The Quarter Mile

Ah, life is synonymous with a dragstrip don't you think? Optimum tyre conditions, perfectly-timed gear changes, the many modifications to ensure a winning run. From start to finish, there's a constant... Or rather, two: Time and competitors. And I could never understand why life's got to have competitions. Safe me the preaching about competitions bringing out the best in an individual. It breeds selfishness and all the unnecessary paranoia... *fades away*


It’s one of those days when someone you’ve not spoken to suddenly appeared and greeted you. What happens next? You either return the greeting then find an excuse to leave or start a conversation. I chose the latter.

The last time I met Wong (or the Talking Llama) was during our friend’s wedding back in late 2009. So, what do two males talk about on a Sunday night? Girls you say? Let’s just say I’m not that kind of person (shameless self-praise!) It’s about what we’re up to so far and the dreaded reality of life. Well, he’s cool about the dreaded part though. And I’m still trying my best to go against the flow of a programmed lifetime: study, work, earn, spend, earn, retire, and then leave the world full of regrets.

We did talk about quarter life crisis. Say what? Taking our lifespan to be 100 years, our current age would be half of the midlife crisis hence quarter. This begs the question, what happens during quarter life crisis?

According to him, and I quote verbatim,

Quarter life crisis: the times when u wonder where the hell u are in terms of career and life... then, what the hell ur supposed to do next and then it hit u, u have absolutely idea....and whats worse, u realise, there's no motivation also...

Ah, that pretty much sums up what most people felt. That is if they do sit down and think. There’s some truth in that. You see, I always think what I’d do after finishing studies and whether it’s something I really wanted to do. One on hand I have to be practical and on the other, I should go with my desire to be useful instead of being like the selfish majority.

May 30, 2011. Time’s running out.

A Peculiar Pair of Itchy Feet

After much blood and bombs since the First World War, I’ve entered the Yugoslav Wars. Which got me thinking, how much does it take to start a conflagration fueled by ethnic dissensions? Not much when you have foul-mouthed bigots in the country. I shan’t afford them too much attention though. Spoils my day and wastes your bandwidth.

And as I trawled the net taking in as much as I could, I realized I’m “in Europe”. Every so often, I hear how many dream of (and many set foot on) Europe. The usual ones are England, Italy, Germany, and France. Nice places (see the background of the blog?) I must say. I find myself rather weird when it comes to my choice of places to go.

Whilst they screamed Paris, I chose Parnu. Others say Beijing and I looked at Baku. I have nothing against their choices but I prefer somewhere people don’t hear about everyday. I still want to see the aurora borealis one day and walk the streets of Bruges.

First on my list though, I’d love to visit Poland and Israel. I guess Auschwitz and Yad Vashem are the reason behind my choice; not because of any morbid fascination with death. The Smithsonian Institution will be next and then onboard a train on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Celebrity Apprentice: Giving All You Can Give

The show's just ended days ago (I know I'm late *smiles*) and I enjoyed the finale as much as I did the whole season. Finalists Marlee Matlin and John Rich played for the Starkey Hearing Foundation and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital respectively.

Have a look at their charities and the "world premiere" of For The Kids. Nice.

Edit: The processed videos aren't that crisp compared to the ones in AVI format I have in my computer. Too bad.

Marlee Matlin - Starkey Hearing Foundation




John Rich - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital




Marlee Matlin & John Rich - For The Kids

Julian Roderick Lambert: Stereotyping A Rich Kid

A conversation between Julian ‘Roderick’ Lambert and Elise Cavanaugh on a chat client. Remember that chat language was used. Some points were exaggerated for effect and greater clarity. A commentary will follow later on.

You have just sent a shake.

___________

EC: Hey sweetheart, ya there?

JL: Hi. Hang on a sec...

EC: Ok

A few minutes later...

JL: Hey! i’m here.

EC: Am i disturbin u? What were u doin?

JL: Had lunch yet? It’s raining over here.

EC: Yea, had pasta.

JL: Aww! That’s nice. How’s yr dya like? Good?

JL: day^

EC: Kinda. Was chatting with a guy. Yr namesake I'd say.

JL: Really? Like something-Lambert?

EC: nope, like Julian-something. Julian Caldwell I think...

JL: Oh... how's he like?

EC: Glad u asked! he's nothing like you

JL: *surprised* how so?

EC: well, he's smart...

JL: ..and I'm stupid ? :(

EC: no, ur a genius

JL: i think i am...

EC: ‘cz ur

JL: So, how u both knew each other?

EC: It’s a long story

JL: y d talk abt him suddenly?

EC: ‘cz i he keeps talking to me

JL: that's a pity... it shows ur attracting the guys.. Ha-ha!

EC: =.=

I hv a headache

JL: oh, go bang yr head against the wall.. i do that often when I have a headache.

EC: =.= maybe i shd... but JC asked me to have rest

JL: well, what does he know? Rber i did well for my MCAT? Else, how’d I be in med school 2day?

EC: i trust u more. i shall do a head-banger ...

JL: kewl~~

EC: JC likes cats

JL: cats r yr enemies

EC: i know... that's y he's like my enemy's fren which is my enemy

JL: so u hated him?

EC: I don't knw... i tot he hated me and he said he doesn't. What do u think?

JL: I think you hate him [does a jig and fell]

EC: Really?

JL: Ouch!

EC: what happened?

JL: i did a jig and fell..

EC: silly

JL: yeah, i am as silly as an egg with broken shells

EC: it's ok.. i like that. Humpty-dumpty

JL: muah!

EC: Hey, ever heard of the Kristallnacht?

JL: Nope. Some brand belonging to a beer?

EC: Err... Not really. What about the 38^th parallel?

JL: What’s that?

