An evening post, of course.
A new e-mail arrives at my e-mailbox. Thinking it could be the latest concert to the SSO or an important message from Mr. Albert Tiu, I hurriedly open up my mailbox, only to find...of course an e-mail.
But this e-mail is different, for it calls me to an e-invitation to join Facebook. What a waste of e-muscles! But well, tons of e-mails are received and open every minute, and this was one of them.
Welcome to Facebook. I shall greet it with an open mind, thinking of its daily uses and how it can benefit my life. Upon second thought, maybe throwing sheep isn't really benefitting my life. Neither is putting my photo there and e-inviting e-people to e-join my Facebook!
So what does our dear Facebook have for us? I've apparently been living under a rock (from the Sunday Times article this morning, it states that 'if you're knowing about Facebook for the first time, you've probably been living under a rock."
Well, it's my first time knowing about Facebook, and I've done my research for this afternoon, and have come to the conclusion that I would be better off living under a rock, for Facebook, like Friendster and mySpace and yourSpace has been a waste of time!
Totally.
I mean, what can they do to help us in living life better? Do they save the hungry in Africa? Do they stop the Islamic radicals? Do they make the sick people be healthy and happy again?
We all know the answer.
It's no!
I admit that I do have an account for Friendster. Well, that's because I was stupid enough to get distracted. When I could have learnt how to do that quadratic functions question, I was busy setting up and updating my Friendster's account.
And really, I don't see any goal-achieving done by Friendster, or Facebook.
Fancy throwing sheep...and poking people.
Gosh, do it in real-life man.
Now let's hear what people on Facebook got to say on my anti-Facebook blogpost.
Post it on the tagboard!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
and I basically
The joy of organising!
If you had stepped into my house yesterday, and into the study room, you could have kicked yourself for not bringing your swimwear...you could have dived into the sea of worksheets, assignments, tests, rough paper, tons of manuscript paper, hole-punchers, staplers, manuscript books, lyric sheets, files, pencils, textbooks, scores, tissue paper (used and unused/new), bags...with that swimwear of youea.
I wanted to take a photo of the mess, but couldn't find the camera.
So what's my point? Get organised man...
At the start of the year my files were pretty neat...by May you could see small stacks of rough paper here and there, partly 'organised'. Come New York in June and I had already stuff all these worksheets - from Chinese to Literature - into drawers and other holes which you can stuff them into. So still it was 'neat'. (At least there weren't any puddles formed yet)
By July you could clearly see the pot-holes and really, it always appears every year. Actually it's on-going, but you know sometimes you do put in effort to tidy up a little.
By yesterday the entire study room was looking like 'shit' already, and I thought I might as have well put in some effort to tidy up.
And so I took 2 hours to tidy up, and well done, now you see a row of files, each for different topics. So we have RE, Social Studies, CLE, Math, Chinese, Literature, English, Physics, Chemistry, and another big stack for music-related stuff.
And then I realised, something else was really messy, and it was thy Math file.
Well, the Math file has already been due for checking about 2 months ago, only I have yet to give it to Mrs Tan for her to check. She's been bugging me since the duedate, and for the rest of the month, until all of us got back the files, except me, because there was nothing for her to return, for the file was still in my hands.
And I thought, of course I couldn't give it to her, it was still in a mess (and always had been). There weren't any dividers for the different topics, and I basically stuffed any new math worksheets coming my way.
There you have it, a tortured blue Math file (folder) with all the worksheets being stuff inside it. And the exterior really looked battered inside out, so I got it a change to a big silver file.
Voila! I managed to file everything inside the file.
Time? 10pm...and I started cleaning up at 7pm. Goes to show you how important organising is.
Moral of the first story: Organise.
There's no second story here, except while I was organising I was tracking the Arsenal-West Ham results. And Arsenal won! Yay...Arsenal forever.
If you can see the picture below the tagboard that would be our Beatles...the names below start from the left. I've been listening to them all day again. It's no wonder why Clement said I was born in the wrong century. And perhaps many others.
It's probably my up-bringing. Like having a dad who shares with you such music everyday, and also classical music which has extended to the 1920s and Gershwin have brought me to touch rock and roll at the surface. Upon contact the first song of the Beatles I ever heard was 'Help!', and then so on and so forth discovering the beautiful songs and lyrics of their pieces.
First thing in the morning when I wake up a Beatles song immediately goes into my head. And today's tune was 'Penny Lane', so I hummed it basically from morning till now. What will be for tomorrow?
'Yesterday?'
If you had stepped into my house yesterday, and into the study room, you could have kicked yourself for not bringing your swimwear...you could have dived into the sea of worksheets, assignments, tests, rough paper, tons of manuscript paper, hole-punchers, staplers, manuscript books, lyric sheets, files, pencils, textbooks, scores, tissue paper (used and unused/new), bags...with that swimwear of youea.
I wanted to take a photo of the mess, but couldn't find the camera.
So what's my point? Get organised man...
At the start of the year my files were pretty neat...by May you could see small stacks of rough paper here and there, partly 'organised'. Come New York in June and I had already stuff all these worksheets - from Chinese to Literature - into drawers and other holes which you can stuff them into. So still it was 'neat'. (At least there weren't any puddles formed yet)
By July you could clearly see the pot-holes and really, it always appears every year. Actually it's on-going, but you know sometimes you do put in effort to tidy up a little.
By yesterday the entire study room was looking like 'shit' already, and I thought I might as have well put in some effort to tidy up.
And so I took 2 hours to tidy up, and well done, now you see a row of files, each for different topics. So we have RE, Social Studies, CLE, Math, Chinese, Literature, English, Physics, Chemistry, and another big stack for music-related stuff.
And then I realised, something else was really messy, and it was thy Math file.
Well, the Math file has already been due for checking about 2 months ago, only I have yet to give it to Mrs Tan for her to check. She's been bugging me since the duedate, and for the rest of the month, until all of us got back the files, except me, because there was nothing for her to return, for the file was still in my hands.
And I thought, of course I couldn't give it to her, it was still in a mess (and always had been). There weren't any dividers for the different topics, and I basically stuffed any new math worksheets coming my way.
There you have it, a tortured blue Math file (folder) with all the worksheets being stuff inside it. And the exterior really looked battered inside out, so I got it a change to a big silver file.
Voila! I managed to file everything inside the file.
Time? 10pm...and I started cleaning up at 7pm. Goes to show you how important organising is.
Moral of the first story: Organise.
There's no second story here, except while I was organising I was tracking the Arsenal-West Ham results. And Arsenal won! Yay...Arsenal forever.
If you can see the picture below the tagboard that would be our Beatles...the names below start from the left. I've been listening to them all day again. It's no wonder why Clement said I was born in the wrong century. And perhaps many others.
It's probably my up-bringing. Like having a dad who shares with you such music everyday, and also classical music which has extended to the 1920s and Gershwin have brought me to touch rock and roll at the surface. Upon contact the first song of the Beatles I ever heard was 'Help!', and then so on and so forth discovering the beautiful songs and lyrics of their pieces.
First thing in the morning when I wake up a Beatles song immediately goes into my head. And today's tune was 'Penny Lane', so I hummed it basically from morning till now. What will be for tomorrow?
'Yesterday?'
Saturday, September 29, 2007
surrounding these protests
In the light of the current Myanmar pro-democratic protests, I started thinking once again how lucky I am to be living in Singapore (probably politics are the only things Rafflesians really do care about).
Sitting here in the comfort of my study room with the walkman playing "20 Golden Oldies Volume 1", I compare my comfort to the situation in Myanmar - what would happen if Singapore was controlled by a military junta? Lol in any case PM Lee Hsien Loong shall be our Brigadier-General...
The politics surrounding these protests have affected the ASEAN, the United States, the United Kingdom, big players China and India.
China and India have been mentioned in the media as close partners to Myanmar. So why is China keep quiet and not intefering much with the problems surrounding this once-colonial military regime?
Well if you have done your research, you would have realised that China has plans with Myanmar to build a pipe connecting both countries, and that this pipe would transport oil into Mainland China.
Here's the link for the news: http://asia.news.yahoo.com/070619/3/33l0w.html
Should China intefere any deeper or irritate Myanmar...there goes the oil and loss of money for our big player in Asia.
I shall elaborate on the protests should any of you not know about it - thanks to the military government raising the fuel prices, the already impoverished people of
Myanmar decide to protest on this high prices. Long story short, the monks join in the protests, and while listening on Saturday for the Arsenal game, I heard on BBC World News about the symbolic event of the monks visiting the detained Miss Aung San Suu Kyi.
"She placed her hands together in the Buddhist sign of respect for the monks and the people. Together with her were two of her attendants, and the civilians started crying and weeping."
Guess I'm probably one of the first people to hear of that. In any case, the incidents have snowballed into the huge demonstrations on Thursday.
Put it this way...imagine being so poor and probably hungry for most of the day, and having the fuel prices being RAISED. Holy crap, the military government should go to Kunokuniya to borrow a book on "Governing for Dummies".
Today's Strait Times have rather long articles on Myanmar's past and present, before the British colonisation, during the Japanese Occupation.
