I missed you too

This is Mika, our milk snake. Ignore the water bowl

Conflicts, arguments and chaos have just been weathering me lately.
My indifference to the "criseses" around me is a polished result of resultant forces in my life.
But every now and then, something sweet seeps through that makes me melt.

My senior was training the new presenters with reptile handling. After I was told that we have new additions to our snake collection, I begged her to let me in to see our new family members. So I stood at one corner of the room, silently observing the new presenters as their hands orientated to the textual flow of each individual snake.
Then, they took Mika, our Milk snake and one of my personal favourites, out. The last time I handled her was about 6 months ago.
Straight away, she ignored her handler and insisted on stretching out towards me. After a while, I decided to entertain her and let her travel to my hand, tickled her and guided her back to her trainee handler.

Mika. I missed you too. I miss you so much.

Bwak.

From Tsen Shi Jia

Type what comes to your mind FIRST whenever you see these 50 words. Don't think and don't go back and change. Doesn't matter how random it is, just type it! Repost it for all of your (bored) friends. Consider yourself tagged if you are reading this!

1. Beer: liquid bread

2. Food: for life.

3. Relationships: *jam*

4. Your crush: Mars Bar

5. Power Rangers: Putties and their tight crotches

6. Life: TIME

7. The President: Sleeps

8. Yummy: Sushi

9. Cars: Crazy driver

10. Movies: Watchmen

11. Halloween: This is halloween, everybody make a scene [pumpkin scream in the dead of night]

12. Sex: *grins*

13. Religion: Christian by method

14. Hate: aimless muggers

15. Fear: Not living as i should.

16. Marriage: maybe maybe not

17. Blondes: barbie

18. Slippers: cui

19. Shoes: converse. only converse.

20. Asians: yataa

21. Pass time: pasttime?

22. One night stand: pass time?

23. My cell phone: Mine is from the mesozoic era. I suspect its a dinosaur

24. Smoke: ball , carbolic!

25. Fantasy: final and gravity defying hair

26. College: avenue q

27. High school life: memories

28. Pyjamas: zoo fatigue and track pants

29. Stars: Switchfoot & the graduation march in Pulau Tekong

30. Center: circle

31. Alcohol: works wonders. but not for me.

33. Friends: I got so many on friendster

34. Money: Only after the last tree has been cut down.
Only after the last river has been poisoned.
Only after the last fish has been caught.
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten

35. Heartache: always and never

36. Time: LIFE

37. Divorce: never. don't marry if you cant commit. marriages are more than feelings

38. Dogs: claypot

39. Undies: washing them with dettol

40. Parents: they rox, coolest uncool parents

41. Babies: :) don't mind, but only if my future partners wants them

42. Ex: :) over but thankful.

43. Song: Together in electric dreams (yes, wth)

44. Color: hue spectrum

45. Weddings: only a ceremony

46. Pizza: Ninja turtles

47. Hangout: Vivo city

48. Rest: overslept again

49. Goal: hate soccer

50. Inspiration: need to find it for 206

Tiger and Dragon (wrapping up)

It's over! After 25 weeks...

Its 6am. I'm in the freezing spectrum room working out some stuff, keeping Candy company.
It was 4am, The subbed version of Toradora's final episode was released and with it, 3 out of the 4 animes I follow concluded this week.
-Toradora
-Casshern SINS
-Clannad After story

They gave me closure just in time for the loming exams.

You see this star?
A star against the sky of black can be seen even from far away. So let us be stars, shining brightly.

I may not be at your side now, but if we shine brightly, we can see other. No matter how far we are from one another.

Anime can be so poetic.

tainted lense

I left something back in my room yesterday.
During my lesson break, I rushed back to my room, only to be greeted by vivid blue sky.
I immediately drew out my dear Bayi (Sony DSLR) to snap the moment.
By the time I realised that my lense was dirty, it was too late.

They say that our eyes are the windows to our hearts.
Just like a camera lense, our eyes can be tainted, stained.
If I went ahead with the shot, my picture might be tainted.
If I cleaned my lense, the moment might be lost.

