And so the term break breaks....

The most evil thing abt MSN is its limits of 150 contacts.

I guess I have to restrict my friends to a mere 150.

Anyway, guys, please go to MSN website and lodge a feedback, or "I need something fixed" form. If enough of us speak out, there will be changes! (unless u r in NUS)



Here's my feedback:

I realise that MSN has a limit of 150 contacts, which really limits the growth of MSN messenger.

The only reason why I still have not abandoned ICQ is because ICQ doesn't create a restriction on the number of friends I have. (and of course ICQ allows Offline messages)



Other than that, MSN is a really great messenger, interactive and fun to use, so please keep up the good work, and make it better by lifting the 150 limit!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



According to Miss Lim, a teacher friend of mine, in her "nicer" version of the yellow ribbons, the man came home to a surprise view of the entire village's trees tied with yellow ribbons.

The man's family took the liberty of tying yellow ribbons everywhere, to show their forgiveness.

Yellow Ribbons everywhere!!!

Very touching hor!! (apologies for the bimbotic exlaimation)



I think probably the story is mixed with many other versions of yellow ribbons. A quick search on google reveals that it represents many noble causes



According to this American website, the display of a Yellow Ribbon is a sign of loyalty to family, friends or loved ones away in the military, or to welcome them home.

And of course under Yellow Ribbon International, the ribbons represent suicide prevention.

Loyalty! Suicide Prevention! 2nd Chance!! All worthy causes!

Singaporeans, please support the Singapore Yellow Ribbon project! because everyone deserve a 2nd chance....







In any case, I'm planning something BIG.



For the NUS students, be prepared.

~~~~~~~~~~~



On talking too much with Sophia



Sophia: "where are you going in eastern europe?"



Me: "one of the places will be Czech Republic."



Sophia: "I wanna go!!"



Me: "Send the Czechs a check and they will check whether the check is a Czech check before checking it in your checking account."



*** *** ***



Sophia: "where do u live" (pointing to the general direction of my place, while we are at 16 stories high)



Me: "that block which is blocked by that blocking block."



Sophia: "so u r staying at the blocked block behind that block."



Me: "yup."

~~~~~~~~~~~



Finally finished my training course, which I must admit, is not really useful, as textbook cases are still different from real life. Not to mention the missing of a real client to explain to him about his illogical priorities and budgets.



But hving said that, at least we got down to tough calculation, and readjustment of finances for clients. Better that we make mistakes and learn through the hard way practising, than fumble in front of a real client.

Some clients are simply unforgiving. The "dove" category of people are the nicest people, nodding their heads and laughing at ur mistakes, but in their heart, they will start developing doubts about ur capabilities.



Thats why I still love the "peacocks" the most.



Just realise that since its weekend, and I have yet to receive a phone call from my trainer, that means I have successfully passed the exam. Anyone failing the exam will be barred from practising till he finishes re-training and a subsequent retest.

horray.



Oh yah, the chio bu in my class? she is married

darn.

all the good girls are married. (or hate men, dun ask me why)

~~~~~~~~~~~



On the Sunday Times a couple of week back, the financial guru suggested 30% of income to be channel in insurance (and no, he is not related to any insurance company).

A couple of my friends expressed surprise at that. (30%?? SIAO BO!!) I guess not many realise that Life insurance accumulates cash values and is one of the ways to prepare for retirement. Plus there are a lot of insurances that serves as capital accumulation and eventually preservation for retirement needs.



The financial guru in Sunday Times recommend a 30% of income in insurance so as to achieve a healthy retirement amount early in our lives.

But I guess most young people like me will probably wanna spend much of it on cars, luxuries and stuff.....so we usually recommend 10-20%, on life (which accumulates cash values) and etc.



In any case, Nadine said something really funny that day.

"spend $13 on personal accident insurance and then if nothing happens, then won't it be very bo hua?"



haha.

i look forward to handling her claims.

~~~~~~~~~~~



On the fact that insurance agents/Financial Services Consultants (FSCs) don't have CPF contribution.



CPF acts as a compulsory saving plans for the people, to force them to save for retirement as many pple tend to discount the future and ignores the need to build up a nest egg.

However, of all people, if the insurance agents/FSCs don't even privately save and provide a nest egg for themselves, then how the heck are they going to convince their clients to prepare for their future?



haha.

thats why my unit manager, barely 30's, already got roughly $800k prepared for her retirement.

~~~~~~~~~~~



Oh yah, as FSCs, we can't use "800k". it should be $800,000.

