A good friend of mine took this photo in
Still another close friend took the photo below while on a business trip to
Back to the vending bigamachine. You actually pay for your food via an ATM-like counter by the side. Now why don’t we have this in Singapore 
On the topic of education, one of my tutors on my crit panel suggested I read this book Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window written by Japanese television personality Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. The story is based on Kuroyanagi's real-life childhood experience at Tomoe Gakuen, an alternative elementary school founded by educator Sosaku Kobayashi.
After being expelled from public school, it is at Tomoe Gakuen that Kuroyanagi is allowed to achieve her fullest potential and given the freedom to explore her suroundings and express herself to her heart's content.
Many young students I come into contact with these days don't like school. To them, the notion of learning brings about images of teachers who are there to make their lives miserable. That is definitely not always the case as I know many teacher friends who go out of their way to make learning valuable for their students. The reality is that many of these students, mindsets don't change. And many of these same students continue to go through life without realising even a fraction of the potential that they have within them.
Tomorrow I am having a crab treat for my BTSS tuition students. It's my way of telling them, it's ok if you didn't pass your Math in the end. What's more important is that you tried your best. And I know the four of them did. I am proud of them. We'll try harder next year. So if you guys are reading this, from the bottom of my heart, no matter what results you got, "I still believe in you." :)
How much do you know about Autism? Not much I suppose. Neither did I until I decided to design a School for Autistic Students for my design thesis. I have been reading up some on this topic and the more I find out, the more I am convicted that the notion of a "special school" for autistic students is one that must be CHALLENGED very seriously.
The current notion that autistic people are "special" and hence need to be treated "specially" and have their own "special place" presupposes that anyone who is different should be segregated, and treated differently. We put them in "special schools", give them "special education" and treat them "specially" so that in many ways, we don't have to deal with them. Let the professionals handle them, we say. Put them in a school where they can learn at their own pace so that we too can learn at our own pace and not be bothered by them. While we are at it, let's make them feel so "special" that they will never forget how "special" they are.
Now hold on a minute. I am not saying that we deny their medical condition or pretend that they are the same as the rest of us and hence treat them indifferently. But perhaps as a community, in our enthusiasm (or lack of) to help them, we have decided that the best way to do that would be to contain them in specialised institutions who are trained to deal with them.
Hear me out. WHAT IF, we take it as our responsibility as a humane community, to learn how to live with them? WHAT IF, we learn how to go to school with them, to run in a race with them, to celebrate National Day, Teacher's Day and even Racial Harmony Day with them? WHAT IF, we could learn to appreciate how brilliant some of them could be at mathematics when we attend the same lessons as them? WHAT IF we still learn to help and encourage and make them part of our lives even though they have nothing to offer us in terms of brilliance?
Very often, it is easier to see someone different as inferior, troublesome or a problem. Sometimes, I think WE are the problem. We certainly can't change how they are. How about starting to change how WE are? Autism isn't the problem. Our inability to cope with it is. Let's all learn to do better.
I was out with 2 very good buddies for dinner at Orchard yesterday. It was a good time of catching up on each other's lives, ending off with the usual talk about GIRLFRIENDS. Not that I am attached already, but when you reach my age, the topic about whether you have found your partner yet will somehow spring out from every possible corner and grab you whether you expect it or not. For example, our dinner discussion was one that I considered pleasant and affirming cos we decided to talk about it and we actually were affirmed coming out of the conversation.
In other situations, things might not turn out quite the same way. Take for example my Grandfather's birthday 2 nights ago. (Some parts are fabricated. I get to use my imagination on my blog. Ha ha.)
Auntie: "Wah, big boy already ah! Now so handsome already ah! Wah girl (looking at her daughter...) See, kor kor so handsome now! Coooome. Call kor kor!
Me: "Ermm... didn't you just see me like one month ago?"
Auntie: "Ha ha ha. Oooh. Yah hor, but still handsome lah."
Me: "So, I am more handsome than one month ago ah? Wah not bad leh." (things are surprisingly going very positively...)
Auntie: "Ha ha ha. Yah! More handsome now. (But before you know it...) So... Got girlfriend already???"
Me: "Don't have lah. Soon lah soon lah. (Smile shyly...) So where am I sitting ah?"
Cousin: (whispering suspiciously to her brother) "Who is that ah? What is his name ah? Hee hee.."
Dad: "Wah! You mean you don't remember who I am ah?! HOW CAN??! Cannot like that ah. I am Uncle Vincent!
Cousin: "Ah! Yes! Yah hor yah hor."
