"The empires of the future are the empires of the mind"
Winston Churchill
1943 Address to Harvard University
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Monday, August 30, 2004
File-Sharing & Society's Progression
Off NYTimes:
Is society better served by restricting or even prohibiting new technologies to protect the rights of copyright owners or is there a greater good in the widest possible exchange of information?
Singapore a Tidy But Soulless Place?
Off NYTimes:
Singapore is rich, but hardly ever envied. Outsiders have long viewed the gleaming city-state that attained its independence in 1965 as a tidy but soulless place, the nanny state that famously banned chewing gum. The good news is that the new prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, son of the longtime ruler Lee Kwan Yew, seems to realize that Singapore needs to loosen up. At his swearing-in ceremony earlier this month, he said what not long ago would have sounded like heresy in a nation where the bottom line is the bottom line: "Prosperity is not our only goal, nor is economic growth an end in itself."
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Women, In-Trays and Nose Clips
Every now and then, the deafening quiet in the office is briefly upset by a buzz of activity, sometimes excitement.
This time the source of it was my colleague who innocently asked me if I had set up my in-tray myself. I didn't.
Her next line begged for rescue, "I'm struggling."
Thus went forth the gallant hero to save the day.
Unfortunately this gallant hero's biceps were stumped by a stubborn plastic contraption that refused to be assembled.
While my persistence eventually conquered 1 tray, my colleague had gone off to seek help from another colleague whom we thought might have more experience with insubordinate office stationery.
Unfortuntely she too had to seek someone else with brute strength and who better to turn to in this critical time of need than the man who provides security 24/7... the security guard.
As I passed the trio in their business, I laughed and yelled to the instigator of today's episode, "You have 3 people fussing over you!"
A short while later, I remarked to my colleague, "now you know why men should get more privileges & benefits."
Her rebuttal? Men were given brute's strength to service women.
I eventually concluded the subtly charged conversation with "a blog for another time".
And that time started about 30 lines ago.
I'm no misogynist nor chauvinist so I ain't gonna start a woman-bashing session here.
In fact, I love women! Well, before those who know me start giving me grief about that last statement, I'll just clarify by reiterating the fact that women are good and definitely much better than men are at certain things.
And if there's a list of things women are good at, these 3 items would be near the top: the first 2 are child bearing and motherhood which obviously need no further explanation.
The second would be synchronized swimming, as the fabulous women from the Russian Federation demonstrated yesterday despite a technical glitch occuring just after starting their routine.
In my opinion, the biggest challenge in this sport is having to keep a smile plastered on your face while displaying genuine enjoyment AND struggling to breathe AND maintain movements synchronized with not 1, not 2 but 7 other team mates.
This time the source of it was my colleague who innocently asked me if I had set up my in-tray myself. I didn't.
Her next line begged for rescue, "I'm struggling."
Thus went forth the gallant hero to save the day.
Unfortunately this gallant hero's biceps were stumped by a stubborn plastic contraption that refused to be assembled.
While my persistence eventually conquered 1 tray, my colleague had gone off to seek help from another colleague whom we thought might have more experience with insubordinate office stationery.
Unfortuntely she too had to seek someone else with brute strength and who better to turn to in this critical time of need than the man who provides security 24/7... the security guard.
As I passed the trio in their business, I laughed and yelled to the instigator of today's episode, "You have 3 people fussing over you!"
A short while later, I remarked to my colleague, "now you know why men should get more privileges & benefits."
Her rebuttal? Men were given brute's strength to service women.
I eventually concluded the subtly charged conversation with "a blog for another time".
And that time started about 30 lines ago.
I'm no misogynist nor chauvinist so I ain't gonna start a woman-bashing session here.
In fact, I love women! Well, before those who know me start giving me grief about that last statement, I'll just clarify by reiterating the fact that women are good and definitely much better than men are at certain things.
And if there's a list of things women are good at, these 3 items would be near the top: the first 2 are child bearing and motherhood which obviously need no further explanation.
The second would be synchronized swimming, as the fabulous women from the Russian Federation demonstrated yesterday despite a technical glitch occuring just after starting their routine.
In my opinion, the biggest challenge in this sport is having to keep a smile plastered on your face while displaying genuine enjoyment AND struggling to breathe AND maintain movements synchronized with not 1, not 2 but 7 other team mates.