~~~~~~~~~~~



Speaking of eggs, owing to the bloody bird flu (why can't birds be allowed to sneeze once a while!!), singaporeans can't have a decent diet of eggs.

Unless u r prepared to fork out roughly 60cents for an egg.

Ridiculous.

And a conspiracy (by the malaysians, i bet) to remind singapore of our love for eggs and all the nutrients tat we r losing out.

One of the best flash I have seen, and simply eggcellent. Go watch it.





Damn cute lah, I wanna eat my "sunny side up"!!



First beef is problematic, thanks to a few cows that didn't take well to depression and saw some shrinks. Then pork, pigs that didn't wash their feets properly.

Now we got a few birds that sneezed. Sigh.



Thats why I will always love my cabbage and broccoli.

speaking of broccoli, do you know they are banned from NYDC?



(When we say FUN FOOD, by this we mean: No Broccoli allowed on the Premises. No, I'm sorry, sir. You may NOT bring your own broccoli, even if you ARE willing to pay "corkage" on a nasty green vegetable. No, no, absolutely not. It would violate n.y.d.c. corporate policy. We do apologize for the inconvenience.)

and we strives for the union..

Go watch this!! (only for fast internet)



Damn worth it!! Its a hilarious cut-up video assembled from George Bush' s speeches to produce a special State of Union (alike Singapore's National Day Speech) address that we will never see...

Its bizarrely beautiful.



[try and watch it if you can, if your access is slow, oh well, read the transcript i posted below]

Mr. Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, distinguished citizens, fellow citizens. Every year, by law and by custom, we meet here to threaten the world.

[Standing ovation]

The American flag stands for corporate scandals, recession, stock market declines, blackmail, terror, burning with hot irons, dripping acid on the skin, mutilation with electric drills, cutting out tongues, and rape.

[Standing ovation]

Our first goal is to show utter contempt for the environment. I have sent you a compre- [Applause] comprehensive energy plan to devastate communities, kill wildlife, and burn away millions of acres of treasured forests.

[Applause]

This government is taking unprecedented measures to protect our people, and defend our homeland. We've begun inoculating troops and first responders against ballistic airports. And this year, for the first time, we must offer every child in America three nuclear missiles.

[Standing ovation]

To date we have arrested or otherwise dealt with four hundred billion key commanders of Al Qaida, which is enlisting tens of thousands of new volunteers across America. They include a man who directed logistics and funding for the CIA, one of them is found at the Department of Defense. One by one, the terrorists are learning we're building a culture to encourage international terrorism.

[Applause]

Almost three months ago, the United Nations Security Council gave Saddam Hussein his final chance to disarm. The British Government has learned that Saddam Hussein has recently had an advanced nuclear program chemical in his arse, even while inspectors were in his country. Our intelligence sources tell us that he as attempted to purchase seven million hydrogen powered doctors, and the western wall of the Pentagon. The United States will ask the UN Security Council to convene on February the fifth, to consider the facts of Iraq's ongoing defiance of the world. Secretary of State Powell will plant information to incite fear about Iraq's links to terrorist groups.

[Standing ovation]

And tonight I have a message for the people of Iraq. Go home and die.

[Standing ovation]

Trusting in the sanity and restraint of the United States is not a strategy, and it is not an option.

[Standing ovation and handshakes]

Wrong Union, Mr President.



And if you really enjoyed it, you can download and watch last year's State of Union. Equally amusing, if not, better.

During these last few months, I've been trained by Al-Quaida. And I'm weak. And materialistic. I told our country and I told the world — if it feels good, do it.

[Standing ovation]

I hope you'll join me in expressing fear, and selfishness. We will embrace tyranny and death as a cause, and a creed.

[Standing ovation]

We can be summed up in one world — evil.

[Standing ovation]

I am committed to defeating, not only the good work of charities, but the values that will bring lasting peace. And we have a great opportunity during this time of war to lead the world towards suicide, and murder.

[Standing ovation]

Let's roll.

[Standing ovation, loud cheers, fade out]

Reporting, sir!





Now you're talking...



Some people really got nothing else better to do.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, GUYS!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



A very good and sweet friend of mine bought me this when she came back from USA.

I asked for a one dollar bill for a nice motivation project of mine and she got me an additional gift as well... :)

Thanks a million DLG!



Let's see what it is...





