Terence's List of Everything 2005 (Part 3)

1. Worst Singer:
罗志祥
王心凌

2. Worst Bands:
七朵花
台风

3. Worst Movies:
Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire (Everything is bad)
The Legend Of Zorro (Cheesy plot and dialouge)
War Of The Worlds (Terrible way to end the show)
Madagascar (Too childish for my intellect)
Chicken Little (Ditto)

4. Worst TV Shows
Mediacorp dramas

5. Worst Acting
Most "Star Idol" 《明星偶像》 contestants

6. Best Songs
《下雪》-- 阿杜
《I DO》-- 阿杜
《完美的一天》--孙燕姿
《SELF》-- 陈绮贞
《没那么爱他》--范玮琪
《丝路》--梁静茹
《天空》--蔡依林
F.I.R. 的《把爱放开》，《无限》，《千年之恋》，《刺鸟》
石康军的《火光》，《Beautiful World》
苏打绿的《飞鱼》，《Oh Oh Oh Oh...》， 《The moment Is Over》，《是我的海》
"Hung Up" -- Madonna
"You're Beautiful" -- James Blunt

7. Worst Songs:
《拜金女郎》-- 七朵花
《撒哈拉沙漠》--台风
《自我催眠》-- 罗志祥
"American Idiot" -- Green Day

Terence's List Of Everything 2005 (Part 2)

1. Best Books:
Memoirs Of A Geisha by Arthur Golden
The Curious Incident Of Dog In Night Time by Mark Haddon

2. Best Waitress:
Fiana (I hope I remember your name correctly) of Pizza Hut, Sembawang Shopping Centre branch.

I mean, she took down our orders without using pen and paper. That is to say, she MEMORISED our orders! And no, our orders ARE complicating. Try memorising this: Chic 'N' Shrooms pasta in linguine and neapolitan sauce, curry chicken pizza, salsa fiesta, cafe mocha latte, strawberry fizz and kiwi-lemon fizz.

Now, repeat the order, just like what they do to the diners.

Great job, Fiana!

3. Best TV Shows:
The Amazing Race: Family Edition
Survivor: Guatemala, The Maya Empire
Desperate Housewives
Grey's Anatomy
《挑战状元榜》
《康熙来了》
《康永当家》
《超级两代电力公司》
《志永智勇电力学校》
《文茜的世界周报》
《娱乐百分百》
《绝对SUPERSTAR》

4. Best Singer:
Kelly Poon 潘嘉丽
Hong Jun Yang 洪俊扬
Derrick Ho 何维健
Jones Shi Kang Jun 石康军
James Blunt
Cheer Chen 陈绮贞
龚诗嘉

5. Best Bands:
轻松玩乐团
苏打绿
F.I.R.

6. Best Restaurant:
鼎泰丰

7. Movies that I've watched in a cinema this year:

1. Mr. and Mrs. Smith
2. Madagascar
3. Monster-In-Law
4. The Legend Of Zorro
5. Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire
6. Kingdom Of Heaven
7. Seven Swords 《七剑》
8. Chicken Little
9. War Of The Worlds
10. Flight Plan
11. Zathura
12. Constantine
13. A Series Of Unfortunate Events
14. The Myth 《神话》

That's all I can remember. I can't believe i've watched only 2 Chinese films this year. My record last year was 11 I think. My highest record was in 2003 when I watched 23 movies in cinemas in that year.

8. Movies that I wanted to but didn't watch:

《长恨歌》
《童梦奇缘》
The Island
Aeonflux
The Transporter 2
Tom Yum Goong

9. Best Online Games:
Grow Cube
Grow RPG
Grow Version 3
Tontie Verison 1

10. Best Newly-coined Term:
"Couch Tomatoes" by Zhang ZiYi

流星

流星飞过夜空的那一晚，
尼可拉斯赶紧许愿
因为上帝说过
化作星星的天使
会将人们的愿望
转告圣诞老人，
而愿望就会在圣诞节当天
实现。

礼节日当天，
爸爸没有回来。
妈妈正抱着一个盒子抽泣着。
那盒子很重很重，
尼可拉斯很好奇
为什么有人会送一个那么重的盒子和
一盒灰给妈妈。

从此，
尼可拉斯不再相信圣诞老人的存在，
不再信任上帝，
因为他终于知道，
化作星星的老天使死了，
变成流星
坠落。
而凡间也就会有一个人死掉。

老天使

天使跟我说再见的那一天，
她轻轻地挥一挥翅膀，
一根一根从她翅膀上掉下来的羽毛变成了一片一片的雪花，
在这寒冷的圣诞夜里
慢慢地，
徐徐地，
飘落。

天使跟我说再见的那一天，
她跟我说，
她老了，
飞不动了，
人类会脱发，
天使也会脱毛。
她就这样轻轻地挥一挥翅膀，
往上帝的方向飞去。

然后，
上帝就会安排老去了的天使
退休成天上的星星，
一闪一闪亮晶晶，
挂在天空发光明。

天使跟我说再见的那一天，
满天都是小星星。
天花乱坠，雪花纷飞，
星罗棋布。
天使轻轻地挥一挥翅膀
往上帝的方向飞去。
慢慢地，
徐徐地，
飞去。

Terence's List of Everything 2005 (Part 1)

Top 10 Names:

10. Joscelin Yeo
Our "national treasure" of the aquatic arena has won 40 gold medals over her participation in seven South-East Asian Games. She definitely deserves this recognition.

9. Harry Potter
Believe it or not, during the weekends when Harry Potter books were released, the attendance of children at hospital emergency departments dropped by almost half.

The explanation? Books are a lot less dangerous than skateboards and other outdoor crazes that involve "horizontal velocity, height, wheels or sharp edges".

