Sunday, July 31, 2005
Thursday, July 28, 2005
...
Is it so wrong for me to have some fun on the computer into the wee hours of the morning while I still can? Is it really so bad for me to wake up at 10 in the morning the next day?
So now, on the brink of adulthood, I have to live with a curfew - no games after 12:30am.
This stinks.
So now, on the brink of adulthood, I have to live with a curfew - no games after 12:30am.
This stinks.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Under the weather
I've still got a few thoughts to pen down regarding my approaching departure, but I'm down with a bad case of the flu and don't really feel up to it today.
An interesting aside though. My mom's organising a farewell/21st dinner for me and my family on Saturday (sorry, none of my friends are invited because there are already about 30 people, and my aunt's house and my mom's budget do not permit me to invite you guys). Some suggestions from my relatives:
An interesting aside though. My mom's organising a farewell/21st dinner for me and my family on Saturday (sorry, none of my friends are invited because there are already about 30 people, and my aunt's house and my mom's budget do not permit me to invite you guys). Some suggestions from my relatives:
- get a stripper
- use condoms of all sorts to substitute balloons for decorations
- get me high on alcohol just for the fun of it
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Moving on...
I leave for Canada in slightly over a month. In the past week or two, I have come to realise that when I leave for Canada, I will have to give up some things that I really enjoy doing.
That leaves me feeling a tinge of sadness, and yet, maybe it is time to move on. I haven't done everything I wanted to do, but there is no more time for me to do it. And I also recognise that I'll probably not do these things even if I happen to come back, either during my hols, or after 4 years, when my course ends.
So maybe it is just as well. Maybe the passion will fade after a while... or maybe it won't. On the one hand, if it does fade, it will be easier to move on, and yet, I do not want to forget because I still enjoy it so much.
What I am leaving behind here, I know for sure - family, friends, passions and familiarity, and maybe even a sense of comfort. What I stand to gain from this move, I am less sure about. That makes it both exciting and daunting at the same time.
But compare the unknowns I stand to benefit from to the knowns that I will be leaving behind, and tell me, why am I supposed to be looking forward to this again?
That leaves me feeling a tinge of sadness, and yet, maybe it is time to move on. I haven't done everything I wanted to do, but there is no more time for me to do it. And I also recognise that I'll probably not do these things even if I happen to come back, either during my hols, or after 4 years, when my course ends.
So maybe it is just as well. Maybe the passion will fade after a while... or maybe it won't. On the one hand, if it does fade, it will be easier to move on, and yet, I do not want to forget because I still enjoy it so much.
What I am leaving behind here, I know for sure - family, friends, passions and familiarity, and maybe even a sense of comfort. What I stand to gain from this move, I am less sure about. That makes it both exciting and daunting at the same time.
But compare the unknowns I stand to benefit from to the knowns that I will be leaving behind, and tell me, why am I supposed to be looking forward to this again?
Thursday, July 14, 2005
The NKF debacle
Looking beyond the money, the perks, the expensive bathroom fixtures and the fleet of cars, what really strikes me about the whole NKF debacle is how bad the PR is.
I can't believe that the NKF's first response to this incident is not to issue an apology, or at least a reassurance to its donors and patients, but is instead to take out a full page advert in Today to ask for support for its charity show tonight. After all the revelations about how public money is spent at the NKF, these people still want to issue a plea for continued donations? Do they really expect that the public will continue to give, especially now?
Mr T.T Durai is right in saying that he has done nothing wrong. In the eyes of the law he hasn't. But as a head of the largest charity in Singapore, surely he must know that the court of public opinion is what matters. And in the eyes of the public, he has been less than honest in stating the NKF's need for funds, and the NKF has not been transparent in the way that it spends public money.
His defence that everything was approved by the board of directors also calls into question their management of the NKF. Aren't they there to provide oversight? Just what are they doing then? On what basis did they decide to pay Mr Durai a 12 month peformance bonus? And if Mr Durai is so well paid, how much are the directors' renumeration packages?
Mrs Goh Chock Tong, patron of the NKF, says that $600,000 is "peanuts" when you have reserves of more than $200 million. I beg to differ. It is not "peanuts" when this money comes from the goodwill of the people. It is not "peanuts" when in donating this money, the public expects it to but put to good use, to help save lives. And if it was indeed, "peanuts", then why be so secretive about it? The $200 million comes from the goodwill of average, hardworking Singaporeans. They should be the ones who decide if it is, indeed "peanuts".
The NKF has called on the public not to stop donations because good work is indeed being done, patients are being treated, and lives are being saved.
Until steps are taken to address the lack of transparency with which the NKF operates, there is no way for us to know if the money we are donating is indeed put to good use. The patients should not suffer if they have $200 million in reserves. There is no guarantee that the money we are giving is actually going to the patients, so how exactly will they suffer? Until steps are taken to reassure the public and to guarantee meanigful use of public money, there is no reason for the public to continue with their donations. Sure, the NKF's reserves will have to be drawn upon, but this can be built up again, gradually, over time, with proper accountablilty and management.
Until then, give your money to the Kidney Dialysis Foundation, another charitable organisation in Singapore which helps sufferers of kidney disease.
Mr T.T Durai and the NKF's perceived lack of wrongdoing on their part should be corrected.
I can't believe that the NKF's first response to this incident is not to issue an apology, or at least a reassurance to its donors and patients, but is instead to take out a full page advert in Today to ask for support for its charity show tonight. After all the revelations about how public money is spent at the NKF, these people still want to issue a plea for continued donations? Do they really expect that the public will continue to give, especially now?
