ContentWent out for dinner and drinks afterwards with my cousins. Discovered a whole new undiscovered world behind the TCC opposite the road from Somerset MRT.
Oriental style bars, live bands, all inhabiting the Peranakan-style shophouses of yesteryear.
Had a Belvedere Cytrus with Ginger and lime. Not too bad.
After ample deliberation, I have decided to change the focus of this blog.
This blog was originally created as a proxy for interesting environment-related, science-related, technology-related posts that I find from a wide range of sources. Now, in lieu of my ever changing priorities, I have decided that such frequent posting is taking an ever wider swath of my time, effort and concentration. It is also taking away time that I would normally spend on my reading and my work.
Nobody ever has time to do everything he or she would like. Removing the need for proxy posting would simply free up more time for my academic interests to occupy.
As such, I would like to change the focus of this blog towards a more opinion-based, rant-like, perhaps occasionally essay-format posts that I find is more stimulating than simply news from an array of sources. I might find it prudent to include lists of links should I have the time, but the one that’s certain is that the frequency of posts will definitely drop, perhaps to once a fortnight, or once a month for serious posts, and maybe once a week for personal journals.
I hope you continue to have me on your RSS feeds or in your bookmarks, your readership is greatly appreciated.
ContentThings have been coming together in recent weeks. Entry clearance has been settled. Accommodation has been settled. Biology olympiad training sessions have been settled. It’s hard to see how much more work I have to do before I’m ready.
Have to get a new ext HDD, 2 thumbdrives, 1 webcam from COMEX this week. New bedsheets from IKEA. Backpack and raincover from Adventure 21. More cash spending. Sigh
Tonight, will be meeting the rest of the biology people for the first time since the pre-departure brief.
Gave a short talk back at NJC today on my expedition to Iceland. Gave a short condensation of my work there, data collection techniques, introduction to geysers and glaciers. Finished off with Aaron’s awesome documentary video and passing around some of the rocks that I’d picked up while I was on the moraines. Was pretty encouraging to have so many people come up and ask questions about how to go about a path in geography, or follow their passion for that matter. I couldn’t really give them an answer as Singapore is a pretty small country and opportunities are hard to find but I did impress onto them that the endpoint of education isn’t just exams and mere memorization of points doesn’t mean you have learnt anything. I also encouraged them to develop their interests and actively seek opportunities to do something about them. Also, overseas education is one thing, but if you plan to go there with a Singaporean mindset and the same old ways and single-minded goals of acing exams, then all the scholarship money or parental financing would have gone to waste.
As the ol’ Mark Twain said: “Never let your schooling interfere with your education”
I hope my points stick with them.
Miss Ting has “booked” me to do the same talk for the Year 2s. Excellent.
I’ve recently been on a sponsored Earthwatch expedition to Iceland, to study certain glacial phenomenon and its impact on the surrounding landscape. Here are some of the videos professionally done by Aaron, the videographer that came with us to document our experiences.
P.S. The videos are in HD, so follow the youtube url to view it in HD
ContentRealized on Sunday that my Macbook’s charger went kaput and refused to charge anymore. Went down to Epicenter after dinner to realize that their service center doesn’t open on Sundays. So I surfed on my iPod Touch and tried to devise a plan to get a replacement without having to buy a new one since my warranty was expired. Had to trouble CY with that, but could not get anything done until I had my questions answered on Mon.
Mon. Went for my medical examination required for entry into UK. There was a whole group of Chinese nationals doing it too. 2 hours spent playing my iPod lol. Whatever would I do without it. Went home, took a short nap, called Epicenter again to explain my story. Was redirected to Apple’s toll-free line. The person on the phone was really helpful and patient (no wonder Apple dominates the customer service realm, ahead of everyone by miles). He listened to my rants, my problems, the fact that i was the only Mac user in the house. He then told me to hold while he asked a higher level decision maker. He returned with good news – free replacement. Went down right away to the service center to collect the replacement only to have them say it wouldn’t be ready for 3 days. They loaned me one for the time being though, how nice of them.
