Xmas Day !!!

A night of beautiful Xmas tree ...

I am so busy during the Xmas eve, the Xmas Day and the Boxing Day, that I do not have time to blog during the Xmas ...

Anyway, very busy during Xmas eve ... Thou protecting the people of Orchards ... For those who have gone to Orchard, you will know what I mean. Messy, chaotic and Hell loose ... (To me, many cases) I am thinking, I will be joining all those people in the counting down of Xmas if I am not working. Spraying different foams... [And to my disgust, my uniform ganna all those foams, Shoot!!! (Those foams are very smelly and hard to eradicate)] ... Anyway, it is still a blessing that I can be standing there "counting down" together for the Xmas !!!

To many people, I have always explained that I celebrate every festivals and any festivals, if I can possible. Though of course, many will not be up to the religious extent. Festivals are meant to be celebrated, and to learn certain principles that can be derived from the festivals.

I am glad that many people celebrate Xmas though in different forms and extents from one another. But many other important festivals are being ignored sadly nowadays.

Celebration does not mean just letting our hair down, but also to savour the atmosphere, eating certain goodies that can only be found commonly in the festivals.

With this, I will like to wish all of the readers, a very late Merry Xmas !!! and a Happy New Year !!!

[This is a short entry unlike the predecessor ... And Pardon me for this late entry for Xmas !!!]

[And, also about the revival of NKF furore due to the updated audits of the company, I have nothing else to say, for I have stated my piece of mind, long time ago. All the shock, disppointment and anger are very expected. This will be a classic example, as to how a company that serves the public (Including the government companies) should be as transparent as possible ...]

Rich Dad, Poor Dad ... And the Winter Solstice Festival

I have just started reading a wonderful book ...

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T.Kiyosaki and Sharon l.Lechter

Though I have only read a few chapters, this book had given me tremendous insights. The stuffs on making money, and the important mindset when finding a job and livelihood.

I will further comment on this after I have read finish the book.

:).
_________________________________________________________

(Added-on on Fri, 23/12/2005, 1532 hrs)

Anyway, yesterday, Winter Solstice festival or Dong Zhi Festival. Got to eat Glutinous Riceball or Dang Yuan ...
This festival is to celebrate the starting of the Winter. There is actually a history and significances of this festival.

One is as to the start of winter signifies the ending of the crops, and that it is extremely important in ensuring there is always storages of food for the winter or "rainy days". Another significance is that winter signifies the end of the year, and this actually herald the start of the new year, and that everyone will have grown one year older, supposedly being more mature.

Above is the modern context of the festival, for those who have celebrated. However, there is a further significance in this festival ...

Many people think that Dong Zhi means the "arrival of winter". In fact, what Dong Zhi means is that after this day the sunshine will decline. In the northern hemisphere, the day is the shortest during Dong Zhi. In the southern hemisphere, it is the reverse. (Read on the Geographical location and Earth revolution to see this fact)

During the New Year, everybody would make visits. In olden times, during Dong Zhi, the people do make visits too (Unlike today). Some people would offer incense at dawn and some businesses would take a break on that day. People would feast on delicacies and the atmosphere would be like the Chinese New Year. In China, because the onset of the winter was cold and medical science was not that advanced in the past, many people froze to death during this period. As a result, on this day people would gather together to eat Tang Yuan (Gultinous Flour balls or Rice balls). Yuan means round and is associated with Tuan which means reunion and Yuan (Other than round, it also means complete). Eating Tang Yuan is therefore symbolic of family unity and harmony.

In the past, Dong Zhi is treated as a big event as the Lunar New Year.

The history of this festival including the food for Dong Zhi is less well-known compare to its significance. The history is actually of discrimination, for both of job and sex.

The source of the story and the history comes from a book I have researched on, the Origins of Chinese Festivals.

_________________________________________________________

In a dynasty of the past,during the start of the winter which symbolises the beginning of the end of the year, the emperor decides to confer titles on every sectors in the palace that have made contributions. All the sectors from Artisans to Carpenters are been bestowed with titles except for the cookery section. The cookery section is headed by two females. The females take this issue up to the emperor, and the artisans and the carpenters commented that if a cook is made a master, then the title of the master will not be worth much. The female cooks are enraged, and they decide not to cook for the day.