Wrong Lyrics
Kimberley locke
You can say I'm weak, you can say I'm frail
But your presumptions won't prevail
I'm made of more than what you see
Tell me to twist, tell me to bend
But I won't break just to fit in
Just shut your mouth and listen up
I was so naive
To let you have control of me
But now that I believe in me, I know
Ooooh
You're wrong, and I'm strong
Unafraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free to be me
No one tells me who to be
Cause you're wrong, and I'm strong
Un-afraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free, to be me
No one tells me who to be
Yeah
I'm on the outside looking in
No longer do I pretend,
To be something that i'm not
I don't run, and I don't hide behind a comfort in disguise
What you see is what you get
I was so naive
To let you have control of me
But now that I believe in me, I know
Ooooh
Cause you're wrong, and I'm strong
Unafraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free to be me
No one tells me who to be
Cause you're wrong, and I'm strong
Un-afraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free, to be me
No one tells me who to be
Yeah
I wouldn't change a thing
Cause life is how you grow
You live, you learn, and then you know
Cause you're wrong, and I'm strong
Unafraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free to be me
No one tells me who to be
Cause you're wrong, and I'm strong
Un-afraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free, to be me
No one tells me who to be
Cause you're wrong, and I'm strong
Unafraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free to be me
No one tells me who to be
Cause you're wrong, and I'm strong
Unafraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free to be me
No one tells me who to be
Yeah
You can say I'm weak, you can say I'm frail
But your presumptions won't prevail
I'm made of more than what you see
Tell me to twist, tell me to bend
But I won't break just to fit in
Just shut your mouth and listen up
I was so naive
To let you have control of me
But now that I believe in me, I know
Ooooh
You're wrong, and I'm strong
Unafraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free to be me
No one tells me who to be
Cause you're wrong, and I'm strong
Un-afraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free, to be me
No one tells me who to be
Yeah
I'm on the outside looking in
No longer do I pretend,
To be something that i'm not
I don't run, and I don't hide behind a comfort in disguise
What you see is what you get
I was so naive
To let you have control of me
But now that I believe in me, I know
Ooooh
Cause you're wrong, and I'm strong
Unafraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free to be me
No one tells me who to be
Cause you're wrong, and I'm strong
Un-afraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free, to be me
No one tells me who to be
Yeah
I wouldn't change a thing
Cause life is how you grow
You live, you learn, and then you know
Cause you're wrong, and I'm strong
Unafraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free to be me
No one tells me who to be
Cause you're wrong, and I'm strong
Un-afraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free, to be me
No one tells me who to be
Cause you're wrong, and I'm strong
Unafraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free to be me
No one tells me who to be
Cause you're wrong, and I'm strong
Unafraid I'm moving on
Cause I'm free to be me
No one tells me who to be
Yeah
Friday, August 27, 2004
Party Till Thirty?
My colleague met a Caucasian lady in the lift a few days ago. She had just gone grocery shopping at Cold Storage and her trolley was filled with diapers.
You know how friendly these Ang Moh's usually are. So she remarked to him, "my trolley used to be filled with beer and party-ware."
You know how friendly these Ang Moh's usually are. So she remarked to him, "my trolley used to be filled with beer and party-ware."
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Swaaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm really not a fan of Buble, but Olinda Cho's cool :) She should sing K.D. Lang.
Michael Buble
When marimba rhythms start to play
Dance with me, make me sway
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more
Like a flower bending in the breeze
Bend with me, sway with ease
When we dance you have a way with me
Stay with me, sway with me
Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway I go weak
I can hear the sounds of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now
Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway I go weak
I can hear the sounds of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now
You know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now
Michael Buble
When marimba rhythms start to play
Dance with me, make me sway
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more
Like a flower bending in the breeze
Bend with me, sway with ease
When we dance you have a way with me
Stay with me, sway with me
Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway I go weak
I can hear the sounds of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now
Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway I go weak
I can hear the sounds of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now
You know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now
Caffeine Breeds Impatience
I feel terrible. This morning, while standing in line at the ATM, impatience and irk was oozing out of my very pores.
The fella at the machine was making some complex transaction and so was taking a while, reading the menu and hesitantly pressing the buttons.
