An unfinished post

When I tidied up my room few weeks ago, I found a stack of cards that I didn't send out. There were about 13 cards I think? And today, another 3 joined that stack. There were many reasons why I wrote finish a card, but in the end never send it out. Perhaps I didn't have the address, or the receiver's birthday has already passed by the time I finished writing it, or just simply, the receiver no longer see the need for receiving the card.

Am I sad? Am I disappointed? Or am I simply sad that things always turn out this way? It's a cycle that I have no idea how to break. Perhaps I have resigned to this.

Weird, I couldn't continue to write this post. It's the first time I experienced this.

When I die, will you…

When I die, will you pledge to:

1. Donate $1 each to: an education institution, NGOs whose programmes are to help children or youth (eg Singapore Children's Society), youth (eg Teen Challenge), elderly (eg B.Well), health (eg NKF), environment (eg Nature Society Singapore) and general (eg World Vision)? (so you shd donate in total $7! =p lol.)
   
2. Be a volunteer for a day at any NGOs?
   
3. Minimise your electricity consumption for a day (meaning like don't hibernate your computer, switch it off when u don't use it)?
   
4. Last but no least, DON'T cry or feel sad if u are attending my funeral (better still, SMILe and happily send me off or even LAUGH when u think that "Thank heaven thank earth that Sebastz FINALLY die! =p lol.)
   

Will you will you?!?! PLEASE!!!! I will be able to close my eyes properly if you do! =]

All men are (not) created equal

My mind was seriously disturbed for the past 2 days. I have been thinking of quite a number of things. Luckily, I thought of those things during my holiday period. If it was during my exam period, then my exam would have been a gone case because my mind was seriously pre-occupied by all these issues (apart from those happy moments I have with my gf though! =p muahaha).

I started to watch <Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion> few days ago, but get hooked by it and I finished both the 1^st and 2^nd season 50 episodes! =x lol. In one of the episode, The King of an empire said something like this: "All men are not created equal. Some are born with greater beauty, some are born into poverty and others are born sicken, both in birth and upbringing. Every human is inherently different. Yes, that is why people discriminate one another, which is why there is struggle, competition, and a march of progress. Inequality is not wrong, equality is! We fight, we compete, evolution is continuous! We will fight on. We shall struggle, compete, plunder and dominate. And in the end, the future shall be ours.".

Hm.., fundamentally, I do agree that inequality by itself is not wrong, because precisely because we are born unequal, that is why we all try to improve ourselves – if I am poor, I will work hard to be rich, if I am weak, I will train myself to be strong, if my grade is not good, then I will study hard to improve my grade. It spurs the competition up, which is good. Only when there is a competition then it will speed up the innovation. My competition does not narrow to competitions between humans, but also competitions between non-humans. For example, scientists are trying to analyse the recent swine flu virus and rush to develop the vaccine. Isn't it another form of competition?

I was trying to think this: What if from the start, all things are equal? Are will still going to improve? Will all fighting stop? My answer is probably not. The reason is very simple. We as humans have desires. We want to be better than others. If all people are equally rich, surely there are some of us who want to be richer. If all of us are equally smart, surely there are some of us who want to be smarter. This list goes on.

Hence, does it matter whether equality or inequality is right or wrong? Inequality will always be there and there is no way we can achieve equality. Hence, what is the use of equality when there is no way we can achieve it! And if we think it from the start, are we really pursuing for equality? Are we working hard just to be as rich as others? Or are we working hard to be RICHER than others? Are we trying just to be as smart as others? Or are we trying to be SMARTER than others?

Hm.. If all men not born equal, are they entitled with the same rights? The right for freedom, the right to live, the right to receive education. The right to receive education for example, in order to fund education for all, there is a need to channel resources through the government from the rich, which is often said to be income distribution – tax the wealthy heavily and channel these resources to the poor. Thus, this group of wealthy people, which may not use this service (perhaps they send their children overseas or anything else) but nonetheless will have to subsidized this system to support the so-called 'equal education' when they themselves do not enjoy the benefit! How equal it is from their perspective then? Are we trying to build an equal world that is based on inequality of a certain group of people in society?

