The joys of Halloween

So they say halloween is a celebration of Witches and stuff... Creepy idea when we were young of course, considering that our fairy tails talked about witches that ate kids and cursed princesses and babies.

There's gonna be a Halloween Parade tomorrow evening that promises huge floats, ppl in costumes and stuff. Supposedly a NY tourist attraction. But i've got a mid term on tuesday, lets see how that works out.

I spent Saturday sleeping. when i finally got to work at night, the damn fire alarm tripped. So... i went to sleep after that, pissed that the day was indeed just one of rest and no work. So today marks work work work. I guess i won't bother with the Gunther costume anymore because the queues at costume stores are ridiculously long. So maybe next year.

On thursday night though, i went out for drinks with Heep and Colleen after dinner with the Bunch (Bunch=Soumi Grace Ian)at Weinstein (the dorm where Ian and Soumi board at). We went to 48 Cooper Square which sells drinks at 4 a cup, so i thought i'd just buy one cos its expensive. Free edamame though (japanese green beans), after which they were both buzzed (we say buzzed here cos high is for drugs). So i was kinda looking for tipsy town, and upon arriving back at our apartment, we went to hang around Gabby's for awhile.

(the bunch, at central park)

Then Heep was telling me about how Kahee was so hot, all the guys were staring at her the moment she stepped out of the lift at the ground floor. Looks like yellow fever is prety prevalent here in NY. So i was looking forward to taking a picture of her cos all the guys from sg (yes, you) did ask me to send over pictures of the hotties, which i so unfortunately haven't done. So that was my excuse. It's halloween weekend right?

(when we weren't buzzed)

Gabby fueled my engine with whiskey, they call it a seven (the brand). So there's this mix called seven and seven in which u mix seven-up with that whiskey. The first cup, i mixed 50-50. The second cup, it seems i forgot to mix. Lol 7 and 7 without a 7. So i naturally got quite buzzed.

Kinfoong Buzzed

And then the ladies (Maria and Kahee) came back, and i jumped to the bell (insert Lei Ping voice), and made them an offer they couldn't refuse (free digital prints). So they posed. And i jumped for joy... And got stuck. Naughty policewoman, really. To quote Gabby's man, "She can give me a ticket anyday..." so. Chatted abit, cos i never really got to talk to Kahee or Maria much, kinda a shame really cos i consider myself to be a really social person (most of the time) and i never mind getting to know more people right?


Pirate Maria

Then before Kahee returned to her room for the night, i gave myself the opportunity to create a moment to remember... Lol so drama... =+{> Perhaps i only wished i had a costume, that would have been much funnier... Or charming... But nevertheless, a good picture is a good picture.



A very happy lad indeed.

So after that, we just chilled for awhile more before retiring to our apartment, everyone started sobering up... Except me. So Heep made noodles for me and colleen cos we were hungry. Unfortunately, few people look good eating noodles.


Colleen attempting to grow a beard.

And after the noodles, chatted with Heep about life and stuff, then passed out on the couch. By then Heep was in the clear, and he put me in bed. Heh good Heep. He's a little crazy when he's buzzed though, got himself hurt pretty bad. Woke up aching all over.

Friday night, we went Karaoking... But thats another post for later when i take a break--I need to study!

Cheerios dear readers, appreciate the daily visits!

Darling i still love and miss you


I'll update soon... Soon...

Happy Halloween!

Kinfoong

Rosa, We remember you

Its wasn't too long ago when a black woman made headlines for refusing to give her seat up to a white man who demanded it in Montgomery (I think). Even though 2 black people had been arrested before her for the same reasons, she was tired. Tired of having to give up her coveted seat in the bus to someone who didn't need it half as much as her aching body did, tired of being an object of senseless discrimination, tired of inequality in a land of dreams.

Yes i will go to jail, she said. No, i won't give up my seat. And a new civil rights movement was born. It's amazing how one simple act of defiance resonated within millions of ethnic and social minorities, of how that refusal to be subjugated by whimsical laws that declared the equality of man yet enforced otherwise could find its roots deep in the communities of minorities. She won a long battle, and emerged champion of the people. Not just for the blacks in America, but also for other minorities. I came upon a white gay man's blog, who felt that she owed her one, because of the social implications of her legacy: every man could cast only one vote--that all men were equal.

She is one who will be fondly remembered for standing up for what she believed in, just like Martin Luther King Jr, just like Aung San Suu Kyi, just like that mystery man standing in front of a row of tanks at TianAnMen Square. Will you stand up for what you believe in?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING!

HAPPY 21st DARLING! I LOVE YOU!

Arghz

So irritating. It seems that a week won't pass by without me being happy throughout. My happiness in having obtained an A grade equivalent in Econs Stats yesterday was severely offset by the glaring B on my writing the essay paper. Damn, so much for my prof encouraging me to push it toward Mercer Street. Then again i hope its so that i will carry on to work on it to get the grade and reach the state that it truly deserves to be in... I'll stop here before i get commented on being too grade conscious. I can't help it anyway.


And this morning, i logged on to my blog to find that someone had posted some crap on it, sure as hell hope that he didn't delete/change anything that could prove incriminating in anyway with regards to anything.

You know how good or bad shit comes in threes? I'm just waiting to see what the third bad shit is. I hope it was getting 0-4 playing centaur just before lunch. Whatever, i won that game anyway.