Tue. Visa application at 11.30 that FAILED. Apparently there was an additional appendix that required filling. The printed copy of the scan of the Official Receipt for payment of tuition fees sent by Imperial over email wouldn’t do. I would need an original copy. Furthermore, my bank letter for confirmation of funds was apparently too outdated. So I decided to not go ahead with the application as it costs 384 bucks, and if refused or rejected, I would have to fork out another 384 to settle it again. Might as well get it done the first time and not risk it with uncertainty-ridden supporting documents
I had time, so I went to visit the bank, which was at Suntec. Asked for a new more updated letter of confirmation of funds. It cost 35 dollars for some reason.
Then, I made a detour back to NJC to do some worksheet printing and put some notes for my students to collect in the pigeon hole.
Finally, made my way to NUS for two lectures by Paul Matsudaira, Prof and Head of Dept of Biological Sciences and Prof Leo Tan. Matsudaira spoke of biomechanics, and introduced the field with his observations of a unicellular protist known as Vorticella. He also explained the considerations and dynamics of moving in a fluid medium as opposed to air. Other examples included a polymorphonuclear leucocyte seemingly chasing after a bacterium via chemotaxis, the fidelity of genetic duplication and the precision during mitosis and motor protein transport along microtubules. All with videos. AWESOME videos. I’ll have to look for some of these.
Prof Tan spoke more, with a lot of optimism, about conservation in Singapore, and how should an environmentalist’ strategy should be in Singapore, if he or she were to get real things done.
During the reception, met Ben Lee himself, the founder of Nature Trekkers himself. He spoke at great length some of his escapades, some of his favourite nature spots in Singapore, and his connections with the other green groups in SIngapore. Quite an interesting person.
Wed. Settled my Official Receipt crap with the college. They said they will post the original right away. Went down to SATA AMK again to collect the medical examination report. Then down to Epicenter Wheelock again to get my replacement charger.
Tmr is gonna be a day for clearing all my blog entries and photos
ContentJust thought I put my life in order, at least in writing.
Went down with Sid to STA’s office at N. Bridge Road yesterday. We followed the directions on my iPod to where it was supposed to be. Only thing we saw was a construction yard. The nearest building was this shophouse with an apple strudel cafe on the ground floor. I asked a delivery uncle standing in front of the small cafe if he had heard or seen where this place could be. No use. So we scratched our heads and crossed the road to Bugis Junction, to see if the map had meant opposite the road instead. I frantically looked for a free wifi floating around, logged on, looked for STA’s office number and gave a call. It was imperative that we settle our air ticket plans today, for two reasons, I’m flying off to Iceland the next day and would not be back until 2nd Aug, which leaves us only less than 2 months from the start of the term, and that might be too late and air ticket prices may sky rocket. The second reason was that we met up at 4.30, and the office closes at 6, and I wouldn’t have time to meet up again for the next 2 weeks.
So we made the call. We told the fella we didn’t see no travel agency building. He asked if we knew where McDonalds were. We said yea, we went opposite the road from there. He asked if we knew the apple strudel shop and said they were right beside it on the 2nd floor. So we rushed back and sure enough was their sign, which we had very conveniently missed.
Anyway, after I return there are plenty of things to settle.
Craig’s moving into his new residence in university. Lm’s flying off to Hawaii for the rest of the year. Somehow, Pauline is flying off and back on the same date and time as I am, to Japan.
That’s just the immediate within 2 days of my return stuff.
I still have to quickly get my medical checkup done, my visa, my NS entry permit also. I will also have to quickly train up for my IPPT physical test and get my free 200 bucks (aiming for silver). I need to start booking my hostel rooms for my early stay in UK.
I plan to finish this before August ends.
On the 4th August, my biology olympiad lessons resume also. So that’s a LOT of work suddenly flooding in as well. Not to mention that my Deviantart and email will take days to clear properly. I’m also planning to restart my green blogging stuff, and write proposals, reports and blog entries for my trip in Iceland.