For a 15 year old like me, Myanmar has always been a country which really isn't placed importantly on a world map, and you only remember there's such a country called "Myanmar" when you see it on the papers. And that, is rare.
We cannot start criticizing governments - that action is immature. We can however, continue to live life and think that Myanmar is none of our business. The Strait Times had already stated the 4 ways in which this protest can end - the protesters stop protesting, which I think is rather impossible, considering the unanimous decision that it is 'now or never'.
The second way would be for the government to split up and democracy to take over in Myanmar. Today I could hardly contain my laughter and my shock at the human emotions: there was a General Election in 1994, and Miss Aung San Suu Kyi's democratic party won.
The military refused to hand over power after that! Gosh, the power of money. One really has to understand that the world is unfair, and money is the driving force for everyone.
As a ordinary citizen, my most optimistic hope for Myanmar would be for the citizens to settle into democracy with the least possible bloodshed for the civilians. And down with the restricting military government!
How indeed the media has influenced us. I'm a pro-democratic blogger in such a sense!
Sitting here in the comfort of my study room with the walkman playing "20 Golden Oldies Volume 1", I compare my comfort to the situation in Myanmar - what would happen if Singapore was controlled by a military junta? Lol in any case PM Lee Hsien Loong shall be our Brigadier-General...
The politics surrounding these protests have affected the ASEAN, the United States, the United Kingdom, big players China and India.
China and India have been mentioned in the media as close partners to Myanmar. So why is China keep quiet and not intefering much with the problems surrounding this once-colonial military regime?
Well if you have done your research, you would have realised that China has plans with Myanmar to build a pipe connecting both countries, and that this pipe would transport oil into Mainland China.
Here's the link for the news: http://asia.news.yahoo.com/070619/3/33l0w.html
Should China intefere any deeper or irritate Myanmar...there goes the oil and loss of money for our big player in Asia.
I shall elaborate on the protests should any of you not know about it - thanks to the military government raising the fuel prices, the already impoverished people of
Myanmar decide to protest on this high prices. Long story short, the monks join in the protests, and while listening on Saturday for the Arsenal game, I heard on BBC World News about the symbolic event of the monks visiting the detained Miss Aung San Suu Kyi.
"She placed her hands together in the Buddhist sign of respect for the monks and the people. Together with her were two of her attendants, and the civilians started crying and weeping."
Guess I'm probably one of the first people to hear of that. In any case, the incidents have snowballed into the huge demonstrations on Thursday.
Put it this way...imagine being so poor and probably hungry for most of the day, and having the fuel prices being RAISED. Holy crap, the military government should go to Kunokuniya to borrow a book on "Governing for Dummies".
Today's Strait Times have rather long articles on Myanmar's past and present, before the British colonisation, during the Japanese Occupation.
For a 15 year old like me, Myanmar has always been a country which really isn't placed importantly on a world map, and you only remember there's such a country called "Myanmar" when you see it on the papers. And that, is rare.
We cannot start criticizing governments - that action is immature. We can however, continue to live life and think that Myanmar is none of our business. The Strait Times had already stated the 4 ways in which this protest can end - the protesters stop protesting, which I think is rather impossible, considering the unanimous decision that it is 'now or never'.
The second way would be for the government to split up and democracy to take over in Myanmar. Today I could hardly contain my laughter and my shock at the human emotions: there was a General Election in 1994, and Miss Aung San Suu Kyi's democratic party won.
The military refused to hand over power after that! Gosh, the power of money. One really has to understand that the world is unfair, and money is the driving force for everyone.
As a ordinary citizen, my most optimistic hope for Myanmar would be for the citizens to settle into democracy with the least possible bloodshed for the civilians. And down with the restricting military government!
How indeed the media has influenced us. I'm a pro-democratic blogger in such a sense!
Friday, September 28, 2007
after a while
I got 19.5/30 for my Math test! What a success considering I'm so busy. -.-
We didn't manage to go for auditions today because Adriel said there will be audtions after the EOY so we will most likely be going for that one.
I'm working with Bryan for National Day RE project next year! Thought that might be something good to note about. We're hoping to recruit somemore people. Probably Benjamin Low, considering he's from choir.
Starting to transcribe the latest song for three voices, one guitar and one piano already...thought of it during nap.
A good quote from Shanghai..."You know what makes a good nap? After napping you feel even more tired. (YAWN)!"
My computer's lagging suddenly. damn it. get's irritating after a while. It's like, typing one whole sentence and it takes 10 seconds to appear. Irritating...
We didn't manage to go for auditions today because Adriel said there will be audtions after the EOY so we will most likely be going for that one.
I'm working with Bryan for National Day RE project next year! Thought that might be something good to note about. We're hoping to recruit somemore people. Probably Benjamin Low, considering he's from choir.
Starting to transcribe the latest song for three voices, one guitar and one piano already...thought of it during nap.
A good quote from Shanghai..."You know what makes a good nap? After napping you feel even more tired. (YAWN)!"
My computer's lagging suddenly. damn it. get's irritating after a while. It's like, typing one whole sentence and it takes 10 seconds to appear. Irritating...
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
I have nothing much to blog about today, except we rehearsed with Nabil and Jiawei and Adriel some of the songs. Cool huh?
Cool...
There wasn't really much except going to the studio and I sang one of the songs in my project file with Benjamin (Low) on piano. Wanted to get him to sing but he refused to because he couldn't learn it so fast (blame it on me).
Some people are born cultured.
Some people are born...simply wild.
Some people are born to know the human emotions better than others.
Some people are born to be in the picture.
Some people are born to be the viewer.
Some people are born to be the frame.
Some people are born to be the artist.
Some people are born to vandalise - they vandalise the picture to make it look better, and make it look worse!
Some people are born to dictate regimes.
Some people are born to lead the country into freedom, peace, love.
Some people are born to hate.
All people are born to love.
Cool...
There wasn't really much except going to the studio and I sang one of the songs in my project file with Benjamin (Low) on piano. Wanted to get him to sing but he refused to because he couldn't learn it so fast (blame it on me).
Some people are born cultured.
Some people are born...simply wild.
Some people are born to know the human emotions better than others.
Some people are born to be in the picture.
Some people are born to be the viewer.
Some people are born to be the frame.
Some people are born to be the artist.
Some people are born to vandalise - they vandalise the picture to make it look better, and make it look worse!
Some people are born to dictate regimes.
Some people are born to lead the country into freedom, peace, love.
Some people are born to hate.
All people are born to love.
but we skipped
At the rate we're producing songs, we're going to finish in 2 weeks. Or maybe a week and a half. Anyway it's really fun to create music with friends. After rehearsal Bryan and I went to RJC composing room/practice room 4 and we sang my newest and uncompleted song, "We'll be strong", but we skipped "We're in love again", cos I played it already -.-
Then recess Adriel came and played the cello part, and dang some people really can improvise very well, and there he did the cello part for "We'll be strong". Half an hour later at 1100h Ben Lee came into the Design Centre and took out his violin, for I invited him to play with the band the night before. And so we went through the pieces, and I showed him a little bit of my manuscript book, and off he went. THen I proceeded to continue my newest work.
It's so damn fun to be a songwriter. Just churn things everyday. Then you adjust the mugging times around your composing. :)
___________________________________________________________
And here, is a little excerpt from Benjamin Yap's blog.
So anyway, today was some prefect thing during assembly. And lo and behold... i ask another question to boggle the minds of everyone in my immediate vicinity and caused norman and andrew to debate over it for about 30 minutes.
What is the difference between a prefect and a normal student? I can say nothing. besides booking everyone for the smallest things. What does a prefect have that a normal student doesnt? Black shoes, shiny new badge. That's all. I mean really, you don't have to be a prefect to do those things that prefects do. I think, it's the title. It just elevates you to think you have more power. Where you really dont.
One awesome question to ask prefects: Would you do what you promised if you did not become a prefect?
Possible answers: No. Why? because being a prefect gives me a position to speak and therefore voice my opinions, yadayadayada.
Lies. What is stopping a normal student from voicing his opinion? If only prefects have the right to do so, RI is an extremely elitist school. And if these prefects who are our leaders, and many of them candidates to lead the country, will they not shift Singapore closer and closer to becoming an elitist society?
I can say that a normal student CAN do more than a prefect. His tools? Passion and a genuine desire to improve the school in any way. Let's see. Recently, 3L has been repeatedly voicing our opinions on DMP. Straight to the form teacher. And many prefects are saying that they will help us talk to teachers and negotiate. yet, here we are, negotiating, arguing, without the assistance of prefects. sure, the message isn't getting across, but at least we genuinely want this changes.
Alright, i will now contradict myself. Prefects have something. Motivation, the obligation to do something, just because they are a prefect. But really, do we want people to help us because they think they have to? Or because they want to? I'm not saying there aren't any prefects with passion/whatever. I'm saying, they don't have to be a prefect to do it. Also, prefects have one more thing going for them. Title, again. it's all about the black shoes. It gives them confidence that they will be listened to. But then, once again, i reiterate, you can have that confidence without being a prefect.
