A house of glass,
a wall of glass
that confines the many days ahead,
I do not see light at the end of the journey,
perhaps too far away,
like a beacon
hidden behind the bend of a starless night
of a maiden voyage
that promises unfathomable riches
if only driven by faith
Silver beads collect
on the cold glass plane,
like tiny sparkles of memories
that lay motionless
and random,
without a concern
or a purpose.
Amidst the chaos lies serenity
and sanctuary
from the clamouring voices of sentiments.
Just a few minutes more;
let me soak in the stillness
till intoxication clouds my sense of purpose,
like the blinding lambency of an evening sun.
The silver beads collect
and dribble down with haste
let me retain my composure.
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Monday, October 11, 2004
The Copy-Writing Kangaroo
Just yesterday morning as I was performing my ritual surf-the-net-prior-to-work routine (this ritual is somewhat like how a dog would circle a few times before sitting quietly and sleep), I was reading this blog of a friend of a friend’s. It was inspiring and given my introspective mood over the last few days, I couldn’t help but pen down some of my sentiments.
I had the most delightful reply from the blog owner, that my brief comments resembled that of a copywriter. Much as it was flattering, I suppose if you look at the technicalities of a copywriter, I share similar virtues in that my words are verbose, beats around the bush, and describes beyond what can be visibly observed – in other words, I’m a load of horse end-product-of-the-digestive-process.
Incidentally, in my quasi-freelance work apart from pursuing my academic endeavours, I was given this job to write a flowery description of tea, as part of a corporate gift. This is what I came up with:
“Wuyi Rock Tea is rich both in history as well as character. Wuyi Rock Tea is harvested from the mysterious rocky highlands of Wuyi Moutains in China. Within these untainted mountains prides the watchful eye of natural’s elements to create a unique tea of the finest quality.
Wuyi Rock Tea is harvested with age-old traditions; hand-rolled and pan-fired at their aromatic peak. The leaves are selectively charcoal-fired to produce a hue of deep green and complex flavours. The initial taste is smooth, robust and toasty, that gradually invites a rich floral touch.
This was the first kind of Chinese Tea introduced in Europe and was acclaimed for its uniqueness and complexity.
May our special brew bring you the richness of life in vitality and good health.”
Well, the point is, I don't even know where in the world Wuyi is. It could be an industrial stateland ruled by cybernetic machines with the agenda to take over the world.... .... but least the tea tastes good.......... i think.
I had the most delightful reply from the blog owner, that my brief comments resembled that of a copywriter. Much as it was flattering, I suppose if you look at the technicalities of a copywriter, I share similar virtues in that my words are verbose, beats around the bush, and describes beyond what can be visibly observed – in other words, I’m a load of horse end-product-of-the-digestive-process.
Incidentally, in my quasi-freelance work apart from pursuing my academic endeavours, I was given this job to write a flowery description of tea, as part of a corporate gift. This is what I came up with:
“Wuyi Rock Tea is rich both in history as well as character. Wuyi Rock Tea is harvested from the mysterious rocky highlands of Wuyi Moutains in China. Within these untainted mountains prides the watchful eye of natural’s elements to create a unique tea of the finest quality.
Wuyi Rock Tea is harvested with age-old traditions; hand-rolled and pan-fired at their aromatic peak. The leaves are selectively charcoal-fired to produce a hue of deep green and complex flavours. The initial taste is smooth, robust and toasty, that gradually invites a rich floral touch.
This was the first kind of Chinese Tea introduced in Europe and was acclaimed for its uniqueness and complexity.
May our special brew bring you the richness of life in vitality and good health.”
Well, the point is, I don't even know where in the world Wuyi is. It could be an industrial stateland ruled by cybernetic machines with the agenda to take over the world.... .... but least the tea tastes good.......... i think.
Thursday, September 02, 2004
Friday afternoon sentiments
The Impact of HIV/AIDS Behavioural Determinants on Antiretroviral Uptake and Adherence – Moderated by Fatalism, Spirituality and Volitional Control… …
try saying this aloud, really fast, three times over. I actually managed to do worse, I sat through this seminar for two hours being bewildered by what this researcher was trying to discover in his journey to Kenya. But time wasn’t wasted, because I was deep in the cognitive process of wondering how many free ham and cheese sandwiches I needed before I will get hungry again by mid-day. I didn’t come to any conclusion, not helped by the fact that the sandwiches weren't exactly what you would call gourmet delights. The programme says light lunch provided, which I suppose in Latin means it sucks and you will go hungry by 4pm, which I am at the moment.
I wrote a brief article to Straits Times earlier today, and I’m not too sure if it’ll get into the forum. I usually have my two cents published in the Streats, since there aren’t too many people who can be bothered to write up critical pieces on street planning in Seng Kang. I gave it a shot at ST, offering my views on how SMRT being tightasses needing to go through a bureaucratic charade before deciding if they will spend 100k to draw extra yellow lines, and 5million to erect safety barriers. The score this month reads: passengers who took the train at the wrong end – 4, fatality out of these four incidents – 3. I donno, should we spend 5million dollars in an overnight project to build metal barriers? Lets look at the economics, SMRT runs a business of 4.54 trillion transactions annually, my goodness, 5million dollars will put a 0.000000000001% (not exactly sure of the calculations, my SPSS programme doesn’t work by the trillions) in deficit of the overall budget. We are talking human lives here, public responsibility should always supersede economics.
