I quite enjoy sociology and might consider taking it as one module when i am able to (pray hard) secure a place in NUS. It's currently SIM's intensive revision period. Hence, lectures from the UK came down to lecture us. I love attending lectures by Britain lecturers as they speak clearly, fluently and they are very humorous. They know how to keep the class going and they know when to be humorous. It makes the lectures interesting and allows us to sustain through the 7 hrs lecture. One thing i find different about sociologists is that they do not follow rules and they go by their own experiences. For instance, my first socio workshop was by Steve Taylor. He believes that we should have a short break every half an hour or so. He gives us 5 to 10 mins break to go to the washroom and even asked us to text our friends or just chat with them. He believes that the student's attention span will decrease after 30 mins or so. Hence, the break. On the other hand, my second socio workshop was by Gosling Rosemary. She believes that students are more alert in the morning as opposed to the afternoon. Hence, she gave us only one break from 10-1pm and more during the afternoon. Though SIM gave them each instructions as to when we should take a break, they screw it and used their own methods.
The lectures are also interesting partly because they tell stories and site examples that are hilarious yet set us thinking. I'll list some examples below...
The Mas Salamat Story
When Gosling came to Singapore, she decided to get a better understanding of the current whereabouts of Mas Salamat. So she said that the best way was to ask taxi drivers, probably because they are often talkative and they seem to know alot but not all are true...
Taxi 1:
G:"Sir, i've heard a lot about Mas Salamat and i'm just curious about his whereabouts now. "
D:"Oh, everyone knows that he have escaped to Indonesia. There'e no way the authorities could find him. It's been so long. "
Taxi 2:
G: "Sir, i've heard a lot about Mas Salamat and that he is currently at Indonesia? Is that true?"
D: "Indonesia? No way, he is still in jail. "
G:"In jail? I thought there were news and posters everywhere looking for him? How can he still be in jail?"
D: "haha.. the authorities are just trying to strengthen our borders, raise awareness and create tighter security in the shortest time. The Mas Salamat escape is all fake. Singapore's security is so tight and it makes no sense that he could escape through the toilet. Nonsense."
Taxi 3
G:"Sir, i've heard a lot about Mas Salamat. Is he in Indonesia now or still in prison?"
D: "Oh all those stories you heard are not true. The truth is that he is dead!!!"
G: "Dead? What do you mean he is dead?"
D: "The authorities must've tortured him till he died in prison and they are afraid to let the public know because it'll just ruin its reputation. So, they faked that Mas Salamat escaped!!"
Taxi 4
G:"Sir, i've heard a lot about Mas Salamat and i'm just curious about his whereabouts now. "
D:"Oh, he has escaped from Singapore. Most probably in Indonesia. But i don't see how he could have easily escaped from Singapore's tight security checks and all. So, i'm guessing the authorities let him escape on purpose. They had probably implant a detector so they'll be able to catch the rest of the terrorist. "
G: "Now that make quite some sense"
Don't you think it's hilarious as to how they taxi drivers each got their own version of Mas Salamat whereabouts? Oh and i must say i added some extra comments in the dialogue because i couldn't remember all of them. haha.. But the story line is somewhat in that way. So which one do you think is true? I personally think what Taxi driver 3 said was true. I mean, how can Singapore's security be that lousy in that he could not only escape from the toilet, but also from the compound and from Singapore. It makes no sense. Moreover, he is limping??!! Thus, I'll most likely believe that he had died due to the torture inflicted onto him. They are just hiding the truth and escaping. Hoping that this issue will be forgotten soon which it is going to be soon.
Globalisation in terms of the airport and communication via the internet
Globalisation had made travelling so much easier. Now, people could travel anytime and anywhere with little documents needed. Last time, if you want to travel from UK to Singapore, you need at least 3 months of preparation. Most of the time goes into the preparation of documents and data, and the time needed to process it. Phew, don't you think we're lucky to live in the 21st century. =D
Technology has also became so advanced that we could send our message across to anyone at anytime and anywhere too. It also allows us to be able to get a speedy reply. Though it may be good, it had hasten our life. We're now expected to read our email daily and they expect a speedy reply too. Furthermore, there are vast ways of communications tools which caused many people to criticize that it had caused the younger generation o be less vocal and less able to express themselves in public. However, research has also shown that it had improved individual's level of communication skills. So, it pretty much works both ways.
