On love

Loving someone means taking the risk that they might fuck up your nicely ordered little life

From "A Spot of Bother" by Mark Haddon

VSEPR Theory on Human Interaction

The basic principle of the Valence Shell Eelctron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory is that electron groups around a central atom locate themselves as far away from each other as possible to minimise electronic repulsions.

I guess human beings, being made up on millions of atoms, which in turn have got dozens of electrons hovering around it, do take on the characteristics of their very own atoms and electrons that make up them.

Take MRT passengers for instance. Usually when people are choosing seats, they tend to locate themselves as far away from the next passenger as possible, unless the other party is their friend. Hence, you can always see this interesting sight of alternating seats being occupied on a single row of seats on a MRT carriage,like the folowing illustration ('X' represents an occupied seat, while '_' indicates an empty seat).

X _ X _ X _ X _ X

Even when people board the bus, their choice of seats are also governed by the VSEPR Theory. People will always choose to occupy seats (can be aisle seats or window seats), which the seat next to their choice is empty, so as to locate themselves as far away from strangers as possible.

As much as the electrons choose to locate themselves as far away from each other as possible to minimise electronic repulsion, I guess the same theory can be applied to human behaviour. In human civilisation there has always been a sense of self and in turn, a need for "personal space".

There is some speculation that the human need for personal space stems from evolutionary sources. The theory goes that the introduction of unknown and potentially dangerous objects or entities into the space immediately surrounding a soft, shell-less human triggers a desire to run away...

Personal space may also stem from the animalistic behaviour known as 'staking territory'. Most animals will claim territory using scent glands or urinating, as demonstrated by dogs upon trees, lampposts, fire hydrants or mailmen. Humans however, due to social constraints, have a more difficult time of it. With little or no concept of territoriality or territorial behaviour, humans may tend to move randomly from one place or another with no place to call home.

-- Source: BBC h2g2

Our concept of personal space is probably defined as possessing enough space (the exact amount to be determined by every individual according to their own needs) to engage in activities of our own world. Hence, just like how electrons will repel each other when they come too close to each other, human beings "with little or no concept of territoriality or territorial behaviour", will "repel" too when they feel that their personal space is invaded, and hence on public transport they will occupy seats that will locate them as far from other strangers as possible.

Yet, the interesting thing is that we seem to have a mutual consensus on personal space. We would not like to have our personal space invaded, and we also would know not to invade the personal space of others, hence usually it is those who have not gotten themselves a seat will let the VSEPR Theory govern their choice and choose to locate themselves as far away from other strangers as possible, and not those who are already seated to relocate themselves. With little or no concept of territoriality or territorial behaviour, humans may tend to move randomly from one place or another

And the most interesting thing is, we know when to make compromises. Just like how bond angles will become smaller when the molecule has got more lone pairs, in a crowded situation human beings will also make that compromise and reduce their personal space accordingly to accomodate the personal spaces of others (of course there are always exceptions as can be clearly illustrated by those inconsiderate bastards who insist on occupying two seats for their own comfort despite the rush-hour commuter-flow.)

For me, I am someone who value my personal space a lot. I yearn for freedom. That's why I don't appreciate it when salesmen or salewomen come up to me to ask if I need any form of assistance, because I prefer to do my shopping and selection at peace and would only want help when I need it. That's why IKEA's service (or the lack of it) is preferred (though I seldom shop there because IKEA does no cater to my needs).

That's why I do not like it when there's someone who is walking closely behind me. In such cases, VSEPR Theory comes into action and I would accelerate to locate myself as far from that person as possible. I don't know if it's just me or what, but don't you find it annoying when there is someone, who does not harbour any ill intentions, who is walking very closely behind you and at the same walking speed, making matters worse (which means that he will be following closely behind your back throughout)?

Haha.. basically this entire entry is just to vent out my annoyances of other people invading into my personal space by walking so closely behind me. And I get to revise a bit of Chemistry at the same time.

Scholarships

My choice (in no order of preference):

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2. Singapore Press Holdings
3. Mediacorp

But there is no information made available on scholarships offered by Mediacorp! =(

Block Test 2 Results

2007 Block Test 2 Results:


2007 Block Test 1 Results:


Due to technical glitches, my ranks and percentile for each subject for my Block Test 1 are not available.

