bad luck
Tuesday, February 28, 2006, 09:38 p.m. #1050

It's hard not to be superstitious and believe in "bad luck" sometimes. In school, the zip of my trousers broke. At home, I quarrelled with my sister. When I was shopping, I couldn't find a single item which was on my to-buy list, and instead found all the things that mum, sis and my friends have mentioned that they wanted. When I decided to be nice and help them buy those stuff, I waited for at least ten minutes at each queue. And that's after a long day of teaching, more than three hours of meeting after school, followed by my night violin lesson. Plus the 30-minute long wait for my bus. Utterly drained right now.

hohoho
Sunday, February 26, 2006, 12:44 p.m. #1049

I think I just spotted wwolf's brother in The Sunday Times. :)

the death of diary-x
Sunday, February 26, 2006, 11:35 a.m. #1048

It seems I'm ultra-sensitive these few days - may be something wrong with my amygdalae and serotonin level. The passing of S Rajaratnam, my student's melancholic blog entry... Even the death of Diary-X made me feel a little dejected - how the "lives" of millions of bloggers have been irretrievably wiped out in the virtual world - years of precious photos and memories erased - in a matter of hours.

What happened was that the read heads slipped slightly out of alignment and began what is known as 'head skip', which means that the heads skipped along the platters like a stone across water. Each time they hit the platters, they destroyed a little bit of data (somewhere around 256 bytes). Because they were skipping, they were reading bad data, so the drive attempted to compensate by moving the heads away and back again, which caused the heads to skip into more areas, which the drive then attempted to read from, which moved the head and caused more damage. Given that the drive spins at 7200 RPM, a few hours worth of this type of treatment just completely hosed the drive. DriveSavers was able to get 'fragments of files', but they were not able to recover anything substantial at all. The physical damage was just too extensive.

sense and sensibility
Sunday, February 26, 2006, 10:01 a.m. #1047

Here's a blog entry of my student - a Sec 2 prefect who always seems cheerful and bubbly in school. A little too worrying for a child.

Hear me clear! What is wrong with everyone? What have we become? We are killing each other, everything's a mess. The world we live in is crumbling into pieces. Our ancestors have build this world with their flesh and blood to make it a better place to live in, but we are destroying it one by one. Piece by piece, the harmony is breaking. Just because of the terrorism and bloodshed, we are not stopping it, we are making it even worse, riots are occurring frequently in many countries and we are letting terrorism get away. What are we? Can't we appreciate the little things? Little children are losing parents everyday, one by one, if we don't stop this mess, slowly but surely, this world is going to shatter. We are taking things for granted, I can't help it but notice, there's a little girl at the corner.

Fine, let's not talk about the world. Even in Singapore, yes, we can say that there's harmony. Or is there? In ordinary secondary schools, the ones who grow up to be a better people, the generation that would mould the future, things are happening. Everyone can feel it. In my class, Chinese people are calling the Malays 'Bangladeshi'. Yes, everyone knows nicknames are for fun, but what was that? Even people of that race are being offended. We are giving labels to each other, Labels! Can't you hear us? Pull up your socks! Students are wearing ankle socks? Why? Isn't this the new trend that will, definitely, make our ankles hurt and bleed? We don't tell you to pull up your socks because the school rules said so. We don't want to see in the future that students are limping. If you fall and hit your ankles, it is going to HURT like pulling your eye out. We fail to realise our mistakes, we don't want to listen. Honestly, do you think walking around for 6 hours, wearing ties, under the hot sun sucks? It does, but we need to, we have to, it pains our heart for us to hear the constant moaning and "why should we pull them up?" and the "we have already pulled them up, but the socks are just so short that our ankles are still visible". We feel that we have not given our best effort and we have to work harder each time.

We are like beasts! Well, hello stupid people! Yes, stupid people!

Don't go ruining other people's lives. We have enough of each other's gossips and rumours. I am very tired. When I come home from school, no one is home, I feel like an orphan, I cry each day for my parents to spend more time with me, I have very little love at home and when I go to school I have to pretend how happy I am every day. Every, single day.

We are even worse than animals, they co-operate with each other. They are not as intelligent as humans. But look, they are helping each other, they can live in harmony, look at how long they are living peacefully. And look at us, although we are smarter then them, we are not using our brains. We are killing each other, ruining lives, accusing others... If only... we can listen.

Are you listening?

we need an exorcist
Saturday, February 25, 2006, 12:20 a.m. #1046

Went to California Pizza Kitchen (Forum) to have dinner with Catherine, Edmund, Zhangli and Irene - had my favorite Peking Duck pizza; then proceeded to Kenko Wellness (Tanglin Shopping Centre) for a massage - which felt too short; then had a light supper at The V Tea Room (Esplanade) - which was slightly overpriced, but the tea was really good. As usual, we grumbled about our work and summarised a few stories that happened during the week.

