This song was in the musical, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Thus, I would assume that there will be biblical context in it, or at least whatever was shown in the musical. In a summary, Joseph could interpret what dreams meant, and therefore became sort of a prophet, so I would say that the dream here is the symbolism of direction.

JOSEPH:

I close my eyes, drew back the curtain
To see for certain, what I thought I knew

It may seems illogical that the speaker drew back the curtain yet was closing his eyes. However, the closing of the eye could mean that the speaker is escaping from the reality world, or the world as the society sees. In another words, the world, seen from our eyes, is based on our human logic and earthly understandings. Thus, the speaker is trying to see the world at a different point of view, most probably from Heaven. The drawing back of curtain then represents the willingness to open up to new ideas and insights.

Far far away, someone was weeping
But the world was sleeping
Any dream will do

I have read some interpretation of this verse, and I find it accurate. The someone refers to Heaven, where whoever up there was sad to see the world in such chaos, yet the world is ignorant and oblivious to it, thus sleeping peacefully. So in order to give them some directions, the speaker hoped that Heaven could shine the path for them in the form of dreams, any type of dreams will do, any directions will do.

JOSEPH & CHILDREN:
I wore my coat (I wore my coat), with golden lining (Ahhh)
Bright colors shining (Ahhhh), wonderful and new

And in the east (and in the east), the dawn was breaking (Ahhh)
And the world was waking (Ahhhh)
Any dream will do

There is the symbolism of hope, as dawn is usually used to describe a new beginning, which in a way, hope. So perhaps, the speaker hoped to use this gifts, as a dream interpreter, to be sensitive to whatever Heaven got to say, to receive the directions from Heaven.

JOSEPH:
A crash of drums, a flash of light
My golden coat flew out of sight
The colors faded into darkness
I was left alone

However, the speaker had his talents as a dream interpreter wasted, unrecognised, and condemned, or ignored. Thus the colors faded into darkness describes his feeling of hope – crushed hope.

JOSEPH & CHILDREN
May I return (May I return) to the beginning (Ahhh)
The light is dimming (Ahhhh), and the dream is too
The world and I (The world and I), we are still waiting (Ahhh)
Still hesitating (Ahhhh)
Any dream will do

The speaker really hoped that he could be allowed to use his talents as a dream interpreter to give the world a sense of direction. There is also a second meaning to the dream in this stanza, which is a symbolism of hope. This time, however, is the hope to escape the “punishments”. Therefore, the light is dimming, on one hand, the world will have lesser directions to go, on the other hand, his fate or destiny is getting vaguer, and he started to doubt this talents, that he started to lose hope.  

Today is totally awesome! =)
Yea! haha really really happy =) =) =)


Wushu as usual, Tony is joining us! which means one great role model and motivation for the younger kids!!!
We had fun playing basketball as one whole bedok CC~!! =) =)


After that, I went to ZK house to borrow SS notes to teach YuQian in church. =)
Before that however, I met up with Serbrina and had a great talk =)
From here I got to know about Kpop haha, and was interested in SJM =)


So after everything I went into ZK house. Had a great chat with him and his mum. 
Then I found out from their sister that they had a really really good impression on me. =) =) =)
This is priceless  really happy for it, then I realized I always went to their house empty handed
So shall prepare big big gifts for them next time.  =)


Really happy to be able to keep in touch with old friend. Somehow I find he's very anti social.
He dont really click much in his JC, thus most probably have little friends,
So yea, really wish him all the best, that he will use his talents well and find a purpose in life soon.
I heard he's been waiting for the world to end, tired of living haha, really wish him all the best.
I hoped to be there to like motivate and encourage him, but perhaps time will shine a path for him sooner or later. =)


They gave me whole packet of onions
When juz nice we ran out of it and my mum wanted buy =) =)


Oh then the award presentation mark lee won  my fav show, so I super happy today! =) 


I believe no matter what is his personality like, as long as he got appropriate content for the suitable show, he should get this prize category. Just like Lee Teng, though his other appearances in other variety shows sucks, his prize for his content in Let's Talk is well deserved. =)


Also, rather happy that Chen Shu Cheng won the male supporting award after 40 years, I always think that he is a good actor, he could act all sorts of characters, from rich man to poor man, from cunning man to humble man. =)


Great way to end the week. =) Thx loads to every single being on Earth that indirectly shaped my life this week, that I ended it with natural happiness instead of just synthetic happiness.

