When I got home, I realised today was a good day, despite me still being a dud in many aspects of life.
I realised that the reason for it being good was that I ran into about a million and one people that I actually liked today. For the first time in a while, I ran into people that I actually wanted to talk to, and not people that I would rather avoid at all costs.
Upon arriving at uni, I ran into Irene on my way to class. After that, I went to aforementioned class, and felt like a dud all over again.
Then, on my way to my next class, while waiting for Yun, I ran into everyone's favourite white man, Orrin. Or, at least, my favourite white man. We had a good old chat about nothing in particular, and went our separate ways.
After our next lecture, I ran into none other than Ken, he of Vietnamese origin. We had a good old moan about uni, and away he went.
Then I ran into Davy. Funnily enough, Yun and I were discussing him about two minutes before, and how she couldn't get through to his mobile.
Then, I ran into Elene and Irene (again!).
Good times all around.
Now the bad.
I think I have a slight cold. Worst time to get it. And to make it worse (not that they're related or anything. At least, I don't think they are), I split off a bit of my fingernail from my finger when I was all gung-ho and opening a cardboard wrapping this morning. So now it hurts like hell when I try to type, so I'm typing like a guy who only has the use of nine fingers. Timing could've been worse. That's not to say I wanted it to happen, but it's not the worst time for it to happen. Should be healed by tomorrow, so don't worry too much. I know you're worried.
So, Osama bin Laden. My views. Yay.
Personally, I don't really feel anything massive at the news. I mean, I've always subscribed to the view that one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. American troops kill people, he kills people.
I know, I know, people are going to say, 'You'd feel differently if he'd attacked someone close to you.' And yeah, I know I would. But I'd also contend that you'd feel pretty bad too if an American soldier attacked someone close to you.
I understand why people would be happy that he's dead. Especially people that have been affected. I'm not demeaning the suffering that they've gone through by any means. But I think it's also good to remember that in the process of invading other nations, the USA has also killed a lot of fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and friends. Many of them just as innocent as those that suffered in the terrorist attacks perpetrated by bin Laden.
I don't admire the man, but I do respect the fact that he turned away from a life of exorbitantly comfortable living, for an ideology. For something that he believed in. While I know that the vast majority of what he did was utterly reprehensible, I respect that one part of his character. Let me make it clear that I don't love the guy, or what he did, but I just think that the act of ditching billions of dollars for ideology is quite a feat.
Just so that I don't get abused, verbally or otherwise, let me make it quite clear once again: I have no love for the guy. I'm just not in the "Woooo, yeah, he's dead" camp.
Anyway, that's all. I don't think it changes much in the grand scheme of things, but it's good in the sense that it provides some sense of closure for the victims of his attacks.
Back to uni stuff discussion. It's still pretty hectic, and looks like being so for the foreseeable future.
Oh, and I'm getting panic attacks from doing uni work. And my finger hurts from all that typing.
Word of the Day: Osama
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Sunday, 17 April 2011
A musing
How odd it is that 'like' seems to be a stronger word that 'love' when you're not in a relationship.
And yet, when you're in a relationship, the word 'love' suddenly becomes much, much stronger than 'like.'
e.g.
Not in relationship
"I like you" implies a feeling of attraction, usually to someone of the opposite gender.
"I love you" probably doesn't imply this.
In a relationship
"I like you" pretty much means nothing when said to your partner.
"I love you" probably means 95% of their world.
Completely innocuous musings, unlike most of my other musings. Inspired by my friend, who shall remain unnamed, who drunk texted me. Long story, and all that, so don't worry about it. Just know that it got me thinking about how semantically interesting these two words are.
Back to Tax Law assignment.
Word of they Day: Musing
And yet, when you're in a relationship, the word 'love' suddenly becomes much, much stronger than 'like.'
e.g.
Not in relationship
"I like you" implies a feeling of attraction, usually to someone of the opposite gender.
"I love you" probably doesn't imply this.
In a relationship
"I like you" pretty much means nothing when said to your partner.
"I love you" probably means 95% of their world.
Completely innocuous musings, unlike most of my other musings. Inspired by my friend, who shall remain unnamed, who drunk texted me. Long story, and all that, so don't worry about it. Just know that it got me thinking about how semantically interesting these two words are.
Back to Tax Law assignment.
Word of they Day: Musing
Friday, 15 April 2011
And another one
This is just another post detailing how utterly tired I am.