Mr T.T Durai is right in saying that he has done nothing wrong. In the eyes of the law he hasn't. But as a head of the largest charity in Singapore, surely he must know that the court of public opinion is what matters. And in the eyes of the public, he has been less than honest in stating the NKF's need for funds, and the NKF has not been transparent in the way that it spends public money.
His defence that everything was approved by the board of directors also calls into question their management of the NKF. Aren't they there to provide oversight? Just what are they doing then? On what basis did they decide to pay Mr Durai a 12 month peformance bonus? And if Mr Durai is so well paid, how much are the directors' renumeration packages?
Mrs Goh Chock Tong, patron of the NKF, says that $600,000 is "peanuts" when you have reserves of more than $200 million. I beg to differ. It is not "peanuts" when this money comes from the goodwill of the people. It is not "peanuts" when in donating this money, the public expects it to but put to good use, to help save lives. And if it was indeed, "peanuts", then why be so secretive about it? The $200 million comes from the goodwill of average, hardworking Singaporeans. They should be the ones who decide if it is, indeed "peanuts".
The NKF has called on the public not to stop donations because good work is indeed being done, patients are being treated, and lives are being saved.
Until steps are taken to address the lack of transparency with which the NKF operates, there is no way for us to know if the money we are donating is indeed put to good use. The patients should not suffer if they have $200 million in reserves. There is no guarantee that the money we are giving is actually going to the patients, so how exactly will they suffer? Until steps are taken to reassure the public and to guarantee meanigful use of public money, there is no reason for the public to continue with their donations. Sure, the NKF's reserves will have to be drawn upon, but this can be built up again, gradually, over time, with proper accountablilty and management.
Until then, give your money to the Kidney Dialysis Foundation, another charitable organisation in Singapore which helps sufferers of kidney disease.
Mr T.T Durai and the NKF's perceived lack of wrongdoing on their part should be corrected.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Why?
A Red Lion had an accident during the NDP rehearsal on Saturday, and news spread pretty quickly among my friends who were Commandos during our NS days. Hearing the reports on TV brought back memories of my own botched landing during a night jump that I executed. I could still distinctly remember thinking "Oh no, I'm not in my landing position yet!" just a split second before hitting the tarmac in the darkness.
As one of my good friends observed, it's weird that we still seem to crave information about our unit, even though we longer are in active service. Everytime something happens regarding the Commandos, we always want to know everything about the incident. There always seems to be a lingering concern, despite my telling myself and my friends that I couldn't care less. I think deep down, I do care.
I ask myself why, and I don't know the answer. Despite the empty and broken promises that were made, despite the ill-feeling that built up during our last months in service, the concern remains.
As one of my good friends observed, it's weird that we still seem to crave information about our unit, even though we longer are in active service. Everytime something happens regarding the Commandos, we always want to know everything about the incident. There always seems to be a lingering concern, despite my telling myself and my friends that I couldn't care less. I think deep down, I do care.
I ask myself why, and I don't know the answer. Despite the empty and broken promises that were made, despite the ill-feeling that built up during our last months in service, the concern remains.
Sunday, July 03, 2005
The days gone by
I went back to Catholic High on Saturday for a game of soccer with my friends. We were invited by our teachers who informed us that there was going to be a carnival in celebration of youth day. When I first stepped into the school, memories of days gone by came flooding back.
The school compound however, had changed considerably, and I wandered around to explore the recently renovated building. There were some changes in the layout of the secondary section of the school, but the major changes were in the common space shared by the primary and secondary sections, and the primary section of the school itself. I got lost a couple of times exploring the new surroundings, and many of the "scars" we left on the building were no longer there. The ink stains caused by pen refills being thrown into the ceiling fans, the imprint of soccer balls kicked against the falls, the broken window panes, and the overhead lights missing a flourescent tube or two had all disappeared. Our damage had been undone.
Despite all this, there was surprise, and even a hint of satisfaction on the faces of the few of my former teachers who still remain. It was pleasantly surprising that they still could recognise me.
After a game of soccer played in the hot afternoon sun, my friends and I reminisced about old times - the cheap and good food in the canteen, the still sandy as ever soccer pitch, the wickedly funny punishments some of us had to serve, the teachers(or rather, teacher) that scared us most, and the mischief we made.
Times like these don't come by easily anymore, and I don't have such fond memories of my JC days. For this reason, I will forever cherish the times I had and the friends I made in secondary school.
The school compound however, had changed considerably, and I wandered around to explore the recently renovated building. There were some changes in the layout of the secondary section of the school, but the major changes were in the common space shared by the primary and secondary sections, and the primary section of the school itself. I got lost a couple of times exploring the new surroundings, and many of the "scars" we left on the building were no longer there. The ink stains caused by pen refills being thrown into the ceiling fans, the imprint of soccer balls kicked against the falls, the broken window panes, and the overhead lights missing a flourescent tube or two had all disappeared. Our damage had been undone.
Despite all this, there was surprise, and even a hint of satisfaction on the faces of the few of my former teachers who still remain. It was pleasantly surprising that they still could recognise me.
After a game of soccer played in the hot afternoon sun, my friends and I reminisced about old times - the cheap and good food in the canteen, the still sandy as ever soccer pitch, the wickedly funny punishments some of us had to serve, the teachers(or rather, teacher) that scared us most, and the mischief we made.
Times like these don't come by easily anymore, and I don't have such fond memories of my JC days. For this reason, I will forever cherish the times I had and the friends I made in secondary school.
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