Oh, one majot mistakes that students do and many journalists does is that they often say"Globalisation caused the financial crisis etc" but globalisation is a thing, it cannot cause anything. It is the process of globalisation that does.
to be continued... sleepy again.. =x
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The ugly side of human beings
I got out of my little shell and to my horror, i saw the one side of human behaviour that irks me and disturbed me, but sets me thinking.
Instance 1--At the food court
I was eating my dinner with my family and there's this guy who just began eating but unfortunately, he dropped his Chicken drum stick. I felt a tinge of pity for him as that was the main dish but i changed my mind because later he suddenly got up and moved to another table, leaving the unsightly mess there. Those people sitting at the next table felt disgusted and was gossiping amongst themselves. I can understand why they felt that way. Later, they got up to buy their food and left their grandma at the table so the seats will not be taken by others. That is perfectly normal. However, if you zoom out from the focus of the grandma image, you see a table with 4 packets of tissues, lined in a rather neat way that is placed in front of every seat. I mean arghhh.. I don't know why but i hate seeing tissues lying around like that. Much less with a person stationed there. It just gets my agitated. From this instances, i see the kaisu-ness in people and the utter inconsideration.
Instance 2--In the bus
Let me ask you a question, have you sat beside someone but when there was another empty seat, you decided to change seat? I think this is not a very nice thing to do as the one sitting beside you previously might think of reasons that had caused you to changed seats and these reasons often involved them. They might think if they stink, had bad breath or is disturbing you someway or another. But of cos, some people moved because of sunlight heating them up, the cold aircon or simply the comfort level. The one that irks me is when people moved because they are sitting beside someone of different race. I see it everywhere and sometimes i'm guilty of it too because i just can't take the unique odour that they emit. Well, i tried to withstand it but sometimes you know.
i feeling tired.. to be continued...
to be continued....
Instance 1--At the food court
I was eating my dinner with my family and there's this guy who just began eating but unfortunately, he dropped his Chicken drum stick. I felt a tinge of pity for him as that was the main dish but i changed my mind because later he suddenly got up and moved to another table, leaving the unsightly mess there. Those people sitting at the next table felt disgusted and was gossiping amongst themselves. I can understand why they felt that way. Later, they got up to buy their food and left their grandma at the table so the seats will not be taken by others. That is perfectly normal. However, if you zoom out from the focus of the grandma image, you see a table with 4 packets of tissues, lined in a rather neat way that is placed in front of every seat. I mean arghhh.. I don't know why but i hate seeing tissues lying around like that. Much less with a person stationed there. It just gets my agitated. From this instances, i see the kaisu-ness in people and the utter inconsideration.
Instance 2--In the bus
Let me ask you a question, have you sat beside someone but when there was another empty seat, you decided to change seat? I think this is not a very nice thing to do as the one sitting beside you previously might think of reasons that had caused you to changed seats and these reasons often involved them. They might think if they stink, had bad breath or is disturbing you someway or another. But of cos, some people moved because of sunlight heating them up, the cold aircon or simply the comfort level. The one that irks me is when people moved because they are sitting beside someone of different race. I see it everywhere and sometimes i'm guilty of it too because i just can't take the unique odour that they emit. Well, i tried to withstand it but sometimes you know.
i feeling tired.. to be continued...
to be continued....
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Just a bubble hanging above my head
Like most people, i think about random stuff minutes before i surrender to the zzz monster.
Last night, i suddenly had the urge to head down to escape theme park. I miss the thrills and the heart drop rides. The only 2 rides that i feared most would be the water slide and viking. Yes, i said viking!! I know that is noob shit to everyone and most people think it's like sitting on a huge see-saw, but to me, my heart always drop whenever it swings down!!! =/ I hate rides that gives me a feeling of sudden drop, like my heart is still up there somewhere but i'm down already.