Apparently a girl got possessed halfway during lesson, turned wild, and ran out of the classroom. Our principal happened to be walking across the parade square then, and coincidentally crossed the path of that possessed girl. The girl bumped into the principal, and being not able to recognise anyone for that moment, tried to STRANGLE the principal, until a teacher came and pulled the crazy girl away. Wow! So drama hor?

frankenstein
Friday, February 24, 2006, 04:59 p.m. #1045

After a lab session with my form class, as we still had 5 minutes left, I let the students do their own stuff. Suddenly the girls at the back of the lab began to giggle quite loudly, so I went to take a look. One of the girls uttered Cher, no offence hor! then passed me a piece of paper and asked me to look at it:


Didn't know whether to laugh or to scold them. I look like Frankenstein meh?! -_-

picking pics
Thursday, February 23, 2006, 10:01 p.m. #1044

This year I've been enrolled in the Public Engagement Committee, which is basically a committee that looks into how we can promote our school to primary schools and the public. And my first task is to create a school corporate video together with Azman. Tough, tough.

Spent a few hours today sorting millions of photographs which were taken over the years so that we could later select suitable ones to include in the video - and I wasn't exaggerating - there really were MILLIONS of photographs, and looking through and categorising 15GB of photographs was no joke at all. Of course I couldn't finish today. Shall be spending the next few days doing this. Argh.

It's the guys' first preliminary round today for the American Idol 5. They weren't as impressive as the girls last night, but Taylor - the guy-equivalent of yesterday's Paris - delivered a very memorable performance with his passion and sincerity. Looking forward to next Wednesday! :)

great paris
Wednesday, February 22, 2006, 09:39 p.m. #1043

This season's American Idol ROCKS, literally. By the first half of the female preliminary, I was in awe. Can't believe how that 17-year-old Paris could make me dance and smile so heartily while watching her perform (her quirkily groovy moves and bubbly personality) - a truly natural performer who can entertain people and cheer people up just by being herself! Will be glued to the TV on weekday nights from now on. :)

i need four me's
Wednesday, February 22, 2006, 05:37 p.m. #1042

It was horrible just now. I wished I could split myself into four parts as I had four pressing matters to attend to ALL AT THE SAME TIME: I had to attend a Science departmental meeting; take charge of my Environment Club and welcome the new Sec 1 members; conduct a make-up test for one student who was absent for the Physics Common Test; and meet up with the NIE supervisor (as I have been selected to guide the new NIE trainees again... for the FOURTH time in my less-than-three years of teaching).

Ended up running from one place to another and trying to finish off each engagement quickly. Managed to get Shuxian to help supervise the student who was taking the make-up test. When Ms T (HOD) wanted me to stay back after the Science meeting to talk to me about some other stuff, I told her frankly that I was very busy and we had to meet up some other day. Also ended the meeting with the NIE supervisor quickly by simply talking about the main points. When I finally settled down in my Environment Club, I was kind of relieved - though not exactly stress-less, as I still had to handhold the kids in doing their National Weather Study Project. Also killed many of my brain cells when I was teaching Jing Ming (one of the students) how to use the Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient to show that temperature is related to sleepiness. That's something we only learn in JC Further Math, so you can imagine how difficult it was to teach a secondary kid to do such a sophisticated statistics problem. Luckily Jing Ming was keen and smart and got it straight away, or else... or else I also don't know what else I could do. Probably fake a stroke on the spot and throw in the towel.

jo hurry no hurry
Monday, February 20, 2006, 06:26 p.m. #1041

Hi! Try describing me in these Johari and Nohari windows!

the subtle email
Sunday, February 19, 2006, 12:39 p.m. #1040

Remember the faulty aircon in our staff room, which remained unchecked even when we have lodged our complaints? A week ago I sent an email to inform the whole school (including the principals) about the new weather console at my seat, to encourage teachers to make use of it in their lessons. At the end of the email, I playfully added, by the way, the temperature in the staff room right now is 30 degrees Celsius. Don't know if the management finally got the hint or they have already planned for this, but the repairman immediately came the following day to fix the aircon. This improved the situation a little, but the aircon is still not powerful enough, so the management promised new aircons will be installed next month. Received some applause from a few teachers for my "subtle" email. Haha.

love is a decision
Sunday, February 19, 2006, 09:25 a.m. #1039

Love is largely a decision, not so much of a feeling.

That's the unanimous statement made by the married people when we were talking about love and marriage. They said that love is not all about feelings, and it's impossible to find someone whom you absolutely cannot live without - you just need a little bit of feeling and lots of convincing (the other person convincing you, and you convincing yourself that both of you are in love) and thereafter falling in love and getting married is just a matter of decision - whether you want to "fall in love" or not. If you keep on waiting for the Right Person, you'll most probably be waiting till the end of time.