Bargain of the day: a celeb magazine/trashy tabloid for 25c. Cheaper than a minute on the internet in Las Vegas!

Something to smile about then...



but i just dont feel like it.

some more fotos

damn i knew i shouldnt have flooded the last few posts so quickly. bombardment.. ill bet less than 10 of u readers bothered to actually plow through the whole thing besides the pictures. So how bout this? random blogging with pictures interspersed between the words?



Anyway the fotos are of: the weather today, a day in central park with Cliff Soumi Grace and Ian (from the first sunny sunday ending that wet spell of a week), and myself on friday night looking silly with rubber bands tying up my hair. not bad considering no mirror. then again, not good. i re-tied it later, and brenen was like : "Kin, i just don't understand you." Then again, who really does?

so i'm taking a break from spanish... i think im getting ok with it, except that getting an A for this seems really hard, esp since i lost points from the other papers just like that. Kinda like a picky driving instructor just pulling points here and there for the sake of failing me. I know it might not have been the best decision to take spanish pass fail, but i have to believe in myself.



So i slept alot during fri sat and sunday. its like... probably 2/5ths if not half the weekend was taken up by sleep. I'm starting to understand when meiyi said she'd never slept as much in her whole life as when in college. The weather is so fine, i normally set 3 alarms so that i'll definitely get up. Which irks brenen, cos it gets him up too. And i like waking up earlier than he does... Whoops. Better than heep who doesn't wake for early classes, even when he had the intention to, when he was awake. oh well his grades are fine.

So why am i talking about grades incessantly? well i can't help it, my grades this year will decide the next 2 3 years of my college. so i can't afford to screw it up, its always on my mind. ill blog about more interesting things once i ease off the midterms. maybe blog about dota or something. Or phantom of the opera (i watched it on thursday, it was fabulous, i didnt fall asleep as i had feared)



ok longenuf break. i should kill myself really. Kinda wish i was more like the RSS kinfoong (todays homework should be finished today!) and not RJ kinfoong (the lesson is on friday... i TRY to pia on thursday night). But then again this kinda transformation metamorphosis doesn't happen overnight. I'm still in a transforming cocoon. lets see how things go...

fotos for those who hate words

Because i love it

Yup i just finished the last entry, but i'm still blogging. Why? Because i love it. I love the power that words contain, not just to convey the meaning of their definitions, but also the meaning of their related associations. Of how hearing an angmoh in New York say Wa-lao would bring a sense of familiarity and pride to a true-blue Singaporean. I guess its a feeling brought on by the "Writing the Essay" class im taking as a compulsary module. Its amazing how this analysis of other essays has inspired me to write, write and write. I suppose this blog is fulfiling its function as an outlet for me to practice my writing. My writing Prof is impressed by my writing and considers it a candidate for publication in a book of student essays. Perhaps that's the real reason for my appreciation of writing... That its being appreciated.


Speaking about the RPOH in the last entry, i remember i wanted to comment about Rockson's post and its assorted comments about RI boys and shit. But then i realised that there was no point. Its true that some Raffles people are very guai lan, but then every school has its share of guai lan people, and people tend to overgeneralise and assume things are the way that makes it easy for them to handle. The same way people tend to side with their friends suffering from the pains of a breakup-- "aiyah she was a bitch la, never really cared for you anyway" or "all guys are jerks la, no point holding on to some bastard thats doesn't even treat you like a friend". Besides the fact that almost if not all guys really are jerks in some ways, its just easier for people to handle their subconscious or conscious inadequacies by villianising the source of insecurity.

Its easy for someone to say: "students in RI all study no life come out all become social spastics" if he was jealous of their superior academic showing, or "ya la they dangle carrots for all the top athletes thats why their school so good in sports" and conveniently neglect the fact that hardly does a team an individual makes. Zidane and Figo and Raul and Rooney and Shevchenko and whoever else may have been at the top of their game in football, yet a team of virtually unknown Greeks won Euro 2004. Similarly, to complain about the government favouring the top students for public administration and ignoring the 'not so lucky' EM3 student. I honestly believe an EM3 student with a flair or passion for public administration would take the pains to excel in his studies. I think school may not be an exact reflection of the required abilities to be a part of the public administration, however it is a reflection of the discipline and capability required to be part of the public service.

I've noticed alot about how this distancing myself from home has made me more politically involved. I used to be the obedient citizen that never questioned the gahmen and its policies. However, sources of information like Rockson's blog have opened my mind to the strong undercurrents of political dissatisfaction among the working classes in Singapore. Big business and the financial industries typically benefit from the stability and control that the gahmen has provided, and i believe all Singaporeans are thankful for this higher quality of life and safe streets. But what about those living on the margin of necessity? I've been blessed to not have had to worry where my next meal was going to come from, nor that i would not have money for transport to school. What about those who have been retrenched that are 'overqualified' to assume those $800 jobs?

What about the citizens in Buangkok that have to absorb the higher cost of transport that the NEL brought? is there really a need to raise the fares of public transport when they continually post profits? Yes, there is a need for companies to generate profits, and yes prices must reflect the financial situation. If the price of oil has gone up, the price of public transport naturally should rise too. But at what cost? The issue of moral business ethics is relevant here because it is a public utility that is being provided, and as far as public utilities go i feel that the gahmen should have full control over this. An increase of bus or train fare by ten cents may not seem like much to many, but what about the families that need the money? The working mother that hits three jobs just to send her children to school? The children who eat 2 meals a day to save money? Its these people that need the utility of public transport to get around as they cannot afford alternatives like taxis or owning cars. And yet their only avenue is out of reach.

