黄城
“……对我而言，黄城是一场梦，一场做了 23 年的梦。在缘分的安排之下，在这场梦相会，做了黄城的人。
在梦里，我们是清醒的。
在黄城的精神里荡漾，我们是活着的。
如果有一天，梦醒了，我们会感叹黄城是个奇迹，我们会依然手牵着手高吭华初的歌。
但是，梦醒时，我们还剩下什么？
23 年了，这才是开始。”
――2004 年总监应隆
有些梦是无论如何都没有办法醒的。从梦的开始，黄城根本就是个奇迹。一个由 300 人创造的奇迹。请问新加坡有什么机构（请注意，是机构，不只是学校）有这样的本事？请问有什么年轻团体有这样的理想和冲劲？
每一位城人因此而自豪。永远地自豪。代代如此。
Willy 说我当时能够每天塔两到三个小时的 67 号巴士辗转跋涉，是因为黄城。好象是如此。因为现在要我花同等的时间上学，简直是要我的命。你干脆把我杀了算了！要不，干脆辍学好了……我现在根本办不到。
城外人是完全没有办法理解的。
城的力量就是这样厉害。
(P.S.) 今天又下雪了。伦敦的第三场雪。只有短短的十几分钟。可是现在都已经算是春天了，还在下雪，天气实在越来越让人捉摸不定。
Saturday, February 28, 2004
My mind is blank now.
Not really blank literally but I can't think of anything else to write except psychology terminology.
Writing my lab report now. This time round its on the relationship between humour appreciation, working memory and the right frontal lobe.
And the incongruity-resolution theory of humour by Suls. Set shifting. Abstraction abilities. Cognitive operations. Affective responses. Etc.
Very intriguing.
I love it.
Back to writing.
Not really blank literally but I can't think of anything else to write except psychology terminology.
Writing my lab report now. This time round its on the relationship between humour appreciation, working memory and the right frontal lobe.
And the incongruity-resolution theory of humour by Suls. Set shifting. Abstraction abilities. Cognitive operations. Affective responses. Etc.
Very intriguing.
I love it.
Back to writing.
Friday, February 27, 2004
Fire alarm
The fire alarm went off again, at 5 am this time round. What the hell. This time round, I crawled out of my cosy duvet and bed to evacuate the building. It was another false alarm. The hall management decided to fine the whole level of occupants where the alarm went off, unless the culprit admits.
I bet this is going to happen again.
Final Exams
Just received my final exams timetable and I could feel a bit of stress now. Lessons aren't even completed yet and I'm left with less than 2 months to my first paper.
I've got to contemplate which topics to forsake and which to study now.
But that also means my exams will end earlier (only 6 papers, but it spreads over a period of 3 weeks). And that means I'll have 3-4 weeks of free time before flying home. That means, I'll be able to go travelling again for that 3 weeks or so before starting work.
Yeah, so I should look forward to the coming exams.
The fire alarm went off again, at 5 am this time round. What the hell. This time round, I crawled out of my cosy duvet and bed to evacuate the building. It was another false alarm. The hall management decided to fine the whole level of occupants where the alarm went off, unless the culprit admits.
I bet this is going to happen again.
Final Exams
Just received my final exams timetable and I could feel a bit of stress now. Lessons aren't even completed yet and I'm left with less than 2 months to my first paper.
I've got to contemplate which topics to forsake and which to study now.
But that also means my exams will end earlier (only 6 papers, but it spreads over a period of 3 weeks). And that means I'll have 3-4 weeks of free time before flying home. That means, I'll be able to go travelling again for that 3 weeks or so before starting work.
Yeah, so I should look forward to the coming exams.
Thursday, February 26, 2004
地下铁之二
“在这个城市里，
我不断地迷路。
不断地坐错车，
并一再下错车。
常常不知道自己在哪里？
要去什么地方？”
――几米《地下铁》
伦敦的地下铁容易让初到的访客迷路，我也不例外。
去年秋天，拿出 TUBE 的地图，乍看之下，我不认识它，也看不懂它；它却因此而嘲笑我。
现在地图尽管还是一样复杂，我却能在伦敦中区通行无阻。现在不用看地图就能跟你讲 Camden Town 在 Northern Line；Oxford Circus 在 Central Line、District Line 和 Bakerloo Line； Leicester Square 在 Piccadilly Line 和 Northern Line。
但是，有时我还是喜欢搭错车，下错站。
毕竟，迷路才会看到更绚烂的风景。
“在这个城市里，
我不断地迷路。
不断地坐错车，
并一再下错车。
常常不知道自己在哪里？
要去什么地方？”
――几米《地下铁》
伦敦的地下铁容易让初到的访客迷路，我也不例外。
去年秋天，拿出 TUBE 的地图，乍看之下，我不认识它，也看不懂它；它却因此而嘲笑我。
现在地图尽管还是一样复杂，我却能在伦敦中区通行无阻。现在不用看地图就能跟你讲 Camden Town 在 Northern Line；Oxford Circus 在 Central Line、District Line 和 Bakerloo Line； Leicester Square 在 Piccadilly Line 和 Northern Line。
但是，有时我还是喜欢搭错车，下错站。
毕竟，迷路才会看到更绚烂的风景。
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Happy today for a couple of news and small things I've accomplished:
(1) Stats Exam this Wednesday postponed to next Wed because of a strike tomorrow and on Wed. Hopefully lessons are cancelled also.
(2) No Psychology lessons on Tues, Wed and Fri for the second half of this term. If not for German and Astronomy, I just need to go to school for 2 days only. But whatever, the schedule is still very slack even with 2 hours on Wed and Friday each.
(3) Finished booking my accommodation in Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, Rotterdam and The Hague. Still left with Amsterdam cos it's a Easter weekend.
(4) Did a bit of reading though not much.
(1) Stats Exam this Wednesday postponed to next Wed because of a strike tomorrow and on Wed. Hopefully lessons are cancelled also.
(2) No Psychology lessons on Tues, Wed and Fri for the second half of this term. If not for German and Astronomy, I just need to go to school for 2 days only. But whatever, the schedule is still very slack even with 2 hours on Wed and Friday each.
(3) Finished booking my accommodation in Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, Rotterdam and The Hague. Still left with Amsterdam cos it's a Easter weekend.
(4) Did a bit of reading though not much.
Monday, February 23, 2004
Oxford
<1>
I could tell their tiredness and lassistude immediately I saw their eyes. Jaded. Everybody was jaded. In that stressful university called Oxford. Oxford has become synonymous with academic excellence and also, pressure and stress. All of a sudden I felt glad that I got rejected by Oxford. Not once, but twice.
At the same time, I empathised with Willy and Huimin. They told me that sometimes they just want to get out of Oxford. Just get out of that town to anywhere else except Oxford. I have that feeling too, even though I am a Londoner. I wanted to get out of London. Just for a week. Even a day would be good. That's why I was in Sheffield, Manchester and then Oxford. That's why I am going travelling every break.
And I know they are very busy. Who aren't busy in university? And yet, I was glad that they were very willing and happy to meet me despite the heavy work load and readings and essays and reports etc etc etc to be finished. I felt guilty for some moments that because of me, he didn't do any work over the weekend.
<2>
Upon arrival, they brought me to the outskirts of Oxford to have lunch. It was a very cool restaurant called Trout Inn. Then we went to the meadow nearby. It was a huge meadow. Quiet meadow. There were horses grazing and practically nobody else except the four of us (plus Jiahui). We walked rather close to the horses. It was a very tranquil place. Peaceful and serene. Hyde Park is peaceful too but too many people. I think I will come back to this meadow to destress whenever the need arises.
<3>
Then we toured around the university city. Saw where the bench at Merton College where Tolkein sat on and got his inspiration for Lord of the Rings; saw Christ Church where Harry Potter was filmed; saw the famous Magdalen College and some other colleges. Its amazing that every college, every street, every library and simply everything in Oxford has its own story. Ate the famous marvellous Oxford-originated Ben's cookies as well.
<4>
Then we chatted till 3 am that night in Huimin's room. From hwachong to LEP to SPH to PSC to life to backpacking to our friends to doing post graduate to anything... and everything...
