Raymond Angelo is the Exoticoption.

Fucking Metaphors

2009-10-30T03:07:00.002+08:00

I've been reading too much Vonnegut. The thing about Vonnegut is that nothing that he writes is to be taken at face value. Everything is more than they seem to be...innocent-seeming ideas are enlarged, but still, they are hollow, empty, nothings, an echo of reality. I'm currently seeing the world through his lenses...and I'm not satisfied.

Things aren't in a good state. It's...fucked up, metaphorically speaking. A house that isn't a home, a life that is merely an existence, and a fragile stained-glass facade. FLASH AND EXPLOSION BUT WHEN THE DUST SETTLES THERE'S NOTHING TO SEE, LADIES AND GENTS. The magician isn't putting in enough effort anymore.

I'm not usually so down like this. I have my moments of melancholy. Melancholy is good for the soul; it tempers it, and sets it grounded. The realization of unhappiness and of imperfection sets the foundation for improvement. I'm not gonna settle. Fuck mediocrity. I want to be something more than what I am, but right now, there is no indication of that happening, and it worries me. I am 19 but I am nothing.

I don't want to live a nothing life. Not anymore.

Happy

2009-03-14T21:53:00.002+08:00

When you learn to be content with the small things, it's hard to look at bigger things with the same sense of awe and appreciation. Largely, I've reached a stage where I'm happy with just about everything. Going out with friends, jogging, walking around with no purpose, receiving messages from people you care about, and stuff...they never fail to put a smile upon my face.

So when bigger things come along, how does one which is so easily satisfied supposed to react? It's hard to be MORE satisfied, so then comes along the problem of...if I'm going to get equal satisfaction from both things, then why bother with something which simply gives more trouble? I'm not really sure what point I'm trying to get to, but my birthday's here, and I don't really know how to feel. I guess I haven't been able to think about it so much, because there's so many things going on with my life...so much that it doesn't seem that significant anymore.

But still, people choose to make a big deal about it, and at the back of my mind, there's a voice saying that it should be a big deal, but now that I think about it, should it be...really?

I'm happy, don't doubt that please, but at the same time, my mind is filled with noise, my heart with unease, and discomfort. Nothing is certain, and as time passes, everything is changing. I've passed out from BMT, I've received my A-level results, and I'm about to apply for university. At the same time, I feel a longing for a certain void in my life to be filled.

Life's not perfect, but I'll still live it, and I'll face it with a smile.

2009-03-11T23:31:00.002+08:00

Sam's Town

2009-02-01T08:55:00.002+08:00

Read a 9/11 thread on SomethingAwful, and it made me tear up abit. (Link)

"This is fucking terrible. I dont know anyone in new york, I have never been to new york, shit I might even have a hard time finding new york on a map. I realized that i had went to sleep about forty-five minutes before the attack (5:00 pst) and woke up at seven. My roommate told me that a plane had struck the World Trade Center, and that it was on fire. I figured that some air traffic controller had fell asleep at the console, and passed out for a half-hour. Then I get online and see twenty fucking "cnn breaking news" emails in my box, and I figured out what went on. It seemed so surreal. So fucking surreal. I almost cried when I saw the pictures of the people jumping off the buildings. Jesus Christ, that could have been San francisco, or Los Angeles, or St. louis, anywhere. Innocent people where hijacked and fucking drove into some fucking buildings. They where probably just settling in, thinking about whether they should pay the three bucks to get the headphones for the in-flight movie or if they want a goddamn complimentary drink. Then some motherfuckers who think that somehow, someway, killing a shitload of people and doing hundreds of billions of dollars worth of damages will in any way make their country's lives better take over the goddamn plane. Probably spouting all their bullshit about the "terrible american zionists" and the "oppression suffered at your dirty capitalist hands" all the way until they parked the plane on some innocent typist's desk at 500mph. Jesus Christ, whomever was sitting there at ground zero was probably happy until the last fifteen seconds of their lives, thinking how great it was to have a window seat at the World Trade Center and how their career was really moving along. Then a low pitch starts in their ears, slowly getting louder..then shit on their desk starts to rattle then BAM! they are fucking roadkill by some goddamn terrorists who are jealous of the economic conditions of the US and instead of fucking DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT, they whine about being oppressed and blow shit up. God, what a bunch of fucking children."

Feeling Soup-er.

2009-01-18T08:07:00.006+08:00

Title's a reference to a t-shirt I just bought. Is nice.

It's the weekend once again, and I'm out of Tekong. I've gotten used to this feeling, of being free one moment, then chained the next; one life on the weekends, and then another on the weekdays. A hard transition, truly, but when you've done it enough times, as with everything else, you get used to it. You adapt, you evolve, and you move on.

Ask me whether I've learned anything, and I'll say I'm not sure. For sure, my sergeants have inculcated drills, field craft, technical handling, and other army knowledge into my head, but have I learned anything about myself? I find myself thinking, and questioning myself...have I grown? I've gotten slimmer, fitter, and botak-er, but that's about it. I've yet to reach that feeling of...achievement, victory...or perhaps it's another formless concept I haven't conceived of yet.

I long for inner-growth. I want to be more than I can become. There's so much potential in me, I get excited just thinking about what may happen next, and to what lengths I can bring myself to. They say that you reap what you sow, and I guess I'll follow this mentality as I go through army life. It's not a front, or anything of the sort, it's just a want to do the best you can, at all times. Like I did in Junior College, I'm going to chiong army, yeah.

Anyways, I'll just update you on how things have been going lah. I'm not sure how much of my army life I can divulge, but I can tell you at the very least that I'm coping well. The 5BX, CPT, AGR, 30-60...I've gotten used to them. Come next week, however, I'm not sure how I'll handle it. Field Camp leh. 6 days in the jungle, without phones, showers, toilets, proper food, and lights. I don't know what it's going to be like. I think I'll grow to dread the night, especially, when the chances of us getting tekan-ed increases, exponentially.

Ahh, I'll leave it here. Going to read manga. Booking in timing is at 6 today, which is horrendously early. Sigh. See you next weekend guys, I'll probably do a small post on field-camp :). Congrats to all those who did relatively well for their Os, and again, it's not about the results, but it's about what you do with 'em.


Another head aches, another heart breaks
I'm so much older than I can take
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection, no no no no

2009-01-03T10:36:00.000+08:00

Oh, and when will our heartbeats fall into two lines
And the click-clack of our boot heels beat out the same time
Oh, and when will your hand find itself in mine?
Oh, and when will your hand find itself in mine?

And though I don't know your real name
Your real age, or your shoe size
I will leave this bedroom chair
And this keyboard behind

And I will love you in reality and dreams
And I will love you in reality and dreams

And though it kills me to know
That when we are through
You go to your real lover
Who'll put real kisses on you

Oh well, an ex is about the best that I can do
Oh well, an ex is about the best that I can do

And so this lonely, lonely hull
Has no use left for living
After finding her love
In a heart so unpermitting

And I will die and never ever hold your hand
And I will die and never ever hold your hand

But I'll kiss my lips and I'll blow it to you
It'll be the last thing that I ever do
And wherever you go and whatever you do
There's a man underground that will always love you

Oh, wherever you go and whatever you do
There's a man underground that will always love you

Wherever you go and whatever you do
There's a man underground that will always love you

Second Lover
by Noah and The Whale

All The Zunes Are Fail

2009-01-01T06:01:00.003+08:00

Goodbye 2008. You've been one of the most bestest year of my life, and I thank you for all the memories, friendships, laughter, and everything else that you've given me. All the good times and even the few bad ones will not be forgotten. Seriously, it's been such...a...blast. From beginning to end, I enjoyed myself.

Haha. Honestly speaking, I'm really not getting into the spirit of any holiday because of army life, so I'll just move on. Belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone but me :'(.

On to other news! I was in camp the other day, and me and my section mates were super bored so we decided to listen to music. I took out my Zune, because I have the best songs, but to my surprise, it had no batteries, despite the fact that I had charged it only the day before. Come New Year's Eve, I went to charge said device, but I found myself stuck at the booting up screen.

I didn't think much of it, because as far as I know, I haven't been too careful with my stuff. Something may have just cocked-up inside; sooner or later, it'll be in working condition again. But apparently...I had nothing to do with the faultiness of my device, this time around! In an event now dubbed in the interwebs as Z2K9, ALL 30GB Zunes failed at the same time.

I don't know how to feel. I'm not pissed, more of amused, because seriously, wth. This is the epitome of epic fail, if I've ever seen one. So yes, laugh at me...the only one in Singapore whose interest was roused by this piece of news. Damn me and my aversion to conformity. I should have gotten an iPod...

Boxers and Briefs

2008-12-25T07:54:00.002+08:00

As weird as this may seem, I'm going to use boxers and briefs to describe my NS experience.

Ever since I discovered boxers back when I was still in Secondary 3, I never went back to briefs. The comfort it provided was unparalleled, and it felt more mature, in a way. Imagine the shock I felt when I was told I couldn't wear boxers in NS. I promptly bought a box of Byfords, and since my confinement began on December 11, I've worn nothing but briefs, and briefs, and briefs. And briefs.

So yesterday, my confinement period of 14 days finally came to an end, and I went home for the first time. After showering, I put on a pair of boxers, and thought myself blissful.

But it wasn't comfortable. It was weird, awkward, awkweird. The sudden lack of constraints and support and structure and rigidity was so disconcerting. I'm not saying that I didn't like it, but man, it was so strange to go back to boxers once more.

So yes, going into NS is like switching from boxers to briefs, and booking out is the other way around. NS was fine, I guess. I made plenty of new friends, and my section mates are cool, and so are the people in my platoon. The sergeants are tough most of the time, but I shouldn't have expected anything less. It felt like I was getting into the swing of things...and then I'm out again, and I can't help but feel down that I'm going to go back to NS/briefs once more.

We come from a company
Famous in BMT
We come from a very special company

We fight for our glory
We fight for our victory
We fight with a spirit never seen before

Raven 3!
Raven 3!
All the way!

We like it here!
We like it here!
We found ourselves a home!
A home!
A home sweet home!

NS

2008-12-11T00:09:00.002+08:00

Haha. Yeah, well, shit.

I'll miss you guys. Everyone. I've always been someone who tried to take control, who walked to his own rhythm, who never listened to anyone else, and as such, I'm taking the idea of conscription really hard. For once, I've no handle on where my life goes. It feels like I'll be left behind by a world which never stops for the individual.

The thing is, everyone will grow, everyone will change. And...I won't be there to witness it, nor be a part of it, and it feels like...I don't have my hand in places it was before. The strings of the self-styled puppet master have been cut, and shipped off to an island called Tekong. Ok, perhaps that was a negative metaphor, but you get the idea. It's just sad for me that I won't be part of your lives for so long, now.

I'll see you soon, I'll miss you now.

The Epitome Of Fitness.

2008-11-15T09:32:00.001+08:00

Endorsed by Raymond Angelo

2008-11-08T22:20:00.004+08:00

Hi everyone.

Wasn't intending to doublepost today, but apparently, Glen Wirawan, my secondary school friend was entered into a Mr Clorets contest by his sister, and by some twist of fate, he made it into the finals. Please, do vote for him at the following link: www.radio913.com. Speaking as his friend for quite a few years, I can safely say from the bottom of my heart that he's a genuinely nice dude, and he deserves your vote.

I'm Raymond Angelo, and I approve of this message.

Picture edit OH SNAP!:

From Jiaw's blog: www.mrbva.blogspot.com.

So hot, I don't need to warm up.

2008-11-08T20:03:00.002+08:00

Disclaimer: Feel free to share this. I only typed out the population and urban questions, because as easy as it looks, I'm not touching globalisation. It's easy, but I that's a discovery I made only a few days ago...too close for comfort. Oh, and I typed only up to RJC. I may edit again, but it's comprehensive enough of a list, I think. Truth be told, the questions are very very far-ranging. I tried to arrange it to an extent...but yeah, they're very broad. And what came to light too is the different teaching styles the schools seem to have. It's very clear some schools emphasized on certain areas our school didn't, so suddenly, I'm feeling quite scared.

Before the list; I've got a hell-schedule next week. Monday is Physics, then Econs, then Econs, then Geography. Globalisation's outta the way. I finished micro and Population today. Tomorrow will be macro and Urban. Monday morning will be all Physics. Monday evening, all the way to Tuesday morning will be Econs. Tuesday evening all the way to Wednesday evening will be Human Geog.

Almost there!

Population

-Describe and explain the factors that influence fertility. (9m) CJC

-With reference to examples, explain how the use of contraception is key to controlling fertility rates. (9m) NJC

-Discuss how proximate determinants of fertility have affected the demography of a country you have studied. (16m) NYJC

-‘Capitalism is the best for of contraception’. To what extent do you agree that economic growth is the most important factor in reducing fertility rates in a country?

-Identify the factors which may help explain how epidemics and infectious diseases may affect countries differently. (9m) RJC

-Using examples, explain how political and cultural barriers may operate as constraints to the acceptance and integration of migrants. (9m) AJC

-To what extent do you agree that transnational migrants are usually beneficial to both sending and receiving countries? (16m) AJC/MI/MJC

-‘Globalisation has increased the flow of transnational migrants and the complexity of their movement,” Assess the extent to which this is true for migratory flows you have studied. (16m) HCI

-Describe and explain the trends in migrations of people in recent years. (9m) HCI

-Using examples, explain how transnational migration may be influenced by political and cultural factors. (9m) IJC

-Describe and account for the changing nature of migration since the 1960s. (9m) JJC

-Discuss the factors which influence a person’s migrability. (9m) MI

-With reference to an example, describe and explain the socioeconomic differentials that exist within a country. (9m) CJC

-To what extent do you agree that governments are effective in controlling and managing population growth? (16m) AJC/HCI

-Assess the need for forecasting of population changes and the role of the government in population planning. (16m) DHS

-Discuss the roles of population structures in population forecasting and planning. (9m) DHS

-Discuss the challenges of increasing dependency ratios to governments. (16m) CJC

-Assess the social and economic consequences for families and for the state when most couples have only one or two children. (16m) MI

-Evaluate the success of government policies in countering an ageing population. (16m) RJC

-Explain the need for, and the problems of, population forecasting at the national scale with references to a country or countries. (9m) MI

-A recent demographic survey by the UN cut down the estimates of population in 2050. Discuss the validity of this statement with reference to recent population trends. (16m) IJC

-What factors may affect the timing of the demographic transition experienced by different countries? Use examples to support your answer. (9m) AJC/MJC

-Explain the hedonist and conservationist view in population-resource relationships. (9m) DHS/IJC

-Discuss how global variations in resource use and societal change affect population-resource relationships and sustainable development. (16m)

-With the aid of examples, comment on the view that population growth stimulates the development of technology which will utilize resource more efficiently. (16m) AJC

-Explain the key concepts of Malthus’ theory of population change. (9m) HCI

-To what extent are population pyramids useful in helping governments to formulate relevant policies to curb future problems in their countries? (16m) IJC

-Japan’s National Institute of Population has predicted the population will be extinct by the year 3387. To what extent do you agree that such predictions are of limited value? (16m) MJC

-With reference to population resource theories, evaluate the view that the current world food production would be adequate to feed the world population. (16m) NJC

Urban

-With reference to examples from both DCs and LDCs, explain the formation of the inner city. (9m) AJC

-Distinguish between counter-urbanisation, sub-urbanisation, and re-urbanisation. (9m) CJC

-Compare the current urbanization trends in DCs with those in LDCs. (9m) NJC

-Discuss the impacts of rapid urbanization. (9m) NJC

-With reference to examples from DCs, evaluate the economic, social and environmental consequences of decentralization. (16m) CJC

-Describe the operation of centrifugal and centripetal forces in the central city and explain why these forces occur. (9m) HCI

-Using examples, discuss the challenges that urban planners in megacities face. (16m) AJC/HCI/IJC

-Urbanisation in LDCs typically focuses on the main or capital city. Do you agree? (16m) AJC

-Using examples, explain how historical factors and government planning can influence urban structure. (9m) MJC

-Using examples, explain the influence of the global economy/globalization on urban structures/central cities. (9m) AJC/IJC/MJC

-Explain how functional urban zoning influences the nature of the central city and industrial location in urban areas. (9m) DHS

-Using annotated diagram(s), evaluate the usefulness and applicability of the bid-rent theory to explaining city lay-outs in both DCs and LDCs. (9m) MI

-To what extent does improved accessibility help explain the recent changes in the locations of the main retailing, industrial and residential zones in a city? (16m) MI

-With reference to one or more located examples, discuss how bid-rent theory is of limited use in explaining the land-use patterns in cities. (9m) RJC

-Assess the range of public and private initiatives used in urban regeneration. (16m) CJC

-With reference to examples, assess the success of different strategies for reimaging in cities. (16m) DHS/HCI/RJC

-‘Only economic growth can reduce inequalities in cities.’ Does this position conflict with principles of sustainable urban development? Evaluate. (16m) NJC

-Illustrating with examples, critically evaluate the priorities that are likely to influence the future form of cities in DCs. (16m) MJC

-With reference to one or more examples of urban areas, assess the success of inner-city redevelopment schemes. (16m) NJC

-To what extent do you agree that urban transport problems are highly-correlated to the economic development of the city? (16m) RJC

-Outline the challenges faced by authorities in the management of transport problems in urban areas. (9m) DHS

-Assess the effectiveness of management strategies used to reduce transport problems. (16m) HCI

-Discuss the problems faced by inner-cities and explain the causes of these problems. (9m) CJC

-Discuss the extent of social problems within urban areas in LDCs, and MDCs. (16m) DHS/MI

-‘Community involvement is the most effective way to ameliorate urban housing problems,’ Evaluate the validity of this statement. (16m) IJC

-With reference to specific examples, discuss the issues related to social and ethnic segregation in urban areas in Developed Countries. (16m) IJC

-Describe the factors that may lead to socio-economic segregation within cities. (9m) MI/RJC

-Using examples outline the causes of housing problems in cities of DCs and critically examine the attempts to overcome such problems. (16m) MJC

-Describe the challenges of living in large cities and assess the responses to these challenges. (16m) NYJC

Major Minor

2008-11-07T21:26:00.002+08:00

I was going to say alot of stuff, but looking at this photo, I find myself speechless, in the most positive sense of the word. The election of Barack Obama will bring lasting change to the United States, and the future is filled with hope, and dreams. As a minority myself, Obama's elections has solidified my belief that...race doesn't really matter, know? Because I've always been a minority, and in a sense, even if I go back to the Philippines, I'll still be a minority, and so...oops, train of thought lost.