Who says Singaporeans are politically apathetic? Its just that the avenues for expressing political views are not fully developed. We are ranked 140th out of 167th in an article about press freedom in Singapore. So how to air our opinions? Bloggers get jailed for expressing personal sentiments. How now? I worry that one day my blog will be blackmarked by the Government, regardless of my position as a patriotic student studying overseas, regardless of my approval of many policies including NS.

I'm grateful for NS, because of its contribution of a peaceful society. Studies on the Empires in Europe from 1300 onward have shown that a well-maintained military force/police is a key factor in the successful implementation of reform and a prerequisite for sovereignity. Im grateful for the immense effort the gahmen has spent producing a nation living in first world standards after 30-odd years of independence. Im grateful that the majority in singapore have a roof over their heads, and need not sleep in the streets like the many vagabonds that suffer freezing nights in New York and California. Im grateful that the nation has access to multiple levels of education, and that we enjoy the perks of being wired to the internet. Im grateful that i didn't have to worry about getting shot when i went to school, and that i know more about the rest of the world than many other Americans do.

Theres no point complaining if you're not going to do something about it. So appreciate what we have, folks. Or join an opposition party.

seh gu gu

wat the ell man the description doesnt sound like me. Me being a musician for artistic expression? nah i think maybe poetry or painting rather. and me being rather prejudicial... thats far off. me being organised and systematic...

Its all so SAF... all bluff one.

Anyway i've been catching up on my friend's blogs for the past 3 hours (since i woke up cos spanish first thing upon waking up is really hard) and i decided i should end this spell by posting more about whats going on. I particularly enjoyed Zhonglei's entry about how we should be proud of Singlish as well as Rockson's latest post. And as always, love hanting's entries . Junlin's got a new blog skin and i'm inspired to start kicking KinsterPowers into action... Soon that is. As soon as my Spanish mid-terms are over.

Anyway, i decided not to take Spanish as a pass-fail subject. Crazy? Considering that i've laboured over it and strived to understand what the teacher was saying, at the rate i was going I'd be better off dropping the class. Yet, I cannot bring myself to accept a lower standard of achievement for a commitment i made in the pursuit of learning a foreign language. The most important reason for the consideration of taking it pass-fail/dropping it would be that i could surely pass Spanish i know, and a C-grade wouldn't hurt my GPA. I could devote more time and energy to the courses that really matter (at the moment nothing much, everything's even) and just ensure i Ace every subject I touch.

Perhaps I'm blinded by a mix of pride and envy. I'm extremely proud of my sister, for winning the Ambassador's Cup for German in her year, a testament to her dedication in her pursuit of interests. My pride tells me that genetically we should be comparable (being products of the same parents) and thus i believe that linguistically i should be able to fare comparatively well. I took up Spanish because I thought 1. It would be interesting. 2. It could open doors of opportunity in the American continents for business (if I even become an international businessman) 3. Japanese class was full (it was at first, i didn't think it) and i didn't want to change classes after one or two weeks.

I don't for one moment believe that i should run away with a pass-fail subject if i show signs of "i might not get an A" even though getting into Stern is an important thing for me and that i'll need a GPA of 3.6 or 3.7 (A- average) for a transfer from CAS to Stern. Its not that I don't have the time or capacity to manage this. I'm sure i can. Its just that i need to exact the change in my habits to manage this. Other students are required to take a second language for 4 semesters, I placed out with Chinese. They've got language too. Not that i feel that I cannot play on the field with an advantage of placing out for a language, but that there really isn't the necessity to do that. I don't know if a transcript with a GPA that says 3.8 with one pass fail subject will look as good as one that says 3.7 over four subjects. Its almost like the A levels thing. You only really need 3 papers, but does AAB look better than ABBB? On strict consideration, yes, but then its not solely grades that make the decision for the choice for admission.

They say that "Its the journey that matters, not the destination" but yet its at the destination that you achieve your desires. I know that as important as it is for me to get into Stern (so as not to be spending money on an education that cannot bring sufficient financial returns), its the process of achieving my grades. The process of engaging my brain in the different areas of thought and exploration. I'd like to think of myself as a well-rounded individual with a brain developed in the aspects of the creative arts as well as in the technical aspects of math and science. To involve myself in an attempt to knead my brain and challenge it with processing language and drama, yet at the same time with pinpoint precision process complex mathematical concepts and formula, with a logical sequence of progression in generating business plans and solving financial computations.

Oh, these dreams of attaining an aura of zhainess.

I hope that through this process of challenging myself, i will maintain within my subconscious self the desire to improve and excel; to be on top of things and in control of my immediate path; not to let minor obstacles throw me off course. I could be like that horse in Animal Farm, Boxer--Tell myself to work harder to triumph over my own situations. I could be more disciplined with time and allocate more free time for self studying, on top of homework. I could cultivate the discipline and dedication to excellence in personal endeavours. And when has that been a bad thing? Anyone who knows me well will know that it's impossible for me to be a no life mugger--i value other aspects of life far too much to dedicate my time in the US for grades by holing myself into a partition of my room and memorising whole textbooks.