<5>
The next day, i.e. today, was spent walking around in the historic town of Oxford as well. I like Oxford more than London. Only two days here and I have grown a liking for this place.
<6>
I sensed something was wrong again when he walked away from the bus stop after sending me off. I knew that it's coming back again as a vicious cycle. But I sux. As a friend, I simply can't do anything to help at all. Absolutely helpless. What can I do when I can't even help myself??? Life simply sux sometimes.
<1>
I could tell their tiredness and lassistude immediately I saw their eyes. Jaded. Everybody was jaded. In that stressful university called Oxford. Oxford has become synonymous with academic excellence and also, pressure and stress. All of a sudden I felt glad that I got rejected by Oxford. Not once, but twice.
At the same time, I empathised with Willy and Huimin. They told me that sometimes they just want to get out of Oxford. Just get out of that town to anywhere else except Oxford. I have that feeling too, even though I am a Londoner. I wanted to get out of London. Just for a week. Even a day would be good. That's why I was in Sheffield, Manchester and then Oxford. That's why I am going travelling every break.
And I know they are very busy. Who aren't busy in university? And yet, I was glad that they were very willing and happy to meet me despite the heavy work load and readings and essays and reports etc etc etc to be finished. I felt guilty for some moments that because of me, he didn't do any work over the weekend.
<2>
Upon arrival, they brought me to the outskirts of Oxford to have lunch. It was a very cool restaurant called Trout Inn. Then we went to the meadow nearby. It was a huge meadow. Quiet meadow. There were horses grazing and practically nobody else except the four of us (plus Jiahui). We walked rather close to the horses. It was a very tranquil place. Peaceful and serene. Hyde Park is peaceful too but too many people. I think I will come back to this meadow to destress whenever the need arises.
<3>
Then we toured around the university city. Saw where the bench at Merton College where Tolkein sat on and got his inspiration for Lord of the Rings; saw Christ Church where Harry Potter was filmed; saw the famous Magdalen College and some other colleges. Its amazing that every college, every street, every library and simply everything in Oxford has its own story. Ate the famous marvellous Oxford-originated Ben's cookies as well.
<4>
Then we chatted till 3 am that night in Huimin's room. From hwachong to LEP to SPH to PSC to life to backpacking to our friends to doing post graduate to anything... and everything...
<5>
The next day, i.e. today, was spent walking around in the historic town of Oxford as well. I like Oxford more than London. Only two days here and I have grown a liking for this place.
<6>
I sensed something was wrong again when he walked away from the bus stop after sending me off. I knew that it's coming back again as a vicious cycle. But I sux. As a friend, I simply can't do anything to help at all. Absolutely helpless. What can I do when I can't even help myself??? Life simply sux sometimes.
Saturday, February 21, 2004
歌与文化
Julius 有时会莫名其妙地通过 ICQ 寄歌给我。是很突然的。是完全即兴的。以往都是清一色的英文歌，除了最近的那一次。
他尝试寄了五月天的一首福建歌，还有几首其他中文歌（我忘了是哪一些了）。
不过，这些歌曲我都有了。都在我烧的 CD 里头。我跟他说我有了，而且还常常听。他反问我：“你在英国不是应该听英文歌吗？”
在英国就要听英文歌吗？？？
他说：“应该享受英国乐团或英国歌手的流行音乐。”
当然，我并不排斥英文歌，我也听英文歌。
但，在一个周围感官接触到的世界都是英文英语的时候，我需要华文，我需要华语，我需要我的文化。
我想起陈家毅前阵子在《早报周刊》的专栏里写过：“别人常要问我，伦敦有什么好，又老又潮又昂贵，千方百计的像鲑鱼回流，还是要往那跑？现在我顿然明白，答案是：文化！文化！文化！”
英国，尤其是伦敦，也是一个多元种族的城市，我敢说，伦敦甚至还比新加坡多元化。
所以，我好不容易在离开新加坡之前，把我所有的中文 CD 抄到电脑里头。
所以，我千辛万苦地找着《地下铁》的电影，终于给我找到了。略看了一次，肯定会重看。觉得比《向左走向右走》好一些。
所以，我每天上网听 YES 933 和 UFM 1003， 听我熟悉的音乐日记、弦歌寄意、想象杨君伟还在主持已经听播的《夜描夜黑》。
所以，我保留我听歌的习惯，听歌的文化，融入伦敦音乐的多样化。
那天，我还在文达的房间看了他下载的《快乐星期天》。整个系列他都有。我也跟他抄了《无间道３》。（英国各地也会在近期内上映《无间道３》。）
原来，不只我一个留学生对自己的文化和流行文化念念不忘。
你又是否想过，若是有那么一天，你身边熟悉的音乐、电影、文化、都被一个完全彻底“陌生”的流行文化取代，你又会有怎样的反应？
更宏观的想，你身边熟悉的人事物都忽然间在你生命中缺席，你会有怎样的感觉？
你想过吗？
（P.S.）我又换了我的 blog 的背景音乐。
Julius 有时会莫名其妙地通过 ICQ 寄歌给我。是很突然的。是完全即兴的。以往都是清一色的英文歌，除了最近的那一次。
他尝试寄了五月天的一首福建歌，还有几首其他中文歌（我忘了是哪一些了）。
不过，这些歌曲我都有了。都在我烧的 CD 里头。我跟他说我有了，而且还常常听。他反问我：“你在英国不是应该听英文歌吗？”
在英国就要听英文歌吗？？？
他说：“应该享受英国乐团或英国歌手的流行音乐。”
当然，我并不排斥英文歌，我也听英文歌。
但，在一个周围感官接触到的世界都是英文英语的时候，我需要华文，我需要华语，我需要我的文化。
我想起陈家毅前阵子在《早报周刊》的专栏里写过：“别人常要问我，伦敦有什么好，又老又潮又昂贵，千方百计的像鲑鱼回流，还是要往那跑？现在我顿然明白，答案是：文化！文化！文化！”
英国，尤其是伦敦，也是一个多元种族的城市，我敢说，伦敦甚至还比新加坡多元化。
所以，我好不容易在离开新加坡之前，把我所有的中文 CD 抄到电脑里头。
所以，我千辛万苦地找着《地下铁》的电影，终于给我找到了。略看了一次，肯定会重看。觉得比《向左走向右走》好一些。
所以，我每天上网听 YES 933 和 UFM 1003， 听我熟悉的音乐日记、弦歌寄意、想象杨君伟还在主持已经听播的《夜描夜黑》。
所以，我保留我听歌的习惯，听歌的文化，融入伦敦音乐的多样化。
那天，我还在文达的房间看了他下载的《快乐星期天》。整个系列他都有。我也跟他抄了《无间道３》。（英国各地也会在近期内上映《无间道３》。）
原来，不只我一个留学生对自己的文化和流行文化念念不忘。
你又是否想过，若是有那么一天，你身边熟悉的音乐、电影、文化、都被一个完全彻底“陌生”的流行文化取代，你又会有怎样的反应？
更宏观的想，你身边熟悉的人事物都忽然间在你生命中缺席，你会有怎样的感觉？
你想过吗？
（P.S.）我又换了我的 blog 的背景音乐。
Friday, February 20, 2004
Nomad
I'm back in London again for a lecture tomorrow. Practically did nothing the whole of today. Stayed in Wenda's room while he went to school. Didn't go to the museums as planned. Chatted to some people on ICQ instead. Willy said he's quite looking forward to meeting me on Sat in Oxford. Jingyun said I am a nomad when I told her I am going to Oxford.
I'm indeed very looking forward to meeting Willy and Huimin. Time really flies. 5 months since I last seen them at Changi Airport. That means I am left with 4 months in London before going home. And he's left with 4 months before graduating, or 1 more year if doing Masters. Stepping into society for some of my friends while I am still studying... Scary...
Anyway, I've booked my flight for the Easter trip already. Looking forward to it. Need to find accomodation for that 8 days in Holland and Belgium.
Am I a nomad? I dunno.
Gotten used to travelling. Like travelling. Hate it at times for some reasons that I cannot describe explicitly.
Sometimes, I just wish to be a hermit more than a nomad.
