An Interview Worth Watching

Some time ago I saw this interview about science, evolution and universe etc. with Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, by Stephen Colbert. Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson is an American astrophysicist, and the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Peace; while Stephen Colbert as we all know, is a political satirist and, among other roles, the host of The Colbert Report. 
When I first watched it, I remember having many thoughts running through my mind, but unfortunately I didn’t write them down, so they’re long gone by now. But! I really think people should watch it. Anyone with the slightest interest about science, universe and/or society should watch it, it provides food for thought, and if for nothing else, watch it for the humor. 🙂  So if you have some time, watch it. Enjoy! 

Resolutions and Such

In the past I have the habit of writing down all my resolutions and aim to get them done. My naive self never changed in all those years, each time thinking that “perhaps this year I’ll actually get all my resolutions resolved”. But obviously, there was never once where I got all of them done. At best I’ll get half of them checked, but most of the time it’s just one or two checked out of the ten or so items. 

So! This year I won’t bother. Yup. That’s it. End of story. 
…..
…..
Or maybe I’ll just scribble my resolutions down somewhere and hide it. *shifty eyes* 
Shit. This is a living proof of old habits die hard. 

2011 In Pictures

2011 was scattered with very few posts, but hopefully this year there will be more. Overall, it’s been a year full of family reunions, schoolmates’ gatherings, and weddings. Early in the year when I just got back for good, I couldn’t help but wonder if coming back is the “right” decision. But as time goes by I find myself forgetting that question completely- being back and being closer to family (including extended family) and friends have been great for me. Yes the traffic sucks; some drivers really piss me off (especially when they don’t use the freakin’ signal lights!); and yes I could go on and on about what’s dissatisfying here. But really, every country has its own problems. As I grow older, priorities shift, and I find myself wanting to be closer to family, in case they need me. I care less about my ideals for the country, and whatever else for that matter. Perhaps in due time, I’ll have different ideas of whether to settle down in this country. But right now, I’m happy I’m back home. Even happier and absolutely thankful that I’m on the right track to pursue my dreams.

Anyway. Here are some pictures- they’re by no means a complete account of 2011, but they are some snapshots of what happened over the past year, and they’re the people close to heart. 🙂

Grandma and I sharing ice-cream waffle at A&W. 😀

Melacca day trip with brother, Choon (who’s kinda like a brother too), 
Yan Ru, Yuen Mei and Aaron.

This is Aaron the big bully. 😛 

Asam Laksa, my eternal love. 

Paternal grandma, at an aunt’s wedding.

My second family- granduncle, grandaunt and their son.
Lived with them when I was in Singapore.

Best friend’s wedding dinner, in May. 

SG – ex-colleagues at our company event. Sports day I think (or something like that).

Des and I, we go wayyyy back. 
She’s the sister I never had. 🙂  *Hearts*

High school friends who hung out with me when I was in SG. 🙂

High school friend’s wedding. One of the best gatherings ever. 

Aunt’s tea ceremony day, before the wedding dinner. 
We’re only 4 years apart, so she’s more like a sis to me too.

Oooohh my new friends, classmates, and pioneers. 🙂

Another wedding dinner in November. High school gathering #2. 🙂 

We knew each other since forever! Val (on the left) was my first and oldest friend. 🙂
A reunion lunch after 5 years.

My birthday cake. And family. 🙂 

Checkout the footprints. Hopefully I’ll get to travel this year. 😛

FRIM’s canopy walkway on Christmas day.

