singzeon.

28 November 2012:

My take on the SMRT incident.

The whole SMRT incident has gripped Singapore by now, I suppose. Kopitiam uncles and aunties would have new fodder for conversation, anti-PAP people would again slam the government for allowing foreign labour, PRCs would (mostly) lend their support to their 'discriminated' comrades. It is quite a dynamic affair, I would say.

There are three aspects of the whole incident that I have thoughts about. (1) Is this a strike? (2) Was SMRT discriminatory? (3) Should the drivers refuse to work? (4) What was the response by various parties?

1. Is this a strike?
I first learnt of this incident on Monday via Mr Brown. He highlighted the starting of the incident where SMRT bus drivers from PRC refused to go to work over pay issues. Mr Brown was particularly satirical over the phrase 'refused to go to work over pay issues', because to him that was what the mainstream media substituted in place of 'strike'.

When I logged on to Facebook, The Online Citizen also caught hold of this point. I purposely watched Monday's news on Channel Newsasia and Channel 8. I don't remember catching anything on Monday on TV but I did come across an online report from CNA again using the phrase 'refuse to work'. Channel 8 used the term 曠工.

Well, I do think of it as a strike, 罷工. According to Oxford Dictionary, a strike is when employees 'refuse to work as a form of organized protest, typically in an attempt to obtain a particular concession or concessions from their employer'. The drivers (1) refused to work (as 'confirmed' by Straits Times, Channel 8 and CNA); (2) as a form of organised protest (100+ people refusing together ... organised enough); (3) to obtain concession (in this case, they wanted a higher pay raise).

According to Zdic, '罷工' means '为迫使雇主答应所提要求或为达到其他目的而暂时停止工作'. Again, 司機們想破事雇主答應給他們加薪的要求 and 司機們暫時停止工作. There's no running from the definitions. No wonder people were upset that the mainstream media refused to call it a strike, using all sorts of terms like 'dispute', 'sit-in', 'stand-in', 'squat-in' (okay fine I made 'squat-in' up).

On Tuesday, the Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin termed this incident an 'illegal strike'. Whoa. Not only is the incident a strike, it's now also illegal. Actually, after reading his explanations and justifications, I do understand why the government and media cannot call it a strike so easily.

Calling this incident a strike on the first day would mean that it's illegal (as he mentioned), because they broke the law. That would mean that some form of punishment (jail term, fines, etc.) would have to be meted out in order to be fair and lawful. Since SMRT had issued a statement on Monday that the issue would be looked into and the drivers would return to work on Tuesday, I suppose the government intended to let it pass.

It would be a tricky situation to hand out punishments to the drivers. Politically, China would be looking over our shoulders. We would be in a dilemma. If we were strict on them, China might not be friendly towards us, then Singapore would not receive their help. (Even though yes I don't really like most of em, but hey we do have to rely on them sometimes.) If we are lenient, other countries would probably say that we are only boot-licking or favouring China cos we need their help.

I suppose in this case, the easiest way for the government would be to let it pass, without even claiming it's illegal or legal. However, the continued no-show forced to government to 狠下心來 and call it illegal. Now, of course, I await the various proceedings and possible punishments.

Under Chapter 67 of the Penal Code which is known as the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, it is stated that people working in gas, water and electricity services (known as 'essential services') are not allowed to go on strike. Those who are also in essential services (such as transport in this case) can only go on strike legally if they met the condition of notifying their employer 14 days before their planned strike date.

It sounds ridiculous ('boss I 14 days later going strike ah') but hey it's in the law. It's another matter altogether to dispute the law already. These drivers may be punished with a fine of up to $2000 or jail up to 12 months or both.

In conclusion, the government itself has already called it a strike after a no-show for two days. Therefore, all of us shall rest our cases about whether or not it's a strike. In other words, 'hanah hanah gahmen say strike liao can oready'.

2. Was SMRT discriminatory?
The SMRT drivers were so furious was because they felt SMRT was discriminating against them PRCs. A lot of PRCs on Weibo also felt this way. (More on that later.) However, I would say that just because of the pay difference, one is unable to ascertain that they are discriminatory.

The drivers are asking for 同工同酬. This means the same pay for the same work. However, there are at least two areas at which their work is not all the same. The first would be the command of English. Most PRC drivers have a lousy command of English. They can only converse in Mandarin, and I'm not sure how many actually bother to learn English.

Singaporeans would definitely know that English is important. It is the language of administration and this helps our policy of multi-racialism. If the SMRT drivers are not able to converse well in English, this put them at a disavantage over Malaysian drivers. Rightfully, they should not be paid as much, since they are unable to fulfil the communication aspect of the job in our language of administration.

Even though I do not take buses that often, I have encountered a few times where PRC drivers are unable to understand certain simple road names. Often, it's fellow Singaporean passengers that play the role of a translator, helping to bridge the language barrier. I certainly do not think the PRC drivers deserve more pay if they require such assistance. I don't know if it's explicitly spelt out in their contract, but I feel that they need to know that in Singapore you have to speak English. Your inability to do so would mean lesser rewards, in this case in the form of salary.

Also, there is the issue of lodging. Malaysians travel to and fro the Causeway every day for their jobs. They do not depend on SMRT for lodging. PRC drivers have to depend on SMRT, with the latter providing dormitories for them. Therefore, I do believe that it is right if this lodging fee is deducted from their salary so long as it is rightful.

Some PRC drivers have claimed that the dormitory conditions are 'like a prison', so this issue of lodging is not enough a justification for their lower pay. Well, in that case, I would like to know if they have tried voicing their displeasure. If they have and it was ignored, well okay then it's not totally their fault. However, one may actually further add that they have not exhausted all channels of feedback and communication. Singapore is so bureaucratic, there are surely organisations or departments to voice out such displeasure.

Did the drivers bother to ask their supervisors or bosses why they are being paid less? Again, if they tried asking but were ignored or told off, then I would agree that they are discriminated and that they should receive more equal pay. If they only flared after seeing the circulars without asking anyone for clarifications, then I think their claims of 'discrimination' are uncalled for.

Of course, that is not to say that SMRT is totally not at fault. There still exists the possibility that the corporation is really at fauly because they are discriminating the PRCs because they are 好欺負. Therefore, I would think it's useful for SMRT to actually issue a circular addressing the difference in pay and increments to the public. It may be bureaucratese again but hey it may dispel this view.

In conclusion, we may never know whether or not SMRT is indeed discriminatory. At least, as of now. Maybe a few days later the minister would call for an investigation, then the truth may be out. Till that happens, I would reserve  judgement on whether or not SMRT was discriminatory. However, I would not support anyone who straight away blasts SMRT just because of a pay difference, be he PRC or Singaporean. There may be compelling reasons, two of which may be what I've suggested. (There's also the foreign worker levy thing but I'm unsure of that so I'm not commenting.)

3. Should the drivers refuse to work?
No, duh. Refusing to work is an irresponsible act, no matter who. (Although yes I do wish I could not go to school at times.)

Furthermore, this is an essential service of Singapore. If it was some small company, the damage is not that great. (Still not agreeing that they should do that though.) Luckily, according to Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo, SMRT was able to maintain its service standards for the two days that the strike was going on.

When the MRT broke down previously, see the inconvenience that it caused. Very luckily, this time only a small part was affected. SMRT's driver workforce is 22%, if I'm not wrong. If it were more, what would have been the damages and inconveniences then? Such things should never happen.

Maybe the French would laugh at us for being so anal. From what I know, France is the nation that strikes most in the world. (Sorry I don't have any statistics to back that up, I heard it from somewhere only.) Nevertheless, I don't think that we should condone such things at all. The workforce of Singapore would be greatly affected if people unhappy with their jobs simply went on strike.

In conclusion, no.

4. What was the response by various parties?
Firstly, let me touch on the responses by PRCs. I am on Weibo, and I have seen the fury of PRCs there. I would say that 99% of them support their workers, which is expected and understandable. However, as I mentioned earlier, it would not be right if they simply called it discrimination based on salary.

Yet, this is what most of them are saying. Some are already issuing threats to Singapore / Singaporeans. From the papers, I read that someone mentioned about sending fighter planes to Singapore's doorstep to show that China is no weakling.

Hello?! I don't think anyone has ever felt that China was a weakling, not even America. The whole world regards China as a superpower or superpower in the making. If they really resorted to such action, it would just show that they are the bullies instead, not us, as they claim. Thankfully that person isn't a diplomat or in charge of this.

On Weibo, I saw a thread that had people criticising Singaporeans' thought process. After reading it, I cast doubts on the thought processes of the people instead. It was a screen grab of a post on Facebook by 聯合晚報 and its comments. Most commented that they shouldn't strike. Some were extreme and said PRCs should scram. Well, I don't see how that shows anything about how we can't think.

Singaporeans are angry, no doubt. (By the way, this is showing emotion, which runs contrary to that report that we are the most emotion-less.) Some are more extreme and start blaming  SMRT, PAP, NTUC and everybody involved. Others just called for them to be repatriated to serve as a warning to everyone that such behaviour can never be tolerated.

This may sound biased, but I think the Singaporean response is more measured neutral than the PRC response in general. Maybe it's because the PRCs think they are being bullied, so of course they are standing up.

There is a viewpoint brought up about the safety of Singaporeans in China. It may seem far-fetched, but not at all. When Japan was caught up in the island dispute with China, Chinese media stoked flames wildly and made Japanese to be come Public Enemy No. 1. Days or weeks later, there were reports of Japanese being attacked, Japanese stores being hit or burned.

