.

Class Outings...

Supposedly;
A class gathering this Saturday,
With my ex-classmates from 4/4.
Unexpectedly,
A message appeared on my cell phone display;
No more gathering after all.
Disappointedly;
Arranged another class gathering this Saturday,
With my ex-classmates from 2A.
Unfortunately,
A message appeared on my cell phone display;
Much to my personal dismay.
Deplorably;
Pushed my hopes for a group gathering today,
With my ex-platoon mates from BMT.
Suddenly;
A message appeared on my cell phone display;
Phew, luckily, but only five out of fifty.

New Path...

Goals are fixed like the stars in the sky;
Targets are set to an altitude very high.
But one's expectations change at any one time,
All that was determined just sublime.
The Chinese and Indians are strong in mathematics;
Beneficial to society when they apply their logic.
Many people are reading technology courses;
They can just form another armed forces.
This assures me there will be elites around,
Improving and securing the digital town.
I shall therefore change to read,
A course that requires a different brain meat.
Psychology will be it, I'll apply next year.
You might be surprised; It's quite a steep steer.

I'm Featured in Eternal Portraits!

I've just received a mail from www.poetry.com.

Dear Yong Yun,

Several weeks ago, we informed you by mail that our editors have certified your poem "Calamity" as a semi-finalist in our International Open Poetry Contest. I'm writing to remind you that your poem will automatically be entered into the final competition held in July 2005. As a semi-finalist, you now have an excellent chance of winning one of 104 cash or gift prizes--including the $1,000.00 First Prize. You may even win the $10,000.00 annual Grand Prize! We wish you the best of luck as you compete for these prizes in the coming weeks...

And that's not all . .

Yong Yun . . . Imagine Your Poem
Featured on a Page by Itself in a Beautiful Coffee-table Edition!

As I mentioned in my letter, and in celebration of the unique talent that you have displayed, we also wish to publish your poem in what promises to be one of the most highly sought-after collections of poetry we have ever published . . .

Eternal Portraits*
*(actual publication title may be different)

Eternal Portraits, scheduled for publication in Fall 2005, will be a classic, coffee-table quality hardbound volume printed on fine-milled paper specifically selected to last for generations. It will make a handsome addition to any library, a treasured family keepsake, or a highly valued personal gift. And best of all, this magnificent volume will showcase the poetry of Yong Yun Foo on an entire page itself!

NO OBLIGATION WHATSOEVER

Before going any further, Yong Yun, let me make one thing clear . . . your poem was selected for publication, and as a contest semi-finalist, based on your unique talent and artistic vision. We believe it will add to the importance and appeal of this edition. In this regard, you are under no obligation whatsoever to submit any entry fee, any subsidy payment, or to make any purchase of any kind. Of course, many people do wish to own a copy of the anthology in which their artistry appears. If this is the case, and you have not already ordered or reserved your copy, we welcome your order--and guarantee you will be satisfied. Please see your special discount information if you would like to order a copy of Eternal Portraits.

SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

As I mentioned, your poem has automatically been advanced to the final competition--so you do not need to take further action on the contest at this time. However, regarding the publication of your poetry, if you have not already returned your proof with your approval to publish, you must now proofread your poem, which appears on your Artist's Proof. Please carefully review your poem for typographical errors and make any necessary changes. The Artist's Proof also verifies that "Calamity" is your original work of art. And Yong Yun, let me assure you, your poem remains your property--Eternal Portraits is copyrighted as a compilation. This means that you retain the copyright to your own work of art.

And if you haven't done so already, you must also decide if you would like to have some personal information about yourself and your poetry included in this elegant edition. In this way, readers can gain a greater awareness of your motivations, the meaning poetry has in your life, the story behind your poem, or your personal or philosophical point of view. Your biography will be featured on a page by itself, directly opposite your poem--you will thus have two full pages in the book devoted to you and your artistry. And although we must charge a nominal fee for this service, you are under no obligation to include this information. Your poem can be published without it if you wish. Please see your Artist's Proof for further information.

Again, congratulations, Yong Yun. We feel you have a special talent and we believe your poem will add to the importance and appeal of this edition. Your contribution to Eternal Portraits is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Howard Ely
Managing Editor

The poem that I've submitted can be found here. I am overjoyed :)

Alighting...