Bill on a bill, get it? Sex Dollars, get it?



All you people reading my blog! Now you know what to do when you go for holidays!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Attending the insurance industry's Needs-Based Analysis, I'm beginning to see the (extreme) length of the tunnel.

Before you can do any sales, you got to conduct lengthy analysis and surveys of your client, to understand properly his financial situation, his insurances, his risk profiles etc, before you can recommend any products.

All these, you have to record it down in the PFR (Personal Financial Review), make no mistake about it, and for any product, you have to write down all reasonable recommendations and highlight all limitations to the client.



This is so different from selling printers.



For this training, I was informed that any tiny mistake in the PFR can lead you to borderline & possible failure. In my 2nd exercise, I accidentally ommitted a "0" and left a space blank. Uh-uh.



And having done a few real PFR with real clients in the real world, I realise its gonna be so much more difficult in filling the PFR than filling in data from the textbook examples. For one, there are people who are more private and confidential in their income/expediture , assets/liabilities. Their reluctance to divulge information means more work for me.



While working on a PFR for a teacher, i realise that a lot of people may not have the necessary information regarding their own insurance polices and financial standings. And to be fair, I myself was unclear about my own existing insurance polices.



Having done so many PFRs before this official training, I really grown to hate the paperwork involved. Although I understand the logic of PFRs, how we know our clients and their situation is via conversations and listening; the PFRs' main purposes is actually to put it all down to paper, and serve as a record. Perhaps I will appreciate the PFRs later when I start to review my clients' evolving needs and circumstances semi-annually.



(eh, u don't know agents are supposed to review your polices and needs every 6mths? Bad agent!! Let me help. haha.)



And yah, i realise my manager's way of doing the PFRs is not the best practise according to the trainer. heh heh. Can't wait to correct her tomorrow.



"eh u bluff me ah! wat kinda manager are you?"

haha. kidding.



Argh, tomorrow got to deal with the recommendation and production limitations of the PFRs.

10am to 6pm of torture!



Oh well, as my manager said, if everyone can fill in the PFR so easily, they don't have to train and hire me liao....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



On another note, since this Needs based-analysis is a new program, so all the people attending it are senior agents etc. I'm one of those rare newbie in the training room, so there are a few things

• I'm more inexperienced and lack relevant product knowledge
• Coz I dun hv an old way of doing things, i adapted the style much more readily than the old agents. You won't believe how 'stubborn' some of them are in doing it their way, despite corrections and blatant warnings.
• i won the least well-dressed award. and my manager insisted i turn up tmr in proper shirt. sigh.
  
  
• the chioest girl in the training room looks at me periodically.

Okok, I have to admit, I'm sitting near the clock, so I figured she was looking at the clock.



I like girls with thick hair!!!



(in case you're wondering that there are tons of chio bus in the financial industry, the 2nd chioest bu in my class is a pregnant lady.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~`



More on girls with thick hair, don't u love them?





Sorry, xiaxue, but your hair is just gorgeous!!



I got these models with thick hair from Google.com

damn nice right! (the hair)





Look at my hair!!









Sexy, thick, luscious hair!!





I think i wanna grow my hair thick!





muahahahahaha.

Yellow Ribbon for each of us...

Cherub supports the Yellow Ribbon Project.

Project Goals - The 3 'A's:

• Create Awareness of giving second chances to ex-offenders.
• Generate Acceptance of ex-offenders and their families into the community.
• Inspire community Action to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-offenders.

The Yellow Ribbon Project engages the community to offer second chances to ex-offenders who sincerely want to change. It is proposed that the YRP will continue to be held every year to continue to inspire concerted community action and ownership to pave the way for community-based reintegration and aftercare.

Visit their the yellow ribbon project, and read more about it. Support them in any way you can.

Monetary contributions are welcome, of course. But the real contribution you can provide is the dismantle of discriminations and barriers in your mind and heart.

Forgive & forget, for the greatest gift u can give, is forgiveness & a 2nd chance.

About the Song - "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree"

Background

The song is believed to be based on an actual incident that occurred on-board a southern bus bound for Miami in Florida, USA. One of the passengers explained to the driver that he was just out of prison, having served three years for passing bad checks. In a letter to his wife, he had written that she didn't have to wait for him; but, if she was still interested, she could let him know by tying a yellow ribbon around the only oak tree in the city square. As the bus rolled down the U.S. 17, nearing the man's hometown of White Oak, Georgia, the driver was asked to slow down so that all the passengers could see whether the ribbon was in place. To the man's tearful relief, it was. The driver pulled over and phoned the story in to the wire services, which spread all over the country. Songwriters Irwin levine and L. Russell Brown read it the newspaper then put together their million-selling ballad.

