People are the same everywhere.

It was hilarious.

I was just in one of my chemical engineering classes (polymer science and engineering, to be exact.) The lecturer was saying that for this module, it will be a self-study guided lecture style, so he expects us to go and read up on the subject matter ourselves, and gather back the week after to discuss the answers to some preset questions he had for us. So he gave us the list of books that we were likely to use, and the call numbers in the library, and ended the lecture early.

And JUST LIKE WHAT I WOULD EXPECT IN SINGAPORE, every single scheming struggling chemical engineer in the bunch made a beeline STRAIGHT to the library, barely after he finished his last sentence. I was lucky to be ahead of the pack, and secured myself a copy of one of the books. Some others weren't as lucky. I think the librarian was shocked at the sudden impulse input of chemical engineers popping in.

Score one for kiasu-ism! When it comes to being kiasu, SINGAPOREANS ROCK.

Aaaaaaand......

Glee!

A conversation in a car on a road, moving on.

S: Hey cool car. *cues red convertible to drive past*

X: Yeah, it's a Saab.

S: Then the sporty ones they make for old men are called the hum-Saab right?

*The silence of the lambs*

X: You know, they used to make a lot of those cars. They called it the Saab-Standard.

S: Yah man yah man. Then the replacement for that model is called the Saab-stitute right?

*The sound of people not laughing*

X:  You know the company makes boats too. They're called Saab-marines.

S: Then their trains must be called Saab-Ways.

*The sound of more people not laughing*

X: Did you know they have a range of cars for lawyers?

S: No, do tell.

X: Its called the Saab-poena.

S: *mmmmph* Have you heard about the one that they like to drive out to eat late at night? Its called the Saab-per.

------------------------------

(Note - This part is completely fiction)

X: You know why they're not so popular?

S: Why ar?

X: Because if they did, they would cause a Saab-prime crisis.

*End*

Hitler and ERP

Hilarious.

Let's do the math!

For those who don't know, a certain Mas Selamat Kastari, alleged leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group has escaped from a detention centre in Singapore.

Factors involved:
1. Number of suspects searched for = (sus)
2. Number of people searching = (cops)
3. Size of search area = (land)

Result value: Time taken =(time) (in days)

Some relations:
1. It is easier to search for a a large group than a small group, as a small group is easier to hide
2. The more people you have searching, the easier it is to search.
3. The larger the area to search, the more time it takes.

therefore, a simple governing equation can be taken as:

time ~~ land*sus/cops
stating all as first order relations,
time = k*land*sus/cops

Using a previous case, the 3 robbers who escaped on Pulau Tekong, we shall ascertain the constant.

Test values:
3 robbers
3 days to catch them
24.43km^2 land area of Pulau Tekong
700 people estimated to be searching

k = 700*3/(3*24.43)
= 28.65

Equation:
time = 28.65*land*sus/cops

For the case of Mas Selamat Kastari, we have:
1 suspect
704km^2 of land
1000 people estimated to be searching

time = 28.65*704.2*1/1000
= 20.18 days

Hrmmm. There we go. 20 days to look for one terrorist, assuming that all the borders prevail, an incorruptible police force, and 100% efficiency in searching. If any definite results are to be expected, many many more people are needed. (Figure may not be accurate as number of people searching for Mas Selamat Kastari is a complete, wild guess)

And all this when i should be doing my work or studying for my two term tests. Well done to me! woohoo

(Note - After being informed by my rather well-informed girlfriend, the number of people searching is actually 3000. Therefore a better guesstimate would be 7 days.)