In any case, I've made slight improvement for General Paper, Chemistry and Chinese Literature for Block Test 2 as compared to Block Test 1. I am especially proud of my Chemistry, for the paper is exceptionally challenging. A little disappointed with my Chinese Literature grades for I studied very hard for it this time round, and the paper, in my opinion, is very much easier than expected, and yet I miss scoring an A by one percent.

As for Maths, hmmm.. I can only say serves me right? I gave up on vectors and only started complex number the day before. But at the same time I am disappointed with my poor performance is other areas despite the fact that I've allocated about 2 weeks of my June holidays to my revision of Mathematics. Statistics was disappointing because I forgot all my calculator keystrokes during the actual examination! =(

General Paper is well-done I guess. Scoring 7.5/8 for summary is an excellent job and 3.5/8 for AQ is about twice my usual score. Haha. And I did miraculously good for my essay, considering the fact that for the 2nd consecutive time, no question on environmental issues (my forte) was set. Considering the fact I am the 88th percentile for GP, I can only feel contented. =)

Geography was well-done, I would say, given the fact that I have no idea what most of the questions were really asking for. And I am still a little pissed that I saw the list wrongly!! I thought I topped my class!!! But the online result slip clearly states that I am 3rd in class!! RAWR!!! But I am still proud of my only A anyways... if only Miss Chua Mui Teck is willing to give my Chinese essay one more mark, then I would have two As! =)

Commando

You are hereby required under the Enlistment Act (Chapter 93) to report for Vocation Assessment on 07/08/2007 at 7:30AM. Transport areprovided to and fro from Pasir Ris MRT station (Outside McDonald's at Whitesand Shopping Centre)

The vocational Assessment will take about 6 hours to complete the following stages:
a. Psychology Assessment
b. Physical Fitness Assessment
c. Medical Screening
d. Interview

Note: Any person within or outside Singapore who fails to comply with this Notice shall be guilty of an offence under the Enlistment Act (Chapter 93) and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or tom imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

That's right. I've confirmed with Yen Shan, whose aunt is a Major in MINDEF. The above-mentioned Assessment is a selection test for Commandoes.

And apparently, according to Yen Shan's aunt, I have an 80% chance of entering.

Fail NAPFA to get out of it? No, because NAPFA failures can also be admitted into Commando because they believe that physcial fitness can be trained while mental intelligence cannot.

My mum is now all set and ready to get my Dad to write in an appeal letter to RADM Teo Chee Hean, Minister of Defence, for I am their only child and my mother is way above 35, way above the ideal age for a woman to conceive and give birth.

The only incentive I can think of if I get into Commando is that I can boast to those alpha-males out there who are desperate to get into Commando to show off their "manly-ness", making them green with eny and jealousy. =)

It's brain over brawn, you stupid Muscle Moron! =)

Block Test 2 General Paper

Question: To what extent can a close study of the past accurately predict the future?

Human beings are, arguably, the most inquisitive creatures on the planet. We just simply cannot resist the urge to explore terrains and landscapes, to eavesdrop on people's conversations or to examine the behaviours of molecules and atoms. Each of us, being unique and different from each other, are curious to find out more in different areas. But one particular are unites all of us -- the future. We never fail to be mesmerized and marvelled by the future since time immemorial. This mysterious object has enticed people across continents and countries, race and religion to come up with ways to, apprehensively yet inquisitively, unravel its mystery, one of which is through a close study of the past to, hopefully, identify some patterns or unique traits among the cases studied to predict the future. However, one does not always benefit from hindsight and just like the "golden rule" in Science, extrapolation is hardly accurate or conclusive.

Proponents of the above method to predict the future more often than not cite the phrase "the benefit of hindsight" to support their claim that a close study of the past can accurately predict the future. They believe that examining occurrences in the past in detail would allow us to spot common characteristics or identify obvious patterns, which can then be used to predict the future. Indeed, past events and experiences can be used, especially in meteorology and geology, to extrapolate into the future. By detailed inspection of the behaviour of the El Nino and the La Nina phenomena, meteorologists are able to predict the weather changes and patterns for tropical countries across the globe, and thus issuing relevant warnings for people who are at risk of being caught in a torrentious typhoon or a ferocious flood. Geologists were also able to come up with a time frame for when the IstanBul earthquake would happen in 1999 after they discovered that the epicentres for earthquakes in Turkey over the past century had been advancing in a north-eastern direction and these earthquakes occurred periodically with common intervals between each occurrence.