I'm back in London again for a lecture tomorrow. Practically did nothing the whole of today. Stayed in Wenda's room while he went to school. Didn't go to the museums as planned. Chatted to some people on ICQ instead. Willy said he's quite looking forward to meeting me on Sat in Oxford. Jingyun said I am a nomad when I told her I am going to Oxford.
I'm indeed very looking forward to meeting Willy and Huimin. Time really flies. 5 months since I last seen them at Changi Airport. That means I am left with 4 months in London before going home. And he's left with 4 months before graduating, or 1 more year if doing Masters. Stepping into society for some of my friends while I am still studying... Scary...
Anyway, I've booked my flight for the Easter trip already. Looking forward to it. Need to find accomodation for that 8 days in Holland and Belgium.
Am I a nomad? I dunno.
Gotten used to travelling. Like travelling. Hate it at times for some reasons that I cannot describe explicitly.
Sometimes, I just wish to be a hermit more than a nomad.
Thursday, February 19, 2004
Things I accomplished today:
(1) Walked around the city centre of Sheffield, finally saw some life in it probably because today is a weekday and it was dead that day I arrived probably because it was a Sunday then. Everything was like dirt cheap compared to London. One big bunch of bananas for 50p? 18 eggs for 1.29 quids? And then there are a few one pound shops as well selling everything (even DVD, of course old ones) at one pound.
(2) Visited Castle Market as well. The first wet market I've seen since I stepped into England. Dun think there are any wet markets in Central London. At least none that I know of. Castle Market is very similar to that of the market at Chinatown (People's Park Complex) in Singapore, where you have retailers selling consumer goods like shampoos and other body care products, clothes on one side, and stalls selling wet food like poultry, eggs, meat, vegetables and fruits on the other. For some moments I thought I was back home again, after which the English accent brought me back to reality again. And one major difference is that Castle Market don't have a hawker centre attached to it. It's solely a wet market. I miss eating all the good food at Bedok Hawker Centre and everywhere in Singapore again.
(3) Went to Meadowhall again. I am having a serious obsession with watches recently. Collecting watches has subconsciously become my hobby now. Irresistibly bought another watch today. It's actually a Fossil key clip with a red-faced watch and a mini compass. On sale! Only 12.50 quids. That's about 37.50 Singapore dollars. Where can you get a Fossil watch at that price? So I bought it without much hesistation. Hmm... I'm going to save to buy another Swatch Irony in due time.
(4) Watched the cheapest movie (Cold Mountain) in UK today also. Only 2.60 quids (S$7.50). Incredible. Can never get to watch at that price in Central London. The cheapest in London was 5 quids (LOTR III).
(5) That's about it. Will be going to some galleries tomorrow (actually in a few hours time) in Sheffield before I head back to London in the evening because I'm having a lecture on Friday. Sux... I almost forget I actually have the Astronomy lecture on Friday. Then I'll head to Oxford over the weekend. It's one plus am now. Wenda still needs to do his tutorial. I need to read my stats as well. Good nite.
(1) Walked around the city centre of Sheffield, finally saw some life in it probably because today is a weekday and it was dead that day I arrived probably because it was a Sunday then. Everything was like dirt cheap compared to London. One big bunch of bananas for 50p? 18 eggs for 1.29 quids? And then there are a few one pound shops as well selling everything (even DVD, of course old ones) at one pound.
(2) Visited Castle Market as well. The first wet market I've seen since I stepped into England. Dun think there are any wet markets in Central London. At least none that I know of. Castle Market is very similar to that of the market at Chinatown (People's Park Complex) in Singapore, where you have retailers selling consumer goods like shampoos and other body care products, clothes on one side, and stalls selling wet food like poultry, eggs, meat, vegetables and fruits on the other. For some moments I thought I was back home again, after which the English accent brought me back to reality again. And one major difference is that Castle Market don't have a hawker centre attached to it. It's solely a wet market. I miss eating all the good food at Bedok Hawker Centre and everywhere in Singapore again.
(3) Went to Meadowhall again. I am having a serious obsession with watches recently. Collecting watches has subconsciously become my hobby now. Irresistibly bought another watch today. It's actually a Fossil key clip with a red-faced watch and a mini compass. On sale! Only 12.50 quids. That's about 37.50 Singapore dollars. Where can you get a Fossil watch at that price? So I bought it without much hesistation. Hmm... I'm going to save to buy another Swatch Irony in due time.
(4) Watched the cheapest movie (Cold Mountain) in UK today also. Only 2.60 quids (S$7.50). Incredible. Can never get to watch at that price in Central London. The cheapest in London was 5 quids (LOTR III).
(5) That's about it. Will be going to some galleries tomorrow (actually in a few hours time) in Sheffield before I head back to London in the evening because I'm having a lecture on Friday. Sux... I almost forget I actually have the Astronomy lecture on Friday. Then I'll head to Oxford over the weekend. It's one plus am now. Wenda still needs to do his tutorial. I need to read my stats as well. Good nite.
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Theatre of Dreams
Went to Manchester again today (the coach fare was only less than 4 quids!), this time heading to Old Trafford. Weather wasn't that good in the morning, drizzled a bit, saw Peak District in rain, still pretty though.
Somehow the rain seemed to signal that today will be a bad day and it somewhat was a bad one and I was rather pissed off.
Old Trafford was away from the city centre of Manchester, about 15 minutes away by Metrolink (aka tram). After getting off at the Metrolink station, there's still a 5 mins walk to the theatre of dreams itself.
The legendary theatre of dreams is really huge. I walked round two rounds of the stadium and still couldn't find the entrance to the museum and the tour. After which I seeked help from the receptionist at the megastore. And upon arrival at the ticketing office, I discovered to my horror that all tours for the stadium were fully booked for the day. What the hell. I came so far and I couldn't enter the stadium. So be it. Luckily, I am neither a soccer freak nor a Manchester United fan. Nevertheless, it's still a disappointment to be at the doorstep and denied entrance to the north stand, dressing room, player's tunnel, VIP lounge, dug out and so on.
So I went to the MU museum instead and was amazed by the history of the MU team, its numerous trophies, hall of fame, roll of honour etc.
Took a couple of pictures of the stadium's exterior and will post them when I am free (in summer?)
I might consider going back to the theatre of dreams again. I don't want to regret when I finished my studies in UK. Maybe I should catch a soccer match there as well.
Disgusted
And another event that sort of made me feel disgusted throughout the day took place almost immediately I arrived in Manchester today morning. Maybe I was wrong but the thought of such a possibility still made me feel distasteful. Maybe I shouldn't write this down.
I was at one of the gents at Arndale Shopping Centre. And I "saw" the person next to me wanking and then ejaculating at the urinal just next to me. Obviously I am not a psycho and so I didn't see it directly with my eyes, but with all the subtle movements and the sounds he was making, its 100% obvious even to an idiot. Oh man, was he that horny? Couldn't he do it at home? Or if he WAS really that horny, couldn't he do it in one of the cubicles? Why masturbate in a public open place?
According to my psychological analysis, I reckon he must have OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), a form of psychological disorder, or more specifically a type of anxiety disorder. That is, being too obsessive with sexual (or other) thoughts to such an extent that anxiety is elicited. So there is an urgent need and irresisitible complusion to carry out the ritual or act of satisfying himself in a public place to relieve that anxiety. Hmm... not bad, I still remember my psychology. Can go around analysing people liao.
Whatever, I had better not meet such a person again, or else I will call him a psycho and ask him to see a psychologist directly in his face.
Went to Manchester again today (the coach fare was only less than 4 quids!), this time heading to Old Trafford. Weather wasn't that good in the morning, drizzled a bit, saw Peak District in rain, still pretty though.
Somehow the rain seemed to signal that today will be a bad day and it somewhat was a bad one and I was rather pissed off.
Old Trafford was away from the city centre of Manchester, about 15 minutes away by Metrolink (aka tram). After getting off at the Metrolink station, there's still a 5 mins walk to the theatre of dreams itself.
The legendary theatre of dreams is really huge. I walked round two rounds of the stadium and still couldn't find the entrance to the museum and the tour. After which I seeked help from the receptionist at the megastore. And upon arrival at the ticketing office, I discovered to my horror that all tours for the stadium were fully booked for the day. What the hell. I came so far and I couldn't enter the stadium. So be it. Luckily, I am neither a soccer freak nor a Manchester United fan. Nevertheless, it's still a disappointment to be at the doorstep and denied entrance to the north stand, dressing room, player's tunnel, VIP lounge, dug out and so on.