So really, is the prefectorial board nothing but enforcers of discipline? Sure, they organise stuff. Once again, you don't have to be a prefect to do that. The RIPB is there so that there are people who provide manpower to do these things, because, frankly, i don't think the teachers believe anyone will willingly step up to organise things. And frankly, no one really cares sometimes. Maybe the prefects are just people who are being whipped by responsibility and obligation to do these things.
Let us look at some cliche campaigns from the nominees.
You can come to me to talk about your problems! No thank you, i'd rather go to someone i know.
i'll fix ____ problem! And how does that warrant my vote? If i really cared about ___ problem, i would go about fixing it myself.
I have passion for the school and want to rekindle the rafflesian spirit! How does being a prefect help you then?
So, if we really think about it, maybe this whole prefect business is like some kind of cheap labour for the school. People who are responsible to do these things, merely because they're in it, not because they want to do it. If Rafflesians require such motivation to do anything for the school, i don't really think the Rafflesian spirit exists in any form at all.
_________________________________________________
There you have it. I don't really agree with the last sentence, and I do believe the Rafflesian Spirit exists.
Then recess Adriel came and played the cello part, and dang some people really can improvise very well, and there he did the cello part for "We'll be strong". Half an hour later at 1100h Ben Lee came into the Design Centre and took out his violin, for I invited him to play with the band the night before. And so we went through the pieces, and I showed him a little bit of my manuscript book, and off he went. THen I proceeded to continue my newest work.
It's so damn fun to be a songwriter. Just churn things everyday. Then you adjust the mugging times around your composing. :)
___________________________________________________________
And here, is a little excerpt from Benjamin Yap's blog.
So anyway, today was some prefect thing during assembly. And lo and behold... i ask another question to boggle the minds of everyone in my immediate vicinity and caused norman and andrew to debate over it for about 30 minutes.
What is the difference between a prefect and a normal student? I can say nothing. besides booking everyone for the smallest things. What does a prefect have that a normal student doesnt? Black shoes, shiny new badge. That's all. I mean really, you don't have to be a prefect to do those things that prefects do. I think, it's the title. It just elevates you to think you have more power. Where you really dont.
One awesome question to ask prefects: Would you do what you promised if you did not become a prefect?
Possible answers: No. Why? because being a prefect gives me a position to speak and therefore voice my opinions, yadayadayada.
Lies. What is stopping a normal student from voicing his opinion? If only prefects have the right to do so, RI is an extremely elitist school. And if these prefects who are our leaders, and many of them candidates to lead the country, will they not shift Singapore closer and closer to becoming an elitist society?
I can say that a normal student CAN do more than a prefect. His tools? Passion and a genuine desire to improve the school in any way. Let's see. Recently, 3L has been repeatedly voicing our opinions on DMP. Straight to the form teacher. And many prefects are saying that they will help us talk to teachers and negotiate. yet, here we are, negotiating, arguing, without the assistance of prefects. sure, the message isn't getting across, but at least we genuinely want this changes.
Alright, i will now contradict myself. Prefects have something. Motivation, the obligation to do something, just because they are a prefect. But really, do we want people to help us because they think they have to? Or because they want to? I'm not saying there aren't any prefects with passion/whatever. I'm saying, they don't have to be a prefect to do it. Also, prefects have one more thing going for them. Title, again. it's all about the black shoes. It gives them confidence that they will be listened to. But then, once again, i reiterate, you can have that confidence without being a prefect.
So really, is the prefectorial board nothing but enforcers of discipline? Sure, they organise stuff. Once again, you don't have to be a prefect to do that. The RIPB is there so that there are people who provide manpower to do these things, because, frankly, i don't think the teachers believe anyone will willingly step up to organise things. And frankly, no one really cares sometimes. Maybe the prefects are just people who are being whipped by responsibility and obligation to do these things.
Let us look at some cliche campaigns from the nominees.
You can come to me to talk about your problems! No thank you, i'd rather go to someone i know.
i'll fix ____ problem! And how does that warrant my vote? If i really cared about ___ problem, i would go about fixing it myself.
I have passion for the school and want to rekindle the rafflesian spirit! How does being a prefect help you then?
So, if we really think about it, maybe this whole prefect business is like some kind of cheap labour for the school. People who are responsible to do these things, merely because they're in it, not because they want to do it. If Rafflesians require such motivation to do anything for the school, i don't really think the Rafflesian spirit exists in any form at all.
_________________________________________________
There you have it. I don't really agree with the last sentence, and I do believe the Rafflesian Spirit exists.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
The Existence of the RIPB
We had the prefectorial candidates forum. And so being a forum the candidates expressed their wish, basically, to be a prefect. I'm simplifying things to the basics now, since the reasons they were there was to convince us to vote for them.
Now we were led to the questions-and-answers session, before Benjamin Yap turned to me while I was playing with chalk (yes, the white material your parents used in school). Then he said, "What's the difference between a normal student and a prefect?"
So while the candidates were busy answering the questions, I pondered his question, and I said, "They have the ability to keep discipline?"
"That's booking. Anything else?"
Questioning the Existence of the RIPB
__________________________________________________________
So I really did my best to find whether they had any difference from normal students. They organised events? Wait. They had student councils to handle these. And who was part of the student councils? Normal students.
And who did National Day? RE student group.
And the inter-class? CEC council.
And I haven't come into the problem of the Prefectorial Board's only purpose as felt by the general voice of the Rafflesian Population - the existence of it would be to book people.
In nicer terms, let's all call it "maintaining discipline".
'Maintaining discipline' in Raffles would be to book people, and accumulating 6 demerits points for 6 bookings would result in detention.
That's fine with me, seriously. I mean, if it does help in maintaining discipline - by the way, there are still people coming in school late every single day, eating outside the canteen, sporting long hair. And right, I only know of this three bookable offences. If there are others, I'm a good student and only have been booked for this 3 offences over my three years in Raffles.
So wait, the RIPB exists just to curb these 3 sins? Or 5 sins? 6?
No, they also exist to organise Rafflesian Spotlight, and the likes? Yes.
Now, let's move on to the other aspects - what if RIPB didn't exist.
Well, we can all still survive, albeit with 'lesser discipline' then before. Late arrivals - wait that can be detected by the teachers. Those not on the attendance list are considered late. That isn't hard work, considering how our CEC aids the teachers. Mrs Tan just asks, "Who isn't here?" during morning assembly, and whoever is not in the line would be marked absent. And if he comes later, he's of course, late!
Forget about writing reasons - how ever good the reason would be, whether you're involved in a car crash and couldn't get on time, you've got your demerit point and would be later sent for detention upon being involved in 6 car crashes.
So there. But wait, that is unfair! What happens if you're sick? States on the Raffles Handbook that if you're sick, you should call the General Office and inform them you're late. They will inform the teachers of that class. Let's say maybe about 10 students a day. Not tiring, just call in, copy the name class, and send to the teacher.
You will then be marked absent for the day, and no demerit points for you. And if you want to play truant, you can't because whether the RIPB is in existance or not you still have to go to school. Fail to produce an MC, you are reported to the discipline master or the level head.
Any mention of RIPB in my process of being late? No. If you come later that day, your responsibility to inform the form teacher. Any difference should Matthias the Prefect or Kristian the Prefect were there?
No.
Let's now move on to Hair Check. So Kristian goes down the entire line, as with all prefects from 1A to 4T. The prefects move down the line. Along with the CEC. The prefects will then single out students with hair that is too long. CEC would then do the attendance.
Wait, so why can't Ben Low move down the line, spot out the hair-failers, send them to the clock tower, and check the missing people? Is he in any case, more supceptible to bribery compared to the prefects? If he is, why is he part of the CEC then? Is he, in any case, have a psychomotor disablity to spot the hair-failers and the absentees in less then 2 minutes? It's a class of less than 30. Just sweep through twice and you're done - efficient.
Any void so far left by the prefects' absense? No.
Eating outside the canteen.
Now let's say from tomorrow we were allowed to eat outside the canteen.
We would have insects everywhere, ants, cockroaches, and the like. And I totally despise people who argue that it's the cleaner's job to clean up after all. We would all come to the consensus that we would not be able to study with rats scurrying around 3L, or the design centre.
The CEC can't do anything - they are based in class only and they can't go around just looking for people who eat outside the canteen.
In fact, no one is deployed just for a single purpose - to check people from eating outside the canteen.
And that, readers, definitely includes the RIPB, for RIPB consists of students who need a life, who need lesser stress, and more time for themselves.
No, I'm not saying that members of the RIPB do not have a life. Among those 70 people, how many of them truly enjoy their posts? Ok. Prefects who are reading this blog, I'm not psychic, and I cannot think what you are thinking.
You may enjoy the job, but after reading my points and feeling no need for you to be present in hair check and late-coming, are you going to exist for the sole purpose of looking for a piece of bread outside of our canteen? And for goodness, what can be eaten during recess outside of the canteen?
Bread? Biscuits? The management has indeed produce a good solution to this problem already - go to the 1st floor to eat your sandwich.
And why don't you see many people doing that? Probably because of the inaccessibility to the lifts. But, you see, it all fits perfectly - allow acess of the lifts during the official break periods! No teachers would be using the lifts then - they would by then, be in the canteen or in the comfort of the staffrooms.