We rush to wait;
We wait to rush.
But doing it together,
It’s not very fast.
Time is short;
There’s none to spare.
But the exit is tight;
It can’t be fair.
Left is him;
Right is her.
Stuck in between,
It’s oh dear.
Trying to exit;
The crowd pushes in.
Where’s courtesy?
It’s in the bin.
Slide to the left;
The guy will yell.
Slide to the right;
You’ll be in hell.
What to do?
Squat and cry?
Don't do that,
As fists will fly.
But locals are kiasi;
We’ll seldom fight.
Kiasu and humji,
How to alight?

Cause and Effect...

To everything, there is a reason;
To comprehend, there is a season.
Changes are the result of our actions;
Whatever happens is just a fraction.
The other outcomes are oblivious to many;
They're in the form of life, emotions or money.
Everything in this world equates to zero,
Such as in every movie there is a hero.
A person is born to be dead in the end,
Like Atlantis which was once thriving on land.
Without any love there will never be hate;
With no happiness what's being irate.
The equation is solved nicely most of the time,
But variables will cause it to be not in line.
Numerous factors are uncontrollable;
Multiple arguments are immeasurable.
Be it quantifiable or be it not,
Life still goes on in absence of our thoughts.
The significance is that we are alive;
That alone shall be suffice to fuel our drive.
We should do good and some evil too,
For what is good when evil is subdued.

Updates...

I am suffering the effects of yesterday's guard at the lobby. Yes, again. I have struck lottery twice in two months. My friends say that I am a big winner, for I get to claim $9.30 for my meals during the weekend guard as compared to $6.30 for a weekday guard.

They call this serving the Nation. However, I feel that it should be called exploitation of human resource. The two main tasks that I have to do is to change passes for around 20 visitors and unlocking the door to the loading/unloading bay 3-4 times. A bird that picks tarot cards can do better.

Next week, I'll be doing fatigue (low energy) duty for a promotion ceremony. As the name of the duty suggests, I'll be using low amounts of energy when I'm doing the duty. Actually, it actually means low amounts of brain energy and large amounts of muscle power. We always emphasize on the less obvious to raise morale. A.K.A. brain-washing, it works almost on all humans, except those whose brains grow on the head. I hope you get the pun.

Now, I'll go enjoy what's left of my weekend. Sigh.

Human resource is once of the most problematic areas in most organisations, for selecting the right staff do the right job is almost impossible without allowing the person to work for a period of time, after which he/she will be integrated into the organisation and incur too much disruption and losses to be replaced. Someday, I shall solve this problem.

Bowel/Duty Trouble...

Pain has overwhelmed my body,
To the extent that I bend at ninety.
Miserable has formed my middle name;
The lavatory is now my dame.
It feels like diarrhoea but air exits;
Stool ejects when I squeeze it.
My navel hurts like a newborn child,
When nothing ejects and all is piled.
I had three days MC and today too;
Was to be on guard but I can't do.
I called the OPS Room yesterday;
They freaked and hollered in dismay.
Disorganised they are and forever be;
Even takes them ages to go and pee.
For some hours they called my friends;
Looking for one to burn his weekend.
Call it unfair but that is their style,
To arrow blindly and be hostile.
In any case I must say thanks,
To he who volunteered to walk the planks.

Plastic Bags...

Plastic bags are harmless,
like the flame on a candle.
But they can be dangerous,
depending on how we handle.
Many nations have flooded,
when plastic choked their drains.
Yet we are so cold-blooded;
We loathe the Green Campaign.
Our eyes are tightly shut;
Our ears are stuffed.
When we are forced to pay a nut,
Suddenly we became huffed.
We say paper bags will break;
Green bags are too revolting.
But for goodness sake;
27 per day is not Earth saving!
So many bags we use everyday,
we should reuse those bags instead.
But whatever you do and obey,
please don't put it over your head.

Brain Exercises...

Clue: Think out of the box.

I will help with the first one.

24 H in a D - 24 Hours in a Day
26 L of the A
7 D of the W
7 W of the W
12 S of the Z
66 B of the B
52 C in a P (W Js)
13 S in the U S F
18 H on a G C
39 B of the O T
5 T on a F
90 D in a R A
3 B M (See How They Run)
32 is the T in D F at which W F
15 P in a R T
3 W on a T
100 C in a R
11 P in a F (S) T
12 M in a Y
13 is U for S
8 T on a O
29 D in F in a L Y
27 B in the N T
365 D in a Y
13 L in a B D
52 W in a Y
9 L of a C
60 M in a H
23 P of C in the H B
64 S on a C B
9 P in S A
6 B to an O in C
1000 Y in a M
15 M on a D M C
88 P K
9 P in the S S
4 Q in a G
8 S on a S S
12 D of C

I could send the answers to you/verify for you, if you are interested.