Yet, the above-mentioned events are merely isolated cases. (Comments: even the meteorological one?) Thus far, a majority of weather changes and movements of the tectonic plates remain unpredictable. More of than not, we complain about the inaccurate weather forecast for causing us to be caught in an unexpected downpour. Cases of false alarms are often reported in the news when the relevant institutions issued out inaccurate predictions for an "approaching" tidal wave. Furthermore, the study of patterns can only be used to explain scientific phenomena, but what about the human behaviour?

If you take a close look at the leaders of every nation, you would hardly be able to come up with a conclusive statement to predict whether or not Hilary Clinton will become America's first female President. Nor can you predict whether or not the son of current Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long will follow his father's footsteps to continue the legacy of the Lee family in leading Singapore towards greater heights. Moreover, a close look at all the Prime Ministers of Britain would show no concrete evidence indicating that Margaret Thatcher would become Britain's first female Prime Minister, for throughout the few hundred years of Britain's history, only men became the Prime Minister for the nation. Hence, the studying of the past is not accurate in predicting the future leaders. (Comments: What are you looking at exactly? The gender? Characteristics? Why can't we predict the leaders?)

Examine World War Two now. When World War One ended, certainly no one would have expected another war of such a massive scale would occur less than twenty years down the road. Scholars at that time probably would have analysed the causes of World War One, but they certainly did not identify the factor that would trigger the outbreak of a second global war. Had a close study of World War One been useful, they would have accurately predicted that World War Two would occur and perhaps there would be less blooshed then, less grievances now. Besides, if one studied the occurrences of the two world wars, one would have predicted that a third global war would take place twenty years after the second, since there is a twenty-year time interval between the first and the second. Yet, there was no global war twenty years after World War Two during the 1960s, hence a close study of the past is inconclusive to determine exactly when a next global war would happen, and thus far, no one on this planet (unless one possess supernatural forces, whose ability I am dubious about) can confidently announce to the world when World War Three will occur, or if it will in the first place.

Economics is the study of human behaviour when it comes to trading. The father of Economics, Adam Smith, had spent years of his life studying how people responded accordingly to market changes in his attempt to come up with models that would allow people to predict the outcomes of various market changes. He did propose several models eventually, but upon a detailed examination, one would spot that Smith's proposals are highly idealised and impractical in the forecast of outcomes of market changes in this complex world. As such, his models lose credibility as well as accuracy despite his close study of numerous events and occurrences in the past. Arguably, Smith's proposal allow people to predict the future, but on the assumptions that the human society is simplistic and that all things are equal, ceterus paribus. With all these limitations, how can one then accurately predict the future outcomes of market changes in this complex world?

Bringing this issue to a microscopic level, students taking the Cambridge 'O'-Levels and 'A'-Levels Examinations in Singapore, more often than not, attempt to "spot" questions by observing the trends of past-year papers. They do so through identifying a common trend in the type of questions being asked, or through eliminating the type of questions that were asked previously, all to predict the types of questions that may appear in their upcoming examinations. However, the two methods of "spotting questions" contradict each other and one certainly would not be able to allow both schools of thought to co-exist harmoniously in one's mind. As such, one of the methods must be inaccurate. Yet, both methods were developed based on detailed studies done on past-year questions and it is indeed ironic that two vastly different and opposing methods can be proposed based on a common action. Students belonging to neither schools of thought find both methods useful, but only to a very limited extent since only a few questions can be predicted using either ways. As such, how can there be a way to accurately predict future questions in examinations based on a close study of past-year questions? With two contrasting methods emerging, it shows that there is no one accurate method of predicitng the future.

In conclusion, a close study of the past may be helpful, but certainly to a limited and small extent. People, perhaps, can at most use past events or experiences as a guide or reference, but certainly we cannot rely on them totally. SHould we wish to extrapolate into the future based on studies of the past, restrictions and assumptions would have to be imposed and this lowers the credibility and accuracy of the method significantly.