But before you decide to purchase the entire Harry Potter series for your hyperactive child, read on. Researchers said although more book reading might be a useful way to combat childhood accidents but that there might be a downside to less activity. Source: The Australian News

Like eating a Big Mac or munching furiously on Lays potato chips while reading Harry Potter is, not at all, safe. Think about coronary heart diseases, diabetes and high blood pressure.

But still, we ought to give Potter some credit for his magical ability to prevent the children from an incised cut or a greenstick fracture.

8. Nitta Sayuri (aka Zhang ZiYi, or ZiYi Zhang as how she calls herself in the Stataes)

This film apparently proves to the whole world that PRC Chinese are so ignorant. Geishas are NOT prostitutes! They do have sex with their clients, once in a blue moon that is, but that's not their main job. So, please stop assuming that Zhang's role in the movie is a prostitute being riden on by another Japanese actor. After all, it's only another Hollywood blockbuster.

And no, by protesting and marching and making a hell lot of noise on the World Wide Web doesn't show us how nationalistic you are. You are just making a fool of yourself and the entire Chinese population around the world.

7. Kelvin Tan 陈伟联
Our local version of Stevie Wonder! This shows that Singaporeans are not superficial creatures like the Taiwanese. We don't judge anyone by their looks. Credit goes to our meritocratic system, I guess. (Well, not that Kelvin's singing is exceptionally brilliant. It's brilliant, but not exceptionally)

Or, it also shows that Singaporeans are compassionate towards the less-fortunate or the disabled. Who says we are a bunch of cold-blooded creature? There's a glimpse of warmth in Singapore after all.

6. George W. Bush
The man who claims that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).

The same man who launch "Operation of Iraqi Liberation", which coincidentally or ironically has its initials being spelt as "OIL", though Bush has once and again claimed that the purpose of the war to is destroy any WMDs found.

Then, this man changed the objective of the war to: to free the people of Iraq from oppression and autocractic rule. Democracy is to be revived in Iraq but no WMDs was ever retrieved.

Now, my dear Bush has confessed that he received bad intelligence. Oh man, even all mighty hegemonic America can obtain bad intelligence, what about other countries which are supposed to look up to Uncle Sam?

But fret not! Our dear Bush has managed to persuade the people that although bad information was received, the war was still justfiable! We liberated the Iraqi people! Three cheers!

I can't believe America would buy this crap.

5. Katrina
This bitch has screwed the people of New Orleans. Screwed left and right, up and down, and inside out.

Their lives have been turned upside down, metaphorically and literally.

I guess it's the Holy One's answer to Bush misdeeds done all over the world.

So, moral of the story: stop being such a kaypoh in Iraq and sign that damn Kyoto Protocol, little bastard!

4. T.T. Durai
Need I say more?

3. Susan Long
All thanks to this senior journalist that we are now able to know what horrible things Durai has done with our contributions. Bravo, Susan!

2. KPMG
All thanks to this audit firm that we now know in detail how did Durai splurge and squander our money and how he was lavish with extravagance. Only 10% of our donations goes to the needy? That is enough for him to be banished to hell.

1. Mrs Goh Chok Tong
$600,000 salary per year for a man,who runs a charitable organisation that manages millions of dollars, is peanuts?

Mrs. Goh had redefined the meaning of the word "peanuts".

Perhaps she used a different dictionary from normal citizens like you and I.

P.S. T.T. Durai's full name, in case you didn't know, is Thambirajah Tharmadurai, which ironically, means "a charitable man" in Tamil. Source: Wikipedia

圣诞卡片

看到了 Gecko 和 Cockroach 利用了Photoshop制作了与圣诞节有关的图片。

成品还不错，但缺乏了创意。

可以考虑向猪女学习学习。

至于我嘛，其实在这佳节期间，我也亲手制作了圣诞卡片给一些朋友。

身在国外的朋友，我就制作了“电子版”给他们。

只可惜我没有Photoshop的软件，只有Paint.

但还好，出来的效果还不赖。

就很简单啊，搜出同学们的照片，然后用Paint将在照片里的其他人给涂掉，取而代之的是圣诞老人的“人头”。

要不然就依据他们的性格喜好，来量身定做一张属于他们的圣诞卡片。

这个圣诞，我是很满足，很充实的度过。

亲手制作卡片，获得的满足感的确不少。

霎时觉得人活得还蛮实在的。

后记：那些收到我的卡片的朋友，希望你们不会将它在佳节过后随手扔进垃圾袋里，请珍重！因为你们的卡片是独一无二的，世界上只有那么一张，所以纪念价值非常的高哦！

无题

前几天，我根本就不想翻阅报纸。

但习惯终究还会是习惯，改也改变不了。

结果，我后悔了。

满满十几页的报纸都在做有关去年在礼节日（Boxing Day)所发生的南亚大海啸的一周年专题报道。

颓垣断壁，满目疮痍的情景，被派到灾区当地的摄影记者捕捉了下来，任由主编挥霍无度地将这些照片刊登出来。

搞噱头，博宣传的理由固然能够解释为何主编要刊登这么多“催泪弹”，但更大的理由就是要提醒幸福的小红点到过的庶民，要惜福，要大爱，更要懂得居安思危。

照片的确让我加倍地珍惜我目前所拥有的一切。惜福，我是做到了，而且还过火了。

我开始为我所获得的幸福而感到无比地内疚。

天使对我诉说上帝的不公平，说上帝竟然剥夺了这些灾民们的幸福，但却还继续肆无忌惮地赐予我们幸福，一点儿也不担心我们会将这些幸福视为理所当然，身在福中不知福。

但却与此同时，恶魔却叫我自私地不愿将我的幸福与灾民分享。在它的定义里，捐出那些衣物，生活必需品，钱。。。等，都还不算分享幸福，只不过是施舍而已。

真正的分享，就好比将我目前所拥有的一切分一半给他们。

我不愿失去那么多。

结果，我的自私的行为，又再度提醒了我灾民们的困境，再次使我内疚。

就这样，我又把自己困在一个无可自拔的恶性循环里，真难受！

What is Christmas?

