Turned 18 on 18 August (:

Yes, the prelims have started... and we're right in the middle of it.



My birthday happened to fall on the second day of prelims, when everyone had math and econs papers. Instead of waking up full of dread for what was to come that day, I woke up reading "happy birthdays" on my phone. Good start, I figured.

Then I got to school, and classmates were saying HB to me. I thought, hey, how did they know? but thanked them nontheless. There were gifts and cards from Claire Sheena and Janet Lydia LiLin Santi, thanks a lot girls ((: Pei Yan handed me this large red vanguard with lots of signatures and little notes written about how I'm 'lucky' to have my 18th birthday during the prelims. She actually took pains to mass SMS CO members and some other friends to gather and pen these down the day before. Amelia and Sheena and Claire deserve credit too for trying to get more ppl to fill up the 'card' (knowing that my network isn't very wide...). I had to lug all the stuff around the sports complex and void deck the whole day. After the 2 papers for the day, there was THE cake *speechless, Amelia's idea* and then KFC dinner with the usual void deck muggers which I didn't pay for....

My dad picked me up at 10pm, I couldn't take the train cos' I'll look like an idiot with too many things to carry and probably have ended up dropping stuff everywhere I walked. And so this was waiting for me at home...
No, no, the cake wasn't on fire, it's just some camera effects. haha. My family actually waited for me to come home.. and that was the second cake of the day.

I feel bad for all the precious mugging time lost by my dear schoolmates as they took time off to DO something for me, especially a certain few who went great lengths to make this special, for injecting some life and joy on a gloomy day where I believe the whole cohort had to sit for a paper or two. and for my family for waiting for me till what, nearly 11pm..? All these efforts are very very much appreciated, I don't know how else to thank the people who made that day a day to remember.


Meet the Rabbit and the Rat. People who have seen Pei Yan and I studying together would have seen these two too. Impossible to miss! Just for self-amusement, eighteen-year-olds need such toys too. It's our way of de-stressing, not playing with frisbees like what many choose to do..


Yes, I've been staying in school till ten daily...
With me at the void deck are the councilors (33rds), some other familiar faces (one of them being James Low's brother, yeah staying at 231 but we dont talk), some sconers, Amelia, and my bio classmates from 2SC3. I really thank God for the friends whom I mug with (Amelia Jane Dixin Ammar Tims Esther and sometimes JiaEn Rebecca Daryl(who doesnt stay late)) cos' having them around is like having a third family where we offer moral support to one another as we (TRY to) study through the night till the security guard chases the whole crowd away at 10pm. Definitely beats studying alone as I had planned to do, even if it meant I had to face other J2s I didn't know and watch them so comfortable and at ease with the company they have, only to realise I'm on my own. Well, that didn't happen cos' God provided my bio classmates (: What more can I say?


It's a blessing to be here in this college. It's a blessing to know that God supplies all our needs, even wants. But to be greedy? Clearly, that's not an option. (must. stop. slacking. and. FOCUS. and. read. my. bible. and. pray.)

General Issues

Culture

Globalisation has made our world more compact, more integrated and inter-dependent. It is now easier to transport people, as well as their goods and services without incurring large costs of travel (unless, of course, one is trying to be Christopher Columbus). This ultimately brings about a homogenous culture, where other cultures unique to the many societies will be lost. That which has been passed down by past generations, shriveled and forgotten, while English becomes the universal language. This is already happening, what with America exporting its culture in so many areas. Its influence is not only seen in the area of politics and economics, but also in societies as American products and media content becomes inceasingly available. The fate of each society's own culture is very much dependent on the people's attitude towards their roots. We can't stop foreigners from integrating into our society and introducing their cultures. It's just not feasible, especially when economies are in need of foreign talent and like Singapore, open its doors to the world.

Soon, many will have serious identity crises, being part of an inceasingly homogenised world, yet unable to find a sense of belonging, to a culture they can call their own.
ok i dont know what to say because i'm not thinking hard enough. and i'm sleepy.


Should torture be legalised in your country for the same purpose in the war against terrorism?

I cannot provide a balanced argument for this one.

For one, the war against terrorism has been a long-lasting one, dating back to 2001 after the 911 attack on the World Trade Centre in the US. Terrorism itself has claimed thousands of lives (no doubt easing the pressure on Earth's natural resources, at the same time bringing about massive damage to the affected country's economy, even in more extreme cases altering their demographic structure). Can terrorism ever be justified?

To have a war against terrorism means that more lives would be taken, including that of innocent Afghans which had no part to play in the murderous schemes of terrorists. The Bush Administration received its fair share of criticism. What I find ironic is this - a war against terrorism is one that is intended to eradicate terrorism (correct?), yet being a war, as the name suggests, widespread terror is placed on the citizens whose countries are targets of the war. Trying to live normally with foreign troops strutting around neither eases the tension nor introduces peace to the society in question.

Torturing does instill fear in would-be terrorists, many of whom are youths being trained by the Al Qaeda and other sadists who see no value in the human life. Does it really help, now, or we discussing about a cycle of violence which leads to yet more destruction?

Torture is an extreme, violating human rights as it gets carried out. Well, there really is no war in Singapore. No war on terrorism, war against rape, against the dominance of one political party throughout Singapore's 44 years of independence. Singapore already has a decent legal system which administers justice to those who walk down that path. It would be unnecessary to introduce torture. Unless there is another Mas Selamat or Bin Laden in our midst, torture should not be legalised in this country. once again i aint making sense but i'm just trying to get into the hang of writing essays, yes, few hours before the exam, you hear me