Natural happiness is what we get when we get what we wanted

Synthetic happiness is what we make when we don’t get what we wanted



你看那时间如风
不留痕迹将岁月轻轻送
不在乎是否活在掌声中
只求心与你相通



Look at how time pass by so quickly
So subtly, time passes by
Regardless whether living under limelight or not
I just wanna connect with you



就算失落过
都不想变改往事
困那所有的旧事
烙印在现在的我


No matter what I have lost
I shall not want to change the past
Lets bury the hatchet
Lets step on it, into the present me


你我如此相同
用歌声倾诉悲欢感动
就算有苦衷
点滴尽在不言中


We are all quite the same
Lets use our songs to enjoy this moment
Where without uttering a word
We could understand each other's complains 


虽然那时时间如风
虽然那人生太匆匆
愿我一生悲喜里漫游经过


Though time fly pass like breeze
Though life is too hectic
Hope that we sail through it with both laughter and tears

Today nothing much happen in school, accompanied Brian roaming the streets, then went to Johann house.

Perhaps today's post is more about money.

So I reached home to be updated about some family stuffs. So there was as usual, disagreements within us. I think, to a certain extent, women have the tendency to be under oppression as always. Ofcoz, this is an obvious stereotypes, but I cant help to be a little sexist most of the times because of the whole family history of useless women. Anyway, sales management lecture today also proved that most of the top selling agents are women, so perhaps by being oppressed they could generate more sales due to the customers feeling very happy to grab better deals. They could compromise for bigger gains. Perhaps so, so I merely commented that though the current decision of my family is right, at the essence of being human, I think a certain group is a disappointment.

So lets say A has an attractive business, and A introduced to B, which B loves it thus A gained commission. By logic, or rather by principles of benevolence, A helped B to be aware of such profitable business, thus B should show some gratitude by offering some tips or feasts. However, it seems that in our case, B wanted to gain extra cash from A to tap into the commissions, although it is seriously penny compared to what they will be earning. Furthermore, we are relatives!!

So yea, I think they are not so respectable for being human, unlike people like Yong Jie or Kok Guan. So then again, we have a family history of relatives being a hindrance. So I concluded, to achieve heights, I will not fucking care whether you are relatives or not, I shall never give in or give up. Perhaps family decision this time is still good, and probably good, if we take the other perspective that we are benefiting from them instead, but then, in conflict perspective, this is really the power of money. In a way, I rather trust a stranger friend, than a close relative. However, there is one relative that is really outstanding, extremely humble and kind, always initiated to offer help, with complete trust on us. I believe all families goes through there financial sensitivity issues, therefore I believe most would agree too, that money can really destroy.

Speaking of money can destroy, I wonder if people would really forsake money to help other people, especially when the money is important to them. At 1:30:00 of I Not Stupid 2, Jerry wanted to accumulate enough money equivalent to his dad's one hour salary, to literally buy his time to watch his performance, however knowing his brother needed immediate money for a ransom, he gave him despite being treated badly by Tom. INS ftw~! never fails to uncover day to day lives of people, perhaps just that Jerry thing a bit waste of time, but its still an awesome show!

My mum tried to use a relative to destroy the harmony of our own 3 person family, what the hell is that? Stopped her immediately,  before she goes on and on again, and attacking my dad's family. I could guarantee to say my dad was hurt too, he shared with me saying at times, probably because it was really too long ago since his meditation course,  he felt so angry that he would punched all out on the bed or kick the sofa or something. Displacement defense mechanism if I'm not wrong. I can totally related to that, i was so angry long long time ago that I punched the wall with full force, cuz I have to release that tension immediately can the wall is the nearest target except for the computer. So ofcoz, I did not have time to notice the plug there, thus leaving a deep 7 layer skin tear on my knuckles, that I could see my bones.

So I stopped that, then being mum, she went on and on emphasizing how great his the relative and so on and so forth, like incek muthu, during war time, if you cook in the jungle, enemy aircraft above, they see the smoke,  they will bombard the whole area, you die, i die, everybody die......... let me give you another example..........

Sigh, then I relate that to principle of being human, confucianism, christianity, buddhism, and some testimonies, and then the mine cart philosophy problems. And slowly, after dominating the whole conversation, everything ends.

Just watched an old series of I Not Stupid 2, the TV drama version.

There was this episode where the brothers were fighting, and therefore the vexed mother got the help of Cheng Cai to reconcile them. They were like the needle and thread, constantly strangling each other, when will they get along. So Cheng Cai staged Jerry's disappointing act, making Tom really worried and angry at himself for not being responsible for Jerry's safety. Anyway, the granny is damn funny!!