EC: D first's related to Nazi Germany and the second has to do with the Korean War.

JL: Germany. Beers! And Porsche. I know PDK though.

EC: Oh, the Porsche Doppelkupplung. Some dual-clutch thingamabob.

EC: U there???

JL: U even knw that?! Wow.

EC: JC told me. Heard of 'em?

JL: Well... of course! But all these irrelevance bore me. I’m a med student remember? We’re planning for a Halloween party to be held l8r tis week.

EC: Great! How’s life in med school?

JL: Good I guess? Can’t wait to get back home. I heard there’s a new pay schedule being announced for doctors. Oh yea! $.$ LOL

EC: yea, i heard... Ever thought of volunteering with the UN? Have a look at the UNDP site >> http://www.undp.org/

JL: I suppose JC sent u that too?

EC: As a matter of fact, yes.

JL: I think he should volunteer.

EC: He would if he could. I think you’d be a suitable candidate.

JL: Squatting toilets and mosquitoes? ;)

EC: Meanie... I think we’re real lucky to study medicine and pharmacy abroad. Giving back would be great.

Go and read the page I sent u.

JL: I dislike reading... LOL! Hey, all this talk’s making me hungry. Gonna go order some pizza. Want some?

EC: That’d be nice though I dun see how that’s possible. :)

JL: ttyl. Someone’s at the door. Party’s starting I think. *fingers crossed*

EC: Hey... Wait

JL: talk 2u tonite dear. Bye.

EC: Ok. Cu then.

JL: Oh... b4 I forget, I saw your piano clip on Utube. Nice. Bye.

EC: Hey! :) ur back..

ok, bye...

I'm Still in Love with You

Rigsby and Van Pelt's dialogue in The Mentalist. Aww! Poor Wayne. From the day they called it off to the day when Grace announced her engagement to Craig O'Loughlin, you can see the pain and sadness written all over his face.

Anyway, I find this one memorable. I'm into dialogues lately. I even have something planned. We'll see.

Rigsby: Wait, there's one more thing: I'm sorry but I'm not going to be at your wedding.

Van Pelt: Oh?
[Van Pelt sighs]

Van Pelt: That's too bad. You have something else planned for that day?

Rigsby: No,you see the problem is: I'm still in love with you.

Van Pelt: You can't-

Rigsby: Hold on. I'm not trying to win you back. You're marrying a good man. That's not gonna change. But neither am I. This whole thing where we pretend we're just friends, it doesn't work. I don't know what will work. But I know one thing: I can't watch you marry another man.

[Rigsby steps toward Van Pelt and lowers his voice]

Rigsby: You have a good day, and a good life.

[Rigsby kisses her and walks away]

Season 3, Episode 21 – Like A Redheaded Stepchild

Here's the scene. Sunday night and nothing much to do, hence, this post.

Getting Old?

Is it true that when a person hits a certain number in life, they begin doing things they've never done before? Not necessarily something drastic like... I don't even know what they do.

What I'm trying to say is I look back more now than I did years back. I miss my schooldays so much. The before- and after-school street soccer. The loud talking in a noisy canteen. The banters. The punishment — oh yes, we're the vibrant ones. And then there was the crooning behind the lecture theatre; not Backstreet Boys nor 'N Sync, just the hits from the times when we're still suckling. Also, who can forget the little crushes that comes when a five years (11 if you include primary school) of all-boys environment ended in sixth form (pre-U if you'd like). The fleeting glances. The smiles. The blushes and flushes.

Those were the things that raced (some floated gently) through my mind. It all seemed too fast. Yesterday I was 16 and today I'm 26. Besides the past, I always anticipate, cautiously, what the future holds. A lack of faith in the Lord? Really? Well, as much as I'd like, I do get swept into that wave of apprehension at the thought of things to come.

I've intended for this piece to be short but I found this piece posted by my friend somewhere. It's about what I've just said up there; about our attempt to unseat the original singers of some well-known songs. *laughs*

Here goes (unabridged and in its entirety) . Links at the bottom:

Of singing at the back of lecture theatres

"Why do birds, suddenly appear? Everytime..You are near..
Just like me....They long to be...Close to you" -Close to you...by The Carpenters-

ahh...one of the classic songs that was sung at the back of lecture theatres throughout my 6th form years.
Actually...Why do we do it? Is it because we're seeking attention? Or is the 6th form syllabus taking a toll on us?Releasing study pressure perhaps? Whatever the reason, we always had fun when we're singing at the back of the class. Yes!! We do get stares from the other students(like they're gonna murder us or something).

And who are my partners in crime??
Drum roll please...jeng jeng jeng jeng...my brothers Chang Yan Wai, Julian Chin, Hor Zian Khang, Edwin Lee(chinese rapper), Jiwan, Woo Yuen Thern, Thopson Ooi
These guys deserve a special mention...I love all of them(not in a gayish way)..hahahahaha
Thanx brothers for all the good times....The below is a little something for u all....Cheers

"So I say....Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing
Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty....What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me"

-Thank You For The Music...by ABBA-

posted by slacker @ 7:40 PM
the slacker's hideout

Slowing Down for the Weekend

Ah, the much awaited weekend where I'd laze in bed at 11 am (Ha!) and writing this. It's been a good week for me although some days were rather gloomy. I tried to be positive and civil about a few issues; for what good is a blown top if all it does is make me look silly? I have so much on my mind needed to be put into words and I'm still stringing them together.

For now, I couldn't help but think how long this country would last if the current nonsensical governing continues. A lot of things no longer surprised me but I'm a little optimistic — maybe, just maybe, things would get better. So, these (and more, if you'd look) make for some good reading material:

• The migrant’s eye
• I am an unwanted step-child

Have a great weekend!