Brain Storm: Diversity Of Intellect

This is an excerpt from Sundown Marathon 2010 Facebook group. Sundown was pretty screwed up and many people were complaining. Then this girl popped up and suggested that the organising committee might be from NTU/NUS (which is totally impossible anyway since Hivelocity was the organiser).

I think this is inevitable. There is social disintegration in our country and many who are in good schools (but may not be doing very well) tend to not know much about the intellect structure. Some people think of it as elitism when smarter-than-average-Singaporeans complain about how they are not good enough. Many of my friends are in this category. We were never exposed to the so called less intellectually inclined people (okay we do but not to many of the people out there). When I was in JC, my friend told me how as long as you are in a JC, you are already considered smart and minority of the society makes up the JC faction. I was like "you've got to be joking".

Until I entered the army, I never faced the actual society breakdown. And even after that, I never considered myself to be, well, smarter than average. I'm always surrounded by smart people so I guess I can call it peer influence. However I have also learnt to be more tactical and careful with my words when I complain about my stupidity, though I doubt I am sensitive enough.

Anyway, call me an elitist (I know I am one, but the difference is that I try to curb it), I find the above comments funny. Like, funny in a sarcastic way.

To some people: NUS/NTU students are smart? How more shallow can you be?

To yet some other people: you guys sound like you're sour because you're not university students. hah!

Ramblings: Rich Spoilt People Should Go And Die

I was about to alight from bus 83. This woman who looks like she's in her early 20s grumbled to her friends "are we reaching already? everyone alighted from the bus. i've never taken a bus ride this long before!"

She looked genuinely upset about the bus ride. Needless to say she was dressed in some branded goods and she's all glittering. She also constantly whined about the fact that they should have taken a cab.

Bus 83 is a short trip service. From one interchange to the other it takes about 20mins. When I was going to alight, it was only 15mins.

Go kill yourself, bitch.

Brain Storm: Principles Of Life

When I just started blogging seriously in J2, when my blog address was still xunzhaoziji.blogspot, a large part of the skin was talking about my principles in life. I don't know what's the word for it, when you know, somebody lives a life rigidly. Somehow, my 3 principles of life govern my way of living to a certain extent, but I wouldn't say I live solely by them. There's still individual judgement to be made. I am still surprised at how immature they are, yet how much they apply to me, and how much I rely on them subconsciously to make my decisions.

My 3 principles are:
1) I am to help my friends as much as possible
2) I will not force myself to do something that will make me feel miserable
3) I will not lie

Each principle transcends the one below it. For example, if lying will myself feel less miserable, then I will lie. The principles sound really stupid yeah. But sometimes when I am at a dilemma and am not sure what to do, I sometimes consult this. It gives me a direction. Sounds kinda like a religion huh? For a free thinker like me, that is my guiding light.

Oh by the way, like the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics (they probably found out another fundamental law after they already came up with 3 laws, thus naming it Zeroth Law). My Zeroth Principle will probably be reserved for that special someone. Love transcends all!

Lol...

Tech Speak: Google Reduces Productivity For 2 Days

Google's Playable Pac-Man Game Last Friday Destroyed Work Productivity, Cost $120M - Geekologie

Who says Google is always good?

Brain Storm: If I Have To Be Ordinary

The verdict came out a few days ago. NUS rejected me for their scholarship. NUS' University Scholarship Programme also rejected me. I am only left with IDA's local NIS and NTU. I doubt I'll get NTU and one of my friend has already confirmed his overseas NIS so I doubt I'll get it too. Heck, I didn't even go for the interviews. I got outright rejected. Yeah I sort of predicted it. Who will want someone with lousy results like mine?

I always wanted to be extraordinary. Throughout my life, I have always been applying for this, appealing for that. And I always get it. Army was the first place where I was less than extraordinary, I wasn't even ordinary then. I was less than that. I was proven that society was harsher than I ever thought it to be. And for the first time, I had to consider and even accept being in the social norm.

Being introverted, I dislike taking initiative. Yet another side of me knows I want to do something bigger. I want to be different. Maybe it's better than I get rejected anyway.

When I got rejected, I always blame myself for being stupid. For the first time in 3 years (since I enlisted, and stupid army woes don't count), I was really unhappy. I feel dejected, when everyone else around me got scholarships or are going overseas to study (okay not everyone. but a lot of them). Maybe I should have studied harder for A Levels. Then again. I already studied very hard for them. So I'm just stupid afterall. Okok, someone's going to say that I did not really study very hard cause I didn't really study a certain subject and I got a C for that...

Oh well. I just hope other doors of opportunities are still out there. And I hope I get off my lazy ass to find them. I can't imagine a life being ordinary.

Brain Storm: How Booking Works

This is wrong.