Hope you get my drift anyways.

Thinking about my past and all my possible futures.

2008-11-01T05:50:00.002+08:00

I wanted to reach school before 8 today, and then do a full GP essay to simulate Monday but it's raining soooooooo hard over here you won't believe it. It feels like apocalypse. There's thunder, lightning, darkness, and endless streams of water-bullets dropping from the sky.

Wah sian like this how to do my simulation....

Anyways, will be in school today, and most probably tomorrow. Today's my final push-push, and tomorrow's my relaxed push. I don't think any studying can go on much on Monday because I'll be brain-dead after GP and Geog. With Wednesday and Thursday, I'll be chionging Math Paper 2s, and get a head start on my Human Geog and Econs, both of which I haven't touched much.

I almost can't believe that it's here, but it is, and yesterday, as I went home, I realize that the results, as much as it matters, is beyond my control and that my abilities and preparations can only take me so far. Sometimes, you just got to believe.

Disclaimer on Geography

2008-10-29T23:04:00.002+08:00

Hello!

As you can see below, I compiled a few Physical Geography essays to help me prepare for my As. It was for my own convenience initially, but then I thought my blog looked kinda empty, so I copied and pasted it here. And then I told people what I did and they've come to this blog to copy and paste. I don't mind, but just remember that it's not an all-encompassing list; it's essays I wish to know how to do by the end of my revisions. Which means no Droughts nor Cyclones (which I will never touch)....or any other difficult looking essays.

Also, I omitted repeats and similar looking questions :).

I'll be doing the same for Human Geography and Econs, and I'll be putting it up here as well. Happy studying everyone!

Meet Geography

2008-10-26T20:51:00.001+08:00

Essay Checklist for Geography

Litho

Plate Tectonics
-Compare and contrast the different types of plate boundaries. (9m)
-Discuss how the interactions at these boundaries could impact man. (16m)
-Using diagrams, explain how seafloor spreading occurs. (9m)
-To what extent can the plate tectonic theory be used to account for the global distribution and formation of fold mountains and volcanoes (16m).
-Explain the evidences for plate tectonics. (9m)
-Define the term ‘tectonic plate’. Using diagrams and examples, show how fold mountain building occur at tectonic plate margin. (9m)
-Using diagrams, explain the formation of mid-oceanic ridges and island arcs. (9m)

Volcanoes
-Describe the nature of erupted materials and explain how they may be dangerous (Dangers/Impacts of Volcanic Eruptions) (16m)
-Explain why volcanic hazards have more severe effects in some areas over others
-Discuss the roles of hotspots in volcanic activity. (9m)
-Assess the strategies used to mitigate and respond to the effects of volcanic eruptions (16m).
-Describe and account for the differences between the types of volcanoes found at convergent and divergent plates. (9m)

Earthquakes
-To what extent is it possible to predict earthquakes and to limit their hazardous effects (16m).
-Distinguish between the Richter scale and the Mercalli scale. (9m)
-Describe the main characteristics of seismic waves and their immediate effects at or near the ground surface (9m)
-With reference to examples, discuss the view that the largest earthquakes are not always the most deadly or damaging (16m).

Weathering
-Compare and contrasts the characteristics of the three rock types. (And their responses to weathering) (9m)
-Explain the formation of the various rock types (9m).
-Using examples, discuss the extent to which the weathering of a rock is dependent upon climate. (16m)
-Assess the extent to which rock characteristics determine the landforms in granite and limestone areas. (16m) *
-Explain the characteristics of granite and limestone. (9m)
-What is the rock cycle? Show how the rock cycle explain the formation and characteristics of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks (9m)
-Account for the relationship between the depth of regolith and climate (9m).
-Explain the differences between chemical and physical weathering (9m).
- How true is that weathering is mainly physical in dry climates and mainly chemical in wet climates? (16m)
-Explain the conditions under which block disintegration, spheroidal weathering and exfoliation may occur (9m).
-Describe the characteristics of a weathering profile and discuss its role in the development of landforms in granite (16m)

Mass Movement
-Discuss the role of man in mass movements. (16m)
-Explain the factors determining the stability of a slope. (9m)
-With reference to examples, assess the strategies used to manage mass movement hazards. (16m)
-Using diagrams, explain the differences between a rock slide, a mud flow, and soil creep. (9m)
-Explain the role of climate in the occurrence of mass movements (9m)

Atmo

Precipitation
-Using clear diagrams, explain the formation of convectional and relief (orographic) rain (9m).

Winds
-Describe and explain what is meant by the term ITCZ and its seasonal movements. (9m)
-Account for the forces influencing air movement (9m).
-Using a well-labelled diagram, describe the formation of trade winds (9m).

Climate
-Assess the roles of the main climatic factors that influence the climatic zones of Tropical Asia and Africa. How about the role of the ITCZ? (16m)

Climate Etc
-Describe how urban heat island develop. Explain three ways in which the climate of urban areas differs from surrounding rural areas.
-Describe and explain the term ‘enhanced greenhouse effect’. (9m)
-Explain the causes of present global warming and describe its possible climatic effects. (9m)
-Discuss the possible impact of global warming and explain why it is difficult to resolve (16m).
-

-Do you agree that man’s activities are the major causes of atmospheric hazards in recent times? (16m)

Hydro

Hydro flows
-Explain what is meant, in a drainage basin, by the terms drainage density and stream order and bifurcation ratio. (9m)
-Explain the terms ‘width-depth ratio’ and ‘hydraulic radius’. (9m)
-Demonstrate, with the aid of hydrographs, how discharge in a drainage basin can be affected by geology, slopes and vegetation. (9m)
-Outline the factors affecting drainage density (9m)
-Describe how overland flow occurs and explain the differences between HOF and SOF (9m.).
-With the aid of a clear annotated diagram, describe the main features of a storm hydrograph (9m)

Hydro processes
-What factors influence the total amount and nature of sediment load transported by a river? (9m)
-Explain how the climate could influence the flows and storages of a basin. (9m)
-Describe and explain the different processes found in rivers. (9m)
-To what extent do you agree that these processes account for the formation and resultant shapes of river channels? (16m)
-Discuss the relationship between channel pattern and changes in channel efficiency under different conditions (16m)
-Explain the factors that affect channel morphology (9m)
-With the aid of labeled diagrams, describe the formation, characteristics and differences between braided and meandering channels (16m)
-Describe and explain the factors that affect stream competency and capacity (9m)
-Distinguish between the terms dissolved load, suspended load and bed load. (9m)
-Outline the factors affecting river velocity and explain how they influence the river channel’s ability to do work. (9m)
-To what extent are climate and vegetation the principal factors influencing the hydrological processes in a drainage basin (16m).
-“Climate is the only influence on the operation of the hydrologic cycle in a drainage basin”. Discuss the validity of this statement (16m).
-Explain the terms headward erosion, lateral erosion and vertical erosion and the conditions under which they occur (9m).
-Compare the conditions under which turbulent flow, laminar flow, and helicoidal flow occurs within river channels (9m).

Conflicts/Management
-With reference to an example, or examples, examine how a conflict of interest may arise in management of river catchments. (16m)
-Examine the management of conflicts in river basins. (16m)
-Explain how the characteristics/flow of catchment areas can be altered by human activities. (16m)

Future-Speak

2008-10-25T20:31:00.002+08:00

It feels like my life's undergoing major changes, and I'm sorta excited, anxious, excited, a tad fearful, excited, and excited.

A-levels are coming, and I think I'm ready.

My NS-enlistment date is out: December 11's the date. It's a bit early, but what am I to do about it?

Oh, and the holidays, whatever little of it is around between the As and NS-enlistment, are coming too, and I can't wait.

Haven't been jogging because I think I hurt my right foot, sigh. But never mind that for now I guess; I've found renewed vigour in studying, and like I said earlier, I'm feeling more and more prepared as each day goes by.

OK then, I haven't been around for awhile, and I don't think I'll be around for awhile more, but yeah, I'm living it up. See you!

Drenched.

2008-10-10T22:43:00.005+08:00

I don't normally take pictures of myself ever, but after my jog today, I was so sweaty that I couldn't help but take pictures of just how sweaty I was. Check out the shirt, which is so wet that you can roughly make out the words on the back. And lookie here, even my shorts are soaked! I really got lost in the jog today; I nearly died, but now that I've gotten back, I feel all sorts of energy flowing through me.

Gotta study. See you!

And then they hugged.

2008-10-08T18:49:00.002+08:00

Tomorrow's bacc, and so, today's our final day of tutorials and tutorials.. It's quite saddening because you just know things won't be quite like what it was, ever. No more talking in classes, doodling stuff, chilling, sleeping, sharing sweets and what not. For sure, I'm going to miss GP with Mrs Chang, bitching with Jeremy and making fun of Kerri at econs, struggling to stay awake with Jolene during geog, falling asleep without fail at every Maths lecture...ahh.

Thus, I got quite nostalgic today, and for lack of better word, emo-shit. I wasn't in the mood to study, so I went home early. At one of the traffic lights I had to cross to get home, I saw these two girls with Down Syndrome at the other side. Near my house is some sort of Special School, I think. Anyways, these two girls looked like the absolute cutest and most innocent kids I'd ever seen, and it looked like they shared a very tight bond with each other. It seemed almost surreal; I mean...these kids have Downs, yet...they didn't seem bothered about it at all.

And what really got to me was when they hugged. I've no idea why they did it, but they hugged, and my heart freaking melted right there. It was as if they were the only two people in the world, and they're struggling against it, but it matters little because they've got each other.

So then the green men goes on, and I begin to cross, and so do they. They've been taught to like...raise their hands when they cross the road. We, the normies, were taught to do so too, but do we ever? So they raise their hands, and I do so too, and I smile at them, and they smile and wave at me, and I wave back, and now there's this energy beneath my feet like something underground wants to come up and carry me.

Side-note: There are people who read this for the funny stuff, people who read this to know about my life, people who're just voyeuristic by nature, and then there are people who genuinely care, and want to see what's up with me. I'm cool, thanks :).

It's 3AM. What do you do?

2008-10-04T05:32:00.002+08:00

I slept at ten-something yesterday, and for some reason, this really screwed up my sleep-cycle, and I woke up at 3 in the morning. That's obscenely early. I tossed and turned in my bed for awhile, but I found I simply couldn't sleep. So yeah, I read my book, went on Facebook, and then at around 4, I tried to sleep again. But I couldn't.

It's like my body, my mind, my heart and my soul are all restless. They thrash about my inner-being crying to be released. Did some meditation, and came to conclusion on certain things happening within, and around me, and I've reached a sense of "serenity" with regards to them, I think. Things might change, but it might now as well, and even if it does, I can handle it.

It's nearly 6, and I've been awake for 3 hours. I'm going for a jog now, and explore Tanah Merah for abit, then maybe take a short nap, then go off to study. Shall re-edit when I get back from jogging if anything interesting happens.

2008-10-03T21:37:00.001+08:00

The world has turned and left me here
Just where I was before you appeared
And in your place an empty space
has filled the void behind my face

I just made love with your sweet memory
One thousand times in my head
You said you loved it more than ever
You said

You remain, turned away
Turning further every day

The world has turned and left me here
Just where I was before you appeared
And in your place an empty space
has filled the void behind my face

I talked for hours to your wallet photograph
And you just listened
You laughed enchanted by my intellect
Or maybe you didn't

You remain, turned away
Turning further every day

The world has turned and left me here
Just where I was before you appeared
And in your place an empty space
has filled the void behind my face

You remain, turned away
Turning further every day

The world has turned and left me here
Just where I was before you appeared
And in your place an empty space
has filled the void behind my face

The world has turned and left me here
Just where I was before you appeared
And in your place an empty space
has filled the void behind my face

Do you believe what I sing now?
Do you believe what I sing now?
Do you belie-eve?

Don't be a sucker. Don't cut queues.

2008-09-29T22:12:00.004+08:00

I've been staying back until late, of late in school, and I'm immensely thankful for the parents who dutiful bring dinner everyday, so that we can eat for free, as we stay back and study. What I am not thankful for, however, is people who cut the queue. I don't care who you are, where you from, what you did; if you cut queue, I ain't happy with you.

Granted, I was much more angry earlier this evening that I am now, but still, this seething fury has yet died. I am very pissed off with people who cut queue, and I just can't shut up about it.

Normal, respectful people queue up to get food. People queue up as early as 20 minutes before the parents actually start serving up, eagerly anticipating the food. This people have been studying, and could be studying, but they choose not to, because they want to get food in a timely fashion, and also, they want to get better helpings. I don't blame them, for I am one of them, and they have made a sacrifice to come down there early. Behind the early birds, the queue will stretch to eternity, and if you come late, you WILL wait. But again, there's no helping it, because you did, after all, come later.

Now, what do queue-cutters do? There's a few kinds of queue-cutters. There are those who come in before the parents start serving, and simply fit themselves into the front of the line as if they belong there (WTF!). Then there are also those who come in when the queue is very long, looking at the queue, and conveniently squeezes themselves amongst their buds, or what shit. Either way, they're cutting my queue, and that shit is screwed up.

Why, you may ask, and let me gladly tell you, because I've given this much thought actually.

"I cut queue because I can't be bothered to queue up. I should be studying, or doing something else, but my time should not be spent on the queue, because I'm too good for it,"

Yes, that's probably what goes on in the mind of a typical queue-cutter. But let's pause, and think for abit, and look at the underlying selfishness of such a mentality. So, you're saying your time is too important, and shouldn't be wasted queuing up...but what of the people behind you? WHAT OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOU? These people have been waiting a for a much longer time than you, and like you, they'd rather be doing something else as well, so what right do you have to squeeze yourself in front of them, and get the food faster, without the wait?

THIS ACT IS ONLY JUSTIFIED BY SELFISHNESS.

Everybody's the same right now dude; we're all students trying to fight our way through the A-levels, and clearly, everyone's undergoing the same stress, and pressure as you are. Everyone's time is precious, so please, just consider...just consider the time people have spent on the loving queue, and the equivalent of a middle finger you're giving them when you cut it. Like I said earlier, it doesn't matter who you are, or what you've done before this for the school, or whatever, on the field or wherever, to get a prize or whatever, but right now, everyone's facing the same giants, and you're not special. Have some mutual respect, and sense of community, dude.

Oh, and here's what pisses me off too. And this doesn't apply to everyone, but to Christians. I don't know exactly how many people who cut queue are Christians, but we just prayed, dude! Before the parents start serving the food, the parents lead in prayer. So yes, in a sense, God is with us...and as the prayer goes on, these Christian queue-cutting people pray piously and what-not....but are they not aware that at that very moment they are sinning in the presence of the Lord? Goodness! I can't quote you scriptures, but just think: What would Jesus have done? I'm not questioning anybody's faith here nor am I identifying anyone, I just hope that you know that he's watching.

One more reason we shouldn't cut queue: the parents. Everyday they come down bringing loads of food for us, expecting nothing much in return, out of the goodness of their hearts. Just imagine what they'll think if they know (and I think they do, it's just unspoken) that people are cutting queue right under their noses. If they can be so kind to you, then why can't you be so kind to others, and NOT cut queue?

Be considerate, don't cut queue. Be considerate, don't let your friends cut your queue. Be considerate, when people cut queue, tell them off, or simply, inform them how long you've been waiting, and that it isn't nice of them to cut your queue. Be considerate, if you're told off for cutting queue, kindly go to the back. Be considerate, don't give that sheepish smile if someone gives you the death glare when you cut queue. Be considerate, have respect.

Today at the queue, I told off a few people who were like trying to cut in front of me, and I gave a few who cut queue a few people ahead of me the death glare of super-sheer-pissed-off-ness. Cutting queue is unacceptable, and the bud should be cut before it blooms, because that's going to be one ugly flower.

I know all of us hate people who cut queue, and if you don't, you rightly should. They think they're more important than you, but we're all equals here. Some choose to join the line only when the queue has died to avoid the drama, but...dude, what of the people who want to get the better food? There are also some who ignore this behavior, but that's not good. It'll spread man.

People may say I'm being bitter, and that I'm jealous. But seriously speaking, I can cut queue as well as anybody. I just know I'm not better than anybody else. This post is mainly here to express my discontent, and to encourage people to put a stop to this practice.

If you've been cutting queue, then please, dude, change your ways man. I'm not taking it personally, and I'll be a fool to take it personally, when a person cuts my queue, but the thing is, it is affecting me personally, so I can't help but be like this. Seriously, stop it. Cut it.

Or in this case, don't.

PS: There are people who let their friends cut queue, but that's not fair. The friend is just as guilty as the queue-cutter, because when he/she lets his friend cut in front of him/her, what of the other people behind? Dude, unless you can get everyone in the queue to agree that you can cut right there, then you can't cut queue, no matter what.

It must be magic.

2008-09-27T22:36:00.002+08:00

I had one of those moments. Have you ever felt like you've already lived what you're going through? As I was lying on my bed, reading my book, and thinking about stuff, as my brother played PSP on the other bend, I felt as if I had gone through the exact experience before; read the same scene of the book, thought the same thoughts in my head, and heard the things I heard, and it was weird.

I can't explain it, but yeah, it happened. And it has happened before, quite a few times. Could it be...I'm a soothsayer, of sorts?

Let's throw this hypothesis in the open. I predict that one of the essays for A-levels would have something to do with magic. It dawned with me...as if by magic. Yes, magic, or perhaps the supernatural. It would be along the lines of "Magic does not exist. Discuss.", or perhaps "The supernatural has no substance. Pardon the pun, and discuss".

If this does come out for A-levels, let this post be proof that I called it first.

2008-09-24T14:49:00.000+08:00

OVER 9000!

2008-09-20T21:06:00.003+08:00

Saw this on digg.com, and it's hilarious.