Credits to Microsoft Word Clip Art

The Art of Communicating on MSN

Surprise, surprise!

Never would you expect communicating on MSN to be a type of art?

Well, then you are probably one of those wretched and spoilt brats who are totally disdainful and disrespectful of your family, peers, colleagues and friends.

Admit it. How much do you know about netiquette?

Well, my purpose of this entry is not to transform each and every one of you out there into one who is well-mannered and considerate. If that should happen, then it creates a new definition for the word "miracle".

And oh, mircale doesn't exist, by the way.

The following "guidelines" on "How to communicate properly on MSN" is, and will remain as theory, unless you are a cook-book follower who would religiously parrot the following steps in real life.

Of course, having said that, by no means would I suggest impractical ways to communciate properly on MSN. What I mean is, unless you guys put what I've listed down into daily practice, the guide would forever maintain its status quo of being just a theory.

So here we go:

"How to communicate properly on MSN"

Lesson 1: Address the person whom you are speaking to.

It doesn't hurt for you to begin the conversation first by caling the person's name. Or least, say a "hi" or "hey" or something to acknowledge the person. Don't hastily rush into the conversation without acknowledging the person you are conversing with. That's rude.

I mean, in real life, do you just simply rush up to, say, John or Alice, and begin what you want to say? Of course you would say something like, "Hey John, can you pass me the document?", instead of rushing up to John and rudely say, "Pass me the document."

Lesson 2: Avoid using short-forms at all cost.

Okay, maybe not necessarily "at all cost". But the thing is, different people use differen sets of short-forms. There isn't a universally-recognised and universally-accepted set of short-forms. "Btw" can mean "by the way" or "between".

Of course, you can rebutt by saying that then it all depends on the context used, like the word "minute" can mean "one of the 60 parts into which the hour is divided", "an official written record of what is said and decided at a meeting", or something that is "extremely small". (Source: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)However, believe it or not, some people have this difficulty in differentiating the meanings of words or short-forms, with double meanings, used, by looking at at which context is the word used.

So, to avoid unnecessary confusion, don't use short forms, unless they are already included in the English vocabulary, like "don't", "shan't", "won't"...etc.

Lesson 3: Be clear in what you are saying

I think that this point should be applied to, besides conversations on MSN, our daily conversations as well. One example of an unclear statement:

"What's {insert a word or an expression}"

You cracked your brain and flip through dictionaries and encyclopedias to find out the answer only to receive such a reply:

"Eh.. I mean the Chinese translation..."

=.=

You could have state earlier that you wanted a translation, and not the exact definition in English. We are not one of your brain cells, so don't expect us to be able to read your mind.

So, you should say, "Can you please tell me the answer to that riddle you posted on your nickname?"

Another example would be when someone initiates the covnersation with a single word, "What?"

And you'll reply, "What 'what'?"

And then you'll realise he's/she's asking for the answer to that riddle you posted as your MSN nickname.

Or, someone starts off the conversation by asking you, "Huh? What do you mean?"

And you'll reply, "What 'what do you mean?'?"

And then you'll realise you've posted a very profound philosopohical statement on your nickname and that dumbass has no clue as to what does it mean, or how to ask a proper question which properly conveys the message that he wants to convey.

So, you should go something like, "May I ask you what is the meaning of your nickname?"

Lesson 4: Use a better font colour

No, you are not cute when you use sky blue or bright pink as your font colour. It's THE apocalypse of electronic communication. Quit this bad habit. Convert back to black, dark blue or any other dark colours. Red is acceptable as well.

Lesson 5: No CAPS or AlTeRnAte CaPs

Unless it was intetional to show your anger, apologise after you had (accidentally) typed your entrie sentence in caps. People may not take it to heart about this error, but it's always good for you to say sorry. Manners, my dear. Manners!

As for the latter, unless you are purely retarded, DO NOT EVER ATTEMPT IT. [And in case you didn't realise, yes, the caps are done on purpose because doing alternate caps is like so wrong.]People who type in alternate caps should be damned. Period.
Why? Because it is so annoying and it does not portrays anything good about you. Rather, people will think that you are just dumb to go through all the trouble typing in alternate caps.

*****************************************************

That's all I have for now. If you have suggestions, or any other point that you think should be included in this manual, feel free to leave a comment.

Xiaxue (Part 2)

I almost wanted to start linking Xiaxue and publicly declare that I no longer hate her, or to put it in a more politically-correct way, "unable to appreciate her style of writing and any of her humour in her writings (if any, that is)", until I read Miao's entry on her "failure of appreciating XiaXue's works".

It's quite eerie to find that after reading Xiaxue's entries on her "evil twin", on refridgerators, on rich girls VS poor girls, on her everlasting obsession with Mandopop and on the translation of Jay Chou's 《发如雪》, which Miao has kindly pointed out that that was not her original work, you read a critique of all these entries in Miao's blog.

And no, my visit to Xiaxue's blog this time round was not intrigued by Miao's critique to find what exactly had Xiaxue written to incur Miao's displeasure.

It's only after I had read Xiaxue's entries did I begin on Miao's entries.

But I still decide to carry on with this post anyway. I know that being magnanimous and divine, Miao would forgive me. Right, Miao? (*gives her a good pinch on her left lap so that she would agree)

Not that I have now become a huge fan of Xiaxue, but at least I've decided to be more "appreciative" of her style of writing.

The main reason for my change of stand is because I see myself in Xiaxue herself and in her works.