I'm pledging all my gmail invites (and my friends') in honour of the yellow ribbon. Heh.

Anyone who wants a gmail, just pay the website a visit, and email me to request for a gmail invite. All I request is that you embrace forgiveness. :)



It is only human to err. Who don't make mistake?

Forgive and have a little faith. A 2nd chance is all they need.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



I ran around in AMK housing estate today, chasing a small little white flurry puppy!



While driving along amk ave 1, I was caught in a mini-jam. to my amusement, the jam was caused by a cute little puppy, still with its leash, running amok on the road. all the cars slowed to a crawl to avoid hitting it (and perhaps to take a 2nd look at the cute little puppy).

A taxi driver was the first that came out to try and rein in the puppy, but the puppy ran fast and furious.



Surprisingly, another kind driver stopped his car, and chased the dog for a loooong time. (My car was stopped at a red light) He couldn't outrun the dog, and he gave up (i must say, he ran for a vast distance) after the dog turned and ran into a housing estate. By then the red light turned green, so i sped forward and turn into the estate, hastily parked at some lot, and went searching for the white dog.



Now now, wat was i thinking? I ain't sure, but I guessed the dog is rather tame, and must have lost its owner. Judging by the way it ran across the roads, I figured it won't last a day in the streets. just wanna find the dog, pacify it, and bring it back to the owner.

come on!! the dog must be damn lost and scared lah....



Too bad, I searched across the estate, and though many neighbours were very helpful ("oh, that was ur dog! it ran in that direction, very very fast!"), I didn't manage to recover the lost dog.

I wonder if the dog will be like those we hear from stories, that it will be able to retrace its tracks and go back to home sweet home.



Being super late in meeting TC, he insisted I shld hv left the dog alone.

"heard of the Darwin Theory? thats how nature takes care of things. Survival of the fittest, the dumbest will die by itself"



nice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~



As an economics major, can't say that I'm particularly thrilled that the (small) market rules again.



Yup, I'm talking abt the recent merger of SPH's TV broadcasting arm, free sheet "Streats", with Mediacorp TV and the other free sheet, "TODAY".

Back to the good old days of monopolies.



The general public is receptive to the merger of the medias, at least this is what I gathered from the reports and opinion polls from the, err, same medias.

Will the quality of news and programs decline?



Frankly, the most appreciated improvement Today uplifted in the local journalist world, is the dare-to-question spirit that sets it different from the staples of news from SPH. Today's journalists has penned several articles and commentaries that question government policies and challenged offical lines. Of course, it still kept itself to a safe distance, but if I'm not wrong, it was warned a few times by some minister that it needs to rein in itself, and not just to fan sensational news for the sake of readership. The same old reasons why Singaporeans can't take freedom, blah blah blah.

One of the restricts of the press is the presence of Out of Boundary markers (OB markers) or rather, the absence of. The govnerment warns journalists not to deviate across the OB markers and create dangerous divisions across the naive (of course) public. However, the OB markers were never made clear. Short of obvious dangerous zone of religion, race, there are still a lot of grey areas. Anyone disagreeing with the current government stand faces this situation, is it in the OB area? Hence, most journalists & Singaporeans for that matter, tend to take the safe stanch. Even if they disagrees with the policies, there is usually self-censorship and a limit in exposure.



How can you even obey the laws, when the laws are not clear?



Now that Today is merging with Streats, and 40% owned by SPH, i wonder whether the fiery spirit will lasts. Sigh. this is the newspaper i grown to like, especially their hiring of top 2 Asia bloggers (the winner and 1st runner-up of Asia Blog Contest), Xiaxue and mrbrown to write in Today's columns.

(note: Xiaxue has since left and work on another project, but mrbrown is still writing regularly on Friday)



When you get the men in the streets, you get the ground sentiment more clearly. Even in satiral form, which is the still the best (safest) way in Singapore to criticise the government, to "suan" it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



I only watched two programs per week, and they are





F.R.I.E.N.D.S





我猜, 我猜, 我 猜猜猜!!



Since Friends are offically over (Singapore time). I shall stick my oogling to her.





杨丞琳!!!! 我爱你!!