Hello relatives from Penang. 🙂

my brothers and i. 🙂 

HB to Myself

Feels like it was just yesterday when I celebrated my birthday with some of my closest friends at a dueling piano bar. But in truth, ’tis not so… and I’m reminded that I’m a year older. 
This year I don’t have anything in particular that I really want – am happy and thankful for what I’ve already got. 🙂  Below are some pictures taken by Brandon last year at Howl at the Moon (thank you Brandon!). 
great friends, bucket of booze and long straws 🙂 

mot mot and tom tom :)) 
<3 
chocolate, durian and vanilla flavors…  awesome mix!
(hey if you guys are reading this, we should go somewhere together!) 
cool colleagues i had 🙂 
wonder how they’re doing over there.  
one of my most memorable birthdays 🙂 
Ok maybe I do have a bday wish- i wish i didn’t have an exam on monday. but that can’t be helped so no point wishing. k back to Hardy-Weinberg Principle, genomic imprinting and mosaicism etc. toodles! 

Boo

it’s 3 a.m. and i can’t sleep. the mind is so alert that the more i try to fall back into sleep the more agitated i get. and so here i am, doodling around, when i’m not even sure what i really wanna say, or where this post is headed. 🙂

today, (well- technically it’s yesterday) for the first time in a very, VERY long time, ( CNY not counted), the whole family is in the house. as in, my parents and the 3 of us. little brother is finally done with his secondary education in Singapore, and is back home for a while until he leaves again for his college. it’s unnoticeable on a daily basis when one of us is not around, but when everyone’s home, i actually felt the difference. last night they were watching liverpool against some other team. in my sleep i thought i heard them cheer. wonder who won.

anyway- this post is stopping short of any substantial rants or thoughts because i suddenly have an urge to edit some photos i took, hopefully will be able to share them here when i’m done. whenever that is. 😛

this day last year i was at mammoth. ahhh miss…! 

Since It’s Rabbit Year-

Just seems apt to put up this picture. 😛 Happy (belated) thanksgiving to all who celebrate! 
Personally, I have so much to be thankful for. Sure, it’s not always fine and dandy, and there are regrets every now and then, but I learn from them and move on.   I miss my friends far, far away, and wished I was there with them doing what we’d always do – eat!, talk about nothing and everything, dress up for Halloween etc, or just hang out. Then again, we’re all exactly where we wanted to be. So I’m not complaining. 

Hopefully I’ll get to visit them in the near future. In the meantime, have some turkey (or bunnies) and enjoy every moment with friends and family!

Melancholy and What’s Left Unsaid

I must have mentioned it more than once, that I feel that Chinese songs are mostly melancholic. Don’t misunderstand, I used to love listening to Chinese songs, and still do, but I think as I grow older I can’t handle as well all this emo-ness that those songs brings out in me. What I used to embrace back then, I find myself avoiding it. It’s strange how we change in time; most of the time I feel I change for the better, but in this case, my aversion of intense emotions and feelings, I feel is not a good thing. Could I be hiding something from myself? What is it that I’m so afraid to face and what am I running away from? I have no idea, and I just don’t have the time to go down that rabbit hole right now. Some day, maybe, I’ll muster the courage to find out.

This evening on my way home I saw the rainbow and it filled my heart with warmth. Its colors lightened up the part of town that I was driving through and made everything else irrelevant. That stretch of bumpy road is a glimpse of many glaring disparity and stark contrasts, but I suspect the people there would’ve felt the same warmth when they see the rainbow. With the melancolic tunes playing on the radio, I thought to self at that point of time, this is enough. I am thankful.

Brother

Little brother will be having his A-levels exam starting Nov 8. Wishing him best of luck! 🙂

Calcium by 30

Yesterday during class discussion, professor mentioned that women should start taking calcium supplements at the age of 30, because we lose calcium faster and at an earlier age than men. So if you don’t wanna get osteoporosis or don’t wanna shrink so soon, start taking your calcium pills- a minimum dosage of at least 1000mg.