There I was, rapping my fingers, shifting about restlessly, and breathing out audibly.
What had began as another great morning with coffee and tau-huey was turning into a frustrating and seemingly endless 3minute long wait. The humid weather wasn't helping.
My face was as black as a toilet-cleaning auntie who followed an offending stench to its source.
When the fella was done, he half-turned to me and grinned apologetically while weakly gesturing to the machine. I smiled back - hope it came out right.
Now, I feel terrible. What if that was some big-shot professor visiting Singapore for the first time? What if I just cost the economy a huge research project, critical for biopolis' staffing needs??
I blame it on caffeine and too much sugar.
The fella at the machine was making some complex transaction and so was taking a while, reading the menu and hesitantly pressing the buttons.
There I was, rapping my fingers, shifting about restlessly, and breathing out audibly.
What had began as another great morning with coffee and tau-huey was turning into a frustrating and seemingly endless 3minute long wait. The humid weather wasn't helping.
My face was as black as a toilet-cleaning auntie who followed an offending stench to its source.
When the fella was done, he half-turned to me and grinned apologetically while weakly gesturing to the machine. I smiled back - hope it came out right.
Now, I feel terrible. What if that was some big-shot professor visiting Singapore for the first time? What if I just cost the economy a huge research project, critical for biopolis' staffing needs??
I blame it on caffeine and too much sugar.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
iPod Mini in MTV Movie Awards 2004 Gift Bag
Heard on radio today, MTV Movie Awards gift bags are worth £12,000 each. Presenters and performers at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards received a gift bag stuffed with an iPod mini, Universal Electronics’ Kameleon Remote and several accessories from Digital Lifestyle Outfitters. The gift package, arranged by Los Angeles-based Branded Entertainment, also included an XM Satellite Radio, Microsoft Xbox, Logitech Webcam, Electronic Arts games and more.
You never know...
...who you'll meet at the bus-stop. That's the good thing about working where I used to study.
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
No Such Thing
Welcome to the real world
She said to me kind of condescendingly
Take a seat, take your life
Plot it out in black and white
Well I never lived the dreams of the prom kings
And the drama queens
I’d like to think the best of me
Is still hiding up my sleeve
They love to tell you stay inside the lines
But something’s better on the other side
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the top of my lungs
I just found out there’s no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you’ve got to rise above
So the good boys and girls take the so-called right track
Faded white hats grabbing the credits and making transfers
They read all the books but they can’t find the answers
And all of our parents, they’re getting older
I wonder if they’ve wished for anything better
While in their memories, tiny tragedies
They love to tell you stay inside the lines
But something’s better on the other side
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the top of my lungs
I just found out there’s no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you’ve got to rise above
I am invincible
I am invincible
I am invincible
As long as I’m alive
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the top of my lungs
I just found out there’s no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you’ve got to rise above
I just can’t wait till my ten year reunion
I’m gonna bust down the double doors
And when I stand on these tables before you
You will know what all this time was for
She said to me kind of condescendingly
Take a seat, take your life
Plot it out in black and white
Well I never lived the dreams of the prom kings
And the drama queens
I’d like to think the best of me
Is still hiding up my sleeve
They love to tell you stay inside the lines
But something’s better on the other side
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the top of my lungs
I just found out there’s no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you’ve got to rise above
So the good boys and girls take the so-called right track
Faded white hats grabbing the credits and making transfers
They read all the books but they can’t find the answers
And all of our parents, they’re getting older
I wonder if they’ve wished for anything better
While in their memories, tiny tragedies
They love to tell you stay inside the lines
But something’s better on the other side
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the top of my lungs
I just found out there’s no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you’ve got to rise above
I am invincible
I am invincible
I am invincible
As long as I’m alive
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the top of my lungs
I just found out there’s no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you’ve got to rise above
I just can’t wait till my ten year reunion
I’m gonna bust down the double doors
And when I stand on these tables before you
You will know what all this time was for
Monday, August 23, 2004
Sniffles and the A-Word
A flu bug was definitely passing round the office. One by one, my colleagues succumbed, as I could tell by the empty cubicles and the repeated coughing and sniffling.
Even I was not spared! I wonder if I was the super-infector...