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

Score:
Content: 19/30
Language: 14/20
Total: 33/50

Tutor's Comments: Terence, you started out quite brilliantly but you seemed to have digressed slightly towards the end. You also tend to focus more on the examples than the argument. In fact, at times, I cannot find an argument in your paragraph that answers the question! Please refrain from committing these mistakes again!

The Aquarius Man

Hot-hearted man who likes to do thing his way. He can suddenly decide to do
something without thinking of it's outcome. He is the type of guy with an
inside energizer, so if you fall in love with this type of guy be "patient",
even if you have to follow him a bit. His creative mind could create
fantastic idea any time. If you do not understand or cannot follow him, you
won't be with him for long.

A man in this Zodiac will less likely to have a pale skin, and if he has a
scar, it would be on his face or on his head. He moves very fast and very
energetic, and he has a lot of self confidence in himself. He is not the type who sits down and feels sorry or regret anything for long, especially with
"Love". He loves justice. He dares to show his opinion or even argue about
certain subject even if he knows it might bring him problems. A straight
forward guy.

He hardly lies except if he thinks it is necessary and he is not a good liar
anyway. He will not lie to you about serious matter, but if he lies he will
lie only a small little thing. He is gifted with the ability to be a very
social person. He could talk even about subject that he has no knowledge of.
He interests only at the present time and looks at the world positively. Many times he feels hurt because of reality, but he will not run away and he will
overcome that difficulty.

Even he is a high and self confident type and center his own thought as a
main focus, but at the same time he is a kind, cute and polite guy. He
certainly is not a mean person. He likes to help people who are in troubles
even he is not asked to. He is the type who feels sorry if you remember bad
things he said to you that he had already forgotten,but you did not. Belief
him that he is very sorry and give him another chance.

Once he decides to do something, he will put all his mind and energy in it
either in his "Work", or "Love". He is the type who gambles anything in the
casino, so do not even take him there. He does not like pessimistic, low
energy, and depress person, especially no brain. Strangely he like to
overpowered this type of people to assure that he is more superior.

He likes to be the first person to do something. You can see sparklings in his
eyes, once he meet a new target or new lover. Once he is in love, he will
act as if he never has love like this before. This minute he could be real
sugar sweet, and later he could also be icy cold, but do not blame him
for that will only chase him away. He could fall in love again with another
girl and act again like he never has this kind of love before. He could
really love someone, but not a heart broken type for he thinks love is
"excitement" and "Love goes on" (Or do they mean "Life goes on"?).

If you date this kind of guy, do not or avoid showing your face to him with
face pack, face mask, always be presentable, nice and cute. If he is quiet
not because he is shy, but he is only quietly thinking. If you have a chance
to ask his ex-girlfriend, she will tell you that he is not a shy or quiet
type. If he is really and truly in love with you, he will never lie to you
at all. How do you know if he loves you, bet on your faith! Love him and
treat him steadily and do not try to find anything to argue with him, he
will be with you for sure.

If you are his lover or girlfriend and need to tell him something, go and
say it out loud and straight forward because he hate long boring story. He
hate to play games, chasing for love or being chased, so let him call you
first. He likes a confident woman who also a good follower. If he gets mad
at you, let him be for only a short time he will be normal again. You have
to like and be able to get along with his friends, but he does not have to
do so with all your friends.

Don't ever think you could make him jealous by flirting with other man, he
will just leave instead of making a scene because he is a confident man and
has to be the first in everything.

Comment: Wow! This analysis is SUPER accurate! I would give it 95% accuracy!!! Look at all those I've highlighted! Those are the things which I value in and are accurately reflected in this analysis.

Stefanie Sun Advertisement

Woo! Pretty Stefanie Sun posing for a SK Jewellery poster.

But alas! Upon closer inpsection, the poster is not THAT perfect and pretty.



Whoever responsible for this blunder ought to face the nearby wall and reflect. Alternatively, Morris Allen English School always have vacancies.

I heard that this poster, originally pasted outside of SK Jewellery's Tampines' branch (the one right at the MRT station), was removed the day after I took this picture.

Oh well, at least they DID spot the error.

