Past, Present, Future

PAST


PRESENT


FUTURE



Taken by Zhi Teng
Edited by Raymond

Location: Dover MRT Station
Date: 23/4/2009
Time: 10.08am

Bring Your Own Computer

Instead of having the traditional dull and black laptops, some companies are allowing their workers to buy their own ones. The employees receive an amount of money as a subsidy and they can choose any brand and design they want. They can even keep it after they leave the company. This is known as the Bring Your Own Computer or in short, BYOC

Although workers, especially those from the younger generation, can purchase any notebook of thier own preference, they must have their own IT support for technical assistance. For all the advantages that this BYOC has to offer, the most prominent one is that it is cost-cutting. For example, a firm spends US$2500 every two or three years for one user but with BYOC, it gives employees a $2100 subsidy say every three years

So in fact, the company saves $400 on each user and multiply that amount with one thousand employees and you can save up to hundreds of thousand dollars. I think this is a good deal for both parties, the company and the worker. The company saves money, the company is happy. The worker gets his dream laptop and he is happy. Well of course there are cons like confidential information being leaked and the technical issues that the employee must prepare for

In a whole, this BYOC thing should be a hit in the future since for all the good reasons it has to offer



An employee can choose from the various colours offered by computer brands

28 April

First lesson of the day in the morning was gems. The teacher made us discuss and talk, completely opposite from my previous gems teacher in psychology class where she talked non-stop. We learned that the law is supposed to protect us, is actually all a hoax, is useful in justifying something etc. So when I graduate from this module, you better watch out because I may sue you for just the slightest thing since I know all the legal stuff inside out. Call me Lawyer Eng!

After that was Reporting Writing and Presentation, the Indian teacher with the ang moh name made us discuss in groups again about another product which we would like to present. She seemed to have take notice of me and a few others after the second lesson today. For me is because I talked a lot which I don't see there is anything wrong about it, Melvin is always the star presenter with jokes and Zhi Teng is...(don't mention about it)

Then it was lunchtime and we went to foodcourt two. Queued for about fifteen minutes but luckily the price was cheap and it made me feel for a moment as though I had returned to secondary school. Then Zhi Teng and I decided to have this tang yuan beancurd for dessert because we saw a poster of it and got curious

As the name implies, it is basically tang yuan together with beancurd with some soya bean milk. Mymain course was cheap but the dessert cost a bomb. One bowl costs $2.70 man. Zhi Teng say it is balnd but I think the sweetness is just nice for me. Vernon and Alice also think that it is tasteless as they tried it before

Since beancurd was on our table, our post-lunch topic at our table was of course about it. The two China students talked a lot about their food back in their homeland while the Malaysian also talked a lot. Me? I only opened my mouth for eating and added in some crucial words and sentences here and there in the conversation. For example, if nobody talks, then I will something that can be continued discussing for a long time by the others

The had java class. Halfway, I went out with Zhi Teng to buy a drink at the vending machine. It is the worst I ever encountered. The can drink that came out was hot one! Yes, it is supposed to be cold right? Luckily I picked chrysanthemum tea so it tasted ok with a high temperature. Imagine drinking hot Coke or 7-Up, I wonder how will it be like

Also, the "hole" for slotting in the coins is so dumb. The coin will get stuck in there no matter what size it is and you have to use another coin to push and whatever action you can do with your fingers to force it in. Both of us wasted five minutes there helping each other push our coins in. Stupid machine, I feel like calling the hotline to complain

Tonight: Barcelona vs Chelsea

I think it will be a draw

27 April

Just look at her face. All stunned and shocked. Even she herself did not believe that she won the Best Actress award but she really did. It surprised everyone. So how on earth did she win it? Because she ate worms? Because she acted like a lunatic? Because whatever when she is only a supporting actress in the "bao kar liao" nyonya drama. This is so ridiculous man

***

Here's a couple of pictures I took in school today, looks quite blur though



A whole lot of students squeezing to board the escalator in the morning at the MRT station



This bird seems rather interested in what's happening inside here so since it was so brave to stay for so long, I decided to take a picture of it and it still didn't fly away even after I left

Singapore Day 2009

Yesterday was the Singapore Day 2009. It was held n London and more than 12000 people came together and exhibit the Singapore kiasu spirit for the free food and variety shows. And the ERP gantry just looks so cool when you pass through it, only when it's a fake one of course

Defriending on Facebook

About half an hour ago, I had just defriended more than twenty people in Facebook. I think it is twenty-three of them to be exact so maybe you should count yourself lucky if you are still friends with me. As today is the first day of a new month in the lunar calendar, I am on a vegetarian diet again. Well, I ate cheese in the morning so it's not really hundred percent vegetarian