Although perhaps the Chinese won't be as extreme to us Singaporeans, that is not to say that everyone is as rational over there. Some who are extreme would think that we are bullying them, so they take revenge by making things difficult for Singaporeans in China. The media would certainly play a crucial role in either helping or stopping this; thankfully from what I read Chinese media is rather quiet. So hopefully this also means there would not be such trouble over there.

I believe the Chinese embassy is not very happy with Minister Tan's comments. He called it 'illegal' so yes there would be punishments to come. Obviously, the Chinese embassy representing PRCs would be unhappy that they have to receive punishment. (A bit like the Michael Fay incident, I feel.) The embassy issued a statement. Basically, I infer it to mean 'don't go overboard ah Singapore'.

In conclusion, some responses by both Singaporeans and PRCs are extreme. Nevertheless, most are neutral and measured, which is good thing. There's no use stoking flames now that this incident can finally die down and life goes on. One thing though, kopitiam uncles and aunties would continue talking about this for a while, anti-PAP people would still use this to slam government for a while, and some PRCs would still be angry at us Singaporeans for bullying them for a while.

TTFN.

Something I read on Weibo was that the PRC drivers refused to be under NTUC or any union when they first arrived. In China, worker unions are useless and only grab money. Therefore, the PRCs thought Singapore's unions were around the same, so rightfully refused entry. However, now NTUC or any union cannot help them because they do not have legal mandate to help the drivers. I'm not saying this to mock them, but it's quite a sad thing that they are disadvantaged because they were 心寒-ed by conditions in China, so to speak, therefore rejecting what was useful for them.

27 November 2012:

I am disappointed.

On 15 Nov, I called you after reading the papers. I had saw a report for this play. I asked if you were interested. You said no, besides the ticket at $38 was a little expensive for you especially with some financial issues you had then. Okay, I said, maybe I'll re-confirm this.

Yesterday, I heard that you went to the play in the end. I didn't go. It was probably my bad because I did not re-confirm in the end. I was thinking that since you were unlikely to go, I didn't really intend to go as well.

Well, you went after all. I am disappointed that you couldn't have called or texted to notify me. I would think that it's nice to at least tell me. Besides, I was the one who asked you in the first place.

I'm not really upset about not going to the play, although I would have wanted to watch it. I'm upset that there is this communication breakdown. I can't fully blame you, because like I said I didn't re-confirm when I said I should have. Instead, I think that we both are at fault.

What's done cannot be undone. The play has ended its run. Maybe it's fated that you shall watch it and I would not. Oh well then. However, I might not be as willing to ask you anymore. Perhaps it's better going alone and enjoying?

TTFN.

26 November 2012:

踏破鐵鞋無覓處

If you were following me on Weibo, you would've known that I almost bought a Russian book. Turns out that the book I wanted was out of stock at Marine Parade's Popular Bookstore, and there were only two at Bras Basah and Jurong Point respectively.

Today, I called Popular to ask about the book again. My first time calling was bad. I tried calling the Bras Basah outlet but it was engaged. So, I called the main branch. Still, it was engaged. Finally, I called their Customer Service hotline.

A guy answered me after going through certain automated machine rounds. I was unable to give him the ISBN (which would have made things much easier) so I gave him the complete title.

I was told that Popular doesn't carry the book at all. I was suspicious cos yesterday the lady at MP was able to tell me that there was stock elsewhere. Therefore, I tried another book that was similar. This one I'm very sure that there is, cos I was holding on to it yesterday. Again he said the same.

I hung up and decided to get the ISBN. In retrospect this really made things easier for them. Whenever I offered to give the ISBN they seemed more eager to help.

Anyway, I decided to call the outlet at Sing Post. A girl answered; I think she's also a sec sch graduate that's helping out. She was the one that told me one was in BB and another at JP. You could tell she was an amateur cos she told me 'I help you search ah' and 'got one at JP uh Jurong Point'. Still, thanks to her.

Moving on, I called Bras Basah. They were again engaged. I then called the customer service hotline again. This time a lady answered, not that guy. She was so helpful and was able to hell me get through to Bras Basah.

Half an hour later she called back and told me that they do not have the physical stock although it's in the system. Therefore, she would call JP and check for physical stock as well.

This time, she didn't call back for about two hours. I called back (cos I now had her direct line) and she told me that they had the physical stock and would transfer it to MP. The process takes around seven working days though, but staff there would call and tell me once it arrives.

Many thanks to all that helped me in this episode. Especially the clueless guy; I wonder what system he was on. Hahah.

TTFN.

25 November 2012:

旋轉

他也不知道幾時變成這個樣。

可是，他想到，一切之前不是還好嗎？

怎麼會……啊。他想到啦，是那女人。

那女人是他一年前認識的。當時，他的生意蒸蒸日上。

那天，他到了酒吧。酒吧很轟動，他還記得。

不過那女人就想沙漠里的一朵花，這麼與眾不同。

他一下子被吸引住了。幾杯酒下肚，他們成了朋友。

不過朋友之間好像不和彼此上床的吧？

看來，他們不是朋友。「哎呀，我們只是朋友。」她說。

好的，朋友就朋友。

自從那次上床后，他更加注意她了。

他發覺，她喜歡風車。尤其是紙風車。

問她爲什麽，她也不回答就只繼續對她放電。

其實朋友提醒過，她有些古怪。可朋友說不出哪裡怪。

他說朋友嫉妒，自己有個這麼好的朋友。

to be continued.

24 November 2012:

Это я.

Ever since 16 Nov, I have been spending time at home. It's been eight days now, so let me summarise what I've been doing here:


Yup that pretty much sums up what I've done. No there's nothing with your computer, what's wrong is my life. I really haven't been doing much these few days. Almost all my close friends are either in chalet or overseas. Some like GY are even all the way at Sweden, what  a posh place that is.

And I am stuck in Singapore. I would be heading overseas next month, but it is not really what I originally wanted. So the only thing I can do next is to stay optimistic and enjoy my time there.

Almost everyday my routine would be to read newspapers > use the computer > eat my lunch > use the computer > eat my dinner > watch TV. That sounds exactly like the life of a pig. It's a surprise I'm not growing fat already.

I've been asking some friends to head out, but as I said, most are either out of Singapore or in chalets already, so it's difficult to arrange. B, J and I nearly couldn't arrange a meet up. I really didn't want this year to be an exception that we've made for 9 years. Thankfully our tentative date is 11 Dec, after J returns from USA.

I don't know if B is going anywhere, but his sister recently received her PSLE results. She had a score of around 230. I don't know his sister's usual standard but for someone in Tao Nan, that score isn't very good. To clarify, I'm not insulting his sister ah. If for example she is really very, very weak normally and she gets 230, then of course I would say too that it's a fab improvement. I'm just stating that the average score for Tao Nan would be at least 240 and above. (Which reminds me of how I was below average then.)

Oh and yes after a week, I'm still sick. Actually I would say that I'm 90% recovered, but it's just the irritating bit of phlegm and mucus left. I've been blowing my nose very, very hard since morning. It is stuck near my tonsils, which is a hard to reach area especially since it's very sticky as well.

I'm just scared that I may burst some membrane in the process, because I do feel pain inside my cheeks or nose after blowing. Especially when most of the time, only little mucus comes out. So the pressure applied is mainly dealt to tissue, and that's not good. I'm creating a high pressure environment for my nose.

~

Yesterday my blog hit 15051 page views. I have been blogging since March 2010. My archives are open for anyone to view, but I strongly suggest not. Otherwise, you would die of uncontrollable laughter or contempt after seeing how childish my posts were previously.

I am the long-post kind of blogger. Some like typicalben prefer to use lots of pictures. Maybe I would do so too if I had good looks like him. I prefer to use my words to move people. Although a picture paints a thousand words, but I am of the belief that words are equally manipulative if used well.

Of course, I can't guarantee that every post would be an epic. Sometimes I really don't have stamina to continue after 1500 words, so I would just call it a day. (I only post once a day, regardless of how long / short or good / sucky the post is.) However, I try to make every post as meaningful and enjoyable as possible. At times, however, I realise that my posts can be confusing.

As a result, I have decided to take up logic and reasoning practice. I am going to apply such skills in my posts. This doesn't mean that I would be writing argumentative essays here. Such skills can be used for writing narratives as well, actually. It's about how you phrase your statements to make sure there are no fallacies.

Upon re-reading my previous posts, I realised that there were spots which could cause confusion to the reader. Normally this is because I use words like 'it' too many times. Otherwise, it would be because I fell for fallacies and there is something wrong with the logic of the paragraph.

Therefore, I would like to fix that problem, since it no doubt would help me next year as well, when I begin GP. I trust that my readers would also benefit from it, cos that would save them some time from going 'huh' at confusing paragraphs. In all, that would make my posts much more coherent and fluid, such as those of YM's.

~

I originally intended for this post to be about some regrets that I have. In the end I thought that I would not have much content, so I decided for it to be as sub-post as such.

The first regret would be to say no when I mean no. Saying no when I mean no would save me and Y from heartbreak. Actually, only Y suffered from heartbreak. I was the heartless one. I had no feelings for her; yet I had the mentality of 'try try lah'. At that time I was so infatuated by JL. It was not right of me to agree to Y while thinking constantly of JL.

This was especially bad cos I am in the same class as JL, so it's difficult to not think of her. The whole time I was with Y, which was about two months, I really tried hard to like her. However I guess we weren't fated. I know that she really went all-out (not what you're thinking here), so yes I do feel indebted to her cos the ending wasn't well-done.

I have this junior S and he broke up with his girlfriend at around the same time as me. Yet they remained close friends ever since. I yearn for that, but I know that it's rather impossible given the circumstances.