So I went to the MU museum instead and was amazed by the history of the MU team, its numerous trophies, hall of fame, roll of honour etc.
Took a couple of pictures of the stadium's exterior and will post them when I am free (in summer?)
I might consider going back to the theatre of dreams again. I don't want to regret when I finished my studies in UK. Maybe I should catch a soccer match there as well.
Disgusted
And another event that sort of made me feel disgusted throughout the day took place almost immediately I arrived in Manchester today morning. Maybe I was wrong but the thought of such a possibility still made me feel distasteful. Maybe I shouldn't write this down.
I was at one of the gents at Arndale Shopping Centre. And I "saw" the person next to me wanking and then ejaculating at the urinal just next to me. Obviously I am not a psycho and so I didn't see it directly with my eyes, but with all the subtle movements and the sounds he was making, its 100% obvious even to an idiot. Oh man, was he that horny? Couldn't he do it at home? Or if he WAS really that horny, couldn't he do it in one of the cubicles? Why masturbate in a public open place?
According to my psychological analysis, I reckon he must have OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), a form of psychological disorder, or more specifically a type of anxiety disorder. That is, being too obsessive with sexual (or other) thoughts to such an extent that anxiety is elicited. So there is an urgent need and irresisitible complusion to carry out the ritual or act of satisfying himself in a public place to relieve that anxiety. Hmm... not bad, I still remember my psychology. Can go around analysing people liao.
Whatever, I had better not meet such a person again, or else I will call him a psycho and ask him to see a psychologist directly in his face.
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Manchester
Arrived at Manchester after a 90-minutes coach ride from Sheffield. The coach journey itself was already very rewarding, with picturesque views of the Peak District. The coach passed by Langsett, Crowden, Hollingworth etc and although weary due to insufficient sleep, I just couldn't bear to take a nap with all the stupendous sceneries right in front of me. Well, I didn't visit Old Trafford today... so, I'll be able to enjoy the scenery once more either tomorrow or Wednesday when I head to the theatre of dreams.
Manchester, being the world's first industrial city, is definitely more lively than Sheffield, but definitely not so when compared with London. Most shops closed at around 5 pm today. Attractions are not that many, architecture not that captivating, museums are ok. I guess one of the main reasons why tourists are drawn to Manchester is its successful football team. I actually have time to go to visit Old Trafford today, but I reckon I would take around half a day there and so, I decided while eating my lunch at Wagamama that I should spend 2 days instead of the intended one day in Manchester. In this case, I will be able to tour around leisurely and not rushing and clearing checkpoints like the last time in Rome.
Anyway, of all the places I visited today, Urbis was the most interesting one. This stunning new museum is devoted to urbanisation (as the name suggests) and the interaction between cities and people. So intriguing that I made some notes which I think would be interesting to share:
(1) Singapore (yes, my home country is featured in a faraway country called England) has the BEST computer education system in the world. 48% of households own a pc.
(2) In 1950, ONLY London and New York had populations exceeding 8 million. By the end of the last century, 22 cities had become megacities.
(3) Greater Manchester has more football teams per head of population than any city in the world.
(4) In 1950, London was the world's second largest city, by 2000, it was not even in the top 10.
(5) On any one night, around 700 people in England sleep outside on the streets.
(6) With a security camera for every 40 people, Britain is the most watched over country in the world. On average, you (people in Britain) are filmed 300 times a day.
Sounds scary yah? I can testify to the last statement. I just discovered last month that there are more than one CCTV on a normal London bus!
They interviewed Leo Lim as well, the blind busker in the underground tunnel adjacent to the exit of Orchard Rd Tube (oops, should be MRT). Really heartwarming to hear a language so familiar (and especially how he states implicitly Singapore's importance to him) in a faraway land.
So I'm glad to have spent the reading week to come to Manchester after all, instead of studying for my Stats exam next Wednesday.
Shall stop now for today. Will talk about Old Trafford when I've been there.
Arrived at Manchester after a 90-minutes coach ride from Sheffield. The coach journey itself was already very rewarding, with picturesque views of the Peak District. The coach passed by Langsett, Crowden, Hollingworth etc and although weary due to insufficient sleep, I just couldn't bear to take a nap with all the stupendous sceneries right in front of me. Well, I didn't visit Old Trafford today... so, I'll be able to enjoy the scenery once more either tomorrow or Wednesday when I head to the theatre of dreams.
Manchester, being the world's first industrial city, is definitely more lively than Sheffield, but definitely not so when compared with London. Most shops closed at around 5 pm today. Attractions are not that many, architecture not that captivating, museums are ok. I guess one of the main reasons why tourists are drawn to Manchester is its successful football team. I actually have time to go to visit Old Trafford today, but I reckon I would take around half a day there and so, I decided while eating my lunch at Wagamama that I should spend 2 days instead of the intended one day in Manchester. In this case, I will be able to tour around leisurely and not rushing and clearing checkpoints like the last time in Rome.
Anyway, of all the places I visited today, Urbis was the most interesting one. This stunning new museum is devoted to urbanisation (as the name suggests) and the interaction between cities and people. So intriguing that I made some notes which I think would be interesting to share:
(1) Singapore (yes, my home country is featured in a faraway country called England) has the BEST computer education system in the world. 48% of households own a pc.
(2) In 1950, ONLY London and New York had populations exceeding 8 million. By the end of the last century, 22 cities had become megacities.
(3) Greater Manchester has more football teams per head of population than any city in the world.
(4) In 1950, London was the world's second largest city, by 2000, it was not even in the top 10.
(5) On any one night, around 700 people in England sleep outside on the streets.
(6) With a security camera for every 40 people, Britain is the most watched over country in the world. On average, you (people in Britain) are filmed 300 times a day.
Sounds scary yah? I can testify to the last statement. I just discovered last month that there are more than one CCTV on a normal London bus!
They interviewed Leo Lim as well, the blind busker in the underground tunnel adjacent to the exit of Orchard Rd Tube (oops, should be MRT). Really heartwarming to hear a language so familiar (and especially how he states implicitly Singapore's importance to him) in a faraway land.
So I'm glad to have spent the reading week to come to Manchester after all, instead of studying for my Stats exam next Wednesday.
Shall stop now for today. Will talk about Old Trafford when I've been there.
Monday, February 16, 2004
Sheffield
Reached Sheffield - the fourth largest city of Britain this morning, after a tiring 4 hour bus ride from central London.
Walked around the deaded city centre and the more lively Meadowhall.
Most shops weren't opened today, except for Meadowhall - a huge shopping complex that houses 270++ shops under one roof.
But one thing that I was rather shocked about was that prostitutes can be seen on streets everywhere. I even saw some guys negotiating with them just outside the engineering library.
Isn't Sheffield supposed to be a university town?
I don't know. But such scenes are supposed to be ubiquitous in Sheffield, according to wenda.
Looking forward to going to Manchester and Old Trafford tomorrow.
Reached Sheffield - the fourth largest city of Britain this morning, after a tiring 4 hour bus ride from central London.
Walked around the deaded city centre and the more lively Meadowhall.
Most shops weren't opened today, except for Meadowhall - a huge shopping complex that houses 270++ shops under one roof.
But one thing that I was rather shocked about was that prostitutes can be seen on streets everywhere. I even saw some guys negotiating with them just outside the engineering library.
Isn't Sheffield supposed to be a university town?
I don't know. But such scenes are supposed to be ubiquitous in Sheffield, according to wenda.
Looking forward to going to Manchester and Old Trafford tomorrow.
Sunday, February 15, 2004
BPM 37093 + Happy Valentine
Girls, if anyone has ever promised you the sun, the moon and the stars, tell them that you will settle for BPM 37093.
I'm 100 (to the power of infinity) % sure that all girls will love BPM 37093. Guarantee + chop!
Girls have an obsession with these, while the thought of these triggers dread in guys. Just the mention of that word and guys go jittery.
Yeah... i'm referring to *diamonds*.