After a hard day, all the carpenters and the artisans come back from work, feeling famished. Yet, they realise there are no foods on the table. Obviously, all the blacksmiths and the others are only experts in their own field, and they are powerless in front of the baskets of raw grains and vegetables. The others report to the emperor.

In the face of emperor, do they agree that cooking is a specialised skills and that it is equally important in contribution. Therefore, the emperor confer both titles on the two female cooks.

As there is not much time to cook big food, the female cooks decide to make glutinous rice flour balls, won ton, dumplings and red bean porridge for everyone.

And since then, these foods have become staples of the people in the south during Dong Zhi.

_________________________________________________________

(Other than the festival of Dong Zhi, there is also the festivals of Yuan Xiao, that people eat Glutinous Rice Flour Balls. I will touch on that in the future and on the 15th days of the Chinese New Year, since that is the day of Yuan Xiao.)

Anyway, from this story, and base on pragmatic views, you can see a certain discrimination exists long long ago, starting from the past. Unfortunately, to this day, some discrimination still occurs. Discrimination of sexes, jobs and even races and religions. Alas, like the above episode, if people finally acknowledge each other, then there will be mutual balance and understanding and that everything will be at peace ...

I do want to dwell further into the obseravation of the dwindling number of people in celebrating festivals. All these festivals including Chinese New Year is not religious by nature, thus even the increasing Christianity does not mean that the Christians Chinese especially, cannot celebrate these festivals. This simply shows how lazy people can become and that money distracts everything that is rather important like family and unity. Even Buddists and Taoists majority do not care about this events at all. So, it seems rather it is the attitude that cause the demise of festivals rather than races and religions. Anyway, it should be the parents who have the responsibility to uphold all the positive traditions and festivals. But nowaday, even many parents especially the working class who do not take the heck out of any festivals. I can only shake my head. I can only cringe when I hear people saying all these festivals are not that important.

Anyway, I will be thinking about all these, and offering suggestions in my next entry ...

Happy Dong Zhi Festival !!!

Updates (and on my driving ...)

Well, I have used the chance to review my former entries of the blog. As usual, many is still fraught with small bits of error here and there. At least, the level and intensity of small errors have mitigated. Henceforth, I am overall still pleased with the content of my entries.

Yet, there is a need for pictures and audio for my blog. These are the things, that I feel, must be added to "colour" and "beautify" my blog. For now, I do not have any digital camera capability, thus, it is rather hard to obtain pictures from my reality. I will have to get the pictures from the internet ... For the audio part, I am still exploring the ways and possibilities ...

Anyway, my blog is rather SIMPLE compare to my other friends. Simple yet long, a nice euphemism of "rural and wordy". Haha ... Anyway, I do focus on the words to express my feelings because of certain technical and technological restraints. But, I believe all these will change for the better eventually and gradually. Reading my blog is tantamount to an essay. Some comments, but I do agree. A wordy yet flawed with grammar and sentence construction mistakes essay ... Hahaha ... Anyway, all these will be records for my future exploits. For when I grow up, I do not know how much I will have changed, and this blog will be a personal history for myself ...
_________________________________________________________

Anyway, I have passed the basic theory driving test smoothly (YESTERDAY). [Late at night, the last session of 2000 hrs as I booked the test rather late 3 days ago ]

[Yipee ... Hooray ... haha ........ Hah ...]

Now the next step is the final one, for which I will start looking for the private instructors (I choose private instead of school routes as I am not so rich). Then PDL (Provisional Driving License) to go on road ...

Anyway, during the test, I do notice there are many different people from all walks of life taking the same test as me. From the youngest like me to the oldest of 50. And many different races and working class ... Hahaha ...

The test has become very high-tech, making use of computers and touch-screen. Because of the advance in technology, I can get my results instantaneously and print out immediately. This is the wonder of technology.