Y retained for a year this year. I really don't know if it was because of the heartbreak that made her 無心向學. If that is so, then of course I should be deeply apologetic to her. However, I think it's all too late to really think of all that now. I simply hope for the best for her.

The second regret is to reduce the number of people I ignore. My critics would now pounce on this previous statement and go 'aha I knew it you're so proud that you ignore people'. Well, hear me out yeah.

You may call me stupid, but sometimes I ignore because things are awkward. For example when we went on to Sec 3, there were classmates I'm not as close to that went to different classes. Should I wave? Should I not? Many a time, I actually choose not.

I know, I have the ostrich mentality. I assume that sticking my head in the sand would solve matters. However, this could backfire cos people instead would spread about how aloof I am. I can't defend much for myself, because it does seem to fit the palette.

I am socially awkward. This is something to be solved, and maybe I have to start with not ignoring people. Of course I also don't want a situation where I wave and no one waves back. Sorry ah but I also a bit thin-skinned.

I can't think of my third regret. Now I regret forgetting my third regret. Oh well.

~

self-promotion time:

Instagram: @singzeon
Weibo: @singzeon
Formspring: @singzeon

Okay lah I think you can tell already that everything is @singzeon. If you can find a @singzeon on any network, it's probably me. Questions on Formspring are especially in demand by yours truly, so that I can answer some non-machine-generated questions when I'm bored.

~

As I was saying on Weibo the other day, I really feel like going to Mediacorp and ask if they have any jobs. Of course I do understand that with my height and face, it's not easy as well. I really miss the place.

(I am very tempted to write out the funny thing I saw back then at the reception area. But no lah never mind.)

I wonder if the Radio building looks different now. I really, really wish I could do something related to radio during this period of time. Perhaps like voice overs. Again, my voice profile is awkward. I can't do those deep, voluptuous kind and can't do those squeaky childish kind. What kind of commercials would want me leh.

Also, even if I really ask and they happen to have one, how am I to present myself still sick. Immediately they would be able to detect that and I don't think they would want my sickly kind of voice.

~

Ок, это я. Пока.

TTFN.

22 November 2012:

最牛小學作文

11月7日　星期三　天氣晴
時間過得真快，一下就到半期考了。現在已經在開始緊張的複習了，我必須要開始努力了。因為我如果不努力，我成績上不去，就會被家長罵。我被家長罵，就會失去信心。失去信心就會讀不好書。讀不好書就不能畢業，不能畢業就找不到好工作，找不到好工作就賺不了錢，賺不了錢就會沒錢納稅。沒錢納稅，國家就難發工資給老師。老師領不到工資就會沒心情教學，沒心情教學就會影響我們祖國的未來。影響了祖國的未來，中國就難以騰飛，中華民族就會退化成野蠻民族。中華民族成了野蠻的民族，美國就會懷疑我國有大規模殺傷武器。我國有大規模殺傷武器，美國就會向我國開戰，第三次世界大戰就會爆發。第三次世界大戰爆發，其中一方必定會實力不足，實力不足就會動用核武器。動用核武器就會破壞自然環境。自然環境被破壞，大氣層就會破個大洞。大氣層破個大洞，地球溫度就會上升。兩級冰山會融化，冰山融化地球水位就會上升。地球水位上升，全人類就會被淹死。因為這關係到人類的生命財產安全，所以我要在剩下的幾天里好好複習，考好成績，不讓悲劇發生。

November 7, Wednesday, Sunny
Time passes really fast, the mid-term exams are approaching. Now intensive revision has started, I need to start working hard. Because if I do not work hard, I would not get high grades, and would get scolded by my parents. I lose my confidence when I'm scolded by my parents. Once I lose my confidence I can't study properly. If I can't study properly I cannot graduate, and can't find a good job, and can't earn money, and can't pay tax. When I have no money to pay tax, the state can't pay teachers their salary. When teachers don't get their salary they would have no mood to teach. This would affect our country's future. If our country's future is affected, China would not be able to progress, Chinese people would regress to become barbarians. When we become barbarians America would suspect we have weapons of mass destruction. When we have weapons of mass destruction, America would wage war against our country and World War Three would break out. When World War Three breaks out, one party would be less adept and turn to use nuclear weapons. Using nuclear weapons would spoil the natural environment. When the natural environment is spoilt, the atmosphere would be broken. When it is broken the earth's temperature would rise. Icebergs at the two poles would melt and this would cause sea levels to rise. All humans would die when sea levels rise. Because this involves the lives and fortunes of everyone, I need to use the remaining days to revise properly, get good grades and pr vent tragedies from happening.

~

Someone give this guy an L5 for explanation.

Hahah this is what's trending in China these few days, called 最牛小學作文, or Most Badass Primary School Essay (okay my translation sucks). Well this primary school kid was told to write an essay in the form of a diary and that was what he wrote. The Chinese version is the original, I roughly translated it to English.

Online, people were mainly commenting about how considerate and mature the boy was. They were saying that 'whoa he could think of the country's future'. Well it depends actually cos other would say he is 胡扯-ing.

Some also mentioned that it was impressive that he knew of the butterfly effect. That's quite true, but there are some loopholes. For example: not all teachers would be discouraged when they do not receive their salary. Also, it is not guaranteed that America would suspect if Chinese became barbarians.

Nevertheless, I must say this guy is pretty witty. Maybe he was trying to find a way to escape writing this essay, so he wrote 'crap' that the teacher enjoyed. Hahah.

~

Recently I haven't anything to post. It's the holidays and I've not been doing much. So yeah nothing much to say then. I also don't really have much to say about other stuff as well.

TTFN.

19 November 2012:

About Campus Superstar and its songs.

Well it has finally returned after two (or three?) years. Then there were people like Teresa Tseng and Cai Aijia. Somehow, the winner would always be cute, cute guys. I'm not saying their singing sucks, but somehow it seems to be the case.

Anyway, this year there's a rule that people can only sing songs either originally sung by Singaporeans, or its composer or lyricist must be Singaporean. And for the preliminary rounds, students auditioning must choose from 20 songs.

I can't say that I'm an expert at this, but I shall try to analyse them songs, those that I know. (song title | original artist | lyricist | composer)

1. 孤獨患者 | 陳奕迅 | 小寒 | 方大同
This song isn't as hard as other songs in the list. Yet, people who try to copy Eason Chan's natural hoarse voice would be disadvantaged. It's up to them to create their own interpretation of 孤獨患者. Oh but the starting may trap people cos it can be a little to start with such a tone. In terms of lyrics, I don't think there are any phrases that would cause 咬字 problems.

2. We Together | 林俊傑 | 天天 | 林俊傑
This song isn't very hard as well. Those attempting it would have to make sure they do portary the joyous mood of the song. The lyrics shouldn't pose any problem either. I am not sure how people would treat the autotune parts though, in my opinion they should not try too hard on that. This song is an 舞曲, so if someone sends in a video of them standing still singing, then that isn't very good.

3. 狂想曲 | 蕭敬騰 | 天天 | 李偲菘
This song ... I have a feeling not many people would choose it. Not that it's not good okay, but cos it is the rock kind. Rock songs are hard cos not everyone has the hoarse voice needed, and not everyone can do well without getting a sore throat at the end. Chances are many would be screaming and shouting, but actually 蕭敬騰 doesn't need to do that even for the chorus. This song is quite fast-paced, so some may not be used to it as well and get 咬字 problems.

4. 她說 | 林俊傑 | 孫燕姿 | 林俊傑
This song ... I have a feeling that many people would choose it, especially guys. However, this makes it difficult to stand out amongst the people who do use this song. Also, the pitch of the song is slightly high, so I'm not sure if many guys can handle it. If they choose to use 假音 then it would be risky. The pace should be alright lah, cos it's a 慢歌 so it shouldn't be a problem.

5. 當我知道你們相愛 | 何維健 | 小美 / 何維健 | 小美 / 何維健 / 唐達
This song is a tribute to 何維健's idol, 郭富城. By right this is an 舞曲 too, so I'm curious to see if anyone would actually dance while sing. If done properly, it's certainly a +1. However, it is a 慢歌, so there isn't much of a problem here. Of course, people need to take care of the pitch, cos for guys 何維健's pitch is a little high as well, but lower than 林俊傑.

6. 假動作 | 房祖名 | 小寒 | 黃韻仁
This song ... I used to like it a lot that I would sing it in the shower. Anyway, this song is not that easy.  For the first few lines, you need to make sure you don't sound too monotonous, because the tone variation isn't a lot. For the chorus, some may find themselves breathless at certain parts. There some parts which may have 咬字 problems. The bridge is a perfect opportunity to show singing skill ... or lack of. It needs a slow build-up and a powerful voice to last till the end. And of course, you still must remain alright for the final chorus after it.

7. 我的媽 | 黃靖倫 | 阿弟仔 | 阿弟仔
This song is the fun kind with a little rocker side to it. It is a fast one, so people may stumble over the 咬字. It would be obvious cos 黃靖倫 personally sings it very 字正腔圓-ly. People who use shouting during the chorus would be disadvatanged, cos it shouldn't be the case. There are certain little details here and there which people need to catch. The bridge ends with a 拉音 (is there such a phrase ...) so again 中氣要足.

8. 王妃 | 蕭敬騰 | 陳鎮川 | 李偲菘
This song ... the Facebook page of Campus Superstar was asking if anyone dared to try this. I really don't think so, unless the person is super confident. Even LJ from choir also doesn't dare. To perform the song well, you can't shout but yet sound loud. Also, you need the 'rocker element' which includes the hoarse voice. The 音域 of the song is quite wide, so not many can hit all the notes from highest to lowest. Especially in the chorus, it would not be good if you're failing at the chorus yeah. Finally, you do not want to end off with a 破音 when you sing '你的……美～'.