BPM 37093 is actually a burned-out star with that no-nonsense name.
The heart of BPM 37093, which attracted lots of attention from astronomers in the past 30 years or so, is a sparkling diamond that weighs a staggering 10 billion trillion trillion carats! That's one followed by 34 zeros!!!
This hunk of celestial bling is an estimated 2,500 miles across, said Travis Metcalfe, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
"You would need a jeweller's loupe the size of the sun to grade this diamond," said Metcalfe, who led the team that discovered the gem only recently.
This diamond is a massive chunk of crystallized carbon that lies about 300 trillion miles from Earth, in the constellation Centaurus.
The galaxy's largest diamond is formally known as a white dwarf, or the hot core of a dead sun.
Astronomers have suspected for decades that white dwarfs crystallized, but only recently were able to verify the hypothesis.
A paper detailing the discovery has been submitted to The Astrophysical Journal Letters for publication.
It is believed that BPM 37093 might last forever. Or perhaps around a billion years.
So the next time you should sing "twinkle twinkle little star...... IT'S a diamond in the sky" instead.
Anyway, i'm just reading my astronomy stuff. Really cool.
And hope you guys had a great Valentine's day.
Girls, if anyone has ever promised you the sun, the moon and the stars, tell them that you will settle for BPM 37093.
I'm 100 (to the power of infinity) % sure that all girls will love BPM 37093. Guarantee + chop!
Girls have an obsession with these, while the thought of these triggers dread in guys. Just the mention of that word and guys go jittery.
Yeah... i'm referring to *diamonds*.
BPM 37093 is actually a burned-out star with that no-nonsense name.
The heart of BPM 37093, which attracted lots of attention from astronomers in the past 30 years or so, is a sparkling diamond that weighs a staggering 10 billion trillion trillion carats! That's one followed by 34 zeros!!!
This hunk of celestial bling is an estimated 2,500 miles across, said Travis Metcalfe, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
"You would need a jeweller's loupe the size of the sun to grade this diamond," said Metcalfe, who led the team that discovered the gem only recently.
This diamond is a massive chunk of crystallized carbon that lies about 300 trillion miles from Earth, in the constellation Centaurus.
The galaxy's largest diamond is formally known as a white dwarf, or the hot core of a dead sun.
Astronomers have suspected for decades that white dwarfs crystallized, but only recently were able to verify the hypothesis.
A paper detailing the discovery has been submitted to The Astrophysical Journal Letters for publication.
It is believed that BPM 37093 might last forever. Or perhaps around a billion years.
So the next time you should sing "twinkle twinkle little star...... IT'S a diamond in the sky" instead.
Anyway, i'm just reading my astronomy stuff. Really cool.
And hope you guys had a great Valentine's day.
Saturday, February 14, 2004
Thursday, February 12, 2004
Fire Alarm + Skipped Lecture
I skipped a social psych lecture today due to unforeseen circumstances - I couldn't wake up on time. Well, I can't be blamed. I was woken up by the fire alarm which rang at six am in the early morning. And the amazing thing was I didn't evacuate my room though the alarm kept on ringing for the next five minutes. *Whoa... What if its a real fire???* Anyway, I had an intuition that its going to be a false alarm again and so I continued sleeping. I consciously and clearly knew I shouldn't. I know. *pull my ears...* After which I fell asleep again and woke up only at 955am and my lecture starts at 10am. It takes me 25-30 minutes by bus to get to school (the bus journey itself takes only 10-15 minutes, but the waiting time takes as long, if not longer), so I decided that I might as well skipped the lecture, rather than barged into the lecture theatre halfway. I sort of regretted now though, cos it was Peter giving the lecture today. He's the best social psych lecturer. Ed always mumbles to himself and Paul's handouts are pieces of notes that aren't even fit to be used as rough paper.
Walking vs. bus
My monthly bus pass is expiring today and I didn't get a new one. I've decided to resume my walking habit to school, starting from tomorrow. Its a 30 minutes walk to school and another 10 minutes to my department. So its about 40-45 minutes walk in total. It's time to exercise again. I think I'll only get a bus pass for the exam term after Easter to get to my exam halls. So for the next three months, its walking everywhere. Yeah, I've gotten used to walking liao. 45 minutes isn't that long yah? *Think of the 25 odd pounds that I'll be saving every month.*
I skipped a social psych lecture today due to unforeseen circumstances - I couldn't wake up on time. Well, I can't be blamed. I was woken up by the fire alarm which rang at six am in the early morning. And the amazing thing was I didn't evacuate my room though the alarm kept on ringing for the next five minutes. *Whoa... What if its a real fire???* Anyway, I had an intuition that its going to be a false alarm again and so I continued sleeping. I consciously and clearly knew I shouldn't. I know. *pull my ears...* After which I fell asleep again and woke up only at 955am and my lecture starts at 10am. It takes me 25-30 minutes by bus to get to school (the bus journey itself takes only 10-15 minutes, but the waiting time takes as long, if not longer), so I decided that I might as well skipped the lecture, rather than barged into the lecture theatre halfway. I sort of regretted now though, cos it was Peter giving the lecture today. He's the best social psych lecturer. Ed always mumbles to himself and Paul's handouts are pieces of notes that aren't even fit to be used as rough paper.
Walking vs. bus
My monthly bus pass is expiring today and I didn't get a new one. I've decided to resume my walking habit to school, starting from tomorrow. Its a 30 minutes walk to school and another 10 minutes to my department. So its about 40-45 minutes walk in total. It's time to exercise again. I think I'll only get a bus pass for the exam term after Easter to get to my exam halls. So for the next three months, its walking everywhere. Yeah, I've gotten used to walking liao. 45 minutes isn't that long yah? *Think of the 25 odd pounds that I'll be saving every month.*
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
歌与城
刚才，不小心听到自己在新加坡“烧”的 CD 里的一首 The Corrs 唱的 "What Can I Do"，回忆就不由自主地把我带到5年前的Victoria Theatre。我清清楚楚地记得这首歌在《爱我有多深》里播了好几次，以及那个模仿牛顿的爱情方程式。于是，又记起那个花了不知多少时间，多少精力，多少麻烦做成的 Vending Machine，以及每年都无法缺席的 LEP Room 的那张许许多多城人（包括我在内）坐过的沙发。
那五天的情形我无法忘记。何止五天，根本就是六年。六年了，却又好像是昨天的事。
再多一个月，另外一批300城人又要圆梦了，又要让自己几个月的心血绚丽且完美地洒在舞台上，然后在谢幕时，又再次唱那首属于夜韵，属于城人，属于我们的城歌。（虽然每次都太快，或者太慢，或者走音，哈！）
夜韵的虔诚，虔诚的夜韵。
那两晚三场的演出，我会在伦敦和你们一起唱那首歌。
加油。
P.S. 原来，歌曲的力量也跟照片一样大，一样强。
刚才，不小心听到自己在新加坡“烧”的 CD 里的一首 The Corrs 唱的 "What Can I Do"，回忆就不由自主地把我带到5年前的Victoria Theatre。我清清楚楚地记得这首歌在《爱我有多深》里播了好几次，以及那个模仿牛顿的爱情方程式。于是，又记起那个花了不知多少时间，多少精力，多少麻烦做成的 Vending Machine，以及每年都无法缺席的 LEP Room 的那张许许多多城人（包括我在内）坐过的沙发。
那五天的情形我无法忘记。何止五天，根本就是六年。六年了，却又好像是昨天的事。
再多一个月，另外一批300城人又要圆梦了，又要让自己几个月的心血绚丽且完美地洒在舞台上，然后在谢幕时，又再次唱那首属于夜韵，属于城人，属于我们的城歌。（虽然每次都太快，或者太慢，或者走音，哈！）
夜韵的虔诚，虔诚的夜韵。
那两晚三场的演出，我会在伦敦和你们一起唱那首歌。
加油。
P.S. 原来，歌曲的力量也跟照片一样大，一样强。
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Credit card
My dream for a credit card was finally realised this afternoon! Hurray.
And surprisingly, the whole application process was "painless", as what the customer officer who handled my application said jokingly to me.
I was indeed really surprised. Firstly by the Brits' efficiency this time round. Secondly, by the fact that they didn't reject my application this time round (Today is my third try in three months?).