Isn't she so cute......



i hope with the er, monopolisation of the media channels, my 我猜 show will still go on.



I wonder those people who jumped ship from SPH to Today, wonder how they will be treated now that SPH is 40% boss of Today now.

And similarly the celebrities that jumped from Mediacorp to Mediaworks.



*Shudders*

"and u also wrote sth that resonates with sth that i always say

u need to know wats pain before u know wats happiness

so i think u are well equipped for the happiness coming up"



A quote from staff sergent, ssn_yamato. Can't say I'm thrilled at the compliment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Note: There is nowhere in my ICQ details that implies that I am anywhere outside Singapore.



super ong (08:18 PM) :

hi, i am philip from singapore, i got chinese girls friends who like to go australia to work...

Cherub (08:19 PM) :

and?

super ong (08:21 PM) :

i would like to know the procedures in australia, and the documents needed...

Cherub (08:21 PM) :

so?

super ong (08:24 PM) :

i am charging the girl $4000 to go to australia for a first 3mth travel visa and then 9mth work permit.

if you can help me in australia to apply for the visa, arrange work place, find accomodation u can get $1000.

Cherub (08:25 PM) :

haha. u r so funny. i really want to get to know u more

Cherub (08:25 PM) :

did u completed ur ITE?

super ong (08:25 PM) :

i am ntu graduate... civil engineering

Cherub (08:26 PM) :

enough said

super ong (08:27 PM) :

u r in singapore ah ?

Cherub (08:27 PM) :

i never imply that i am in australia lor. idiot.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Life as a financial services consultant (FSC) has been fun.



(read: I count myself as a FSC coz I do more than insurance, i do saving plans, investment plans as well. i don't count myself as a Financial Planner coz I can't deal with tax and estate management. its all technical terms, so i guess u shldn't care)



The inner workings of the industry and the many complications among the major players, AIA, Great Eastern, Prudential, NTUC Income, and the main brokers like Philips Capital, IGA etc, is really interesting. There is a large amount of reproducing, remarketing and, plainly put, copycating. lol. And there is a large amount of skill in taking a plan with all its technicality and boiling it down to simple illustration for prospective clients.



Any economics major can easily draws some graphics or equations to prove that an individual/business/home is more happy with insurance than not.

An uninsured person with a probabilty of damage, p, will suffer, according to stats, a financial loss of (p x losses) in every period.

One will rather pay an amount higher than this (p x losses) in every period and be assured than not.



One is more assured, more capable of taking risks, more capable of undertaking larger business, etc.

Simply put in economics terms, one's utility is higher.



Its actually one of the basic in microeconomics, and the concept is nothing too difficult. Everyone should know the importance of insurance



but its funny that this industry is still termed as unnatural market, for one does not go to an insurance company and ask to buy insurance, like shopping for printer.

If someone goes to a company to look for an insurance, chances are, he is of a high risk factor, he knows that he may suffer a loss soon, and therefore, the insurance company should be wary of this person. Economists term this as "adverse selection".



In the very first place, I know of many who are suspicious of insurance agents, as if they are sinister evil dopers who are out there to cheat u. haha. its all very interesting and if you pple are interested, perhaps I shld blog more abt my experience and this line.



The 2 interesting aspects of my career so far....

1. My 1st two clients are not super close friends of mine. haha. weird. Where have all my good friends gone, I wonder
2. I am brushing hard on my ability to write upside down.
   
   

Disclaimer: The pple hanging around in mrt stations/bus interchanges and doing surveys are not related to my company or me. *heh heh*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



On a supper night with the DnD girls, i realise that its easier to be sad than to be happy.

But bearing in mind what SSN_Yamato has said, don't worry dudes, we are more than well equipped to appreciate what little things have to offer in life.



And I realise Hall is really a horrid place, underneath all the friendships built, and the whatever-fun-activities-hostelites engaged in. I'm not merely sore that someone unknown bruised my reputation and backstabbed my character. Okok, I' m still sore abt that. Not happy ah? Sue me lah.

There are so many backstabbings, mudslugging, and all the politiks in hall. All the committees in there, beneath the happy smiles and laughters, are power struggles.

Worse is the fact that unlike a corporation where the incapable will be fired without much hesitation, in a hall committee, pple smile at the idiots and tries to do what the incapable has failed. Everyone still pretends to be friendly while lambasting the incapable of his position.