Bitchiness, narcissism, occasional juvenile, and a strong desire to express the inner self, mixed together with a tinge of arrogance and holier-than-thou attitude.

And to top it off like coloured or chocolate rice on ice cream, a pinch of sarcasm.

I can't possibly hate myself, right?

P.S. Miao, before you start hating me, I hope it's some consolation for you to know that I do not like 7-flowers, and probably would not for the rest of my life. I hope that this fact would not let you lose hope in all men in this world. =)

游戏应该是这样玩的

最近，电视寻星比赛如雨后春笋般地接踵而来。先来个Singapore Idol，再来《绝对SuperStar》，到目前还在进行中的《明星偶像》和《超级主持人》，以及战火即将点燃的《非常SuperBand》，类似节目真的太多了。

但是，我今天要发牢骚的主题不是这类节目多到腻死我，而是节目里那群爱哭爱闹，整天哭哭啼啼，哭得死去活来的参赛者。

他们的哭闹才叫我觉得烦！

我真的不明白有什么好哭的？只不过是一名与你一起争夺最后的最高荣耀的参赛者被淘汰出局罢了，又不是丧父丧母。况且，和你竞争的人又少了一个，你不是应该开心才对？

参赛者们在接受主持人的访问时，都说是因为在一起比赛久了，对彼此的认识也熟了，所以才会对于一个朋友的离去而感到依依不舍。

或许真的是这样吧！或许我这个局外人不了在当事人的感受吧！

但是，爱自相矛盾的人类，又想出了这么一句话：“当局者迷，旁观者清”

我觉得既然你参加了比赛，就应该聚精会神，全力以赴地往胜利的方向前进，而不应该让感情误事，耽搁你原本的行程，甚至会害你与迈向目标的道路脱轨。

儿女思情就像乱麻一样，剪不断，理还乱，那当初又何苦让自己陷在一个无法自拔的处境呢？

比赛归比赛，在这竞技场里，只允许一个胜利者的存在，所以当大家都自私地想要当那唯一的胜利者时，就不可以有朋友的存在。

你想要在这竞技场里交朋友的话，你就不可能当那唯一的胜利者；而若你觉得过程比结果重要，当不当胜利者无所谓，最重要是我叫到了朋友，那你来参加这个比赛干嘛？交友时间很容易的事，无需大费周章。况且，你特地来交朋友，对其他真正想要争夺冠军但却落选的参赛者很不公平。你的这种行为，就像是占着茅坑不拉屎只放屁一样，不仅自私，而且还费事费时，事倍功半。

当然，你要交朋友也不是说绝对不可以。只要当 你们下了舞台，当镁光灯的焦点不在你们的身上时，当摄影机不再对着你亮起红灯*，你们还是可以交朋友的。

你在竞争时，就应该抱着一颗很坚决要取得胜利的决心，为你的目标实实在在的奋斗下去。感情这事情，绝对不可以成为你追逐梦想，争取胜利的绊脚石。

就好像Survivor一样，个个参赛者为了胜利，不惜尔虞我诈，明争暗斗，但一旦节目结束了，他们个个都成为最要好的朋友。虽然你可以说尔虞我诈明争暗斗是很不健康地，是一股侵蚀我们文化以及价值观的“西方歪风”，但是从另外一个角度来看，我看到的却是各个参赛者为了胜利而尽了全力。他们这种锲而不舍，全力以赴，竭尽所能的精神是非常值得我们去学习的。况且他们在事后，个个也和好如初，冰释如解，因为他们知道其他人的“恶性”也只不过是其他人追求目标的方式之一，是这场比赛必定会出现/发生的。他们也早已料到这些“恶性”，并且欣然接受这些“恶性”，因为他们晓得这是一场比赛，而胜利者只有一个。

将感情与比赛分得清清楚楚，客观地，理性地做出你的决定，而不让感性的情绪冲昏了头脑，不因为感情误事而盲目的作下会让你后悔莫及的决定，这才是游戏的正确玩法。

可惜，身为东方人的我们，始终还是会让自己陷在一个在传统价值观与个人梦想的追逐之间该如何取舍与平衡的难题里。

我不是在鼓励崇洋媚外，而且要提醒各位朋友，游戏该怎么玩。

洋人的思想未必全都是负面的。与其责怪西方歪风正在侵蚀我们亚洲人传统的思想与文化，为何不检讨为什么我们的思想与文化这么的弱不禁风。

我想，我真的不适合参加这类的寻星比赛，因为阴险狡猾，诡计多端的我会为了达到目标，而竭尽所能，不择手段，不断地尔虞我诈。到时，新加坡人又要开始吐我的槽了。

Photo Booth

苏打绿

终于买到了苏打绿的专辑。

整个团的感觉就好像是中文版的The Cranberries. Dreamy dreamy的感觉。

懒懒散散的旋律，非常适合在悠哉闲哉的下午或者在感性的夜晚里聆听。

听了会让你觉得轻飘飘的。

你要把他们的音乐当成催眠曲来伴你入眠也行，要让他们的音乐激起沉淀在你心里最深处的回忆也罢。

包裹着这张专辑的，是一份感性。

在这个物欲横流的世代里，唱片经常被一层又一层花枝招展，五花八门的装饰，来掩饰该唱片不足或者缺乏的地方，比如音乐的品质以及歌手的实力。

又或者，该音乐人所制作出来的音乐品质佳，而诠释这些歌曲的歌手也实力非凡，但为了要满足这市场庸俗的需求，不得不牺牲下里巴人的我们所不懂得欣赏的品质，改用品质粗糙但又华丽花俏的作品来填满专辑。

裹着色彩鲜艳夺目的糖衣的糖果，未必就好吃。

这张专辑颠覆了这圈子一向来的作风，苏打绿走的方向和路线，跟陈绮贞和范晓萱的一样，尽管不太符合主流市场的需求，却依然我行我素地做他们的音乐，坚持音乐的品质。

我在这张专辑里听见了音乐的本质，你呢？

评分：8.5 / 10

Second Chance

1. If I had a chance to re-live again, I would still choose to be a Singaporean.

Reason: I can't bear to get out of this comfort zone. Yeah, I am a spoilt brat, 草莓族 is what Taiwanese would describe people like me. Slap me if you can!