I think I'm actually using my brain this semester, and that's why no matter how much sleep I get, it doesn't feel enough.
Who knew that using the brain could be so tiring?
Having said that, I'm still behind in everything. Urgh.
I don't know where I'm going with all of this. Probably nowhere much.
In summary, the quality of my posts will not improve until all this is sorted out. Everything. So don't hold your breath.
Word of the Day: Breath
I think I'm actually using my brain this semester, and that's why no matter how much sleep I get, it doesn't feel enough.
Who knew that using the brain could be so tiring?
Having said that, I'm still behind in everything. Urgh.
I don't know where I'm going with all of this. Probably nowhere much.
In summary, the quality of my posts will not improve until all this is sorted out. Everything. So don't hold your breath.
Word of the Day: Breath
Monday, 4 April 2011
Let down
So I think it's safe to say I've been a bit of a let-down again.
It's one thing to not get interviews and get rejected.
I got four interviews with the five biggest accounting firms. And they all rejected me. With one of them, I got to the partner interview, and I still managed to bollix it. Truly amazing.
Part of it may be due to my inability to play the interview game. But the partner feedback, reading between the lines, was basically 'You have good communication skills, but I don't like you.'
It's frustrating more than anything. I know that if they give me a job, I'll work hard, and most probably do well. I think I make that pretty much clear. I don't know what else they're looking for. Seriously. Like, with the partner interview, what more does she want from me? I don't understand. It's actually eating at me a bit, to the point of making me a little bit sad at my failure, once again, to do something mildly impressive.
I guess this comes back to my life in general. I would like, just once, to be able to achieve something that might actually surprise people. In a pleasant way. And this was probably one of the best chances that I had of doing it.
And also repay some of the faith, often unfounded, that my parents place in me. And the support that I get from my friends.
Oh well. I guess the job hunt continues. It's just hard to take, because it's mostly down to me having problems with interviews.
Also, uni work is starting to pile up. For the first time in my life since I've had MSN, I've not been online for more or less two consecutive days. Yes, that's how bad it's getting.
Word of the Day: Surprise
It's one thing to not get interviews and get rejected.
I got four interviews with the five biggest accounting firms. And they all rejected me. With one of them, I got to the partner interview, and I still managed to bollix it. Truly amazing.
Part of it may be due to my inability to play the interview game. But the partner feedback, reading between the lines, was basically 'You have good communication skills, but I don't like you.'
It's frustrating more than anything. I know that if they give me a job, I'll work hard, and most probably do well. I think I make that pretty much clear. I don't know what else they're looking for. Seriously. Like, with the partner interview, what more does she want from me? I don't understand. It's actually eating at me a bit, to the point of making me a little bit sad at my failure, once again, to do something mildly impressive.
I guess this comes back to my life in general. I would like, just once, to be able to achieve something that might actually surprise people. In a pleasant way. And this was probably one of the best chances that I had of doing it.
And also repay some of the faith, often unfounded, that my parents place in me. And the support that I get from my friends.
Oh well. I guess the job hunt continues. It's just hard to take, because it's mostly down to me having problems with interviews.
Also, uni work is starting to pile up. For the first time in my life since I've had MSN, I've not been online for more or less two consecutive days. Yes, that's how bad it's getting.
Word of the Day: Surprise
Monday, 21 March 2011
Yeeeeeeeeeeeaaah man
Taking a break from Linguistics, because it's doing my head in at the moment.
Usher gig was sublime. Trey Songz opening spoiled it a little I think, because that guy was atrocious. He just kept singing about how he was single, how good he is at life, how he's single and ladies should get with him, and that he was single and that he liked ladies.
Maybe it was a ploy by Usher to make himself look even more awesome in comparison.
And he was awesome. All-singing, all-dancing, all-talking. And he did all of that to perfection.
I thought that the best thing about the whole gig was that he sang so much of his old stuff. Kind of makes me wish I'd gotten better tickets for the spectacle. Don't know how much longer it's going to be until he performs his old stuff again.
His MJ tribute was also very classy. Just dancing, no singing. Reminded me of the very touching John Mayer rendition of 'Human Nature' at the MJ memorial. All guitar, no singing. Something about not knowing him personally, so it wouldn't be right to sing. Here it is here.
Still gives me shivers.
Even though Usher did know him personally, I still think it was a great idea. So he put on the MJ shoes, and danced.
I thought the whole thing was really a subtle MJ tribute. The red leather jacket, the MJ-aping dance moves.
Good stuff all around.