Dad: "So, where are you schooling now?"
Cousin: (talks briefly about school)
Dad: (to me) "So what is her name ah? I can't remember also."
Me: (to my bro beside me) "Eh, what is her name ah? I know start with 'S' one."
Bro: "Eh... Cindy? (start with S lah!)... Sindy? Shirley? Sherry? Sharlene? Shardonnay? (Start with SSSSSSS Lah!)
Me: "I think Shirleen is it?"
Bro: "Oh yah oh yah. I think it is."
Me: "Eh, you try to test and call her?!"
Bro: (silence)
Me: (messages Cousin 2...) "Eh... ask you ah, Shaun's sister is Shirleen is it?"
Cousin 2: (messages back...)"Aiyo! YAH! You mean you don't know they are brother and sister ah????!"
Me: "...*#$&^&! ...No lah! I know that they are brother and sister! Just want to confirm her name lah."
Cousin 2: "Oooo. Yah. Her name is Shirlyn. Not the way you spelled it."
Me: (loudly so Dad and bro can hear...) "Shirlyn! So are you and your brother in the same school?"
Cousin 1 aka Shirlyn: "Huh???! No lah. Just now we say liao mah. I Bukit Batok, he Bukit View!" (my bro chips in...) "Yah! wah lau eh, never listen properly ah?? So Shirlyn what CCA are you in?"
All Of Us: "GIRLS' BRIGADE LAH!!!! Just now say so many times liao!!!!!!!"
Click on image to see more clearlyWe had a smashing time organising the Archi Mooncake Festival 2007! Thnks to Hann for agreeing to our crazy idea to pull it off in a week, and for all the help from everyone especially Wen Hui, Keng San, Kelly, Eric and the rest of you whom I don't remember your names but am sincerely grateful. It was definitely a night where my eyes were opened to the GREAT talents we have in archi and id. I was very presently surprised. Great job guys! Here are the photos.
Every man/boy/guy/male has got a favourite car. My just happens to be black, sleek, handsome and is able to reach 100km/h in 4.6 secs with a top speed of 306 km/h. Let me introduce you to the breath-taking Audi R8 (road car). It packs a high-revving 420 bhp eight-cylinder engine, which delivers 309 kW (420 bhp) of power output. Peak torque is 430 Newton-metres from 4.500 to 6,000 rpm. Nevermind if you didn't understand what all the meant. Basically, it is one powerful car that looks GORGEOUS!!! This car is a production road car based on the 2003 Audi Le Mans Quattro concept car. Its 'R8' tag is however, inherited from the smashing Audi R8 (race car), a five time Le Mans winner. So, let me introduce you to the car of my dreams...
Check out more photos here. By the way, what you see on top is actually a 3D model from the R8 website, a fantastic example of a great flash site.
As I was saying, this is a DREAM car. I will never want to own it. Firstly, in Singapore, the road tax will kill you. So will the petrol costs and insurance. And if I ever had that much money, I would rather put it to better use. However, it is certainly a fine example of great craftsmanship!
I remember what my pastor taught me, "Live simply, so that others might simply live." Do I want to get all emotionally tangled up with a car? Getting all worked up with someone scratched it or if some careless drive banged into it? Most definitely not, since I know can be so capable of doing so. I would probably end up driving it as a status symbol, feeling all important because of my expensive beautiful car. Is that so wrong, some of you might wonder... Well, if you really think you could settle for you being defined by your material possesions, be my guest.
But I thought I would let you in on something better. You being defined by this person called Jesus who knows you better than you even know yourself, whose definition of you will never change, and hence your worth in Him and to Him will never also. Can I live without the R8? Of course.
Can I live without Jesus? Of course. But why then would life be worth living?
So, the BIG house moving occurred and we are finally more settled into our new home along Marine Parade. I was personally surprised at the amount of stuff I moved compared to my brother. Let's take a look at my new room with boxes, compared with my brother's.
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My brother will tell you that I'm the collector type, like my mum. I choose to think that I keep intelligently for a day where the stuff might come in handy. (There are a few occasions that has happened.) Ha ha. Would you believe me if I told you I still keep my Sec school and JC econs and Geography notes? Hmmm...
Ever heard of para skiing, or para surfing?
It's a dread to move house. There is so much to pack, so many decisions of what to keep, what not to (in the end, I keep most and decide that I will only throw those that can't fit into my new room). Here's a picture of my room now....
My hurricane-runned-through room
My brother's room.
Boxes and boxes of books and more books!