2. If I really had to change my nationality, I would probably go for Japanese or Taiwanese.

Reason: Taiwanese and Japanese people are so good-looking. I am unsatisfied with my present looks, so I wish I can relive my life as a good-looking guy. Melon-sized biceps and washboard abs are not necessary, although I won't reject them if The One decides to let me possess them.

Plus, Japan's and Taiwan's fashion trend is so much better than Singapore's. It is practically impossible for Singaporeans to dress like the Taiwanese or Japanese because of the climate here. Unless you have gone bonkers, we Singaporeans would probably stick with one-layer clothing like T-shirt rather than multi-layered clothing, which, although looks fantastic and gorgerous, will make people like us living in the tropics sweat as if we have never sweat before.

3. If I had a chance to re-live again, I would still choose to be a male.

Reason: besides the fact that I am a male chauvinist, I also think that women are too vulnerable to a lot of things. For instance they generally have less power and authority than men, and they have to constantly protect themselves from being violated.

Also, women are too emotional, which so turns me off, and they have to go through pregnancy. Seriously, I do not think that I will have the guts to give birth to a baby. Or have some men inserting their sex organ into mine. I heard that sexaul intercourse is, although enjoyable for men, painful for women.

4. If I had a chance to re-choose my school, I would probably choose some "ang-moh" school like Raffies Institution or Anglo-Chinese School.

Reason: I've been thinking about this question throughout my entire life with Chinese High. What would I have been like now had I opted for a different institution after PSLE? I have nothing against my current school, just that i want to experience a different type of culture and environment throughout my secondary school years.

5. If I had a chance to re-choose my CCA, I'll probably choose some sports group.

Reason: Of course, genes do play a part. But suppose my genes are in favour of this change right now, I would definitely not want to be so "scholarly", like who I am right now. I guess being "sporty" should be quite fun as well.

感谢词

不知不觉，活着活着，我在人世间已活了16年的时间，很快的就要步入我人生的第17个年头。看似已经活了很久，其实不然。我只不过过了我1/5的人生，还有其余的4/5等着我去度过，去发现，去体会。

且慢！

在我们大摇大摆地迈向另一个年头，让我们停下脚步，回顾这16年来所有的点点滴滴。

然而，在我们反省自己的同时，我们是否有注意到在我们生命的某些阶段里所出现并且在当下给予你所需要的帮助的贵人呢？

此则文章就献给在我活到今天的16年来所出现在我生命里的那些贵人吧！

当然，我的感谢词不会像《红星大奖》的得奖者那般的千篇一律，所以以下的名单自然而然地就会漏掉父母亲的名字，原因在于他们给予我的付出与努力，我时时刻刻都心存感激，无需等到一个像今天这样特别的一天才来说“谢谢”。

贵人一：韩老师

韩老师是我小三至小六的华文老师。曾经获得“模范华文老师奖”的韩老师，还被学生向记者爆料说她有着“母老虎”这外号，原因在于韩老师是一名非常凶的老师。

难听一点就叫做“凶”，官方一点的说法则是“教书严厉”。

的确，她是凶了一点，但我不得不承认她确实也是“教书严厉”。所谓严师出高徒，没有韩老师，我的华文基础就不可能打得这么巩固，说不定我的中文程度也就不会有现在这么好。

不瞒你说，虽然韩老师是严厉了一点，但是我却不曾在她的华文课成为“受害者”。我可以说是韩老师最喜欢的学生之一，但我可不是靠贿赂或拍老师的马屁来换取在她的华文课的“地位”，我可是凭着自己的实力来换的她对于我的肯定。成为韩老师的pet student所得到的“优惠”包括：作文满分为40分常拿到最起码36分的高分，周记以及写回响也常拿到A的等级，上课时不会被指没有用心听讲。。。

当然，班上不止我一个是韩老师的“心肝宝贝”，还有多2，3个，只不过我是唯一一个成为她的pet student的男生。

除了韩老师在上课时所授予我的“特权”，让我在上华文课时无需像其他同学那般心惊胆战地度过每一节华文课，让我更加地喜欢这门科目，也让我的华文基础从此根深蒂固，也因为受到热衷于华文教育的韩老师的影响，我选读了华侨中学。要不是她在旁一直告诉我选读华中的好以及选读R学府的不好，我或许就成为了还需要考O水准的学生之一，得饱受不少疲劳轰炸以及排山倒海而来的压力之苦。

真的，若不是因为韩老师，今天的我或许就不存在。。。


贵人二：张珍珠老师Mrs Teo Chin Chew

张老师是我中二时的科学老师。中一时的我，科学成绩差强人意，原因或多或少在于我所遇到的老师，因为他的怠惰，结果上梁不正下梁歪，我对这门科目的态度也相对的怠慢了，不屑，不管，不理会，成绩出炉时我当然是心灰意冷，就这样我便陷入了一个无法让我自拔的恶性循环里，永不超生。

张老师的出现，好比天使下凡要帮我超度一样。她教书之认真，可以说是无人能比。她固然也是一名“教书严厉”的老师，而且还“恶名照章”，全校无人不晓张老师的要求可以有多苛刻。你可以说她古板，但是若她不古板，又怎能instil discipline amongst us? 若不是她的古板，我们恐怕还是像一群野惯了的野狗一样，不会安安静静，规规矩矩地坐下来念书。