Anyway, it is the 2nd Big step of the Small step I have gone through ... Just keep Swimming and just keep swimming ...

May the force be with me ......

Yeepee ... My Big step since NS ...

If National Service is the first big step for me to venture into the "World", then registration of driving license must be the second Big step.

Finally, after months and months of deliberation, and consideration, do I see myself walking into the Bukit Gombak Driving Centre (Yesterday). I have always whince for the fact that if I were to get into NPCO course, I will have saved plenty of money. (Driving license is a very expensive one) [For details, view my May entries of my NS life]

Anyway, though I lost that wonderful chance, I have gained something in my present stage. I have gained much more time, and time is very very precious. I can use it to do many many things. For instance, I can find time to do with the time consuming driving courses ...

Anyway, I have booked for the basic theory test 3 days later ... Good luck to me ...

Hahaha ...

Anyway, do plenty of house labour as usual. Vaccuming, mopping, doing laundry, cleaning different places including the fan cover ...

But the most wonderful thing I have done is actually finding a fast and effective way in peeling garlics and onions. I have also blend the radish ...

Today, I have managed to prepare for food. Cooking ....

Hahah ... guess whether they taste nice ...

Also, thou planning for the places and celebration of the coming Xmas Party ...

NS, Should we love it or should we loath it?

What is NS? National Service ...

So, every young men around the age of 18 and above will come to terms with this, and have to adhere to this. Young men are drafted to different units, most of them army and others to Police and Civil Defence.

This issue is blown up due to the recent furore over the "punishment" of the pianst who has eluded, serving the nation 28 years ago illegally. (Take note that I will not be mentioning names ...)

Today, that guy has become a renounced pianst and musician. And he has come back to Singapore, and is only slapped with a 5000 dollars fine.

There are 2 sides, one of which belittle the action and seek to condemn the action. Some shout unfairness, as 5000 bucks seem to be to little and of no significance to the famous and affluent artist. Most of these people are NS people.

The other side, many of which come from the journalists, claim that there are certain things that the pianst has endured and 5000 bucks is indeed enough for a punishment. The pianst has faced the music of his own "punishment", by giving up his special priviledges and not meetinh his parents who are currently in Singapore. Some said that the system is the one that should be blamed and not the pianst himself and the others bemoan losing a foreign talent now just because of the big hoo-ha (That pianst states that he will cancel his performance and delete his judge status in a music competition) over his past.

No matter what both sides think of him, I still think that what he did is still wrong. This verdict might seem to be bias as I am an NS men myself. For that, passing this judgement seems plausible to me.

There is a reporter who claim that there are many others but yet there is no big hoo-ha. But too bad for this guy, he is famous and is really a "talent" and thus, his action is equally exposed too. For the others, they are lucky that they are quite obscured in terms of their name and yet, I will equally blame them for their cowardice to face the national service.

Even if a person has done wrong, and he become rich, powerful and talented years later, but he is still wrong by law.

First, such a light punishment will give the wrong signal. I am not wrong in saying that most of the people do not love NS at all. It takes away our time and disrupt our study. But still, we will have to continue to serve the nation. To repay the country and also to contribute to the defense of our country, no matter millitary, civil or security.

Many people are rich enough nowadays, and they can easily find ways to wriggle out of this system. But yet, many people continue to serve the nation. Some out of fear of law, but some, out of respect, responisibility and gratitude to the country. Yes, that pianst, 28 years ago will have to forsake his chance for another 2.5 years, but I believed if he is that talented and rich, he can continue to pursue his passion and that the institute can still accept him. No, but he uses the excuse that for fear of rejection and it is a golden opportunity, that he has to make the choice of a person who run away from contribution to the nation. This will make him look like a yellow coward and a deserter and also, a very irresponsible fellow.

Some reporter claim that he does not enjoy rights in Singapore enough and thus the punishment is quite "alright". Hey, in law, do we need to look into the details of the person who has not enjoy enough rights itself to pass out punishment. And does not enjoying that rights, make him a non-Singaporean 28 years ago.