9. 搞笑 | 羅志祥 | 陳鎮川 | 李偲菘
This song isn't as difficult. One part to take note would be how to sing the song without sounding too soft, cos it needs a 溫柔 treatment. The starting may be a little difficult as well if it's 清唱. The 音域 shouldn't be a problem for this song; most should be able to do well. 羅志祥 is able to sound cry-ish but yet understandable and coherent. So those who sing it may wanna take note as well.

10. Everything | 王力宏 | 王力宏 / 小寒 | 王力宏
This song is a little high on pitch as well. At the same time, there are some 拉音s to be handled well. I wouldn't say it's very difficult lah but it isn't that easy either. The pitch changes after the first chorus so I wonder if people would bother about that detail. (I don't know why but I don't have much to say about the song.)

13. Love You | 蔡淳佳 | 張樂聲 | 蔡淳佳 / 柯貴民
This song is typical of 蔡淳佳. It is those relaxing kind that is a mix between 快歌 and 慢歌. Besides the pitch and 音域, it shouldn't be a problem for many. Nevertheless, it wouldn't be easy to do a perfect rendition of it either cos you need the internal feeling. There are also some little details to take note of, but you could claim that you're not following it cos you wanna create your own style.

14. 踮起腳尖愛 | 洪佩瑜 | 小寒 | 蔡健雅
This song is indeed very popular, especially amongst girls. Even 周重慶 said on radio that he liked it a lot. Yet, most people are unable to do a good renditon of it, almost for sure. From the start, the first verse is challenging. You need to sound melancholic but not as if you're rambling. (The verses are mainly do-re-do kind. Meaning, there isn't much change so it may sound boring.) The 音域 is also very wide in the song, so you either can't go low or can't reach high notes. This is especially the case for the chorus, where the tone goes up suddenly. The whole chorus is basically fluctuating between high and low notes. Some may go off-key after this challenging chorus, which is jialat. The 拉音 after the second chorus may also be challenging, especially if you are already tired by the front.

15. 說到愛 | 蔡健雅 | 格大衛 | 蔡健雅
This song has a low pitch. The rhythm is also slightly difficult cos it's a bit non-conventional. You would need to vary your loud and soft singing. The song doesn't really have a distinct chorus feel, so that may be a bane or boon for the singer when he's trying it. The song is low, but yet one has to present the carefree mood. This presents another problem cos the singer may sing it as if he's bored, not carefree.

16. 別找我麻煩 | 蔡健雅 | 蔡健雅 | 蔡健雅
This song isn't very 蔡健雅-ish, she normally does sad, sad romance songs. She has an edgy voice which maybe what makes the song nice in part. Again, one has to be relaxed in this. There are some parts where she pulls her tone up (haiz I don't know what's the phrase for it) so yeah that may be a possible point to achieve. However, it is still easier than others. I don't think it's popular though, so maybe not many would choose it.

17. 當冬夜漸暖 | 孫燕姿| 藤井樹 | 饒善強
This song was the one I tried for the Dragon Voice audition back in January 2012. I was criticised for singing it too soft. So, already that is something to take note of. I was too focused on making it sound 溫柔. This song starts grand but is actually quite 溫柔. The chorus is rather hard to do well. Cos from 溫柔 at the front, you need to sound 'strong' and emboldened. Also, you need it to have the feel of it, which I can't describe now. It's something about the tiredness that the song is expressing, and the kind of solace and resolution it conveys. I have a feeling some (girls) would use their 中氣 to boost during the chorus or after first chorus, but too much would be bad for them. By the second (or third) chorus 孫燕姿 sounds resigned, especially at the end where she proclaims '重要的是／我們如何愛過那一段'.

18. 空口言 | 孫燕姿 | 伍家輝 | 伍家輝
This song is a fun one like 完美的一天. (By the way, 孫燕姿 looks absolutely adorable in the MV.) This song isn't that hard as the previous one but of course one must keep the 'fun-ness'. Cos it's quite fast, there may be 咬字 issue as well. One place of caution would be that she sings it as if she shouting out the happiness, but she's not. So some may go overboard in their 'hapiness singing'. 音域 also shouldn't be a problem, lah.

19. 倔強 | 陳潔儀 | 梁文福 | 梁文福
This song is the 主題曲 of 阿娣. 陳潔儀 sounds very graceful in the song, so this has to be met. She also keeps with the pace very well. A 慢歌 may cause impatient people to speed up for nothing. As for the chorus, she sounds 'strong' and confident. The 音域 isn't that wide, but some may not be able to hit the highest note, hence using 假音 for it. 陳潔儀 uses 抖音 a few times, so again that's either a boon or a bane for people trying it. Another difficult part would be the build-up effect before the last chorus.

20. 愛一直存在 | 梁文音 | 馬嵩惟 / 陳俊達 | 陳俊達
This song is a 溫柔情歌. The 音域 is a little wide though, which is why 梁文音 starts low. The endings of each line must be dealt nicely cos some can sound boring. The chorus is a good place to 發揮 cos it is a smooth-flowing one with not many difficult spots. There are only one or two places which may require 假音, but this shouldn't mar the rest of it even if not well done. There is also another build-up to the second chorus which is again a good chance to prove oneself.

~

There you have it, my personal analysis of 18 of the 20 songs you may use to audition for Campus Superstar. Well I skipped 11 and 12 cos I never heard of 11 and I don't like BY2 which sung 12 so yeah not doing those two.

Like I said earlier I'm not an expert in this so these are just what I feel. I only played the song once and typed whatever came to mind. So yeah you may find some stuff a little weird or the sort.

The Facebook page for Campus Superstar is here and the official site is here. Good luck to anyone taking part. From what I read, much more girls than boys submitted their videos thus far.

TTFN.

17 November 2012:

今雖無臥病在床，但身感不適，乃差勁也。

身子十分燥熱，我堅信乃KFC所害。

Okay anyway, I am sick one day after graduation. Basically my body is very 燥熱 or heaty. So right now I really need 涼 (cooling) stuff to chill myself down. Yet for lunch I'm gonna be drinking soup with red dates, which is one of the heatiest foods out there. Luckily I will be drinking chrysanthemum tea, so hopefully that works.

I also have a sore throat, which is probably cos my throat is too heaty as well so it's inflammed. Last night was worse when I even had chest pains. I don't know why though. I slept near midnight last night, cos I was so miserable that I didn't feel like doing anything except reading 笑傲江湖.

But eventually I was so tired that I had to sleep. And oh my goodness was it excruiating. I had to move like an old man, slower than me doing 太極 okay. My nose was also dripping like some free water station, except that I do not want it at all. I even woke at 0417 yesterday, I think cos the phlegm was too much for my body that it decided to wake up. Ugh.

Now I feel like my body is burning. Yet, I only have a temperature of 36.8 degC. So yeah thankfully I don't have a fever but this heatiness within me is so ugh. After reading 笑傲江湖 I really wish there was someone who could 吸走 all the 燥熱 from me like how they transfer 氣.

Okay lah enough of complaining, after all yesterday was not bad lah horh. And it's definitely better than GY, who received some bad news yesterday.

~

Yesterday after completing O Levels, I went with MD people to the canteen. They were distributing presents and gifts amongst themselves, which was so touching. A pity my class isn't like that, only D gave everyone in the class a card. (She really is the best chairman any class may receive.)

There was the canteen wall for doodling, and they allowed people to write stuff about graduation. I thought hard and came up with the ultimate: '走了。' Hahah KL and the rest were so stunned cos they thought I would write some touching stuff. But hey these two words are chim okay. It could be a happy 走了, or a sad 走了. Or it could be both! So yeah.

JX opened the new SC room, and LJ went crazy over everything he saw. W who was there as well was only pleased at the blazers, cos now there are cupboards to store them instead of lousy plastic racks that cracked multiple times. We were actually supposed to search for a tie for JK, but LJ was only concerned with all the items inside.

Then JX suggested the old SC room. We all protested and tried to get her to say she didn't have the key ahaha. But oh well there may be a tie so we went eventually. LJ was really so estatic. Along the way LJ was saying '裏面都是我的氣息' ... when we opened the door there came a stale, musty stench from inside. #pwned

In the end we couldn't find a tie and we were slightly late. But when we got there the thing never even started. It delayed for around half an hour, which was usual of school events. Then it was the sian part of clapping for awardees.

~

This year, everyone could receive graduation certificates one-by-one. When I went up to Mr P, he said '很高興看到你' and '記得以後要回來啊'. LK later told me that Mr P said the same to him. In other words he was indirectly persuading us to be alumni ... hahah.

After the ceremony ended people went around taking pictures. So did I. Whoa it was quite chaotic. Luckily I did manage to take pictures with everyone I wanted, except one. But never mind.

As usual, picture-taking would mean that my height was an issue (at least to me hahah). Thankfully all who helped take photos did not take my feet, else people could tell I was tipping-toe. Otherwise, there were some like JQ and GY who bent down to suit me. (Actually I think only both of them did so, the rest just let me tip-toe.)

So yay my pictures are great hahah. Actually I haven't seem them, I'm gonna see them soon. But now I really don't feel like doing anything with a burning body.

At night, I tuned in to 心情小抽屜, the first time it was done after 10. Thanks a lot to 陳寧 who made this exception for me. When I first sent her the script, she said that it surprised her cos the thing was so long. I didn't realise it then, cos I thought all were around that length.