《地球上仅剩下我一个人的时候》

在这二十一世纪的今天，人们已开始意识到并了解自己活在这世界上所享有或应该享有的权利。什么言论自由、宗教自由、恋爱自由，这种种“自由”都是人们所渴望拥有的。但碍于活在他人的控制与领导下，诸如此类的“自由”对人们来说经常是可望不可及的，因而才会有示威与冲突的暴发，目的就是为了争取他们认为他们应该得到的自由。

倘若有一天这世上没有人束缚着我，没有人限定我几点应该起床、回家，没有人强迫我成为某宗教的信徒，没有人阻止我发言，那便是地球上仅剩下我一个人的时候。

届时，我可说是真正地“自由”了！我爱做什么、想做什么，没人能管得着。在日常的作息里，唯独我能主宰我的生活规律与步伐。我可以睡到日上三竿时才懒洋洋慢吞吞地从被窝里爬起来，也不会听到母亲在耳边的唠叨；我可以三天才洗一次澡也不必在乎旁人嫌我又体臭；又或者我也可以每天花一小时泡澡也无需担心环保与节约能源的问题；我吃饱饭后可以在不担心被朋友发现牙缝里有一根菜的情况下选择顺从我天生的惰性，不去刷牙。

在言行举止上，我大可不用按照社会所定下的标准来左右我的言论与举动。我可以不用担心旁人异样的眼光，爱说黄色笑话、骂三字经、比中指，没人管，随我怎么做！我无需故作矜持，将自己内心真正的自我压抑在一个社会为我定下的标准模型里的一个小角落，活得像个行尸走肉，没有属于真正自我的灵魂，只有一个由社会与他人共同设计与创造的窠臼。当然，若我内心是优雅高尚的，我是不会做出上述那些不堪不雅的行为。我倒可以自由自在地随着微风的起伏或地球公转自转的节奏舞动着，手像柳树或椰树一样迎风摇曳，脚则像潺潺流水那般不受约束，自由自在地摆动，一点也不必担心别人的冷嘲热讽，无需在乎旁人称你为“疯子”，因为地球上仅剩我一个人。

然而，一个人的生活是否就会令我满足？得到了所有的自由，我人生的终极目标是否就达成了呢？

当地球只剩下我一个人的时候，我固然是得到了“终极自由”，然而被这“终极自由”充斥着生活的人就仿佛是被装满了空气的气球，表面上很满足，但内心里头实际上是空虚缥缈的；虽然可以自由自在地在天上翱翔，但却是非常脆弱的，一针就能刺破他的“满足”。

当世界上只剩我一个人时，我会是寂寞的、孤独的、空虚的。我开心快乐时，没有人会在我身旁替我欢呼，为我感到骄傲，与我分享喜悦；我难过悲伤时，没有人会安慰我、递给我拭去眼泪的纸巾或借我一个依靠的肩膀；我担忧时没有人会鼓励我、开导我；我寂寞时没有人会和我席地而谈。

再者，纵使在当地球上仅剩下我一个人的时候我独得了随有的自由也没有用，因为我不会有听我善用“言论自由”的听众、不会有在我善用“宗教自由”时与我一齐虔诚祈祷、不会有人在我善用“恋爱自由”时和我共同坠入爱河。我获得再多的“自由”与权利也只能与自己分享，那是多么可悲凄凉啊！

因此，我宁可委屈一点，牺牲掉我应该享有的权利以换来一个充实、被亲情友情爱情包围着的自我，也不愿希望地球上仅剩下我一个人。那种过度的自由，其实吊诡地是一种变相的束缚，约束着我去分享喜悦与寻找情感。但愿“地球上仅剩下我一个人”的时刻永远不会到来。

2007 Chinese Language and Literature Block Test 2 Essay
Score: 26 / 35

Naughty Kids on MRT

I must post this to SHAME the kids... as well as their guardians who not only failed to stop the kids from playing on the train, but even encourage them to make full use of the grab poles on the trains by telling them not to congregate at one pole, for there are "empty" ones around.

Their guardians include two aunties/grandmas who are at least 60-year old, and a middle-aged PRC woman, whom I think is their maid.






How embarassing when we proclaim that we are a First-World, economically-more developed nation, when our citizens have underdeveloped social etiquette, when our kids' misbehaviour is condoned by their guardians.

I've got a video of their irritating behaviour, but I can't seem to convert it to a more user-friendly format.