29th December 2007
Sunday
Visual deficiencies
No, this post is not about any irregular physical conditions. This post is about the tendency of local citizens, namely Singaporeans, to focus more on less than important issues rather than pressing issues that require immediate attention.
Starting off with the festivities. As I mentioned before in many of my posts, celebrating festivities are simply a way of increasing our gross domestic product. Sure, a strong economy is essential for further growth in all other sectors. But money is not everything.
With every festival, energy and raw materials are spent on electricity, decoration and packaging of products. The scale of the celebration of each festival increases every year. With all these materials being depleted at such an increasing rate, it is not surprising that oil prices are steadily on the rise.
Singaporeans have a tendency of ignoring global issues and instead focusing on trivial matters. As seen from STOMP (Straits Times Online Mobile Print), supposedly a lively forum to discuss weighty national issues or latest gossips, people are more interested in which hot babe has the nicest legs, or why ladies spend a long time in the washroom. Sure, it is a friendly and lively discussion. Of unimportant matters, that is.
While people are discussing and coming up with solutions for global issues, our fellow Singaporeans are going gaga over 5 year old children singing canto-pop songs.
It really is not about everyone engaging in discussions over trade agreements, or human rights. It is simply about how people can be making a big fuss over a bus captain wasting 20 mins of the passengers time to confront a teenager who failed to pay the bus fare. Or how a crowded situation at Orchard Road
Is this really the image we will have projected as Singaporeans? In the blog posts of some of our distant cousins in China, we are already being referred to as a third world country. Which is pretty ridiculous since the judgement is based on our mainstream usage of English with local slangs, commonly known as 'Singlish'.
And as usual, one simple statement let slip in a hate blog post targeted at Singaporean blogger Xiaxue, has caused a big hoohah on the net. Personally I have received at least four requests for me to read that entry. And more blogs rebutting that one single statement which was most probably written in spite.
It is ridiculous that people can be so fiercely loyal and yet not giving half a damn about the future of the country. Oh, and not to mention about caring for their fellows.
I stereotype.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Christmas: a realist's view
25th December 2007
Tuesday
Christmas: a realist's view
After weeks of not updating, I have finally decided to do a proper post (now that the effects of alcohol has worn off). Since the last update, I have been clearing my schedules, doing things that I should have done ages ago. That includes going for a dive trip, albeit a local dive, catching up with old classmates and feeling guilty for not practicing. I know the last one sounds ridiculous. If I have the time to feel guilty about it, I should be doing something to change it.
Now's the festive period. Everyone's celebrating Christmas and making merry all over the world. But here I am, changing my MSN nick and sounding like a total Grinch. But it's true ain't it? Christmas is more of an escapade from reality.
Christmas talk about Yule spirit, of giving and sharing, of caring for others usually go unheeded by the masses. Sure, there are acts of sharing during this season like christmas gifts exchanges, performers performing for the public, sending cards to friends and relatives. But what goes unnoticed is the desperate need that the lesser fortunate people has. All the resources that the government and companies have put in for celebrating Christmas can be better utilised in channeling aid to those who really need it. Afterall, Christmas is about sharing right?
With all the pomp you see in town, it really makes me wonder. What is Christmas all about? When I was younger, Christmas was about being with friends and families. And it simply represented the importance of cherishing and thanking the people around you. It came mainly in the form of annual parties and gatherings at people's houses.
Now I look around me and all I can say is that Christmas has become another business opportunity. People are simply out to make money. All the fuss about Christmas, all the publicity through various modes of advertisement, it all amounts to the figures on the financial statement.
Why are we pretending to be joyous people and turning one blind eye, or rather, both eyes blind, to the things we must do? We can party all 12 nights long and still feel empty after the festive season.
Last sunday I went to Pulau Hantu for my leisure dive. Visibility was pretty bad - at around 1m and less. Saw a couple of sea urchins, a crab and some anemone fishes. Nothing really amazing this time round. But it really is a fresh experience for my first local dive. Air consumption was pretty average, 1900psi left for a 30 mins dive. Only unpleasant experience was a inch long scratch on my ring finger caused by a hard coral. Buoyancy control was good, although control of movements could be better.
I was pretty irritated with my buddy floating all over the place and swimming off into the cloudy waters, but things are getting better with each dive. Hope we all do much better at AOWs.
Since New Year resolutions don't work out for me, I'm switching to posing challenges for myself.
New Year Challenges:
Trumpet stuff
1) Extend my range to an A by May on my new embouchure.
2) Master all my major and minor scales by March.
3) Improve my tone to better than before by April.