Anyway, it then led me to think why do people like to create roller coasters and rides that are near vertical, hangs you above the sea or lets you see the world below you? Is it the degree of thrill or are they trying to show people how fearful and scary it is to jump off from somewhere high? Are they trying to prevent suicide or the other way round?
Seriously, what do most people think of when they are sitting or standing at the edge of a tall building, attempting to commit suicide? Do they think about the reasons why they want to end their lives? Or think about their friends and family? That should probably be the first stage. I reckon the second stage would be the fear, and then those who have not sat on roller coaster that drops you down vertically will most probably take a step back eventually. As for those who had, they might think that hey, it's simply roller coaster w/o any seat and seat belt. It'll be hell fun and trilling if you just close your eyes, and of cos those are the ones who will take a step forward. So, think about it when you sit triller rides like these. A word of caution is not to sit too often as you might get use to it and when it comes to a point in time where suicide seems to be the best solution, you would take a step forward. Also, beware and show more concern to those that do not fear such rides; those who dare to raise their hands up high. They may look like a hero within that few seconds but they may disappear anytime if not enough love, care and concern is showered upon them.
That said, all the above points are just a penny of my thought. No references made and no particular hidden message. Just getting my neurons connected after i studied a night on sociology. I shall then end with a quote!! Peter Berger said that a sociologist should "see the general in the particular" and "see the strange in the familiar". I particularly loved all his quotes. =D
Last night, i suddenly had the urge to head down to escape theme park. I miss the thrills and the heart drop rides. The only 2 rides that i feared most would be the water slide and viking. Yes, i said viking!! I know that is noob shit to everyone and most people think it's like sitting on a huge see-saw, but to me, my heart always drop whenever it swings down!!! =/ I hate rides that gives me a feeling of sudden drop, like my heart is still up there somewhere but i'm down already.
Anyway, it then led me to think why do people like to create roller coasters and rides that are near vertical, hangs you above the sea or lets you see the world below you? Is it the degree of thrill or are they trying to show people how fearful and scary it is to jump off from somewhere high? Are they trying to prevent suicide or the other way round?
Seriously, what do most people think of when they are sitting or standing at the edge of a tall building, attempting to commit suicide? Do they think about the reasons why they want to end their lives? Or think about their friends and family? That should probably be the first stage. I reckon the second stage would be the fear, and then those who have not sat on roller coaster that drops you down vertically will most probably take a step back eventually. As for those who had, they might think that hey, it's simply roller coaster w/o any seat and seat belt. It'll be hell fun and trilling if you just close your eyes, and of cos those are the ones who will take a step forward. So, think about it when you sit triller rides like these. A word of caution is not to sit too often as you might get use to it and when it comes to a point in time where suicide seems to be the best solution, you would take a step forward. Also, beware and show more concern to those that do not fear such rides; those who dare to raise their hands up high. They may look like a hero within that few seconds but they may disappear anytime if not enough love, care and concern is showered upon them.
That said, all the above points are just a penny of my thought. No references made and no particular hidden message. Just getting my neurons connected after i studied a night on sociology. I shall then end with a quote!! Peter Berger said that a sociologist should "see the general in the particular" and "see the strange in the familiar". I particularly loved all his quotes. =D
Monday, April 6, 2009
My exercise regime
Yeah!!! I've finally got out of my comfort zone and started exercising to get rid of my fat tummy and thighs, and just to tone up my muscles!! =D
I think it has been about a year since i last exercised!!! =x Anyway, there are four factors that managed to spur me on to get started with my exercise regime.
1)My new nike running shoes.
2)My cute dearie.
3)The mirror
4)The weighing scale
So i've been running with my dear these few days and i must say it has been so long since i've felt so shag!!! We ran 2.4km for the first time and about 3km or more for the second run. Plus, Dearie chose a different route which is crazily tiring!! There are basically two long stretch of upslope which is hell draining.