Trust me, teachers, you would still be able to use the lifts. Should there be overloading, off the students go. And for goodness, students know their limits. We are not stupid enough to enter a lift with teachers inside.
As to the rest, we have to base on our own principles. Show others what it means to be a Rafflesian. After all, we cannot always depend on prefects to make us Rafflesian.
We cannot depend on them to keep ourselves neat and in-check.
We cannot depend on them to come on time everyday.
At the end of the day, we have still have to depend on ourselves. I believe fullheartedly that you can survive a day without mentioning RIPB.
And oh yes, about playing soccer in uniform. We stopped playing when Ms. Martina Ong saw us and stopped us from continuing. How many teachers do not pass the Astroturf frequently? Or even the field? Or the basketball court?
And trust me guys, playing with school uniform and sweating like hell isn't going to work. If you can't resists (which happens most of the time), borrow a PE kit from your friend.
Personally, I do not think you want to look transparent with sweat when you go to J8 after your soccer match - looking presentable is totally based on your ownself. And by the way, bring a bottle of deodorant always. I believe that's the best you can do to keep yourself, presentable.
Let's not burden our fellow friends and transform them into policemen. Remember when you wanted Shanzhi to play soccer with you all, but are not able to because he's a prefect, and he can't play with his school uniform? Of course he can't play - you will get him all sweaty and transparent - his responsbility gets him to bring his own PE kit to change into. And what gets him the responsbility? It's the Rafflesian Spirit - willing to keep our uniforms clean, and be proud of ourselves.
It's no wonder we don't have the Pasir Ris Secondary School Spirit - the thinker, leader, pioneer is inside all of us - we don't need any policemen to keep our actions in check.
Lastly, to all Prefect Nominees. Be proud of who you are - the name Rafflesian is already enough. As a Rafflesian, you're a Thinker, Leader, and Pioneer. Do you have to be a prefect to be a thinker, a leader, a pioneer?
To Karthik - do you need to be a prefect to call for the allowance for students in lifts during official break hours and after school?
Do you need to be a prefect to organise the Raffles Sport Colosseum? No. Just ask for permission from the school adminstration and off you go, organise.
Thus I conclude this blogpost questioning the existence of
the RIPB, and emphasizing the importance of the CEC, and of course,
the Rafflesian Community.
Now we were led to the questions-and-answers session, before Benjamin Yap turned to me while I was playing with chalk (yes, the white material your parents used in school). Then he said, "What's the difference between a normal student and a prefect?"
So while the candidates were busy answering the questions, I pondered his question, and I said, "They have the ability to keep discipline?"
"That's booking. Anything else?"
Questioning the Existence of the RIPB
__________________________________________________________
So I really did my best to find whether they had any difference from normal students. They organised events? Wait. They had student councils to handle these. And who was part of the student councils? Normal students.
And who did National Day? RE student group.
And the inter-class? CEC council.
And I haven't come into the problem of the Prefectorial Board's only purpose as felt by the general voice of the Rafflesian Population - the existence of it would be to book people.
In nicer terms, let's all call it "maintaining discipline".
'Maintaining discipline' in Raffles would be to book people, and accumulating 6 demerits points for 6 bookings would result in detention.
That's fine with me, seriously. I mean, if it does help in maintaining discipline - by the way, there are still people coming in school late every single day, eating outside the canteen, sporting long hair. And right, I only know of this three bookable offences. If there are others, I'm a good student and only have been booked for this 3 offences over my three years in Raffles.
So wait, the RIPB exists just to curb these 3 sins? Or 5 sins? 6?
No, they also exist to organise Rafflesian Spotlight, and the likes? Yes.
Now, let's move on to the other aspects - what if RIPB didn't exist.
Well, we can all still survive, albeit with 'lesser discipline' then before. Late arrivals - wait that can be detected by the teachers. Those not on the attendance list are considered late. That isn't hard work, considering how our CEC aids the teachers. Mrs Tan just asks, "Who isn't here?" during morning assembly, and whoever is not in the line would be marked absent. And if he comes later, he's of course, late!
Forget about writing reasons - how ever good the reason would be, whether you're involved in a car crash and couldn't get on time, you've got your demerit point and would be later sent for detention upon being involved in 6 car crashes.
So there. But wait, that is unfair! What happens if you're sick? States on the Raffles Handbook that if you're sick, you should call the General Office and inform them you're late. They will inform the teachers of that class. Let's say maybe about 10 students a day. Not tiring, just call in, copy the name class, and send to the teacher.
You will then be marked absent for the day, and no demerit points for you. And if you want to play truant, you can't because whether the RIPB is in existance or not you still have to go to school. Fail to produce an MC, you are reported to the discipline master or the level head.
Any mention of RIPB in my process of being late? No. If you come later that day, your responsibility to inform the form teacher. Any difference should Matthias the Prefect or Kristian the Prefect were there?
No.
Let's now move on to Hair Check. So Kristian goes down the entire line, as with all prefects from 1A to 4T. The prefects move down the line. Along with the CEC. The prefects will then single out students with hair that is too long. CEC would then do the attendance.
Wait, so why can't Ben Low move down the line, spot out the hair-failers, send them to the clock tower, and check the missing people? Is he in any case, more supceptible to bribery compared to the prefects? If he is, why is he part of the CEC then? Is he, in any case, have a psychomotor disablity to spot the hair-failers and the absentees in less then 2 minutes? It's a class of less than 30. Just sweep through twice and you're done - efficient.
Any void so far left by the prefects' absense? No.
Eating outside the canteen.
Now let's say from tomorrow we were allowed to eat outside the canteen.
We would have insects everywhere, ants, cockroaches, and the like. And I totally despise people who argue that it's the cleaner's job to clean up after all. We would all come to the consensus that we would not be able to study with rats scurrying around 3L, or the design centre.
The CEC can't do anything - they are based in class only and they can't go around just looking for people who eat outside the canteen.
In fact, no one is deployed just for a single purpose - to check people from eating outside the canteen.
And that, readers, definitely includes the RIPB, for RIPB consists of students who need a life, who need lesser stress, and more time for themselves.
No, I'm not saying that members of the RIPB do not have a life. Among those 70 people, how many of them truly enjoy their posts? Ok. Prefects who are reading this blog, I'm not psychic, and I cannot think what you are thinking.
You may enjoy the job, but after reading my points and feeling no need for you to be present in hair check and late-coming, are you going to exist for the sole purpose of looking for a piece of bread outside of our canteen? And for goodness, what can be eaten during recess outside of the canteen?
Bread? Biscuits? The management has indeed produce a good solution to this problem already - go to the 1st floor to eat your sandwich.
And why don't you see many people doing that? Probably because of the inaccessibility to the lifts. But, you see, it all fits perfectly - allow acess of the lifts during the official break periods! No teachers would be using the lifts then - they would by then, be in the canteen or in the comfort of the staffrooms.
Trust me, teachers, you would still be able to use the lifts. Should there be overloading, off the students go. And for goodness, students know their limits. We are not stupid enough to enter a lift with teachers inside.
As to the rest, we have to base on our own principles. Show others what it means to be a Rafflesian. After all, we cannot always depend on prefects to make us Rafflesian.
We cannot depend on them to keep ourselves neat and in-check.
We cannot depend on them to come on time everyday.
At the end of the day, we have still have to depend on ourselves. I believe fullheartedly that you can survive a day without mentioning RIPB.
And oh yes, about playing soccer in uniform. We stopped playing when Ms. Martina Ong saw us and stopped us from continuing. How many teachers do not pass the Astroturf frequently? Or even the field? Or the basketball court?
And trust me guys, playing with school uniform and sweating like hell isn't going to work. If you can't resists (which happens most of the time), borrow a PE kit from your friend.
Personally, I do not think you want to look transparent with sweat when you go to J8 after your soccer match - looking presentable is totally based on your ownself. And by the way, bring a bottle of deodorant always. I believe that's the best you can do to keep yourself, presentable.
Let's not burden our fellow friends and transform them into policemen. Remember when you wanted Shanzhi to play soccer with you all, but are not able to because he's a prefect, and he can't play with his school uniform? Of course he can't play - you will get him all sweaty and transparent - his responsbility gets him to bring his own PE kit to change into. And what gets him the responsbility? It's the Rafflesian Spirit - willing to keep our uniforms clean, and be proud of ourselves.
It's no wonder we don't have the Pasir Ris Secondary School Spirit - the thinker, leader, pioneer is inside all of us - we don't need any policemen to keep our actions in check.
Lastly, to all Prefect Nominees. Be proud of who you are - the name Rafflesian is already enough. As a Rafflesian, you're a Thinker, Leader, and Pioneer. Do you have to be a prefect to be a thinker, a leader, a pioneer?
To Karthik - do you need to be a prefect to call for the allowance for students in lifts during official break hours and after school?
Do you need to be a prefect to organise the Raffles Sport Colosseum? No. Just ask for permission from the school adminstration and off you go, organise.
Thus I conclude this blogpost questioning the existence of
the RIPB, and emphasizing the importance of the CEC, and of course,
the Rafflesian Community.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
and the building right in front of me
I stepped out of YST entrance yesterday.