My Personality Type...

Your #1 Match: ENFJ

The Giver You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed.Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections.Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down.You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine. You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist.

Your #2 Match: ENTJ

The Executive You are a natural leader - with confidence and strength that inspires others.Driven to succeed, you are always looking for ways to gain, power, knowledge, and expertise.Sometimes you aren't the most considerate person, especially to those who are a bit slow.You are not easily intimidated - and you have a commanding, awe-inspiring presence. You would make a great CEO, entrepreneur, or consultant.

Your #3 Match: INFJ

The Protector You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity.Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is.You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience.You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them. You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher.

Your #4 Match: ENFP

The Inspirer You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends.You are also unconventional, irreverant, and unimpressed by authority and rules.Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives.You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're qutie the storyteller! You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist.

Your #5 Match: INTJ

The Scientist You have a head for ideas - and you are good at improving systems.Logical and strategic, you prefer for everything in your life to be organized.You tend to be a bit skeptical. You're both critical of yourself and of others.Independent and stubborn, you tend to only befriend those who are a lot like you. You would make an excellent scientist, engineer, or programmer.

What's" Your Personality Type?

Duties...

I was assigned,
To guard the lobby.
Yes, I mind;
It's not my hobby.
With another buddy,
We held the entrance.
It's brainless and shitty;
Requires superb tolerance.
From Sat to Sun,
I was sad;
Waiting for the next sun;
Little sleep I had.
I am unarmed,
And also untrained.
Please be alarmed;
And do complain.
My eyesight is poor;
I can't check passes.
I am still unsure,
Even with my glasses.
My ankle is still bad,
So I can't run.
If there's a threat,
I'll use my water gun.
If we're headstrong,
We'll be blamed.
When things goes wrong,
We'll be framed.
Ignorance is unacceptable;
Geniuses we must be.
Incompetence is insufferable;
Being talented is the key.
The pay is miserable,
Peanuts are a better gauge.
The Zoo is more comfortable;
Put me in a cage.

Polluted Minds...

Eleven students assaulted a classmate last week.

This happened in some school that was not disclosed for fear of bad publicity. It was on the front page of 联合早报, but not on the other papers on the same day.

Is it because less people read chinese as compared to english? As a daily reader of Today, I believe that one this news appear in their pages, there will be great concern raised among the citizens of Singapore.

What has the education system grown to become? What are the major factors that lead to a group of eleven students to assault one girl, and also rip her clothes off to capture naked photos of her?

Seven years ago, when I made a trip back to my primary school, my ex-teacher told me that she was hunting for primary four students who are suspected to be smoking.

Smoking at primary four. Seven years later, I guess students below sixteen are already having sex. This will explain why the group attempted to rip the victim's clothes and take a photo of her, as they should have been exposed to unhealthy material that are everywhere nowadays on the Internet.

If nothing is done, in seven years or less, a group of students will be raping a victim. We have to admit that censoring movies does help little in reducing sex and violence in our society. With the expanse of information on the net, anyone who is computer literate will be able to view unhealthy materials.

A flash of such materials on screen will be sufficient to make a child curious. Those computer literate children will be surfing those websites if there is no proper guidance. Besides, there is computer literacy lessons from kindergarten. Few parents bother or know about installing content blocking programs on their computers.

The situation is worse than we think. If such articles are not published or discussed among citizens, we shall hope that the government is capable of dealing with this problem themselves. Let's hope that our children will be safe from such harm.

Procrastination...

We are born to wait;
we waited to be born.
We procrastinate;
from dusk till dawn.
Tomorrow, we say;
we are tired today.
Perhaps later in May;
our brides ran away.
The bus nears it's stop;
no one presses the bell.
Nobody can drop;
everyone starts to yell.
Some loved ones are alive,
we don't really care.
When they are archived,
we moan in despair.
To buy or not to buy;
the question everytime.
When we justified why,
the grapes became wine.

Faux Pas...