Back to my predicament of sitting there and trying to digest the difference between fatalism and volitional control. Exactly, I had no idea what was going on. My mind drifted to a completely unrelated agenda, which was inspired by a forgettable incident last night. Really, what is it about sending e-cards and mass forwarded messages nowadays. It appears that we are moving into a new era where convenience takes precedence over sincerity. To receive an e-card, feels like collecting a set of binary codes preset by some IT freelancer working for Hallmark. I rather a personal sentence anytime, catered with exclusive sentiments if just to know that someone is thinking of you. Gone were the days of snail mail, and phone calls, when in today’s rat race, asking someone out on a date means, please refer to my online diary to arrange a time agreeable with my schedule. Welcome to the era of mass manufacturing, where conversation starters of ‘how was your day today?’ is retorted with ‘please refer to my blog.”
I need a break, please reward me with a good weekend. I’ll have a chat with the Chivas brothers tonight, 21 year blended sounds fine.
try saying this aloud, really fast, three times over. I actually managed to do worse, I sat through this seminar for two hours being bewildered by what this researcher was trying to discover in his journey to Kenya. But time wasn’t wasted, because I was deep in the cognitive process of wondering how many free ham and cheese sandwiches I needed before I will get hungry again by mid-day. I didn’t come to any conclusion, not helped by the fact that the sandwiches weren't exactly what you would call gourmet delights. The programme says light lunch provided, which I suppose in Latin means it sucks and you will go hungry by 4pm, which I am at the moment.
I wrote a brief article to Straits Times earlier today, and I’m not too sure if it’ll get into the forum. I usually have my two cents published in the Streats, since there aren’t too many people who can be bothered to write up critical pieces on street planning in Seng Kang. I gave it a shot at ST, offering my views on how SMRT being tightasses needing to go through a bureaucratic charade before deciding if they will spend 100k to draw extra yellow lines, and 5million to erect safety barriers. The score this month reads: passengers who took the train at the wrong end – 4, fatality out of these four incidents – 3. I donno, should we spend 5million dollars in an overnight project to build metal barriers? Lets look at the economics, SMRT runs a business of 4.54 trillion transactions annually, my goodness, 5million dollars will put a 0.000000000001% (not exactly sure of the calculations, my SPSS programme doesn’t work by the trillions) in deficit of the overall budget. We are talking human lives here, public responsibility should always supersede economics.
Back to my predicament of sitting there and trying to digest the difference between fatalism and volitional control. Exactly, I had no idea what was going on. My mind drifted to a completely unrelated agenda, which was inspired by a forgettable incident last night. Really, what is it about sending e-cards and mass forwarded messages nowadays. It appears that we are moving into a new era where convenience takes precedence over sincerity. To receive an e-card, feels like collecting a set of binary codes preset by some IT freelancer working for Hallmark. I rather a personal sentence anytime, catered with exclusive sentiments if just to know that someone is thinking of you. Gone were the days of snail mail, and phone calls, when in today’s rat race, asking someone out on a date means, please refer to my online diary to arrange a time agreeable with my schedule. Welcome to the era of mass manufacturing, where conversation starters of ‘how was your day today?’ is retorted with ‘please refer to my blog.”
I need a break, please reward me with a good weekend. I’ll have a chat with the Chivas brothers tonight, 21 year blended sounds fine.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
What is a Blog?
What is a Blog? Why did I start this account? Why am I writing this when I really should be utilising my office resources for something more constructive; such as coming up with an excellent PhD research for the good of mankind, win a Nobel prize and charge a million quid per guest lecture for any organisation with a lazy CEO who is keen enough to show that he is making best use of stakeholder reserves.
I’ll come out with it. I’m trying to impress a girl. My talent is with the written word, which with a bit of luck, may offset all other shortcomings of attributes to impress someone. In order to place quirky comments and smart remarks in response for her daily postings, I have to start an account myself. Thus here I am, sitting in my office which is getting increasingly warm due to the afternoon sun, and blabbering away without a thought as to what I should be writing here.
Perhaps, this is a window to my express my political view, of how my country is really a monarchy disguised under the label of a democratic society. Or perhaps to vent my frustration over B-grade movies that pains me over the opportunity cost of $11. Current affairs perhaps, such as Straits Times today which boasts our new SAF unit from 3SIR that specialises in Urban Warfare. I was in stitches to see the picture of a fully-geared soldier in Green camouflage uniform. Unless urban warfare means skirmish in Bishan Park, infantry intelligence should take a tip from Counter-Strike that Grey goes better with urban landscape.
Well, herez to the new beginning of blogs, so till later....... later.
I’ll come out with it. I’m trying to impress a girl. My talent is with the written word, which with a bit of luck, may offset all other shortcomings of attributes to impress someone. In order to place quirky comments and smart remarks in response for her daily postings, I have to start an account myself. Thus here I am, sitting in my office which is getting increasingly warm due to the afternoon sun, and blabbering away without a thought as to what I should be writing here.
Perhaps, this is a window to my express my political view, of how my country is really a monarchy disguised under the label of a democratic society. Or perhaps to vent my frustration over B-grade movies that pains me over the opportunity cost of $11. Current affairs perhaps, such as Straits Times today which boasts our new SAF unit from 3SIR that specialises in Urban Warfare. I was in stitches to see the picture of a fully-geared soldier in Green camouflage uniform. Unless urban warfare means skirmish in Bishan Park, infantry intelligence should take a tip from Counter-Strike that Grey goes better with urban landscape.
Well, herez to the new beginning of blogs, so till later....... later.
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