Yes, he come back to face the music now, and he is relieved. Good for him, but I think he know that he can get away lightly because he has something now that make him different from us if we were to do that. He holds status and his so called talents ... If we were to follow him, and we are to be nobody, I think the punishments will have been a little bit harsher like jail terms.

Anyway, I do not feel that sad that we have lost a "Singaporean talent". What is the use of a talent ... A talent without courage to serve the nation, a person who do not believe in himself thinking that serving the nation is tantamount to throwing away a golden opportunity for oneself to become a talent in the future, a person who is relatively irresponsible in fighting for the nation, I will have not even treat him as a talent in the first place. No, not even those who create AIDS vaccine and come back yelling that he has escaped draftings so that he can create the vaccine.

All these are craps. I do not like NS in the first place, but I do know the importance of us leading the role. If 10% of us will to be like that pianst and I think many people can do it, what will happen to Singapore? Thus, this person deserved to be condemned.

At least in NS, it is up to individuals to prove that how they can spend time wisely and not wasting of time. It is an obligation. It is a matter of survivial of nation.

One interesting thing to take note is that for many, I stress the word "many" with "most", people who support that pianst with certain justification that look nice on paper but very unfair in reality, many of them are female who do not spend 2 to 2.5 years of their lifespans, serving the nation at all.

I know that the crux of the matter might be with the systems, might be with the law, but we should not be supporting that pianst and letting him too lightly off at all. We should be compassionate but in right contexts. I do not trust a talent that do not live up to his obligation. And it is a matter of fact that he has to stay overseas and do not or cannot enjoy the rights of Singapore because simply he broke the law in the first place. So enough of the crap "enjoyment of rights" thing.

The system and law presently might have allowed people to escape with AWOL. If I will to be aware of the other people who are like the piansts earlier (I am still young and recently become more mature and aware), I will equally blame the other people, and thus I am not being unfairly unjust to that pianst just because he has talents. I do not want any accusations that I "envy" his talents and therefore try to make him down as hard as possible.

For now, Singapore is more stable and richer than 28 years ago. And his motive in coming back to contribute and to meet his parents is equilavent to getting and reaping some rewards from the present Singapore which has recognised Arts just only recently. Thus, he come back "bravely" to face the music, and a lousy music it is ...

We will acknowledge his talent but his action make me sick ... And I congratulate him in enjoying his status as a British citizen and good luck to him. He has become a model for those people who can find ways to get out of NS. And he is a typical example to show, that the world is still unfair in one way or another. But I can say that even some rich people prefer to send their "talented" son to Singapore so that they will learn what is hardship and what is teamwork and responsibility. That pianst is not loyal and I do not want to hear any one saying that he is "loyal" ... "Loyal", my foot ... In fact, that pianist can be a hypocrite (A possibility, and notice the word "can"), and a cavalier Singaporean ...


(Above is just what I thought of. It is crude and offensive. But I do not care. The world is quite unfair and even a system of fairness like communists is still unfair afterall. Anyway, good for that guy and I hope that all the best for him in overseas. His action have somehow make him an "outcast" (Not a real outcast, but to us, he is an outcast by heart), for all his talents, in Singapore ... I may be wrong and all these are my views. But still, I have always felt that a talent does not give him/her the power to break the law and be irresponsible ...)

_________________________________________________________

A good saying from my friend ...

"Those who are skilled in combat do not become angered,
those who are skilled at winning do not become afraid.
So the wise win b4 the fight, while the ignorant fight to win."
---Sensei Nitewalk (1986- )

A cycle

Life is like a cycle ... Just like the cycle of a butterfly and a caterpillar .......

_________________________________________________________


Yesterday, sadly, I lost a bicycle. The bicycle was new, and I personally fixed it, making sure every parts of what I perceived as my choice are put together. Alas, I only managed to cycle 1 time only. I parked my new bicycle at Woodlands MRT station ...

Sometimes I do not know what is wrong with me. I already know that Woodlands MRT station bicycle stands are hot spot for bicycle theives and poacher. I also knew that the place is very dangerous for my bicycle if I will not to do something more.