I must confess;
I did something wrong.
It could be stress;
I was steady all along.
I followed blindly;
I didn’t think.
Now they are angry,
as we didn’t ring.
What’s done is done,
I’ve nothing more to say.
I’m really quite stunned,
it’ll turn out this way.
The verdict will be passed,
on Monday morning.
I guess it’ll be fast,
and without much warning.
I won’t be around;
I’ve physiotherapy.
I’m already confounded;
Just pass the sentence to me.

Choking Stench...

Seated comfortably you are;
enjoying the air you breathe.
Somebody sits beside you
and along comes a breeze.
It’s time for you to inhale -
a deep breath you take.
Instantly you turn pale -
I know you didn’t fake.
You’re neither in the sewers,
nor at the zoo.
The stench is so foul;
it reminds you of the loo.
You try to face away
but it seems so futile.
Diffusion is such a dismay;
even if it takes awhile.
Surrendering to the odour,
you get up.
Standing beside a neighbour,
you just look up.
A hairy pit you see;
soon you start to choke.
You’re desperate to flee,
from the stinking bloke.
You might wonder
how others can endure,
Maybe they never breathe;
it’s very obscure.

Doctor Doctor, Please Be Better...

Nobody is the best,
for there is someone better.
But I hate seeing the worst,
especially if he’s a doctor.
Diagnosis was immature;
Prescription was inadequate.
My throat didn't cure;
Tonsillitis eventuated.
I've got a frog in my throat,
and swallowing is a torture.
I'm not sexy when I croak,
and pain is not pleasure.
Antibiotics costs me twenty;
Ten with medical subsidy.
At polyclinics it would be free,
But this morning I went; Got the MC.
The physician is Dr. Tommy,
I hope he does say sorry.
I reckon it's not only me,
who thinks that he's lousy.

Education In Singapore...

Have you ever wondered what the application is for logarithm? Like most others, including myself, one would not know. How is that possible? Didn’t we learn logarithm in Secondary School? After so many years of education, many do not even know how to apply this small topic of Mathematics in our daily lives.

So what do we do in school? We learn how to compete with other students. We learn how to socialise. We learn how to copy someone else’s homework in the shortest possible time and knowing that there is absolutely no way the teacher is going to find out it’s not your work. To many students, a subject is just to boost their overall score, such that they can apply for scholarships, make themselves or their parents proud, or just to move forward in the education system and into a better school.

Have you then wondered why the education system does not allow you to study what you really like when you were in Secondary School? You do remember that you were forced to study all humanities and general sciences in lower Secondary, and there were restrictive choices available to choose from when you reach upper Secondary. If one just wishes to be a writer at that point in time, he can choose literature, but has to study science nonetheless. The reality is, there is no such thing as focusing on one’s interest in Singapore. The reason behind it is very simple. We need a fixed number of engineers, doctors, architects, etc in our workforce yearly. I believe that the government has already planned out how many of each specialist we need in the next 10 to 20 years, and it is reflected in the number of people who are assigned the subjects / courses in schools. As humans are the only resources we have, we cannot allow students to choose what they like, or else there would not be a fixed number of specialists to fill up the workforce. For other countries that have oilfields, gold mines and such, they can allow their citizens to choose what they like to do, and their schools offer whatever courses a sane mind can think of.

Therefore, all students must be more understanding. The constriction of growth of their personal interest is the gain for the stability and well-being of the Nation. So, study hard. Be one of the specialists and aid our country.

Calamity...

All men are brothers,
like the seas throughout the world.
As for all the others,
they are blessings all unfurled.
But waves are destined to clash
and winds will forever collide.
Cities are gone in a flash
when one faction shows her pride.
Chaos still ensues,
because of lust and greed.
World peace is so taboo,
due to corrupted decreed.
A place with no crime
and silence in the skies,
makes one reminisce those times
when serenity fills the eyes.
Now the future is bleak,
as conficts ravage the lands.
Tension builds as we speak,
who knows when it ends.
Read the papers and look around,
dreadful disasters are predicted to come.
Be it natural or not, from sky or from ground,
all must peservere and never succumb.

Lesson Uno (Auctions)...

I placed a PS2 auction on Yahoo on behalf of my friend. Before I logged off yesterday, there were 2 bids, pushing up the price to $230. However, there was a no-lifer, or two, who tried to bid as high as they could.