It took less than 5 minutes (not that I timed him) for him to get all the documents ready and everything explained to me and me signing the papers.
I remembered vividly that I took more than one week to set up my bank account when I first reached London.
What a big difference.
Anyway, who cares now?
7 more days to the world of convenience. woohoo...
My dream for a credit card was finally realised this afternoon! Hurray.
And surprisingly, the whole application process was "painless", as what the customer officer who handled my application said jokingly to me.
I was indeed really surprised. Firstly by the Brits' efficiency this time round. Secondly, by the fact that they didn't reject my application this time round (Today is my third try in three months?).
It took less than 5 minutes (not that I timed him) for him to get all the documents ready and everything explained to me and me signing the papers.
I remembered vividly that I took more than one week to set up my bank account when I first reached London.
What a big difference.
Anyway, who cares now?
7 more days to the world of convenience. woohoo...
Monday, February 09, 2004
Psychology + Experiments + Lab Reports
I've just finished my 5th lab report - the longest ever - 15 pages in 3 days. I'm impressed by myself. Hopefully, I'll get a better mark. The markers are ever stingy. She said the last report was "excellent", "ideas and arguments presented clearly and logically," and it showed "a good understanding of the material", but only gave me a meagre 69.
I hit 75 once. But when will I ever hit 80? 90? 100?
Ha... Maybe never. Maybe I'm expecting too much. 100 marks for an academic essay is impossible. I'm just dreaming. Strict markers here seldom give more than 70. Somemore, its prose based. Like essays.
But whatever, marks are not that important anyway. High marks just make me feel good for a short while, then no more.
I'm tired now after spending so much time and reading so many journals just to write that one single report.
Sometimes, I get so engrossed in it that I lose myself in the labyrinth of psychology terms, theories, hypotheses, statistics, chi-squares, wilcoxon tests etc. To such an extent that I don't know what I am writing. And then I've to re-read my sentences and my stats analyses over and over again.
But I've gotten so used to writing up my lab experiments now, though I've only went through 10 labs and written 5 reports. It's enjoyable though its a torture to do the research and the countless number of readings. I don't want to be a participant only. I want to design my experiments, I want to conduct the experiment myself, I want to test subjects (sounds cool), I want to learn hypnosis, I want to do developmental psych... I want to learn everything...
Just because the human mind and behaviour are simply fascinating and simply captivating.
I'm so intrigued by my course now that I'm considering doing research or PhD in Psych now, though I'm only in my 1st year and I've trouble catching up with my readings even for the BSc.
Am I ambitious? Ha.
But I'm lazy.
And I know I can't do PhD, at least not in the next 10 years.
I've just finished my 5th lab report - the longest ever - 15 pages in 3 days. I'm impressed by myself. Hopefully, I'll get a better mark. The markers are ever stingy. She said the last report was "excellent", "ideas and arguments presented clearly and logically," and it showed "a good understanding of the material", but only gave me a meagre 69.
I hit 75 once. But when will I ever hit 80? 90? 100?
Ha... Maybe never. Maybe I'm expecting too much. 100 marks for an academic essay is impossible. I'm just dreaming. Strict markers here seldom give more than 70. Somemore, its prose based. Like essays.
But whatever, marks are not that important anyway. High marks just make me feel good for a short while, then no more.
I'm tired now after spending so much time and reading so many journals just to write that one single report.
Sometimes, I get so engrossed in it that I lose myself in the labyrinth of psychology terms, theories, hypotheses, statistics, chi-squares, wilcoxon tests etc. To such an extent that I don't know what I am writing. And then I've to re-read my sentences and my stats analyses over and over again.
But I've gotten so used to writing up my lab experiments now, though I've only went through 10 labs and written 5 reports. It's enjoyable though its a torture to do the research and the countless number of readings. I don't want to be a participant only. I want to design my experiments, I want to conduct the experiment myself, I want to test subjects (sounds cool), I want to learn hypnosis, I want to do developmental psych... I want to learn everything...
Just because the human mind and behaviour are simply fascinating and simply captivating.
I'm so intrigued by my course now that I'm considering doing research or PhD in Psych now, though I'm only in my 1st year and I've trouble catching up with my readings even for the BSc.
Am I ambitious? Ha.
But I'm lazy.
And I know I can't do PhD, at least not in the next 10 years.
Sunday, February 08, 2004
Dinner + Coffee + Flat
Treated wenlong to dinner at this restaurant (forgot its name) near Leicester Square opened by a Malaysian. Had Mee Goreng. Rather authentic. Huge serving as well. Only 6 pounds. Never knew this restaurant existed. Shall visit it more often. Even got Hainanese Chicken Rice and Laksa.
After that, went to Costa Coffee. Had my 2nd cup of caffine today. 1st time in Costa since 5 mths in London. Chatted until 10pm.
Might be sharing a flat with him next academic year. Shall see how.
Diary
Saw a diary on sale at Borders for 2 pounds instead of the usual 10 pounds. Bought it without any hesitation.
Manchester United
Should be going to the theatre of dreams - Old Trafford - in Manchester next week even though I'm not a soccer fan. (I just realised Chelsea and Arsenal are so close to me after 5 mths here!) Anybody wants any souvenirs?
P.S. The effect of espresso + mocha + gigerenzer + hoffrage + cosmides + tooby + lab report is simply too powerful. I want to sleep but I can't sleep...
Treated wenlong to dinner at this restaurant (forgot its name) near Leicester Square opened by a Malaysian. Had Mee Goreng. Rather authentic. Huge serving as well. Only 6 pounds. Never knew this restaurant existed. Shall visit it more often. Even got Hainanese Chicken Rice and Laksa.
After that, went to Costa Coffee. Had my 2nd cup of caffine today. 1st time in Costa since 5 mths in London. Chatted until 10pm.
Might be sharing a flat with him next academic year. Shall see how.
Diary
Saw a diary on sale at Borders for 2 pounds instead of the usual 10 pounds. Bought it without any hesitation.
Manchester United
Should be going to the theatre of dreams - Old Trafford - in Manchester next week even though I'm not a soccer fan. (I just realised Chelsea and Arsenal are so close to me after 5 mths here!) Anybody wants any souvenirs?
P.S. The effect of espresso + mocha + gigerenzer + hoffrage + cosmides + tooby + lab report is simply too powerful. I want to sleep but I can't sleep...
Saturday, February 07, 2004
Flight Home Confirmed
One less thing to worry about.
I'm left with deciding my accommodation for the next academic year and where to dump my stuff over the coming summer.
Zara
Merely walked by Zara.
Irresistibly walked in.
Incredibly cheap.
One pair of jeans for 9 pounds only.
Ridiculously bought 2 pairs.
I guess its perfectly ok.
Since I just got my allowance.
Reading week
Just decided that I'll pay Wenda a visit at Sheffield, then go to peak district and then north to Manchester. After which I'll head southwards and drop by Oxford to visit Willy and Huimin, then back to London. So afterall, my reading week will be spent travelling in UK instead of the intended reading and studying. =p
Must-dos
(1) meet wenlong at 1830 at Leicester Sq Tube for dinner.
(2) plan itinerary for reading week and easter.
(3) finish up lab report.
(4) read.
One less thing to worry about.
I'm left with deciding my accommodation for the next academic year and where to dump my stuff over the coming summer.
Zara
Merely walked by Zara.
Irresistibly walked in.
Incredibly cheap.
One pair of jeans for 9 pounds only.
Ridiculously bought 2 pairs.
I guess its perfectly ok.
Since I just got my allowance.
Reading week
Just decided that I'll pay Wenda a visit at Sheffield, then go to peak district and then north to Manchester. After which I'll head southwards and drop by Oxford to visit Willy and Huimin, then back to London. So afterall, my reading week will be spent travelling in UK instead of the intended reading and studying. =p
Must-dos
(1) meet wenlong at 1830 at Leicester Sq Tube for dinner.
(2) plan itinerary for reading week and easter.
(3) finish up lab report.
(4) read.
Friday, February 06, 2004
Weather again
8 out of 10 British postcards mention the weather.
People here will eventually talk or lament about London's weather at some point in their conversations.