Too bad for me, I only put up a normal cable lock to my bicycle. A cable look to the professional key pricker is nothing but a paper clip effort to open the lock. I should have done more.

For whole day during work, I just feel uneasy. I got this feeling of my bicycle being lost. I also realise that I have done the wrong thing.

Anyway, what is lost is lost. I can easily lodge a police report, but I know better. And with no receipts or bicycle number as proof, there is no use even if I found my bicycle. The "new owner" just has to insist it is his/her, or change certain parts.

I have said that as a person who seem to have nothing talented. The only way I can succeed is to strategise well. Nonetheless, I do realise it takes certain degree of diligence and commitment to implement the strategies.

My former bicycle which is a scrap metal, is not stolen as I have strategically set "traps". I spray black ink around the seat. Whoever want to pluck my seat off, will have his/her hands stain for weeks even with soaps. I also put it in the place where there is most people walking. I also "camouflage" it with the other bicycles of the same type. They are old and haggy.

Most importantly, I know no one will want to waste effort to steal a "metal scrap". WHoever will to steal my former bikes, I will thank him for helping me to get rid of my garbage.

Anyway, I am also relatively impatient. I just want to implement the" bicycle scheme" immediately as my transport from my home to Woodlands interchange and Mrt station. Normally, I will have to take bus, and bus are expensive over the long run.

Bicycle is faster, and I can exercise at the same time. And I do not need to share the same squeezy bus with many commuters. Except for the rain which I have contingency of raincoats readily available in my back pack, everything seems to pinpoint to bicycle as a good mode of transport for me.

Anyway, impatience has caused me dearly. I have actually devised the "triple lock scheme". That is to triple lock my new bike, so that even thieves will even feel troublesome pricking of my bike. My bike is very new, and obviously better than the other bikes. Therefore, those bicycle stealers will confirm hit my bike as a target.

I have even hatched a more ruthless and lame plan. I will paste a piece of paper to my bike. The content is that a curse will effect on anyone who take away my bike without my permission. This will at least deter some people who are superstitious.

But impatience cause me dearly. I have actually chose a good location where I try to mask my bike with the other bikes. To protect my bike, I parked it in a shelter, and also where people walk around the area.

But, the only regrets and error I have is the lock. This prove to be the point which I lost to those *******. People can easily prick open my bike with the pretext that they are trying to open the lock. This is why they will not be suspicious compare to those who carry pliers with them.

Impatience I am that cause me misery. And maybe a stream of bad luck too. Realising my mistakes, I promise myself that I will implement the "triple lock scheme" asap during my off days. Alas, theives are theieves, and they jump to opportunities. A fat pig I have, with both my hands free, given to them.

Anyway, I should stop whincing about my bikes and get on with life ...

_________________________________________________________

I believe life is a cycle. Maybe beacause I am a Buddhist(though not that devout, but is devoted), that I have this concept in my mind. Kharma and reincarnation is part of cycle. However I am not going to dwell into the religious concept.

What I am saying is the cycle of good fortune and bad luck. If you prefer to look at it scientifically, it is advantage probability vs disadvantage probability.

Just like when we go up slope on a journey, always there will be a down slope. Naturally, we feel better when travelling down slope as we are not against gravity, and also when the gravity is with us. This is why we feel "good" at down slope, even earlier on, we suffer while defying against gravity while going up slope.

Indeed, life is like this. Our good luck and bad one occur like a cycle. Of course even talking about lives, it is not that simple. Sometimes, it seems bad luck come together at the same time, and lady luck do not smile on you. But anyway, as long as good deeds are done, luck will always favour you. You feel better, you feel really good, and then the cycle will flow faster and better, and you get more goodies ... Luck is not that simple that we count the quantity of luck, that means number of good lucks = number of bad lucks. Luck is in fact subjective, as there are relatively different to different people.