Simple episode, but really, sometimes it's really lonely not to have siblings around. At least a brother to look after or one to look up to can vibrant up household life much. So similar cases, I often see brothers not getting along very well, but there are some which I think its damn nice too, though it might means that one party have to be the one kept giving in.

Sch started, and I started to feel the resistance. After all the demands, its really hard to think of what would I be in the future? Doris Day believes in Que Sera Sera, but not everything can be done so. Especially when the flame in you goes flickering and dim, we needed oil to fuel us up again. Though the business module seems to be in my favor, the other modules seems to be of high demands. I had basic knowledge for Econs, and figured out the overview of POA to aid my BBfinance. Indeed, the patching sessions with Jo, Tai and Sheng is extremely helpful! Haha, it would be even awesome is one day a teacher came in to say that we got to learn thermofluids hahahha! Viscosity.

Sometimes, I do feel weird, like though I sort of socialize well with strangers, I cant really follow up well. Often I get stuck with awkward silences and uncommon topic to talk about. Perhaps, one day I should start reading up on a collection of ice breaker topics. '

Sigh. It is now midnight. Probably the loneliest time of a day.

Watched How I Met Your Mother, the episode was about having legendary nights, as Barney defines it, nights which they will all remember. Barney wanted all nights to be legendary, which Ted feels that this would make none of it legendary. So in the end, we found out that Barney wanted to do so because he could not afford to just live life idling in the night while his stripper girlfriend "works". He could not imagine what is she doing, who and how. So similarly, I guess people do feel this way too, thinking in the middle of the night, what are our friends doing? How we wish we can spend every moment with everyone every time?
Ted on the similar other hand, was probably an escapist too, trying to cope with the sudden arrangement that he is gonna be alone. Loneliness is the theme, of the episode and of my blog.

So yea, this year my relationship with the WuXuan people are probably closer, we spent more time coming together and Marvel and discuss Wushu related stuffs. However, i dont know, its just that when we are one on one, except for Tai, the chemistry isnt there anymore. We spend more time talking rubbish than sharing our lives and problems to get to know one another better. As mentioned, we have this dummy with all the post-its on it, we sort of fixed the attributions to them, and did not review to see if there are some to be changed.

So sometimes, really, if I could, I really would want someone, to be a complete listener, to listen to all my problems and feelings, from the common, to the deep, to the private, to some of the things that I have NEVER spoken about. Sometimes, I do roam about 9gag, since its a great sociology tool to explore the private world which we share the common problem yet dont mention much in life, so as to chance upon scenarios which is rather true yet have not much chance to speak up of. Somehow through that, I do feel better, like as if someone else in the nation have a common think with me too, and that I'm not alone. Moreover, 9gag would never know me, I'm invisible, which makes it best because a listener who never know me personally would be sort of safer.

I wonder do Heaven feel this way too? That no one feels the way He feels? Or no one understand Him but only predict or impose attributes on Him, based on Earthly logic and understanding?

For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

In the world of diversities, of rivers and trees, love’s the best fantasy.

Through peaks and valleys, through crests and troughs, you’ll see my vow will never vary.

How much tangling vines, how many awaited dawns, how much more prickly thorns?

Till I finally hold your hand so firm, so tight, we soar up and take flight.

万世沧桑唯有爱是永远的神话

潮起潮落始终不悔真爱的相约

几番若痛的纠缠多少黑夜掐扎

紧握双手让我和你再也不离分

四海兄弟满
知己不剩几
伯牙为绝弦
叹思昔日欢

A small reply for a friend as he wrote

酒逢知己饮，诗向会人吟
相识满天下，知心能几人

Though my chinese not at a level to write great poems, I think this is a small reply, a rather forceful one, to just sort of share his sorrows. I was having a HTHT with a close friend of mine the other day. I mentioned about how I find more appreciated and recognized in other groups than this, and that perhaps as days goes by, we sort of have a certain labels and stereotypes of each other, like as if we are a dummy and there are post-its filled with adjectives on us, "lazy", "otaku", "aggressive", etc etc. As such, as days goes by, we are less sensitive to changes in one another. I think there is definitely a certain 2 degree equation graph, where the melody (ur soul mate - one who knows u best) knows the out of you at the maximum point, then decline back down again. So in every relationship, I think there is a certain effort that each got to take, like updating one another or showing concerns to one another, to savour the relationship. If course, this is hard, and might not seems to be worth it for there are many passer-bys in our lives.