I'm going to leave you with this little video today. I thought I'd posted it at least a million times already, but I don't think I have, because the official vid won't let me embed it. You can have this pirated version instead.
Laters, Usher fans.
Word of the Day: Usher
Credit to Sarah Huang for the photo.
Usher gig was sublime. Trey Songz opening spoiled it a little I think, because that guy was atrocious. He just kept singing about how he was single, how good he is at life, how he's single and ladies should get with him, and that he was single and that he liked ladies.
Maybe it was a ploy by Usher to make himself look even more awesome in comparison.
And he was awesome. All-singing, all-dancing, all-talking. And he did all of that to perfection.
I thought that the best thing about the whole gig was that he sang so much of his old stuff. Kind of makes me wish I'd gotten better tickets for the spectacle. Don't know how much longer it's going to be until he performs his old stuff again.
See the thang, about you, that caught my eye
Is the same thing that make, me change, my mind
His MJ tribute was also very classy. Just dancing, no singing. Reminded me of the very touching John Mayer rendition of 'Human Nature' at the MJ memorial. All guitar, no singing. Something about not knowing him personally, so it wouldn't be right to sing. Here it is here.
Why, why, tell them that it's human nature.
Still gives me shivers.
Even though Usher did know him personally, I still think it was a great idea. So he put on the MJ shoes, and danced.
All hail the King.
I thought the whole thing was really a subtle MJ tribute. The red leather jacket, the MJ-aping dance moves.
Good stuff all around.
I'm going to leave you with this little video today. I thought I'd posted it at least a million times already, but I don't think I have, because the official vid won't let me embed it. You can have this pirated version instead.
Laters, Usher fans.
Word of the Day: Usher
Credit to Sarah Huang for the photo.
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Secrets, lies, and webs of deceit.
Most of that title has little-to-no bearing on this post.
Anyway.
So it's 2 a.m. in the morning, and I got back from the Usher concert not so long ago. More about that in a later post.
Right now, I just had a mini-epiphany. Possibly Usher-inspired.
Contrary to what I said in my last post, I will tell you why I'm a little bit upset. I've just managed to put my finger on why.
Out of all my friends who have organised tables, brought tickets, and are going to the Commerce Ball, not one of them asked me. Not one. Not a single one.
Which is quite upsetting.
Yeah, I know an outsider looking at this (or sometimes not even outsiders) would go, "Hey, why didn't you ask them?"
Why would I ask them when I have no table formulated? Would it not make more sense for the person with the table, or at least the person organising, to ask? I mean, someone has to start asking. And I'm thoroughly sick of being that person.
Worst thing about all this is, I know, or I predict, that people will go to the Law Ball, Arts Ball, or whatever ball later in the year, and still not ask me about it.
Yesterday, I heard my father pondering to his sister on the phone: "I don't know why (so-and-so) dislike me. I don't know what I've done to offend them. In fact, often I go out of my way to help them."
Maybe it runs in the family.
Having said that, I feel a lot sorrier for my father than I do for myself. Because I'm not the most likeable of people, and I can understand why nobody would ask me even though I consider them my friend. But I know for a fact that my father has been nothing but nice to said person, and has done so much for them it's beyond comprehension.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is that it could be worse. And anyway, the situation is beyond saving now. I mean, I can't go even if people paid me to go, let alone just asked me. No more tickets, and all that. Final year, so not more Commerce Ball for me next year.
Which, I think, is the thing that makes me truly feel sad. No joke. I actually feel quite a deep sense of regret and sadness (not to mention exclusion) at not being able to go to a real ball (I don't count the ASEAN one) in my four years at uni.
So I guess the only thing I've gotten out of this whole thing is a lesson.
Yes, this ball seems to cause a bit of distress every year. It's because it's a distressing thing. But yeah, whatever. No point forcing my company on people that clearly don't value me as much as I value them.
But life goes on, and all that. I have friends. Not that many, but it's all about the quality. And I truly believe that my friends (I use this term in the strictest sense possible here) are some of the highest-quality people that a man could ask for.
Don't really feel like blogging about Usher right now, so I'll probably do it in a day or two.
Laters.
Word of the Day: Ball
Anyway.
So it's 2 a.m. in the morning, and I got back from the Usher concert not so long ago. More about that in a later post.
Right now, I just had a mini-epiphany. Possibly Usher-inspired.
Contrary to what I said in my last post, I will tell you why I'm a little bit upset. I've just managed to put my finger on why.