I can't believe I got the internet meme. As serious as Oprah looks and sounds, as she mobilizes her army of moms, dads, and whatnots, the internet person she quoted in the video is a fake; a poser; a joker. You see, over 9000 was this popular internet video which originated from the anime Dragon Ball Z. Lots of parodies has been made about this "Over 9000" thing, but perhaps, as ironic as it is, Oprah's serious warning, may very well be the most hilarious parody of theom all.

The Original Over-9000 Video

The video itself is not funny; it's just another reincarnation of bandwagon jumping, but my god, my hat's off to the guy who "doesn't forgive, doesn't forget because he has 9000 penises". Not only is he organised and has systematic ways of hurting children, he's from the internet.

Anyways, aside from being ripped off at the doctor's, I've had a good day. There was a really productive geography lecture I attended in the morning, and then I went to the gym for a bit. Also, I bumped into someone I never quite expected to run into at the cafe, and it was quite nice, studying there :).

My Personal Radio

2008-09-19T22:37:00.003+08:00

So a new iPod nano's been released. It's a marked improvement from the previous one, but I'm not going to switch to that bandwagon yet. Sure, iPhone looks fancy, but too many people has it, you know what I mean?

I've run out of space in my 30GB Zune. It's been my faithful companion for the past two years; it's stored my podcasts, videos, images, and most of all, musics. But it's time to move on. At the end of this year...I shall make a jump to...ZUNE 120!

120GB capacity. Holds up to 30,000 songs, 25,000 pictures or 375 hours of video.

Beautiful, big screen. Featuring a 3.2-inch color screen, Zune 120GB is perfect for portable video viewing.

Touch controls. Kiss slow scrolling goodbye. The innovative new Zune pad makes browsing your device a blast. Fly effortlessly through your music, picture, and video collections.

Wireless sync. Cut the cord to your PC. Refresh your Zune with new content anytime you charge your device, through your home wireless network.

Wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing. Share full-length tracks of your favorite songs, albums, playlists, pictures and even audio podcasts. Listen to the full track of any song you receive up to three times, and even pass along songs you receive to other friends nearby who have a Zune. If you like a song you receive, you can easily add it to your wish list and then buy it from your PC the next time you sync.

Built-in FM radio. Tune in to one of your favorite local stations while on the go or working out. Advanced tuning capabilities let you see the name of the song currently playing on select frequencies.

Zune Marketplace. Featuring over 3 million songs, DRM-free MP3s, music videos, audio/video podcasts and more, your store is always open and just a mouse click away. Learn more.

Your games. Your music. Your way. Plug your Zune into your Xbox 360 and customize the soundtrack in your favorite games. You can also stream content in Zune software to your Xbox 360 using a wireless connection.

Buy from FM radio. Instantly purchase songs you hear on FM radio stations directly from your Zune device. If you are in a Wi-Fi hotspot, the song will immediately download to your Zune. If not, you will have a queue of songs ready to purchase when you sync to your home computer. Buy from FM works with radio stations that broadcast RDS and RT Plus data—the same technology that shows the song titles and information on FM radio stations you listen to in your car.

Wirelessly browse and buy on the fly. Browse and purchase tracks from the Zune Marketplace online store directly from your device when in a Wi-Fi hotspot or through a home wireless network.

Audiobooks. To start listening to your favorite book on your Zune, visit audible.com or overdrive.com to sync your favorites.

Games on the go. Free games will keep you entertained on the go.

Awesome, seriously awesome.

But you know what feature will really really attract me towards an mp3? The ability to create mini-radio-station from your player, such that other people can listen to the exact same songs that you're listening to. And it'll also be good if the mp3 had a microphone from where you can talk random crap. It'll remove all the hassles of having to share ear-phones (which is limited to 2 people) and remove the irritant which is the loud-speaker.

So imagine the scene; I'm in Starbucks, chilling, and mindlessly listening to my mp3 player. I get tired of my songs, so I plug into some other person's mp3 "broadcast". I'm introduced to new songs, and I also get to know more about so-and-so. And if the persons seems attractive, music's an awesome way to break the ice.

Mark my words: music is going the way of the social. More power to the individual.

I'm from the Queens.

2008-09-17T22:13:00.002+08:00

I was talking to Jeremy about Queenstown this morning during Econs, and then we got to talking about all the stupid videos we made. I uploaded a few of them ages ago, which were quite awesome, but I deleted them, because as a prefect then, I didn't want to "tarnish" the school's reputation. What the heck lol. I managed to unearth some videos through Raieds' YouTube account and here they are.

The Domino Effect:

I think I was one of the guys on the chairs in this one, or one of the few behind the camera. It's hilarious.

Stupid Fight:

Never was there physically when this video was made, but it's in the CG room, hey! Features YanShan and Raied. Is extremely stupid.

Fighting in Class:

A classic Bernard and Minhazul faux-fight which has grown quite legendary. Has 300000+ views, and loads more comments. The video itself is damn funny, but when you read the comments, everything seems so much more crazier.

There is also another video where an arm breaks in one of their fights; it's quite an epic scene, but everyone has supposedly deleted the video. But I'll upload it when I find it!

Anyways, it's best I go back to studying. See you guys!

Dude, where's your hair?

2008-09-15T22:59:00.002+08:00

So yesterday, I headed over to the usual place at Clark Quay to get my haircut. There's been talks of a hair-check being conducted some time soon, and I didn't want to get caught and sent to the barber. I wanted to go unscathed, uncut. So yeah, on Sunday noon, I found myself in front of the mirror, with some stylist getting my hair "styled".

"You want your fringe?" she asked, after having cut for a quite a while. I said "Yeah, but do cut just a bit," She seemed experienced, as if she knew what she was doing. After having talked with her about my hair, she suggested something quite extreme. "You want a mohawk?" And my eyes' sorta sparkled (I know, I was looking at myself), and I said "Yeah, why not?" because she sounded like she knew what she was doing.

And after all was said, done, cut and paid, there I was with a mohawk. Or not really a mohawk, more of a fake mohawk...a fohawk. It didn't look half-bad, I thought to myself, and it was quite a...radical change. It's semi-short in the middle part, and short everywhere else.

Today, I went to school expecting some sort of reaction, but my god, I seriously think everybody talked about my hair at least once in the course of the day. I don't say this out of arrogance, or anything, but I simply drew stares wherever I walked, stares which said it all: "What the hat?".

And all the conversations I had somehow ended up talking about my hair. EVERYSINGLE ONE OF THEM. I am not kidding you. Everyone brought it up. Friends, strangers, teachers, cleaners, tuck-shop aunties, the photocopy auntie, WTF!.

"Hey, how's prelim results? Dude, you cut your hair?"
"Raymond! What happened?!?!"
"I haven't seen you in ages. What happened to your hair?"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAH!"
"OMG!!!"
"WTF!!"
Someone points from one end of the void deck, and the whole crowd goes like "w00t".

Ahhh. I expected somewhat of a reaction, but again, not to this extent. I must either be really awesome, or the haircut must be really...something. So anyways, people found my haircut weird, in a nutshell, but I don't think so! I get this sorta reaction all the time, whenever I cut my hair, and I think I've a well thought out argument which will suffice to explain this...phenomena.

Let's face it, my face is bleeding interesting. It's been called absolutely everything on earth, almost every adjective, from all spectrum of positivity and negativity. I was born with it. No matter what hairstyle I cut, my face is ODD. So let's say that I cut my hair once, and then it gets a "hey-that's-funny" reaction. This lasts for a week, and then it gets stale. And then I cut my hair again, and this sudden change brings the attention of people to the face once again, and again, I'm interesting!

Let's say I peacock by wearing a pink scarf (hmm...). I wear it on the first day, and "Hey, that's gay," but if I keep wearing it all the time, it'll be "Hey, that's old,". The same applies to my hair, and hence, my face!

With each haircut, the conundrum that is my face gets accentuated and highlight and emphasized upon.

And thus, I bring to a close this hair-saga. I hope you have been enlightened, and when you look at me, learn to appreciate that he's always looked funny, and it's not the hair. Anyways, I'll be going off to study abit. See you around guys, and no, I won't put up pictures of my hair on this blog.

Animal Passions

2008-09-10T22:10:00.002+08:00

As I was walking home from the station today, I was greeted by a sight which had to be seen to believe. On my walk home, there is a diversion I can take which would lead to a nearby park. This place is supposedly almost deserted, yet with my attentive eyes, I spied a couple in the thralls of full-out make-out.

I couldn't make out (ahem) their age, but they were facing each other, the girl sitting on the guy's lap, locked in a passionate, animalistic kiss. Hands wandered and found their way into the inside of a shirt, and I heard a muffled gasp. His hands were nowhere to be seen, and hers had found his belt, clumsily unhooking it...

I blushed on their behalf, and continued my walk home. Just by the way, I didn't stop and gawk; I was walking past with my head fixated on the sight, before politely turning the other cheek.

A part of me was shaking my head, and groaning even, saying "Get a room,", but another part of me felt...was it jealousy? They were so absorbed, and they were in a world of their own, which is what love is, I guess. It's often said that we create our own world. In love, you create your own world with your partner, and sharing that and experiencing that is the best feeling of all.

Ahh, I don't know what to feel.

I just want to play my music.

2008-09-06T08:47:00.002+08:00

It's Saturday...and here in raymond-angelo.blogspot.com, this means that it's...Music Recommendation Time (MRT!) Actually, not really, but this is something I've thinking of doing for awhile. What I'll do is that I'll post songs and the videos of new songs I've been listening, and hopefully, force my taste of music upon you guys, or something.

Name: The Black Kids
Description: Gay in a good way. I like the catchy tunes and quasi-stupid lines.
Song: I've Underestimated My Charms (Again)

Choice line: Oh baby, you're too much sugar for my sweet tooth!

Name: Metro Station
Description: Catchy-indie-rock. Honestly, I'm just making this up, I don't know how to describe them. Techno-rock?
Song: Kelsey. Their current-most-popular song is Shake It, but I like Kelsey more.

Choice line: You're all that I've ever wanted, all that I've ever dreamed of to come. And yes, you did come.

Name: Between The Trees
Description: A band clearly targeted at girls; their songs addresses issues such as self-mutilation, and whatnot. Kinda like All-American Rejects.
Song: Darlin'

Choice line: This is my confession. To the crimes of wanting you. Badly.

Name: The Script
Description: Unique vocals, with an Irish lead, and it's very rhythmic, and head-bobbish.
Song: Breakeven

Choice line: What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you.

Name: Hollywood Undead
Description: They're a very weird mix of rap, hard-rock, and angst. But they sound gooood. If you add Linkin Park and Eminem together, this is what you'll get. It's angry poetry at it's best.
Song: Black Dahlia

Choice line: It was my heart, it was my life, it was my start, IT WAS YOUR KNIFE.

Ok, I'll stop at 5! There's more, gajillions more, I promise, but I've gotta go do my Physics MCQ for NJC now. Went out with Wireman and Darren yesterday to Holland to study and chill, and then today I'll be staying home until my Debate handover later. Ahh. I can't believe it's ending. Oh well.

Could you?
Would you?
When?
Release.

This Goes My Holidays, How Goes Yours?

2008-09-04T08:09:00.004+08:00

My Holidays started last Wednesday, with the end of my last paper (Physics MCQ), so let's do the run-down from then!

Wednesday:
-"Photoshoot" for Teachers' Day at school.
-To Vivo with my class, to hang.

Thursday:
-To Vivo with my class, to watch Wall-E, and to buy stuff. I bought 3 shirts, including one which is super awesome.
-Was supposed to go to Shern's house to make Teachers' Day gift, but was canceled.
-Was supposed to have Clan Head dinner, but was canceled.

Friday:
-Teachers' Day celebration, which saw the OGLs taking the stage one more time, for the most impromptu performance in the history of ever-ever.
-To Queenstown, where I met the guys all over again. Was quite pleased to see that our batch had the most people there.
-To somewhere at Spottiswoode Park with Jeremy, Raied, and the gang, and then to Suntec at Comex to walk-walk.

Saturday:
-To Marina Bay to meet up with Jiaw, Glen Wirawan, and the gang to celebrate Terry's birthday.
-To Clark Quay, after finding out that Marina Bay had become a wasteland, with nothing, nothing, nothing left whatsoever.
-Got highs.

Sunday:
-To Sing Post to study by myself for a few hours.
-To home to exercise after being in Sing Post for only a short while because I felt (was/is) fat.

Monday:
-To Sentosa way too early in the morning with class.
-To Vivo to eat lunch and then go back to Sentosa again, but we got lazy, so we hung around.
-Bought a Storm of Swords.
-To Novena Square to meet up with councilors for dinner at Tim Chua's house.

Tuesday:
-To Changi Airport to study, or try to with Moses, Becca and Jon. We ended up talking shit. The HCMI (Hwa Chong Mental Institute) will become the greatest inside joke ever.

Wednesday:
-To Holland V, Breko, to eat breakfast with PR people.
-Stayed at Holland V, hanging around by myself, deciding whether to go for the OGL/CCAAB group outing to Sentosa or not.
-To Vivo, where I was wandering around again, to wait for Joanne Chin.
-Finally, to Sentosa, where we ended up staying for just a mere 2 hours, but had fun nonetheless with Eisen/Ogl/SB10/SA5 combined outing.
-To Vivo to eat.

Today:
-To town with councilors, to walk-walk and watch movie, I think.

What I didn't mention:
-Hanging out at Facebook (Flair, Tetris, Tagging, Comments)
-Chatting more often than I ever really have on MSN.
-Watching The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.
-Watching online movies (40-Year-Old Virgin, Harold and Kumar 2, Don't Mess With The Zohan, Ironman)
-Reading books (A Song of Ice and Fire series mostly)
-Doing self-improvement stuff, like meditating, and reinforcing my inner-Raymond.
-Guitar Hero and DDR.

Yes, this has been one of the more productive holidays in the history of ever-ever. And that goes my holidays. How goes yours?

I should be happier.

2008-09-04T00:22:00.002+08:00

Seriously, I should be happier. I say this with no conceit (and no shame), but I'm living a life that people would envy to live. LIke...

CUT>

I wanted to whine in this post, and those few lines were the beginning of a long rant, but then when I was about to write why I was unhappy in spite of the good things in my life, I realized that you know, my life IS good, and I've got no reason to complain. Seriously. AHAHHA. I was being a dumbass.

See you guys tomorrow, I've got to meditate.

The Huna

2008-09-02T22:21:00.002+08:00

Raymond Angelo is going all new-age. I just meditated for 5 minutes and I feel soooo fresh. Will be going back to Sentosa tomorrow, with Eisen and the OGLs this time. See you all, and study hard. Remember The Principles of Huna, and you will be made awesome.

Game On

2008-09-02T09:36:00.003+08:00

I watched Wall-E a few days back, and it's bad. By no means is it unwatchable but it's just plain boring. Maybe I'm the weird one here, but it didn't illicit as much laughter from me as I thought it would have. You should know by know that there's very little dialog since the main characters are robots, so do not expect witty quips and quotes. It's a lot of visual dazzle-ton, and visual comedy, which aren't my cup of tea.

Anyways, the best part of the movie in my opinion was the High School Musical 3 trailer which showed before the movie. So let's leave Wall-E in space (hurhur), and I'm going to fan-gasm about HSM3.

OH MY GOD. The trailer was soooooo good.

Moments:
1) The Wildcats pulling on their hoods. If those jackets go on sale, they're mine, I swear it.
2) Troy and Gabriella dancing in the rain!
3) Gabriella emerging from the crowd and breaking into a song for Troy. Holy shit.
4) And Troy giving his "Bet On It" face, as he sings his reply-song to Gabriella.
5) "You can do it, just know that I believe,"
6) The Wildcats winning some sort of championship. You genuinely feel the sense of awe and victory. Roar.
7) Troy sliding on the floor. It only happens for a split-second, and there doesn't seem to be a clear purpose to it, but man it looks cool.
8) Sharpay snapping her fingers and the lights going off.
9) The ending pose of Troy and Gabriella.

My god, I can't believe all this happened in less than 2 minutes, and that I actually made this list. I'm not a hardcore fan, but I get excited very easily :D. I think it's quite awesome how as the Wildcats graduate, I'm leaving ACJC as well. Ahh!

I shan't think about that for now. I'm off to the airport to study. I'm sun-burnt right now, and will likely get more fried tomorrow. Holidays have been awesome so far, and I'm really value-adding myself in many many ways. See you guys soon!

I'm like the higher being which releases the inner-best thrasing within your soul.

2008-09-01T06:21:00.002+08:00

You requested it, and I did it. Goodness, he does look like a cow now :). And this is the last time, I swear. Nipple-Phelps will never be revived ever again. God bless Michael, and may he break more records, and grow more nipples.

The Angel And The One

2008-08-31T21:05:00.000+08:00

It's not my destiny to be the one that you will lay with
So many reasons why I have to go but want to stay here
Sometimes I want a taste but then I don't know what I'm saying
You are the angel and I am the one who is praying

There is another love that I would rather be obeying
I see the ecstasy and already I'm anticipating
I feel a deeper peace and that deeper peace is penetrating
I've got the magic in me, I am complete is what I'm saying

I'm flying up so high, my purple majesty displaying
I've reached a higher place that noone else can make a claim in

I'll take you there my friend
I'm reaching out my hand, so take it
We are the angels, and we are the ones that are praying

Peace, shalom, peace, shalom
Peace, peace
Peace, shalom, peace, shalom
Peace, peace

By Weezer

Everybody Hates Sarah.

2008-08-31T16:55:00.002+08:00

A few posts ago, I put up two Obama-related videos, and in this post, I'm going to dive into US-politics again, because let's face it, it'll affect the course of the free-world, the economy, and our lives in general. Oh, and I've been watching too much of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, and even if those are "comedy" shows, I'd like to think I'm more equipped to comment on the circus that is American Politics than the average blogger.

Obama took a very conservative route by picking Joe Biden as his running-mate. Some people fear that a move is too typical of him, too smart, and goes against his message of "change". After all, Joe Biden has been senator for 20 over years, so what change can he bring about, some may ask.What the Obama camp wants to do is to cover-up his perceived "lack of experience", and also pander to the votes of older voters, I guess. It's a smart move, and he shouldn't be faulted for that.