So then today I attended a talk on parenting with Tai's mum at Bedok South. Rather glad I was there, to share about my insights and views since I'm closer to their children in a sense I'm also a teen. So there are some concerns on the going astray and sleeping late, etc. Somehow, I felt like I want to follow up with them too so that I can help them create a better parent child relationship in their household. But everything was happening fast, didnt had much chance to network more. Perhaps next time, I could socialize more and who knows I might have a chance for paid tutoring.

So today I felt lousy in tuition. I spent quite sometime coming out with problems, which most of them turn up faulty or too challenging that they became unmotivated. Sigh, gotta improve on that. Then ofcoz, there are those who would go like "throw away the paper larh, all faulty de". In the end, Im rather glad I had one solid sets of questions on algebra and quadratic equations.

Then it comes to the youth program where I helped ZY and JL to lead games. They had fun playing dodge"soft toys" haha. They even had this concept of revival when your group mates caught the soft toy. It gets the game really fun. So after so much fun that I thought it was a wonderful success, they do feel a little "fail", which when they raised it up I was very quick to suppress it, because that was a wrong wrong thought! Since it was so successful, small trivial matters shouldnt matter! So I kept assuring them that they did a great job. It was this point in time where they need approval of what they do, and to experience the industrial success instead of sense of inferiority. I had that sense when I was young, in fact nowadays a little too, so I definitely would not want them to have this feeling, but to empower and encourage them.

So then, my plan of going the East Meadow houses cancelled because both houses arent free. Sigh. So as I make my way back, I wrote a long msg, though it doesnt took me too long, to motivate and encourage the "game masters". I got their replies, and I was literally on cloud 9. I glimmered and smiled the moment they replied. I was really really glad. It felt really good.

On top of that, just not long ago, I had this ex-classmates' sister that once had a huge argument with her bros that it was as if the whole house splitting. Then I was reassuring her that everything will be okay in the end, and she thanked me, so I thanked her. She made my day full of blissful energy, and reassured myself too, that I do make good influences too.

She thanked me for being patient. Then I recalled back my patience level last time and now again.Yea, guess I was a bit aggressive last time, that it sort of nurture this sense of "grumpiness" in me as others see me. So yea, no matter how calm and "polite" I might sound now, this post-it characteristics have anchored in my image too deep to be lifted.  

So yea, really had a happy day. =D cheers~!

Yesterday was awesome, I had 2 rounds of pizza hut, one with WuXuan, one with family. =D Awesome to the max!! Then I went to library and borrowed some books that looks interesting by the blink, to aim for the folder that could be redeemed after borrowing 12 books. So far, 2 of them were rather disappointments.

So today, I woke up early to collect the library books which I left at Tai house thus gotta meet him before his school. Then, went to TP on the hope to bounce into some familiar faces, but guess today was supposed to be a lonely day. Right after that, went to BBT shop, only to find it closed too, so I spent the whole day at home alone. Parents went out, so I practically got nothing else to do but sleep and imagine questions to be set for Saturday. I thought of using Marvel Avengers as a complete exam paper for the students haha. Wonder if it is possible, must be full of crap.

Anyway, so I asked Jo the other day too, I asked, why do we imagine? what taught us to do so? what motivated our brains to be delusional? Every kid do imagine that our toys come to life, some imagined for freedom, some mimics and go into the Game Stage Theory by Mead. However, before all these exposure, do we imagine? I'm sure we do, we imagined strangers to be some monster perhaps, but no one taught us what are monsters? They are just simply unprecedented encounters, just strangers. So what causes us to imagine? As we age, we also predict and imagine future possible situations, like the Looking Glass Self. And ofcoz, all of us dreamt of fame one way or another. Then, perhaps, some of us imagined life if certain things dont happen, or imagined what was it like in others' shoes.

Then on the same day I asked too. That as we grow older, because of our maturity to know that all problems are common to mankind, we know that problems do come, problems do get solved too, and problems are there for everyone, so why would people go to the extreme to lose humanity and suicide and etc? Frankly speaking, I have imagined several situations which I did not think I could handle too, and sometimes I get engulfed by the thought so bad I almost lose myself in the frustrations and state of mind. Then I gotta step back and calm myself again. So, by this theory, as we age, we should be wise enough to be rather calm in dealing with anything and everything? No wonder old masters in movies are so calm and relaxed.

