Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Movie: I Am Legend

SPOILERS AHEAD


About a month ago, my brother showed me the trailer of I Am Legend. It sure seemed exciting. Nonetheless its not my usual type of movie, i think i'll get freaked out if i watch it. But all my friends were interested in it, and so i went to watch it just now at AMKhub.


I wont write too many spoilers here. But there's one thing that really touched my heart when i was watching it. The trailer has told as much about the movie, that a virus has wiped out the entire human population, mutating humans into Dark Seekers, fleshing eating monsters who are afraid of ultra violet light. The main character is a scientist with a strong will to cure the infected ones but time is running out as the Dark Seekers wait for him to make one wrong move. The scientist is only accompanied by man's best friend, his dog Samantha.

So here's the part i want to write about. Many a times, he nearly broke down. Being alone is hard. But he totally lost it when he lost his dog to the Dark Seekers due to an error he made. All of a sudden, he was alone. The one and only person in the world. At least, that seems to be so on the surface. It really make me understood how scary it was to be alone.


Sometimes we feel lonely, ya? Sometimes thats scary. Sometimes its really sad. For guys, they may just shrug it off, push the feeling away, or just do something on his own. For girls, they may indulge in shopping, cry it out, thrash it out by talking to someone else. But you know, i just saw one of my friend's MSN nickname. He went to watch it with me. He wrote "if there's someone out there, you're not alone". Maybe we should give ourselves a break sometimes, because we really arent that alone. Not as much as the main character. Or maybe its just me who needs to give myself a break. Lol.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Event: Singapore Police Force Scholarship Tea Session

The 15th of December was the Singapore Police Force Scholarship Tea Session at the Police Cantonment Complex. When we reached there, it was just as my friends said, they wouldnt start until there were enough people. But being on time pays off, as some food were prepared for us. Soon other people came, such as some of my JC mates and secondary school mates. And surprise surprise, to me that is, that i'm not the only one in golden hair. I guess wild people are everywhere.

The first part of the session was of course briefing about the details of the talk. Nothing special, i've learnt them all from the websites already. Then a Overseas Singapore Police Force Scholar (SPFOS) told us some of his experience. Well actually while he was saying his story, i kind of doze off a little. I was a little tired. And during the times when i was awake, "Zzz" appeared on my handphone, as i keyed them in... Then another officer showed us a video of his division. Cool, i felt. It was something like a typical life of a policeman. Let me recall, its something like "7.30am, checking in, receiving weapons from the armory. 8.30 briefing. 9.30 doing some checks... then 1pm sports and fun. 5pm patrols are some areas." and seriously, i thought it was going to end at 5pm, then it continued to 9pm. And then seriously again, i thought it was going to stop there, then it continued to 1am! 12am onwards were all the raids at entertainment outlets, drug busting and the likes. Totally exciting, and exhausting. It went on all the way till 7.30am again, then they "checked out". Guess they're gonna check in the next minute again.


Then we went for some sight seeing. My group went downstairs first to take a look at some equipment the SPF uses. The best part was the vehicle itself and the bullet proof vests. We were allowed to sit in it to take a photo, and i was the first person to chiong there. Lols. But unfortunately another guy beat me to it cause he was nearer. At first my friends didnt want to take a photo, but after seeing the thrill of me doing it, they wanted too. Unfortunately i cant say that i handed the camera to the right person... Just compare the photos below later. There were all taken by me, except when i appeared in it.


Then we went to the armory to take a look at the weapons. The Taser, Taurus Revolver, the baton, and the shotgun. Learnt a little about the procedures of handling weapons and when to use them. Then we went into a room to learn more about the Taser and saw a demostration on using it. Its really cool how professional the officer sounded. "Sir! Please comply with us and stay down!" Then if he doesnt comply, "Sir! If you still do not comply with us then we will be forced to use the Taser on you!" If he still doesnt comply, BANG! ZAP! Totally cool. Too bad we didnt get to touch it.


After that we got to eat again. Haha. They said there will be a Q and A session, we didnt know that the session is on going as we eat. The police lanyard they gave is cool as well. Hmm, i sure am interested in the weapons, but you wont get to use them often in Singapore. Not everyday, not once a week, and i'm pretty sure not even once a month or even once half a year especially for the Taser.