As a Londoner, I'm not an exception.
I've just added a weather-of-London status indicator in my blog.
What's your weather now?
P.S. The gales here are getting stronger and out of control (*gasp* It's now 24 km/h).
8 out of 10 British postcards mention the weather.
People here will eventually talk or lament about London's weather at some point in their conversations.
As a Londoner, I'm not an exception.
I've just added a weather-of-London status indicator in my blog.
What's your weather now?
P.S. The gales here are getting stronger and out of control (*gasp* It's now 24 km/h).
Thursday, February 05, 2004
Money
Finally... I got my allowance today, 4800 pounds (S$14596.80) to last me the next 6 months.
Shall deposit the cheque tomorrow. =)
Erratic Weather
London snowed exactly 7 days ago. It was -3 degrees Celsius then.
Weather has started to turn warm two days ago. It was around 10 degrees then.
And now, its 13 to 14 degrees.
The "heat" today made me take off my jacket and walk around on the streets in a long sleeve T-shirt.
I've decided to wear short sleeve tomorrow.
And the weather forecast says the temperature is going to drop to around 5 degrees on Saturday.
God must be too free.
Which Singapore School Are You From?
YOU ARE AN Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) BOY!
You are a sweet-natured person, though constantly
seeking attention and affirmation from your
peers. You are not very hard working...
Which Singapore School are YOU FROM?
brought to you by Quizilla
Hmm... so I got one letter mixed up. Its ACS all the while and not AHS...
Must-dos
(1) Lab report.
(2) Deposit cheque.
Finally... I got my allowance today, 4800 pounds (S$14596.80) to last me the next 6 months.
Shall deposit the cheque tomorrow. =)
Erratic Weather
London snowed exactly 7 days ago. It was -3 degrees Celsius then.
Weather has started to turn warm two days ago. It was around 10 degrees then.
And now, its 13 to 14 degrees.
The "heat" today made me take off my jacket and walk around on the streets in a long sleeve T-shirt.
I've decided to wear short sleeve tomorrow.
And the weather forecast says the temperature is going to drop to around 5 degrees on Saturday.
God must be too free.
Which Singapore School Are You From?
YOU ARE AN Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) BOY!
You are a sweet-natured person, though constantly
seeking attention and affirmation from your
peers. You are not very hard working...
Which Singapore School are YOU FROM?
brought to you by Quizilla
Hmm... so I got one letter mixed up. Its ACS all the while and not AHS...
Must-dos
(1) Lab report.
(2) Deposit cheque.
Wednesday, February 04, 2004
Love
Had a lecture on love on Monday (Valentine's coming. How apt! ha.). Pretty interesting. But somehow the romance disappears when psychologists start to define and label love. Nevertheless, here are some notes that I made with reference to my textbook:
(1) Love is a combination of emotions, cognitions and behaviour that can be involved in intimate relationships.
(2) "Liking" is different from "love" (Rubin, 1973).
(3) And "love" is different from "being in love" (Regan and Berscheid, 1999), the former not containing the sexual desire and excitement that is an essential part of the latter.
(4) In a cluster analysis of love prototypes such as romantic love, parental love and infatuation, Fehr (1994) confirmed previous findings by Hatfield and Walster (1981), who distinguished between:
(a) Passionate love (or romantic love):
(i) State of intense absorption in another person involving physiological arousal.
(ii) Confusion of feelings: tenderness, sexuality, elation and pain, anxiety and relief, altruism and jealousy.
(b) Companionate love:
(i) The caring and affection for another person that usually arises from sharing time together.
(ii) Less intense emotion, combining feelings of friendly affection and deep attachment.
(iii) Characterised by friendship, understanding and a concern for the welfare of other (Hatfield, 1987)
(5) Other styles of love have been proposed. E.g. drawing on philosophy and literature, Lee (1988) offered a fine-grained taxonomy of six love styles. These were used by Hendrick and Hendrick (1995) to develop a scale to measure gender differences in the “colours of love”. They found that men scored higher than women on ludus, mania and pragma. The six love styles are:
(a) Eros (passionate love)
(i) Love is an all-consuming emotional experience.
(ii) Love at first sight is typical, and physical love is essential.
(b) Storge (friendship or companionate love)
(i) Love is a comfortable intimacy that slowly grows out of companionship, mutual sharing and self-disclosure.
(ii) A best-friend lover is thoughtful, warm and companionate.
(c) Ludus (game-playing love)
(i) This person plays at love as others play tennis or chess: to enjoy the “love game” and to win it.
(ii) No relationship lasts for long, usually ending when the partner becomes boring or too serious.
(d) Mania (possessive love)
(i) The possessive lover is emotionally intense, jealous, obsessed with the beloved.
(ii) The possessive lover is highly dependent on the beloved and therefore fears rejection.
(e) Pragma (logical love)
(i) This is “love shopping for a suitable mate”, and all it asks is that the relationship works well, that the two partners be compatible and that they satisfy each other’s basic needs.
(ii) The pragmatic lover seeks contentment rather than excitement.
(f) Agape (selfless, altruistic love)
(i) This style of love is unconditionally caring, giving and forgiving.
(ii) Love means a duty to give to the loved one with no strings attached.
What kind of lover are you? I think I am (or will be) mania and a bit of agape.
Must-dos
(1) Call SIA confirm flight.
(2) Expt at 1pm Room 227 Pearson Building.
(3) Rehearse presentation to be given at seminar on Thurs.
Should-dos
(1) Start writing lab report.
(2) Hoover room.
(3) Read Social Psych.
Had a lecture on love on Monday (Valentine's coming. How apt! ha.). Pretty interesting. But somehow the romance disappears when psychologists start to define and label love. Nevertheless, here are some notes that I made with reference to my textbook:
(1) Love is a combination of emotions, cognitions and behaviour that can be involved in intimate relationships.
(2) "Liking" is different from "love" (Rubin, 1973).
(3) And "love" is different from "being in love" (Regan and Berscheid, 1999), the former not containing the sexual desire and excitement that is an essential part of the latter.
(4) In a cluster analysis of love prototypes such as romantic love, parental love and infatuation, Fehr (1994) confirmed previous findings by Hatfield and Walster (1981), who distinguished between:
(a) Passionate love (or romantic love):
(i) State of intense absorption in another person involving physiological arousal.
(ii) Confusion of feelings: tenderness, sexuality, elation and pain, anxiety and relief, altruism and jealousy.
(b) Companionate love:
(i) The caring and affection for another person that usually arises from sharing time together.
(ii) Less intense emotion, combining feelings of friendly affection and deep attachment.
(iii) Characterised by friendship, understanding and a concern for the welfare of other (Hatfield, 1987)
(5) Other styles of love have been proposed. E.g. drawing on philosophy and literature, Lee (1988) offered a fine-grained taxonomy of six love styles. These were used by Hendrick and Hendrick (1995) to develop a scale to measure gender differences in the “colours of love”. They found that men scored higher than women on ludus, mania and pragma. The six love styles are:
(a) Eros (passionate love)
(i) Love is an all-consuming emotional experience.
(ii) Love at first sight is typical, and physical love is essential.
(b) Storge (friendship or companionate love)
(i) Love is a comfortable intimacy that slowly grows out of companionship, mutual sharing and self-disclosure.
(ii) A best-friend lover is thoughtful, warm and companionate.
(c) Ludus (game-playing love)
(i) This person plays at love as others play tennis or chess: to enjoy the “love game” and to win it.
(ii) No relationship lasts for long, usually ending when the partner becomes boring or too serious.
(d) Mania (possessive love)
(i) The possessive lover is emotionally intense, jealous, obsessed with the beloved.
(ii) The possessive lover is highly dependent on the beloved and therefore fears rejection.
(e) Pragma (logical love)
(i) This is “love shopping for a suitable mate”, and all it asks is that the relationship works well, that the two partners be compatible and that they satisfy each other’s basic needs.
(ii) The pragmatic lover seeks contentment rather than excitement.
(f) Agape (selfless, altruistic love)
(i) This style of love is unconditionally caring, giving and forgiving.
(ii) Love means a duty to give to the loved one with no strings attached.
What kind of lover are you? I think I am (or will be) mania and a bit of agape.