I still remember the Rafflesian Principle of Honour--
In intellectual pursuit, i shall reflect DISCIPLINE and PASSION FOR LEARNING. And in personal conduct, i shall live in integrity and regard individuals, groups, and the community with kindness and respect, and in so doing uphold the Rafflesian Principle of Honour.

I guess it took a back seat when i was in RI and RJ. No real passion for learning (most subjects) and no discipline in doing tutorials. I probably left RJ with more tutorials undone than done (before the lesson during which tutorials are discussed).

Perhaps in this land of dreams, this principle would serve me well to remember.
Perhaps in this land of dreams, the rewards of a disciplined and impassioned individual will be reaped exponentially.
Perhaps in this land of dreams, I will find my true passion in life.
Perhaps in this land of dreams, I will sow the seeds of my dreams, that will manifest itself in the land i call home.

Oh by the way, if anyone's wondering what the title of this post means, its pronounced Sair2 gu3 gu2 as in "dazed cock". Or something like that.

the number in a name

You entered: Ng Kin Foong
There are 10 letters in your name.
Those 10 letters total to 58
There are 3 vowels and 7 consonants in your name.

Your number is: 4

The characteristics of #4 are: A foundation, order, service, struggle against limits, steady growth.

The expression or destiny for #4:
Order, service, and management are the cornerstones of the number 4 Expression. Your destiny is to express wonderful organization skills with your ever practical, down-to-earth approach. You are the kind of person who is always willing to work those long, hard hours to push a project through to completion. A patience with detail allows you to become expert in fields such as building, engineering, and all forms of craftsmanship. Your abilities to write and teach may lean toward the more technical and detailed. In the arts, music will likely be your choice. Artistic talents may also appear in such fields as horiculture and floral arrangement, as well. Many skilled physicians and especially surgeons have the 4 Expression.

The positive attitudes of the 4 Expression yield responsibility; you are one who no doubt, fulfills obligations, and is highly systematic and orderly. You are serious and sincere, honest and faithful. It is your role to help and you are required to do a good job at everything you undertake.

If there is too much 4 energies present in your makeup, you may express some of the negative attitudes of the number 4. The obligations that you face may tend to create frustration and feelings of limitation or restriction. You may sometimes find yourself nursing negative attitudes in this regard and these can keep you in a rather low mood. Avoid becoming too rigid, stubborn, dogmatic, and fixed in your opinions. You may have a tendency to develop and hold very strong likes and dislikes, and some of these may border on the classification of prejudice. The negative side of 4 often produces dominant and bossy individuals who use disciplinarian to an excess. These tendencies must be avoided. Finally, like nearly all with 4 Expression, you must keep your eye on the big picture and not get overly wrapped up in detail and routine.

Your Soul Urge number is: 4

A Soul Urge number of 4 means:
With the Soul Urge or Motivation number of 4 you are likely to strive for a stable life. You tend to follow a rather orderly pattern and systematic approach in your endeavors. You have an inner desire to serve others in a methodical and diligent manner. You want to be in solid, conventional, and well-regulated activities, and you are somewhat disturbed by innovation and erratic or sudden changes. Excellent at organizing, systematizing, and managing, you have a way of establishing order and maintaining it. You are responsible, reliable and in the final analysis, practical. Highly analytical, you can see your way through all sorts of situations and generally have a clear understanding of the issues. You are a very honest, sincere, and conscientious individual.

The negative side of the 4 is rigid, stubborn and somewhat narrow-minded. There is a tendency to hide feelings, or to really not be aware of real feelings. Avoid being too rigid and stubborn in your thinking, and try to always see the big picture rather than becoming to involved with the detail. Don't be afraid to take a chance once in awhile.

Your Inner Dream number is: 1

An Inner Dream number of 1 means:
You dream of being a leader and one who is in charge. You want to be known for your courage, daring, and original ideas. You seek unconquered heights. People may get a first impression that you are very aggressive and sure of yourself.

The self-inflicted pressures of school

Ok actually i don't have much to talk about, but rather i just need to kill some time before i start working cos i dont want to work with the internet on my computer cos it could get potentially distracting, and i happening to be downloading Deuce Bigelow atm. So its about 15 min more, i might as well blog about something for now.

What is pressure? the fact that you have an essay and half a ton of spanish homework on top of 30 pages of middle east readings? the fact that 5 hours of spanish a week is insufficient for an A or a B grade? or maybe that essays are demanding and calls for an hour per page required? maybe also the fact that you feel this overwhelming desire to silence ur naysayers--by aceing everything u do. Or that you feel this overwhelming need to excel and thus maximise the costs of an overseas education.

I feel so Machiavellian in my approach to grades... As if the ends really justified the means. Is that GPA really worth the effort of overnight escapades into the Middle East or the Oxford English Dictionary? A jungle trip into the wilderness of Spanish vocabulary, as dangerous as the 'Ñ's, 'ó's, ánd ¿¡ that threaten to tear out the synapses in my Englishly wired brain. Its just like falling into the JC trap... Of getting work and never rising above it again. I do rise sometimes, at the end of a long journey past the hour of dawn.

I have the utmost respect for writers. Its hard bringing complex ideas together in a cohesive lump of text, with structure and examples. Of how every sentence and paragraph must be moulded to suit the issue at hand. Its tough verbalising ideas that float like wisps in a fog, and ever so often i feel like i can't find the means to haul that idea into my boat, even though i've got it by the balls.