Compare how i look with Edwin, the vest is way oversized for me



Clear and nice photo

Cool and accurate photo

This is what happens when the cameraman is inexperienced, and it has nothing to do with me being ugly




Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Student Leader Intensive 2007

I'm 18 this year, and when i was 14, i was part of the batch of students who rebuilt the Student Leader Board in 2003. The SLB has come a long way. That said, it means that i am the pioneer batch of the SLB, batch zero if you'd like to call it. And the youngest of the pioneers too. So far i've seen through 5 Intensives. Looking at the young ones make me want to blog a little about it. But first, i guess i can do with some complaining first...



1) I dont understand why people have to classify seniors as "seniors" and "super seniors". I'm only 18 and i'm not even the oldest senior around. There's still ben huang ok? Just call us seniors in general.
2) I'm not old so stop calling me old.
3) I havnt been nagging for a long time. There's more to my life than constantly nagging at you people. So for goodness sake to those who havnt seen me for a long time, i'm a changed man. I have better things to do than making my voice reflect off your ears.





Truthfully, its difficult to put down the board. The batch before mine has moved on already, including some from my batch. Somehow i just cant. It keeps running in my mind (recently), how i used to be an SL, how proud and arrogant i was as the Head of Disciplinary Board. And each time i think about it, tears seem to fill my eyes, even after 2 years, even after telling myself that i (should) have moved on, even now. People tell me im extremely bad at human relations (its a life skill), that im not good at managing my people, lousy at communicating. But to me, my fellow SLs are like my family, the board is like my wife. Like how Mr Chee has put it, if you dont treat it as a family, you wont like it, it'll be like a chore. To me, SLB isnt even a commitment, its purely something that i had to do, wanted to do.





2 years since i have graduated. Its quite a long time. This batch of sec3s would be the last batch of SLs that i handpicked personally in the SL Selection, they would be the last batch of people i know. But looking at the new faces, it reminds me of the old times. My blur face evident in my old photos, my memories filled with the awkward times i tried so hard to fit in (first SL farewell i attended when i was sec1? doing duty at the spiral staircase? receiving orders to clear the SL room from 2 seniors whose names i dont even know throughout the whole session?).





Everyone starts from scratch. There are different types of people, the loud ones who always seem to fit in quickly, the shy ones who open up gradually and the serious ones who seems to shun everything and everyone away. There are several opportunities, projects, committee stuff, duties, CCA roles. There are different people to guide you, mentor, camp group leader, ExCos, comm heads.




And then, there's you. How your road goes and winds up at, depends on what you want. Life is unfair, it never was and never will be. But dont you think your life would be more worthwhile if you think back in the future and you CAN tell yourself, that i've found friends, i've grown, i did what i can, i left the board a better place than when i first join it. I joined the board with no regrets.





And so i thought back. My life as an SL was an eventful one. I really doubt anyone had more projects than me... (or duties for that matter). There were many roads i had to travel through, there were many friends i had to venture these roads with. There i was, standing in the circle surrounding the very very first batch of ExCos, watching the final ceremony going on ( during the first Intensive). The ExCos cried. I dont think i understood. Felt sad, sure. But why i know not of. Then i cried too. I dont know why either. But now, i think i know why. I sure have grown. And to my juniors, you will too, that i assure you. Everytime i come back to my beloved Board to help out, it awes me to no end. My juniors, the most important people in the board, my family members, i watched them grow, and they did. Now i can barely recognise them. Then i recall, i too, have grown up.





This post is getting no where huh?



To be clear, the Intensive is supposed to be realisation. To realise what you lack. To realise you need to grow. SLB is a big family, each of you is required. The board will do for no less.




Venture through this journey with the mindset you picked with your own will, and soon you will find yourself looking back and saying that, "hey, i sure grew up". And to find yourself tearing at the memories of your SL life, is one to be called a worthwhile life.







Dont break my wife ok? I still love her. And each and everyone of you. Dont let me (and you) lose hope of the board. Dont make me (and you) think that the board is no longer deserving of my attention.


Dont make me stop crying.
Dont make us stop crying.







Soar, because the best is yet to be.





The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Head of Disciplinary Board



The SLB Investiture 2005 (with 2nd batch of ExCo, including myself)