Something in me tells me to press the shutter,
I tell it to hold, to wait. To look outside my viewfinder.
Impulsive behaviour never got me anywhere.
But really, should I care?

Benchmark

I am beginning to miss the time when I made movies without keeping any benchmarks of standards in mind.

Green doesn't mean Yes.

"Get lost, he's with me now!"
"Calm down ladies, can't we all get along?"
A colleague of mine joked about my sexuality the other day, hinting of my possible assexuality. We also joked about how men never know what they want. Rest assured, I am pretty much straight. And since I am so damn bored from *trying to do* COM206, I think I'll just say some stuff,

I ain't homophobic, not one slight bit. My faith and moralistic standings are at contradictions to their lifestyles, but what others do with their lives are their matters, not mine.
However, I do get very pissed when advances are made towards me besides my clear 'No' signals. This is nothing to do with homosexuality, I react pretty much the same ways to girls too. No to me, just means No. I don't believe that persistence pays off. You shouldn't too.

With that being said, am I assexual? certainly not. Am I looking for anyone? No, the feel of monetary and social freedom is quite a bit to give up. However, that doesnt mean that I am closing the door.
and with 20 more minutes to dinner, I think I'll list out 5 intersting things I am looking out for in a girl, (no, she doesnt actually NEED to know how to drive but bonus star sticker if she does)

Attraction - goes without saying, if I don't feel attracted to a girl, I won't even bother to make a advance. I don't believe in playing/ juggling either. Without this first prerequisite, a girl stays on the 'friends' ladder'. lol.

Values- Something that my parents taught me to look out for. Strong moral fibre, the guts to tell me off if I do something wrong and spineless. The courage to do the right thing. The various prioritising of other values in life. Without similar allignment of values (especially moral) and dreams, a relationship would be fruitless in the long term. This is the most important aspect for me.

Fear- She has to be God-fearing. I've learnt through hard-knocks that without God in the relationship, it will self-destruct sooner or later. Many a times, I am a horrible Christian, She should at least be more grounded than me.

Respect- She has to have self-respect. I cannot stand clingy girls and if she is actually more clingy than me, then no go. She must be strongly autonomous, if anything happens to our relationship (or me), she should be able to carry on with life. I want someone I can respect, someone I see as an equal, eye-to-eye. The only person who deserved to be worshipped is God, I am not God.

Family- At any one time, I only allow two women in my life. My mom is the first and always will be. If she can't accept my family as how I am willing to accept hers, then we won't work out eventually. Break-away families are for movies and drama serials but not for me. My family is already pretty small, and my family will always come first, if you want to be part of the family, it's a mutual thing.

Jeeeesh

I am trying my best to cut out time for you,
so for crying out loud, cut me some damn slack.

The more you bug me, the less I am bothered.

Its the little difference

Guys vs Girls:
Case 1:
______________________
topic: Tang-Yuan (Glutinous rice dumpling soup)

Me: Oh, I remember eating them during Freshmen Orientation.
Candy: No... where got?
Me: At Beach Road! Remember?
Candy: No... oh wait, Shannon was feeding us stuff.
Me: Ya, that is tung-yuan lah! Oh wait... Shannon was there?
Candy: Yeah. I remember the person, but not the food.
Me: Well... I remember the food but not the person.
_______________________________________

Case 2:
_____________________________________
Topic: Porn

Cheryl: I DON'T understand why guys must look at porn!
Me: What's wrong about it? We.... just have to at times.
Cheryl: I know it, but it just cannot accept it.
Me: We have our urges....
Cheryl: YAH! But how come we can control? I can't accept why guys just contol restrain themselves.


[short silence]



Me: Can you live the rest of your life without make-up?
Cheryl: NO!... never!... oh wait.... err.....
[nuff said]
______________________________

We Need Your Help

*** I am typing this blog entry on the eve to my COM208 quiz. Despite the urgent need to read my darn notes, this is by far, more pressing. so if you do understand my point of view, please take part in the petition against the import of Whale Sharks into Sentosa ***

Rhincodon typus, The Whale shark, is the largest fish in the entire world reaching a length of 20 metres upon being fully grown.
Despite its imposing size,this giant is sustains itself on a diet of krill (small prawns).