Conversation that followed that discussion-
me: ah i have 3 more years to go before i have to start taking those calcium pills…
classmate A: don’t worry we’ll remind you when that day comes! 
me: …!!!
classmate B: yeahhh definitely! we’ll get you that for your birthday present!! hahaha
me: …!!!!!!
classmate C: haha yes, tell us what brand you like, we’ll get that for you! 
Conversation dissolved into fits of laughter. Gosh, to think that my physiological age has peaked before I equip myself with sufficient knowledge to give back to the society! Aging- it’s a concept that doesn’t rest well with many. For the most part, I’m fine with it, because with age comes wisdom (well. not necessarily. but hopefully it is so in my case :P). But to know that someday our organs will deteriorate slowly, and that it’s part of the life cycle and we can’t do anything about it – well that part isn’t that nice.

Having said that, when the laughing and thinking lines become a permanent fixture on my face, when I’m 5cm shorter than my already-not-so-tall stature, when I’m just a bag of bones and not much else, I just hope to be a good-natured, fun-loving, healthy self who has a thing or two to teach or share.

[photo from istock.com]

All in good time though. All in good time.

A Day Like This

So… I stumbled upon a poem I wrote way back then, but have no recollection whatsoever of writing it. It’s a pleasant surprise to find something you once wrote and go “omg did I really write this?!”. Not that it’s particularly well written or anything, just that to me it’s kinda like finding money stashed away somewhere that you’ve forgotten about, or finding little notes in between old textbooks that you used to write with your classmate when you weren’t really paying attention in class. Little discoveries like those, they may not have any bearing in your life right now, but will sure put a smile on your face, and maybe flutter your heart just a little bit.

I can’t remember who it was written for when I first wrote it (or if it was for anyone at all), in fact I’m increasingly convinced that it’s perhaps not written by me at all, because I can’t write like this anymore. But, just for the fun of it, I’ll re-post it here, with some minor tweaks.

A Day Like This
November 28, 2005
It’s raining.
I make myself a cup of coffee,
Put on my headphones,
Tune out and close my eyes.

And as I rock in my chair,
I let my mind wander wherever it desires.
On a day like this,
I’m only waiting, and waiting.

It’s sunny.
I grab my car keys,
Turn on the car radio,
Tune out and drive aimlessly on the streets.

And as I admire the view,
I let my instinct take me wherever it pleases.
On a day like this,
I’m only waiting, and waiting.

It’s windy.
I lock up my house,
Hum my favorite tune,
Tune out and walk to the grass-filled slope.

And as I lay down on the grass,
I let my imagination run free, to infinity and beyond.
On a day like this,
I’m only waiting, and waiting.

I’m only waiting for that moment,
Only waiting for that feeling,
Only waiting for you,
Waiting for you to turn around and meet my eyes.

I’m only waiting,
On a day like this.

New Template

So, I’m testing out this new template. Kinda like it, but hate that I can’t organize them according to the tags/labels and in chronological order (by month) at the sidebar. All my stuff previously on the sidebar are gone. And why is there a search bar at the top right corner! I can’t get rid of it!! Can someone help me with that. 🙁 If this is not working out, I’ll switch back to the old one until they allow us to edit the layout. blergh.

I should be studying now anyway. Going offline. Later!

Addendum: Switched it back to the old template. Blogger peeps please fix the new template! 

On Passion

It’s great to be surrounded by people so passionate in what they’re doing. They never tire in teaching or sharing their knowledge, they keep pursuing further knowledge, they love that you want to know more and they get excited about you asking questions. And the best part is that no matter what these people are passionate about, their love of the subject, their bursts of energy and enthusiasm never fails to seep out and affect the others around them. It’s just wow. It’s completely inspiring. I’m just grateful to be here, to know these people, to learn from them. 
A professor left us with this before he returned to the States: “You know, I always tell my students, whether it’s clinical medicine, research or teaching, you should pick one and excel in it. It doesn’t matter what. Just pick one and shine in it. If you wanna excel in all three, that’s fine. But if you don’t want to excel in anything, well. Then I don’t know why we’re here at all.” 

Note: Picture above was taken in Singapore Art Museum. I loved it the moment I saw it. So vibrant, so full of life. 🙂