This will all try to kill me.
Phew.
ContentJust another blog entry with stuff not in any particular order, chronologically or categorically.
This year has been a particularly eventful year, but not in a good sense. Beloved grandmother had a stroke and never recovered, passed away. Sixth uncle after several years of poor health, failing kidneys from his lifestyle, passed away too, less than 2 months after my grandma. I had an epiphany during a talk with my parents that my life sucks because I make it out to be that way. My parents suck because I think they suck. And I realized that even though non-provocation isn’t productive for either me or my parents, I realize that it doesn’t run the risk of destructiveness either. So I changed the way I treated them after my grandma died. No problems so far, and I plan to keep it that way.
Was commenting to Lg, that perhaps, such parental problems disappear once we’re older. I hope I’m right. I’m not sure she believes me.
Biology tuition has been terminated, to my relief. Math tuition is on hiatus. Biology tuition will commence after I return from Iceland.
Flying off to Iceland in a few days. Packing list is half-ticked. Spent a fair sum of money getting a pair of nice Columbia hiking shoes, some good gloves and socks. Really grateful to Heyuan for lending me his backpack, or that would be another hundred something dollars on something that might be impractical to bring with me to London. I think I’ll get one while over there.
Just returned from a chalet and celebrated Pauline’s birthday. I got her Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks. I was planning of getting her something personally because I rarely do so for anybody. Turned out, Craig and Yuanping were too busy to get something for her so I agreed to let them share the cost for the book. Ah well.
The chalet was pretty fun. I think I’ve loosen up a lot since the June work hiatus. I notice the girls noticed the blatant change in personality. Leemin, for lack of a better word, described it in a brief comment as seemingly “happy”. I’m not too sure what happy really means or translates for me, but I suppose if she identified it as so, then it should be true.
Played a lot of Wii, I realize i’m pretty good at Wii tennis. Had a good trashing out with Craig that night at Wii boxing. Were punching the air, jumping here and there, swerving left and right until we both felt the burn in our arms and started sweating profusely. We tied.
Watched Harry Potter (midnight show), which I found really really awesome. Lovegood’s eccentricity, Slughorn’s character, Malfoy’s cowardice, Potter’s manipulativeness. The casting is just so, so apt.
Next day was the BBQ. It rained around the end.
After the whole thing, and enduring an overstuffed room full of people due to the rain, was let in on the fact that Yuanping was recently attached to a male Muslim nurse. Personally, I don’t object whatsoever her decision, but I do foresee many problems. I’m also slightly appalled at how quick their relationship is progressing, which should be no wonder seeing as both of them seem pretty open with each other. Craig drove Mubin, Leemin and Yuanping and I home after the BBQ. We had a long, “exciting” discussion throughout.
Flying off on wednesday for Iceland on an Earthwatch Institute scientific research trip, sponsored by HSBC and NYAA. Should be keeping a meticulous journal on the whole trip. I find myself more looking forward to meeting my friends again during the send-off than the trip itself. Pauline is flying off on that day as well to Japan.
We’ll see what else happens this year.
JoyJoined MP Astro for their stargazing camp on Ubin on Saturday (20th June 09). Upon hearing from Kenneth that bringing friends shouldn’t be a problem, I decided to call Ryan and CY along. CY brought Lg along.
So we met at Changi Village at 5pm, took the bumboat across to Ubin and had dinner there, which was rather affordable I suppose. 31 dollars for fried rice, black-pepper stir-fried beef and sambal kangkong, enough for five.
After that, seeing that bicycle rental or van transport would be costly and not worth the short trip, we decided to walk the 4km to the camp site.
I must say that MP Astro picked a really good spot for the observation. Basically, it’s the OBS campsite beside Kekek Quarry. The campsite used to be really wild and overgrown, but it seems that if one walked in deeper, there would be a small clearing with short trees that’s almost perfect for observation!