And the building right in front of me, slapped on my face - "NUS MUSEUM"
Then I started laughing like, really mad!
Today during uni tutorial Dr. Edwards mentioned about this ballet which showed really really random stuff. Like a man acting gentleman and giving a rose to a female and kissing her, before taking out a knife and cutting her eye.
And of course, two priests in a living room dragging a grand piano with a dead donkey on it!
I mean, how RANDOM can that be.
Check out on youtube, "Ballet Mechanique", and you know what I mean.
And the building right in front of me, slapped on my face - "NUS MUSEUM"
Then I started laughing like, really mad!
Today during uni tutorial Dr. Edwards mentioned about this ballet which showed really really random stuff. Like a man acting gentleman and giving a rose to a female and kissing her, before taking out a knife and cutting her eye.
And of course, two priests in a living room dragging a grand piano with a dead donkey on it!
I mean, how RANDOM can that be.
Check out on youtube, "Ballet Mechanique", and you know what I mean.
Friday, September 21, 2007
This 4 days haitus has brought me a successful concert and a song!
Ok for those who don't know yet I performed a few days back (Tuesday) at Yong Siew Toh Consevatory Concert Hall, but I only knew Fiona and Edwyna came. Any other RI people?
For me I thought it was one of my best concerts I've ever played it, or probably the best. Maybe. I just did my best and I thought I played my best. So the hard work did pay off. After the concert we went to have pizzas and curry puffs and desserts and drinks, lots and lots of photographs and laughter, and there you have it. I left at about 10.30pm, though the concert ended at 9.15 I think. Time does pass quickly when you're happy.
On Wednesday I decided to start proper on the Rafflesian Spotlight song. So I basically thought of the melody while I was showering again (as per usual), and then got out in towel to write our first two stanzas. Called up Adriel to say we have our first two stanzas, then ate my dinner.
The next morning I showed it to him, without no chords and nothing, only me to sing it for him. He asked me to continue, and then I finished sorting out chords during external MEP DMP, then performed it for the instructors, instructors said they loved the verses and the lyrics, just need to show out the chorus more. And the pre-chorus wasn't clear, so yep, went home and finished everything. Took about half hour.
The next morning I cleaned up my song in the car, 5 minutes. Met Adriel at Junior Block Seminar Room 4, played it to him, we sang and recorded it.
6 hours later played it for Chenghan, he said it was draggy but he said it was nice, and he recorded it again, this time video.
Impromptu-ed a song for Kuangnan in support for MaoZeDong, and david, kuangnan, chenghan, adriel and I all had a good time laughing like shit and singing.
And then Adriel said the song I wrote was dedicated to Jiale and David, but haiz, of course, after all I've been saying, it definitely sounds like a love song, and yes it is!
Shall record it professionally first before I attempt to put it out here. On Youtube, I think.
I'm currently copying to a clean manuscript my sketchcopy of "Tango", a piece composed by me as a assignment for tomorrow's class. And when I mean sketch, really sketch.
It's damn dirty.
Ok for those who don't know yet I performed a few days back (Tuesday) at Yong Siew Toh Consevatory Concert Hall, but I only knew Fiona and Edwyna came. Any other RI people?
For me I thought it was one of my best concerts I've ever played it, or probably the best. Maybe. I just did my best and I thought I played my best. So the hard work did pay off. After the concert we went to have pizzas and curry puffs and desserts and drinks, lots and lots of photographs and laughter, and there you have it. I left at about 10.30pm, though the concert ended at 9.15 I think. Time does pass quickly when you're happy.
On Wednesday I decided to start proper on the Rafflesian Spotlight song. So I basically thought of the melody while I was showering again (as per usual), and then got out in towel to write our first two stanzas. Called up Adriel to say we have our first two stanzas, then ate my dinner.
The next morning I showed it to him, without no chords and nothing, only me to sing it for him. He asked me to continue, and then I finished sorting out chords during external MEP DMP, then performed it for the instructors, instructors said they loved the verses and the lyrics, just need to show out the chorus more. And the pre-chorus wasn't clear, so yep, went home and finished everything. Took about half hour.
The next morning I cleaned up my song in the car, 5 minutes. Met Adriel at Junior Block Seminar Room 4, played it to him, we sang and recorded it.
6 hours later played it for Chenghan, he said it was draggy but he said it was nice, and he recorded it again, this time video.
Impromptu-ed a song for Kuangnan in support for MaoZeDong, and david, kuangnan, chenghan, adriel and I all had a good time laughing like shit and singing.
And then Adriel said the song I wrote was dedicated to Jiale and David, but haiz, of course, after all I've been saying, it definitely sounds like a love song, and yes it is!
Shall record it professionally first before I attempt to put it out here. On Youtube, I think.
I'm currently copying to a clean manuscript my sketchcopy of "Tango", a piece composed by me as a assignment for tomorrow's class. And when I mean sketch, really sketch.
It's damn dirty.
Monday, September 17, 2007
concert tomorrow free admission 7.30 YST
Ok today was the last rehearsal for my Primarily Piano concert for tomorrow.
Let's say you just had 10 of your favourite Marie biscuits and a Swiss roll. How will you feel? Just like vomiting.
Borrowed the book "Carl Czerny - ON THE PROPER PERFORMANCE OF ALL BEETHOVEN'S WORKS FOR THE PIANO", which had Thomas Ang commenting with the words 'shit' and 'wahlau'.
Probably going for Spotlight, but going to have to pen some words and chords and melody down before we actually rehearse. Tomorrow? Wednesday? I don't know.
I'm sorry if I had pushed you too much. I guess sometimes people get worried too much, and then they let their emotions take over.
Otherwise, I don't think I have too much to post accept that I talked to Alan (Choo) lots today and also with Jun Hong...you just can't believe how much fun YST and RISE have for me.
Let's say you just had 10 of your favourite Marie biscuits and a Swiss roll. How will you feel? Just like vomiting.
Borrowed the book "Carl Czerny - ON THE PROPER PERFORMANCE OF ALL BEETHOVEN'S WORKS FOR THE PIANO", which had Thomas Ang commenting with the words 'shit' and 'wahlau'.
Probably going for Spotlight, but going to have to pen some words and chords and melody down before we actually rehearse. Tomorrow? Wednesday? I don't know.
I'm sorry if I had pushed you too much. I guess sometimes people get worried too much, and then they let their emotions take over.
Otherwise, I don't think I have too much to post accept that I talked to Alan (Choo) lots today and also with Jun Hong...you just can't believe how much fun YST and RISE have for me.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
blog quiz
Sorry to everyone about not posting yesterday. Anyway today was nothing special, for the first time didn't practise that much piano and didn't do much work. Tuition at 9am, and then the entire family went shopping for shoes.
This pair of shoes would be for my upcoming concert on Tuesday, cost me close to a 100 bucks. And then I got a blue tie to go with my white long-sleeve shirt and black pants. So that would be my concert attire.
Other than that during shopping I actually got a call from Mr Sze about preparing a new piano concerto. Quite good timing because my piano teacher may want me to play a concerto some day. Went from People's Park to Dhoby Ghaut, and then back to Serangoon, where the parents parked their car.
Dropped by my cousin's house, went to the basement for some blog surfing and John-Lennon-listening, and after one hour, I was gone, back home again.
Now, get ready for my first-ever blog quiz! Thanks to Fiona.
Here goes:
From Fiona's blog
List out your top 5 birthday presents you wish for:
1. Another grand piano, probably a Steinway. Yamaha's good enough.
2. 5 stacks of golden oldies.
3. A badminton racket.
4. A guitar, doesn't matter if it's acoustic or electric
5. World peace.
1. the person who tagged you is?
- Fiona
2. your relationship with him/her is?
- Good friend. cos she came to my concert even though it was $20. Wait, wasn't it complimentary? oops!
3. your 5 impressions of him/her
fiona:
- insightful
-honest
-likes 2 use shortcuts often unknown to me. Aight?
-has the ability to look at the picture and not be in the picture. May sometimes be part of the picture though, but it’s ok.
-very strong character, but unfortunately like all girls, does have a soft spot. Or make it like all people. Including me!
4. most memorable thing he/she has done for you?
- came to my concert to support lorh. Thanks ah
5. most memorable words he has said to you?
- not words, but philosophy.
6. if she becomes your lover, you will?
- write some viola and piano pieces. After all, I’m a musician. But unlikely to happen, lah!
7. if she becomes your lover, things he has to improve on will be?
- her viola playing. Cos it’s going to be very difficult man... I realised my cello pieces are near impossible to play. But my piano writing has improved!
8. if she becomes your enemy, you will?
- I don’t have enemies. I forgive enemies. Will definitely try to makeup
9. if she becomes your enemy the reason will be?
- She didn’t play the viola part well...
10. the most desired thing you want to do for her would be?
- to listen to whatever she has to say 247. Unfortunately my profession kinda restricts that some bit... I will listen and advice for anyone really – just ask.
11. overall impression of him?
- a strong lady who’s got character. Most likely profession: your next best Singapore author. Stays true to herself and others...