4) Manage the characteristic studies in the Arbans by August.
5) Improve my sense of pulse by January.
6) Improve articulation clarity by January.
7) Improve articulation speed to clear and even semiquavers in 120 bpm.
Diving stuff
1) Complete AOWs by May.
2) Go for leisure dive in Nov.
3) Improve air consumption rate.
4) Improve mobility underwater.
Other random stuff
1) Maintain my blogging frequency and blog content.
2) Be more active in doing my part for the society.
3) Be more active in conserving the environment.
4) Start exercising regularly.
5) Start sleeping normal hours.
6) Start eating meals regularly.
"Christmas is an overrated festival which simply provides justification for spending money and wasting electricity."
-Han Yong
Tuesday
Christmas: a realist's view
After weeks of not updating, I have finally decided to do a proper post (now that the effects of alcohol has worn off). Since the last update, I have been clearing my schedules, doing things that I should have done ages ago. That includes going for a dive trip, albeit a local dive, catching up with old classmates and feeling guilty for not practicing. I know the last one sounds ridiculous. If I have the time to feel guilty about it, I should be doing something to change it.
Now's the festive period. Everyone's celebrating Christmas and making merry all over the world. But here I am, changing my MSN nick and sounding like a total Grinch. But it's true ain't it? Christmas is more of an escapade from reality.
Christmas talk about Yule spirit, of giving and sharing, of caring for others usually go unheeded by the masses. Sure, there are acts of sharing during this season like christmas gifts exchanges, performers performing for the public, sending cards to friends and relatives. But what goes unnoticed is the desperate need that the lesser fortunate people has. All the resources that the government and companies have put in for celebrating Christmas can be better utilised in channeling aid to those who really need it. Afterall, Christmas is about sharing right?
With all the pomp you see in town, it really makes me wonder. What is Christmas all about? When I was younger, Christmas was about being with friends and families. And it simply represented the importance of cherishing and thanking the people around you. It came mainly in the form of annual parties and gatherings at people's houses.
Now I look around me and all I can say is that Christmas has become another business opportunity. People are simply out to make money. All the fuss about Christmas, all the publicity through various modes of advertisement, it all amounts to the figures on the financial statement.
Why are we pretending to be joyous people and turning one blind eye, or rather, both eyes blind, to the things we must do? We can party all 12 nights long and still feel empty after the festive season.
Last sunday I went to Pulau Hantu for my leisure dive. Visibility was pretty bad - at around 1m and less. Saw a couple of sea urchins, a crab and some anemone fishes. Nothing really amazing this time round. But it really is a fresh experience for my first local dive. Air consumption was pretty average, 1900psi left for a 30 mins dive. Only unpleasant experience was a inch long scratch on my ring finger caused by a hard coral. Buoyancy control was good, although control of movements could be better.
I was pretty irritated with my buddy floating all over the place and swimming off into the cloudy waters, but things are getting better with each dive. Hope we all do much better at AOWs.
Since New Year resolutions don't work out for me, I'm switching to posing challenges for myself.
New Year Challenges:
Trumpet stuff
1) Extend my range to an A by May on my new embouchure.
2) Master all my major and minor scales by March.
3) Improve my tone to better than before by April.
4) Manage the characteristic studies in the Arbans by August.
5) Improve my sense of pulse by January.
6) Improve articulation clarity by January.
7) Improve articulation speed to clear and even semiquavers in 120 bpm.
Diving stuff
1) Complete AOWs by May.
2) Go for leisure dive in Nov.
3) Improve air consumption rate.
4) Improve mobility underwater.
Other random stuff
1) Maintain my blogging frequency and blog content.
2) Be more active in doing my part for the society.
3) Be more active in conserving the environment.
4) Start exercising regularly.
5) Start sleeping normal hours.
6) Start eating meals regularly.
"Christmas is an overrated festival which simply provides justification for spending money and wasting electricity."
-Han Yong
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Clean air?
15th December 2007
Saturday
The air has been really clean and fresh recently. When it is not raining, I can see the lights from far away. And the beam from the lighthouse (I think it's Horsburg Lighthouse) is especially visible from my window right now. Random? But I feel that this is an observation that is worth mentioning considering the amount of pollutants we get in our air these days.
The last time I saw the sky so clear was when I went to Pulau Dayang. And it wasn't all that surprising since the closest city to that island was at least an hour's boat ride away. Naturally, the sky was clear and the air fresh.
It really is refreshing to see the air so clean and everything so clear. Even the mundane orange streetlamps seem so different from its usual state.