After the run, still looking happy but shag!! haha..
Dearie's way of resting; reading news online!!
Us!! =D
Anyway, some people say that your thighs will get bigger if you run or that running doesn't help much in reducing those cellulite!! Thus, i've found a great video that could eliminate those unsightly cellulite!!
Check this out!!
I think it has been about a year since i last exercised!!! =x Anyway, there are four factors that managed to spur me on to get started with my exercise regime.
1)My new nike running shoes.
2)My cute dearie.
3)The mirror
4)The weighing scale
So i've been running with my dear these few days and i must say it has been so long since i've felt so shag!!! We ran 2.4km for the first time and about 3km or more for the second run. Plus, Dearie chose a different route which is crazily tiring!! There are basically two long stretch of upslope which is hell draining.
Before the run, looking all happy and ready!!
After the run, still looking happy but shag!! haha..
Dearie's way of resting; reading news online!!
Us!! =D
Anyway, some people say that your thighs will get bigger if you run or that running doesn't help much in reducing those cellulite!! Thus, i've found a great video that could eliminate those unsightly cellulite!!
Check this out!!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Harry's little simple story!!!
CHAPTER ONE
After awhile, he suddenly felt bored and dropped the bone.
Then, he starts thinking.... about things i will never know.
But i guess that he is probably thinking of getting a gf but he can't and he started feeling emo.
After awhile, he started feeling sleepy!!
No point thinking about those issues and he starts to fall asleep....
Snores...zzzzz
When he woke up, he felt lonely again and decided to sit close to his imaginary gf. (a cute lil kitty cushion)
CHAPTER TWO
After 10 years of waiting, we finally got Harry a gf. Her name is Happy and she's a tan brown cocker spaniel.
Love quickly blossom between the two of them. Aren't they adorable??
And they got closer.... Harry's a happy man now!! =D
During nights of strong winds, they share the joy of wearing clothes tgt!!
When the wind gets unbearably cold, they cuddle together..
CHAPTER THREE
A clearer view of our adorable Mimi.
Being a gentleman as Harry had always been, he decided to share with Happy his long time friend. They were scared of each other at first but Harry patiently got them to talk to each other.
Not long, they started playing with each other. (check out Happy's flap up ear)
And they got closer. I believe the moment an animal allows the other to smell them, it means friendship. =)
After Happy became friends with Mimi, the three of them played happily together!! =D
The stamp of everlasting friendship...
~The End for story one~
I hope you enjoyed it and do stay tune for story two.. It'll be out soon!!! =D
Harry is feeling excited with his new bone!!
After awhile, he suddenly felt bored and dropped the bone.
Then, he starts thinking.... about things i will never know.
But i guess that he is probably thinking of getting a gf but he can't and he started feeling emo.
After awhile, he started feeling sleepy!!
No point thinking about those issues and he starts to fall asleep....
Snores...zzzzz
When he woke up, he felt lonely again and decided to sit close to his imaginary gf. (a cute lil kitty cushion)
CHAPTER TWO
Love quickly blossom between the two of them. Aren't they adorable??
And they got closer.... Harry's a happy man now!! =D
During nights of strong winds, they share the joy of wearing clothes tgt!!
When the wind gets unbearably cold, they cuddle together..
CHAPTER THREEOoppss.. harry forgotten to introduce his long time friend, it's a rabbit named "MIMI".
A clearer view of our adorable Mimi.
Being a gentleman as Harry had always been, he decided to share with Happy his long time friend. They were scared of each other at first but Harry patiently got them to talk to each other.
Not long, they started playing with each other. (check out Happy's flap up ear)
And they got closer. I believe the moment an animal allows the other to smell them, it means friendship. =)
After Happy became friends with Mimi, the three of them played happily together!! =D
The stamp of everlasting friendship...
~The End for story one~
I hope you enjoyed it and do stay tune for story two.. It'll be out soon!!! =D
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