[Apr 07 10:06] nikeboy133 places bid for 1 at 10000000000009.00 SGD
[Apr 07 10:06] nikeboy133 places proxy bid at 99999999999999.00 SGD
[Apr 07 10:06] winkyboy77 places proxy bid at 99999999999999.00 SGD

I've never seen so much digital money in my entire life. Sadly, nobody is going to pay me that amount of money for the PS2. This screwed up my auction for today, as nobody could bid higher than that amount you see up there, as the amount of bytes allocated by Yahoo for the number wasn't enough. I could have lost some potential bidders.

The lesson learnt is: Check your auction frequently and blacklist those scumbags from your auctions. This way, the damage done will be minimised and consumer confidence will not be heavily affected.

Crowded Island...

This island is packed with people,
of all shapes, colours and sizes.
You can almost kiss someone's pimple,
but be prepared for surprises.
It is way too crowded to move,
during weekends in the city.
Everyone is feeling the groove,
there is no missing actuosity.
Squeezing is an essential skill,
or one will be stuck to the ground.
Some might find it a cheap thrill,
so beware of perverts around.
You might feel frustrated,
and the urge to push develops.
When you are exasperated,
try impersonating an antelope.
Everyone is as fed up as you,
so walk slow and follow the flow.
If you step hard on someone's shoe,
apologise and just lay low.
Boarding the train you think is empty,
turns out there is a lasting party.
Mixtures of perfume and smells quite farty,
changes you green and feeling so queasy.
The kid behind you is facing your rear,
but it's less awkward than your crotch.
Just as you're deciding which way to steer,
another kid raises the embarrasment notch.

Unfortunate Event...

A man jumped off the platform,
just to retrieve his shoe.
Nobody bothers as it's the norm,
unless it's someone they knew.
The train approaches the station,
but everyone just stared.
When he experienced extermination,
I wonder if anyone cared.
Blood was splattering everywhere,
and time reached a standstill.
Disbelief was floating in the air,
all witnesses felt the chill.
None stopped the train,
none helped him out.
Now the man is slain,
they are guilty with no doubt.
The callousness of mankind,
is a disturbing and ugly trait.
All of us are one kind,
yet we do what others will berate.
Are strangers that hostile,
that one detests to help?
Friends they will be if you smile;
Be nice to assist them when they yelp.

Immortality...

I don't know if it's true, but he has plenty of testimonials. He also has a solution for world peace. Just check it out if you want to.

Immortality

The Night...

A silent night,
signifies peace has prevailed.
In the absense of sunlight,
our vision is veiled.
Other senses are enhanced,
to compensate this loss.
Anyone at a glance,
displays motives in a pause.
Lonliness is aggravated,
by the chill of the breeze.
You hope to be consociated,
to be hugged before you freeze.
In silence you will wonder,
what if, what else, what now.
Your mind is torn asunder,
for your brain is thinking of how.
The frail side of you is exposed,
when you are in solitude.
It can be closed,
if you do not elude.

Bombardment...

Unexpectedly,
bombs are thrown at me.
Arrows are no longer used,
as explosives are more deadly.
No matter where I hide,
or where I stick my head into,
the bombs are homing,
and stick to me like glue.
Each has a time limit,
until it is due.
I have to multi-task,
else it is adieu.
I cannot sleep well,
so I start counting sheep.
I always wake up thinking,
if I did even sleep.
Now the end of week is here,
I shall stay at home and disappear,
hidden from every bombardier,
until Monday will I reappear,
clearing bombs without any fear,
shedding everything but a tear.

Relationships...

He hears but does not listen,
he looks but does not read.
You try to get his attention,
but finds him falling asleep.
You pay for what she wants,
she gets jealous of those you knew.
You ask her to be reasonable,
she ends up leaving you.
Be prepared for who you're chasing,
be ready for who's chasing thee.
Relationships need sacrifices,
for nothing comes for free.
Love requires commitment,
and marriage secures that devotion.
If you don't intend to marry,
better hide your emotion.
Of course one is always curious,
if that person is the one.
Go ahead and make a new friend,
as guessing isn't fun.
A perfect couple doesn't exist,
neither does love potion.
It is when both are willing to change,
that the public misses a commotion.
This poem comes from someone,
who has never been attached.
For he has yet to find that person,
whom his passion can be matched.

Bloody Birdshooters...

I adjusted alarm to wake up at 0850, thinking that I needed the extra rest as I am going over to my friend's place to troubleshoot her PC at 1000.