McCain, on the other hand, does something which was...sort of expected, but is the most unexpected-expected move ever possible. He chose Sarah Palin. And just who is Sarah Palin? Now, I'm sure nobody really knew who Joe Biden was either, but that's from a Singapore perspective...if we were in America, we would have heard of Joe Biden. Sarah Palin on the other hand virtually unknown on all fronts! I gathered some info on her for you guys, so lap it up.

Sarah Fact #1
Sarah has been the Governor of Alaska for a mere year and a half. On top of being in the post for only a short time, Alaska is also (contrary to popular belief), a considerably small state, with a smaller basket of issues. Not wanting to belittle Alaska in this post, but do you think they face the same issues that states in America, and America as a whole face?

Sarah Fact #2
McCain only met her once, about six months ago at some convention. Is this enough to give McCain enough information to aptly judge her as a fitting running-mate?

Sarah Fact #3
Sarah Palin doesn't believe that Global Warming is caused by humans. What the...

Sarah Fact #4
Sarah Palin is pro-choice, which means she is against abortion. Come on, do we really need to regress in terms of our stand on this subject? Personally, I'm pro-choice on this case because I think people should be given the choice to decide whether to have children or not. In a society which is becoming more...sexually-active, for lack of a better term, what do you want to achieve with pro-life policies? You'll get unwanted pregnancies, and you know what they say about "pro-life-ist", "When you're in the womb, you're the priority, but once you're out, nobody cares,"

Sarah Fact #5
She's a creationist. Come the hell on! Again, creationism is not science. It's a pseudo-science. Why? Because it goes against the scientific method; it lacks proof, and whenever evidence against it is presented, it makes up some rubbish, as it had done so many times already.

Sarah Fact #6
Sarah Palin was a former-beauty queen. OK, I for one don't think this matters, but this was on the front page of The Sunday Times today. On the front page read "Sarah Palin was a beauty queen". Seriously? What the heck am I supposed to draw from that headline? It's so sexist and stereotypical that it's laughable. It's like saying "Barack Obama played basketball". It's a headline which plays to the stereotype of beauty means no brains, which I take offense to, because I'm a beautiful creature.

Ahh, I'm fully aware I'm quite biased with the "facts" I chose to put up. Granted, she may be have been amiable as the Governor of Alaska, and may have even done a good job, but is she ready for the Vice-Presidential seat? Looking at her credentials, definitely not. Maybe she'll step up in the coming weeks of Debate, and media coverage, but for now, we can conclude that McCain made a bad decision.

Then why did McCain pick Palin in the first place? The most obvious guess is that he wanted someone who may be seen as "fresh", "energetic" and filled with "vigour". In contrast to Obama's speeches, his has been...dead and tired, and his views as well has been considered as archaic. "More of the same" is what McCain is labeled, and with Palin's pick, he may have wanted to dispel it. But did he really? Palin's an unknown with little credentials and experience. She brings more harm to his campaign than anything else.

It's been said that McCain picked Palin to get Clintonnites, but he cant' be that naive, can he? Other than the fact that she's a woman, almost every single of Palin's stance on issues opposes Clinton's.

C'mon lah, can use your brain abit anots, McCain? I spoke lots about Palin, but this pick also puts into question McCain's decision-skills. Do they exist?

Wow. That's it for me. I'm out. I'm by no means qualified to rattle off like how I did, I know. We're still a long ways to the elections, and in that time, the only way McCain can win is if Palin dispels all the controversy surrounding her, and establish herself as someone inspiring, and fresh, just as Obama did, which is unlikely.

Obama-Biden, for life.

Pimp My Flair

2008-08-30T23:40:00.003+08:00

If you've yet to get a Facebook, I suggest you do so right now, because seriously speaking, you're missing out on so much stuff, it's not even funny. Facebook has become THE media for social interaction through the internet. Aside from features such as "comments", "photos" and "profiles" already available on Friendster, there's also functions such as "events" where you can create events or invite people to them, and "groups" where you create your group, or join. There are "causes" as well, both serious and for fun, where people of common interest can rally together and do shit.

One of the big draws for Facebook is also the plethora of applications made available through it. Games, quizzes, and whatnots exist catering to all-sorts of people. This post is here to sorta pimp one of my favourite applications: Flair, or Pieces of Flair, for long. Flair basically allows you to buy and even create badges, ala Frolick, and put them up on a virtual notice board. It's a simple, yet unique way of expressing yourself, and I'm all behind it.

My flair:

I created the ACJC Orientation, 32nd Council and Gold Collegiate myself! And there's the classic "Three Nipple Phelps", and I've flair-ed an awesome ClanHead+MJ+RJ photo.

So yeah, get your flair on!

Barack Obama: He Completes Us

2008-08-29T20:22:00.003+08:00

An amazing video summarizing the rise of Barack, taken from the Daily Show.

And his keynote speech from 2004, where he took the stage for the first-time ever, really.

The Worst Bus Rides Ever

2008-08-29T18:39:00.002+08:00

After having taken the MRT for at least twice a day, every day, I have grown to relish and seize all opportunities to NOT take the train. This afternoon, after having gone to Queenstown and wandering around Suntec with a bunch of Queenstown people, I was faced with either walking to City Hall to take the train, or walking to Bugis to take bus number '2'. Either way, I would be walking quite a distance, and after considering my fatigue and want to sleep, I took the latter option.

And just my luck, all things that you don't want to happen on a bus ride happened.

Firstly, I missed the bus. I JUST missed the bus. I was taking my sweet time, listening to "How to Win Friends And Influence People" (seriously), and the bus zoomed past me and all I could do was watch the double-decker, semi-empty bus go by without me.

The next bus was to come in 15 minutes. Oh no. I wasn't in a rush anyway, so I just waited there...and waited...until the next 2 came, which was, as luck would have it, single-decker! OH MY GOD. SERIOUSLY. I don't know why they services still exists which are both single-decker and double-decker. It makes my blood boil...so much. How do you expect a single-decker to accommodate the same volume that a double-decker does? I say scrap the single-deckers, damnit.

I rushed into the bus with everybody else. It was a matter of standing up, or sitting down after all. I squirmed my way into the bus, sat down, ended up giving my seat to an elderly (one more reason I hate single-deckers; a seat ain't truly yours), and then I moved to the back and found myself in front of the rear-row, the ones which seat 5 people but usually, and this applies to this case as well, seats only 4. Why 4? Because guys refuse to sit properly, and insist on sitting with their legs wide open. Do you think someone's going to get down on you or something? Seriously? I wasn't going to take none of that, so I said "Excuse me," and planted myself on the middle of the back-row. We then engaged in a battle of knee against knee, and the tension was palpable-ish.

I'm serious about the tension. Like, their legs were so wide open that I was being squeezed, so I retaliated and open my legs to a socially acceptable level. Of course, they refused to budge, and this lead to the...battle below the belt...?

Anyways, there were shouting in the bus as well! Out of nowhere, this ang-moh woman started screaming on this Singaporean youth. "YOU ASSHOLE!", she screamed and "It's not like you're paying for two fares!" she continued. Then the guy tried to defend himself, but I couldn't make out what he was saying because he is a pussy. I'm serious. The guy didn't even try to make a proper case, and he ended up looking so bad and pussy-like. The guy mumbled something to the woman and all she said was "YOU'RE AN ASSSHOLE!". Phwoar.

I think this is what happened: the guy had his bag on the seat beside him, and the ang-moh woman (who got on at bugis as well) asked him to remove it so that she can seat down. I think the guy probably did something socially unacceptable (which is too common in Singapore, I think) like occupy more seat than he should, or push back or something, and he struck a nerve with the woman, and he got blasted. Hell yeah.

The bus ride became more mundane after the shouting, and I fell into slumber, and as usual, having lost sense of timing and rhythm of my waking and sleeping, I missed my stop and ended up further East. Sigh.

So yeah, the recipe for the worst bus ride is a single-decker bus, which is full of inconsiderate passengers, shouting and me missing my stop. And today, all this combined to give an otherwise sour taste to an awesome day. Teachers' Day in AC was best, and then back in Queenstown was best, and then hanging with the Queenstownians was also best. I got the whole holidays ahead of me and I'm going to make it best as well.

Ciaossu!

(n) is better than (n-1) is better than (n-2)...is better than 1.

2008-08-23T19:01:00.007+08:00

In the above equation, n stands for nipple. I apologize to all whose innocence I've tainted with the post below, with the nipples. It just had to be done. Once the thought is inside my head, and the power within my grasp, what's there to stop me? I'll tell you...nothing! HAHAHAHAAHAH.

Original picture.

With 1 extra nipple.

With 2 extra nipples.

With nipple for belly-button.

With nipple for belly-button. It looks like a face. I see nothing but a face.

With nipple for eyes.

Nipple overload.

If Michael Phelps had a nipple for every...wait. Anyways, I have nothing against Michael Phelps; I'm a staunch supporter, and I've watched him swim, and was in awe, along with the rest of you.

I stayed home to relax and chill today, and it went awesomely. After night out with my secondary school buds yesterday, I just slept in, watched movies, read manga, read books, downloaded music, played Guitar Hero, played DDR, and chatted with people on MSN. Studying commences once more tomorrow!

3 is better than 2 is better than 1.

2008-08-23T08:51:00.003+08:00

Backstory:
Me, Jon, Rebecca and Moses were at Changi Airport studying and whatnot, and then we got to talking random nonsense, one of which were...tattoos. And then I started thinking about the weirdest tattoo one could get, and thus, Michael "Three Nipples" Phelps was born.

Imagine the scene if you will: Guy walks into tattoo shops. Lifts up his shirt to show the artist his nipples. "I want this," he says pointing to one nipple, "Here," pointing to a spot just beside that nipple.

Human Geography is anything but Human.

2008-08-20T20:37:00.002+08:00

Hey hey!

Just wanted to say "hi" to you all. It's been ages since I updated, or so it seemed...I've Physics and Economics left; I'll be focusing on those still, so until Friday, no real updates. I'd just like to thank PirateBay and Bittorrent for all the music they've provided me throughout the preparations for prelims, and to Uhh Yeah Dude, Dan Carlin, Smodcast, Pick-up Podcast for keeping me company.

Seriously, if you haven't been downloading music...don't. But I'm just saying the internet, especially PirateBay is rife with quality music. Black Kids, Metro Station, The Script, Say Anything, Vampire Weekend, The Subways...the list is bloody endless.

OK, I've got to practice a few Physics papers before I sleep. G'night!

To come: Raymond's Thoughts on Cloning, Scandal hits Raymond-Angelo.blogspot.com, Raymond Reviews and so much more.

Get Physical with Geography.

2008-08-15T23:22:00.003+08:00

Over the course of the few weeks, I've been spending a whole load of time with my notes, and this is true with geography, more so than any other subject. To those who are curious to know just...how much is the sheer magnitude of the content I've had to mug for this subject, check out this picture, because it'll speak louder than any string of words I can muster.

The monstrosity you see before you is my set of Physical Geography notes. Just Physical Geography notes, without Human Geography, which is around 60% of that thickness, I think.

On another note (heh), my notes are in the worst state I've seen any set of notes fall in. Not a single one is not dog-eared, a few of them are torn, and the staples are barely hanging on, as if held together by a prayer.

Bridge to Terabithia :( and Anna Sophia Robb :)

2008-08-14T23:25:00.004+08:00

It was a Sunday, the day before...ah, I wanted to say the day before my Prelims started, but then I realise that it started on Tuesday, so I guess Sunday is just the day before Monday. Anyways, on Sunday, I had the opportunity to watch "Bridge to Terabithia" on either HBO, or Star Movies, I can't remember. The trailers were on air for ages, and I have heard good things of the movie before. Also, it says the trailers were misleading to a controversial extent, so I decided...yeah, let's watch this show.

This is the trailer, by the way:

The trailer makes it look like some fantasy children's flick, a carbon copy of the likes of Narnia, Harry Potter, Spiderwick, Eragon, and all sorts of ...cliche rubbish, but it's not. Trust me when I say that there's so much more to this than fantasy, because it's not about fantasy: it's abour relationships.

It's boy-meets-girl taken to fantastical levels. It's the childhood love that we always wished we had when we were young, the kind we wish we have even right now, as we're older. If you have the time, or even if you don't (I was supposed to be preparing for my prelims when I watched this!), go check this film out. It should be viewable on any movie sites, like www.66stage.com, or failing that, come to me, and I'll lend you the DVD (which I'll buy!).

This film gets 4.5/5 from me, the 0.5 sorta disappeared because my mum spoiled the story for me half way through when she said "Is this the one where *insert twist here* happens?". It was a good...unexpected, cruel kink in the tale. Wait...no innuendo intended in that previous sentence.

And the female lead is absolutely gorgeous! Anna Sophia Robb, oh my god. I was in love with her throughout the whole show. Apparently, she's 14 right now, but they always say girls mature faster than boys, so let's say I'm supposed to be 18 (yeah, right), but because of the disparity in the rate of increase of maturity, I'm probably only...a year older than her, relatively speaking. YES!

Isn't she pretty? She's...stunning, and she can act, and I really really hope she become something great in the future. Anyways, if she looks familiar, it's because she's appeared in Charlie in the Chocolate Factory as well.

I don't usually get crushes on girls who are so young, but she is the exception.

PS: I know some of you are more interested in my life, hence why you are here at raymond-angelo, so I'll do a quick update. I've been sitting through my papers the past few days. GP and Geog was on Tuesday, and GP was OK, and Geog...not so much. Econs on Wednesday wasn't splendid either. But today was Physics and Maths, and I'm relatively happy with both. No papers tomorrow, but I think I'll be studying in school, anyways. Oh, and my room at my new house is shaping up to be awesome.

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA!!!!!!!!!

2008-08-10T22:43:00.002+08:00

DAMN THIS SHOW! DAMN IT TO HELL.

SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING.

Shall write more when I've the time. But then again, if I had time to watch the show...gah. MUST STUDY. But still...

SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING. SO DEPRESSING.

Ours Is The Fury

2008-08-09T23:31:00.004+08:00

This is more for my convenience, so that I won't have to ask for it from anybody anymore, but you can look at it if you wish. Credits go to Glenn's friend for scanning the page.

For now, my focus is on finishing studying the Physical Geography syllabus, which is a crazy amount, given the immediacy of it all. And then I'm going to get my GP back into shape as well. As you can see, the first few days are hell on Earth, with all my subjects crammed from Tuesday to Thursday.

Post the secret things you do secretly in secret.

2008-08-07T21:56:00.002+08:00

When I drink Coke Zero, or Coke Light, I drink it quick. Quick enough to make me burp. I practically gulp it down. With that, slightly more than half of the Coke is gone. And then I feel the urge to burp, and I do it, without making a noise, of course. Discretely, I direct the burp into the small opening of the Coke, as if I'm giving it CPR. The gases of my burp react with the Coke, in the way wine react with air, or something, and when I drink the Coke again, I sip with great pleasure at the delicate, exquisite excellence of the drink.

The drink tastes so much better for I had given it greater depth, greater dimension. Welcome Coke Raymond. Coke Raymond contains no sugar, but is just as sweet, has no calories, but has plenty of kick.

From one move to the next.

2008-08-05T21:19:00.003+08:00

You know how most people do things which make their lives simpler and more convenient? I'm not one of them. I always do things which will get the same results, for more than the necessary amount of effort. Of course, I always strive to get the best results, but then again, I never take the simplest, most obvious route because it's too easy.

So where has that brought me? I've become a guy who studies in Buona Vista, and lives in Tanah Merah. In case you don't know, Tanah Merah is two stops away from Changi Airport, so how's that for far? But all in all, I think I stand to benefit from the move. Imagine the amount of money I'd save from all those mornings NOT taking the taxi just because I was lazy. Also, the heartlands have always had a special place in my...heart, so I guess with this move, I'll truly get involved, like...study in the void-deck and whatnot.

We moved to a HDB, and yeah, I know most people are like "meh", but it's not that bad. The house is bigger, I think, so in a sense, it's an upgrade. There just isn't a pool, or a gym, but I never liked that pool nor that gym. Let's just say that my condo was located in Geylang, and people who worked in Geylang needed lodging, so they choose to stay at my condo, and they frequented the above-mentioned facilities.

The main problem right now is transport; I could get from anywhere to anywhere from where I was at Geylang. Seriously. The LTA, or whatever, really really REALLY went out of their way to make Geylang accessible. And in Tanah Merah, I've about 5 buses only, and it's further out, so even if I have 14 which goes to school, I don't have the 1h30min++ which it'll take for me to get there. There's always the train I guess.

So yeah, that's me right about now. I'm blogging from my father's laptop because the CPU is down, or something, gah, and we're still settling in. I'm going off to study at the void deck, and tomorrow, let's hope that more people go to school, and that I finally get to watch Batman.

NANANANANANANANA BATMAN.

PS: Happy birthday ZhuYing :). You were always be my favourite ponner!

Whose name is written.

2008-07-31T21:42:00.006+08:00

I'm a very open and trusting person most of the time, so I'm akin to leaving my stuff wherever. For instance, I've got this box on top of the lockers in school which acts as my locker; I trust that people won't look into it, or at least, won't take anything from it. I don't keep mum about my feelings too, which you'll know from reading the posts on this blog.

So today, I left my bag in a few places: left it there for minutes on end without checking on it, as I walk around being the "gas" molecule I am (can't stay put unless it's the right conditions, or something). I left it at four places today: at a void deck table in the morning, at a can-deck table at around 10, at another void deck table around 20 minutes later, and finally at the library. I didn't check my bag in between these intervals.

It was only during our GP period where I checked it thoroughly, as I was taking out my Physics Guidebook. And in my bag, there was a mysterious black book. The picture below is a mere reenactment, but I hope you get the picture.

Upon closer inspections it's...

OH MY GOD IT'S A FREAKING DEATH NOTE!

I'm not making any of this up. I was in class when I took it out and found it any my reaction, if you ask my classmates, was of genuine surprise; the kind you can't fake no matter how hard you try. In the middle of my belongings was a DEATH NOTE. Many thoughts went through my mind...and I opened it, and sure enough, it was a replica of the Death Note from the manga which Yagami Raito had used.

It had the instructions.

It had the name Lind. L. Tailor, L's first fake name.

It also had the list of FBI members Raito had killed...