There was this TED video on Laura Carstensen: Older people are happier. It is just as I thought. "We gotta safe the older people, so that we could get them to save us". With many social sciences experiments done by many great researches with great cutting edge technology, we concluded that the fact that we know we could not live forever in this world, led us to live a happier life and perhaps, more meaningful life. Many researches are done by conducting cross-sectional survey on stress, anger, worry, happiness and other feelings, on a daily basis, over period of time. Results obviously show that older people live happier life. Older people remember more positive images and happy faces than younger people. However, there are also studies over a cohort over a period of time and there are results that the same respondent has changes in their happiness as they age.

Older people trying to put up a positive mindset on an otherwise depressing existence?
Older people might be cognitive impaired. Positive emotions easier to process? or unable to process negative process?

These are proven be be not true. There are indeed shift of perspectives towards life as we age. Thus, the more matured we are, the clearer our priorities int his lifetime, the lesser we are affected by problems in life, thus we feel happier. And it is not that because the problems are repeated, but no matter how big or how trivial are the problems, we do not receive it at full blow, we have cushioned it with the acceptance or the understanding of life at this age.

And thus I conclude, I'm ageing too fast, I should be more emotional about problems and rant and vent as others would.

Today, Im gonna touch on this old classic from Westlife. This should be their first few number 1 hits from their very first album. I think the arrangements, the style of singing and the lyrics suited the song like red wine and lamb chop.

In a summary, I think the song is talking about a man knowing that his girl cheated on him. So he felt really stupid to be with her so long and etc....

Baby, I know the story,
I've seen the picture,
It's written all over your face
Tell me, what's the secret that you've been hiding?
And who's gonna take my place?
I should have seen it coming,
I should have read the signs
Anyway, I guess it's over

This first verse already shows that there is some other guy in the girl's heart. I like the way Westlife sings, where the first 5 lines they sang it as if he sort of "accepted" the fact, and just calmly wanted her to admit it. I can imagine a scene with the man sitting in the sofa, calmed, just giving her a chance to explain. Then, the part where they sang "I should have", here, their tone had this image of swiping their fist like sort of angry, regret about the things he done - to love her. Right after that, they sighed at "anyway", which I think is really really cool!!

[Chorus]
Can't believe that I'm a fool again
I thought this love would never end,
How was I to know?
You never told me
Can't believe that I'm a fool again,
And I who thought you were my friend,
How was I to know?
You never told me

The chorus is like the man is trying to shout out his "regretted" actions of loving her. He is hating himself to be such a fool all along. I find it rich of emotions, really suited the song and lyrics.

Baby, you should've called me,
When you were lonely,
When you needed me to be there
Sadly, you never gave me
Too many chances to show you
How much I care
Ooh, should have seen it coming,
I should have read the signs
Anyway, I guess it's over

This verse, we can see how the man was not involved in the girl's world. Even when she was lonely, or she needed someone to vomit her problems, she would find others but him.

About the pain and the tears
Ooh, If I could, I would,
Turn back the time

This mini bridge is awesome too, they sounded really in "pain" and "tears"....

SO yea, thats for this awesome song. =D

Last week was a busy week, so busy that I had zero time to blog at all.

Basically I was involved in the Ageing Asia Investment Forum 2012.
Luckily for me, I had a minor role to assist the photographer, thus I had really very little work to do. As such, I had many opportunities to hunt down the solo delegates and interact with them. Through them, I think Ive learnt much on their views on the ageing issues, and certain cultural differences with Sg and other countries. Also, I got a chance to sit in some talks, especially the workshop on the first day. The workshop was really awesome that Ive got to know the Japan Model better.

On top of all that, I got to enjoy the delicacies and refreshments. FREE! Wow, in my whole life, I think this event was the first time Ive ate such expensive food, moreover in a buffet style. Totally a luxury.

Ive also gotten to know St Luke Eldercare, which was totally different than what Ive thought. This further proves whatever the government is trying to do in Singapore. With these, Im more and more convinced that this is an awesome course Ive taken, and that there are many awesome things I could do to contribute in the future, to create a better environment for the silver industry to live in.

On Sat, cell as usual, but I had to lead games. Thus, I decided to go for dog and bone. In midst of it, Ive add in variations, like instead of calling numbers, I called "4 times 2 minus 5" kindda thing. Then, I went to "All but odd numbers go", and so on. Then, throwing is allowed, so there will be a mini captain ball involved, which is really really interesting. Then, We played with Yu Qian, purposely called her number, and when she reached the centre, we shouted, "number 7 go back". Haha, then proceeding it, we called her again, then the moment she got the "bone" and ready to run, "number 7 go back" hahahahahhaha!!!! Then on the third time, we asked them to stay there, and the rest of the numbers go forth and then back again, making them feel awkward. Really fun.

