mintellectual's Xanga

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 15:17:50 GMT

Fanning the flames

Indeed, the title rings true for many reasons. ;) The most obvious - the cooking craze the awesome Bhuto Bandits and Friends held at my place last Friday. So anyway, I shan't go on typing now because I'm busy chowing down the excessive remnants of the feast, and instead, let the snapshots do the rest of the filling in.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Wed, 30 May 2007 13:42:51 GMT

Happy campers

Why lateness is good.

- My topic for the 'Opening Lines' exercise, given to me by Loke

"Mister speaker sir, between the two of us, we know that punctuality is overrated. It's what you expect, but essentially, nothing special. Lateness, on the other hand, involves waiting, which denotes focused anticipation. Just like a delayed period always manages to command the attention of people, especially that of men. Just like a pregnant pause. It is a signal of something important gestating, and is why we should really take our time to come."

What a way for the three-day TPJC Debate Camp to begin; with irreverence and some of the coolest students I've co-trained. Of course, more highly inappropriate speeches followed, but I'll claim no merit for them. ;) A little knowledge may be dangerous, but a potent dose of education goes a long way. I think I might be a role model. *gasp*

Slick Nick, Chee Keen (you're lucky I haven't started playing fowl with the pronunciation of your name), HRH Princess Farah, Daryl "I'm too hot to handle" Ooi, Daniel "OH MY GOD I FORGOT TO USE MY PREAMBLE" Selvakumar, Jana, Justine, Sin Nee, Angela The Whack, Zhi Jun, and Johann/Yaohan, you were fantastic! Not to mention Hewlens and Anthony, for the barrel of laughs you both provided.

At the end of the day, I must confess that I loved every moment, and you're all friends to me now. No fallacy to this statement. ;)

Friday, May 25, 2007

Fri, 25 May 2007 18:18:46 GMT

Nothing left to say

". . .where voice is more a place of departure than of arrival."

The voice is the manifestation of a person's true being; in all its wonder and debauchery. It is not by reciprocity that one's existence is determined, but the simple act of honest articulation or intentional sublimation that the self is defined.

When one puts himself on the line for all to scrutinise, the voice departs from the symbolic mouth, and it is more this than the arrival of interpretation through judgement which gestates meaning into the essence of who he is.

However, the voice sometimes is empty and deceptive, because it is superficial, and that hollowness is a departure from the real intentions, dreams, aspirations and desires the self embodies; marred by the farce of frivolous expression, rather than an arrival of being through the truth of abstinence - where words do not sully the sanctity of the self, and silence preserves it.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Tue, 15 May 2007 16:49:55 GMT

Score!

Before I ramble on about the inanities of this year's All Asian Inter-varsity Debating Championships 2007, let me proudly announce that SAID A, the team comprising Anthony, Hewlens and myself, broke 2nd with a win-loss record of 7-1! Smashing!

However, because we were considered a composite team (members comprised not from same tertiary insitution) and therefore not eligible to compete in the elimination rounds, we couldn't give the other participants a run for their money in that part of the competition. We did receive special mention at the awards ceremony for our achievement though, which was quite an honour.

So many unforgettable incidents happened during the nine days that we were in the Gyeonggi English Village, Paju, South Korea. Hilarious exchanges, funny accidents, and crazy conversations. I'm just going to mention some of the buzzwords and catchphrases that's bound to jolt the memories of those involved. No offence whatsoever. ;p

Jatti! Ambience of being ripped off! At least my shit evaporates! Layering for complexity! Bibbyfied! F**kface! What am I talking about...What's the motion? (uttered by an adjudicator during oral).

Plus, the lyrics to The 9 days of Asians, performed by the MMU debaters, courtesy of Kandahar!

On the ___ day of Asians, Korea gave to me:

1- A Totally Insufficient Towel
2- Break Announcements
3- Breaking Teams
4- DCA's
5- E-lim Rounds
6- Kinds of Kimchi
7- Hundred SOJU's
8- Million Children ..."Hello! Signature Please"
9- Days in ENGLAND

Oh, something that caught my attention - the Korean tourism tagline, which reads, "Sparkling Korea". Hm, bottled from the mountain springs of France perhaps? :p

Anyway, this was really a terrific tournament, enjoyed with the best team-mates ever! Hewlens and Anthony, both of you were awesome!

Next stop, Australs. :)

Send me snapshots if you have any I could add to this collection. Will upload more of my own soon.

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Sat, 05 May 2007 15:49:41 GMT

Seoul long!

Leaving in a matter of hours for South Korea, where this year's All Asian Intervarsity Debating Championships 2007 will be held. Flying Singapore Airlines this time. I might well be the notorious passenger that has to be forcibly ejected because of my reluctance to disembark. ;) So anyway, to the DMZ and beyond!

When I return, things will be different.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 12:33:27 GMT

Catalyst for consciousness

How to jump-start a feline.

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 18:17:02 GMT

"Close"

Choose an interpretation.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 05:11:05 GMT

Take cover!

When words don't do my thoughts justice, which presently seems to be the case as I plough through the drudgery that is my project report, and I grow increasingly incensed, I resort to allowing myself and innocent bystanders to be shot. On occasion, small animals as well. The pictorial evidence:-

SAID Sparring session with TPJC and Kyushu University Debaters

The best friend

My favourite paperweight

Sashimi where it belongs - in the fridge

Long overdue - World Universities Debating Championships 2007 General Assembly

Before the Grand Final

Battle of bad hairstyles ;)

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Sat, 17 Mar 2007 07:31:51 GMT

Bludgeoned by the funny bone

the Prankster
(42% dark, 26% spontaneous, 26% vulgar)

your humor style:
CLEAN | COMPLEX | LIGHT

Your humor has an intellectual, even conceptual slant to it. You're not pretentious, but you're not into what some would call 'low humor' either. You'll laugh at a good dirty joke, but you definitely prefer something clever to something moist.

You probably like well-thought-out pranks and/or spoofs and it's highly likely you've tried one of these things yourself. In a lot of ways, yours is the most entertaining type of humor because it's smart without being mean-spirited.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Conan O'Brian - Ashton Kutcher

The 3-Variable Funny Test!
- it rules -

If you're interested, try my best friend's best test: The Genghis Khan Genetic Fitness Masterpiece

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 99% on darkness

You scored higher than 99% on spontaneity

You scored higher than 99% on vulgarity

Link: The 3 Variable Funny Testwritten by jason_batemanon OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 17:18:06 GMT

The invisible

I look ahead

But I see nothing

The mist of uncertainty lies heavily over the path

Far ahead I hear someone calling out my name

An uncertain voice from an uncertain place

I'm still here

Travelling with all the others afraid of going their own ways

But I can't defy the voice

I can't close my eyes, smile, and stay like the others

I have to go

I must sneak away in the night

Alone

Unobserved

Without farewell

- Translated poem featured in Swedish film, Den Osynlige