And even Raito's name, as written by Ryuk. (Yes, I can't understand Japanese, but firstly, it's not Japanese, it's Chinese, because it's produced for the local market I think, and secondly, I asked a Chinese-speaking friend of mine to sorta translate).

And lo-and-freaking-behold, on the page beside Raito Yagami's name, inscribed with the intent of taking away his last breath...was my name.

HOLY POOPOO.

I swear, the moment I read that, my heart started racing like crazy-shit, and I felt scared, and stuff, because seriously, to whom does this kind of things happen to? When I saw the book, I thought someone had dropped it in by mistake, but when I saw my name...it can't be, right? Someone had deliberately put a notebook in my bag with the intention of causing me...I don't know, discomfort, or amusement perhaps?

Right now, I'm amused by it lah, but at that time, I was freaked out to death. The room started spinning and shitz. My classmates were all around me then, and they were either laughing like crazy, or were concerned for my safety. Because, again, how many times does this kind of stuff happen to absolutely anyone?

After...gathering my bearings, and finally calming down, I reflected on how I felt. I was scared at first, fearful for my life. And then I was flushed that someone would play a prank on me like that. And then I felt amused, and now, I'm almost proud of it. Why? Because someone was willing to:

1) Buy a special notebook, which you had to buy from a Comic Connection, for real money.
2) Write with his/her non-writing hand to disguise his/her penmanship.
3) Know the correct spelling of my full name.
4) Put the notebook in my bag in plain sight, with the risk of getting caught.

So yeah, thanks whoever, because now, I've got an awesome story to have blogged about, or tell in the future, as well as a new notebook.

But seriously. How many times does this kind of stuff happen to ANYONE?!

PS: Apparently, the person tried to write other stuff as well, but he/she decided to rub it off. The pencil marks can still be seen. So, in CSI style, I'm going to try to deciper what was actually being written at first. My guess is that it's a description of my death, and this will be a key element in getting to the bottom of this shindig. I'll keep you guys updated.

Ciaossu.

The Burdens of a Stronger Man

2008-07-29T11:41:00.005+08:00

I missed school this morning because I was just so tired. That, and I wasn't really missing anything but a 40-minute Malay B and GP lesson, but that's beside the point: I'm exhausted in so many ways. Let's list the things which are of nearly equal importance:

1) Outstanding Line-In stuff, such as chasing CCAs for photos and chasing people for articles.
2) The PRELIMS (13 days time).
3) Passing my broad-jump. 20 centimetres have never felt further.
4) Packing my stuff in preparations for the move to Tanah Merah.
5) My one-itis.

See? Outstanding Line-in Stuff has to be settled ASAP, but studying for PRELIMS seem important as well. Then again, so does passing my broad jump; if I fail, 2 months of my life are gone. And then I'm moving on Sunday, and I'm not even a quarter-of-the-way through packing. And then there's one-itis...which doesn't seem too important, but it is, because I don't want to lose it, if you know what I'm talking about.

So yeah, I took the morning off, and I'll be going to school later. The Line-In stuff has pretty much been settled, I'm training for broad jump everyday so let's just hope it works out, and my packing will be done irregardless, so let's forget about that for now. Then there's the PRELIMS...for which I'll just hope for the best and then there's my one-itis for which...sigh.

I'm off to school now! Thanks to all those who were like 'whoa' with my last post, and who thanked me for being honest, and for giving some insights into, not just mine, but their current affairs.

Oh. Joke time.

Q: When is a door not a door?
A: When it is ajar!

My former self is a shadow of my current self, which will be a shadow of my latter self.

2008-07-26T22:07:00.003+08:00

Note: This post is really long, and to save you the inconvenience of reading through it, and then discovering you aren't really that interested and that you've wasted your time, the gist of it is that Raymond met a girl, broke-up with said girl, and has changed significantly since. How, in what ways, who, what, huh? Read on.

The date 25th of July is significant to me for 2 reasons. Firstly, it's my father's birthday (happy birthday dad!), and secondly, and this will come a surprise to some, it was the beginning of my first relationship. Without a doubt, my dad's birthday is a very special event, but the latter was just life-changing, especially to me who hasn't had much...of a life (sad, I know).

Prior to July 25th, the two of us have been corresponding much, over MSN, over the phone, and we even met up once or twice to just talk. At first it was awkweird, but I guess being 16, everything was bound to be that way. It was Hawker who pushed me to her, or her to me, whatever, but she added me on MSN, and things just happened from there.

On July 25th, she was at Esplanade, hanging with two of her friends, who were a couple, I think. On my side, I was at home, supposedly studying for my O-levels, but actually working out on my swiss ball (no joke). We were messaging too, and the messages culminated into me showering and hauling-ass to Esplanade, because she was kinda sian-ed there. I remember rushing through everything; the shower, the waxing, the choosing of clothes, because I wanted to get there soon, so as not to keep her waiting. There was this nervous energy within me because I knew something special was going to happen.

I could have taken one of two buses to get to Esplanade, but, again, I went the extra mile by taking a taxi. "The extra mile" seems like a recurrent issue in our relationship, because that's how far I always went, or at the very least, tried to go. It was before 7 too, so there was the surcharge...So anyways, I arrived at Esplanade, and she was at the rooftop, so I climbed up there, rushing through the escalators two steps at a time. At the rooftop, the wind stung. After a bit of walking around, I saw her...I can't remember just how I felt, but I can...taste it? Sweet, tangy, spicy, all-around superb.

So I sat there, and she was there beside me, and we talked plenty, and it still felt awkward for me, but maybe that's because I just had some weird-ass hair-cut a few days before and it was stinking ughleh. So anyways, we listened to music: High School Musical, which is corny, I know, but it was all the rage at the time, and just so you know, I watched it before it was ever released in Singapore (I blogged about it!), so I'm a pioneer. And then we sang, and that was the first time I found out my voice sucked, because she sorta shhh-ed me out. If you're reading this, you're voice ain't that great either...nah, just kidding.

You know how guys never make a move because they don't want to affect things? Don't want to cross the line? Don't want to ruin the equilibrium? I was one of those guys, but then, I thought that I didn't want to stay that way when we could be having so much more. So, in a corny fashion I think I saw in some movie, I was like..."What are we?", and then she was like..."Close-ish friends,", or something, and then I went "Do you want to?" and she nodded her head. And then she placed her hand on mine. And as we walked down Esplanade, we were as close as could be.

We made an agreement not to tell anyone yet, but eventually, everyone knew, I think. I told Yan Shan the very next day, and then some other people, and she didn't scold me for it. My classmates knew, my friends knew, her classmates knew, her friends knew and even the teachers knew, and I felt safe in their knowledge, safe that it wasn't all going to disappear in one fell swoop (which it did, eventually).

We went out so often back then, to Tiong, to Suntec, to Marina, to Bugis, to Bukit Merah Library to mug, and other places (though we were never a fan of Orchard). She made me forget, and miss my friends' birthdays. I forgot Glen Wirawan's one...we were supposed to go out, and he called me, but I was with her...I hadn't learned the saying "Bros before hoes," yet, and no, I'm not implying anyone is a hoe, nor am I implying anyone is a hoe.

I was extremely happy then. Not that I wasn't happy in the Prefectorial Board, in the Drama Club (and all our shit-ass crazy shit), in the Debate Team (and again, all our retarded stuff), amongst my friends, and in class...I was, for the first time in my life, being loved, and loving back. There's no better feeling, and at the end of the day, to me, what was more important was having someone you could love with all your heart, rather than being loved, which was why I held on for so long, I think.

So yes, we spent a lot of time with each other, through my Os, through the holidays, and then she left for a holiday to Taiwan, which I guess was the turning point of this whole...happiness thing. She sorta e-mailed me saying she met some guy (let's call him Davin) who she's being friendly with, and she told me it wasn't going to be anything, but seriously, if you e-mail me about a guy, and you have to assure me that nothing's going to be happening, I'm going to be a wreck. And man, was I a wreck. I wrote this horrible love song/poem/letter which I think my mum read. And it had those dried tear drops on it...man.

So she comes back, and I wanted to fetch her at the airport, but she wouldn't let me, and then I wanted to meet her downstairs from her place (I was at Yan Shan's house then) but she wouldn't let me. She had left a part of her in Taiwan, wherever the hell that is, and that part of her was the part which cared about me, that was what I thought.

I was flying off to Pakistan in a few days, for three weeks (holy shit that's long), and yeah...if I didn't do anything, things were going to get worse for us, right? So after much talking, and talking, we eventually met again, and we were happy, but not pre-Taiwan happy, but still, couple-y happy. When I finally flew off to Pakistan, she was there with me at the airport, and she gave me something special...and I...didn't...that, combined with me being away for so long...there goes the balance! Ball's on her side of the court, permanently!

So I was in Pakistan looking for Osama Bin Laden, and she was in Singapore being miserable. She even asked for my permission to go out with Davin (refer to earlier paragraph), and I let her, and it turned out horrible, because compared to me...meh. So yeah, she was bored, and she wanted me to come back, but I couldn't, and when I finally came back, some things happened which made everything so much worse...sigh.

Our relationship died after that holidays. We both went to different schools now, which made everything harder. I was trying to make something of myself in AC, and she was holding me back, and I let her, and on her side, she was having fun, and being herself. I remember going out with her after school, and even skipping lectures to leave school earlier. Like I said, the ball was on her court, and she had much control over me...and it was horrible, but I didn't want to let go, in a way.

So eventually, things fizzled out. There were happy times, like Chinese New Year, and just hanging out...and there was my birthday too, though on hindsight, I've a feeling she was simply waiting for it to pass, because she broke up with me several days after.

It wasn't an official break-up, and there were many loose ends. We were at Harbour Front, and then we were on our way home, and when usually I take the same bus as her, she didn't let me. I felt that things were falling apart before, and I felt that if I didn't take that bus with her, things would fall apart. After much protest, she boarded the bus alone. I sent her this long message about how I knew something was wrong, and she sent me this short message: No, everything's fine.

And just like that, she wouldn't pick up my calls, reply to my messages and respond to me on MSN. When I asked her friend what was happening, it seemed that we had broken up, in a way.

And that was it. I tried to move away from her, but I found myself coming back at times, to her, to messaging her and shit, never getting a reply. I saw her when I came back to help out in Drama (or is it I came back to help out in drama to see her), but we never really acknowledged each other's presence. Eventually, I blocked her of MSN and deleted her. I took out the photos too, they had to go.

I immersed myself in AC: I joined Council, I ran for Line-in Presidency, I was a more active member of Debate. I hung out with my AC friends more, especially my class. And I'm so much better for it, I think. I tackled AC-life with much gusto, drowning myself in Orientation, AC's Got Talent and what not, and I'm so much better for it. Also, I've had several crushes since, but nothing more...sadly, but yeah, I'm an eternal optimist, so things will happen, and if not, I'll make it happen.

Whereas before, I was this needy, pathetic, dependent boyfriend, I'm more of a...I don't know...force of nature? Like my friends described me, I'm like this gas molecule, who keeps colliding and moving around, in a space of his own, only settling down at the right temperature and pressure. Wait a minute, maybe that was how I was before I met her, and she was the right temperature and pressure, or something like that. My secondary school english teacher was pairing up people once, so that they can work together to improve their english, and then when it came to me, my teacher said I didn't really need anyone, and I'm like a lone wolf: this made me happy and sad at the same time.

I guess at the end of the day, I'm still thankful for what had happened, and I have changed alot because of what had happened, and in my next relationship, whenever it will come, I will handle it much differently, expertly in fact, because I am different now: I am a man. Not just any man, but a man of council, a man of AC, a man of life.

So yeah, I'm a different person know, and this post is to sorta just say that I've moved on, like really really. I've always been a fan of ceremonies, and I wanted this out on the 25th, to mark the date, but due to circumstances, it could only be out this morning. Thanks for reading this all the way until the end. Will there be another continuation to this "feelings and shit" saga? I hope so, and I want to write about love again, and how it turns my inside into jello.

Thanks to Jeremy, Hawker, Yan Shan, Glen Wirawan, my mum, and all the others who helped me along the way. Thanks also to my AC friends, specifically the PR people, Councilors, classmates, and people who have made my life better. Oh, and thanks to Delise, you were the best.

But then again, the best is yet to be.

PS: I won't be updating in awhile because of my Prelims, and A's. Look-out for my facebook and msn, where I'll put up a notice.

Kungfu Panda 2: Drunken Paws

2008-07-03T00:04:00.002+08:00

Kungfu Panda was the sleeper hit of the June Holidays; prior to the show, a lot of people thought it was going to be stupid, but it turned out to be quite awesome. Needless to say, a few years from now, a sequel of this show will come out, which will be equally as well-received, I'm sure. I have gazed into my crystal ball, and below is the plot of Kungfu Panda 2, also known as Drunken Paws, which centres around the coming of age of the legendary warrior.

Pre-script: This plot goes with the assumption that Po is not as old as everyone thinks he is: a more accurate estimate of his age is 15. Several evidence point to this. His reliance on his father, his lack of independence, his immaturity are also signs of an adolescent. Also, he has the hots for the tiger, though this part was removed from the movie. Ignore his voice.

The movie starts with Po's birthday. And of course, it's not just any birthday, but it's his 18th birthday. The Furious 5, and his master plan this big surprise for Po...and of course, they've brought...the thing that all 18 year-olds want...ALCOHOL.

Po is exposed to his first sip of the intoxicating delicacy, and he is enamored by it. The cool taste delights his taste buds...and he drinks until he gets drunk, and then, under the influence, he challenges the Furious 5 to a fight. The alcohol gets to his head, and stuff, and he discovers a new fighting style...DRUNKEN KUNGFU. Using his new style, he disposes off the Furious 5, in a series of fury swipes and a flurry of paws.

This fight is witnessed by alcohol tycoon, Tiger Fear, the leading producer of alcohol in Ancient China...who happens to be the Tigress' (pardon me, I can't remember her name) uncle.

Dazzled by Po's display of fighting genius, he goes up to Po with an audacious offer: to be the promoter for his alcohol brand, Tiger Alcohol. Po, still drunk, accepts the offer, and from then on, he became the promoter of Tiger Alcohol.

To be continued: I still have work to do!

Uhh Yeah Dude

2008-06-24T22:56:00.003+08:00

So I wake up really early, for once, and took the train, and then reached school at 650. I was happy at first, because I felt that I could have more time to get a feel for the school, but then I realize I'm too early because school starts at 810 on Tuesdays. I could have been sleeping up to 650, and I would have reached home on time. Gar.

And then I'm at the library during my breaks, studying with Zhuying. I've picked up the habit of listening to podcasts while studying. It's effective, but only to an extent, because...you wind up looking like an idiot. I'm serious. So there I was, in the library, notes and books sprawled across the table. My Zune was on me, and though it looked like I was listening to music, I wasn't. I was listening to this podcast called "Uhh Yeah Dude". And it's crazy funny.

It's two guys talking, simple as that, but they're hilarious. The particular segment I was listening to was them talking about racing horses, made-up names and slang for drugs. One guy gives three names, and the other guy tries to guess which was which. It was hilarious, and I was cracking up, but I still looked like I was only listening to music, so I looked retarded.

"Hey, look, there's Raymond. He's smiling at us! Yay! OMG, he's laughing. And he's shaking. And he's smiling again. Now that's just creepy,"

So we left the library and resumed our studies in the void deck. Where I resumed listening to my podcasts, and laughing like some fool. Oh well, at least I wasn't as conspicuous .

GP was weird because I came late...because I was stuck in the toilet.

Stayed in school to study until around 745, when Moses' father drove me to Sing Post where I stocked up on study stuff, and Men's Health.

That's it. I've missed doing this daily post sorta thing, and just to prove that Racing Horses have weird names, here are a few of them I've taken right off The NewPaper. By no means is it exhaustive, but it's ridiculous enough. Seriously, the process of naming a horse probably goes like this: Look for a word. Look for an unrelated describing word. And combine.

The Horses which Horsed Around

-King and King
-Hello Gilmon
-Moment of Truth
-Jolie's Shinju
-The Hatchet Man (This is awesome)
-Prior King
-Sky Dragon Bird
-Leopard Strike (Again, awesome)
-Fashion Thunder
-Batman Kid
-Colourland Supreme
-Haveaniceday
-Coffeentea
-Hello N Bye
-Just Like Tiger (Awesome!)
-Best Humour (wOOt)
-Successful Man
-Time Lion
-Me Bestz (srzly)

And...if Raymond had a horse it's name will be...Mane Competitor (HA!).

18 Ways to Tell You've Got A Good Work-Out

2008-06-21T22:52:00.003+08:00

1. People say "Wow, you've lost weight!" and you no longer feel compelled to return the complement, because if they're not lying, then you shouldn't be, either.

2. Your cheeks are numb. And not just the ones on your face either.

3. Your $39 earphones, engineered to withstand the rigour of the gym, designed ergonomically to minimize slippage, fail you...the very first time you use it.

4. You look at the weighing scale not to check your weight, but to get a glimpse of your reflection on the glass.

5. Your hair and face is no longer the only thing you look at when faced with a mirror.

6. You start the work-out with some stuff written on your palm with marker, and when you finish, all that's left on your palm is a black smudge, and on your face, and on other places are mysterious blotches of ink.

7. You vomit, and it's not because of nausea.

8. You have a work-out playlist on your mp3 player. Some of it's songs are Stronger and Workout Plan by Kanye, Eye of the Tiger, Pompeii and the First Pokemon Theme Song.

9. You drink Coke Light, or Zero, out of habit, and not out of fear of the intense calorie dosage of the normal coke.

10. ABS.

11. Your shirts feel tighter only at the biceps, and not anywhere else.

12. You have more dimples. Everywhere.

13. You hurt at places which didn't know could hurt. (ARGHHH! MY EARLOBES!)

14. Dance-Dance-Revolution is no longer a challenge.

15. You jay-walk across half of the road, but turn back because you don't trust your mind to be alert enough to avoid being road-kill. You still nearly get yourself killed, however. (Seriously, phew!)

16. You can't keep your hands off yourself.

17. You can't keep other people's hands off yourself.

18. You fabricate a list.

I'm going to talk about love

2008-06-13T08:15:00.003+08:00

In the next post. For now, there's this interesting quiz I nipped from some place; let's do this instead!