I'm stressed out by some stuff, but it doesn't matter.
Saturday
The air has been really clean and fresh recently. When it is not raining, I can see the lights from far away. And the beam from the lighthouse (I think it's Horsburg Lighthouse) is especially visible from my window right now. Random? But I feel that this is an observation that is worth mentioning considering the amount of pollutants we get in our air these days.
The last time I saw the sky so clear was when I went to Pulau Dayang. And it wasn't all that surprising since the closest city to that island was at least an hour's boat ride away. Naturally, the sky was clear and the air fresh.
It really is refreshing to see the air so clean and everything so clear. Even the mundane orange streetlamps seem so different from its usual state.
I'm stressed out by some stuff, but it doesn't matter.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Dear Santa
11th December 2007
Tuesday
A letter to Santa, a reminder to Man.
Dear Sir,
2007 is coming to an end. 2008 is arriving. Everything seems to be passing so quickly. I hope the climate change does not affect you at the North Pole. Precautions have been taken against Global Warming, which they say is the cause for the melting of the polar caps. I have no idea how serious it is. They say the sea level will be rising in the next decades to come.
I live on an island. To me, this island is a big place to roam about. Everything that I have ever known for the past 18 years is here with me on this island. Yet, the island which seems so big is barely bigger than a dot on the world map. And this dot will vanish from the face of the Earth when the sea level rises. All knowledge of this island will become nothing more than a legend. All of a sudden, I feel like a country bumpkin. I do hope you understand that. It would be the least of my intentions to write a letter which you will find difficult to understand. That would certainly undermine my intentions that are included in this letter.
The world is becoming a horrible place to live in. Floods are destroying property. Famines are taking lives. Diseases are running rampant throughout the population of the entire world. Animals are being slaughtered incessantly. Forests are being fallen without a thought for the latter generations; or the animals and plants that reside in it.
I refuse to believe that this planet that was once full of greenery now lies barren (almost). It is as though the spirits of the land are dying one by one; their painful cries echoing throught the concrete jungles of mankind. Maybe that is happening right now, just that Man is too busily rerouting God's great plan to notice the cries. Afterall, there has been conflicts of ideas between Paganism and Christianity. No, I am not a religious person.
I hear people have been writing to you about their requests, or more specifically, their wishlists. I have always been skeptical about the truth in them claiming that their wishlists were fulfilled. But here am I, writing a letter with you and including my personal wishlist, as well as an envelope of hope that you might be able to fulfil it for me. Ludicrous ain't it? Yesterday, doubting the credibility of your works; Today, writing a request to you.
I would not carry too much hopes in these requests, for I understand that it is impossible to satisfy everyone. Man is a greedy kind indeed.
I wish for global warming to be halted and reversed.
I wish for conflicts to be resolved.
I wish Man will learn his place in the natural world.
If you would just fulfil these 3 requests, I am sure the world would become a better place. The crisis that we face might not affect us directly, but it will certainly have dire consequences on the generations to come. It might be good news for you though, if the population starts dying.
Thank you for your time to read this letter, I hope the situation will improve in the near future. If not, we are all going to have to learn to sail.
Yours sincerely,
Han Yong
Tuesday
A letter to Santa, a reminder to Man.
Dear Sir,
2007 is coming to an end. 2008 is arriving. Everything seems to be passing so quickly. I hope the climate change does not affect you at the North Pole. Precautions have been taken against Global Warming, which they say is the cause for the melting of the polar caps. I have no idea how serious it is. They say the sea level will be rising in the next decades to come.
I live on an island. To me, this island is a big place to roam about. Everything that I have ever known for the past 18 years is here with me on this island. Yet, the island which seems so big is barely bigger than a dot on the world map. And this dot will vanish from the face of the Earth when the sea level rises. All knowledge of this island will become nothing more than a legend. All of a sudden, I feel like a country bumpkin. I do hope you understand that. It would be the least of my intentions to write a letter which you will find difficult to understand. That would certainly undermine my intentions that are included in this letter.
The world is becoming a horrible place to live in. Floods are destroying property. Famines are taking lives. Diseases are running rampant throughout the population of the entire world. Animals are being slaughtered incessantly. Forests are being fallen without a thought for the latter generations; or the animals and plants that reside in it.
I refuse to believe that this planet that was once full of greenery now lies barren (almost). It is as though the spirits of the land are dying one by one; their painful cries echoing throught the concrete jungles of mankind. Maybe that is happening right now, just that Man is too busily rerouting God's great plan to notice the cries. Afterall, there has been conflicts of ideas between Paganism and Christianity. No, I am not a religious person.