Maybe thats why i enjoy cooking. Watching the bubble bubble toil and trouble as the spaghetti jumps in response to the musical airs that rise from the bottom of the pot. So random, yet it gets the job done. Like the release of pressure from the completion of the task. Lifting the lid of a boiling pot calms the churning broth, just as printing my finished essay calls out for my gastric acids to receive the products of my painstaking efforts. Arrest me for substance abuse i say, I drink juice like water and coffee like a drug. For what it does to me, for what it does for me, for the pains in the nerve endings that convince me that a breakdown of bodily function is nigh.

And even when the essay is "not going to be graded", we remember lessons from movies : "in order to succeed, one must project an image of success"; sometimes at all costs. Mindless toiling just for a few pages of text that could mean anything to anybody. Just like how this entry might sound like an analytical piece of trash to you as it is a meal for me. Alphabet soup for my soul, to be savoured after my work is done. And that was one reason why i started blogging, ¿no? No me gusta hablar español, porque español es difícil; no me gusta escribir, porque escribir un ensayo se cansa. (My gramma is probably off anyway)

So what have I achieved through six weeks of toil? The acceptance of the inevitability of suffering (Buddha's first law), as well as the written, conversational and emotional engagement of my intelligence and my experiences. And i conclude that this is the challenge for me--to be the best that i can be, wherever i am. Sounds very ACS right...

ok am finished with Deuce Bigelow European Gigolo. Time to work work.

"You don't know how good the tea tastes until you put it in hot water."

signing off,

Kinfoong the mugger toad.

first mid term result

Ok so the first mid term result i've received thus far:

WORLD CULTURES-MIDDLE EAST: 91

and its not even a blardy A. Its an A-. kinda disappointed really, cos i was banking on aceing that one square, nail a 95 or something so no one can say i got an A by chance. Also to disprove Brenen that sleeping late doesn't do me any good. Well i got a 91 presumably cos of poor essay organisation, cos he said i put in alot of relavant points. Well i guess i won't really know till i ask me prof about it again.

in 20 min i shall be seeing my grade for my ECONOMIC STATS paper. I'm anticipating a crap result, cos as a result of putting too much into Spanish and WC Mid East i kinda neglected the 'easy math' bit of the topic. Turns out i was unfamiliar with terminology, and will probably only score an 80 or less. Good news is most people couldn't finish their papers, but then to xing4 zai1 le4 huo4 and hope that others suck so i scale upward is not the way to go... Must try to pwnxxorz the test and get that kinda marks that Kiats does so easily all the time. So. Wish me luck kids. I miss u guys all.

Last weekend was parents' weekend, but then i didn't get to meet old friends, much less parents. So... It happened again, the wasting of precious time surfing and doing the silliest things like rewatching a movie ive watched before on my computer and sh*t like that. So i gotta rethink my priorities. I like putting myself through some sort of struggle so that i may come out stronger, more worldly wise, and stuff like that. Then i can say "been there, done that" and be somewhat 'zhai'. But my plan keeps backfiring and i end up suffering the consequences. Struggle becomes bloody struggle, holding my breath becomes gasping for life. I can't gasp for breaks, i take them all when i don't need them. sighz.

ok more work to do. but i gotta go class now. tok to u guys later. Hasta luego, mis amigos!

whos number 1000?

Whos number 1000? will the real mr 1000 please stand up, please stand up, please stand up.....?

back to the blogosphere

this is ridiculous, i should be working instead of blogging, but then when u dont have dota or friends to hang around with and eat prata, you blog rite? esp since
WongJo doctor to be Lin said i don't update often enough, i shall post abit more.

I chanced upon Desmond Yeo's Blog which is rather humourous, should meet up to drink with him more since we're both in NY. Back to the point, he posted this post by this guy called Rockson Takumi Tan (or something like that) and hes got over a million hits on his blog. Hahah damn funny. Prolly being monitored by the Gahmen for his views too, esp after that post about 2 bloggers in Sg getting jailed for racist remarks on their blogs. i'm gonna have to link him cos its so brilliant and much more entertaining than plain ol xiaxue that everyone hates.

Considering that i just spent the last 4 hours reading other ppl's blogs, once again i hafta punish myself for wasting so much time not doing work. i was seriously considering the possibility of sleeping before 12 on sunday nights. but then again thats not me. even though i really need it. SO.

what happened was that i was just excited about my blog receiving a thousand hits, so after tagging myself, i went to update myself on other ppl's lives, and then i chanced upon desmond's blog. and then i moved to rockson's blog. then this xxxposed blog which exposes the nicks of irc predators looking for that kinda gratification. and then i moved on to xiaxue again and some other blogs. rather out of point, but i remembered why i didnt like xiaxue again. i shall reserve comment in case gahmen spies detect some discriminatory undertones in my words and decide to prosecute me for airing my views. scary stuff, blogging becomes nowadays. looks like Big Brother is on the loose.