Moments ago I went to my friend's 21st party invitation page on Facebook. One of his friends wrote "I'll ask around to see whether the rest are going okay?" and another wrote "I'll confirm with you when the date's nearer". Now, I'll assume his first friend's response meant he wants to check if other people are going first before confirming his attendance.

Case 1

Refer to my post http://infinitelyme.blogspot.com/2010/02/brain-storm-ill-be-there-for-you-not-be.html
When you are invited to a big party, chances are you are highly valued by your friend. I mean, nobody would want to invite someone he doesn't like right? (unless you are the only person disliked by him in the whole group and he sees a need to not leave you out) Especially on someone's 21st party, I think it is not too much of a point whether your other friends are going or not. Heck, if you think you're not too close to the host and feel that you will only be comfortable with going with other friends, you bloody keep that to yourself. When Jason told me that he doesn't want to go for my birthday party cause he's not close to my friends, he knows very well that if he doesn't turn up, he probably have to treat me at some high class restaurant and sing me a birthday song himself. So unless you think it'll work out like that, you shouldn't tell the host that you want to KIV (keep in view) his party. It's plain rude.

Case 2
If there's a reason why I sent out my invitation well a month before my party, and why my friend sends out his invitation 1.5months before, it is to book your stupid ass. The reason for early notification is so that we can get you to write in your calender that "yes, techiewen has asked me out on this day 1 month ago so he should have priority". We aren't unreasonable bastards. If something truly important pops up, like your girlfriend is having her period and needs someone to bite on, fine. If you havn't seen your boyfriend for 2 days and he suddenly says "oh babe I miss you and I want to have sex with you right now" and you can't turn up for the party, so be it. These important reasons mean your backing out can be forgiven. It makes sense doesn't it? That when someone books you way in advance, it is only right that you give him your time. If your other bitch friend comes along the day before and say "hey let's go for a movie!", you mean that's more important and deserves more priority? If truly on that day you have nothing on, agree to the party first if you so want to go. Any thing that pops up urgently can be explained. If not, just keep your loose hole of a mouth shut instead of telling your friend that you're going to KIV his party.


I didn't asked you for your time a month in advance to get pang seh-ed cause you're menstruating or cause you need to go find prostitutes.

Event: Passion Run

Passion Run took place in East Coast Park on 22nd May. It was the worst race ever, in many many different ways. First when I got the event singlet, I got a shock. It was not nice to say the least. Take a look below. At least the finisher tee was a tad nicer (but dark grey and bright yellow?? wrong combo). Unfortunately it's a muscle tee, the kind which is stretchable and should only be worn by people who has bulging muscles. When I reached the event area, it looked pretty okay. The baggage deposit area was quite empty and I just casually chose another row to deposit my waist bag. Then I saw Wilson. So we chatted for a while and to my dismay when I walked over to join the second wave, I realised that the starting point was no where to be found. It seems like you have to queue very close to the starting point and they only allow a number of people to pass through. So I had to wait at the "seemingly start point" for the last wave, which was retarded. They should have let more people pass. The run itself wasn't extremely bad. The distance markers were very small, the drink stations were short handed. The worst thing was that there wasn't many volunteers who were equipped with the pain relief spray. Throughout the whole run, I only saw 2 medics. Hello the race length is 25km not 2km. How can you only have 2 medics? There was many U turns in the route and other than the fact that the roads were not closed and we had to share with the cyclist and other runners, the route wasn't so bad. 

The worst came after I finished the race. I decided to walk around before heading to get my bag. It took me a while to find the deposit station cause the place was really dark and they didn't bother with putting many lights. There were long queues everywhere at the station and I didn't understand how it work. It was supposed to be A to F but I saw 2 long queues at the right hand side of the booth only. When I approached one of the student volunteers, she told me to "join the queue". Later another student came to ask if our baggage number was E. After checking it seems that mine was but the first girl didn't check any of that. Then the second girl was saying how there's a shorter queue but did not explain to every individual about it but I overheard it was only for a range of numbers. Then she just shouted for people to follow her. If I hadn't overheard it, I would have followed and join the wrong queue. The queues were badly organised. Many people were cutting queue and believe me I felt like slapping that girl behind me who cut my queue later on. It was obvious that only E had a lot of people. I waited for an hour before it was my turn. I wanted to sms my friends, I wanted to wipe myself dry, wanted to change into slippers, but my phone, my towel and my slippers were all in my bag. When it was my turn, the students just kept shouting NEXT NUMBER!? and whoever shouted will get their attention. The bags were all placed randomly on the racks obviously because they had to ask the runners what's the colour and brand of their bag. Allow me to openly declare that TK students are nuts when it comes to common sense. Where's the organisation? Where's the procedure? Every queue should have a few students allocated to them, not the students running around like that. Let's say it was a class CIP, don't tell me the class chairman or the student councillors (if any) were all stupid? And the organisers didn't even bother to check. If a bunch of kids can't handle the job then you guys have to step in right?