Oh look, Jackie Chan is blasting us! After his comments about Hong Kong and Taiwan, he is now saying Singaporeans have no self-respect. Eh? Whatever, who cares what he says. I can't be bothered about it at all

Tomorrow is the day I have been waiting for. For more than one year

First lecture in lecture theatre

Today I had a two hour lecture in school. Yes, it is the only lesson today and it is the first lesson in a lecture theatre for me. There were a total of five classes including mine so there was quite a number of people. The lecturer was an ang moh and he was not bad in his presentation. At least not the completely monotonous type of teachers who talk all the way

Then on the journey home, I took a picture

You don't get to see this often in an MRT train here in our country

Star Awards 2009 predictions

These are my predictions and analysis of the upcoming Star Awards 2009. I anticipated that Lianhe Zaobao will publish theirs tomorrow on Thursday so for one instance, I can say that this blog brings you news that is faster than the mainstream media



First of all, let's talk about Best Drama

Favourite: The Little Nyonya(小娘惹)

Dark Horse: Perfect Cut(一切完美)

Underdog: Love Blossom 1(心花朵朵开1)

Although I am a self-proclaimed critic of The Little Nyonya, I have to admit that it is the clear winner to bag this award. If the reason for winning this award is because of big production, then The Golden Path (黄金路) confirm out already as The Little Nyonya is "bigger" than it






Just in Singapore (一房半厅一水缸) may be interesting but still no fight against the mighty TLN. By My Side is too dramatic to be best drama. Love Blossom 1 is seriously the worst nominee among the six and it should not even be nominated at all. TLN's biggest and only rival is Perfect Cut but I doubt the dark horse can pull an upset



There is one drama which I think deserves to be nominated. it is none other than my favourite Crime Busters X2 (叮当神探). It is so funny and has many unpredicatable plots like a normal detective show. It is a pity that it was not nomiated



***

Best Actor

Favourite: Tay Ping Hui (The Golden Path), Chen Han Wei (By My Side)

Dark Horse: Qi Yu Wu (The Little Nyonya)

Underdog: Pierre Png (The Little Nyonya)



Tay Ping Hui was really very bad and evil in The Golden Path while Chen Han Wei is always a sure bet in this award. I still hope Tay Ping Hui wins it this time as he narrowly missed it in 2007. Huang Wen Yong should be contented that he was nominated. Adrian Pang's character in Nanny Daddy lacks the depth to match with the hot favourites. As for the two Babas from TLN, only Qi Yi Wu looks like the only nominee that can wrestle with Tay and Chen. Pierre Png still needs to work harder. He can act Phua Chu Beng so well so he just needs to brush up his Mandarin

***

Best Actress

Favourite: Fann Wong (The Defining Moment, 沸腾冰点)

Dark Horse: Chen Liping (The Golden Path)

Underdog: Felicia Chin (The Golden Path)



I don't want the two little nyonyas to win so I chose Fann Wong. Felicia Chin was a surprise in this nomination list. Chen Liping was nominated twice for this award together with her role in Just In Singapore but I believe she will still lose out to the others. I don't think Joanne Peh will win the award just because she add worms and mice in the show while Jeanette Aw is too over-hyped after the broadcast of TLN which makes me feel unfair if she still wins the award and gain more limelight

***

Best Supporting Actor

Favourite: Zzen (The Little Nyonya), Yao Wen Long (The Little Nyonya), Chew Chor Meng (The Golden Path)

Dark Horse: Darren Lim (The Little Nyonya)

Underdog: Dai Yang Tian(The Little Nyonya)



Three way tie for this award but my vote goes to Chew Chor Meng. He was really comeptent in acting his mentally unstable character in The Golden Path and the fact that I don't like TLN. Big-eyed Yao Wen Long and crafty Zzen are potential winners too but I mus say I am baised here. Darren Lim won the award in 2007 so I believe he won't win it this time. Dai Yang Tian? Oh my, why is he even in this list in the first place? Zhu Hou Ren wonders if he should be happy or sad for he is nominated but his competitors are really better than him

***

Best Supporting Actress

Favourite: Lin Mei Jiao (The Little Nyonya)

Dark Horse: Cai Pei Xuan(The Golden Path)

Underdog: All the others from The Little Nyonya



Five versus one here. Honestly, I would like to see Cai Pei Xuan receiving the award on stage but Lin Mei Jiao is just too good to say no (even if she's from TLN). The wicked nyonya will triumph in this award while the other female characters are just placed into the list fill up the blanks. Li Yin Zhu should have been nominated with her role in Just in Singapore instead of TLN