1) At what age do you wish to marry?
Before 35. My wife will probably be younger though. Just a thought.

2) Study hard or play hard?
Make study play, and make play study. If that makes sense.

3) Who is the person you trust the most?
Me. My mum.

4) Do you think you have enough confidence?
Yes.

5) If you can have a dream, what would it be?
Children, a loving wife, lots of friends, great job, and lots of money. It's not really a dream, more of a vision.

6) Do you believe in seeing a rainbow after the rain?
Yeap.

7) What is your goal for this year?
Get fit, score well, and make my last moments in AC meaningful. And find IT.

8) Do you believe in eternity love?
Eternity's a really long time, so not really.

9) Have you broken someone's heart that he/she tried to commit suicide?
Nope. I'd like to think I did, but it's always the other way around.

10) What feeling do you love the most?
Wanton pleasure. Envy from others.

11) What are the requirements that you wish from your other half?
Nothing much lah; physical attraction aside, I want someone compassionate, caring, smart, literate, not narrow-minded and it'll be fine.

12) What feeling do you hate the most?
Helplessness. Also, loneliness, especially loneliness in a crowd.

13) Do you cherish every friendship of yours?
I'd love to say every, but that's an absolute I can't deal with.

14) What do you think is the most important thing in your life?
My personality.

15) Who do you hope to be always there for you?
Everyone, I think. As in...yeah, everyone, I can't explain it, but it feels good to have the mentality that the whole world is there for you.

16) Who is your best friend?
There's a few. But guys aren't the kind who...labels people as being their "best" friend, because it'll just be weird.

17) Who cares for you the most?
I care about myself. And probably my parents.

18) Who do you love most?
Nobody knows. Except for me. And a few people.

2008-06-08T23:07:00.001+08:00

"Do not walk with a woman just for to lay with her; rather, lay with her because you walk together with her." -- Hebrews 8:4.

2008-06-01T22:07:00.001+08:00

I'll be going to Bintan for the whole of next week!

Sorry for the lack of updates! Preparing for OCIP was more work than I imagined. I'll break the silence when I come back!

Cap Wax

2008-05-25T14:06:00.002+08:00

Is it weird to wax my hair and then put a cap on? I hope I'm not alone in this. I like the texture you get when you wax your hair, and then when you put your cap on, the fringe looks very grunge.

One Nation Under Lee

2008-05-24T23:23:00.002+08:00

Hey readers!

Have you heard of "One Nation Under Lee"? I'm guessing you haven't. It seems like that media has put some sort of blanket on this...issue. "One Nation Under Lee" is a 45-minute long video on Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. It's a video which is very critical of him, and like as with anything remotely critical of the Singapore government, it was made to, for lack of a better word, de-exist (which is the opposite of exist, duh).

During it's private screening, the film was seized by representatives of the MDA. You can get the full story here.

I'm not going to make any comments on the video, because I'm a pussy, but I'll just question the objectivity of the SPH on this...I mean seriously, the content of the video was pretty mind-blowing, if not at least controversial, and in any other country, the media would have been all over it. The fact that there was a private screening, and some sort of ruckus involved in getting the tape is also media-worthy.

Yet, there's nothing. I ran a search of "One Nation Uner Lee" on google and yahoo and found that our "official" (aka government-sanctioned) news agencies have nothing on this. Absolutely nothing. Channel News Asia has nothing as well. Wait...wait...just ran a search on Straits Times and there was an article on 21st May. I'll look it up. And edit.

But anyways, content trust-worthiness aside, I think the video's worth viewing once. Search for them at Google Video, and YouTube. Find them before they're taken down, quick!

On other news on Singapore's censorship, popular sites RedTube.com and YouPorn.com has been banned. Oh dear.

The sites, which were banned after the authorities received feedback from the public, are the latest additions to a list of 100 "mass impact objectionable" pornographic websites banned in Singapore.

Say it with me, oh dear. Think of how the Singaporean youths will be protected!

MAXIMum Exposure

2008-05-21T19:22:00.002+08:00

On Vesak Day, I headed over to Paradiz to play pool with Weikeat, Salih, Weiting and Tim Koh. After a stay-home Sunday, of studying, DDR, Guitar Hero, Eyeshield 21, Sentai and Okami, I was eager to go out, take in the pollution of "town", and interact with the masses in general. My pool abilities were...so-so, and I didn't win much. The balls were horrible; the cue literally flew off the tables a gajillion times, in unexpected directions.

But fun nonetheless!

Anyhow, we went to 7-11 for some after-pool snack, drinks and whatever, and our eyes, like all other guy's eyes wandered over to the magazine section. I don't know about the rest, but I was wondering whether the latest issue of Men's Health was out...but we saw this couple pouring over an issue of Maxim! I was obviously astounded that a girl was reading Maxim in public, and with what-looked-like her boyfriend...and then Weiting goes up to them and says high. Apparently, they were from Clementi Town as well.

So yada-yada, they did some catching up, and bla-bla-bla, and BOOM, we had the revelation of the night! The reason why had their eyes on Maxim, the magazine purchased only by small pre-pubescent boys so that they've got something to do during those lonely nights was because....THE CHICK ON THE COVER GOES TO SCHOOL WITH THEM! AND SHE'S MY AGE! HOLY MOLY!

I seriously can't imagine anyone who is at my age group posing in skimpy bikinis for magazines. I don't react well to famous people, and to little-clothed people, and if you put that together, I practically explode. Just...it's so awkward and weird! The attention she's garnered, from her friends, and worse, from her teachers, and even worse, from her family members! There's bound to be guys who know her who read the magazine, and then...just imagine how they'll react.

Her friends will be fantasizing about her (they're passing around copies of her pictures, probably!).
Her lecturers will be fantasizing about her (they've got copies back in their offices, probably!).
And her relatives (especially the uncles) will attend in full force the next reunion dinner, and giver her extra hongbaos (...).
And her brothers...
And her father...

Let's just stop. And in case you're thinking "Raymond's so mean!", I'm not, because I'm not judging her, I'm just poking fun of her situation. She probably has her reasons and justifications. I'm glad I'm not in her shoes. Nor bikini. Wait...

Let's just stop. Must control...

PS: I don't want to put up weirdly interesting images on my blog, so just click here if you want to see this really gorgeous, brave lady.

Interesting tidbit 1: When brainstorming for the theme of Orientation 2008, one of the ideas that popped up was mACsimum ACsposure. Clearly, this is the worst name to ever grace the material world, transcending the barrier between this world and the place-where-bullshit-lie-undisturbed. I mean, double AC-punnage, and it just sounds voyeur-istic.

Interesting tidbit 2: Scratch that. The worse name was ACDonalds; I'm Loving It, or KAC; Finger Licking Good. Those are just...either really really bad, or plain fast (food) and furious.

The Roll has Stopped

2008-05-20T20:28:00.003+08:00

And just like that, I'm on a break. Sorry for the lack of updates! Over the long weekend, I found myself saddled with work, both new work popping out, and old work catching up to me. It will be over by tomorrow, I hope.

I'm organizing the upcoming SDS, well not really, since most of the stuff has been taken care of by Shern before me, but, yeah, it's quite abit of work. There's also Line-in issues to address; with the workshop conducted on Saturday, Line-in has more things to do, in the future. This applies to the next batch, so I'm holding a meeting to prime them on what they've to do.

Oh, and don't get me started on OCIP. I had to travel back from Toa Payoh after cheering just to discuss OCIP matters. It seems like there's work to be done in that area as well.

Sigh. Anyways, a good way to kill time on the net, which I've discovered is looking at advertisements! Check out www.adsoftheworld.com for images and videos of advertisements around the world. Some of them are just plain mind-blowing...and it's something I think I would be able to do in the future. It's interesting anyhow. Oh, and there's some nudity. Yeah, that is the "activation" word for guys, I know.

Some gems:

And he's gone.

Planet Saturday

2008-05-17T10:12:00.002+08:00

It just occurred to me how Saturday is, assuming the 1st day of the week is Monday, is the 6th day of the week. The word Saturday obviously has its roots from the planet Saturn... which is the 6th planet of the Solar System! Oh my god.

So, if we consider that the days correspond to the planets in our astral realm, then Wednesday is Earth Day. Technically, Earth Day is held on April 22, but imagine if we can hold it every week? On Earth Day, we try our best to live as ecologically friendly as possible, but imagine if we do it, instead of annually, weekly!

We'll be so many steps closer in fighting the war against global warming, which has become a NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE (according to McCain's campaign).

Seriously wtf.

But anyways, make every Wednesday the day you become more environmentally conscious. Instead of taking your parents car, take buses or MRT! Make an effort to recycle all clans! Save a polar bear!

You know what to do.

No Blenders and Nanas

2008-05-15T21:23:00.005+08:00

I've this bad habit of making fun of people relentlessly. It's not that I hate them; it's just that certain aspects or qualities of that person pisses the hell out of me, and I can't help but...bitch. I'm not saying that making fun of people isn't good, because when I do it, it's in the spirit of good fun (mostly)...but I think I've gone overboard.

Without having even met them, I make a shallow judgment based on what little things I know, and that's not very wise, nor objective. And even if I do know that I'm only insulting them for "fun", it's never really for fun, is it? I mean, how much longer can you go on without developing a sense of animosity towards that person, whoever she or she is?

So yeah, I'm guessing no one else will get this, but I'm not doing this for you guys, but I'm doing this as a pledge to myself. That I shall refrain from insulting people behind their backs; that when I make fun of people, I do it to their face, and with a self-satisfactory grin.

I think I may have evolved. Which brings me to today's picture!

I wish more magazines will do this.

This update wasn't much, even I think so. But wait for the next one. Imagine Osama Bin Laden, riding a unicorn, with Oprah towards a rainbow. Only cooler. And less gay.

This is my Talents. Let me show you them.

2008-05-14T21:52:00.003+08:00

Working as the Publicity I/C of AC's Got Talent was pretty much...one of the most challenging things I've done. It wasn't a job very well-done, now that I think about it, but on my part, I can honestly say that I've worked my heart out on this project, and I'm proud of what I have been able to accomplish.

Here are some of my posters! I really regret not having asked for more help, from other CCAs, like Spectra or something, but I guess I'll learn from this mistakes. I used Photoshop CS3, and Photoshop Premiere Pro to make these. Never having seen the necessity to make such fanciful creations, I only learned using them not long before I started on everything, and most of the things I know, I credit to tutorials, and sheer grit and ingenuity. And brushes.

All in all, there were 1? posters, 3 stickers (one which was not approved), and 1? videos. *Shock and awe*. But seriously...I'm glad it's over, and I'm freaking proud of myself.

Mouse Guard

2008-05-13T21:27:00.003+08:00

"They are not simply soldiers that fight off intruders; rather, they are guides for the common mice looking to journey without confrontation from one hidden mouse village to another. The Guard patrols borders, finds safeways and paths through dangerous territories and treacherous terrain, watches weather patterns, and keeps the mouse territories free of predators. They do so with fearless dedication so that they might not just exist, but truly live."

Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 is a little treasure I found in the ACJC library. It's a story about the society of mice, and the Mouse Guard which fights to preserve the sanctity of this society. Truly, no story has moved me quite as much as this comic has. It draws you in with it's cutesy appeal, but what truly grabs you is the characters and the plot, which is intriguing, and something you will truly pay attention to.

I'll be buying the second book of the series because I don't think the library stocks it. Sigh. Anyways, the library's copy is with me, so if you're interested, you know where to look.

"I will command every creature with this axe. Wolves will never threaten us. We will never have another war with weasels. Serpents will become extinct. The symbol of our past will forge our future."

Good Vandalism

2008-05-12T22:32:00.003+08:00

Being a councilor in my college, I lost my ability to vandalize. I can't leave my mark on the tables, the chairs, and what-not. I guess, to that point, it's the college's loss, for we all know everything I touch turns to gold (I'm Midas, sshhh). But I was placed at a moral gray area a few weeks back when I saw a very interesting vandalism.

On the table was the three words "F*** This World". Oh my god. There's no place for vulgarities in this institution, or any institution for that matter! I firmly believe that vulgarities are fine, so long as it doesn't disturb anybody else, and this piece of vandalism was in plain sight of everyone. Disgusting behaviour, tsk.

So, at the risk of being labeled a vandal, I took action. The irony was, to defeat the vandal, I had to become a vandal. With liquid paper in hand, I made a modification, and just like that, problem solved. Brilliancy.

No Pain, No Rain

2008-05-11T22:06:00.002+08:00

I had the great pleasure of watching Speed Racer this afternoon with my brothers and my mum (happy mothers' day, mum!) and it was a treat. If you haven't watched it, please do, and remember to buckle up, keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times and there will be no premature ejections. I meant...never mind.

So anyways, the stories not all about racing, if that's what your afraid of. It goes beyond the typical sports storyline of rivalry and garang-ness so common in the genre. Not to say that there aren't any, because there's plenty in fact, but what is different about this show is that it's not afraid to go beyond the flash and dash of racing. It delves into the involvement of the invisible hand of consumerism and materialism into what many sees as pure sport.

The attention given to the background of the races is a worth foil to the adrenaline-pumping showdowns. The visuals and the excitement come fast and furious during the races. Perfectly rendered dream-like machines speed past a world which exists only in fantasy. The details are jaw-dropping, and there are many little touches that is worthy of one's eyes. The choreography of the cars FREAKING JOUSTING with each other is another sight to lo and behold. I guess one can't expect any less from the guys who brought us the Matrix.

There was a fight-scene towards the end of the show which was just awesome. I mean, seriously awesome.

The characters are well-developed, mostly. The family felt very close throughout the movie, and there are relationships which are on a very deep emotional level, such as brother-brother relationship, and father-son relationship. There's also Speed's (That's the main character's name. And his last name is RACER. SPEED RACER, holy carp) relationship with his girlfriend which got very very suggestive for a PG movie, but what the heck, I liked it. Oh, and Christina Ricci, who played the love interest, is. as. hot. as. freaking. hell.

Seriously. Everything about her had me caught.

Look out for Racer X (pronounce it really fast, and you'll know who he is!). There's a twist, and then another in the movie regarding certain characters, and it was very well-played.

I was irritated by a few characters though. The youngest brother and the random chimp was the first. I had no idea what their role was, and their relationship with Speed was minimal, almost non-existent. They provided comic relief, sure, but they were unfunny. I'm sorry, but visual gags make me gag. But puns do not.

AND RAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Funny thing that happened before the movie: when we went in, the Rain shampoo commercial was playing, and my mother started laughing, and so did the couple just in front of us. It was the way he struggled with "My name is Rain," my mum said. Oh, and everything else he says in that commercial is retarded.

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"With the world watching...my hair!"
"I like black, black is confident, black is good!"
"My name is RAIN!"

Anyways, his role in the story was minimal, retarded, and made no sense. Goodness, his sister wasn't even pretty. At least he was. Rain plays this racer called Taejo, who depends on Speed to help him win some race, which will prevent his father's company from collapsing. And then he causes some "traitor-ing", which affects the story but for a smallest bit, and then he does some random celebrating here and there and his gone. Which is good, I guess, because I had some difficulty understanding what he was saying.

Not that I hate Rain. I like him, I admire him. He was voted the 2nd Times Most Influential Person (it was won by the nintendo guy) by the people, beating Stephen Colbert, who I voted for. I condemned Rain at first, but after watching an episode of the Colbert Report which featured Rain, Rain has gained my respect, my awe, and my heart. Watch this clip to see what I mean:

REAL MAN PLAY DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION!

Sexed Up

2008-05-10T20:05:00.002+08:00

After months of absence, Raymond Angelo is back to claim the void he has left on the net and in your hearts. Seriously, how you've been able to spend your time on the net without the presence of yours truly escapes me, and I apologise for any agony, heart-wrench-ment (I now possess the power to create words) and and tears I have caused.

Let's celebrate my return with something everybody likes: Sex. What's my stand on sex? I say it's good, if done responsibly, but it is not a big a deal as everyone makes it out to be. The condemnation the sexual actions, behaviors and expression receives is truly horrifying and unjustified, and if I had the choice, and the power, I'll do all I can to make "Sex", and all the yucky stuff be more accepted in society at large.

Wait a minute. I do have the CHOICE, and the POWER.

So let's say that there are 6 billion people on Earth (Specific numbers are impossible because of China's factories. Baby factories). And to get at least 6 billion people, the deed must have been committed at least 6 billion times. Assuming that you can't get pregnant on the first try, and not all sex is a means to an end, but a means to...greater and pleasurable fulfillment of one's self, then the number greatly exceeds 6 billion. It's nearly 10 billion.

Since it takes two to clap, or in this case, two to do the dirty, we multiply 10 billion by two and get 20 billion. 20 billion times of sex has been done...to get us to this point of our society's realization. Without that 20 billion times of sex, we might not have the Eiffel Tower (which is phallic), the Pyramids (which is phallic) and even the Esplanade (which is...boobalicious). True, without sex, things MIGHT have turned out better, but if you're reading my blog right now, how bad can your life truly be?

So yeah, sex=good. Raymond Angelo=good. And what's the point of my post?

Raymond Angelo=sex.

Orientation 2 is coming!

2008-02-18T21:40:00.003+08:00

I was totally zonked last week, with Cross-country, Valentine's Day, ACFM (!) happening all in the same week, after being caught in the Chinese New Year stupor.

And this week, there's a Line-in meeting and Orientation 2, which will be keeping me up, and busy.

And then after that, there's terms preparations. I can't really update at the moment, and that saddens me, and everyone else, especially you. Apologies, all around!

What The Shit

2008-02-17T06:43:00.002+08:00

I'm having a sort-of crisis here...a phone-related crisis. So get this: on Valentine's Day, my n80 breaks down. I witnessed the light from the screen just fade out like "WTF", and from that point on, whenever I turned my n80 on, all I see is light. I wasn't too worried because this thing has happened to my n80 before, but after a few days, it was in working order again. But that took like a day...and it's already been 3 days, and there's still no sign of recovery.

So I use somebody else's phone, and then...my sim card's not working. It's working...technically, only it's not registering. I don't know what the hell to think anymore, because I'm all sorts of pissed the hell off.

And I'm sick. Coughed out green phlegm like...ughh.