And when I was searching for the shuttle bus, I realised that there was no signs for it. So I just followed a big bunch of runners. It turned out that they were all lost and the area was so dark that I stubbed my toe. And last I checked, even if we made it to the correct place for the shuttle bus, we would have to walked a few km. The organisers are really really retarded. You try running 25km and then climb over barricades and overhead bridges. 

No more Passion Run next year. Below was my complaint in their Facebook group and it won't be surprising to know that none of their admins mann the group. Got to send a complain letter to them.

The baggage deposit was really bad. The students were just running around with zero organisation and order. It was not distributed evenly, resulting in E having a way longer queue. The volunteers did not do a proper crowd control and after trying to spilt E into 2 rows, the rows ended up messy and some people managed to cut queue easily. If the students cannot do a good job, it is necessary for some of the organisers to teach them how it should be done. They just kept shouting "next number!" and they just helped to search for the person who shouted their number even if they are not next in line. I waited one full hour before I got my bag.

There was also no signs to the returning shuttle bus. Some runners ended up lost or giving up on looking for it. The area was not well lit and it wasn't easy to make our way around the booths etc and since our phones are in our bags (which takes forever to collect), it was hard for some runners to contact their friends who did not finish together. 

Lastly it seems that the organisers do not care about this Facebook group. They do not answer the questions asked (not even delayed answers). When I emailed them about an error they made with my registration, it took them 2 full weeks AND a reminder email before they replied me.

you're not going to make me wear this

this is their freebie. energy gel by shotz. i gave it a shot, and it tasted like shit. (okay it didn't taste like shit, it tasted like cough syrup)

Tech Speak: The Falling Of Yet Another

Today is a day we grieve. For yet another soul has fallen to the dark side.

Luckily, it wasn't a close friend. I swear, if a the next close friend of mine gets an IPHONE, he's dead.

I think he'll rather die by my hands than to die from a lack of individuality and as a slave of Steve Jobs.

Ramblings: Confession Of My Greenish Past

Okay I suddenly remembered this and felt like blogging it. When we went to Brunei, for Nomad we lost to Charlie's OC team by 10mins. It was actually because... on the last day of Nomad, Kay Siong and I actually woke up quite early, like at 7am. But because the rest were all asleep, we didn't want to wake them up and waited till like nearly 8am before we woke them up. (heck, we were supposed to move off at 6+...)

Lol.

Food: Kim Chi Seaweed

You must have eaten this brand of seaweed before. Now Fairprice sells the Kim Chi Flavour as well. Fabulous. Not for Leonard.

TechieEat: Food For Thought

My friend tweeted a review about this in the morning and since I was going near Bras Brasah with my other friends, I suggested this place and we headed straight to Food For Thought. It's a little red building on the right when you exit from the Queen Street exit at Bras Brasah Station. The ambience was really good. It was small, but cosy. They decorated their ceiling with 540 glass bottles. We were, however, shocked to find out that our table was the only one (occupied) under the glass bottles. Nice, but we still feel a bit insecure. Potted flowers that are hung inverted add to that unique atmosphere. 

We were lucky to get seats I think. Everyone else who came in after us seemed to have reservations done. Unfortunately the menu was lacking in variety. There was Risotto, pasta, and their breakfast extends all the way up till 5.30pm. I heard their breakfast is good. Gotta try sometime. The price range was a little on the high side. My friends ordered Risotto and I ordered the spicy beef pasta. My pasta was only so so, but the shitake risotto was good. The servings are a little on the small side too. Overall this is a great place for a chill out session. 

 Food For Thought -
8 Queen Street
Shitake Mushroom Risotto - 4/5
Spicy Beef Pasta - 3/5
Ambience - 4.5/5

Sights And Sounds: Lame After Sale Ethics

Quite a few days ago, I noticed this group of Indians, probably middle age and above with bulky Adidas plastic bags bundled with cable tie. So my first impression was, there was some Adidas warehouse sale somewhere. No it is not a crime to buy a lot during a warehouse sale. So I didn't mention anything at first, until my friend pointed out his shoes to me. They look brand new. They look disgusting. I mean it's purple, baby blue and yellow. Wrong colour combination, for a middle age Indian man anyway. And worst of all, it suggests that he wore it after buying it. Like, what's the deal? Then I also noticed his shirt was a brand new Adidas one. What's with wearing (ugly) things immediately after you bought from a warehouse sale? What are you trying to portray? That you're cool? Oh please. 

Ramblings: And Then I Asked "HAPPY?"

Apparently my friends are more worried about me procrastinating about getting my driving license than myself. But okay, thanks to them, I got off my lazy butt to make an account and booked my Basic Theory Test, after 7 months.