On Sun, we finally get to carry out the baseball game Ive been trying to make it happen. So similar to baseball, we have bases, but 4 bases this time, on the corners of the basketball court. On team was to do "skills" activity in the center to 10, and the other team gotta gain base. We have made it the layout of the basketball court so that there will be 2 bases of short distance for them to be tempted risk. Through this, we have achieved to get ALL of them interested in the activity, skills training for the kids and the seniors, physical, and the game concept, as well as team work in the end. An awesome success! It really made me feel good for things like that to be successful, its like finally something different for them to enjoy and in midst, grow.

Then, today, I went out the whole day with Johann, supposed to go for volunteering activity, yet end up getting lost and stroll along the Singapore river. Just chat along, really enjoyable though. I really love interactions. Seriously, he asked, Im so sociable, why havent I get a girlfriend? Haha, many awesome people are like that too, so nice so talented, yet no girlfriend haha. Well, someday, someday I will find one that is a complete match for me. But then again, I was just thinking, perhaps, I dont mind eating soft rice "chi ruan fan" either, and just put up with the everything, and entertain her all the way make her happy. She happy, I benefit, win-win. Then the follow up question was that if I would dump when Im rich, I replied, definitely know, I will not do these "break the bridge after Ive crossed the river" kindda thing. Its just against my principle. Thus after seeing all the movies and all, I really doubted anyone could just betray, even if the reason was that he was a mole for his country to be revived, the benefactor, after everything he had received.

Then, I was pondering about the argument within determinism and free will, and various systems in my life so far, and problems in life.

Anyway, yea, when Ive reached home, Ive come to know that there is a little dispute in my extended family, and I really fear the situation like the relative that betrayed us happened again. Sigh. As much as my parents are proud of whatever Im doing, I get the big pressure to really show them that I am indeed something, different from the rest of the family, who are either delinquents or academically genius.

Then, I saw a few nice videos, about flight attendance improvising their safety announcements with some jokes and raps and dances. Then, the Slain officer's final act of kindness, which he bought a random kid 3 cookies when he asked him for 10 cents that he was short of for one cookie. Then, sadly he was shot the moment he got out of the Mcd branch. Seriously, made me think of "Five people you meet in heaven", and the 2 flower pots that almost dropped on me years ago. That was one topic I pondered alot too, how life could be different if it indeed hit on me, or if it didnt drop in front of me at all, how different would my world view be and what other areas are affected.

Oh, so moving on, I came across another couple of videos, one on a dramatic surprise on a quiet square, whether after passer by pressed the button, there are a series of "mission impossibles" kindda thing, shootings, and accidents, and actions. Really cool. And the last video which I think is really awesome was the "While You Were Sleeping" project, where we prepared a stack of printed cards, and when we found people dozing off around us, we write a simple anonymous note and a drink. This is simply to show that people do care. Perhaps it might not help them to get mroe sleep, get more study time, get lesser stressed, but it will definitely made them feel better that there are people who cared. I think its a really sweet and easy project that we could all embark on. I decided to print a stack to start doing it when poly starts. Aim, 10 people a week. =D =D thats 10 bucks, but worth it money I guess.

Was looking at old archives, again, today, looking at 2009.

2008 was ofcoz the peak of my life I guess, with WuXuan, as most of the posts are describing how much fun we had. So then 2009 it gets less frequent by the month.

So anyway was chatting with Tai, old classmate, and yea, there are lots of things I didnt archive too, like...

Cause she looks like a flower but she stings Like a bee.....
I've been cheated by you since I dont know when....

And ofcoz, the few epic moments when Sheng wrapped his hp with a plastic, that was meant for food I think because there were holes in it.

So I got some nice feedbacks from him, that I dont realize them myself.

"at least i think, you got much more patience than before"
"and perhaps.... you dun shoot off your thoughts out as fast as before, listens to the end"
"in sch, i'm sure you know (as from your blog and the past notes just now)
you didn't like sch at all, thus u were EXTREMELY restless and tend to snap often
and then going into 'bo chup' mode very fast"

yes, that was the time where I didnt really understand that the world is made up of changes, thus I did not accept anger, I merely suppress it, until a moment I exploded and hurt my own fist for a week, with a deep wound.

Guess all is well, all is well. Now that Ive come to know other people living through all the usual problems in life, in sch, well, I feel old.