Upon 2000, do little is known about these animals, that they exact conservation status cannot be determined. Although these migrating giants can be found in every ocean of the world, their population trend is decreasing. Currently, it is classified as 'Vulnerable', which is the prelude to being classified as 'endangered'.
but really, must we wait for the shit to hit the fan before I do something?

If you read the report below, you'll see that the local Integrated resort(IR)is planning to import whale sharks into Sentosa. In addition to the novelty factor of Resort World Sentosa, they are doing it in the name of conservation.

But would this move actually bring forth the intended notion of conservation?

I have been volunteering/ working at the Singapore Zoo for close to 4 years now and I do see where this notion comes about from. Education and exposure is one of the major cornerstones to environmentalism and conservation.

The biggest changes in the world starts from within. Many people (most of the friends) have never seen an actual whale shark in their lives. If we never truly know what we'll loose, we'll never truly fight to keep them.

I was fortunate enough to have seen one with my own two eyes (see above). This magnificant baby whale shark swam before me in an aquarium in Heng Chun, Taiwan. This therefore brings me to my next point; Is holding these animals captive worth it?

It has been 3 years since that fateful day. The trip to the aquarium was held about 4hours after our last mission in that area. It was a bittersweet feeling.
On one hand, my chest pounded with excitment, on the other, my heart wrenched as I saw the big baby swimming back and forth in the confines of the tank.

It was a big aquarum and the staff did much to provide for it. But many a times, we just aren't able to overcome the technical constraints in providing the optimum condition for these animals. Many a times, we can't even provide the minimal basics.

The whale shark can dive up to 13 kilometres. we can't even provide half. As much as we want to showcase the majesty of the whale shark to the world, we cannot hold nature within our palms.

I used to think that conservation is about the saving of animals from extinction. I used to think that extinction was the problem. However, i now realise that it is not.

Extinction isn't the problem. It is the symptoms to an even large problem. This fundamental issue is the way we Humans, treat our home.

Conservation is not about the protection of the Earth, or saving the planet. The planet will do very well without us. Life will still go on. Conservation is about the way we manage and respect the resources and fellow inhabitants of this planet.

I would like to stress the word 'manage'. Managing the environment is very similar to managing the economy. We should not go into a venture that is bound to fail or one that does not reap sufficient rewards.

We should not keep animals that we cannot provide for.

Things never seemed so clear before. However, money always had the power to transform black and white into grey.

Animal welfare groups oppose import of whale sharks at Sentosa IR

Source: ChannelNewsAsia.com
Posted: 12 March 2009 1232 hrs



SINGAPORE: Seven local and international animal welfare groups have launched an online campaign opposing plans by a Singapore integrated resort developer to import whale sharks for its planned oceanarium.

The groups on Wednesday launched a website, www.whalesharkpetition.com, on calling on the public to "voice their opinions" on the plans to import the whale sharks, described as the largest living fish species.

Resorts World at Sentosa is building one of Singapore's two integrated resorts which will feature a Marine Life Park set to become the world's biggest oceanarium upon completion.

The oceanarium will have 700,000 fish in 20 million gallons of water, Resorts World at Sentosa said on its website.

But the seven organisations, including the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, oppose having whale sharks in the facility.

The animals, which can grow up to 20 metres (66 feet), are listed as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the groups said.

"No man-made environment, no matter how large, could accommodate the needs of a whale shark," they said in a statement.

"Whale sharks can dive up to 980 metres (3,234 feet) and migrate over 13,000 kilometres (8,060 miles) and evidence has shown that they fare poorly in captivity."

They cited the case of two whale sharks which died within five months of each other in a "state-of-the-art" aquarium in the United States.

Resorts World at Sentosa defended plans to include whale sharks in the oceanarium, saying the threat the animals faced "makes the role of aquariums in their conservation all the more crucial".