有了张老师的教导和从旁的启迪，我方可重拾对科学这门科目的信心与兴趣，成绩也有了非常显著的进步。也就因为这样，我的科学基础也大得挺不错的，而这也造就了我日后在科学这方面的成就。

贵人三： 学校的“面摊”

曾经被学长在早报上批评卫生水平欠佳的这摊卖“潮州面食”的，虽然所卖的食物也不是很好吃，但是就是因为食物不好吃，卫生水平低，才会导致这摊成为了食堂里最没有学生光顾的摊位之一。所以，正当其他的摊位前排着一条只见头不见尾的人龙时，我很多时候为了贪图方便就选择了光顾这一摊。其实，不仅仅只是为了方便，有时候我是心存着半可怜经营这摊的那对老夫妇，所以才会要光顾他们的摊位。

其实，对我而言，他们所卖的食物还能入口啦，如果蔡依林来到我的学校，她一定会喜欢这一摊的食物。因为蔡依林会“睁一只眼，闭一只眼”。

尽管面摊的名声实在是丢进了我们潮州人的脸，但自己人还是要帮一帮自己人，我们潮州人还是有一句话：“不嫌不错，要嫌的话就像屎！”

Mai Hiam Buay Pai, Ai Hiam Kenna Sai!

“青菜”一点吧！

贵人四：面摊隔壁的鸡饭摊

状况与面摊一样，卫生条件欠佳，甚至还比面摊的还糟糕，而且所卖的食物只要你愿意睁一只眼，闭一只眼，其实是很好吃的！这摊不只卖鸡饭，还买一些三明治以及汉堡包，还有一些炒面，炒米粉什么的。

糊涂的摊主，不仅仅常常用带着手套的那只手收钱找钱以及处理食物，还常常找错钱。你给他10块钱，她找回你12元。你说奇怪不奇怪？

当然，我为什么要感谢这一摊呢？因为跟面摊一样，这摊的顾客群少之又少，所以你要在最短的时间内买到食物，不想饿着肚皮一副可怜兮兮的窘样跟一大群饿鬼排着队的话，欢迎光临鸡饭摊（或者面摊）！

因为有了面摊以及鸡饭摊的存在，我才可以将不用排队所省下来的时间拿来做其他的事情，比如：赶功课，温习测验，完成专题作业所需的实验。。。等

所以，要不是有了面摊和鸡饭摊，我或许得饿着肚子完成作业，又或者得抱着一颗愧疚的心，冒着来不及做完功课的危险去填饱肚子!

因此，没有了他们，我的成绩也许就不会像今天这样的好！

贵人五：实验室里的Mdm Lim

我在过去的两年里的专题作业，要不是Mdm Lim从旁给予我们所需要的帮助和支援，我们的专题作业恐怕也不会有今天骄人的成绩。Mdm Lim真的棒了我们不少的忙，不仅仅是帮我们准备和定购我们所需的一些材料，还得叫我们如何使用实验室里价值不菲的仪器，而且她一有空，就会帮我们做实验，尽管我们有时是大可“自己来”的。

我们专题作业的成功，有一半的功劳真的是归功于Mdm Lim！

其实，该谢的人不仅如此而已，还有很多很多，恕不尽录！

我就在此衷心地感谢那些曾经助我一臂之力的人们，但愿大家好心有好报!

谢谢！

Bored

I am beginning to miss school already.

Chee Yang

Congratulations to Chee Yang!!!

He has made it to the finals of Campus Superstar!! Which means, we get to call and vote for him!!

You can access some of his exclusive recordings and live performances in school here!!

How to contact Santa Claus?

Well, unless Santa has picked up the city dwellers' habit of changing home and e-mail address every now and then and as and when he likes, you can reach Santa Claus at the following addresses:

Santa's Post Office FIN-96930, Arctic Circle Finland

Alternatively, you can e-mail him at:

santa.claus@santaclausoffice.fi

Special Report: Are Singaporeans really bilingual?

Note: Click on the picture for a larger view.

Advertisement number 1, right at the top:

“本公司拥有多种款式和多种颜色让您选择。”

评语：请问，你在卖你的公司吗？你有那么多公司可以卖啊？

"We Handles all your Aluminium Windows and Doors with a Personal Touch....Various design & colour for your choice. We also Provide Repair or Service"

Comments:

1. It should be "we handle". "We" is a plural term, so no "s" after a verb.

2. It should be "various designs and colours". Since you've said "various", then it means that there are many designs and colours available, so you need to add the "s".

3. "We also Provide Repair or Service"?? Awkward phrasing... Any good suggestion to correct this?

4. Apparently the author of this advertisement has difficulty not only in basic grammar, but also in differentiating the lower case from upper case. Words only begin with a captial letter only when they are the first word of a sentence, which means they only appear after a full stop, which marks the end of the previous sentence. Of course, there are exceptions, but in this case, the errors committed do not fall into this category.


Advertisement number 2, the middle one :

Passion: 激情

Comments: Erm, hello?!?! You are a music school, not some brothel from Holland's red light district! So, are you implying that you spent so much money to hire this professional teacher from China to provide sex to your customers? One of the most ridiculous translation I've ever seen! The correct term to use, by the way, is: 热诚。

"激情" means passion, but in a sexual way.


Advertisement number 3, the bottom one:

“顾客年龄必须满18岁以上并协带身份证。。。”

评语1：说“满18岁”就够了，加上“以上”一词，显得画蛇添足。

评语2：“携带”不可写成“协带”。

"Advertising -- TV .... 广告--电视机"

评语：你的广告的主题是有关于电视机吗？ 你不是房地产经纪吗？干吗打起电视机的广告？ 正确的写法应该是：“电视广告”。很多时候要翻译，不可以直接用英文的文法翻成中文，因为这样的翻译结果只会让人啼笑皆非！

"We are looking for a flat to be near parents.... 刚卖掉我们的屋子。。。”

Commnts: Awkward. For correct English phrasing, refer to the other advertisement below this one.