Anyways, just felt inspired by rockson, his views about the things happening around him, and i wish i had that kinda purpose in blogging. but i dont. so i guess low key blogging is good enough for me. less strangers viewing the better. otherwise feel pressured to blog good stuff... like rockson. or like xiaxue... who's really lame imho. not sure why ppl support her and all that. besides the fact that she looks above average and has a nice blogskin.


back to books books books.
i recently discovered limewire, a filesharing prog that lets u share files. uh huh i know im pretty slow on the file sharing scene, but hey theres a first for everyone rite? So i've been downloading some songs and movies, cos my cd drive somehow got corrupted and cant play dvds anymore. so i watch lor. too bad the content is very american, nothing local/anime-ish. i got howl's moving castle though.

back to books books books
theres so much to do here, sometimes i wonder where my life is going. i've been here since 25th august, and what have i accomplished in the duration of my stay here?

bonded with roomates
found good frenz
studied hard
studied late at night
studied overnight
slept in classes
cooked my own lunch
become business savvy
find out what i really want to become
played chess in Washington Square Park
community service--signed up for tutoring needy kids
aced tests
aced exams--yet to receive mid term grades
confirmed my major
kicked dota addiction
got piss drunk--tipsy, yes but never drunk.
watched a broadway play--watching on thursday
seen movie stars
shook hands with movie stars
kissed movie stars--i wish; huishan will kill me
regained coffee addiction--its not addiction, its necessity
done crazy shit--nothing crazy enough for me to call crazy
meet up with friends i haven't seen in a while--only some friends

such a boring ol life

i think i gotta get back to work anyway

back to books and strife

in hope of a better day

5 Quirks

Ok i read kailing's blog cos i know she updates every now and then and guess what... I've been tagged...

REVEALING 5 QUIRKY TRAITS

1. I like people to think i'm weird
2. I don't eat prawns if i can help it... But i don't know why. Probably cos i think other people enjoy it so much more than i do so they can go ahead and eat it instead of me. But even if they don't i still won't. Prawn crackers and ebi tempura are exceptions.
3. I have been known to sleep almost anywhere at anytime. Eg. By a busy road standing up, right after asking a question, while eating, in the bath. Etc.
4. I don't bite my fingernails. I bite the skin growing beside my fingernails. Sometimes.
5. I like to sing when i wash the dishes.

So now that you've read this, u must feel obligated to share with the rest of the world 5 quirks about yourself. he he he he he...
oh and once again, the 1000th visitor on this blog gets a free lunch with me. I DECIDE THE PLACE muahahahahah. Please save a screenshot with the number. And please don't refresh until u hit 1000. thats gay. i mean thats evil.

And welcome again sunny days!

btw this is a picture of the building i live in

Burning out + fotos

And it seems to me, you lived your life like a candle in the wind....

And as the leaves on the trees start to fall... Encouraged by the wind that bites and chills with ferocity, along with his faithful companion, rain, the days of autumn in New York have started to set in. I start to shiver at 2am in the night as i make my pilgrimage to Mickey D's (Macs) for brain food. Or brainless food. Relentlessly, I shiver my way there. my legs wobble into the warmth of Mr MacDonald's, i grab a large fries and nuggets.

I gobble the food down in no time, with chili sauce from the supermarket. Amazingly, it makes a good substitute from the familiar taste of MacDonald's garlic chili sauce. Colleen refuses to try the 'hot sauce' (thats what everyone here calls it--I say chili sauce they think im crazy). Maybe it was because there was that time at 2am when we were taking a break from essays, i suggested that each of us chew up a chili padi and swallow the stuff. Heep, Angelo, Charlotte, Brenen and I had a good time trying to quell the hots with Ice, Water, Vanilla icecream, and Crackers (which did the trick). It was nice eating the icecream with a chili tongue though. It also cemented my reputation as a crazy commando... But nevertheless back to the main story. So I get back to work. I pore over the essay due the next day. I battle with the 'z' monster again in my efforts to be a conscientious student. I succumb to the charms of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

I wake up on time for work, but decide that sleep would be a better option at the time. I wake again, to find myself late for a lecture. So i make my way down, catch the lecture, take in all i can whilst shivering from the drenched clothes that my jacket couldnt cover. I wish the clouds and wind could take a holiday... I see 10 broken umbrellas on the road everyday, and wonder when my umbrella will join the ranks of these fallen heroes. I wonder when the brainless food will stop fuelling my night raids through the neighbourhood and my kitchen. I eat 4 meals a day, 3 of them after sunset.

"One day," Brenen tells me, "you will burn out." I beg to differ, yet i know that commandos are humans too. I tell him, "I run on batteries."

"I don't know how you do it Kin, I can't do without my sleep"

Neither do I.

Coffee and Red Bull are but frail attempts to give me temporal sanity. Temporal illusionment. Temporal enlightenment. By no means a staple, they hardly work on me anymore. Anyone with a better drink? Chili is not an option.

I sleep every econs stats lesson. Not because i want to, but because math is the subject that gets my brain into its own world. Sometimes i find that trying to write to stay awake is bullshit. Writing and taking notes makes me wanna sleep more. Numerous ink blots have convinced me that when tired, i should use a ball point. I should use a ball point all the time. I guess it helps that ive done most of that stats stuff before.

GETGETGETGETGETGETGETGETGETGETGETGETGET
GETGETGETGETGETGETGETGETGETGETGETGETGET
GETGETGETGETGETGETGETGETGETGEGETGETGEGET
EGETETETETGETGETGETEGETGETGETGEEGEGETGETGET

get cracking!

oh and the fotos that should have been there.