I even posted this photo on Facebook and ask if they're happy now that I booked it. Looks like they are quite happy about it...

Youtube: Lady Gaga - Speechless (Live at the VEVO Launch Event)

Call me slow but I am so awed by this.

Brain Storm: Have You Done Anything You Regretted At All As A Child?

It must have happened before. It might not seemed important at first, or later. But when we were young, I meant as kids, we must have done something terrible. Be it beating up other kids, stole something (with a totally innocent mind), bullied someone, or disappointed our parents badly. Now we look back and realise what a fool we had been. Does everyone has at least an incident or two, that accompanies you for life?

I have. I caused a primary school friend a scar. He had 6 stitches. It was a Saturday. The cleaners were washing the floor. We ran. And he fell, but I cried. I could never look at him the same. He was a great friend, but I was stupid and immature. I don't know how to make up to him, and I probably will take this regret with me to my grave.

But now we're older. We can make more sensible decisions. Yet at the same time, the many small things we do may cause so much bigger impact. More than a scar, more than 6 stitches. Maybe a potential career, maybe a broken heart.

Do things change at all?

Ramblings: I Changed, Okay?

I went to this friend of mine whom I havn't seen in years, and frankly at first it was a little weird about how he was all passionate about seeing me. Maybe army desensitised me too much or maybe I forgot how close we used to be. Then he went on to say how "hey, you totally didn't change!", mind the exclamation mark please. I was sorely disappointed, I really was. I looked like a bowl haircut boy with oversized haircut and all. Now I sport 2 earholes, dyed hair, more trendy clothings, and you say I look the same?

Gee...

And then I have another friend who told me earlier how "earholes are insignificant and people won't notice your earstuds anyway, so don't need to buy new ones". I spent 70 bucks to pierce 2 holes so that nobody will notice it. Smart me.

Tech Speak: The meaning of Google | Relevant Results - CNET News

The meaning of Google | Relevant Results - CNET News

Interesting.

Item: Drymax Socks

Okay this pair of socks set me back by $19 (with Safra it's additional 10% off so it ended up being 17+ bucks). I took 10 whole minutes standing there to consider whether to buy or not, and which brand to buy. Should I buy a lousy looking one for $12? Or should I get the Drymax Socks for Hot Weather that cost $29 which feels uber good to the touch?

In the end I decided to just get the one in between. Expensive for a pair of socks? Sure is. But I think it's okay. I only need one pair anyway. Today was my second run with it. It feels great. There's almost no friction at all, unlike my Adidas one.

Ramblings: All Good Things Must Come To An End

My Xmi Xmini Max 1, due to my violent actions, has torn into this state. Although the sound quality of the minimax 1 is top notch, but I would say the build quality is rather bad. The surface gets scratched easily, fur and cotton gets stuck to it easily. Now it breaks up on me. Time to get the Xmi Xmini Max 2 which has a nice plastic coating (though it looks hideous). It's 79.90 bucks though...

Youtube: Bad Romance Parody

Lady Gaga's Bad Romance parody. Excellent and funny stuff. Wish I could dance at least like this. (and sing too)



By the way there's rumours that Lady Gaga amputated her leg for fashion reasons. It's madness. Please let this be false... How is she going to dance like that? Gosh...

Ramblings: Extra Good Service

Coffee usually cost less than 2 bucks. As in, any coffee would worth about 2 bucks at max. But coffee at Starbucks cost 6 to 7.50 bucks. That's because you don't just buy the coffee. You buy the time you spent at the Starbucks, you buy the ambience and you buy their service.

This is how techiewen rolls. If you want me to buy something which I am not really sure if I want to buy, then the thing that will make the difference is service attitude. It's easy to bribe me. A sincere smile, politeness and not overbearingly "hot pursuit" (don't chase behind me like a dog, that is), are all it takes. And that's where Starbucks stole my heart. If the barista gives me a wide smile, I will return a wide smile (rare to see on techiewen, frankly). If the barista talks to me, I will try to chat as much as possible. Just now at Plaza Singapura, I was ordering the new Espresso Frap (which was fabulous by the way), the barista who took my order asked me how was my day and if I went to watch Iron Man 2. Then when I asked her if she had watched it, she replied with a smile that she's too busy then she went on to take other orders. When the barista was finishing up my Frap, he asked me how was my day too. When I said "good, cause I didn't have to work today", he replied "wah you trying to make me feel bad right?" with a cheeky smile. Oh he also did a "wow!" expression when he heard me ordering the Frap. Friendly, not overly so, just nice.

Service, Starbucks shows how it's done.

Starbucks - Plaza Singapura
Espresso Frap - 4.5/5
Ambience - 3/5
Service - 5/5