How sceptically Ally McBeal. And how acutely true.

friday at sichuan doufu
Saturday, February 18, 2006, 01:39 a.m. #1038

Just came back from another Friday outing. These Friday outings seem to have become a regular thing for us, the bunch of younger teachers. We even have a spa and a chocolate buffet planned for the next few weeks. Anyway, Edmund, Zhangli, Irene, Catherine and I went to the Sichuan Doufu Restaurant on the 60th storey of UOB Plaza. The ala carte buffet there was GOOD, with great dishes, classy ambience and an affordable price. Chatted till the restaurant closed, then proceeded to Clark Quay to continue with our stories - teachers always have many stories to tell... :)

Took a picture of the quietly beautiful Fullerton on our way back:

random recaps
Friday, February 17, 2006, 05:37 p.m. #1037

Some random recaps of the happenings of the week:

S was so angry in his class that he CRUSHED his own glasses, threw the broken pieces on the floor and stormed out of the class. He took an MC on the following day. So drama hor? But he has all the teachers' empathy - students nowadays... *sigh* But we feel such students are probably not worth our rage and glasses.

Had a teachers' CNY celebration two Fridays ago at Seoul Garden. Yeah, eeks, of all places, Seoul Garden - not even a restaurant, and not as if eating at Seoul Garden is cheap. Anyway, while many teachers complained about the bad choice of venue, the attendance was really good and we had a great time there. Went shopping with the oily stench after that.

On top of my present violin, guitar and theory classes, I am going to take up another pop piano course together with some of my colleagues. Yep, I must be very rich, and very mad.

Remember the colleague who has the same birthday as me? Not only we have the same temperaments, handwriting and musical preferences (and we both play the liuqin), I found out further that both of us know Japanese and have been wanting to learn about Chinese medicine for years. Conversed through slips of paper written in Japanese during the last Staff Meeting when it was really boring. The uncanny resemblances between us are... a little freaky.

ec shots
Thursday, February 16, 2006, 08:37 p.m. #1036

Been so busy recently that I don't know what to blog about - everything that has happened is a disorganised mess in my mind. Took a few photos at the EC yesterday, of students having fun making recycled art and compiling the National Weather Study Project (about how weather affects our mood and sleepiness). So there:

future problem solving
Monday, February 13, 2006, 07:11 p.m. #1035

Started my two-full-day course of Future Problem Solving at the Cyberlearning Centre of RGS. Quite impressed with the venue as it had 4 gigantic plasma screens in one room - the cost of setting up this room alone probably equals to the cost of setting up all the electronic stuff in the whole ESSS.

The course wasn't very exciting. I always feel new pedagogies are really just old pedagogies packaged with flowery language and nobler-sounding objectives... The rest of the teachers probably think the same way, judging from the bored looks on their faces...

An interesting fact which I discovered only today, despite having worked with my colleague Noreen for the past two years: Noreen and Jiajia were classmates in RGS! And they used to sit next to each other!! A really, really small world indeed. Shared a few gossips about JJ after the shocking discovery, naturally.

Then there was this auntie who came late for the course. The first thing I noticed when she sat down beside me was that her fly was open. Pondered for a while before I decided that I should just tell her discreetly. But after I'd told her, this auntie never spoke to me again and only talked with the rest of the people at my table, as if I was transparent. Found out later that Eileen and Noreen also noticed her open fly but they chose to keep it to themselves. Hmm. Did I do the wrong thing for telling? How could I have made it less embarrassing for her?... That's one nice "future problem" to solve. :p

everlasting regret
Sunday, February 12, 2006, 05:58 p.m. #1034

《长恨歌》是一部过于“为艺术而艺术”的电影。郑秀文僵硬的中文与编剧所设计的做作的对白，使得这个“传奇女子”王琦瑶显得像是个没有灵魂的风流女子，永远飘浮在众男子之间，没有一点个性与内涵，其他人物的刻画更是草率得令人咋舌。不知道王安忆（原著）笔下的王琦瑶是否便是这样索然无味。难以相信这真是曾执导《阮玲玉》和《蓝宇》的关锦鹏所导演的。

tampeenees
Saturday, February 11, 2006, 03:14 p.m. #1033

I actually forgot about our annual CNY visit to Mr Shue's house (my Chinese teacher in Maha Bodhi Primary) until Angela called me. So dumb. I'll always remind myself a thousand times before an important appointment and I'll remember it all the time, but I'll end up forgetting about the appointment on the day itself.

Anyway, when Angela called me, I was on a bus near Tampines. When she asked me where I was, I replied a few times but she couldn't hear me, so I repeated my answer slowly and loudly, "TAM-PEE-NEES!" Only when the people around me turned to look in my direction then did I realise how obscene that must have sounded if they missed out my first syllable. :)

o level results
Friday, February 10, 2006, 07:20 p.m. #1032

Been busy the whole week, but the biggest thing that happened must have been the release of O level results today.