With Orientation 2 just a few days away, I shouldn't really be facing this shit, but I am.

VDay!

2008-02-14T02:28:00.002+08:00

It's 230 in the morning and I've still got lots of things to do.

Reached home at 10+, did VDay stuff, Line-In stuff, some Maths. I've still my Malay homework to do, and then study Maths more. COME ON!

The Ultimate Valentines Day Package

2008-02-12T21:54:00.000+08:00

So I was doing sales duty today. Somehow, as a member of the PR Subcommittee, I've to man the fort at the hub and sell AC Merchandise. My goods were mostly "I <3>

So anyways, as I was doing my sales, I had to think of...a pitch to get people to buy so I invented the Ultimate Valentines Day PACkage. Have a lan yard with "I <3>

Upon reflection, I realize that what I just proposed...could very well be the meanest Valentines gift to give. Consider this: It's Valentines Day, and you give your girl/guy something which proclaims your love for AC, and not for her/him. I guess I'm not as smart as I think I am. Sometimes.

But anyways, if you want to be mean, without being completely obvious about it, this is a very good revenge plot, which, if implemented, should be credited to me.

Because you read it here first.

Pack my bags and I'll be heading home.

2008-02-11T20:40:00.000+08:00

My dreams of being a model...has been crushed.

The Public Relations Committee of the 32nd Students' Council was supposed to send two members to model the new Fun-O-Rama shirt. Shernise, our ever ingenious head, devised the weirdest method of choosing the models, in which she sends a relay and the first person to reply to that relay will be the model. The thing about relays is that they work like a chain, whereby she sends it to someone, that someone sends it to me, and I loop it back. Being at the bottom of the chain, I was the last few to replied.

Am I the kind to take injustice like this sitting down? No! A firm believer in democracy, meritocracy and the Three Stars of Philippines, I used my "People Power" and made a verbal protest, which was heard, and just like that, after some consideration and twists of faith (the two who replied first backed out, yay), I was declared...one of the models. Of course, I'm not just one of the models...more like the best one, but never mind.

So anyways, I'm looking forward to this modeling gig, and at home, I'm practicing my strut, posture (abs slightly out forward!) and even the tilt of my head (20 degrees above the x-horizontal). I work out too...I'm jogging and doing push-ups...and sit-ups...and all that nonsense.

And then yesterday came, and after much walking, I felt the pain. Apparently, I haven't been wearing the correct shoes when I was running; I never bothered with the proper apparel, and it appears that my shoe didn't have enough sole-support, and I've hurt my left sole in one way or another. Every time I take a step on my left foot, there's this jolt, and come yesterday evening, I was limping. I practiced my walk, but my form...the perfection...I couldn't attain it again.

I called Soemin, and he replaced me for the modeling thingy. It's sad. So sad.

Gah :(

In all seriousness though, narcissism aside, I'm super disappointed that I got myself hurt. All that training is now redundant lah, and shit, because I won't be at my full strength. Let's just hope my foot will recover in time...Jonathan Chow said he had a similar injury and he took two weeks to recover. Oh dear.

PS: I think this post is OTT melodramatic. Forgive me.

Is it a Dream?

2008-02-09T15:28:00.001+08:00

I've been scouring the Earth for the ultimate accessory; the whistle. Not those cheap plastic whistles, but those metallic ones with a cool-looking black lace. I saw Raied wearing it a week back, and I was blown away. It looked so simple...so chic...so Raymond-Angelo. Of course, I won't have the balls to blow it in public the way that he did, his random noise-making and shit...but the possibilities are got-damn endless!

At the very least, I'm one step closer to the question all guys want to hear: "Can I blow you?"

*Cue Internet-High-fives*

So anyways, I've tried looking for it but I'm not having any luck. If anybody has any leads, please don't hesitate to give me the info.

I'm not gonna touch you with a 10-metre pole.

2008-02-07T08:19:00.000+08:00

So with all the Facebook talk going around, especially in GP Class, which feels too inappropriate, I felt compelled to just make a damn account and get it over with. Join the bandwagon, like the bloody conformist I am. And so I make a Facebook account, and I find myself OVERWHELMED by the magnitude of information they try to shove into my face.

I take a look at random person #1's account (who will stay un-named) and I find out all of the following:

-Dance style
-Mood
-What he's addicted to
-His TRAVELER'S IQ (WTF)
-What kind of HP Character he is
-What kind of kisser he is
-His naughty friends
-How long he can last in sex
-His hottest friends
-How he's compared by people
-His most desired friends

Ahh, crap. There's way too many for me to list, so I shan't bother, but you get the point. My profile contains none of this information, and I think I'll leave it this way, for now. I haven't got the time to maintain it...but dang, it looks like a lot of fun. Don't expect anything interesting up there in the foreseeable, but feel free to add me.

With the Chinese New Year celebrations at full-force, all my friends (whom are mostly Chinese) are busy with their families, and relations, so I'm quite unoccupied. But I don't mind! Finally, a time to rest, relax, study, and just chill like I know how to. I was supposed to go out with my class people yesterday after the CNY celebrations, but I had to stay behind for a meeting, and by the time I could join them, they'd left already. Tried to go out with Secondary School peeps too, but after heading back to QTSS, they went home as well.

I spent the a good three quarter of yesterday afternoon in a lying-down position, I shit you not. And it was good. I LOVED IT. I wanted to exercise, but my body still aches from Tuesday afternoon.

I had to borrow a friend's swimming trunks because I couldn't find mine, so when I get the trunks, it shouldn't have come as a surprise that it didn't fit very well. It was loose. Risque-loose. If a girl was as loose as my trunks, I stay away from her for eternity. If I had jumped into the water...all hell would have broken loose. So I did land PE instead, which consists of:

-20 rounds starting from the pool deck, going down and running across the sunken gallery then up the pool deck again.
-6 sets of 20 push-ups.
-6 sets of 30 crunches.
-6 sets of 15 dips.

AND I FREAKING DID 'EM ALL. Other people cheated (and who can blame them?), but I'm not like other people. When I coughed, my abs positively screamed in agony.

Trudging through miles of shit just to get to the good stuff.

2008-02-06T05:32:00.001+08:00

First photos in awhile, so yippie-yay for that.

Further proof that Batman is gay.

2008-02-04T21:13:00.000+08:00

My Enormous 5-letter Word Which Starts with a "P" and ends with an "ENIS"

2008-02-03T21:00:00.000+08:00

Check out this song! Watch the video first, skip all the way to the 1st minute because it's just talking, and then enjoy. Play it a second time, and sing along!

Whenever life gets you down,
keeps you wearing a frown,
and the gravy train has left you behind...
and when you're all out of hope,
down at the end of your rope,
and nobody's there to throw you a line...
If you ever get so low
that you don't know which way to go
come on and take a walk in my shoes...
Never worry 'bout a thing
got the world on a string
Cause I've got the cure for all of my blues.

I take a look at my enormous penis
and my troubles start melting away.
I take a look at my enormous penis
and the happy times are coming to stay.

I gotta sing and I dance
when I glance in my pants
and the feeling's like a sunshiney day...
I take a look at my enormous penis
and everything is going my way.

I take a look at my enormous penis
and my troubles start melting away.
I take a look at my enormous penis
and the happy times are coming to stay.

Yeah I got great big amounts
in the place where it counts
and the feeling's like a sunshiney day...
I take a look at my enormous penis
and everything is going my way.

Everything is going my way...
Everything is going my way...
Everything is going my way...

Must...resist...urge...to make...jokes...must...not...be...a.......dick. GAH.

Evil rears it's ugly head. It's not pretty.

2008-01-31T20:17:00.000+08:00

My sleep's been really screwed the past few days.

On Tuesday evening, I reached home at around 10 and woke up at 1030, where by I did my Line-in work, maths tutorial and physics tutorial. Maths tutorial is especially horrible at the middle of the night, because your concentration seems to be so much lower. I spent 30 minutes on a single vectors question and I canceled my working so many dang times, I invented queer ways of omitting your errors. I scribbled words like "AGGHHH" over the working, and I laughed to myself, in the middle of the night.

Then yesterday evening, I reached home quite late again, because I went for dinner with the debaters. After the conclusion of Line-in Welcome Tea (which was quite good, mind you. I think my juniors are rocking awesome), I stayed behind to meet Weihong to discuss convening duties (which I won't be able to do any longer, I fear) and reached home at 930. To tired to do any work, with a maths test looming the next day, I slept at 10, and asked my maid to wake me up at 1030. But did I wake up at 1030? NO, I WOKE UP AT 1300 IN THE MORNING. I considered going back to sleep, but man, the workload of a JC student is heavy. I couldn't help but feel fear if I don't do work or study for even one day. So I ended up staying up until 1530, waking up at 545 in the morning for another day of school.

Gah. I was able to stay awake for the whole day though, which has got to be some kind of miracle. We're one day away from the weekend, but guess what! There's a CCAAB course on Saturday morning (which eliminates the option of sleeping in)! At least there's PR shopping to look forward to.

I aim to get some normal sleep today. Hell yeah.

I like how you don't know anything about me except for the things I choose to show.

2008-01-30T00:00:00.000+08:00

I met up with some of the Queenstown peoples today (Raied, Ringo, Jeremy, Betty, Shalina and Weiling) to have dinner after debate training. Because my school ends at inhumane times, I could only meet them after the training, just before lunch, so at around 5:30, I was at Dawson place. I failed to realize that that period of time was when CCAs ended, so I had to face a bunch of Sec 4s, which is...I don't know. It feels weird, now.

Anyways, I met up with them, and after the compulsory insults directed at my hair (Sial, what happen? You kana scam? Tio sexposed? Even school cut not this bad siah!), we went to Clementi. I love hanging out with these bunch of people because with them...I can go shit-ass crazy. As in, I'm still my usual crazy, random, dumb-ass self, only I'm less censored and more ****ed-up yo. Made loads of noise crossing the road, on the bus stop, in the bus, at the Prata Pranet, everywhere man, and it was fun. The thing I like about these people is they're complete disregard and lack of consideration for other's feelings, and sometimes, that's where you want to be, know what I'm saying? In a world of your own, just you and a select few.

I ate biryani, prata, murtabak, roti john, and tissue prata for dinner. My stomach still hurts btw. We sat and chat until around 9, at which those who had school the following day had to go home to mug, do work. I reached home around 10, freaking died on the bed, got Kerri to give me a wake-up call (Thanks!) and now I'm up doing work.

Line-In meeting agenda, last question of maths tutorial, physics practical, physics tutorial. I've lost all mood to sleep today; I'll sleep tomorrow afternoon lah. Sigh. I think I'm slightly sick too, because of the rain.

And you know the 5-day Work-Week MOE imposed on us? I love the way everybody's just trampling over this clause. I'm back like....every freaking Saturday; this doesn't just extend to AC though, because so many other schools have activities on Saturday. Really looking forward to the Chinese New Year holidays. And Orientation 2! It's coming!

Props to photog for the awesome picture.

The Raymond Angelo Song

2008-01-28T20:05:00.000+08:00

When he says 'hi', the girls say 'hello'.

Don't have to search high and low.

When he says "come", the girls can't say 'no'.

Whatever he does he is so pro.

He is there where ever you go.

He always deals the finishing blow.

These aren't the lyrics of the song, but are the...things which make up the song? I don't know how to describe it, but I'll sing it upon request. Accompanying actions will come soon.

Kamen Rider Kiva - Break the Chain!

2008-01-27T22:00:00.000+08:00

The new opening, complete with Kiva holding a freaking violin.

Cool looking Rider Kick.

I'll try to keep up with this series. Heard Den-O was awesome, but I fell off the bandwagon. I'll get back on it again...after the As, yeah!

They thought I didn't know what they were talking about but I did.

2008-01-27T18:51:00.000+08:00

Since coming to Singapore at the year 1997, I've shed a lot of the things which make me Filipino. I still remember clearly the gallons of patriotism I felt as I left the country, vowing to myself that one day, I'll come back. Many years on, I've come to a point where I'm more Singaporean than I am Filipino, even to the extent that Filipinos themselves can't tell I'm one of them; many think I'm some weird hybrid.

I speak English without the all-too-familiar accent, I don't dress like the local Filipino expatriates...the only thing which makes me Filipino is probably the blood flowing through my veins. That, and my mother tongue. I never lost touch with the Filipino language, primarily because that's what I speak at home, and even what I use when I'm messaging my family members.

So put the Filipino's blissful disawareness of my heritage together with my retained mother tongue and you get hilariously strange results such as what happened this afternoon.

I was jogging (all part of yet another get-fit-quick scheme) around a nearby field, and I found myself trailing behind this Filipino guy; I could tell from his jersey which bore his surname (Agha), which is too cool to be any other surname than a Filipino surname. My instinct to overtake another male specimen of the human species attempted to kick in, but I kept it in control, because, like I told myself over and over, I was there to get fitter, not to show off.

As we jogged, we managed to maintain a stable distance of no more than 3 metres and then we approached this woman who was waddling along. Then, out of nowhere, the guy smacks this woman's ass! HE FREAKING SMACKED HER ASS! I'm not kidding, I saw it, and I heard it when he said "Hello, 'ganda," and she replied "Hi, pogi," and the guy continued to run.

'Ganda is short for maganda which means beautiful, and pogi means handsome.

After getting over the shock of seeing such raw public smackdown, I resumed my run and ran past the chick. She then screamed "Oi! May humahabol! Bilisan mo!", which means "There's a guy chasing you! Hurry up!" And the guy sped up, but not before saying in perfect tag-lish "Walang problem-o!" where "walang" means "no".

I'm like...WHAT THE CRAP! They're talking about me so openly! Incensed, I ran past the guy without breaking a sweat. "Tang ina," said the guy way too loudly, and I don't want to translate that ever.

I passed the couple a couple more times and then proceeded to the fitness corner to do pull-ups, dips and other nonsense. And then the Filipino couple (I established that they are) goes to the fitness corner too. The dude, eager to recover from his earlier fall from grace, did sit-ups, and as he was doing his sit-ups, the chick said something which...was ballsy.

"Patingin nga nang itlog mo," which means "Let me see your eggs," Obviously, she didn't mean eggs literally, but to divulge what she really mean here would be too eggsplicit. She then says more stuff which is disgusting even when left untranslated. Let's just say I was blushing on their behalf.

Hastily, I left the fitness corner, and they got fitter together, I think.

So my point is...and I'm not just addressing Filipinos, but people in general, is that just because the person doesn't look like he/she understand you, doesn't mean that he/she doesn't. This have happened to me countless times. There was this time I was at Coffee Bean a few months back, and then this two malay girls start chattering in malay about me and something about getting my number. My grasp of malay maybe scarce, but I can tell...fangirlism in any language.

That'll be it for me today! Hope I made up quantity with quality!

The Game of Self-Discovery

2008-01-24T22:00:00.001+08:00

In my turbulent years prepubescent years, I was lost, in want of an "identity" for myself; the ability to establish myself as an individual of much value and worth. A few years have passed since those years, and though the times are still as turbulent as ever, I think I've gained knowledge of myself, and discovered facets of my personality I never did quite knew existed.

I can attribute this to many things: my friends, my school (ACJC, yosh!), my unique upbringing, and stuff like that. But one thing...one thing that really...tossed my salad (pardon the expression) is KOKOLOGY.

I can sense those of you who have slogged the "-ology" section of the Right Word quickly thinking of all the "-ologies" they know of, but I'm pretty sure you won't find Kokology in your word bank. Kokology is a series of psychological games designed to reveal your hidden attitudes about family, love, work and more. There's even a Wikipedia (WOOHOO CREDIBILITY!) page on it, just so you know I ain't crapping.

As I discovered, and practiced Kokology, I found out things about myself which I never knew were there, and I know it's a wee-bit retarded, but the 13 year-old me trusted the dang book, and as I discovered it to be reliable, I actually shaped my life around the answers the book gave me. Like I said, "wee-bit retarded".

So now that I've matured, and I've grown out of trusting Kokology, I've discovered a new use for it. Kokology on other people. It's a great ice breaker, and if you do it just right, they'll think you're real smart and mystical and all.

Here's a sample of a Kokology question:
You are eating dinner in an elegant French restaurant, and as you lift your wine glass to share a toast with your lover, your arm jerks, and you spill wine on the tablecloth. Which of the 4 options best describe the way the wine was spilled.

1) The tablecloth is completely soaked in wine.
2) There are several large red splotches.
3) A few drops of wine spilled out here and there.
4) There's only one small spot on the tablecloth.

IM me for the interpretation, one which you'll never quite guess.

PS: COME FOR MUTS TOMORROW!

Allow myself to talk about myself.

2008-01-22T22:06:00.000+08:00

Narcissism...is...

I was typing this, and then I realized I still have shit-loads of work to do. Seriously. I've been handed with heapings of helpings of work, and I've to finish them ASAP. So talking about myself can wait.

Who says Raymond is self-centred? When pushed by circumstance, I do step out of the limelight.

A Meeting with My Hero

2008-01-20T23:17:00.000+08:00

I seriously need to get my good old camera up and running again. I don't know why, but I've done away with pictures in the past few months, and I think...my standard has fallen. Wait for it, my revival, and I will show you pictures. What can I say, I'm a camwhore, but there are two kinds of camwhores, aren't there? The kind who camwhores themselves, and the kind who waits for others to camwhore with them.

A true leader of people lets the people come to him, and the good thing is, most of the time, they do come.

One thing I've realised, especially in the past few months, is that I've been asserting my individuality alot. Maybe it comes with age, as you see everybody merging into one singular collective, when you try to differentiate yourself from the crowd. It's like...the bandana is the wtf, then there's the scarf which is also wtf (but in a cool, awesome way) and up next is...a box. Seriously, a box. You have to see it to believe it.

I'll take a picture, promise!

Anyway, a big change in my life is the new television my dad got; it's 40-inch, which is ginormous. I never saw the point of such large screens, because it's all relative isn't it? Sure it's HD now, and that's awesome, but is all that girth really necessary? The most major change I've seen is my position relative to the TV. I have to stand further now to embrace the larger screen. Not that I mind standing further back by abit.

HOWEVER, WHEN THE TELEVISION AFFECTS MY ABILITY TO PLAY GUITAR HERO WITH THE SAME HARDNESS I'VE BEEN PLAYING IT BEFORE, I FEEL COMPELLED TO BLGO ABOUT IT.