The Marine Life Park's goal is to "help protect the species' wild population from disappearing" and it has worked closely with marine experts to give the animals "top-class care", it said.

Resorts World at Sentosa has said its casino project is on track for a phased opening from early 2010. It will feature hotels and a host of family-friendly attractions including the first Universal Studios theme park in Southeast Asia.


- AFP/so

Seeds Of Summer

" There is a price that a country has to pay to have an army that is formed by its people. It is not that we want it this way. It is not that we are raving to go to war. But this is the only way that we can survive..."

Hen Lasker, the director of Seeds of Summer, teared as she responded to a question after her documentary's screening just now.

As I silently sat in LT11, I slowly recounted all the emotions I felt 3 years ago.

'Seeds of Summer' (Zirei Kayitz) is a 2007 Israeli documentary that follows a batch of female transcripted soldiers as they undergo the voluntary but challenging "Combat instructor" course.

Filmed entirely on a handheld camera, the film records not only an informative overview of the course, but an intimate relationship that, the camerawoman-cum-director, Lasker shared with the cadets and the instructors.

Despite the hype, I felt that Seeds of Summer didn't really give us an in-depth understanding of what exactly were the trainings and programmes that their female soldiers had to endure.

Instead, the film's military theme is a subtle facade that smuggles more universal themes such as growing up, acceptance, success and failures.

As I watched the girls perform their fire movements (see above picture) and firing their "universal round", I can't help but smile to myself in gentle affirmation.

But what struck me most about the film, was the complete trading of objectivity for interactivity. Unlike many other documentaries I'm accustomed to, the camerawoman actively delves into her subjects, and spurring much of their social interaction.

"It is a lie to say that your camera has no effect on your subjects," Lasker explained.

How true, how true. But I wonder, if we do not draw the line between being an observer and a director, does a documentary lose its informative value as its form is manipulated?

Tell me Moore

When asked for his opinion regarding the film production of his graphic novel, Watchmen,
Alan Moore replied,

" I'm not watching that fucking thing."



I am going to give Watchmen a chance.

It takes a lot of courage and faith to take on such an impossible task.
Many fanboys will complain that a film will kill off the greatest graphic novel ever written.

It is easy to confuse one item with another. A graphic novel is a graphic noel, a film is a film and the two should always be viewed objectively and independent from one another.
Private emotions aside, I am going to see whether this film will be as good of a film as the novel was legendary as a novel.

Fanboys, we know that you have been reading it before I was born.
Nevertheless, I won't shoot a movie down before I watch it. (not even the cringingly painful Dragonball: Evolution which has an epic fail trailer and promo arts)

God Bless

What was most terrifying about yesterday's post was that,
while I was typing that very entry out,
it happened.

I suppose that some might expect me to say something. Make a remark or comment.
But I have nothing to say.

God Bless .

Hardships

Hardships are supposed to make us grow.
It is gravity that pushes the eagles to soar,
It is the current that pushes the tuna to swim,
It is the fast prey that pushes the cheetah to be faster,
It is adversities that pushes us to be stronger.

Why then,
Do some people never grow from the challenges life pass to us?
Why then,
Do some people simply prefer to feel weak than to move on?
Why then,
Do some people rather feel the pain of falling and crashing a thousand times,
Than go through the pain of recovering once?

Life is winding path we all take. Some paths are more straight than others,
Some paths are constantly in the light, others take the traveller to unexpected places.
Despite all the various paths we all take in life, they all share one similarity
They are all a continuous journey from the start to the end.

Hardships come and go.
Pain comes and goes.
Life is always in motion, as quickly as one hardship comes, it will leave-





enough is enough






So why can't you just accept that changes happen?
That life brings a new set of opportunities and hardships everyday?
And just stop the damn emotional shit?
Your life isn't a drama serial for world to appreciate,
We have cable for that.



pft. lame.
Don't talk to me as though you are the only person with difficulties in your life. I have been through a lot more shit in my life than my jokes convey.