Monday, March 31, 2008

Why?
Why do you always have to do this to me? I thought it was over but you came back again.
You always make things difficult.
I am frustrated that things aren't working out between you and me.
Perhaps we are just different, I guess. Worlds apart.

I'm bogged down by the problems you dump on me. Understanding you really drains me out emotionally. But I guess sacrifice is needed when time is running out.

Whatever it takes, I'll close the chasm between you and me.


So please, my dear Statistics, please reveal more of yourself! I must understand you. Stop frustrating me.
Examination is just 2 weeks away!


Tuesday, March 25, 2008

The soft, gentle music playing; an almost empty runway; an air of calmness and a few ah peks snoring on the chairs.

I am at Changi Airport's viewing mall now, overlooking the runway in front of me. Perhaps it's the late afternoon so most planes are probably mid-air now. I feel foreign and different, like I'm out of the bustle of the city, as the mid afternoon sun begins to fade away and the gentle evening invites itself.

Why am I here?
Well, I came all the way here so I can rant at the staff of AirAsia for not replying my email enquiries!
Okay, I wish I could but nope, I didn't!
I'm here to settle important stuff for the RYM Teens overseas trip and I POLITELY asked the staff for information.

There's just an incredibly laid-back vibe at the viewing mall. Excellent place for a chit chat and many rounds of Bridge, Saboteur, Citadel, The Ungamed... :)


Sunday, March 23, 2008

Today's Easter!
No, it's not about decorating easter eggs or throwing a few easter bunnies at your friends in Facebook.
It's far beyond these commercialised merchandise.

Easter celebrates the victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ - our good Lord and reminds us of the foundation of our faith - that we worship and love a living God.
Jesus died for us on the cross, but no, he didn't remain dead!

He transcended the ultimate limits of Man - death - and proved that He is supernatural, that He is God, and rose on the third day, which is why we celebrate Easter!

The eggs we have in Easter are mere representations of the New Life, which all of us will have in our resurrected Lord.

A new life of hope and grace. A fresh beginning.

Breathe Esther.
I need to buck up for my course readings because exams are nearing.
Let me hold on to the grace that has sustained me for so many years, during this potentially stressful period.


P.S Thanks Angie for the ArcStudio software! I am having loads of fun with this program. Hoho!


Friday, March 21, 2008

This weekend, I'll be busy transcribing interviews and a conversation I secretly recorded for my HG210 project.

It's kinda fun to transcribe in the beginning. I felt professional, like I am some sort of Linguistics research assistant.
But as I sit in front of my laptop, stationary, mind you, for like a few hours, with the ear plugs burning in my ears while I try to figure what the people are saying; and when I have to keep repeating certain conversations for a few times just so to catch subtle phrases, transcribing becomes tedious.
I am going to be VERY busy.

***
Here are long overdue family photos taken at the beginning of the year. They look too wonderfully good to be hidden in my laptop!
Two generations of Powerpuff Girls

Celerating New Year 2008 with my extended family. Fabulous crowd.

OH I have a penchant for all things sweet like cakes, cupcakes and ice cream recently. It's crazy.
Aren't they the loveliest food you've ever seen? I hope they're pretty and nice to eat too.



Monday, March 17, 2008

Some people have been traumatised by the pictures of my previous post.
Apologies if the pictures of our distorted faces reminded you of your mysterious neighbour next door.

I've learned a lesson today.
Don't rush 2500-word essays the day before submission.
Write gradually. Don't procrastinate! And start to get inspiration from good essays.

By the way, I like my new blogskin. It's cheeky.
Reminded me of the Heaty Fart Incident last Saturday during Teens Service's Bible Challenge.
HAHAHAAHA.


Friday, March 14, 2008

Heroes - save the world, save the baby in Sheryl's arms


Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the ugliest amongst them all?



It was loads of belly-shaking laughter while taking these photos using Samuel's latest MacBook. COOL.



Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.
Oscar Wilde

I've always admire Oscar Wilde for his quick wit ever since I studied "The Importance of Being Earnest" for A'Levels. He is sharp, trenchant in his observations and wickedly smart. Definitely ahead of his contemporaries in his time.

But what Mom said to me recently was also, in my opinion, pretty sharp.

University graduates think they know a lot.
But when it comes to the little things, they know nothing.

Well well... it was directed at me. It was, unfortunately, accurate.
I guess it's not enough to only be head smart but we must also learn to be street smart.


Monday, March 10, 2008

It has been nearly 2 weeks since Mas Selamat's escape. (Seriously, where is he?)

I heard a few conspiracy theories today. These Singaporeans who thought of them are pretty imaginative and dramatic.
Well, conspiracy theories are always entertaining anyway.
So here's some.
Disclaimer: These are all conspiracy theories, ie. speculations. Treat them as the whole truth at your own risk.

#1 Mas Selamat is actually attached with a detection device but the Internal Security Department (ISD) doesn't want to catch him just yet. This is to observe where and whom he would go for help, and perhaps, find those people who are also involved in Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). After that, the ISD will make a clean capture of all these people who have terrorist links.

#2 Mas Selamat has already escaped to Indonesia but the ISD refuse to show their inadequacy. So they continue to organise big searches, condone places, bring big dogs to sniff him out, hold up cars/trucks at the Causeway and insist that he is still in Singapore, to show that they are doing something.

#3 Mas Selamat is actually dead, gotten rid of whilst in detention centre. Thus, the ISD decided to mask this fact by saying that he escaped from the detention centre, to make us believe that he is still alive somewhere, when in fact he is dead.


Well, I must say some imaginative Singaporeans are better off working on scripts in Hollywood.



This is the new song which is currently at the top of my playlist.
New song to learn to play on the piano!



Thursday, March 06, 2008

Funny how comfort and bliss can be simple, without money and power coming into the picture.

It could be sitting at the round table, enjoying our Hor Fun and Fried Rice dinner with the many good friends you've spend your adolescence with (Thanks Shumin, for reminding me :)

Or admiring how my pastel nail colours match the colours of Yue's yummy cupcakes.



Or perhaps, go camera crazy with your friends?
(I think the following pictures should be enough evidence :P)






It could also be watching excellent films such as "The Joy Luck Club" (This is truly a good film... Will review soon!)

The bliss of all blisses?
Resting my tired head on a soft pillow at night, knowing that God will grant me new mercies the next morning.
AHHH.. I need to start my essay assignments soon!!!
Tourism, consumerism, culture... How do they relate to one another?


Tuesday, March 04, 2008

I thought being in an Humanities & Social Sciences faculty, being in Sociology, would steer me far far away from the presence of mathematical numbers. I thought JC was the last time I would deal with Mathematics. How naive!

My Statistics module put the Science back in the Social Science!

What I TRIED to figure out on Sunday night for my Stats mid-term quiz...*shivers*
Solution for Homework 6!
Step1: State hypothesis
H0: Pu = 0.09
(H1: Pu > 0.09)
Step2: Sampling distribution is Z distribution
As a convention, we use α = 0.05, one-tailed test
Z (critical) = +1.65

Step 3: Calculating the test statistic:
Z (obtained) = =10.88

Step 4: Because Z (obtained) falls into the critical region, we reject the null hypothesis. Hence, the high school in question has significantly more Indian students than the rest of high schools.

Okay, so I am not good and I screwed up this mid-term quiz :( But I must and WILL conquer Statistics... in my April exams!

Studying on Sunday night didn't help my Quiz because my thoughts were aplenty.

I thought of "L: Change The World" and the morals behind it.
Oh by the way, many thanks to Deren for his generous treat to the cell group on Sunday!
Hmm.. Jonathan likes Saboteur.

I also wondered about my 21st Birthday and what the pastor said during 2040 sermon.
This could be the chance!
But where can I get a function room big enough for all my family and friends?

With such thoughts on Sunday night, how to study?!!


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