I visited "The Art Of Cartier" Exhibition with a friend last Friday. (Cartier is the renowned French jeweler whose creations transcend jewellery into intricate pieces of art.) We happened to walk in after I remembered Hann reminding me to check out the Shigeru Ban pavilion and the new NSM extension designed by Mok Wei Wei opposite it at the re-opened National Museum of Singapore. I must say, the exhibition was literally breath-taking. For one, it is absolutely free. Yup, you don't have to pay anything to get in! Just be sure not to take anything out. All that glitter is not gold, but diamonds. And judging by the amount of diamonds in there, I bet there are invisible snipers aimed at everyone of us who go in (thought I saw a few red dots flying around).
Anyway, I wanted to say something about craftsmanship. What struck me about the exhibition was firstly the way the place was set up. Using ordinary bricks, each piece was stacked up in a diagonal interlocking manner that created an intricate backdrop for the jewels to be exhibited. The beauty of that was it was so intricately laid out, you kind of have the feeling that each brick was exquisitely placed there and belonged there. The same and more could be said about each jewellery. The fine attention to detail and the brilliantly creative ways the diamonds were laid out to form pieces of art to beholdm, spoke of a craftmanship that was par excellence.
I knew this could only come with a commitment of passion and dedication to years of practice and refinement. I was inspired. I thought about what kind of architect I wanted to be and I hope I can be one that reflects such skill and craftsmanship. Recently, I came across a few youtube performances of artistes whom I consider as craftsman of their own art. They are brilliant performers who constantly redefine creativity. Here they are.
A pity most of these songs tend to talk about wanting to have sex. Now, if there was an artiste who had such craftsmanship as these and wrote songs with healthier lyrics that still blew your mind, but in a less "I'm sexy you are sexy, let's get it on" way and a more "You are special, life's an adventure, live it to your fullest" kind of way, wouldn't that be just powerful?
As a Chrisitan, I am inspired to hone the craft and giftings that God has given me so that I can point more people to Him. The Bible tells us that all good gifts come from God. Isn't it only responsible then, that we make sure we live out these talents with a level of craftsmanship that reflects the genius of our master creator? Start today.
It's been terrible. First, I discover to my horror of horrors, that my Achi Year 3 Final Project digital files are missing from any of my digital stroage drives. That was one of my favourite projects and one which I put much effort into. I left my home this morning, instructing windows to do a search of all the drives for those precious files.
And when I thought that the worst had hit me, I came home and while trying to access my external harddisk, I see this message:- "ERROR. Drive is unreadable or corrupted.".............................................................
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What can I say.... All my photos are in there. Let me say that again, ALL MY PHOTOS I HAVE EVER TAKEN IN THE LAST 6 YEARS of my life are in there!!!!!! Together with many other important stuff! No more australia photos, Lijiang photos, Chongqing photos, Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania, Shanghai, Beijing, Haerbin, Hanzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai exchange, Hangzhou, Great Wall of China, Tribe meetings, Tribe outings, Tribe camps, G12 Conferences, Friends' Birthday, MAAN, React, NYF, etc etc etc etc etc. All the memories. Gone.
I am praying for a miracle. These are really important to me. I think I might not be able to sleep tonight. WHY?!!!!!!!!!!
I came across this cartoon while look through one of my friend's youtube favourites. I liked it straight away. It has everything I look for in a good show. Humor, cool effects and a good storyline! I started watching one and could not help searching for all the rest of the episodes trying to piece together the story until now! Ha ha... No wonder I have started to look like a panda recently. I think the animation teaches many good values that we can learn from - Learning to see the best in people, believing in the potential that one has (in God) and being like what God demonstrated for us in Nehemiah 9:17 - slow to anger and abounding in love.
Here's Part 1 of the latest episode of Avatar. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
There is so much to update, yet, I really feel very lazy to type leh. Ha ha. Here goes. Since the first round of the Young Preachers' Contest, I don't think i have said very much about my experience. Well, as you would have known, I did get in to the 2nd round via a wildcard entry. The 2nd round, I made sure I spent more time preparing and rehearsing. So, although I didn't finally make it to the finals, I enjoyed the preaching a lot more. I was more confident, more prepared, and definitely more convincing. Ha ha. The judges thought it was so much better than the last time round and liked a lot of what I did. Well, I realised the last time I felt really lousy after not getting in intially, was because I didn't think I gave my best. This time round, I did and knowing that made it a whole complete experience for me! Anyways, here are my 2 videos from the 2 rounds of preaching.