Whoa I was so wrong. While others took only around 10 minutes (inclusive of one song), mine took around 20 minutes (inclusive of four songs). The first song she played was 心酸 by 林宥嘉, aw one of my favourite songs. Thanks to 陳寧 as well for editing my script a little to make it sound nicer, and for choosing appropriate songs like the 還要一起沖 at the end.

Today she asked if I was Singaporean. Hahah standard lah. Well I used Trad Chi in my script lah so yeah it would be new to her I guess. And also I actually used quite a lot of 成語 inside. I'm not trying to impress her okay, but it really just came along with the content.

Come to think of it I should be very thankful to her lorh. Cos each hour of radio progamming must meet a quota of stuff to do. By increasing the time of 心情小抽屜 to 200% of its original, she would have to either push other stuff to earlier or later or rush through it. In a way I think I spoilt the normal routine for her lah but aw she's so nice to accommodate me. I hope I didn't affect any commerical slots, cos then it's more tricky I think.

TTFN.

By the way, I am never gonna eat KFC again. Every time I eat it, I either get (1) bad service (2) bad food or (3) bad health. I really don't have fate with it, I guess. So yes, either McDonald's or Burger King or Subway, but never KFC. Good riddance to it.

16 November 2012:

《心情小抽屜》

陳寧你好： 

我是「醒江」。今天是十一月十六號，是Ｏ水準的最後一天。Ｏ水準考完了，中學的生涯也可算告一段落了。四年當中，我經歷了酸甜苦辣。寫作文時以前喜歡用「五味雜陳」，現在終於體會到那是什麽意思了。讓我分享一下我的酸甜苦辣吧。 

酸：我在大約中二便嘗到了「酸」的滋味了。中二的時候，我喜歡上一個女孩子。對於情竇初開的我，她是世上最漂亮的人，做什麽事都是搞笑／可愛的。我注意起她的一舉一動。我日日夜夜的想著她。但是落花有意流水無情。那女孩子喜歡上一個比我好上千百倍的男生。他比我帥、比我高、比我英俊。況且，他們在同班，見彼此的機會多著呢。每每看到她在推特或面部上寫些充滿曖昧情愫的話語，我的心就酸了。我的辛酸時期維持了快一年，之後我終於放下了，不那麼想她。幸好那時我沒沉淪到茶飯不思的地步…… 

甜：如果說到甜，那邊是我和朋友所留下的甜蜜回憶。這些年來，有些人成了我志同道合的好朋友，有些則變成點頭之交，或甚至擦肩而過都毫不在乎。對於這些人，我雖然感到惋惜，不過既然今天談的是「甜」，那就別掃興了。我其實應該慶倖，自己身邊有不少好友。他們大多是我當學長時認識的其他學長，或在舉辦一些學校活動中認識的學生領袖。我自認脾氣不是很好，處事待人也有些古靈精怪。但這些人卻甘於和我做朋友，且沒把握忽略，令我實屬開心。因為我們是五六人在一起，因此人們會說「oh you are in a clique」。其實，我討厭「clique」這個概念；對我來說它就代表除了自己人便不和其他人相處。可能我的定義十分偏激，但所遇到的「clique」大多都是這樣。我不喜歡這個樣，選擇把我的朋友都想成一些友誼圈子。這些圈子可以交叉，一個人能夠在幾個圈子內。很幸福的是，我就是能夠享有這樣的美滿的友誼。 

苦：當學生的，最苦的是什麽？想必全新加坡的在籍學生會不約而同的大叫「讀書最痛苦！」嘿嘿，我也是這麼覺得。幸好，到了upper sec，我的苦算是少許的減輕了。因為我們能夠選擇修讀某些科目，所以我非常高興的和討厭的科目如地理說bye！不過再怎麼樣，考試來臨之際，我們還是會「苦」，整天廢寢忘食的埋頭苦讀。 

辣：我要說的不是食堂賣的食物有多辣，而是要說自己在做錯事時臉上多麼的辣。四年來，我是有犯過幾次錯，幾次比較嚴重。其中，我曾經在推特上含沙射影的罵一個schoolmate。其實我和他不認識，不過我當時看不慣他的一些言論，就在推特上盡說他的不是。不久后我的推文被他發現了，他非常生氣，甚至揚言要和我算帳。回想起來，我當時多麼的無知、衝動、幼稚；現在收斂了許多。至今，我沒當面和那人道歉，不過之前我有通過面簿表達歉意啦。 

從2009年一月一日到今天2012年十一月十六日，我的中學生涯結束了。相信那些也結束中學生涯的人也會感同身受。雖然不能和我經歷相同之事，不過我想其中的酸甜苦辣、悲歡離合一定不會缺少。祝所有考完Ｏ水準的能考個好成績，而且在這個post O-Level的日子能盡情的享受！

15 November 2012:

I shouldn't be blogging now,

but I just wanted to say that GY has showed how to give all for love.

Except that it may not be reciprocated, which is definitely not good. I hope for all's well ends well. Tomorrow is 'judgement day' for him.

TTFN.

14 November 2012:

Hint hint.

You may want to listen to Yes! 933 on 16 Nov, from 2200 onwards. #justsaying. And if you really want to, there's MeRadio as well as online radio~! :)

13 November 2012:

The sun goes down and comes up again.

My day started at 0005 hrs. #truestory. T, I, CW and V called my handphone multiple times, but I had switched it to Do Not Disturb mode and I was already sleeping. So they called my house.

I was woken up by my dad, and I was 迷迷糊糊 at that time. Cos I wasn't expecting this kind of thing; I told S not to before that. So yeah I listened to them for a while. Hahah why I say 'listen' was cos I was as usual blabbering away. Normally I would just play along but hey it's midnight and I want my beauty sleep! So I 'eh eh eh' a few times, but they didn't respond.

I think it's cos I's blabbering was too loud lah. So I hung up on them hahah second time. Immediately after I sent them messages heh else they 誤會. And of course I saw other messages from people, tankewzxc to you.

I couldn't fall asleep for the next half an hour or more. Not cos I was excited by them, but cos I had mild insomnia. And just as I was about to fall into deep sleep, the call woke me up. (Actually I think it woke my whole family.) Ugh I was tossing and turning and my feet were cold but my back was sweating.

Luckily I did fall asleep in the end. I woke at 0830 or so, my usual time. Breakfast was at 9 where I ate the traditional meal of kidney meesua. In Hokkien it's 腰子麵綫 (io-tsí mī-suànn) . (The tone marks are different from Chinese lah.)

The meesua is supposed to represent your life (or something like that), so I'm not supposed to break it. I ended up swallowing all the meesua, totally not biting it at all. Thankfully I didn't gag or anything. But then I thought of Nutrition in Humans and wondered if digestion could take place efficiently cos I didn't roll it into a bolus and salivary amylase would have a little surface area to work on. #bionerd

After that life goes on. Okay lah I did go out for something but oh well that wasn't any exclusive stuff. So it's around the same. I don't know how the day would end but as of now this is what happened. If nothing extraordinary happens then this is all.

TTFN.

12 November 2012:

Dream a little dream of me.

For the past two nights, I've been having very weird dreams again.

Firstly, the dream for the previous night. *don't judge me*

I dreamt that I was in my room. This guy entered (identity withheld) with his sister. In real life I don't even think he has a sister.

I remember talking to him with his sister waiting at the side. Then he hugged me. It became a carry. (Very bad grammar, I know.)

So he carried me out of the room and his sister followed. (I think the sister is a phantom one lorh appear but doesn't have any role in the dream.) The guy was so nice to me and I remember staring at his tanned neck LOLOL. Cos I was carried mah so could only see his back and neck.

We were supposed to go for the Sec 4 level camp. Somehow from my room it became the canteen or concourse. Students were assembling there and there were busloads heading out of school.

The guy (and his phantom sister) waited for the last batch of buses before putting me down. We then went up the bus and it became a plane. Whoa. I soon lost sight of the guy.

But wow that feeling ... Hahah it felt so loving hahah. And I really don't know why there was a sister. I think in real life the guy would be good to his girlfriend too, if he ever gets one. He doesn't seem to fancy anyone leh.

~

Okay next dream. This was last night, and I woke up feeling freaked out.

I was in school, near the discussion rooms. My parents and I were supposed to go for a movie, but I had consultation (I really do have it today) so I had to go there first before watching the movie.

I entered the room and started asking for CW. I don't know why I asked for him; I was supposed to be having it with T. Anyway people ignored me throughout. I felt so awkward there.

I saw my niece in the room as well, studiously doing some work as usual. But the room actually transformed into the SSP room, although when I exited it it was still the discussion room.

I waited for a while. But neither Ms A nor T was here. Suddenly, 噩夢發生了.

My mum rushed into the SSP room and shouted at everyone, telling them to stop sleeping. Somehow when I re-entered the room there was a humongous bed where people were lying on it.

Everyone stared at her. I shouted 'Ma what are you doing?!' And she ran and fled the room. There were groans and snickers directed at me as I chased after my mum. On the way down from the third floor I saw my dad standing outside the GO.

I rushed to tell him about it and he shrugged as if he expected it / it was common. Suddenly came a bunch of PRC tourists and they rushed into the GO. (-.-)

I think my dream ended around here. Phew. I woke up with a bursting bladder and [...]. (Waking up is the second hardest thing in the morning.)

TTFN.

10 November 2012:

Would you rather ...?

For this post I'm gonna answer some 'would you rather' questions. I've taken them from various websites such as yourather.com and rrrather.com.

The percentages you see below each question belong to the two choices respectively.