Hmmm, come to think of that, that's not the worst. The worst is pple being obliged to serve, and not putting in his devotion to the job because he was forced into the job. The result, an unhappy individual slaving for the hall, and a poor job where no one will admit it. No one ever learns from this.



Funny why I keep on thinking of this while I wrote the above.



The most important lesson I learnt, is that I'm a reckless driver after all.

Suits everyone in the car fine, ain't I right?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Can't remember when is the last time I watched a movie. (actually i do remember, but trying to erase memories)













No other fancy pictures, as all the nice pictures are copyrighted (ie, I can't linked them! #@!$)

Oh well, the official link, and this link got some decent movie posters

Go watch the trailer and listen to the song. I can sing it for you..:)



"one needs to know pain to be a hero"



Yup. Ladies and gentleman, he got my last $8.50

To have truly matured and grown as a human, one needs to experience the extreme emotions of life. You will never appreciate the beauty of joy and love, unless you went through the sufferings and bitterness of life.

Extreme sadness. Extreme happiness. Extreme hatred. Extreme love.

The beginning of one is NOT the end of another.



That is truly human. For the main difference between human and animals are not just intelligence, for there are many among us, who are, err, less endowed.

I know many pple like that.



Emotion is the main dividing factor between human and animals.



Of course, I'm taking out the emotional blood ties, the basic animal instincts of love, fear, security etc. To put it simply, a deer is fearful of the wolves, it doesn't HATE the wolves.



A zebra will feel extreme sadness only when it is struck down by the lioness.

The lioness (not the lion) is the one that brings home the bacon, in this case, the zebra.

To the coincidentally massive amount of pple that just broke up with their bf/gfs, live and let live. Treasure them as friends, for alike best friends, in fact, much more in depth than best friends, they are like your personal mirrors. They reflect your character, your values and weakness. They will be precious buddies to remind you, and guide you to life's happiness.



It takes time, but I have finally settled and is contend with being best friend with her.

~~~~~~~~~



Helping out at the International SEP Day at NUS last week, I realised how much I miss the friends I made while at UNC in USA. (thats 4 acroynms in 1 sentence, ladies and gentlemen)



The singaporeans, well, most of them anyway, the japanese, koreans, hongkongers etc...

Ooops, and the americans as well.



How I miss studying there, the joy of excelling in most classes, the thrill of confining to the stereotypes of "quiet Asian students topping the class"...

For one, the Asian students don't talk or ask so much questions because the topics/maths are really quite easy.



Of course in disciplines like economics, the Singapore-educated kids have a huge advantage over the Americans, since we have established a strong foundation in mathematical and analytical skills.

Errr...nevermind.



In other social sciences like psychology for example, the broad discussions and debates are really enriching and engaging, and the solutions are more than mere rights or wrongs. This is where the Asians seem to fare less well.

Not to say that we Asians don't think or question in our studies, but my thinking is that most Asian students prefer to absorb whatever knowledge the system emit, and process it in one's mind. Only after obtaining more information and careful apprehension, dare the Asian voice out his carefully constructed and more meanful opinions. In this culture, one prefer others' opinions or questions to be intelligent and well-thought, unlike the western culture where they prefer u to voice out immediately so as to clear ur doubts asap.



And I miss travelling across the states, sightseeing from cities to canyons, lugging our luggages (now i know why they're called luggages), buying our typical touristic souvenirs. I miss visiting tourist traps parks, staying at hotels, commmuting via boats, trains, buses, aeroplanes (thats airplanes for the americans). I miss taking out my gloves, beanie hat, scarf, coat, and sometimes sweaters when entering indoor, and having to wear everything again.



Come to think of that, I don't miss the clothes part.



America is a riveting, mesmeric, and definitely enthralling land, and I simply can't wait to backpack across Europe. Ahhhhh, the sites of historical battles, the aesthetic architecture, the heterogeneity and antithesis of the many cultures.......and THE BLONDES.

"Now... what are you looking at?"

sexy, pretty blondes, with lots of cash to spare...what can i say?

Wanna play tennis with me?

I don't mind being her slave....lor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My term break is over before it even started.

I have make up lecture on Monday morning, followed by video-recording of the business presentation.



Tuesday to Thursday, I have to undergo more AIA training. Making sure I provide the best quality analysis for my clients.



I can't wait till December holidays.

a short trip to genting will be nice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Success breeds success, and err, more work.



In the module of Entrepreneurial Marketing,

1. Identify an innovative product concept and explore the feasibility of commercialization. The team is required to make a presentation and sell/market the idea to potential investors.
2. Prepare a detail business plan for presentation to potential investors.

On (1), our group did the presentation yesterday, and it went off pretty well. Applying the lessons I learnt from the summer school (U21 competition), we came up with effective power point slides and made a rather decent presentation.



To say the least, we are one of the best. (of course u must recognise that I'm a humble person and therefore, since I'm so humble, our group is actually the best....*arrogant laughter* )



The lecturer came to us, asked us to attend all lectures so that we can formulate a good business plan and prepare to solidify our ideas and send to NUS INTRO. He feels that we can get fundings for our business, technological help, etc and MAKE MONEY.



Cool. and he requested us to record our whole presentation again and upload to IVLE.



ARGH.... I have to present the whole idea again?

-.-"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Failure breeds resentment.



In Money and Banking, I had to do a presentation on a question for tutorial 3.



Usually, for prepared tutorials, a student will put in 100% effort and make sure the tutorial is almost 100% correct so as to maximise the grades.

Presentation of the answers, nothing new or difficult to me.

Beyond 1 minute into presentation, the tutor pointed out the very very critical mistake.



"Class, don't copy the answer. Its all wrong."

Politik

As a social responsible blog, its my duty to spread the correct political message