评语：传单里的"卖" 字写错了，要写繁体字也不是这样写， 请注意！

"正急着寻找单位靠近父母。。。”

评语：又是一起直接从英文翻译所造成的文句不通顺的例子。正确写法应该是：“正急着寻找靠近父母的（住家）单位。”






Comments: And we can't spell "mushroom"




Comments: I didn't know that beef has root. It's beetroot, my dear.


To top it off, these two spelling errors are committed by a supermarket near Lorong Ah Soo, Hougang.

Of course, to err is human. So being divine, I shall forgive all of them.

The conclusion of this report: We still cannot proclaim ourselves to be bilingual yet. We are still making errors and mistakes in our spelling and basic grammar that only primary school children would commit. It's embarassing that most of our citizens undergo an average of 10 years of bilingual education and yet we are proficient in neither languages.

Perhaps we ought to be less ambitious and focus and devote all our energy to learning only one language. It's always better to be a master of something than be the Jack of all trades.

THE NEXT 50 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS BLOGGER

Okay, i have been "tagged" by Joy and Chris to do some 5 random facts about myself. But as I mentioned before, I won't do only5. I'll do 50. So, here's my promise:

1. If you are observant enough, you'll notice that one of my favourite action is to touch my elbows. I've been doing it since I've realised my existence.

2. I like it when my elbows are cold. Not necessarily freezing cold, but they have to be cold.

3. I've grown taller. I'm officially 172 cm tall!

4. The numerical value for my height in centimetres is the same as my I.Q. points!

5. I hate LianHe ZaoBao. No, not that I'm beginning to despise the Chinese language (I still love it as ever), it's just that LianHe ZaoBao is a piece of crap paper.

6. The Straits Times and The Sunday Times are like 76328492943731 times better than ZaoBao.

7. My favourite gadget during this December holidays: GameBoy Colour

8. My favourite games this December holidays: Super Mario Land, Yahoo! Graffiti and Literati

9. Which means half of my teenagehood is squandered without touching Starcraft, Counterstrike, Warcraft III, Halo 2, and Maple Story.

10. Like *** **, I do cough at times when I do not suffer from a cough. There are only three occasions (apart from being ill) that I would cough: a) When I am damn nervous (and I mean, damn nervous), b) When I am bloated after a heavy meal, and c) When I am in a noisy environment (like arcade).

11. My favourite reality T.V. shows this december holidays: Survivor Guatemala: The Maya Empire, The Amazing Race: Family Edition, and Trading Spouses.

12. My favourite news programme: 中天频道《文茜的世界周报》

13. In my opinion, Nguyen, the Australian drug trafficker, should be hanged.

14. I enjoy reading the Review, Commentaries, and the World section of The Straits Times

15. Favourite comics this December holidays: Foxtrot, Stone Soup, Baby Blues and Bizarro.

16. I am still unsatisfied with my height.

17. Spectacles and myopia first interuppted my life only when I started my primary 5 year.

18. I donated my Lower Secondary Science textbooks, Sec 1 and Sec 2 Maths textbook, all my Ten Years' Series except Additional Maths and Chemistry, some Revision for O Levels assessment book on History, both my Sec 3 and Sec 4 Social Studies textbook and some miscellanous books to NTUC. Apparently, NTUC is collecting used textbook to give out to ppor families who cannot afford them.

Digression here: CAN I PLEASE HEREBY APPEAL TO ALL OF YOU TO DONATE GENEROUSLY TO NTUC? They are 30% short of reaching their target. You can make your contributions by leaving your textbooks with any one of the NTUC staffs at any outlet. Thank You.

19. I demand everyone one of you to give me a Christmas gift. It MUST be a tangible.

20. I cannot stand girls who are too 娇滴滴.

21. I like girls who are a little bit bitchy, intelligent, bold, dare to express herself, like Dee Hsu 徐熙娣 and 阿雅

22. Miss Mok sent me a "Thank You" card. I'm so touched!

23. I think that all late-comers should be damned.

24. I think that all smokers should also be damned.

25. I must be crazy to join Campus Superstar.

26. My mum hates worms. My dad hates cockroaches. I inherited both of their genes.

27. I take in a dose of vitamin C every other day, or when I am about to go to some places where there is a lot of crowd.

28. If I were ever tochange my sex, it's probably because being a female allows me to buy those Hermes bag. :P but rest assured that I still prefer being a male.

29. If I were to re-live my life, I would still opt to be a Singaporean.

30. And of course, I love to stand up peeing, so give me the X and Y chromosomes.

31. I love my scanner

32. I love Singapore.

33. Believe it or not, I actually enjoyed Discovery Channel's "The History of Singapore", albeit it has some errors here and there.

34. In my opinion, the Ministry of Education should stop printing those boring textbooks for History and Social Studies students. The better students know that all these are just propaganda. We need a third-party source, like Discovery Channel, to give us another (balanced)insight of certain issues once taught to the students in only one way. We need to be equipped with a broader perspective in this globalised world in order to survive.

35. Christmas is coming, and I haven't bought Madonna's Confession On A Dancefloor yet. *hint hint

36. I don't read Harry Potter. At all.

37. Neither do I read Mr. Miyagi's or Mr Brown's blog.

38. I do pop by at Xiaxue's though...

39. I love cats. I really love them. They are always so adorable, aren't they? Chinchillas are a close second.

40. I am usually a very chatty person. Be in face-to-face or online. Most of the time, I'm the one who initiates conversation.