F: Growing a beard makes him older
E: He has one
E: and strokes it regularly
L: Beard = OLD

And then I came by this archive about Sheng giving us a personal note each, so I ransacked the house to search for it but to no avail =( which made me really really lousy, "nub" as what Jo loves to call me. Then I think back, he hates Doraemon, and I gave him a Doraemon with Tai's Garfield once, and I gave him a dog with the price tag on it once too. Then, I dont know, always seems to be a liability to him. It's time I should do some great stuffs for this coming May.

He wrote, "what matters is not what have i done but WHEN i done it" in that note, exactly what I quoted, "Most important moment is now" in recent years. He must feel damn proud if he still can remember that. Oh right, during the patching session I shared the quite too, I think he felt damn great at that moment =) hopefully =)

SO, was rather curious if people would keep my lengthy notes too? Mainly perhaps KY and AC, which I spent more hearts into drafting them.

Anyway, I did archived that 21st March was when we surprise shijie which got me running 20 laps haha. And that was the day when we first played tie gao yao and the tang poems.

Well, time flies, we're now running the wushu. Haha, then sx was so hilarious, when he say he want pk pasir ris hahas, training people to take over candidates, for Xing Yi, for Liu He, for even Fanzi~! He was very happy with KY's progress. =D

Right, gotta cut short the blog entry, need to rest for a long week ahead. Ciao.

Taken from http://kikkimayo.typepad.com/blog/2011/01/lyric-translation-%E6%82%9Fwu%E5%88%98%E5%BE%B7%E5%8D%8E-andy-lau.html

无量心 生福报 无极限
无极限 生息息 爱相连
为何君视而不见 规矩定方圆
悟性 悟觉 悟空 心甘情愿

An unconditional heart brings great blessings with no boundary
Without boundaries, our fragile lives are all connected through love
Why do you turn a blind eye and let yourselves be restricted by the status quo?
We have to understand about who are we, and our senses, are eventually just emptiness, empty vessels, illusion.

(规矩定方圆: literal meaning, the law/rule/custom decides what is square and what is round)


尘世 藕断还丝连 回首一瞬间
种颗善因 陪你走好每一天
In this live of ours, everything’s interconnected, and it takes only a split second to look back
Let me plant a seed of good will and walk down this road of life together with you

(藕断丝连: literal meaning, when the lotus root breaks there are still a lot of silk threads connecting the two broken pieces. When you want to get rid of something, in this case it’s your past, it’s not that easy because there are evidences of your life before, just like those “silk threads”)

勿生恨 点化虚空的眼
勿生怨 欢喜 不遥远
缠绕 欲望的思念 善恶一瞬间
心怀忏悔 陪你走好每一天
Do not hate your eyes which deceive you
Do not resent, for happiness is not far away
As thoughts are built around your desires, it only takes a split second to decide between good and evil
With a heart of repentance, let me walk down this road of life together with you

These are some translation I find the blogger did it brilliantly, especially where there are culture involved like the literal translation. This song is really cool, while it seems like a buddhist song, with a couple of very buddhist-ish kind of quotes, it does not really convey any religious biasness. It is just talking about general enlightenment. There is even a little of christian essence in it of repentance, and that God has eyes.

So today went for Good Saturday service. Everythings seems rather screwed up, until now I sort of this "bu kan yuan", not satisfied.

The whole thing went like this, we were encouraging the youths to go the service, esp this sec 2 boy, persuaded much to go, finally he accepted, and then 3 more went along. Then, news got into a.Jac ears and she asked them for consent forms, which they dont have, so deny them go. I understand that to her, its her responsibility to make sure we are accounted for, however in our perspective, we are youths. Anyway, its not that we dont take her consent forms seriously, just that its a last minute decision with much effort by the whole pop youths. Anyway, many times our efforts are in vain, like I spent much time setting questions in the end didnt do much today too. Like, we sort of grow old enough to take our own initiatives and responsibility to take care of ourselves and to answer to parents. This involves much peer influences and etc, which wont be so effective if they were to decide one week back, furthermore they might withdraw. So I dont know, to be this is again where rules, customs, and regulations restricts ourselves into status quo, no progression.....

为何君视而不见 规矩定方圆
my translation: why do we have eyes but not see? That sometimes your rules/customs/regulations hindered us to achieve great things.

Blogging activity has been dead recently.

Just came back from Indonesia not too long ago.