Into my fourth week of work and my third monday at work. Over the days, I've met with friends and to anyone who asks what I'm doing, I tersely say the A-word - admin.
This probably isn't the best place to gripe and grouse, but so far my corporate cubicle life definitely hasn't been all that exciting. I can't wait to see more action, I told one friend.
But just as I settled into another day of work, I received a couple of abrupt lessons in the way of life and team spirit.
To cut things short, the first has got to do with Ownership, Initiative & Team Spirit. That is, I owned something, I took the initiative, but seemed to have trampled on team spirit - something that I've yet to experience.
The second is Timeliness and Resting on my Laurels. Suffice to say that timeliness IS important.
Enough of staring at the computer already... this geek's going blind.
Even I was not spared! I wonder if I was the super-infector...
Into my fourth week of work and my third monday at work. Over the days, I've met with friends and to anyone who asks what I'm doing, I tersely say the A-word - admin.
This probably isn't the best place to gripe and grouse, but so far my corporate cubicle life definitely hasn't been all that exciting. I can't wait to see more action, I told one friend.
But just as I settled into another day of work, I received a couple of abrupt lessons in the way of life and team spirit.
To cut things short, the first has got to do with Ownership, Initiative & Team Spirit. That is, I owned something, I took the initiative, but seemed to have trampled on team spirit - something that I've yet to experience.
The second is Timeliness and Resting on my Laurels. Suffice to say that timeliness IS important.
Enough of staring at the computer already... this geek's going blind.
Sunday, August 22, 2004
XO & Chocolate
That's XO fish head soup and home-baked chocolate cake, both from Holland V :)
Call me an old, boring homebody but I prefer a simple dinner with friends at home anytime, followed by drinks and dessert - mango bacardi, french chocolate, wine, cheeses, cake and ice-cream in this case.
No loud music, no smoke inhalation, no flashing lights for me. The mambosexual in me died a little more each time I stepped out of a club - deaf and disoriented - and thought, I'm never doing this again.
Most of my friends - oh, I love my friends! - and I turn 25 this year. I don't feel old, but I don't feel young either.
High on fuzziness and wine...
Call me an old, boring homebody but I prefer a simple dinner with friends at home anytime, followed by drinks and dessert - mango bacardi, french chocolate, wine, cheeses, cake and ice-cream in this case.
No loud music, no smoke inhalation, no flashing lights for me. The mambosexual in me died a little more each time I stepped out of a club - deaf and disoriented - and thought, I'm never doing this again.
Most of my friends - oh, I love my friends! - and I turn 25 this year. I don't feel old, but I don't feel young either.
High on fuzziness and wine...
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Ed Updates
As you can tell, haven't been posting much.
Because I've started work (finally).
Just can't bring myself to face the computer at the end of the day.
Got mobilized today. There went half my saturday - just as I was settling in for a lazy afternoon nap, then came the phone call. At least I got to catch up with my army friends.
One guy was particularly reluctant to reveal his salary at his first job. Usually I refrain from asking people unless I know them well enough. But the more he didn't want to tell us, the more we wanted to know. And then? He's making about the same as the rest of us.
Money matters? Of course. Does it matter the most? *ponder*
Before I left the house, I told my dad "bao3 jia1 wei4 guo2" (chinese for protect my country).
Been sick too. Tonsils have been swollen. Seems there's a bug passing round the office. There goes productivity.
As you can also see, this blog looks different now. Had some technical difficulties while tweaking the blog template. Dropped tech support an email but nothing. HMPH.
Just rambling...
Because I've started work (finally).
Just can't bring myself to face the computer at the end of the day.
Got mobilized today. There went half my saturday - just as I was settling in for a lazy afternoon nap, then came the phone call. At least I got to catch up with my army friends.
One guy was particularly reluctant to reveal his salary at his first job. Usually I refrain from asking people unless I know them well enough. But the more he didn't want to tell us, the more we wanted to know. And then? He's making about the same as the rest of us.
Money matters? Of course. Does it matter the most? *ponder*
Before I left the house, I told my dad "bao3 jia1 wei4 guo2" (chinese for protect my country).
Been sick too. Tonsils have been swollen. Seems there's a bug passing round the office. There goes productivity.
As you can also see, this blog looks different now. Had some technical difficulties while tweaking the blog template. Dropped tech support an email but nothing. HMPH.