1. Would you rather lose the ability to feel emotions or be physically paralysed?
Be physically paralysed. The thing that separates us humans from plants and animals is that we are able to feel emotions and convey them. Okay maybe animals can do that too, but we have much better abilities to convey it and affect others. Paralysis isn't that much of a problem (choi choi though) cos we could all be like Stephen Hawking.
78% | 22%

2. Would you rather have invisibility and teleportation or the ability to fly and read minds?
Invisibility and transportation. I would ... do some stuff. I read a novel before about this guy who turned invisible. He went on an adventure (sort of) during that period. And along the way it taught him many lessons.
47% | 53%

3. Would you rather have an attractive spouse that treats you badly or an ugly spouse that loves you?
The latter. I think looks are secondary. And if I really wanted my wife to be prettier, there's plastic surgery. There's no character surgery or love surgery.
32% | 68%

4. Would you rather have two mums or have two dads?
Have two dads. I don't know why too. More people picked otherwise; I think cos mums would be more motherly ...?
62% | 38%

5. Would you rather be rich or be famous?
Be famous. My reasoning was that if I was famous, I could at least use connections (if need be) to get me a decent job. From there I would work towards earning money.
83% | 17%

6. Would you rather always run or always crawl?
Always run.
90% | 10%

7. Would you rather listen to Baby for an hour or listen to Gangnam Style for 10 hours?
Gangnam style for 10 hours. Asian pride. And there isn't rap in Gangnam Style, which I don't like.
31% | 69%

8. Would you rather have one innocent person executed or one guilty person released?
One guilty person released. We'll pick the one that's about to be released soon and release him earlier. Tough question, this one.
59% | 41%

9. Would you rather be obese or starving all your life?
Be obese. Although people may laugh at you for being obese, I suppose at least you would be well-fed. Although your health may not be pinkest though.
50% | 50%

10. Would you rather kill yourself or push a button that kills 1000 people?
Kill yourself. I'll take one for the team.
48% | 52%

11. Would you rather have a personal chauffeur or a personal chef?
Personal chef. Omnomnomnom I don't mind squeezing in MRTs but have good food at home.
27% | 73%

12. Would you rather have infinite knowledge or infinite power?
Infinite knowledge. Infinite power corrupts people just like all the authoritarian leaders that lived before us / living amongst us. Infinite knowledge would make sensible people respect you and naturally follow you.
63% | 37%

13. Would you rather eliminate all bad drivers or stop waiting in queues?
Eliminate bad drivers. Bad drivers may kill innocent people when they crash into others. Queues can help hone our patience, or we could just find stuff to do in-between.
50% | 50%.

14. Would you rather get piercings or tattoos?
Piercings. I don't mind ear piercings but not tattoos. I'm generally alright seeing both though.
39% | 61%

15. Would you rather walk across hot burning coals or across sharp, painful Lego blocks?
Lego blocks. Burns may leave permanent damage, Legos just make me hate them forever.
22% | 78%

16. Would you rather be smart and ignored or dumb but listened to?
Smart. 吾愛吾師，但吾更愛真理。
73% | 27%

17. Would you rather use a touchscreen or mouse and keyboard for all devices?
I'd say mouse and keyboard. It's more tried and tested in a way; I'm more kiasu lah.
66% | 34%

18. Would you rather lose both arms or legs?
Both legs. I need arms to do more stuff than legs.
22% | 78%

19. Would you rather be forced to watch TV all the time or not watch it at all?
Not watch it. I could enjoy books or movies or other forms of entertainment.
31% | 69%

20. Would you rather never have sex or never find true love?
Never find true love. Sorry ah but according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, sex is more important than love, part of physiological needs. Love is after physiology and safety, which means I must at least have sex and stay safe before feeling loved.
58% | 42%

21. Would you rather be a wizard or be the King of England?
King of England. Very biased here, since I'm an Anglophile.
85% | 15%

22. Would you rather look young till you die or be guaranteed from sickness and death?
Guaranteed from sickness and death.
50% | 50%

23. Would you rather be better looking in person or photos?
In person. Cos I'd look better in photos as well, ain't it? And if all else fails, hello Photoshop~!
95% | 5%

24. Would you rather be an excellent singer or a superb writer?
Superb writer. Even though I like to sing, I think literature is more important.
56% | 44%

25. Would you rather be half your height or twice your weight?
Be twice my weight. IF I'M HALF MY HEIGHT NOW YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE ME! So I'd rather be twice my weight. Who says they aren't muscles but fat?
61% | 39%

~

There you have it, 25 WYR questions. Sometimes I was the minority, sometimes the majority. But some really were tough choices eh.

If you're interested do try it out as well from the two websites, or copy my questions to try!

TTFN.

9 November 2012:

This used to be trendy to do.

1. KL
2. CW
3. T
4. LJ
5. GY
6. YJ
7. I
8. V
9. LK
10. RZ
11. R
12. S
13. JL
14. G
15. A
16. D
17. WX
18. Stefanie Sun!
19. ZQ
20. B
21. J
22. JQ

~

How did you meet 7?
Student Leadership Camp. She was from the other group but we (our groups) were both in charge of Investiture.

What would you do if you and 15 had never met?
Never have taken bus 31 with him during secondary one. He used to pangseh me when his bus came but I had to wait till his bus came even if mine came first. His reason was cos he could only take 31 while I could take many others, so the probability for me to take a bus is higher.

What would you do if 20 and 1 dated?
Ask them how they even knew each other.

Have you ever seen 17 cry?
No.

Would 4 and 16 make a good couple?
No.

Do you want to be 13’s friend forever?
Okay ah.

Do you think 11 is attractive?
Quite lah.

What’s 5’s favourite colour?
I don't know; somebody knows better.

When was the last time you talked to 9?
Long time ago. Okay actually maybe a few weeks only but to me that's long.

What language does 8 speak?
Singlish and English and Chinese.

Who is 13 going out with?
With 14, almost always one.

What grade is 16 in?
Sec four.

Would you ever date 17?
No.

Where does 18 live?
Haiyo I wouldn't know.

What is the best thing about 4?
He walks out with me whenever possible heh it's rare to find someone walking by the bus route nowadays.

What would you like to tell 10 right now?
Nothing in particular. 'You quite hansum ah, so many girls fall for you. Oi at least buy plaster for them leh.'

What is the best thing about 19?
She likes Chinese like me. (non-PRC too, +1!)

Have you ever kissed 2?
Nah.

What’s the best memory you have of 5?
Eating blueberries.

When’s the next time you’re going to see 4?
15 Nov.

How is 7 different from 6?
One has a broken hand, one does not. (Walao eh sounds like SS question!)

Is 2 pretty?
Not pretty, hansum enough for girls to less than three him. Haiyo quite a few eh.

What was your first impression of 15?
Tan, fast-talker.

How did you meet 3?
TNS.

Is 15 your best friend?
Nope, I have no best friend. (sob sob sob) (why keep asking 15 ah!)

Do you hate 12?
Of course not.

Have you seen 18 in the last month?
I saw her hand! With her baby's hand!

When was the last time you saw 16?
Just yesterday.

Have you been to 5’s house?
No.

When’s the next time you’ll see 10?
15 Nov.

Are you close to 11?
Quite lah quite.

Have you been to the movies with 4?
I don't think so.

Have you gotten in trouble with 8?
No, luckily.

Would you give 19 a hug?
I'm alright, but for no reason that'll be awkward.

When have you lied to 3?
Whenever he asks whether he looks good. Hahah no lah I don't think I have.

Is 11 good at socialising?
Definitely.

Do you know a secret about 8?
MUHAHAHAH

Describe the relationship between 12 and 18.
Almost same name! Wahahah.

What’s the best thing about your friendship with 9?
He is a good listener, but sometimes judgemental. (Okay fine we all judge, don't we.)

What’s the worst thing about 6?
6, Y U NO stand up against [...]!

Have you ever had a crush on 12?
No lah.

How long have you known 2?
Almost ten years!

Have you ever been in a fight with 13?
No, although she always says she would win me.

Does 11 have a boyfriend / girlfriend?
Yes~

Have you ever wanted to punch 1 in the face?
No lah.

Has 21 met your mother?
No.

How did you meet 11?
Through Wushu. (Y U always ask 11 as well!)

Did you ever accidentally physically hurt 3?
I purposely slap him on a weekly basis. (Danger of sitting next to me.)

Do you live close to 7?
Don't think so.

What is 8’s favourite food?
Oh no I don't know.

What kind of car does 1 have?
Car-age. Courage. (Yes okay stop giggling already.)

If you gave 14 $100, what would they spend it on?
On me.

8 November 2012:

Describe 5 pet peeves that you have.

(This seems to be a perfect topic for me since I am such an anal person. But maybe I can't think of 5 now, we'll see how it goes.)

7 November 2012:

Today was a happy day.

Except for Higher Chinese O Level in the start. Well, at least paper one wasn't bad in my opinion. I was actually more afraid of paper one than two, but at the end of the whole thing paper two was actually more fearful.

For paper one, I was really afraid that the essay topics would all be distant to me. The 報章讀後感 would be some unfamiliar issue, the 議論文 would be the traditional kind and the 記敘文 would be those totally vague and unclear topic. Thankfully only the first came true: the 報章讀後感 was about some committees being set up by South West CDC ... I never knew of such things.

The 議論文 and 記敘文 were alright lah but somehow I suddenly couldn't think of anything for 議論文. I couldn't think of any points at all besides the cliched 'results are important but so is character'. In the end, I wrote 記敘文, although I was telling CW that it's risky cos you need the full structure so you would not do well if you couldn't complete. But I was rather confident this time cos I finished 實用文 10 minutes earlier so I had extra 10 minutes for 作文!