So the sudden trip was to renew my passport and make my Indonesia IC, which didnt took too much time, thus had 2 days of shopping and devouring.

Besides that, through updating myself with those around me, I've come to know more about my big family, and other random people.

Indonesia has indeed changed since the last time I went back. The pace of living has increased, perhaps proportionate to the cost of living too because of economy and the recent petrol hike.

The news of the riots infused fear in the city, that they more or less prepare to close shops at 4, and be home at 6, which is greatly to my advantage because traffic is great reduced, and customer flow too. As such, Ive had a closet spree trying out clothes hahas, best thing is they never display black faces!

Oh right, first and foremost, gotta thank Aunt Betty for lending us the family car!! Not many people are willing to lent some "seldom-meet" relative their cars, moreover such an awesome car! And as a result gotta "sacrifice" sitting on 2 wheels.

Then, my awesome grandma that is doing 200 squats a day, who rushed back to meet me as soon as she heard that I am coming. She's more than three quarter decade, yet still so able, so lively, so strong!

Lastly, an awesome family to finally stop nagging and recognizing whatever I do

The first person I talked to was seemingly having a good life, for he is smiling, and taking everything to easy, so confident, and optimistic, yet his life was like 10,000 feet underwater. He was pressurized by a wife who picks on him constantly, a mother-in-law who is fragile and barely recognize anyone, a challenged son to look after, and a growing daughter so is busy with work and hardly home. With all these pressure, I doubt I can take it.

Was sharing with a friend when he says, perhaps, he got used to it. Perhaps. But, to have such huge burden in life, yet under pressure and criticisms of whatever you do, it's a miracle that one did not lose his sanity. No matter how used to it you are, how can you find joy or hope there?

Then, the other side of the picture becomes clear, that he had this one plot of land that is profitable right now. Then again, material possessions apart, dont he feel lonely? That his closed ones are seldom spending conscious quality time with him? I dont know, I used to think that intimacy and relationships, in whatever forms, are just earthly things, that should be forgo and be detached to them like the ways of Buddha. However, as I grow older, I realized how dear everyone is to me. It's like no matter who, I yearn to have a close relationship for them to understand me and for me to understand and care for them.

Then another friend was saying that I couldnt take hardship. Well, true enough. I think, as we grow older, we are getting more and more cowardly, we fear, we fear of losing, we fear of falling, we fear of hurting, we fear of unaccomplished wishes. I told him once, long ago, that if I were to be under threats and torture, I would rather suicide than to live with that. I told my family too, that if I were to lose my conscious like dementia or to be completely handicapped in some important body functions, I'd rather have an euthanasia. So perhaps, Im really a coward, someone unworthy of living life.

Then again, I have an attitude, so too bad I guess, I will do my best to give the best out of me to the world, whatever is left undone, I shall leave it to the world to clear the mess. Talent is a curse, that once you know of it, you got a responsibility to take it and put it to good use, as such, if you do not maximizing it, you will be judged by the society around you. For when you know you are able to achieve something, yet its too late for it, that regret, will be worst than having your lungs stuffed with cotton wools. I will try to unleash my talents, to try to make the best out of it, but if the environment gets too violent, I shall give up. Escapist? Or trying to find alternatives? Or to fight for freedom? You choose.

The countless heroes in the world inspired me to create heroes, just as TEDxSingapore speaker Thaddeus spoke, to not just be inspired, but inspiring, do not just be heroes, but create heroes. I would try to pass whatever I know to people, try to nurture as much people, but I guess, gritting my teeth and bracing the storm isnt really my thing. Since young, I always dreamed of being young masters, to have a smooth life. Maybe, it's just my nature, my personality.

Talent is a curse. You discover you have a talent for something, and suddenly, you are burdened with that awful obligation, "potential." Unfulfilled potential seems to be the highest crime known to humankind, easily outranking murder, assault and petty theft in the annoying persistence of its punishment. quoted from the google search

The TED event was successful, Ive meet people within the committee, as well as talked to some audiences, and also to know the speakers, and from all these come to know the various works of awesome people in TED. With these, I will grab opportunity of future events, to be part of the committee, to be along side with these awesome people that could change the world.

The TED event was so inspiring, that as they ask, what is the one step you would take today? Teaching comes to my mind, entrepreneurship comes to my mind. I want to develop innovative ideas and methods to infuse education in it, like modifying games, creating games, de-bugging games, to fortify it and to equip them with more essence of learning. I shall begin with the few ideas Tai had. Then, it would be Pop Excel, then, it woudl be WuXuan. =D