~~~~~~~



Hi Everyone!



Just wanted to get this important reminder out. To show support for our Presidential candidates, whomever they may be:



If you support the policies and character of John Kerry, please drive with your headlights on during the day on Friday.



If you support George W. Bush, please drive with your headlights off that night.



Thank you.



~~~~~~~



Of course I'm against Bush, who are you kidding?

Almost every policy he touched became a joke. What I can't fathom is that he is actually a serious contender for 2004 re-election.



*gosh*

How can u trust an Administration ruled by a Bush and a Dick?







See what I mean?

If I'm American, I would have designed a similar poster for Dick.

Either that or....









The ring! Of course, who would have known??







This is quite an interesting website. Copying the idea off the "subservient chicken", the website created by Burger king, we now have an even better subervient subject...

The Subservient president!!



Go on, watch it now, and courtesy of evolon, I shall give u a few of my favourite commands to issue. (you have to type the commands in the space and click "submit")



do a magic trick

address the united nations

my foreign policy

invade north korea

tap dance

impersonate nixon

cut taxes

find your national guard records

Enron

find WMDs

get drunk

cowboy





Of course we can always get personal

laura bush

michael moore

kerry john



My all time favourite....

reveal himself



there are many many more. Go experiment! be creative!!



Of course I shall try to be fair and equal to both candiates, hence here's some positive images of Bush....















Haha. sorry about that.



I don't know which one I'd prefer, the predictability, stable but boring Singapore politics or the amusing and swinging american politics.

If michael moore was to make a film about Singapore like "Fahrenheit 911", you can bet my last dollar he will be sued, fined, and probably hauled to jail.



Iin the first place, I can't really find any decent opposition politicians. With opposition "freedom fighters" like Dr Chee Soon Juan, I seriously don't have a good choice when it comes to the electoral box.

Pardon my dismay, I can see the flaws of PAP (power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely) and their priority of capital over labour. but if u look at the underlying politics involved, Singapore is actually much more socialist than any PAPpie will wanna admit.

And not beating ard the bush (sorry can't resist the cheap thrill), my whole point is:- despite all the whining and complains about PAP's rulings, the opposition can only point them out, but what is the alternative?

We can't just listen to you merely because you are an alternate voice, we are smarter and more capable than you think, we have to know what is the alternate solution offered by you.



Can't think of any? Awwww, bashing singapore in the foreign media is really gonna get you my vote.

Changes are inevitable; moving forward, irrevocable

the human race, they say, is an extremely interesting species to observe.



Funny that I started this blog on the anniversary of 9/11, an event that, with the proper respect and solemn, played over and over by the media regarding the new, more dangerous world we are living in.



Decades of peace, ensured ironically, by the "Mutually Assured Destruction" promise of nuclear weapons are shattered, at least symbolically, by mere boxcutters.



Alas, on this day, 3 years after the innocent slaughter of almost 3000 people, I am not to dwell on the topic on terrorists and wars. Today I shall ponder on something more interesting, something much more dangerous than boxcutters-welding masked terrorists.



Girls.



girls, my friends proclaimed, are a much more interesting species than human race. Notwithstanding the stupidity and bastardity of man, as we know him, I fully agree that girls are, ahem, more annoying than terrorists. At least, here in Singapore.



We do know that Singapore is really, a very safe place to reside in. I swear that any terrorists here would have his bomb-laded car plastered with no-parking fines faster than you say "Death to the infidels!".



Girls, on the other hand, are not restricted by laws. Inevitably, when the PC gets sick, or there is some problem with wireless connection, a phone call will follow leading to whining and sobs.



"tat stupid guy dunno what he do. fix my pc a few mths ago now got virus again"