I was awakened by the deafening sound of gunshots. At first, it reminded me of my BMT days when I fired my M16 rifle. Then it sounded more like shotgun shells being fired, like those I heard in my Half-Life 2 game. However, the gunshots were fired erratically, and sounded very real. They did not come a game. Have the terrifying terrorists arrived at my neighbourhood and begun their bloodbath on the innocent patrons eating at the kopitiam opposite my flat? Or is it time for WAR? Upon realising the possibility of war, I freaked out and nearly fell off my bed. I hastily looked out the window to locate the source of the gunshots, while hopefully thinking that I do not see uniformed green men.

One van,
three men.
One tall,
two short.
One fires,
two spots.
One shot,
birds drop.

Argh! Bloody birdshooters! The clocked displayed 0750, and I couldn't fall asleep again. Sigh.

Dilemma...

Science or engineering?
That is the question.
What is my future prospect?
That is my concern.
Should I change,
or should I not?
That's a major problem,
that I have got.
Computing at NUS,
was my choice.
Now my mind is thinking,
it's making some noise.
Too much computers,
will fry my brain.
Anywhere in this Nation,
they'll say I'm insane.
Too much electronics,
will shock the psyche.
By the laws of physics,
that's so unlikely.
Staring at the screen,
will cause blur vision.
But too many circuits,
will cause hallucination.
I could grow psychotic,
if I choose psychology.
I could be sadistic,
if I took biology.
What should I do?
Which course should I take?
Everything seems so dangerous,
I'll just leave it to fate.
No! I cannot wait!
It is my future here at stake!
My passion is computers,
and poetry too.
But I'll do my best,
in whatever I do.
I shall think no further,
I shall not switch.
Even if radiation overwhelms me,
I will not flinch.

A Message...

Have time to play,
have time to sleep.
Everyday you tell me,
no time to sweep.
I ask you to clean,
I plead you to wipe.
Everyday you tell me,
the time is not ripe.
You tell me today,
you told me yesterday.
Everyday you tell me,
you'll help me someday.
I scold you once,
I scold you twice.
Everyday you tell me,
I'm not being nice.
I compare you with A,
I match you against B.
Everyday you tell me,
that makes you unhappy.
A helps to mop,
B helps to scrub.
Everyday you tell me,
they are not your cubs.
I grab my hair,
I pull your ear.
Everyday you tell me,
you will volunteer.
I work so hard,
I exert so much.
Hopefully you'll tell me,
you are truly touched.

- Your Mother

Some Advice...

No matter how sad you are,
no matter how bad you feel,
there will be someone not far,
easing your pain and squeals.
No matter the bosses you face,
no matter the job you hate,
there will be a nice place,
that you will be by fate.
This world is full of vibrance,
it is very amazing.
The future is forbidding,
it is no doubt hair raising.
Whether you are a pawn,
or the mighty King,
there will be a chance,
that you feel a sting.
That might be a fiend,
stabbing hard on your back,
or just your friend,
encouraging you with a smack.
One has to be smart,
and examine the people around,
for some may aim at you a dart,
when you've fallen and close to the ground.
Your comrades could save you,
but not all the time.
If intentions you can see through,
then you will be fine.

Scenario...

I saw this interesting scenario my friend put for his MSN nick: My doctor gave me 6 months to live but when I couldn't pay the bill, he gave me 6 months more...

Based this scenario, I started to write this poem...

I am very sick,
and my knees are weak.
I could hardly walk,
without a walking stick.
My doctor told me frankly,
I have 6 more months to live.
So I gazed at him blankly,
and stared with disbelief.
I need to buy a crate.
I called my wife to help.
But when she heard I'm to be dead,
she ran away instead. (Oh great!)
Now she took my money,
it's really not very funny.
I'm just a rich poor man,
to be thrown into a gunny.
I kind of understand why,
why she decided to fly.
I have been unfaithful,
it's right she said bye bye.
I told my doctor this,
now he stared at me.
He said miracles exist,
like it did to his niece.
He started telling me stories,
advised me on beneficiaries.
I see that he wanted money,
but I could give only apologies.
He suddenly has an idea,
a thought that I abhor.
He fancied that I'll pay him,
by saying I have 6 months more.

Exception...