***

Best Variety Programme

Favourite: Life Transformers (心晴大动员), Buzzing Cashier (抢摊大行动)

Dark Horse: CelebriTea Break (艺点心思)

Underdog: Star Chef 2 (至尊厨王2), King of Thrift 2 (SMART省钱王2)





Really hard to choose between the two hot favourites but Buzzing Cashier should just edge out Life Transformers because it is more interactive. The others really don't seem to have a chance. Star Chef and King of Thrift are too boring. Superband don't even need to mention I guess

***

Best Variety Show Host

Favourite: Quan Yi Feng (Life Transformers), Kym Ng (Buzzing Cashier), Guo Liang (CelebriTea Break)

Dark Horse: Marcus Chin (Golden Age Talentime 2008)

Underdog: Christopher Lee (Life Transformers)







Christopher Lee is indeed another big surprise this year but a surprise is only a surprise. Veterans like Quan Yi Feng or Guo Liang should easily walk home with this award. Kym Ng is another potential winner. Lee Teng and Marcus Chin just have to count themeleves unlucky to be together with this group of nominees. One person is missing from here if you had noticed. He is none other than Mark Lee. Where is he this year?

***

Best Newcomer

Can Win: Andie Chen, Jerry Yeo

Should Win: Paige Chua

Will Win It Anyway: Dai Yang Tian





It is like putting the LA Lakers with some high school or college basketball team together. Everybody has a chance but everybody knows deep down in their heart who will win in the end. Dai Yang Tian is really one lucky guy here. His popularity is just so high

***

There are many other nominations but I will stop here as I am unsure how to analyse them

Good luck to all nominees for this Sunday's event



This Sunday(26/4/2009), 7pm

Day two in school

A summary of my second day in school. First lesson was gems. The module is called Know your rights and the lecturer was late for twenty-five minutes. At least he made the effort to paste a piece of paper outside the classroom to inform us. Anyway before seeing him today, I thought it was a woman as the name is called Gene stated on my timetable

After that had Report Writing and Presentation, one those relax kind of module and again I was fooled by the name. I thought it was an ang moh lecturer but it turned out to be an Indian. She is called Melinda something that sounds more western. She made us discuss in groups about an imaginary product that we must present to the class later. My group consisted of Vernon, Zhi Teng and Hui Yu

My group's product was a watch that works like a time machine. I am not being biased here but I really think ours is the best, better than some time forwarding device(that group bloody copied us cos we were the unlucky first to present), super backpack, flying air purifier or some safety coat. In a whole, I can only say this Indian woman has poor time management as she took a long time questioning my group after we presented which delayed the others

Went to reformat my erhem Acer laptop with Zhi Teng. Saw Nas there too. He looked like some younger kid hiding in one corner among the crowd there. It took us more than an hour to finish so we went to the foodcourt for lunch first. Si beh crowded. Most probably the year ones who are new there are checking out the food stalls. Seniors like us already eat until sian but no choice

Tomorrow no school. Broken English, it should be no lessons. Watch out for my Star Awards predictions tomorrow

First day of year two

First day of school!

Well, it is actually just another typical day but with different people as classmates. My first lesson was Maths and I was the second to student to arrive at about 7.45am. The class starts at 8am. Then more and more students started coming but they were all strangers to me. The girl who came earlier than me knew all of them and in no time they were seated together talking

I seemed like the odd one out at the back all by myself and they were all giving me this look like "eh who is this extra over here?". And I gave them back a look which means "you wait, later my gang come then you know" So I waited and waited they were all late in the end, assuming that stepping into class after 8am is considered late

During lunchtime, I met up with Nas and those who were not the same class as me for year two. As usual, we talked and talked and that's about all. Tomorrow morning I will be meeting another group of strangers in class at my gem lesson

Day before school starts

Actually I had planned to write a long essay on my year 1 class in SP but procrastination got the better of me. It will be quite time consuming too since I will take one whole day to draft it out perfectly and it is only drafting, not the finished product yet. The last time I wrote a "blockbuster blog entry" was in December last year about the top 10 sportspeople of 2008 which took me two days to finish it

Ok, I will write this essay some other day with photos in it too so stay tuned. Anyway, I am quite disappointed that there isn't a single comment for my photo album in Facebook so far after more than twenty-four hours. But never mind, I won't give up so easily, I will be back with an even better one next time

In about twelve hours' time, I will be back to reality in school again. Really wonder how will my new classmates look and more importantly how their characters are like. Also are those who were in the same class as me in year one. Wonder how are they now and any change in them

For tomorrow, I will only be bringing two very important things. Paper and staionery!