Guitar Hero's a game for wannabe guitar players, who can't stand the technicalities a guitar calls for, but still has an inner-rockstar waiting to be unleashed. Almost nightly before I sleep, I'll stand before the television, and rock. hard. The thing is, with a smaller screen, I was able to get a fuller grasp of the notes. With a bigger screen, my eyes have to move around a whole lot more, and that's too tiring, and I end up failing and shitz.

So, what's my point?

I wanted to start the year on a good note. But the note fell flat.

PS: PUwNdzers.

Accomplishment rises from the pit of my stomach.

2008-01-18T01:58:00.000+08:00

I finally finished the damned geography project...Ok, so maybe "damned" is the wrong to use because I have learned so much about mass movement, I can recite it in my sleep. Seriously. Do check out my blog; it's www.thisblogrocks.blogspot.com. For the time being, I've got lousy Jolene Dong's name all over the place, but that's only temporary (thank goodness!), and for the sake of www.thisblogrocks.blogspot.com.

It's 2 in the morning and I really should be sleeping, but I still need to do some GP stuff, and I'm done for the night. I told myself I wouldn't do it, but when I thought about it, I really should, and after I finish this post, I would. Good night!

Oh, I think people are curious as to what I look like right now, and how I've changed during the holidays. I've lost weight, again! In fact, I bought 2 new pairs of pants recently. I'm going to reveal...a secret that's quite literally below the belt. I've been walking around in spoilt pants for the past 5 months! You see, my bulging (not anymore, biatch!) stomach made the button pop out, so as I had little time to go and buy new pants, I made do by using my zip to support the rest of my pants.

Nobody noticed. For the remainder of my J1 year, I walked around, burdened by a secret only I wore. But not anymore! I went to Bibi&Baba to get new pants, and I was size 34 back then, so just for kicks I try size 32...and it fits! HAH!

Look out, people-who-haven't-seen-me-in-damn-bloody-long! I've changed since damn-bloody-long ago! And I got a scarf, and it's legendary.

The beauty that lies within your eyes astound me to this day.

2008-01-17T20:31:00.000+08:00

I never knew that so many people in ACJC had blogs. Awhile ago, I read browsed through a few, and they've been really eye-opening. The thing about blogs is that for most of the time, the people you see in school and the people behind the posts are very different, and when you see them pouring their hearts out the way most people do in the shelter of their blogs, you don't know what to say, or think when you're around them. When I see someone's blog and then I learn something new about them, do I bring it up, or do I pretend I never read it?

The thing about blogs is that...you're unsure of what to make of what you read. It's a form of voyeurism, I guess. An open sort of voyeurism, but it's voyeurism nonetheless. Personally, I try not to find out things about people from their blogs, and even when I do, I pretend that I didn't. Because I don't want our society to arrive at a stage whereby our knowledge of one another is not passed through inter-personal communication, but through this computer, this blog, and stuff like that.

I always blush when people talk to me about my blog and my posts, honestly, so yeah...I don't know what I'm getting at anymore, but I think you get it :)

So anyways, today's been quite fun, as always when you're me. I survived the Three Hour Thursday Torture (Physics, Geography, Econs non-stop, kill me now), did three lines of malay essay (all of which I canceled, so I'm effectively nowhere), bullshitted through a general knowledge quiz. Oh, and I made up my own magic trick; that's always fun.

Tonight's going to be a real crap-storm, with all the work I've to rush out by tomorrow. I've my dang mind-maps to do, half a geography essay to finish up, and a whole geography blog to put up in one night. What fun!

Oh, and you've got to check this guy out. Seriously. I hope he's Filipino, because if he is, I will be a proud Filipino.

We're brothers forever!

2008

2008-01-16T22:27:00.000+08:00

Fantastic beginning of the year.

-Pulled off Orientation. Conducted AWESOME mass rallies. Had an almost-smooth programme. Appeared in random videos. Emcee-ed with plenty of "legendary".
-Got 35+ names for Line-In during CCA Exhibition.
-Making lotsa new J1 friends.
-Not that far behind in homework.
-First issue of Line-In released, and we got compliments!
-Did PR stuff :)
-PR and Line-In looks set for a FANTASTIC start.
-Abs are coming, seriously.

ONWARDS TO 2008!

2007-12-25T13:37:00.000+08:00

Apologies for the vulgarities of the previous post.

I'm just very stressed and pissed off right now. I get that alot, but it's supposed to be Christmas. Christmas was supposed to be a time of joy, I thought. The fact that I'm not feeling that way just exacerbates everything else.

The problem I'm facing is the formatting of the dang thing. Microsoft Word...maybe the older version has severe problems. It's just...so infuriating! I'm taking a break to beat off some stress...Guitar Hero or something. I've got to finish it by today because seriously, I've got no time. Look at it this way:

I have filming tomorrow, camp the next three days, then I'll have 30th, 31st and 1st. I have to give a briefing on the Orientation programme on the 29th...I've settled the programme, but now, I've to fill in all the damn nitty-gritty details, which, I hope, will make thing event run more smoothly.

I'm just bitching here, don't mind me.

Bleeding Hell

2007-12-25T12:59:00.000+08:00

It's Christmas but I'm stuck home doing shit stuff.

And I can't get my fucking microsoft word to work for me. Shit. I can get it to work, but bullet-points, "indents", columns and other shit are seriously fucking me up. UGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAH.

Fuck. I'm so tired. I slept through Christmas yesterday because I was tired and now I'm doing stuff which will make me even more tired, but do I have a choice? I've got to do what I've got to do. There's holiday homework to look forward too as well, and as far as I'm concerned, I don't give a damn anymore.

The past year has been so wonderful and I've made many many many wonderful friends and as much as I'd like to give them presents, I can't find the time to go out and buy shit, and that's just bullcrap. I feel horrible inside.

Redline

2007-12-22T23:11:00.000+08:00

In view of the discovery that I have more new-ish people reading my blog of late, I have been inspired to update. My life has been hell-busy, especially so in the past few days. With the running of the OGL Camp (which was a resounding success; oh yeah!) and orientation itself around the corner, most of the goings-on I have are council-related. With the interest of not-boring you guys, and not divulging too much council thingies, I'll talk about this movie I watched the other day called Redline.

I don't get much breaks as it is, and when I do get a break, I'm often determined to make them count. When I hang, I dooooo hang, and chill. When I watch a movie, I go in with high expectations; the holiday period will only allow me to watch one single movie...I wanted "Golden Compass" (It's a kick-ass book, don't be a hater) or Warlord (even if it's Chinese), but when the 4A guys went out on Hari Raya, neither of them and settled for something which..."Looks quite nice," from what Ching Yong saw from the trailers.

Here's a poster, and looking at it, I think it looks nice too. The cars look good. But I should have sensed something when I saw that the wheels burned; a visual metaphor representing how "hot" the cars are. And the tagline, while catchy, is way too cliche.

So I thought I was going to enjoy myself but goodness, when the movie started rolling, I threw my expectations of a good time outta the window. After my expectations went out of the window, my dignity went too, because I felt all sense of...self-love I have for myself spewing out of my eyes. Imagine a movie about geography which involves an excruciating 2-hour soliloquy on the formation of limestone formations (all gajillions of them)...this movie is worse than that. At least the geography film rocks.

ROCKS. Geddit?

The following paragraph is a painful recount of the movie, and I suggest you read it because it is stupid, and I know you like stupid.

So anyways, the movie starts with an African American Man getting his car fixed in some luxury-car repair shop. As he does this, he spots a band playing, with this band having the female lead of the show, Ms Doofus, as...well, the lead of the band. She's singing songs about..."steering my wheel", "touching my rims", "driving me all night"...It'll all be fine and dandy if she was a car; only thing she's got in common with a car is...JUNK IN THE TRUNK. Gah.

So African American Man is dubious of her credibility as a mechanic, so Ms Doofus agrees to test-drive the car. And she does so, splendidly. African American Man then asks her to be perform in this "race" he is setting up, which turns out to be an illegal racing ring of some sort. In the process, it is revealed that Ms Doofus has a father who was a Nascra driver, but he passed away in an accident. Btw, I did not make Nascra up, that was how they spelled it. Presumably, they couldn't get Nascar to back their film, and again, presumably, Nascar had the smarts not to associate themselves with said film.

At the same time, Iraqi Returnee returns from Iraq and meets his brother, Handsome-but-Stupid. Handsome-but-Stupid has an awesome car, and when he stops to pick his brother up, two Chinese gangsters attempt to car-jack him. Iraqi Returnee promptly shows up and kick the two gangsters asses. His lack of fear when faced by the barrel of a gun is astounding. They make small talk, and we see development in their relationship; Iraqi Returnee cares for his brother, yet the brother lives recklessly, under the wing of their "evil" uncle, who is running some sort of business which is never specified.

We return to Ms Doofus who is on the plane of African American Man; they are on their way to the gig. There is a scene on the plane involving African American Man arguing with one of his "hoes", and then the plane lands in the middle of the desert to let the "hoe" alight. The scene was completely random, and made no impact on the story whatsoever.

Handsome-but-Stupid, eager to assimilate his brother back into society brings him into the club where the music is pumping-pumping. Ms Doofus happens to be there at the same time, and as Iraqi Returnee enters the club, they make intense eye-contact. Ms Doofus gets chatted up by some guy, and this guy tries to get her to dance by pulling her by the arm. Iraqi Returnee comes along, punches the guy in the face and beats him up. Other patrons try to stop the fight, and I would have done the same, but Iraqi Returnee beats nearly the whole club up. He makes his exit by jumping out of the window (it seems like my "expectations" have set some sorta trend here) and landing on Handsome-but-Stupid's car.

Here's where everything goes crazy-ier. Two guys get on a car to give chase. Why? I don't know why. So they drive around in their fancy cars at break-neck speed and it's really retarded but they somehow lose the guys...but again, it serves nothing to further the plot.

Ahh...I shit you not.

We are brought to a desert somewhere where this high-stake illegal races are being held. It's hosted by Elvis and there's random hot girls around. They also show a scene of a car being washed by a bunch of hot chicks for no apparent reason. Anyway, the races are on, and African American Man has commissioned someone to drive on his behalf, but this guy gets injured so...he gets Ms Doofus to drive. She was reluctant, but she proved to be a sell-out. Iraqi Returnee was also there, accompanying Handsome-but-Stupid. It's revealed that Handsome races for his uncle..."evil" uncle, I mean.

Before the race, the uncle brings Handsome-but-Stupid aside, and you know the saying..."Grab life by the balls,"? Uncle grabs Handsome's balls in a threatening manner, which was way too creepy.

At this point, me and my classmates were all expecting Handsome to die. And we were right.

So Handsome's racing against Ms Doofus and in a bid to win, Handsome turns on his "NITRO BOOSTERS" which makes the car go fast...but it made the car fly up in the sky too, like whoosh. Somehow, it lands just after the finish line, so Handsome wins, but he dies, and he dies in SLOW-MOTION IN AN EXPLOSION, and he mouths "I won, brother...I WON!!!" to Iraqi Returnee who goes all emo and crap and starts beating the tarmac and moaning and going being a baby.

Ahh...I'm running out of time, and this is taking way too long! I should have planned this out more, no? If I've the time, I'll complete this work of art, but if not, I'll just give a rundown on some of the memorable scenes of Redline.

-Iraqi sneaks into his uncles house Mission Impossible style. It was soooo lame and cheesy me and Ryan were laughing the whole time.
-As a helicopter lands somewhere, 4 women perform yoga in the background.
-As 4 men play poker, tons of curvy women parade in the background. T&A indeed.
-Iraqi escapes in a car and when he disposes of the car, they suddenly shift to this scene, which had me crapping my pants in HAHAs. You had to be there.

-As they shift to the final race, one of the opponents is apparently the killer of Ms Doofus' father, who was said to have died of an "accident". Let's put plot-inconsistencies aside one second...and let's mock the lack of build-up, and failed attempt at adding drama. HAH!

That's about it for me today! Have to work out Orientation Programs and that's going to be crazy hours sitting in front of the computer. Ciaossu!

Sidenote: I don't seem to be feeling Christmas this year :(. Crappity.

Zone

2007-12-16T22:28:00.001+08:00

I'm in the zone, on the zone, all over the zone.

Why? Because I've finally realized that I AM the zone. We're treading philosophical territories here, so prepare yourself. Everything that happens around you is objective. Let's say you see a burning house; one might, for whatever weird reason, feel "happiness" upon seeing this sight, and another might feel fear, or dread. Even things which appear...objective, such as visual images are never final, are they? I'll use this image to illustrate:

So what is it that decides what is what? It's YOU. YOU. YOU. You are in control of your life, you are in control of what you see, you are in control of your world because NOBODY else owns you; you are your own person, and you are the master of your own ship. You see that ship? The shadow the ship creates depends very much on the light which falls on it. Even if the ship remains untouched, so long as the light shifts, the image it creates changes.

YOU ARE THE DAMN LIGHT!

I've realized that my last post contained way too much bitching, and at the end of it all, I blame "luck", which never does me any good, because it puts me upon a standing which I cannot control. If I had seen these things as consequences of my own bad decisions, my own bad interpretations, then I could have done something about it.

Ultimately, THOUGHTS BECOME REALITY. That's all I'm saying, and I'm saying it very very proudly and happily.

String of Badluck

2007-12-16T12:47:00.000+08:00

The past two days:

-Had to miss out on ACFM banner painting...after spending lots of time sketching it, taping it and getting it sown.

-Skipped meeting with my OGLs. They designed an awesome banner though, so yay.

-Missed dinner with classmates.

-Intended to go for dinner with my secondary school mates. Choochi called me up telling me they were going to Billy Bombers at Central, but before I could get any further information, my phone died on me. So, I went ahead, up to Billy Bombers...and found...no one! Walked around Central for a long time, tried to muster up the courage to borrow someone's phone but couldn't, and went home in the end. Called Choochi and turns out they didn't go in the end. Drat.

-Went for Darren's birthday dinner, but didn't get to eat at all. Orchard was crowded like hell...so they went to Harbour Front, but I couldn't go with them as I was meeting my classmates at 9, to watch Jolene caroling. They left at 810.

-With 50 minutes to waste, I was pretty pissed and bored, but what to do? Walked around...covered Taka, Wisma, Lucky Plaza, Cine, Paragon. Seems like an awful lot of places for 50 minutes...but that's because my classmates came at 940-ish. And my only dinner was donuts.

-Watched caroling which was quite good, but then I discovered I won't be allowed to go for my overnight bowling thing because...I can't be trusted, I think. Haiz. I could go, just not overnight, my father said. But how does one get home from Bukit Batok when public transport has ceased operation? I didn't decide on whether I'm going or not until riding the MRT to Bukit Batok, whereby I stopped at Ang Mo Kio, just in time to get on the LAST TRAIN.

Good luck? I wish. At least I had fun filming. Go Orientation 2008!

No Karma

2007-12-15T16:42:00.001+08:00

I've had a string of bad luck the past few days. I mean...real bad; enough to make me wonder whether the good things I do (if there are any) are worth it, when at the end of the day I'm still faced with the same old shit.

Gah.

Clarifications - Didn't get a piercing. Got fake earrings and they're awesome.
- By mother, I mean the mother in "How I Met Your Mother". I got spoiler-ed. Damn!

Hey All

2007-12-14T21:49:00.000+08:00

I'm at a quite stressful period of my life.

The days to OGL camp can be counted with one hand, and Orientation is not too far behind either. Preparations for both are in full-force, and I've been...yeah...slaving off, in a sense. I know I haven't been hanging out with my friends in general, but I still love you guys, and I'm really sorry I can't come when you guys call me out. I hope you understand.

I've neglected my other commitments too, and until now, I've yet to wriggle a way, or find a compromise...that's bad.

Thanks to the council people, who've been with me every step of the way. I know I'm having problems, but hey, this guys are with me, so it's no-problemo.

I won't be around so often, so...yeah. I'll miss the blog. There were days where I'll be on the bus cooking some funny "theory" or "story" to share with you guys, but now, I don't have that luxury. Sigh.

So yeap, I'll be seeing you around!

Raymond Dreaming

2007-12-13T22:16:00.000+08:00

Damnit. I thought I was going to be free today, but then the end of the day comes, and *bam* I've got lotsa stuff to settle. AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhg.

Oh well. At least I got piercings.

I KNOW WHO MOTHER IS!

2007-12-12T06:29:00.000+08:00

BITCH!

Available Together?

2007-12-08T23:33:00.000+08:00

Been really busy!

I got back from December Camp (which was a blast!) the other day, and then today I had the Council Voice to settle...for the whole night, I've been chiong-ing the Orientation Program, but it's really rewarding in a weird way :) There's still ACFM proposal to do, then tomorrow there's meeting with the Clan Heads, meeting with Dancers on Monday, meeting with teacher on Tuesday and then filming for the rest of the week. The week after that is OGL Camp, then Christmas Break (Break my ass), and then OGL Camp again and finally Orientation. I still have Line-in stuff to do, and I'll probably be meeting up with my fellow OGLs in my OG to design the banner, and there's still studying to be done. Oh, and there's the ACFM banner to settle with Dainan.

I am...yeah. Dead. But I'm doing it with people whom I love to work with, so I'll be fine. Dead, but fine.

Anyways, seeing as how its December, and it should typically be snowy season, I've come up, with the help of Timothy Fang, a list of Artic/Antartic Jokes. Mind you, they're abit cold.

There's no joke! (Say it fast and it sounds like There's SNOW joke!)

Did you hear about the penguin who lost all his ink? He became a pencilguin.

I went to a strip-club in the Arctic. The girls were cold, and the rating, sub-zero. The name? "For Your Ice Only"

Think I'm running out of steam? This is just the tip of the iceberg.

You know what I hate about igloos? They're dang sticky. (Because igloos=iGLUEs!)

I tried hailing a cab in Arctic the other day. It didn't come...because of bad weather.

There was this thief running from the cops in the Arctic. The cops shouted, "Freeze!". The thief replied; "Is this some kind of joke?"

Gah. I got no more jokes...I'm all dried up. I'll do desert jokes in the future :) Ciaossu!