My brother signed the contract this morning to bid for a brand new black Mitsubishi Lancer with beige interior. If successful, he'll be driving it in mid-March. And so will I :)

My brother drove me to the Funan Centre after that to collect an all-in-one printer and a 4.1 megapixel camera that were complementary with the subscription of Starhub's MaxOnline 6500 plan. On the redemption letter that was directed to by dad, it states that he has to bring:

- This copy of the original redemption letter
- The enclosed copy of the Acknowledgement / Authorisation Form
- Your original NRIC/FIN (no photocopies are accepted)

As my dad is busy at work, we signed the form, thus authorising me to collect the freebies on his behalf. Now the question is, do I have to bring along his NRIC, or is my NRIC sufficient to certify the authencity of the form? When the shopkeeper asked me to provide my dad's NRIC, I was a bit puzzled. If they require my dad's NRIC, why do we have to sign the form? Furthermore, he told me that the 3rd point mentioned was self-explanatory that both NRICs were needed. Was it? Before I could raise the point that even the collection of highly sensitive and important documents from the post office does not require the addressee's NRIC when the authorisation form is signed, he told me that since the address on my NRIC matches that on the redemption letter, he will make this an exception. Exception? To me, if I brought both NRICs, it'll be an exception. Without wasting any more time, I just collected my stuff and left.

Comments, anyone?

Disastrous Thunderstorm...

It has been raining.
I was just relaxing.
I imagined that leaf celebrating,
till it was burned by lightning.

It has been raining.
I was just resting.
I dreamt of grass rejoicing,
till they were drowned by flooding.

It has been raining.
I was just stretching.
I listened to the leaves rustling,
till the tree toppled by gusting.

It has been raining.
I was just observing.
I saw a person running,
till he fell by slipping.

It has been raining.
I was just daydreaming.
I heard an engine humming,
till it ended with a bang by skidding.

It has been raining.
Many events were happening.
Unfortunate as it is seeming,
it's just the sky raining.

IQ Test

Just took the IQ test at http://web.tickle.com/. Here's what I got:

Congratulations, YY85! Your IQ score is 129!

This number is based on a scientific formula that compares how many questions you answered correctly on the Classic IQ Test relative to others. Your Intellectual Type is Precision Processor. This means you're exceptionally good at discovering quick solutions to problems, especially ones that involve math or logic. You're also resourceful and able to think on your feet.

Battle of the Bulge!

Looking into the mirror,
I saw a bloated figure.
No doubt that is me,
and I am growing fatter!
I can't run as my ankle is sprained,
leaving me a month untrained.
I can't resist the goodies I see,
which explains the weight I've gained.
So someone tell me what can I do,
for I just don't have much of a clue.
Slimming pills are a no thank you,
if my liver's gone I don't wanna sue.
Maybe I could try to eat a little less,
exercise my stomach, play less chinese chess.
Don't think too crooked as the line suggests,
I just want a flat abdomen that can impress.
Hopefully the bulge will be gone in a flash,
but that's wishful thinking - I'm reasoning trash.
However if I'm rich here's what I'll say,
Adonis, Jean and Marie, I'll pay by cash.

Perspective...

I went to the movies yesterday to catch Constantine. It's a highly recommended movie with spectacular special effects that cures vomiting. Well I put it that way because my friend was feeling queasy before the show started but he felt better after viewing the super fast action on the big screen. Maybe next time if someone feels like throwing up, recommend them a fast-paced game like Quake or throw them the movie Constantine. It just might work.

However, that is only one perspective that explains why my friend recovered from his dreadful disease. There are so many other factors, like the temperature of the theatre (it was moderately cold), the surrounding people (there was a nice looking lady seating beside him), his body natural defenses or maybe even too stunned by the special effects to vomit. With so many factors, it's really quite difficult to narrow down the source of the miracle.

Most people would not think deeper and ask themselves why something happened, mainly because they don't have to, they can't be bothered, or even if they do, it seems to them that no answer can be found. I second the belief that everything happens for a reason. Even so, for unexplainable events, luck and fate are the 2 words that will come to our minds.

My brother related to me this actual accident that happened to a Singaporean couple who went golfing. The wife hits her ball into the bushes, and so she left to search for her ball before her husband made his shot. When her husband made his shot, it landed on his wife, killing her instantly. A single golf ball no larger than a person's fist can find it’s way past the wind and prove to be a deadly trajectory. One finds it almost impossible to not link either luck or fate to this scenario.

To explain this event, it's just as simple as the man swinging his golf club in that specific angle and speed, which positioned the ball on his wife. His control of his golf club is the cause of his wife's death. It's not luck, it's not fate. It's just him swinging the club to hit the ball that landed on his wife.