12. how do you think people around you will feel about you?
- hopefully a nice guy. Bryan Choong actually said if his entire family was gone the next family he would like to be in would be mine.
13. the character you love about yourself is?
- I’m an optimistic freak and bring joy and music to everyone. And a listening ear. Add the crying shoulder part...
14. the character you hate of yourself is?
- Self-sacrificing and begging to do all the work during music projects and letting everyone slack. I will continue to do so, so others don’t worry!
15. the person you want to be?
- the same old Jonathan Shin
16. for people who care about you, say something!
- the old word thanks and I will always be your friend!
17. pass this quiz to 10 people to know what they feel about you.
1. Audrey
2. Paul
3. Nigel Lua
4. Melissa
5. Adriel Chang
6. David Ng
7. Li Jinghui
8. Fiona
9. Bryan
10. Jiale
Who is no6 having a relationship with?
- no. 10
is no9 a male or female?
- male
if no7 and no10 are together, will it be a good thing?
- someone between adriel and jinghui will get damn pissed. But no, definitely not.
how about 8 and 5?
- might work out considering the kind of girls 5 likes...apparently non-bimbo
what is no2 studying?
- how to bite fingernails. Goalkeeping?
when was the last you talked to no3?
- my cousin. Few hours back...looking at racist jokes.
what kind of music does no.8 like?
- from latest blogpost: Oh, and yes, I love Julie Andrews! And all the beautiful musicals which we no longer see any successors of nowadays: The Sound Of Music, Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady. And the film Victor/Victoria is so super! It’s kinda old, but do check it out because it captures some gender issues
Wait, erm, those are musicals. How about...a couple of oldies. And some modern songs.
does no1 have any siblings?
- yup
will you woo no3?
- my cousin leh. But I suggest girls to go woo him.
how about no7?
- fck u blog quiz. Wait until I stop being a musician.Never...!
is no 4 single?
- don’t know never seen her for so long liao!
whats the surname of number 5!
- the famous Chang. The name Adriel is synonymous with Chang. Really...
surname of no 10?
-phua
hobby of no.4?
- music?
do no5 and no9 get along?
- they don’t know each other
where does no2 study at?
- RI
talk something casually about no1?
- Ya. That’s she’s been too stressed out, like probably all ny girls.
have you tried developing feelings about no8?
- And no. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9, and 10
where does no9 live?
- forgot already!
no5 and 1 best friends?
- nope.
does no7 like no2?
- nope 7 thinks he’s gay and is adamant about it.
how you get to know no2?
- classmate!
does no1 have any pets?
- nope...her brother counted?
is no7 the sexiest person in the world?
- dream on!
This pair of shoes would be for my upcoming concert on Tuesday, cost me close to a 100 bucks. And then I got a blue tie to go with my white long-sleeve shirt and black pants. So that would be my concert attire.
Other than that during shopping I actually got a call from Mr Sze about preparing a new piano concerto. Quite good timing because my piano teacher may want me to play a concerto some day. Went from People's Park to Dhoby Ghaut, and then back to Serangoon, where the parents parked their car.
Dropped by my cousin's house, went to the basement for some blog surfing and John-Lennon-listening, and after one hour, I was gone, back home again.
Now, get ready for my first-ever blog quiz! Thanks to Fiona.
Here goes:
From Fiona's blog
List out your top 5 birthday presents you wish for:
1. Another grand piano, probably a Steinway. Yamaha's good enough.
2. 5 stacks of golden oldies.
3. A badminton racket.
4. A guitar, doesn't matter if it's acoustic or electric
5. World peace.
1. the person who tagged you is?
- Fiona
2. your relationship with him/her is?
- Good friend. cos she came to my concert even though it was $20. Wait, wasn't it complimentary? oops!
3. your 5 impressions of him/her
fiona:
- insightful
-honest
-likes 2 use shortcuts often unknown to me. Aight?
-has the ability to look at the picture and not be in the picture. May sometimes be part of the picture though, but it’s ok.
-very strong character, but unfortunately like all girls, does have a soft spot. Or make it like all people. Including me!
4. most memorable thing he/she has done for you?
- came to my concert to support lorh. Thanks ah
5. most memorable words he has said to you?
- not words, but philosophy.
6. if she becomes your lover, you will?
- write some viola and piano pieces. After all, I’m a musician. But unlikely to happen, lah!
7. if she becomes your lover, things he has to improve on will be?
- her viola playing. Cos it’s going to be very difficult man... I realised my cello pieces are near impossible to play. But my piano writing has improved!
8. if she becomes your enemy, you will?
- I don’t have enemies. I forgive enemies. Will definitely try to makeup
9. if she becomes your enemy the reason will be?
- She didn’t play the viola part well...
10. the most desired thing you want to do for her would be?
- to listen to whatever she has to say 247. Unfortunately my profession kinda restricts that some bit... I will listen and advice for anyone really – just ask.
11. overall impression of him?
- a strong lady who’s got character. Most likely profession: your next best Singapore author. Stays true to herself and others...
12. how do you think people around you will feel about you?
- hopefully a nice guy. Bryan Choong actually said if his entire family was gone the next family he would like to be in would be mine.
13. the character you love about yourself is?
- I’m an optimistic freak and bring joy and music to everyone. And a listening ear. Add the crying shoulder part...
14. the character you hate of yourself is?
- Self-sacrificing and begging to do all the work during music projects and letting everyone slack. I will continue to do so, so others don’t worry!
15. the person you want to be?
- the same old Jonathan Shin
16. for people who care about you, say something!
- the old word thanks and I will always be your friend!
17. pass this quiz to 10 people to know what they feel about you.
1. Audrey
2. Paul
3. Nigel Lua
4. Melissa
5. Adriel Chang
6. David Ng
7. Li Jinghui
8. Fiona
9. Bryan
10. Jiale
Who is no6 having a relationship with?
- no. 10
is no9 a male or female?
- male
if no7 and no10 are together, will it be a good thing?
- someone between adriel and jinghui will get damn pissed. But no, definitely not.
how about 8 and 5?
- might work out considering the kind of girls 5 likes...apparently non-bimbo
what is no2 studying?
- how to bite fingernails. Goalkeeping?
when was the last you talked to no3?
- my cousin. Few hours back...looking at racist jokes.
what kind of music does no.8 like?
- from latest blogpost: Oh, and yes, I love Julie Andrews! And all the beautiful musicals which we no longer see any successors of nowadays: The Sound Of Music, Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady. And the film Victor/Victoria is so super! It’s kinda old, but do check it out because it captures some gender issues
Wait, erm, those are musicals. How about...a couple of oldies. And some modern songs.
does no1 have any siblings?
- yup
will you woo no3?
- my cousin leh. But I suggest girls to go woo him.
how about no7?
- fck u blog quiz. Wait until I stop being a musician.Never...!
is no 4 single?
- don’t know never seen her for so long liao!
whats the surname of number 5!
- the famous Chang. The name Adriel is synonymous with Chang. Really...
surname of no 10?
-phua
hobby of no.4?
- music?
do no5 and no9 get along?
- they don’t know each other
where does no2 study at?
- RI
talk something casually about no1?
- Ya. That’s she’s been too stressed out, like probably all ny girls.
have you tried developing feelings about no8?
- And no. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9, and 10
where does no9 live?
- forgot already!
no5 and 1 best friends?
- nope.
does no7 like no2?
- nope 7 thinks he’s gay and is adamant about it.
how you get to know no2?
- classmate!
does no1 have any pets?
- nope...her brother counted?
is no7 the sexiest person in the world?
- dream on!
Friday, September 14, 2007
My first performance as a conductor ended on a quick note, literally. I beated the two beats normally and resulted in our concertmaster Jinghui looking :O and confused. But it's alright, we all need experience.
DMP philosophy course on art and morality, and our group pondered whether pornography was considered art. We of course fought for the no part, and then started asking the meanings and definining and arguing the cause.
After that was rehearsal from 2pm, pretty much administration and running through of all 3 new pieces for our Year-End concert. I will most likely be singing and playing the piano with David and Daniel on guitar and drums respectively. We'll be doing "Fly me to the Moon". That's for the Chamber Concert.
And then I heard the Mendelssohn's Octet in E flat, where I had to clap, and gosh, it finished together and sounded good. Nice work, guys. We'll work harder and progress!
Before that I was playing a little street soccer in the mid-afternoon, and my team was good. Another clap for me and my team. Being all sweaty as per usual thanks to my high workrate and long stamina (weird. I seem to run all the time. Probably exercise), I was rushed off to YST by my manager/mother. Scolded in the car as per usual, and then I was off at YST.
Proudly displayed the RISE jacket, and went for the rehearsal. I was SOo freaking nervous I tell you. My first YST rehearsal was like, to me so big. But everyone (note 19-21 year olds) was like ok rehearse. You wouldn't believe it, but I was shaking so much that my score was vibrating on my lap and it nearly fell off. Phew. And what, Jenny was sitting beside me. If I actually dropped it I will be so bloody paiseh.
Tempest went pretty well! Can't believe it also but I did play well. Magic moment - checked. Singing run - checked. My ffs and my sf in context of p were too loud - let's say it's the piano's fault.