"how do you know that you got virus"

"my IE/WMP can't start!!!! *Whines whines whines*

"that doesn't mean your PC is virus-infected. Why don't you do a virus scan first"

"HOW??"

"use that anti-virus software in ur pc"

"wats that......"



Of course its the stupid guys working at the service counters that are to be blamed for virus waves, failure of your mp3, lack of codecs for your wmp and of course, bird flu. I pay good money for their services!! wait, they are offering their services for free (courtesy of NUS), okok but I'm paying good money for my tuition fees (no you're not, u dumbass, u r subsidised generously by the government). OKOK, my dad pays lots of tax. (ah, why am i even bothering...)

those guys shld do all their best to fix all of our problems! they shld work non-stop to prevent virus, make sure the whole singapore is wirelessly-connected (an oxymoron) and blah blah blah.



What???? Leave my laptop with them for days? Why can't they just snap their fingers and do it!! IS IT SO HARD?



*Before I go further, I just realise I can write forever about the stupidity of people and their pc problems. Having just quitted from the User Support Helpdesk of NUS Computer Centre, I am now free and able to comment on a lot of issues. I really love the job there, i learned a lot of technical stuff, and gained experience abt handling customers and difficult situations.

My grumblings, are in no way directed to anyone. Basically if you find any problems similiar to yours and you doing the same idiotic things, chances are you just happened to be at the same boat as 100 other dumb people. I kid you not.*







Actually, most PC-related problems are basically just PEBKAC.

PEBKAC /peb'kak/

[Abbrev., "Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair"] Used by support people, particularly at call centers and help desks. Not used with the public. Denotes pilot error as the cause of the crash, especially stupid errors that even a luser could figure out. Very derogatory. Usage: "Did you ever figure out why that guy couldn't print?" "Yeah, he kept cancelling the operation before it could finish. PEBKAC."

Don't you love this?







Actually, a lot of problems' solutions are available on the internet.

GOOGLE is god's answer to you, my friend. If you have a problem, google it.

If google can't solve it, chances are, its a PEBKAC-related issue.

In that case, I will try my best.



Of course, I have been fixing pc-problems for years. Handled more silliness than you can think of. So its not that suddenly I find girls annoying for the lack of problems.

Beside I understand that the PC is difficult.

I am more than willing to help out, its just that after I helped you, i sincerely hope you appreciate the help, even if I had done nothing useful to your beloved machine.



A sudden recall of a painful experience.



Staying in Block E at a NUS hostel, there was a time when someone asked me to go block A to fix someone's PC.

It was a double room and while I was there, trying to enable internet connection for her, some jerk walked past and exclaimed loudly "Wah, u buaya girls all the way from block E to block A"



I swear, if not for the fact that I have a bright future ahead, I would have personally snapped his neck off and fling his wortheless little body (hint he is short) across the great pacific ocean. I was really pissed at this episode and in general, a lot of similar episodes in hall.



I admit my reputation is not good, but to associate my generous helping out to buaya-ing is really a slap in the face. What do you expect me to do??



"eh, quick quick come my room, i got virus!!!!"

"i apologise i can't help u, cos people may misunderstand and think i am buaya-ing"

"huh...."



riiiiiite.



beside, most girls that asked for my help, I'm not even interested in them!!

even if they strip naked there and offer themselves in return for my mission of destroying all virus and protecting it forever (enable the automatic virus update lah, idiot), I would have rejected a good healthy 95% of them.

As the econometrician in me will say, I reject the null hypothesis at 5% significant level.



Lets see, I have helped a decent number with their PC. With economics (don't ask me why, disproportionally malaysians) and in general lots of other problems.



Captain Planet told me that the problem may be cause I treat guys less favourably.

That I don't deny at all.



Because as much as girls are annoying, guys are really dumb, assholic numbskulls.