EM and ME at Kenka (good drinking/eating Japanese place)


Lindsay's Birthday


At times square after watching Claire Yeo's piano recital


Squirrels in the sunshine... When the sun still shone.


where are my batteries? solar power ah?

AnGrY MaNgRy

Title's yours feef.

Angry because i didn't do well for my last spanish test.
Angry because i can't spend my time right.
Angry because i keep having so many essays to do.
Angry because i need hugs.
Angry because i need to save.
Angry because i have no discipline.
Angry because i think Keira should stop flashing her boobs in movies.
Angry because i miss Fuzzy Mutt
Angry because i miss my darling.

I got a 73.5, which happens to be a C. or C-. Absolutely disgusting if u ask me, i did so much worse than my first test (B+). Not that i don't put in the effort, but that was my week with 3 papers, this one being the first and least important (but that's besides the point). It sure is a wake up call though, and hell yeah i have to be the mugger toad that i never was. I wish i was a mugger. I'd be proud of it. But i just fail so miserably to mug successfully. One of the Singaporeans here is nicknamed "Bobst King" (He spends day and night in Bobst Library). But hey, if he can do well, so can i man.

Time. My 4 day weekend passed without a trace. As usual, homework left till the night of the last day. Why? For a myriad of reasons that made some sense, but i should stop excusing myself. Work harder u stupid peon! So that u can spend one day a week sleeping before 12. And get ur 'A's.

I did say right? i get one essay every tuesday and thursday. Its a requirement for my writing the essay class (its compulsary) and thats not even including spanish essays (or diary entries, as they cleverly disguise it), or Middle Eastern essays which i could be passionate about. One day to think, one night to burn. And my class is faster than my peers'. And just because my teacher was a tennis pro circuit player doesn't make the job more cool. Even though shes a nice person.

I got a hug from Em when she came over for her long weekend. It was nice getting hugs from a familiar friend(before NYU), and i miss those alot. As in i miss hugs from you guys and gals back in Singapore and wherever else you maybe.

I like hugs.

Its wonderous what a hug can do, A hug can cheer you when you're blue.
A hug can say 'I love you so'... Or, 'I hate to see you go'.
A hug is 'Welcome back again!' And 'Great to see you!' or 'Where've you been?'
A hug can soothe a small child's pain, and bring a rainbow after rain.
The hug! There's just no doubt about it, We scarcely could survive without it.
A hug delights and warms and charms. It must be why God gave us arms.

-From a present.

I need to save. Its clear that living in New York is expensive; tuition costs a bomb, housing too, asian food, even instant ramen. Its US$0.80 for one packet of kimchi ramen. And sometimes i think theres no point living on instant noodles, but food costs alot more... Which keeps me eating the same stuff all the time. Cooking is a problem cos i don't do it all the time, i don't have a well stocked kitchen. And a normal sized bubble tea with pearls here is US$3.75 without tax. Go figure.

Time and discipline is related. Discipline dictates time. I have neither. I need to master myself. Its a struggle i've fought for so long, and yet in the belly of the beast i find myself unable to perform. Army teaches you nothing. It only gives u a chance for reflection. And many stories to tell. Or bitch about. Well... maybe it does... when i'm in a good mood. I remember that time before i arrived in NY, I did something which gave me a sense of empowerment... it was a wonderful feeling. I thought i wouldn't lose it. I thought i had discipline.

I just watched Domino for free, it was a screening for newspaper editors and reviewers i think. So i queued for extra tix and got them. The movie's received crappy reviews and after watching it i do agree that theres alot of shit in that movie. Not that she didn't act her role well or anything. The script was just bollocks. The problem is that Tony Scott (Ridley's brother i think) tries too hard to incorporate too many elements in the story, and it turns out like shit. Not every movie needs "love scenes", not every movie needs explosions, not every movie needs a climatic shootout finale. Not every movie needs a partial nude scene. She's a good enough actor with a kickass accent "Put your f*cking weapon down!" and abs AND BUTT millions would die for. So why flash her tits? Her figure and poise alone is enough to drive many guys fantasizing about her for the next few days or so, so why flash? She may look amazingly attractive during scenes like these but hey, if the scene is irrelevant, don't put the damn scene in. Thats what i hate about hollywood movies nowadays. I'd say the if the movie had more focus, slightly less subplot, and NO desire whatsoever to end the movie in a shootout (even though Keira + 2 Carbines = Wa... *Drool*) it would have been a whole load better. The movie started well and ended in a cesspool of blood. Cesspool cos its meaningless. DISAPPOINTMENT. Good try though Keira, just keep your boobs covered for your fans that truly care about you. You're still my idol.




I miss Fuzzy. My folks bought a cake and a pork knuckle for her 1st Birthday. They ate the cake of course. But i bet Fuzzy was content just to have that knuckle. I love her so much i'll die if she doesn't recognise me next year when i get home. Everytime i see a dog here, i feel so happy... like touched by a saint or something. and some of the dogs here are really really so cute! my goodness reminds me totally of Fuzzy as a puppy. I only wish we'd taken more fotos of her.. but then we could never hold her still anyway.