Just rambling...
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Can You Read My Mind?
Maureen McGovern
(from "Superman")
Can you read my mind?
Do you know what it is you do to me?
Don't know who you are
Just a friend from another star
Here I am, like a kid at the school
Holding hands with a god or a fool
Will you look at me, quivering,
Like a little girl, shivering,
You can see right through me.
Can you read my mind?
Can you picture the things I'm thinking of?
Wondering why you are
All the wonderful things you are.
You can fly - You belong to the sky
You and I could belong to each other.
If you need a friend,
I'm the one to fly too
If you need - to be loved -
Here I am, Read my mind!
(from "Superman")
Can you read my mind?
Do you know what it is you do to me?
Don't know who you are
Just a friend from another star
Here I am, like a kid at the school
Holding hands with a god or a fool
Will you look at me, quivering,
Like a little girl, shivering,
You can see right through me.
Can you read my mind?
Can you picture the things I'm thinking of?
Wondering why you are
All the wonderful things you are.
You can fly - You belong to the sky
You and I could belong to each other.
If you need a friend,
I'm the one to fly too
If you need - to be loved -
Here I am, Read my mind!
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Anywhere Is
Enya
I walk the maze of moments
But everywhere I turn to
Begins a new beginning
But never finds a finish
I walk to the horizon
And there I find another
It all seems so surprising
And then I find that I know
Chorus:
You go there you’re gone forever
I go there I’ll lose my way
If we stay here we’re not together
Anywhere is
The moon upon the ocean
Is swept around in motion
But without ever knowing
The reason for it’s flowing
In motion on the ocean
The moon still keeps on moving
The waves still keep on waving
And I still keep on going
Chorus
I wonder if the stars sign
The life that is to be mine
And would they let their light shine
Enough for me to follow
I look up to the heavens
But night has clouded over
No spark of constellation
No vela no orion
The shells upon the warm sands
Have taken from their own lands
The echo of their story
But all I hear are low sounds
As pillow words are weaving
And willow waves are leaving
But should I be believing
That I am only dreaming
Chorus
To leave the thread of all time
And let it make a dark line
In hopes that I can still find
The way back to the moment
I took the turn and turned to
Begin a new beginning
Still looking for the answer
I cannot find the finish
It’s either this or that way
It’s one way or the other
It should be one direction
It could be on reflection
The turn I have just taken
The turn that I was making
I might be just beginning
I might be near the end.
I walk the maze of moments
But everywhere I turn to
Begins a new beginning
But never finds a finish
I walk to the horizon
And there I find another
It all seems so surprising
And then I find that I know
Chorus:
You go there you’re gone forever
I go there I’ll lose my way
If we stay here we’re not together
Anywhere is
The moon upon the ocean
Is swept around in motion
But without ever knowing
The reason for it’s flowing
In motion on the ocean
The moon still keeps on moving
The waves still keep on waving
And I still keep on going
Chorus
I wonder if the stars sign
The life that is to be mine
And would they let their light shine
Enough for me to follow
I look up to the heavens
But night has clouded over
No spark of constellation
No vela no orion
The shells upon the warm sands
Have taken from their own lands
The echo of their story
But all I hear are low sounds
As pillow words are weaving
And willow waves are leaving
But should I be believing
That I am only dreaming
Chorus
To leave the thread of all time
And let it make a dark line
In hopes that I can still find
The way back to the moment
I took the turn and turned to
Begin a new beginning
Still looking for the answer
I cannot find the finish
It’s either this or that way
It’s one way or the other
It should be one direction
It could be on reflection
The turn I have just taken
The turn that I was making
I might be just beginning
I might be near the end.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Why Higher Education?
Was reading a paper by the University of Chile about the challenges facing public higher education, particularly in a developing country.
I've written a short essay on the purpose of education, but now I wonder what the purpose of higher education is.
I also wonder how do we justify undergraduates like me ending up in a job in line with their degree, such as lawyers who became car salesmen (reported in the news a while ago).
I wonder...
I've written a short essay on the purpose of education, but now I wonder what the purpose of higher education is.
I also wonder how do we justify undergraduates like me ending up in a job in line with their degree, such as lawyers who became car salesmen (reported in the news a while ago).
I wonder...
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