However, how about those humanitarian works then? Aren't they the same as the example above? If you ask me, I would say that there is a fundamental difference between the group of people that contributes those funds and resources. In the example above, I assume that people are forced to pay more taxes because of the law that requires them to do so. Hence, it is a compulsory contribution back to society. In the latter case, however, I assume that people are willingly giving out more than what they are required to give. Hence, it is a voluntary contribution back to society. If we are forced to do something for the sake of equality, is that equality really equal? However, if we are willingly contributing more than we are required, does that really matter whether for it to be equal or not? I owe everything that I have now from society, thus it is equal and fair for me to give back more to society since I am able to do so.

Hence, if we are on the strong side, we can see that the definition of equality is based on how we can see interpret it. We can do so because we are on the strong side – we command all those wealth and resources. The notion of 'all men are created equal' no longer sounds as divinely as it is. Rather, it is simply a matter of choice based on our interpretation.

Oh, but don't get me wrong. I am not trying to say that 'you poor people, whether or not I help you is my choice.'. It is never my intention to say that the weak is so pity that they are subjected to the mercy of the strong. Of course, it is undeniable that it is purely based on the strong's self interpretation and choice on whether he wants to help the weak. Some may argue that as long as the strong keep the weak weak, the strong will remain as strong. Okay that is reasonable.

However, while my view is that we are not created equal, but that doesn't mean that the strong can bully the weak. The strong can continue to remain strong, but not at the expense of the weak. It is not a zero sum game where I have to extort the weak in order to stay strong. Rather, by helping the weak to become strong, the strong can become stronger.

But again, we need to know that not many strong people are willing to help the weak. If that is the case, then we have no choice but to force the strong to help the poor? Oh dear, while I never believe that we should sacrifice one small group of people for the benefit of all, in the end I reached the same conclusion that I never agree on! =x

It this world is so contradicting, or it is just me myself who is contradicting? Hm..

悯农

When I was eating my dinner just now, I saw a table with one grandmother, one mother and one daughter.

The grandmother was eating chicken rice and finished all the rice.

The mother was eating fried rice and finished half the rice.

The daughter was eating "sweet-sour-pock rice" and literally never eats any of the rice.

….............................

I always believe that rice is underpriced, so maybe we should increase the price of the rice. =x

《悯农》

李绅

锄禾(hé)日当午，

汗滴禾下土。

谁知盘中餐，

粒粒皆辛苦。

Since when getting your own drink is a CHORE??

When I read this article "Do your kids do chores?", I was like so surprised!

The most popular chores included getting their own drink, getting their own meals, frying an egg and making the bed. I was like, "WTH is this? Since when getting your own drink became a chore to youngsters nowadays?" You meant getting yourself a cup of water is a CHORE? To go and da bao food is a CHORE? Okay loh fine, so the next generation will say "The most popular chores included drinking water and eating food" and you all need people to feed you right??

My definition of household chores are sweeping and mopping the floor, cleaning the window, washing, hanging and ironing your own clothes, and cleaning the kitchen and toilet. Since when looking for drink and food is a chore??

A youngster said, "Oh, chores are all about common sense. When I need to do it, I am sure that I will be able to do it well." Ya right. You think doing chores very easy arh? You try and go and do lah! To be fair, let me go to your house and we do chores together, let complete who can finish better and faster. You do know that different ways of holding your broom can give you different results? Do you know that you need different brushes to clean different part of your toilets?

Some may say that "Walew, why do I need to know all these sia? It is not as if I am going to do all these next time." Oh yes, you are right. But my point is this: doing chores help you to think things different, how to do chores in a more efficient manner? Rather than the hard skills of doing chores, what I want to emphasise here is the soft skills that you may gain from doing the chores – to stimulate yourself to think, can I do this in an easier way? Can I do this differently?