I hear people have been writing to you about their requests, or more specifically, their wishlists. I have always been skeptical about the truth in them claiming that their wishlists were fulfilled. But here am I, writing a letter with you and including my personal wishlist, as well as an envelope of hope that you might be able to fulfil it for me. Ludicrous ain't it? Yesterday, doubting the credibility of your works; Today, writing a request to you.
I would not carry too much hopes in these requests, for I understand that it is impossible to satisfy everyone. Man is a greedy kind indeed.
I wish for global warming to be halted and reversed.
I wish for conflicts to be resolved.
I wish Man will learn his place in the natural world.
If you would just fulfil these 3 requests, I am sure the world would become a better place. The crisis that we face might not affect us directly, but it will certainly have dire consequences on the generations to come. It might be good news for you though, if the population starts dying.
Thank you for your time to read this letter, I hope the situation will improve in the near future. If not, we are all going to have to learn to sail.
Yours sincerely,
Han Yong
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Setbacks; one after another
9th December 2007
Sunday
Setbacks; one after another
Here I am, in front of the laptop thinking about how easy it is to lose sight of your goals. Due to distractions, setbacks and more distractions, I realised that I have already lost sight of mine. What was I searching for when I started down this path? Did I dream it would be an easy fight? Well, after encountering setbacks one after another, I really am at a loss.
Life is not fair. Life can be in balance, but it will never be fair. Is life a learning journey? If so, what happens to the knowledge you gain by the end of the journey. Is life the training phase which our souls go through to attain enlightenment? If so, what happens to the free-thinkers?
Usually I leave religions out of my blog posts since not everyone can agree to the same views, and I have no intention of being arrested for my blog content. Although I do have certain views on some religions here in my country.
I pray that the report on Wednesday turns out fine.
"Somethings on my mind are best left unsaid."
-Han Yong
Sunday
Setbacks; one after another
Here I am, in front of the laptop thinking about how easy it is to lose sight of your goals. Due to distractions, setbacks and more distractions, I realised that I have already lost sight of mine. What was I searching for when I started down this path? Did I dream it would be an easy fight? Well, after encountering setbacks one after another, I really am at a loss.
Life is not fair. Life can be in balance, but it will never be fair. Is life a learning journey? If so, what happens to the knowledge you gain by the end of the journey. Is life the training phase which our souls go through to attain enlightenment? If so, what happens to the free-thinkers?
Usually I leave religions out of my blog posts since not everyone can agree to the same views, and I have no intention of being arrested for my blog content. Although I do have certain views on some religions here in my country.
I pray that the report on Wednesday turns out fine.
"Somethings on my mind are best left unsaid."
-Han Yong
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Thresholds
2nd December 2007
Sunday
Limitations of the human physique.
Ouch. I feel as though a train slammed right through my head. My temples are throbbing and my eyes losing focus every now and then. What might have caused this intense headache? Is it a sign of a imminent mental breakdown?
I feel that I have really grown a lot within this year. From a person who only cared about what happens 12 hours later, I have changed into someone who ponders about what happens 12 years down the road. Also, I realised that I have learnt to think things deeply before taking action. That is a sign of my warwardness being changed.
But is that always a good thing? I feel burdened with more worries than my peers. I feel tied down by what-ifs. I become skeptical of the dreams, and life; since life and dreams are interwined. I start viewing life in a cynical manner, tending to focus on the feasibilities of a task before reflecting on my motivation to complete it.
Am I being a realist, or am I being a cynic? Sometimes I really wonder about that...
"Dreams are the essence of our lives. Or is life the essence of our dreams?"
-Han Yong
Sunday
Limitations of the human physique.
Ouch. I feel as though a train slammed right through my head. My temples are throbbing and my eyes losing focus every now and then. What might have caused this intense headache? Is it a sign of a imminent mental breakdown?
I feel that I have really grown a lot within this year. From a person who only cared about what happens 12 hours later, I have changed into someone who ponders about what happens 12 years down the road. Also, I realised that I have learnt to think things deeply before taking action. That is a sign of my warwardness being changed.
But is that always a good thing? I feel burdened with more worries than my peers. I feel tied down by what-ifs. I become skeptical of the dreams, and life; since life and dreams are interwined. I start viewing life in a cynical manner, tending to focus on the feasibilities of a task before reflecting on my motivation to complete it.
Am I being a realist, or am I being a cynic? Sometimes I really wonder about that...
"Dreams are the essence of our lives. Or is life the essence of our dreams?"
-Han Yong
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