Must-dos
(1) Call SIA confirm flight.
(2) Expt at 1pm Room 227 Pearson Building.
(3) Rehearse presentation to be given at seminar on Thurs.
Should-dos
(1) Start writing lab report.
(2) Hoover room.
(3) Read Social Psych.
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Travel Plans
So, I've decided to be a good boy and not go to Scandinavia for northern lights for my coming reading week in February. For that week, I'll study for the exams scheduled in May or maybe go somewhere in England for 2-3 days. In this case, I can go travelling in Easter without feeling too guilty with exams just after Easter.
Decided my next destinations for Easter will be Amsterdam and Brussels and perhaps Rotterdam, the Hague, Antwerp, Ypres and Bruges in the Netherlands and Belgium. And maybe France after exams before I head back to Singapore.
And maybe Yunnan or Cambodia when I'm back home.
I'm so so so excited. At least I've got something to look forward to now. =)
Just gotta wait for my allowances to come soon and off I go. =)
Must-dos
(1) Expt at 10am Room 513.
(2) Lab discussion at 1pm Room 305.
(3) Research on private accommodation next academic year.
(4) Decide on exact flight home. SQ317? SQ319? SQ321? June 12? June 1?
So, I've decided to be a good boy and not go to Scandinavia for northern lights for my coming reading week in February. For that week, I'll study for the exams scheduled in May or maybe go somewhere in England for 2-3 days. In this case, I can go travelling in Easter without feeling too guilty with exams just after Easter.
Decided my next destinations for Easter will be Amsterdam and Brussels and perhaps Rotterdam, the Hague, Antwerp, Ypres and Bruges in the Netherlands and Belgium. And maybe France after exams before I head back to Singapore.
And maybe Yunnan or Cambodia when I'm back home.
I'm so so so excited. At least I've got something to look forward to now. =)
Just gotta wait for my allowances to come soon and off I go. =)
Must-dos
(1) Expt at 10am Room 513.
(2) Lab discussion at 1pm Room 305.
(3) Research on private accommodation next academic year.
(4) Decide on exact flight home. SQ317? SQ319? SQ321? June 12? June 1?
Monday, February 02, 2004
几米＋Kinokuniya
几米又出新书了！！！
在去年１２月３１日出版了《又寂寞又美好》，现在又是《开始》。
欲通过互连网订购，不过得用传真然后邮寄订购表格，太麻烦了，而且我没有传真机。
所以，要等到夏天回国后，才能拥有。而且是两本。还有四个月的时间而已！耐心等待吧……
突然想念Kinokuniya。
几米的所有所有所有……都放在那蕞尔小岛上，没有带来伦敦，不过还好带了他的一本记事簿《黑白异境》，让几米无法在我的生命中缺席。
不过，我错过了《地下铁》。于是，那天一口气把整个电影的原声带下载完，然后反反复复在宿舍听，听萧亚轩，听梁朝伟，听杨千（女华），边听边想象电影里的情节。
我也错过了在台湾上演的《地下铁》舞台剧，为什么我不是台湾人，或者为什么几米不是新加坡人？新加坡几时才能冒出象他一样出色的绘本作家呢？
也许，等久久都等不到吧……
几米说：“……对我而言，生命的变化虽然太大太快，但每一个模糊的开始，都可能充满着无限美丽的期待。”
几米又出新书了！！！
在去年１２月３１日出版了《又寂寞又美好》，现在又是《开始》。
欲通过互连网订购，不过得用传真然后邮寄订购表格，太麻烦了，而且我没有传真机。
所以，要等到夏天回国后，才能拥有。而且是两本。还有四个月的时间而已！耐心等待吧……
突然想念Kinokuniya。
几米的所有所有所有……都放在那蕞尔小岛上，没有带来伦敦，不过还好带了他的一本记事簿《黑白异境》，让几米无法在我的生命中缺席。
不过，我错过了《地下铁》。于是，那天一口气把整个电影的原声带下载完，然后反反复复在宿舍听，听萧亚轩，听梁朝伟，听杨千（女华），边听边想象电影里的情节。
我也错过了在台湾上演的《地下铁》舞台剧，为什么我不是台湾人，或者为什么几米不是新加坡人？新加坡几时才能冒出象他一样出色的绘本作家呢？
也许，等久久都等不到吧……
几米说：“……对我而言，生命的变化虽然太大太快，但每一个模糊的开始，都可能充满着无限美丽的期待。”
Sunday, February 01, 2004
Leng Tuan's Bday Dinner + Marriage!?
Nope, Leng Tuan isn't getting married, yet. =p Dun be misled by my title... haha... She's just had her 22nd birthday celebration. That's all. Full Stop. Oh... have I disappoint you?! =p
That marriage part actually refers to somebody else...
* * * * * * *
Basically did nothing for the whole day before I set off to LT's place at Tower Hill in the evening for her b day dinner.
And these kinds of gatherings are always the occasions where I get lots of updates and gossips, however unimaginable they can be.
The gathering this evening was no exception.
So, now JR has a girlfriend after 4 months in London...
And, I heard XH is getting married soon!? Oh man, she is my school mate, same age as me, still studying in NUS (or is it NTU?), and planning to marry soon!?
Well anything is possible. This is the 2nd marriage out of my pool of same-age-friends that I know so far. I already got a nasty shock same time last year when I knew XQ got engaged...
People, pls dun scare me anymore. Do at least let me have some mental preparation, at least tell me you are attached first. I don't want to receive wedding invitations when I go back to Singapore in summer, though I'll be very truly deeply happy for u, nevertheless... =|
Anyway, we are old already. I've just turned 21. And LT is 22. And most my frens are turning 22 this year, including myself. To think of it, marriage isn't really that far from us now.
Well, at least I do hope to settle down by the age of 26. (*Hmm... Is that possible?*) Though it seems rather impossible based on the current situation. Ha... 5 more years to go...
But I don't think I wanna start a relationship at least for now because
(1) I don't see any possibility of any relationship blossoming in London.
(2) LDRs (Long Distance Relationships) simply don't work 99% of the time.
(3) Physical contact plays a rudimentary and important role in a relationship.
That leaves me 3 years after my BSc, or 2 years after my Masters (if I do one).
But anything is still possible. I guess.
Who knows what will happen even for the next second?!
I bless all my friends.
Must-dos
(1) Write Essay
(2) Dinner with wenlong
Nope, Leng Tuan isn't getting married, yet. =p Dun be misled by my title... haha... She's just had her 22nd birthday celebration. That's all. Full Stop. Oh... have I disappoint you?! =p
That marriage part actually refers to somebody else...
* * * * * * *
Basically did nothing for the whole day before I set off to LT's place at Tower Hill in the evening for her b day dinner.
And these kinds of gatherings are always the occasions where I get lots of updates and gossips, however unimaginable they can be.
The gathering this evening was no exception.
So, now JR has a girlfriend after 4 months in London...
And, I heard XH is getting married soon!? Oh man, she is my school mate, same age as me, still studying in NUS (or is it NTU?), and planning to marry soon!?
Well anything is possible. This is the 2nd marriage out of my pool of same-age-friends that I know so far. I already got a nasty shock same time last year when I knew XQ got engaged...
People, pls dun scare me anymore. Do at least let me have some mental preparation, at least tell me you are attached first. I don't want to receive wedding invitations when I go back to Singapore in summer, though I'll be very truly deeply happy for u, nevertheless... =|
Anyway, we are old already. I've just turned 21. And LT is 22. And most my frens are turning 22 this year, including myself. To think of it, marriage isn't really that far from us now.
Well, at least I do hope to settle down by the age of 26. (*Hmm... Is that possible?*) Though it seems rather impossible based on the current situation. Ha... 5 more years to go...
But I don't think I wanna start a relationship at least for now because
(1) I don't see any possibility of any relationship blossoming in London.
(2) LDRs (Long Distance Relationships) simply don't work 99% of the time.
(3) Physical contact plays a rudimentary and important role in a relationship.
That leaves me 3 years after my BSc, or 2 years after my Masters (if I do one).
But anything is still possible. I guess.
Who knows what will happen even for the next second?!
I bless all my friends.
Must-dos
(1) Write Essay
(2) Dinner with wenlong
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