My heart was thumping the whole day until noon when I finally got the results of my form class. Most of them did really well, and as I flipped through their result slips, I saw vast improvements in almost all of them. The top scorer of the school also came from my form class. Compared with last year's results, the percentage passers for Science (Physics/ Chemistry) went up, and the percentage distinction for Pure Physics also went up. All these were really great boosters for me as a first-time graduating-class teacher, even though the results would hardly be impressive in schools like RGS or TCHS.

For the rest of the day, I simply couldn't contain my contentment and I had a silly smile on my face. Students either shook hands with me or sent smses to thank me for their results. One unforgettable moment was when one Sec 5N student (who didn't exactly get a fantastic grade - B3) came up to me and cried and thanked me for helping her pass as she has never ever passed Science in her whole life. I was so glad for her that I nearly cried together with her.

Ah... Finally reaped the fruits that I have been caring for two years. The feeling is truly, truly indescribable.

pictures
Sunday, February 5, 2006, 05:16 p.m. #1031

Couldn't resist showing off the pictures of my beautiful/handsome cousins/nieces/nephews:

perhaps love
Sunday, February 5, 2006, 10:53 a.m. #1030

近年来出色的电影都有经典歌曲的助阵，老歌就是有能够挑动情感的魅力。《无间道》系列有蔡琴《被遗忘的时光》，《蓝宇》有黄品源的《你怎么舍得我难过》，《如果·爱》有齐秦《外面的世界》。

终于看了《如果·爱》，张学友动人的《你是爱我的》仍在耳边萦绕。平静中汹涌澎湃，绚丽中追求的到底只是单纯的爱。各人扮演着自己故事里的主角，也希望能在别人的故事里有所地位，然而却永远超越不了配角被遗忘的命运（池珍熙的角色就是如此吧）。因为歌舞剧形式而受到局限的人物性格和千篇一律的爱情故事，在精湛的剪接、演技、摄影与对白下（连小角色、旁述的对白都是耐人寻味的）显得更加戏剧性地忧郁、震撼。看完电影的感觉，就如金城武和周迅在戏里的歌声：淡淡的苦涩、无奈。

谎言真话 我都收下
只要你是爱我的...
就这样吧 不要回答
因为你是爱我的...

my children from 4e1
Saturday, February 4, 2006, 07:21 p.m. #1029

My ex-4E1 students (with the exception of Jianwei) came to bai nian today. Quite happy to see that they're still together after graduation... Played a few rounds of Blackjack and Big 2, then don't know what happened exactly, but at the end of the day, all of them started calling me "Daddy" - maybe they're trying a futile attempt to get more red packets from me. Mum of course took the chance to hint that she hopes she can have so many children. Hmm. 15... a bit too many right?! Shall let the pictures do the talking:





[1] Yep, that's the bunch of them... don't know where Jianwei is hiding though.
[2] Almost like a refugee camp.
[3] Dawn was trying a Bond pose with the wind blowing her hair.
[4] Yanling looked really radiant in this picture.
[5] Ching Wee looked like he's been crushed by Ricky.

melting in the staff room
Thursday, February 2, 2006, 08:03 p.m. #1028

The aircon on my side of the staff room is officially down. Within a few days, every table now has an individual fan as the heat is getting really unbearable. There are times when the temperature at our place is higher than the temperature outside, yet we cannot open the windows as the aircons in other parts of the staff room are working fine. This problem has been existing since last year but apparently the school is not doing anything about it, even the principals have commented that it's really stuffy when they happened to come up to our staff room, but nothing has been done. The situation got worse these few days when the aircon started blowing only hot air, and everyone of us had a headache having to work in such a hellish condition. I had to resort to carrying all my stuff to the library to work there. Today, our side reached an all-time high of 31 degrees Celsius, I couldn't take it anymore and went to Harvey Norman with Edmund, and both of us each bought a high-velocity fan - those ugly metallic kind, as the nice plastic ones are too weak. If the management still does not get the message when they see so many fans on our tables, they must be seriously blind/deaf/etc.

my bed is broken
Wednesday, February 1, 2006, 06:33 p.m. #1027


Jiten, Terence and Alvin came to my house to bai nian yesterday. Quite touched by their sincerity as I'd only taught them briefly more than two years ago. But the embarrassing thing was, my bed COLLAPSED when Terence and I were sitting on it (you can see my pathetic bed in one of the pictures - the mattress has sunk to the floor). So we had to sit on the floor (you can see our pink seat cushions in the picture too). Last year, when my students came during CNY, they found a dead cockroach under my bed. How come such malu things that normally don't happen happens when my students are around?? They must be thinking I'm a dirty old man living in a room with broken furniture. Bleah.