Its hard having a long distance relationship. For every imaginable reason. Not that i'm about to give up or anything... You just wonder how much of each other's lives u're missing out on. a 12 hour time difference makes it a hell lot harder as well. Skype isn't perfect (for some reason i keep hearing Huishan's voice in loud echoes = unintelligible darling) and my fone is screwy. And the weekday work is evilly heavy. And i miss her hugs and kisses too. How?

ok its late enough for me to start working. for some reason i cant study or work till the wee hours. manageable, but i forsee burnout. and the rainy weather for the past week has worn me out too. i want a massage. i want dota. i want good grades. i want rest. i want discipline. i want my hugs. i want fuzzy. i want family. i want my darling.

i want to go to work.

PS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FRIENDS WITH RECENT BIRTHDAYS THAT I HAVEN'T ANNOUNCED. I've never announced any birthdays have i? Joanna, Longjin, Kailing, Khairil, Bren, Cheewei, Em, Lindsay and Meiyi.

And im angry cos im trying to put more fotos on this post but somehow its not working. PUNDEH.

come on i think kinfoong sounds more outrageous than harry box

Your Outrageous Name is:

Harry Box

Outrageous Name Generator

whos my daddy?

Your Daddy Is Mike Tyson

What You Call Him: Dada Why You Love Him: He's your sugar daddy

Who's Your Daddy?

What Your Sleeping Position Says

You are calm and rational. You are also giving and kind - a great friend. You are easy going and trusting. However, you are too sensible to fall for mind games.

What Does Your Sleeping Position Say About You?

Your Birthdate: June 19

Your birth on the 19th day of the month adds a tone of independence and extra energy to your life path. But at the same time, it poses a number of obstacles to overcome before you are able to be as independent as you would like. The number 1 energy suggests more executive ability and leadership qualities than your path may have indicated. A birthday on the 19th of any month gives greater will power and self-confidence, and very often a rather original approach. However, a somewhat self-centered approach to life that may be in conflict with some of the other influences in your life. This 1 energy may diminish your ability and desire to handle details, preferring instead to paint with a broad brush. You are sensitive, but your feeling stay somewhat repressed. You have a compelling manner that can be dominating in many situations. You do not tend to follow convention or take advice very well. Consequently, you tend to learn through experience; sometimes hard experiences. The 19/1 is a loner number and you may experience feelings of being alone even if you are married. You may take on a tendency to be nervous and angry.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Storm?

You scored as Storm. Storm is the seconday team leader of the X-Men. She has a peaceful personality but must be careful since her emotions control her powers. She loves gardening and is afaid of tight spaces. Powers: Control of the Weather Storm 80% Colossus 75% Gambit 75% Iceman 70% Jean Grey 70% Cyclops 65% Emma Frost 60% Beast 55% Nightcrawler 55% Wolverine 50% Rogue 45% Most Comprehensive X-Men Personality Quiz 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

going crazy

Your Brain is 60.00% Female, 40.00% Male

Your brain is a healthy mix of male and female You are both sensitive and savvy Rational and reasonable, you tend to keep level headed But you also tend to wear your heart on your sleeve

What Gender Is Your Brain?

see lah the longer i stay here the crazier i get. it seems that 30% of NYU guys are gay. or so everyone says. hmm... what's happening to me?

243am

243am. I hate how time flies by over the weekend, especially after how I meticulously planned my schedule to exclude Fridays from my days of active school attendance. I slog for 4 days and rest for 3. Well at least rest a little and finish my work. But then for the past 4 weeks that I’ve been here, little has changed. Its Monday morning again and I struggle with concepts and new things, only to discover the extra work that had conveniently hidden itself in the deep recesses of my brain, only to be rediscovered after 2am. I’m a mujahedin in my struggle to accomplish my duty as a student. A godlike student, if I have to state explicitly. Obviously I’m far from it, having none of the zhainess that people like Shiming and Kiats possess. Or maybe I’ve lost track of the things that are supposed to guide me on my way to becoming a good student again. I remember when I was young, I’d stay up late to do work. Even when my mom asked me to go to bed, I’d tell her “look what it says on the exercise book. Today’s homework should be completed today (in Chinese).” And now look what has happened. I am a far cry from the hardworking disciplined child that I had been. I feel disgusted with myself, thinking that time has passed as such and yet I have not made significant steps to improve my position and take care of myself here. Same thing as usual. Late nights, hot eyes, stiffly nose, tired body. I’ll die sooner or later if I keep going on like this. A 3 day weekend that accomplishes nothing… Just scraps here and there, and I end up finishing most of my work on Sunday night or Monday morning anyway. Damn myself if I have to go through this again. I gotta be stricter with myself if I even want to be zhai. I wish I had the discipline I hold dear. That one factor could just be the thing that decides my results here… in a place where 85 is merely a B grade. Do well and excel, that’s what I told myself. And if I don’t make it happen… I’d have wasted my time, my parents’ money and time, and made a fool of myself. I can’t live with mediocrity anymore cos that’s not what’s expected from me. I can’t live with not living up to who I could be. Once upon a time I could. But then everybody has to grow up, and so do I. No excuses. So what if I have a heavy schedule? I’m sure anyone with a heavy schedule in NYU will still be keeping up. Hell yeah I’m keeping up but my body’s gonna break down. Or my mind if I keep going like this. So strange isn’t it, ranting and raving on my blog considering I don’t do this often at all, but there’s always a first for everything. And the coming weekend better be the first that I finish most of my work by Friday. IT BETTER BE or somebody’s gonna get hurt real bad. Wish me luck for my tests. -End of 13 min rant.

btw i slept at 630 am.