The end of beatlemania

I think im finally sick of listening to the beatles. Maybe its because i drive too much nowadays. I think i should change the CD in my car. Im listening more to FM 92.4 nowadays. The music really soothes me. On the other hand im really starting to appreciate Iron Maiden, Dire Straits and Pink Floyd. I think "The Wall" is a masterpiece of rock opera. Maiden ropes in fantastic segues. Knopfler does an amazing duet with his voice and guitar. "blowing dixie double blue time." And Pink Floyd, well. Thats just another brick in the wall. Three of them. Does this post seem disorganised? I think so. But what do i care? We had a goodbye sendoff for the Jah earlier. It was more of a gathering of the fellowship. Really had a good time. Kenny's cooking, is once again, fantastic. The home-made lasagna was the bomb man. Although the layers were a little too thick. But pleasant nonetheless. Followed by shepherds pie, meatballs, brinjal with cheese, and the slightly too watery beef stew. The food is not exactly world class, but it was fantastic - what can i say? Made with Love. As usual with the guys we had some pre/post dinner entertainment. Here we're mauling bryan in my room.
And here we see the evolution of our dear kenny from the normal schoolboy to the monkey fish frog thingy to the current version.
I finally saw the hundred men clip. And as usual bryan became our punching bag. Keong nearly keonged out again. Tay was nearly wasted. My bro was in good form as he dished out the sexes on the beach, by far the most popular drink served tonight. The aroma of the alcohol recalled me to 0430 to 0630 yesterday morning, where i had the unparalleled experience of accompanying a drunk girlfriend. Really interesting. Its really funny to see drunk people sometimes. Although this time it hurt a bit. Reminded me of scenes from science fiction films like alien. Very involved night i had, last night. Right pissed off i was at some people. Names not to be included. Lets not go onto that before i get really pissed off. Anyway, went to JB to buy some short pants, really satisfied. Im wearing one of them now, fits like a glove. A butt glove so to speak. Its hard to find pants that fit an ass like me/mine. Anyway alvy came along and we had a great time. This is a picture i took when we were in City Square.Its really nice to see her happy. I started studying exactly 25 hours ago. Its a little late but well, better late then never. The feeling of impending doom has not lifted, but i swear to god im going to mitigate it as well as i can. Its not my nature to not struggle for dying causes. "I am pierre the fighter pilot! If i go down, i go down in flames!" Anyway the randomity of this post is caused by randomitis and a 3.30 cup of coffee long black at east coast mac while waiting for my dear to finish a meeting. I would hit my books later but i don't believe that violence is the answer. Anyway i was chatting with tien earlier today, and i decided i would crucify one of my lecturers. She's horrible, to say the least. Excerpts from the conversation that may go into survey: "we stand a higher chance of learning something from a brick than from your lectures". " you and your TA should swap because your TA teaches better than you do." "Your notes are like your lectures, random and disorganised." "I bet you had to offer your old, dry p**** to the dean to get your job." " by screwing the dean, you just screwed one entire batch." "The only thing that i learned from the lecture is that you cant teach for nuts." "How did you become a lecturer if the only thing you know how to do is read off slides?" Im wondering which i should put. Or maybe they're not sarcastic enough? Comments please. Man i love bluetooth.

Mastercard

Day in Malaysia - $150
Full tank of petrol - $90.92
Studying all night and worrying about girlfriend - 4 hours.
Time spent helping girlfriend vomit - 2 hours.
Knowing that girlfriend is safe and sound - priceless.

For many things in this life, we need time and money. For everything else, there's

Love.

Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young

Inside every adult lurks a graduation speaker dying to get out, some world-weary pundit eager to pontificate on life to young people who'd rather be Rollerblading. Most of us, alas, will never be invited to sow our words of wisdom among an audience of caps and gowns, but there's no reason we can't entertain ourselves by composing a Guide to Life for Graduates.

I encourage anyone over 26 to try this and thank you for indulging my attempt.

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97:

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

Mary Schmich, Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-970601sunscreen,0,4664776.column

Psychic Feedback

I think i just experienced some kind of psychic feedback.
I changed my msn tagline to:
"you cant make much money if you don't make sense."
and it suddenly shutdown on me.

I think its the combined power of 10 or more people looking at my tagline and groaning.

Imagine one day, the human race became telepathic and our minds operate like a organic MSN system.

I think i could shut down a few people like that.

Hrmmm. With great power comes great responsibility.

I think it would be fun to play around.

Sadly Hilarious

I walked out of the exam venue.

As i travelled back to my hall, i realised one thing - Everyone was comparing answers and getting them wrong.

It was damn funny, in a sad way.

A tribute to the worlds stupidest lizard.
Who thought that my printer was a good place to take a nap.