This is tantamount to, you go upslope in a very steep path, but you go downslope 2 times, yet those 2 downslopes are gentle, taking that the potential energy is the same for the position of upslope, and the height of the slope. It is also vice-versa for the other way round. Going upslope 2 times, and downslope 1 time. This is just a simple illustration that not many things inclusive of "luck" can be counted mathematically.

And the good and bad deeds which somehow affect the feel-good factor will also affect the luck or probability field. Of course it may seem that the probability field is always positive for someone who is bad, as he/she did many bad deeds. But this may be due to the fact that his/her luck comes from other sources. In religious context, it may be due to kharma, or from the parents or anyone else who owe them in previous lives or the present lives.

Scientifically, you can say that it is the exception. That person is exception. There is always 99.999999999999% and not 100%. Of course, without doing good deeds, the bad person will only use up the good luck without "replenishing" it.

This is why, it may come to an end, that bad person will end up badly. Villians will not have good ends. An example, If the bad guy keeps using up the luck from a source such as his wife, then his wife will bound to suffer ...

This is why when many good fortunes strike me suddenly, I will be quite taken aback. I will feel that something might be wrong. And when bad fortunes befall me, I will try to amend and ensure that phase of period will be gone without me having any repercussions.

Only the balance and flexible mixture of good and bad luck blending together in the lifestyle, can make a person indeed happy. Of course, if you achieve a sense of self-actualisation and self-realisation, then even when bad luck befalls you, you will laugh it away, and that the bad luck may seem nothing bad to you afterall. Of course, happy-go-lucky is negative, but reaching the state of enlightenment is positive no matter what happens.

Life is like a cycle, but in this life, we must live life to the fullest. Eat, drink or be merry, for tomorrow we die. Cycle does not mean that we can waste our lives for we will eventually come back. But cycle means that our physical self is a cycle, but mentally and psychologically we are not. This is why, we will have to live life well, for our mental health and mental self. For physical, then it is up to the individuals to be responsible. Even if circumstances (Outside environments) [Or people might label it as fate) affect the probability field, perception is important. Perception will lead to action, and this action will show how well we do in this cycle. Mental and physical are linked, if this cycle, we fail miserably, then for the next cycle, it will be harder for us to get things right in the next cycle. Thus, it is better to get things well done in this cycle for the good of the next cycle.

What I stated above is not just religiously thought of, though the religious context might have affected my ideas. But anyway, it is a way to prompt us to live life well and to the fullest. Then only can we achieve eternal happiness ...

_________________________________________________________

(Added on ...... 4/12/2005)

Today, buy a 3rd-hand bicycle from Adam. It is a suspension bike. After getting everthing fixed, I also buy the supposedly expensive and good lock. I am not going to let my bicycle be misappropriated or stolen anymore. The bicycle is quite good, except it lacks basket, wheel protector (Help to prevent the splashing of water when the bike cuts through a pool of water) and bell. Anyway, I am only using the bike for transport, and I believe that a good bike that can cycle is good enough for me. Since it is a 3rd hand, this means it is not new, and thereby I hope the professional bicycle thief will have lesser tenacy to "eye" my bicycle.

Anyway, I cycle all the way from Bishan to Woodlands. It is quite tiring, but at least this is nothing compare to the numerous night cycling I have gone through during my ODAC days. I get to explore the secluded Sembawang Hot spring. The whole trips took 2 hrs and will be lesser if not for the fact that I take periodic rest along the way.

Anyway, to continue about the cycle thing ... I believe this cycle is true not only for religious but also scientifically. Carbon and Nitrogen cycle for instance. This means that if something is not cycled, it is just lost in a way that it does not partake in the cycle. Simply, like carbon, the carbon falls into the deep ocean and it seems we humans cannot "utilise" them. Thereby, in our contexts, it is not in the cycle.

This is why, I insists that something that may not seem not to be in cycle, are actually in cycle. But because we are the one that view and decide which thing is in a cycle, we may miss it.

Many things in lives, are like that. Seldom have we notice something close to us, will we cherish it until we lose them ...

Anyway, all these are my views, I may be wrong in today's context and society ... I will love to hear about other views about how other people view lives, and also the cycle's perception ...