Most importantly, doing household chores help us to be responsible to ourselves. If we messed up our room, then we should be the one who tidy up. If we are the one wearing clothes, then we are the one who should wash and iron it. Why do we need to hire other person to take care of our ownselves? I have some friends, once their maid took leaves and no one handles the chores, they really messed up their day-to-day lives. They don't even know how to us the washing machine – they mistook softener as detergent, they don't know how to iron their clothes – they just came to school with their clothes full of wrinkles. I meant, you cant even take a good care of yourself, how do you expect other people to believe that you are able to take care of your own life and to take care of your future partner and family?

*shaking my head*

We got to be more proactive!

I recently came across this article of "Politics? Not for me" where a talented Singaporean (I assumed he is because after all he managed to get into a top university) said something like this, "A lot of it has to do with contentment. I'm happy with the way things are, there's no reason to be an activist. I've benefited from the system, I don't feel that there is anything worth changing."

I am not trying to criticise this person in particular. I am just trying to reflect on what he said. If we have benefited from our current system, then can we just say that there isn't anything worth changing? How about those people who have not been able to benefit from current system? Can we just say that, "Oh! I benefited can already what! Why should I care whether or not other people benefit? As long as I benefit jiu can liao loh!".

I beg to differ. We are living in the society where there is always another group of people who has not been able to benefit from the current system – the poor, the underprivileged, and the destitute. Does that mean that they are ought to be forgotten? A good example is our education system. Our education system has evolved over the time and it is widely-recognised that it is at world-class standard. Now, supposed during the 70s, there was this person who benefited from the 70s system said, "Oh, I have benefited from this system, so let us just keep this system because I see no need to change since I benefited from this system." Then what will happen to us who are living the in 90s or now?

Have any of us thought of this – if those people who benefited from the education system in the 70s did not push forward with the reform of the education system, would more people in the 90s benefit from the reformed education system? Without these reforms and changes, we will not be able to benefit from current education system that is more holistic and allows more people to pursue more diverse interests and passions.

What I wanted to say is this: Just because we have benefited from current system and thus do not see the need to change is a dangerous view. To passively wait and only when we see problems then we change may be too late in some cases. We should, instead, take a more proactive stance and continue to seek improvement to come out with a better system that allows more people in society to benefit.

TPI - Reflections

Back from TPI.. =]

Anyway, first of all, I need to clarify this - TPI means Tanjung Pinang, a city on Bintan Island (yes, that Bintan Island super near Singapore that people go for spa or whatever.. =p lol..), not Taipei like what one of my friend Yuen Ting said. =x lol..

Day 1 - Sunday

Reached there at about 5pm local time, waited for a long time before my mum cooked the dinner.. =x lol.. It was a simple meal.. Let see.. Sambal prawn, meatball soups, steamed fish and sotong balls. Surprisingly there was no vegetable.. =p lol.. Actually, when I said it was a simple meal, not that simple also, because I could see that my mum was busy here and there.. =x But people, I got help her cook de okay?? Dont say I unfilial okay? =p lol..

It has been quite a long time since I had dinner with my parents. The feeling was great! =] All right Sharon, I admit I envy you for mum's cooking everyday okay?? =p lol..

Day 2 - Monday

When to the Indonesia's ICA to make my passport. When I reached there, I noticed the road outside the building was not properly done. It was in quite a bad condition actually, but surprisingly, there was an okay tennis court within the compound. I was like, "Got money to make tennis court, no money to maintain a proper road within the compound. =s Haiz.." Next, when into the office, I realised that people could smoke inside because it was not air-conditioned. So smokers and non-smokers were all sitting together.. I was thinking why not they at least asked those smokers to sit at one side and non-smokers to sit at the other side.. =x Then I went to take the passport photos, I realised that they took my fingerprints as well.. All 10 fingerprints were taken. This was one of the things that I was happy about - more high-tech machines were used, hopefully they could set up a database so that it could be used as a database to fight crime as well.. =]