41. But, I prefer to be alone when I am on a bus. Don't ask me why, I am still thinking why is this so. So, try not to talk to me when i am on a bus, or I will be very annoyed. i guess it's the passing scenery that catches most of my attention.

42. Xiao Tian misses laksa. I am sick of laksa already!

43. I love Chemistry and Geography. And of course, Chinese

44. Out of all the T.V. competitions (quiz shows excluded), I think I will have the highest chance in winning (or making it into the finals, just not to be too confident) Super Host.

45. I am now a Windows user! I've switched from Mac to PC.

46. But I still use iTunes for my MP3 and my lust after iPod never extinguishes.

47. I want a digital camera. FYI, Christmas is coming. *hint hint

48. I don't drink wine or beer, or any alcoholic drinks. I just simply cannot stand the taste of fermentation (except bread though...). I mean, it's either bitter or sour, what's so tasty about it? I'll stick with my sweet fruit punch.

49. I don't wish to die so soon. Maybe only after I've visited all the countries in my wish list, and after I had rode on a hot-air balloon and bungeed.

50. I spent nearly 90 minutes cracking my brains to write all these stuff.

SEA Games (Part 2)

(Click on the picture for a larger view)

Yes, Singapore won 42 gold medals here in the Philippines, the biggest haul from an away SEA Games....

But, before we start analysingSingapore's successes and failures in medal terms, let us first salute the true spirit of the Games as epitomised by the three girls (Nicole Tay [gymnastics], Deng Ying Zhi [Wushu] and Koh Sock Hwee [Golf])above.

In a race, there can be only one winner. But the others are not losers -- so long as they have fought the good fight.

It is sad, but the Singapore sports mentality is attuned to "Show me the medals".

-- As quoted from The Straits Times (Monday, December 5, 2005), Sports, pg H10, "Young ones worth more than 42 golds", written by sports editor Tay Cheng Khoon.




(Click on the picture for a larger view)


Now, to depict to you, literally, the exact meaning of "irony at its best", click on the above picture. It's from the same source, on the same issue of The Straits Times, as the article on "Young ones worth more than 42 golds"

To top it off, this article is carefully and strategically positioned next to Tay's article.

What a great job done by ST's editor to show us what is meant by "irony".

While Tay feels sad about the Singapore sports mentality being attuned to "Show me the medals", his boss/colleague/or whoever in the position of rating the athlete's performance in the SEA Games think(s) otherwise.

The more gold medals you bring back to this tiny island nation, the more points you'll get.

Too bad for sports like soccer, sepak takraw and even silat and bowling. Success is, according to The Straits Times, determined by the number of gold medals you bring back home from the SEA Games.

Who cares about other international competition you've participated before?

If my memory serves me well, we have 2 silat world champions. And did Jasmine Ho win the ESPN Masters' Series for bowling? It's either her or someone else. My memory is bad, so I am not 100% sure about that. Perhaps not a champion, but I'm positive that our bowlers are certainly of a world-class standard.

Oops, I shouldn't have pitied these sports. Afterall, they are not THAT pitiful. There are many other sports which deserve our condolences more than they do. Because The Straits Times think that they shouldn't even in Manila at all.

Tsk tsk. The karate team, the lawn bowls team, the dragonboat team, you guys have wasted out taxpayers' money! That's so wrong of you!

I am disappointed by The Straits Times.

SEA Games (Part 1)

I have to admit. I love Singapore

I heart Singapore.

I <3 Singapore.

Despite the fact that I remain skeptical over the government's intentions of giving us the "Singapore Shares" and the opening of buangkok MRT station.

Despite the fact that I often only lip-sing during each and every morning flag-raising assembly when the military band in the field starts the play the scared song, known as "Majulah Singapura". (Reasons being for my refusal to sing/defiance are probably that 早上的我还来不及“开嗓”, everybody around me [except for a few patriotic ones] don't sing, so with that, if I sing, I may be "outcasted", or perhaps just because I am too lazy.)

Despite the fact I cannot stand the government frequent planting of more ERP gantries, frequent increase of bus fares, and the frequent increase of utility bills.

Despite the fact that buses in Singapore take an average of 375 years to arrive.

Despite the fact that I feel that there are 1,001 other bad things about this tiny island nation and that I really hope to migrate to some other countries when I grow up.

I still love Singapore.

When some unknown silat and karate exponents got disqualified, I felt a pinch in my heart.

When our "Young Lions" got thrashed yet again, my heart felt the pinch again.

When our badminton team couldn't advance further anymore in the Games, "Ouch," said my heart.

But, when our water polo team managed to defend their title of the "Champion of the Suth-East Asian Water Polo Arena", I was delighted.

When Joseclin Yeo successfully brought in more medals to our haul, my heart literally and metaphorically jumped -- up for joy, that is.

When our table-tennis team clinched the gold medals, my heart was beaming from ear to ear (that is, if my heart ever has ears)

Even when our athletes didn't bring back Gold medals, I was equally pleased and happy for them when they managed to bring back SIlvers or Bronzes.

My heart was cheering for them. But nothing came out from my mouth.

Shy? Too conservative to let my expressions flow freely? Stubborn to accept the fact that deep down in my heart, I still love Singapore?

I don't know.

But whatever the case is, well done, Team Singapore!

THE AMAZING FANTASY RACE

You've seen it on TV, but have you read it on a blog before?

Presenting to you the all-new "THE AMAZING FANTASY RACE"!!!

11 teams of 2, bound by friendship, love, or family, will embark on a race around the world

They have no idea where they are are going, what dangers they may encounter, or how the race will affect their lives.

Most of the teams will be eliminated, but the team that crosses the finishing line first, will win a cash prize of SGD $1,000,000.00!!

Meet the eleven teams now!

A new episode will be updated every 3 to 5 days, so stay tuned!