By the time it was done it was nearly 7 and a visit to the third floor settled everything. Came back to ground, say bye to security guard, and off.
A day in a life at YST.
And you. You're so foolish I tell you. Never forget the sms I sent you - yes, that long one. There are so much more I can tell you, but you probably have to learn it the hard way. Perhaps being selfish is the only way to let you learn...there's not a single hint of jealousy in thy voice. I just don't want you to learn it the hard way.
DMP philosophy course on art and morality, and our group pondered whether pornography was considered art. We of course fought for the no part, and then started asking the meanings and definining and arguing the cause.
After that was rehearsal from 2pm, pretty much administration and running through of all 3 new pieces for our Year-End concert. I will most likely be singing and playing the piano with David and Daniel on guitar and drums respectively. We'll be doing "Fly me to the Moon". That's for the Chamber Concert.
And then I heard the Mendelssohn's Octet in E flat, where I had to clap, and gosh, it finished together and sounded good. Nice work, guys. We'll work harder and progress!
Before that I was playing a little street soccer in the mid-afternoon, and my team was good. Another clap for me and my team. Being all sweaty as per usual thanks to my high workrate and long stamina (weird. I seem to run all the time. Probably exercise), I was rushed off to YST by my manager/mother. Scolded in the car as per usual, and then I was off at YST.
Proudly displayed the RISE jacket, and went for the rehearsal. I was SOo freaking nervous I tell you. My first YST rehearsal was like, to me so big. But everyone (note 19-21 year olds) was like ok rehearse. You wouldn't believe it, but I was shaking so much that my score was vibrating on my lap and it nearly fell off. Phew. And what, Jenny was sitting beside me. If I actually dropped it I will be so bloody paiseh.
Tempest went pretty well! Can't believe it also but I did play well. Magic moment - checked. Singing run - checked. My ffs and my sf in context of p were too loud - let's say it's the piano's fault.
By the time it was done it was nearly 7 and a visit to the third floor settled everything. Came back to ground, say bye to security guard, and off.
A day in a life at YST.
And you. You're so foolish I tell you. Never forget the sms I sent you - yes, that long one. There are so much more I can tell you, but you probably have to learn it the hard way. Perhaps being selfish is the only way to let you learn...there's not a single hint of jealousy in thy voice. I just don't want you to learn it the hard way.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Style? 0
We had the external DMP module for "Song-writing, Recording, Production and Audio Engineering Techniques" today. And we did do audio engineering. I thought it was kinda tough for them, considering how messy all of us were.
My day started at 11am, for once. Woke up finding myself practising Chopin's Op 25. No. 1 "Harp" Etude. Then after that I got a call from Jonathan Lim, and called my mum to fetch me to RI and there I was.
Because today was debates.
You see, I'm not born to debate, I'm born to produce music for your pleasure.
Oh and guess what, we had personality test today, and they found out I was a advisor and a listener. Ya, I think that's what I see myself as. It'S what they call, cool. You know, cool.
Back to debate, other than making the class laugh a little, there was little I could do except to repeat my points again and constantly "strengthening" (repeating) my points. Time taken? 1.2m.
Style? 0.
For external DMP I had to activate a quartet (as mentioned in my previous blogpost) to record for this session. We did, and earlier in the morning upon arriving in my class I found a guitar, and they proudly proclaimed it a class guitar, and allowed anyone to bring back home. I took it around with me today, and along with my cello for the quartet, that's two instruments on my body.
But I carried David's violin for Benwee, that makes it three instruments at once. No wonder they said I'm a musician. You don't see normal people carrying three instruments around the school. What's next, trolley for the piano?
So basically everywhere I went today was pretty much music, considering how I missed 10 mins of lesson time yesterday playing the piano with my friend and singing.
I played "Hey Jude" in class today and Eugene and Samuel played the guitar parts. And they requested me for a new pop song next week, which I have gamely completed while on the way back home. Upon reaching home, I tried it out, and voila, now to confirm the lyrics and chords and bring it to both of them next week where we will record it for the 2nd part of the External DMP.
Is anyone out there interested in joining a band?
My day started at 11am, for once. Woke up finding myself practising Chopin's Op 25. No. 1 "Harp" Etude. Then after that I got a call from Jonathan Lim, and called my mum to fetch me to RI and there I was.
Because today was debates.
You see, I'm not born to debate, I'm born to produce music for your pleasure.
Oh and guess what, we had personality test today, and they found out I was a advisor and a listener. Ya, I think that's what I see myself as. It'S what they call, cool. You know, cool.
Back to debate, other than making the class laugh a little, there was little I could do except to repeat my points again and constantly "strengthening" (repeating) my points. Time taken? 1.2m.
Style? 0.
For external DMP I had to activate a quartet (as mentioned in my previous blogpost) to record for this session. We did, and earlier in the morning upon arriving in my class I found a guitar, and they proudly proclaimed it a class guitar, and allowed anyone to bring back home. I took it around with me today, and along with my cello for the quartet, that's two instruments on my body.
But I carried David's violin for Benwee, that makes it three instruments at once. No wonder they said I'm a musician. You don't see normal people carrying three instruments around the school. What's next, trolley for the piano?
So basically everywhere I went today was pretty much music, considering how I missed 10 mins of lesson time yesterday playing the piano with my friend and singing.
I played "Hey Jude" in class today and Eugene and Samuel played the guitar parts. And they requested me for a new pop song next week, which I have gamely completed while on the way back home. Upon reaching home, I tried it out, and voila, now to confirm the lyrics and chords and bring it to both of them next week where we will record it for the 2nd part of the External DMP.
Is anyone out there interested in joining a band?
With lots of love and support and thanks
Hello. It's been a long day and I'm feeling very tired. And sad. And at the same time, happy and relieved. Tonight isn't a really starry night, but it's ok.
Supposed all of you heard of Mr. Otto Fong. I may have been shocked at first, never knowing the possibility, until I realised that there was indeed nothing wrong as long as he has never broken the law.
And btw, I would like to say that he's a good teacher, and was the one who recommended me to the Science Club after I talked to him about Relativity. But luckily I didn't go because I got 10/45 for physics later LOL. That was 1 year ago. He also wrote a comic on electricity, which really made it easy for us to understand. The electrons moving in directions, those fuels, yep, those stuff.
And so I would like to , no, not profess I'm gay, but express my support for my teacher, my RI teacher, my cool RI teacher. I don't see anything wrong with him - we can continue life as peacefully. Will it make you shocked if I professed that I'm a Eskimo?
No it wouldn't. Although Eskimos don't play Faure or Mozart or Debussy.
That's that.
Some people see the whole picture, but most people don't. Some of them are in the picture, some are outside the picture. For me, I'm the frame. I know what's inside the picture, yet I hold everyone together.
A pacifist.
A musician.
A guy who wants his job and money.
Probably shouts my name out to you when you read this.
Some quotes today - Miss Hahn "A good student is one who remembers."
When she says one thing, you do the same thing for any passage that appears similar.
Lots of love and support and thanks to everyone,
Jonathan
Supposed all of you heard of Mr. Otto Fong. I may have been shocked at first, never knowing the possibility, until I realised that there was indeed nothing wrong as long as he has never broken the law.
And btw, I would like to say that he's a good teacher, and was the one who recommended me to the Science Club after I talked to him about Relativity. But luckily I didn't go because I got 10/45 for physics later LOL. That was 1 year ago. He also wrote a comic on electricity, which really made it easy for us to understand. The electrons moving in directions, those fuels, yep, those stuff.
And so I would like to , no, not profess I'm gay, but express my support for my teacher, my RI teacher, my cool RI teacher. I don't see anything wrong with him - we can continue life as peacefully. Will it make you shocked if I professed that I'm a Eskimo?
No it wouldn't. Although Eskimos don't play Faure or Mozart or Debussy.
That's that.
Some people see the whole picture, but most people don't. Some of them are in the picture, some are outside the picture. For me, I'm the frame. I know what's inside the picture, yet I hold everyone together.
A pacifist.
A musician.
A guy who wants his job and money.
Probably shouts my name out to you when you read this.
Some quotes today - Miss Hahn "A good student is one who remembers."
When she says one thing, you do the same thing for any passage that appears similar.
Lots of love and support and thanks to everyone,
Jonathan
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
New Quest
And so I have just returned from Miss Hahn's piano lesson. Oh wait, there's a new quest for me.
"Hi Jon Shin, can you activate a string quartet for this week's DMP lesson? We're doing some recording. "
Alright. Time for Jonathan Shin to get down to some musical work again. Loads and loads of shit coming your way, watch out!
But no, seriously, at least this kind of things I enjoy doing. Music. That's why I want everything. I want the best of both worlds. And these worlds come under one universe of Music. And I cannot appear in both worlds at one time. That's when the spaceship comes. It eases my trouble. Driver of the spaceship? My mum. Kudos to her for driving up to sometimes 100km a day.
Unbelievable? Ask yourself. Bishan-Clementi-Mr Song's house (somewhere near Pasir Panjang?)- Bishan - VCH - Home
Sometimes worse than that. In any case it's getting bloody streneous, and it doesn't help when I see more people falling in despair everyday. I don't like seeing people in dispair, but even though I'm sometimes in despair (near suicidal) I always manage to pick myself up.