As for 實用文 ... I did 私函, despite practising all day yesterday for 公函. Before the exam I asked WY the format for 私函, I'm so thankful for that. I actually still hesitated whether or not to leave a line after the 稱呼, but I remembered from lower Sec that 私函空三行，公函空五行 so I just went without it.

Compared to 公函, I really think 私函 was easier. Cos 公函 was 建議類 which I did not do much ever. 私函 was more of a discursive on females doing NS, which I happened to read about in the papers recently. Thankfully I remembered both parties' arguments as well.

As for 作文 ... What a ride. I wrote that I liked singing from young and dreamt to perform in front of my school. But my school always picked people from choir (I called them 金嗓子) to perform and never allowed others. So I 毛遂自薦-ed to the teacher-in-charge. The choir TI/C wanted to reject me but the overall TI/C let me sing a verse and agreed.

(In the essay, I wrote that my friend persuaded me by saying '做一次毛遂吧'. I hope the teacher appreciates my humour as well HAHAH.)

So I went to perform for the school, thereby fulfilling the dream I've always had. The choir TI/C apologised to me after that for looking down on me at the start. The crowd also gave me a thunderous applause (響徹雲霄 one okay!) and I was so touched I 熱淚盈眶-ed. Pro right hahah I was enjoying myself cos it's really the first time writing an essay that I do not dread.

Previously I always shunned writing 記敘文s cos I always have no story ideas. Every time I could only think of Wushu-related stuff. But frankly speaking I'm not good in Wushu so I don't have much fabulous stories to mention unlike people like WX or RZ. In the end I always write about some lame stuff like winning the competition after much preparation or despite my coach not supporting me. The first such essay was good but after that it all sucked cos I myself was so sian by the same old content.

Anyway ... this essay I really enjoyed. I simply wrote and wrote and wrote. Normally I would try to slack in between paragraphs. But this one I didn't. I simply wrote from start to end, stopping only to check my plot. But actually I was so firm of the plot that it was almost real, so I didn't need to check much.

The funny thing that happens when I write 記敘文s is that I picture it in the form of a movie. I think it's because of early years where I did drama. I feel like I'm writing a script instead. So my 記敘文s always tend to add in small details that aren't needed. I had the same feeling this time and had to control myself. If I were writing a script, I would add lots of stuff in making it rich.

(By the way, maybe I should write a script during the holidays and fulfil my goal.)

Also, the song I 'sang' during the 'performance' was 隱形的翅膀. Cos the chorus had a line saying '我終於看到所有夢想都開花'. I just suddenly thought of that and scribbled it down on my question paper during planning. And cos I wasn't sure of the lyrics, I was afraid that I would get it wrong. Thankfully it isn't, cos I just checked Mojim. Such a fitting song eh ... :') hahah if this happens in real life, wow.

I wrote the essay in a very personal manner. '打從我小時候，我便喜歡上歌唱' was how I started it. Only the ending was a bit fake cos y'know you have to add in your 啓發 after this incident, so it started sounding like propaganda. But I hope the rest of the essay was life-like enough, especially with my humour. By right the teacher should be laughing with me (or maybe crying) at the end.

~

Paper two was horrible. 綜合填充 was not that bad, I think I got 16 / 20. (Okay actually to me that's horrible too but I know it's considered high.) I'm still a little sore that I changed one correct answer to a wrong one. 閱讀理解一 was so boring that I kept yawning. I really felt like sleeping for five minutes but what if I sleep till 1245?

I yawned till I had tears in my eyes. I hope the examiners don't think I'm crying cos it's so hard. Anyway for 閱讀理解一 I think I did alright, lah. I was able to find the vocab in the passage, although two of them were difficult to find at first.

It was 閱讀理解二 that made me freak out. I really didn't expect such hard passages. They were nice to read lah but not nice to answer. It felt like literature prose. All that description and 比喻 ... authors, Y U NO write simple simple!

I really had the feeling of 'oh no what is this!' after doing it. I was so distraught that I went to do summary first. That calmed me down and assured me that I would not lose 20 marks at least. But actually summary wasn't good as well; it's the first time I exceeded 80 words at first count. I normally get around 75 words and I get to touch-up. This time I got 91 words and freaked out deciding which to delete.

Eventually I deleted too much and got 60+. So I had to caret all over the place and add sentences here and there. Haiz I hope it is all right in the end.

After doing summary then I went back to the free-response questions for both passages. I left around 10 marks blank at first, you could say. For one question, I wrote that an actor couldn't succeed without 服裝, 道具 and backstage crew. Others like KL who are in drama also wrote the same example. I wrote '如果一名出色的演員拒絕導演、服裝組、道具組、音樂人，他只好自編自導自演，最後只能自欺欺人，不能成功'.

~

Once the paper ended I went out with KL and EP boys and LJ and JK. Along the way CW and I (oh yes he went too) met I, B and T; R; and other Wushu guys. (S told CW to tell me my blue water bottle looked sucky. I thought it was cute ...!) So the both of us were like socialites walking here and there talking with people.

I really like talking to R, somehow. Maybe I am in love with him HAHAH. He isn't very alright with his girlfriend now so I hope they would sort things out eventually! He had till 5 to roam around and he didn't feel like going home so he chose to take the train till Buona Vista and head home.

We went to subway to eat, for the nth time. I really don't know how many times I've ate there. Recently I asked to add green chilli; it's quite nice! We combined the tables together and sat at the corner.

There, almost everyone went to 重慶 or 復旦, some even going for both. So there was a lot of common topics to discuss. W was grilled for his popularity with girls, in Singapore and China. He blushes easily so that's quite funny.

Along the way I was the target and G recounted how I [...]. Everyone laughed as usual, LJ especially cos he never heard it before. G and I were saying about how we seldom talked to girls from St Nicholas anymore, especially D. So we agreed to somehow talk again hahah although I don't know how that would be.

We exposed lots of embarrassing stuff about each other in the approximately 1.5 hours there. Along the way this woman approached us for donations. She really seemed fake cos the whole thing was so unconvincing. We paid $2 each so it was around $18 for her. If she really is cheating us, she would get bad karma. I lose $2 today but maybe she gets something worse next time. So not to fret.

At around 3 we left and went back. All took MRT except LJ and I. He went to buy eye-drops at Guardian cos he said his eyes were too dry after looking at C Lit stuff. When I entered Guardian there was a newspaper stand by the door. I took 早報 to have a look and the whole thing started moving towards me!

原來 the newspaper stand was holding the door. And somehow I actually disrupted the equilibrium there so the door wanted to close, thereby pushing the stand forward. I freaked out and placed the newspaper back but it was still moving. Then I pushed the stand back but it wouldn't stay.

In the end I just held the stand with my foot while pretending to look at the papers. I just hoped LJ would buy the eye drop quick and I'd leave. He came over pretty soon ... and pulled me over to see the eye drops. I 驚, told him 不可以等一下…… but got pulled. He then saw the situation and laughed hysterically.

The auntie at the counter saw it and came over to help. Just nice the thing became okay again and I wasted her time. Oh so paiseh. LJ spent around 10 minutes just choosing an eye drop ... Eventually the final two differed in one being medicated and not the other. If my future wife like that then how ...

He paid and we left. Along the way I tried the newspaper stand again; it moved again. Woe woe woe. We quickly left the shop. I felt bad for the auntie though cos she had to fix it. Maybe she would think we're pranksters or what.

Oh what a tiring day this is today.

TTFN.

Chances are, you would hate me next time.

6 November 2012:

Not in my league then I'll leave.

I wonder if anyone watched the 2010 movie She's Out of My League. I haven't, but somehow this phrase of 'in my league' has been with me. I think it's subconsciously due to the movie, but anyway.

I recall in primary school where my friends were 'sorted' into full-friends, half-friends, quarter-friends and so on. I wasn't the only one doing it, although I don't think this practice was prevalent after all. This 'ranking' system was a way for me to group friends, and a good way to learn fractions.

I've known B and J since primary 1. (You could say they are my full-friends.) B is now in the same school as me, while J (the smart one) went to Raffles. We almost never talk anymore, and usually gather at B's birthday party every 7 Nov. This year because there is O Levels on 7 Nov, we are not gathering.

I don't know whether or not we are still gathering anymore within this year. Maybe, maybe not. I haven't seen or talked with J in almost a year. So I was rather touched to see him and B discussing about having the three of us back again. I never expected them to do so.

Come to think of it, the three of us, we're so innocent. At least in primary one. We were in the same class until primary four, when J went to the best class. The year after, I went to the third-best class. I really forgot which class B went to in primary five, but it was not-as-good as the both of us. Nevertheless we didn't despise him and still kept in contact.

We have maintained this tripartite relationship since primary one, 10 years ago. I really wish that we would continue into adulthood. In 夜市人生, best buddies during childhood turned into adversaries later on. I don't want that to happen.

B and J are two friends in my league. Call it fate or luck or destiny, but they are in my league.

So are I and CW and V and T. (This league's a bit bigger.) Yesterday I had a conference call with I and CW. It lasted for around an hour, but I hanged up twice in between. Eventually we all hanged up for the last episode of 千方百計 and CW went to eat.

We were supposed to discuss T's present, but oh well you know we never got to really discuss anything at all. We just talked random things, all kinds of things. We were even talking about what to do during the chalet. Which makes me oh-so-excited, and I do hope that I get to go.

These people are in my league as well. So I know it's difficult to, in fact I would not, leave.