The whole process took less than an hour (when I tried to apply for my passport at Indonesian Embassy, I waited for 2hrs =x). After that I went online for a while then oink until dinner time. =x Went out for dinner, somewhere near my house. Kangkong with some nice sauce, sambal prawn, fried sotong and sambal lebang fish! All nice nice! =] Oh yah, and lots of rice! =p lol.. I ate about 5 plates of rice?? =x lol.. and we paid only Rp. 120,000 or $16 only. =D

After that, we went home, just in time to watch <小娘惹>. Watched one episode liao, suddenly all lights were off. The electricity was cut off, as per normal.. =s After so long I still didnt understand why the authority was not able to generate enough electricity to meet the local demand. Haiz..

But the worse thing came after this. I saw a power generator in our shop this afternoon, then I was so happy that finally my parents bought a generator, so that we all could still have power supply even if the power supply was cut off.. But you know what, my clever dad only installed the cable such that only my shop at lower floors could use the generator, but not the living area at the upper floors, meaning even if we got the generator, we could not use it to watch tv and air-con and so on, then I was like -.-""" Clever loh.. =s And hor, other shops used generators le! Only my house dark dark de loh! Siao liao.. =s

In the end I went to sit beside my room's window, and noticed an uncle sweeping the floor. And I saw that uncle was sweeping the floor from 9pm all the way to 2am. When I moved my sight up, I saw an internet cafe that was filled with lots of youngsters. Then I was thinking, "How much wages that the uncle would earn? And what a contrast it was - a middle-aged uncle was sweeping the floor until 2am and a group of youngsters which was affluent enough to spend money without really worrying about money". In Singapore we still have Work Development Agency (WDA) to subsidize people for learning new skills to find new jobs, but such things were non-existent in Indonesia. =( Income disparity remains large I guess...

When the power supply was restored at about 10.30pm (2.5hrs without power supply, my mum said I was lucky, because normally it would last for 4-5hrs), I turned on the TV and saw Survivor - Gabon. I didnt know the finale was on Monday night, so i watched until Matty was voted out. Thought I didnt really like that Bob, but I must admit that he was worthy enough to win the tie-breaker match, for him to practice how to start the fire in that afternoon. Then I went to sleep, but I could not, so after some struggling, I went back and watched TV again, and the Survivor was still on. So I watched all the way till 1am local time (2am SG time) =x

Day 3 - Tuesday

Woke up and helped my parents looked after the shop for a while. While talking to other people was not really a problem, but because I had no idea about the price and size, so conversations were quite awkward. =x lol..

Soon, my mum told me that my passport was ready. I was quite surprised, it took less than 2 days for my new passport when it took close to 5 days to make the passport in Singapore. Later i learnt from my dad that my passport application was processed on a fast-track, because the application was submitted through a "大人物", thats why my passport took less than 2 days jiu done liao.

I was thinking though the Chinese formed a large, powerful group in my place and controlled the local economy, it was still a minority group within the country. So as a minority, the Chinese community was rather unified to protect their interests, which somehow has grown into a community which has a wide network that might allow it to sometimes work outside the official rules (which i was quite certain that it was why my passport was done so quickly). Of course, this also happens to certain affluent Indonesian as well.

But as it was a minority group, which fortunately (and also unfortunately) controlled significant economic interests in the country, to work outside the rules could be easily accused by the local Indonesians for being cocky because it was rich. This negative sentiment could be easily used and stirred up by some other Indonesians for their own economic or even political interests since the locals were generally less-educated and earned low incomes.

The government, at the same time, while I was not saying that they were really incompetent, has to take into account the demand of local Indonesians, and implemented some policies that while in name applicable to all Indonesians, but in practical only affected the Chinese community. For example, the new ferry tax would be increase to $70, while the ferry ticket itself was only $40. While its true that this rule was applicable to all, but as most of the passengers were Chinese, this rule effectively "punished" the Chinese community.