We all understand that in this world of ours, there are many objects. Be it living or non-living things, they all interact with one another. Take a lamp on a ceiling for example. The screw that holds the lamp is rusting every second, and at some point in time, the screw will break and that lamp is going to fall to the ground. To many, it is by chance that the lamp will drop. However, through calculations, we are able to predict when the lamp will fall. It is never by chance. For us human beings, we have the power to make decisions, and act on them. We can choose to avoid walking underneath that lamp, since we do not know the exact time it will drop as predictions are never accurate to the split second. Choosing to walk underneath that lamp is the all familiar term called gambling and those who gamble are known to be brave souls. Bravery is good, but so is vigilance. My point here is not to tell people to not walk underneath lamps. It is just to tell people that most objects in this world have already determined the precise moment of interaction with other objects - when the lamp drops, when the comet hits the earth, so on and so forth. We are a variable in this world. We are all capable to make differences to pre-determined interactions. Hence, do not hesitate to make a difference in this world, but just keep a lookout for imminent dangers. You can do much more than what you think you ever can when you're alive and kicking.

I'll leave it to you readers to discover the potential of your mind when you probe deeper. Do note that thinking too much will accelerate your ageing process. Another thing to note is that greed, jealousy, etc. will cloud your ability to probe your mind. Therefore, stop trying to find out what is that winning lottery number.

Shopping...

After 2 hours of clothes hunting in Queensway, I left with only a pair of plain jeans that costs $39. Most of the clothes there are either too funky or too wallet unfriendly to me.

I headed for Giordano at Jurong Point after that. In just 5 minutes, I left with 2 "Dry-Tech" Polo shirts and a wrinkle-free pants. That costs me $84.

Total spending equates to $123. I've come to realise that a simple apparel store will satisfy my dressing needs. That's good as in the future, I will not have to travel all around the island to look for clothes to buy.

Doctor, How's My Ankle?

I woke up this morning,
with my ankle still aching.
So I pulled myself to work,
and reporting sick I was stating.
Took the transport to MMI,
waited until the sun was high.
The doctor recommended an X-Ray scan;
Was it really that serious? Oh my!
Lucky for me it was just a sprain,
else I would have tumbled into the drain.
They gave me a rub on - it really hurts,
but you know the saying - no pain no gain.
A 30-day lower limb excuse was given free,
with totally no recovery guarantee.
But I trust the doctor's prescription,
So I think I'll just rub and wait and see.

My U.S. Name

Foo Yong Yun from this day forward
you will also be known as HAROLD LAWRENCE

Get your U.S. name at http://www.blazonry.com/scripting/usname.php

IPPT Injury...

My left foot is swollen,
it looks really big.
It happened when I have fallen,
now I need a stick.
I hope I will recover soon,
or at least let me walk better.
If not I will resemble a goon,
like the raw fish on a platter.
I passed my IPPT test,
with this foot of mine.
All because I tried my best,
that I didn't trail behind.
Now I start to wonder,
why I try so hard.
It seemed I made a blunder,
for now my foot is retard.
I have myself to blame,
but what can I do for now?
So I'll just bear the pain,
and go sleep like a cow.

I Need To Focus!

My mind is in a mess,
when my thoughts digress.
I try my best to clear it up,
but ended up in stress.
I desire and crave to meditate,
but my mind chose to procrastinate.
If I cannot solve this now,
I hope I will not wake up late.
I am frustrated for the past week,
with truly no time for me to weep.
No doubt I have become very weak,
therefore I think I'll just go to sleep.

Singapore VS Indonesia

I just returned from the National Stadium where Singapore soccer players went mano-e-mano with Indonesia soccer players in the second leg of the Tiger Cup 2004 finals. This was the first time that I experienced the atmosphere of a fully packed stadium. Honestly, it was great. Nothing beats cheering for your country's team. However, the referee seemed to have misplaced his red card, as many grave offences were only given the yellow card. Referee kayu :P

My brother and I left 20 minutes before the match ended such that we can avoid the dispersing 55,000-strong crowd and the impending frustration and despair of being stuck in a traffic jam. I wonder when will be the next time the stadium is fully packed.

I'm a Certified Driver!

I have surpassed all odds and passed my Class 3 driving test on my first attempt - the first in my family! This explains why I am grinning from ear to ear right now :)