As well as those from MD. Well CW is also part of it. Actually if I'm not wrong they originally went with me cos I was not mixing well with my current class. But after that we worked well so it has been the case ever since. Well I really have to thank them for this.

Yet another five (or six?) people in my league.

But there are some not in my league. This is the part I dread.


You see the two graphs? The pink one is , the green one is . They are rather different eh? But they meet briefly between . Before and after, they 各走各的.

This to me is the example of 'not in my league'. For sure, I would not be keeping in contact with some people after 16 Nov. Because of various reasons, this people just aren't fated to be in the same league as me.

Right now we may enjoy very good and close friendships, but it's just cos now is the part where . 16 Nov would be the point where x is more than one, and that means bye-bye.

For these people, I wouldn't really try to keep them. I shall let fate decide. Maybe, if we are fated again, then our curves would tend together yet again. Time shall pass its verdict. But nevertheless, I have come to realise that daily contact does not constitute a good relationship.

TTFN.

5 November 2012:

Since my birthday's coming soon,

I thought I'd share this short film.

TTFN.

4 November 2012:

Jealousy is a bitch.

Last night I was very jealous. Thankfully it was only a dream. I woke up and checked, there was no such thing. If it was true, who knows what I would do.

~

Yesterday was G's birthday. I've known her for 7 years already, and we both (1) love theatre (2) are Buddhists (3) have similar handwriting according to her and (4) like China. Well sometimes I hate it and its people but never mind.

I don't think I have a friend that has so much shared interests as me and knows me for so long. So it is particularly saddening that we would most probably head to different schools next year. We knew from SHHK, then somehow entered CCHMS (a few like J as well from there).

Will we have the fate for another two years together? I'm not optimistic about it. And maybe, it would not be a bad thing.

If we head to the same JC, maybe our friendship would sour or fade. We are not very close now, she has her cliques and I have imaginary friends. In JC, maybe she would have another clique and I would have more imaginary friends.

Then we would drift apart, ain't it? But if we went to different schools, maybe 'absence would make the heart grow fonder' and we would instead be closer. I don't know, perhaps it works as such.

~

Back to jealousy. 佛教說人生本是苦，但我們苦是因為有欲望。剛才說到我嫉妒，那算是一種苦。也就是說，我有欲望。

是呀，我有欲望。我沒有極力不去有欲望，所以它一個接著一個的來了。如果我再不做什麼，那我只好痛苦下去啦。

TTFN.

3 November 2012:

一個風和日麗的早上，小明和小麗在公園里散步。

公園很大，他們走著走著走了十分鐘也沒有走完半個公園。

「花好美哦。」小麗說。小明點了點頭。

的確，春天的時候花很美，全都綻開，各個都對著兩人露出燦爛的微笑。公園里的岑天大樹每幾步就有一棵。公園是很美的。

小麗累了，找了個長椅坐了下來。小明看到她坐，也跟著坐在身邊。

小麗柔情的看著小明的雙眸。眼神交錯的那瞬間，似乎有著2.1×10^-6庫侖的電荷從小麗的負極流到小明的正極。

小明反應慢，遲疑了三秒才把眼睛眨了眨，看向別處。但以Q=It的方程式來算的話，小明已經被0.70微安倍的電流給電到了。

小明害羞了，臉紅了起來。他是個男孩，不過比小麗他顯得更靦腆。

「別說了，我的臉紅了。我臉頰表皮的微血管已經出現管腔縮小的情況了。血壓維持，血液不能快速流動，現在含氧血已經在表皮下啦。」

小麗便起身。「好吧，別說啦。瞧你羞成這樣，還是不是男人？」

小明不回答了。他們又開始走了。這時陽光普照，快到中午12點啦。

中午12點，是公園里植物發揮光合作用的最佳時刻。葉子里的柵欄組織細胞內的葉綠體正猛猛的吸收陽光中的紫外線。

小明和小麗花了將近兩個鐘頭的時間，終於走出公園，逛了一圈。公園外是大馬路，車子來來往往。不時能看到中國人駕著紅色法拉利闖紅燈，不過幸好沒撞到人。

因為路（上的中國）人都是搓一把便能過馬路的，所以每次法拉利闖紅燈時都搓不成一把人，便沒人過，沒人被撞。

～

下午時分，小明和小麗上了瑜伽課。小麗正嘗試金雞獨立（她是初試者）可是每次失敗。小明看到了，提醒她：

「記得要把重心的作用線對準基地面積內。否則重心在基地面積外的話便會產生順時針或反時針的力矩，使你跌倒。」

「啊，原來如此。」小麗笑了笑，「難怪我不斷跌倒。」

小明握著小麗的手，幫助她學好這一金雞獨立。他們又開心的笑了，似乎整班人沒有老師也沒有同學。

瑜伽課過後，小麗拿了她的水壺。可她卻不喝，而是往裡頭到了白色的粉末。小明嚇了一跳，急問她那是什麽。

「加鹽啊。你沒聽說我們做了激烈運動后身體會從毛孔中排泄高鹽量的汗水嗎？所以我喝鹽水，補充鹽分呀。」

「萬萬不能！你喝了鹽水，血清里的鈉含量高出正常範圍。細胞外液便會呈高滲狀態。水會從細胞內流出，導致細胞缺水呀。到時你便高滲性脫水，那就糟糕啦！」

「哦，那麼加糖總可以吧？我好需要熱量呀。」

「可以，不過不要那麼多啦寶貝。否則你身體還要分泌胰島素來維持血糖量。不如，我們去吃燭光晚餐？」

小麗眨了眨眼，會心一笑，吻了小明一下。「好吧，我們回家換衣才出去。」

～

This must be the most boring romantic story anyone has ever read, if you even read it all. I suppose this would be how dates would be like with a physicist cum biologist ...?

TTFN.

By the way, the thing about crossing the road is regard to Chinese behaviour. There was a report that commented about how Chinese cross the road in China: 搓夠一把人便能過馬路, meaning they don't care whether or not it's a red light. They simply cross when there's enough people for 'strength in numbers'. Vehicles have to stop when they see such a thing. Well well.

2 November 2012:

(Untitled.)

Well well here's an animation titled 'Get Educated About Homosexuality'. It's interesting to watch. And I have a feeling the name's chosen for a reason.

It's about time people stopped discriminating them. Religion doesn't give you the right to do so, either.

And by the way, if you're gonna say 'oh you're saying all these cos you're actually homo', that's a lousy rebuttal cos unlike homophobes, there are straight people who do care for LGBTs too. Like the Singapore Democratic Party, which supports the repeal of 377A.

Law Minister Shanmugam was in the news today with a Long Story interview. He talks about having change slowly. Well how slow would this take?

TTFN.

1 November 2012:

My thoughts on O Levels.

Having completed 11 papers (if I count correctly) thus far, I may say that I am qualified to talk about O Levels. So are my fellow Sec 4s. (Meaning, juniors should shut up and stop complaining about it cos you're nowhere near.)

O Levels started on 22 October this year. It was English first, two papers in a day. I wasn't exhausted then, cos all the while we having been exams with two papers per day since Sec 1.

The first week was actually alright. English and maths. Then from Thursday to Sunday, there was a four-day break before the hectic week starts. I neglected Thursday, which I regretted. I did manage to study most of SS - what I planned to do - but it was rushed and I was panicking.

Mr Y had allowed us to send him e-mails with our links and explanations of essays we did. I only started sending him on Saturday at 2350. Thankfully he replied promptly. He even replied an e-mail I sent at 2000 on Sunday around 2200, even though he said no e-mails on Sunday.

I've always preferred Ms K to Mr Y, for the reason that Ms K really does teach better. Mr Y is newer to teaching (although it's his third year I think) so he doesn't really get the point across. Nevertheless, he was so nice in helping me. He could have rejected me like how Ms C rejected some of my classmates on 21 Oct.

Today's physics was alright, I felt. But the moment I went out WT exclaimed 'very hard, right?' and I was shocked. As I talked further I realised other people also saying that physics was difficult. Now's my turn to panic cos my physics is no good yet I felt this one easy. The only plausible reason besides my flunking is that somehow I had a miracle and 開竅-ed for physics.

Biology was a bloody disappointment. It was my best science yet I could tell I did so badly for it. I really had no confidence for it. Even simple things like identifying parts of a cell / in a plant / whatnot I got it wrong. I don't know how many marks I would have lost from all of that.

The thought of getting a B3 or even A2 is tragic to me. You may say I have very high standards of myself but I think such is necessary since my dream job is one that requires a lot of biology (and chemistry). If next time I go for an interview and the interviewer takes a look at my dismal O Level biology results, what am I to explain? So long as they can find one who gets one grade better (and the same results as me ever since), I can leave the room.

The only subject I am confident of getting an A in currently is both maths. Other than that I really don't know.

~

WT who sits behind me for most exams has been nudging me whenever a teacher addresses the cohort before a paper. She started that ever since I told her how I liked such addresses.

It gives me the feeling of a general or a prime minister addressing soldiers before a battle. Just like how Churchill often gave speeches during WWII to British soldiers. (Actually all Allied soldiers would have heard, I think.)

Anyway, yes I like that kind of feeling. It bring me with a little bit more confidence cos somehow I feel invigorated. Also, it is during this time where teachers may provide useful tips that I didn't take note of previously.

~

There are five more papers left for O Levels. The last is half a month later, so there's time for maximum preparation. I really must buck up for all the paper ones.

By the way, whoever my readers are, thanks for visiting my site after so many days of inactivity. I was surprised to see an average of 30 views even when there's no new posts. Now that O Levels are unofficially over I would resume blogging but it still may not be as frequent.

TTFN.