But sadly, such policies would only make the Chinese community distrust the local government even more, which in return would strengthen their community and I believed that this would make the Chinese community more vulnerable to such negative sentiments from local community and this vicious cycle would just go on and on and the conflict between the two groups would just getting more and more serious.

If only more funds are available for local education so that higher human capital can be achieved and both groups are willing to work together hand in hand, i believe the country will be prosperous in no time.

After that we went for dinner outside. Foodcourt setting - minus the air-con, light and cleanness, you know what I mean. =x All motorbikes were passing around the narrow road, I was thinking if you could travel from one end to the other, surely you would not have any problem on other main roads. =x lol..

Along the stalls, i saw lots of wild cats moving here and there to find leftovers, trying to cross the road that was full of bikes, looking for leftovers. They were really struggling hard to survive.

Finally we got a place to have our dinner. I had one plate of char kuay tiao, one place of rice with fried rice and one place of prawn cakes. =x Then I saw this young lady who was helping in her dad's stall. She was cooking a pot of soup, then still need to look after the fire, serve customers, wash dishes and when she was free, she sat down and writing things in a serious manner (I guessed she was doing some accounts or homework??). *respect respect*

After we done with the dinner, i noticed along the way there were youngsters helping out in stalls too. Not too sure whether they all attending school in the morning, but if they were, I really respected them, struggling between school work in the morning and still need to help out in the stalls at night. At the same time I really feel guilty, just spending money like water, and never really study hard when I have the opportunities to receive education in such a comfortable way.

Slacking is such a luxury to them.

Went to bed on 9pm, but was rolling on bed till 1am, thinking about this. =x

Anyway, throughout my days there, I was bombarded by the fighter jets - mosquitoes. Now I have plenty of mosquito bites on my hands and legs. =s

Last but not least, I missed my gf. Glad i finally back to Singapore to see her again. *lurves* =]

Past - Present - Future

I was watching a TV series <大国崛起> last Sunday.. Its the 2nd time i watch this series and still having lots of feeling watching it.. =p lol..

Watch the Video below..

I dont know any German, so i guess its not sth for me to say.. =p lol.. But judging for the relationship between Germany and other EU nations, i guess the former has been pretty successful in accepting its past and continue to move forward. And the Germany and France, which were once bitter enemies of each other, are now working hand in hand. It was said in the tv series that what happened during the Nazi period was included into the history texbooks, so that the later generations would be able to understand this painful experience and strive to prevent anything like that to happen ever again.

Past - Present - Future

We shall learn from the past, cherish what we have in the present and strive for the best for the future.

I was "impressed"

Oh, plz refer to my previous blog entry "i was impressed" b4 u read this entry.. =x lol..

I was really impressed how this group of students celebrated the gal bdae..

A lot of explanations on why the above happened, some said its a case of bullying? some said its juz a prank? or juz like the official statement from the sch principal that it was juz a celebration, blah blah.. I do not noe wad really happened in between, so i am definitely not in a position to comment whether its really a case of bullying or not, neither do I gonna to associate this event with the sch, bcoz i do believe that wad happened above is juz an isolated case that does not represent the whole population of ACJC students becoz my ACJC friends do behave really well and doin well in their respective fields.

Wad i am more concerned is on the part on some students do think that wad happened above are "normal" ways to celebrate bdae.. I was like o.O .. and my friends said this is not the worst.. O.O This is the normal way our younger peers celebrated their birthdays??

I am really worried to see that some students do think that this is "normal" and i am more worried that few years down the road, this will become a norm (or has it?? =s) for bdae celebration. I am really worried for my children nxt time.. I am serious.. =x How would you and ur parents feel if ur younger siblings have their bdae celebrated by their friends in this manner?? Worse, wad if the person was traumatized by the experience and committed suicide?? (we nv noe? =x), then who would be held reponsible??