That night, I caught the planets Venus and saw that it was in a half-phase, Jupiter and 2 of its moons, Saturn and it’s ring systems. Nebulae I saw included M8 (Lagoon), M57 (Ring). M57 really surprised me, because the ring of interstellar gas was pretty obvious through a scope, appearing as a smoky/cloudy ring surrounding a small open cluster of stars.
Star clusters seem that night included the whole bunch in between Scorpio and Sagittarius. M7 (Butterfly cluster), M6. Also managed to catch the Great Hercules Cluster, M13 in Hercules, which simply appeared like a gray smudge in the middle of the field of view. Omega Centauri was unfortunately behind clouds throughout the night and we had to give it a skip. Jewelbox and all its beauty in Crux was no problem to find.
Also managed to catch the double star Mizar and its companion in Ursa Major, the crescent Moon and earthshine, Corona Borealis, Corvus and Crater, the full Lyra and Libra. Awesome skies.
The next morning, we simply made the long walk back to the town, had Malay food for breakfast at the Malay Headman’s shop and then made our way back to the mainland. With the exception for CY, all of didn’t sleep at all. I for one was close to complete zombification.
Although I must say, we might have outstayed our welcome, considering the fact that we took one whole groundsheet to ourselves and we didn’t help with the carrying of equipment. The taka’s computerized mount should be quite a hefty weight. 
After all that, made my way down to Bedok to meet up with He Yuan and Fabian to get groceries for lunch. CY went home to shower before meeting us. And then some stuff happened, which involved pork cutlets and sweet potato paste and Audrey driving. Can’t remember much of that sadly.
JoyI’m planning of stopping my weekly biology tuition lessons before I go on my Iceland trip.
I think it is prudent that I do so for a number of reasons.
My client’s daughter isn’t particularly interested in biology due to her academic weakness in answering essay and structured questions. Unfortunately, her slight ineptitude has caused her to be terribly unreceptive during lessons. I must say I have failed rather miserably in getting her more interested. Seriously, I get bored even following their syllabus. It’s just a boring mess. And whenever I go beyond what is essential, it either confuses her or is impractical. I also wouldn’t want her “vomiting out” too much detail in their answers. Just a tat worried about their discretion.
Her friend joins in for lessons, who’s slightly more interested, but whenever I ask for her opinion, her usual response would be “dunno” or “anything”. Maybe it’s just a kid’s way of avoiding saying bad things about you.
As such, tutoring them has been getting rather unpleasant of late. Preparing notes for them is also tedious, unrealistic and impractical. I could justify the effort from the pay, but it’s still a waste of time and Im pretty sure they’ll not find much help in my notes as well. They are essentially better crafted summaries and organizations of the contents of their textbook. However, I have been advocating making personal notes for every chapter since I starting tutoring her. She tells me they’re lazy or don’t have the time to do so. Ah well. Making notes sure helped me a lot.
They also told me rather casually that before an exam they would just read through the textbook, like a storybook. I suppose that works, but that would mean I’m not of much use also. I might as well save their parents some money.
Secondly, I doubt I would have the time to do a weekly biology tuition, especially after my Iceland trip. Chances are NYAA might be embarking on a project that would have me and the other participants put to use the skills we picked up from our trip. I expect weekend projects. I want to concentrate on those, and make friends and contacts.
Thirdly, I figured that I have no more use for earning money. 240 bucks per month isn’t nearly substantial in contrast with my 250k overseas education costs. It’s only 4 months left to go.
All you need to know about S'pore wildlife and other wild happenings!
Treehugger
Where I get most of my sources!
Bird Ecology Study Group, Nature Society Singapore
Green Issues (Singapore) Blog
Singapore Botanical Gardens
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Nature in Singapore
An online journal on the flora and fauna of Singapore by the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research
My Photography Works in a neat Photo Weblog
A Dark Night's Sky
My Blog on all things astronomy, cosmology, physics and space.