Ok so better spread on the joy to other people.
Next week I will be having my first Primarily Piano concert at YST. It's free so if you're free please come. It's on the tuesday. Yep, so I will be playing Beethoven's "Tempest" 1st movement.
It's strange. I am the only guy, out of 4 million people, doing this. But what an exciting life. No one ever gets what I get.
Yours sincerely,
Jonathan Shin
"Hi Jon Shin, can you activate a string quartet for this week's DMP lesson? We're doing some recording. "
Alright. Time for Jonathan Shin to get down to some musical work again. Loads and loads of shit coming your way, watch out!
But no, seriously, at least this kind of things I enjoy doing. Music. That's why I want everything. I want the best of both worlds. And these worlds come under one universe of Music. And I cannot appear in both worlds at one time. That's when the spaceship comes. It eases my trouble. Driver of the spaceship? My mum. Kudos to her for driving up to sometimes 100km a day.
Unbelievable? Ask yourself. Bishan-Clementi-Mr Song's house (somewhere near Pasir Panjang?)- Bishan - VCH - Home
Sometimes worse than that. In any case it's getting bloody streneous, and it doesn't help when I see more people falling in despair everyday. I don't like seeing people in dispair, but even though I'm sometimes in despair (near suicidal) I always manage to pick myself up.
Ok so better spread on the joy to other people.
Next week I will be having my first Primarily Piano concert at YST. It's free so if you're free please come. It's on the tuesday. Yep, so I will be playing Beethoven's "Tempest" 1st movement.
It's strange. I am the only guy, out of 4 million people, doing this. But what an exciting life. No one ever gets what I get.
Yours sincerely,
Jonathan Shin
HELP. HELP NEEDED.
I now sincerely wish I had two bodies to go with.
I need to get back to RISE, but I also have to go for Primarily Piano rehearsal.
I need to go back to RISE, but I have LRSM exam.
I need to return back to RISE, but I have my dental appointment and NRIC.
I'm now thinking - how am I going to handle all this.
Let's consider this together:
If I don't go to RISE:
1) I will kenah.
2) I will not know my music.
3) I wouldn't have time to rehearse
4) I don't play soccer with my friends.
5) I wouldn't be able to have experience conducting.
If I don't go to YST rehearsal:
1) I will do badly for Primarily Piano concert
2) I won't know my music.
3) I won't have time to rehearse.
4) I don't get to eat with my friends.
5) I wouldn't be able to have experience performing.
6) And if I do badly, I wouldn't be able to perform already and this would lead me to not collecting enough credits, and thus ruining my entire future.
But if I don't go for RISE, and I get kicked out of RISE, which is really below the last thing on my mind, I will just lose my sanity because that's only where I've got actually friends.
But if I go for RISE, I will miss out YST, and my parents will kill me, and Miss Hahn will be 'probably' be pissed.
But Mr Sze is also pissed because I didn't go for RISE rehearsal. Picture this - roughly 30 seconds after Miss Hahn called me to arrange lesson time, Mr Sze calls me and ask why I didn't come for rehearsal and that I failed to provide an actual reason. (although I did send an email through my computer)
And I only have two options - either RISE or YST. And I cannot have the best of both worlds. My parents will 80% disown me if I don't go for YST classes (which are almost everyday nowadays)
This is what I'm hoping for: That there is no YST rehearsal on Friday and next Monday.
That RISE has its rehearsals on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
That YST shifts 4 hand classes to a Thursday so at least I can skip MEP. Definitely RISE over MEP.
That RISE understands my fcking problem - it's probably the decision of my life.
Readers PLEASE PLEASE tag your comments on my tagboard about this post. I seriously need help and comments.
This aside, many many other things are bugging me. I'm very tired really. I couldn't sleep last night and resorted to practising piano about 1. My mealtimes are all screwed. I feel hungry at 12 and rather full in the afternoon. I wait till 10pm for my dinner.
My right hand has a scar and a bent fourth finger. My hair is looong and full of dandraft. Yucks. And my right eye is probably nearly screwed. Its swollen. I probably sound like a freak. Thank you September holidays.
And I really do have three homes now. Home, RI, YST. 9 hours at home, 8 hours at RI, and 7 hours at YST.
SICKENING.
I need to get back to RISE, but I also have to go for Primarily Piano rehearsal.
I need to go back to RISE, but I have LRSM exam.
I need to return back to RISE, but I have my dental appointment and NRIC.
I'm now thinking - how am I going to handle all this.
Let's consider this together:
If I don't go to RISE:
1) I will kenah.
2) I will not know my music.
3) I wouldn't have time to rehearse
4) I don't play soccer with my friends.
5) I wouldn't be able to have experience conducting.
If I don't go to YST rehearsal:
1) I will do badly for Primarily Piano concert
2) I won't know my music.
3) I won't have time to rehearse.
4) I don't get to eat with my friends.
5) I wouldn't be able to have experience performing.
6) And if I do badly, I wouldn't be able to perform already and this would lead me to not collecting enough credits, and thus ruining my entire future.
But if I don't go for RISE, and I get kicked out of RISE, which is really below the last thing on my mind, I will just lose my sanity because that's only where I've got actually friends.
But if I go for RISE, I will miss out YST, and my parents will kill me, and Miss Hahn will be 'probably' be pissed.
But Mr Sze is also pissed because I didn't go for RISE rehearsal. Picture this - roughly 30 seconds after Miss Hahn called me to arrange lesson time, Mr Sze calls me and ask why I didn't come for rehearsal and that I failed to provide an actual reason. (although I did send an email through my computer)
And I only have two options - either RISE or YST. And I cannot have the best of both worlds. My parents will 80% disown me if I don't go for YST classes (which are almost everyday nowadays)
This is what I'm hoping for: That there is no YST rehearsal on Friday and next Monday.
That RISE has its rehearsals on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
That YST shifts 4 hand classes to a Thursday so at least I can skip MEP. Definitely RISE over MEP.
That RISE understands my fcking problem - it's probably the decision of my life.
Readers PLEASE PLEASE tag your comments on my tagboard about this post. I seriously need help and comments.
This aside, many many other things are bugging me. I'm very tired really. I couldn't sleep last night and resorted to practising piano about 1. My mealtimes are all screwed. I feel hungry at 12 and rather full in the afternoon. I wait till 10pm for my dinner.
My right hand has a scar and a bent fourth finger. My hair is looong and full of dandraft. Yucks. And my right eye is probably nearly screwed. Its swollen. I probably sound like a freak. Thank you September holidays.
And I really do have three homes now. Home, RI, YST. 9 hours at home, 8 hours at RI, and 7 hours at YST.
SICKENING.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
As good as he can be
Ok I finally really wanted to post. The other days I'm just too tired to do anything. So here I am, in front of the computer, wondering what I can type here.
Ok firstly my university courses are long up and running, and I have been going there for almost everyday. I have three homes, Raffles, YST, and Senja Rd. Seriously. I spend around 6 hours in Raffles, YST practise and courses around 6 also? And then the rest of the 12 hours at home, 6 hours to sleep and the other 6 to do things.
But it is a rather fun lifestyle no one else has. What a privelege - a sad one sometimes. Today was RISE BBQ day, and damn, was it fun as usual.
Firstly I feel a need to say thanks to Adriel Chang - gosh you cannot believe what this person has done.
And also David for all the fun and kicks and girls. It's something you can't be missing.
YiYang for being always the model Rafflesian in my head, and Kuangnan, ah well he's as good as he can be.
And then we have the RISE guys, I don't know it really makes me feel like I'm at home. Bloody hell. RISE forever. Thanks Sec 4s.
If given a chance, I want to skip school - go to the design centre and practise piano, then go for CCA, then YST, then home, and the whole thing repeats again.
And probably our dear Jonathan Koh has heard of this already, but girl I promise I'll be back after 3 years. When I'm older and earning money, I'm going back to you again!
Ok firstly my university courses are long up and running, and I have been going there for almost everyday. I have three homes, Raffles, YST, and Senja Rd. Seriously. I spend around 6 hours in Raffles, YST practise and courses around 6 also? And then the rest of the 12 hours at home, 6 hours to sleep and the other 6 to do things.
But it is a rather fun lifestyle no one else has. What a privelege - a sad one sometimes. Today was RISE BBQ day, and damn, was it fun as usual.
Firstly I feel a need to say thanks to Adriel Chang - gosh you cannot believe what this person has done.
And also David for all the fun and kicks and girls. It's something you can't be missing.
YiYang for being always the model Rafflesian in my head, and Kuangnan, ah well he's as good as he can be.
And then we have the RISE guys, I don't know it really makes me feel like I'm at home. Bloody hell. RISE forever. Thanks Sec 4s.
If given a chance, I want to skip school - go to the design centre and practise piano, then go for CCA, then YST, then home, and the whole thing repeats again.
And probably our dear Jonathan Koh has heard of this already, but girl I promise I'll be back after 3 years. When I'm older and earning money, I'm going back to you again!
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