If our society thinks that this way of celebrating bdae is okie, then i got nth more to say. but i am now assuming that our society is not "ready" for this kind of celebration, then i will say that this kind way of celeration is certainly getting abit out of hand.. and i really afraid that it will send a wrong msg to other youths that is sth normal that they can do it as and when they like..

I am seriously disturbed.. =x

PS: judging from the way the media reported the event, i am assuming that the media does not seem to treat this peice of news too positively, and assuming that the official statement given by the sch is true that the whole process was purely a bdae celebration, then i will say that this event will be a classic textbook example on how a media is able to tweak the truth and affect public opinion. =x lol..

Reference: Photos above were taken from STOMP.

Stress - A Level

Lol.. After 1.5 weeks of grilling, many of my juniors started to feel the stress of A Level exam. Well Well.., wad can i say, its like the worst exam u can even take in ur life.. =x lol.. and it effects you in deciding which uni and course that you are allowed to get in.. so yah.., its stressful.. =x

Like i always said to my gal and others, if u did badly for one paper, then jiu dont care about that paper liao.. Juz concentrate on the next paper! There is really no nd to lose all your confidence juz bcoz of that one paper.. =x

"Ya rite Sebastz, its easy for you to say that.. I thought i always see you emo for the whole day juz bcoz u didnt perform "well" for any of your mid-term paper?? =s" my friends in PSB will like that say.. =p lol..

Yeap true, of course i fell sad lah! =( Did badly for exam who wont sad de.. Even the most bo-chap de person also will feel sad de loh! =x But my point is, its better to spend ur energy to read one more chapter for tml de exam, rather than emo for the whole day.. =x

I like wad my friend, Li Min, wrote in her blog, which i always share it to others:

“To make the best out of situations I’m thrown into, to have the mental strength to finish what I started, to fight for what my heart desires.”

(PS: Li Min i noe you very nice wont charge me for any copy right fee de hor?? =p lol..)

So ppl, GO AND GRAB EVERY MARK THAT YOU CAN GET IN THE EXAM!!!!! 加油！！！ =]

Dress Code

Not sure whether is just a co-incidence wad, but two of my friends blogged abt dress code in sch.. and the next day i came across this article “No shorts, or dyed hair" on The Straits Times. I was quite surprised to see the "commotion" and decided to kpo abit.. =p lol..

My view is rather simple, "dress in a way that you feel comfortable and appropriate".

Actually, when i try to explain it to myself, its not that simple at all.. =p lol.. Hmm..

"I fell comfortable in short and tube, so it shd be okie wad. The weather is really warm ya noe?"
(PS: the "I" is not referring to ME! =p lol..) Haha..

True true.. even though as a guy i am more than willing to see pretty gals in tubes and shorts, but well as a friend, its always better to see them at least wearing a cardigan to cover the shoulder.. Afterall you will feel cold in the air-con classroom anyway.. =x I hav seen gals who look nice in short skirts, but then hor, when they sit down rite, they nd to pull this side pull that side, look very uncomfortable.. wads the point sia.. =x

For a guy, i think 3 S's are definitely a no-no to me - Singlets, Shorts and Sandals. Its like so rude to wear them to class.. At least wear pants or jeans with shoes plz.. =x

But ppl may blast me saying "how come to you gals that wear 3 S's are okay but guys wearing 3 S's are not okay?!?! =s"

True.. But hei, dont come and blast me okie? of course how comfortable and appropriate are defined are pretty subjective, so yeah, you may hav different views, but above are my views.. =p lol..

But i hav to agree with wad my friend has commented in her blog, juz bcoz you wear this and that to sch doesnt mean that you can comment on ppl who wear shorts and tee and flops to skool or jeans right?

But personally, i agreed more on wad this friend of mine said, "every morning when i wake up for school, i have to go through the dilemma of deciding what to wear. its not that i will deliberately dress up for lectures but its a form of courtesy, no? i mean, i dont think your lecturers dress down when they are standing in front giving a lecture so its natural for the students to put in a little effort into their dressing as a form a respect for the lecturer??"

So, wad shd you wear today?? =D lol..