Out of all my friends who have organised tables, brought tickets, and are going to the Commerce Ball, not one of them asked me. Not one. Not a single one.
Which is quite upsetting.
Yeah, I know an outsider looking at this (or sometimes not even outsiders) would go, "Hey, why didn't you ask them?"
Why would I ask them when I have no table formulated? Would it not make more sense for the person with the table, or at least the person organising, to ask? I mean, someone has to start asking. And I'm thoroughly sick of being that person.
Worst thing about all this is, I know, or I predict, that people will go to the Law Ball, Arts Ball, or whatever ball later in the year, and still not ask me about it.
Yesterday, I heard my father pondering to his sister on the phone: "I don't know why (so-and-so) dislike me. I don't know what I've done to offend them. In fact, often I go out of my way to help them."
Maybe it runs in the family.
Having said that, I feel a lot sorrier for my father than I do for myself. Because I'm not the most likeable of people, and I can understand why nobody would ask me even though I consider them my friend. But I know for a fact that my father has been nothing but nice to said person, and has done so much for them it's beyond comprehension.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is that it could be worse. And anyway, the situation is beyond saving now. I mean, I can't go even if people paid me to go, let alone just asked me. No more tickets, and all that. Final year, so not more Commerce Ball for me next year.
Which, I think, is the thing that makes me truly feel sad. No joke. I actually feel quite a deep sense of regret and sadness (not to mention exclusion) at not being able to go to a real ball (I don't count the ASEAN one) in my four years at uni.
So I guess the only thing I've gotten out of this whole thing is a lesson.
Yes, this ball seems to cause a bit of distress every year. It's because it's a distressing thing. But yeah, whatever. No point forcing my company on people that clearly don't value me as much as I value them.
But life goes on, and all that. I have friends. Not that many, but it's all about the quality. And I truly believe that my friends (I use this term in the strictest sense possible here) are some of the highest-quality people that a man could ask for.
Don't really feel like blogging about Usher right now, so I'll probably do it in a day or two.
Laters.
Word of the Day: Ball
Friday, 18 March 2011
Which seat? Oh, the dilemma. The choices. So many.
Usher concert tomorrow!
Other than that, I really don't have anything meaningful to blog about. I just started constructing this post (constructing sounds so much more professional than ' to cobble together') this post out of (a) slight boredom, (b) slight burnout from uni work and stuff, and (c) a few of my 'friends' upsetting me a tad.
I just realised that 'upset' makes it seem like I've been crying. I haven't. 'Upset' here means: not very pleased.
Various reasons for this, and all that. Can't be bothered going in to it, because it would just upset everybody. And then 'upset' here might actually mean cry.
Anyway, this post - nay, a lot of this blog - is a catharsis for that upsettage. Or just general upsettage. Kind of lets me siphon off some of my emotions, so that I can turn back into the cold, dispassionate, rational person that many people seem to think I am.
And since it is a Friday, what other song could I leave you with but this.
Sorry, couldn't resist. If you haven't heard it yet, highly recommend that you listen to it, so that you know what not to do if you want to make a good song. Actually, don't just listen to it. Listen to and watch it. Then you'll know what not to do if you want to make a good song AND a good music video. Then you can promptly return back to that proverbial rock that you've been living under for the last month.
Word of the Day: Upsettage
Other than that, I really don't have anything meaningful to blog about. I just started constructing this post (constructing sounds so much more professional than ' to cobble together') this post out of (a) slight boredom, (b) slight burnout from uni work and stuff, and (c) a few of my 'friends' upsetting me a tad.
I just realised that 'upset' makes it seem like I've been crying. I haven't. 'Upset' here means: not very pleased.
Various reasons for this, and all that. Can't be bothered going in to it, because it would just upset everybody. And then 'upset' here might actually mean cry.
Anyway, this post - nay, a lot of this blog - is a catharsis for that upsettage. Or just general upsettage. Kind of lets me siphon off some of my emotions, so that I can turn back into the cold, dispassionate, rational person that many people seem to think I am.
And since it is a Friday, what other song could I leave you with but this.
Sorry, couldn't resist. If you haven't heard it yet, highly recommend that you listen to it, so that you know what not to do if you want to make a good song. Actually, don't just listen to it. Listen to and watch it. Then you'll know what not to do if you want to make a good song AND a good music video. Then you can promptly return back to that proverbial rock that you've been living under for the last month.
Word of the Day: Upsettage
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