Career Transition after life in the Navy

Well, this photo is the current team that I'm working with( sigh, Linda ... the little cutie has posted out since ... ), only one missing from the pic is Kevin.

However, all things, good or bad comes to an end. My Navy's career will end next May (2006), leaving behind all my friends/colleagues in the forces. I do leave with part of my heart heavy, this is because I see the place that once thrive now being reduced to a "not-so-important" unit. For that, I will not say much.

Today, I've just attended a Career Transition seminar organise by NPD, glad that at least now they do care for us! The number and variety of exhibitors booth could be more though. The funny thing is that I nearly wanted (actually I submitted the enrollment form liao) to sign on with the PCG until YewTiong reminded me something ... if I want to sail, I could have well signed on with the Navy with a greated prospect!! Crazy! haha!

Nonetheless, the prospects looks good outside, we get some encouraging talks and it really make me feel a bit excited about things to come in 5 mths time! GO GO GO!!

Paintball session at CrossFire, Singapore Discovery Centre on 23rd Nov 05

Here's a very brief summary of the events and pics taken by Gabriel and Hazel

The guns we used at Crossfire; Singapore Discovery Centre. 

Oh, this is me (with victory sign) and leehan(wearing his sbo bra in foreground), preparing for our paintball game on 23rd Nov05, photograph courteousy from Hazel, had a really good game, some of us had the famous "China Seafood soup" at the hawker centre near my place after the game! Hope to go play again! :) 

Rising anger in Australia over Singapore execution

Quote fr YahooNewsSingapore " Singapore was accused of hypocrisy over the imminent execution of a young Australian drug smuggler, as critics alleged the island state was backing one of the world's biggest heroin traffickers -- Myanmar.
The new line of attack came as anger mounted in Australia over the scheduled December 2 hanging in Singapore's of 25-year-old Nguyen Tuong Van despite repeated pleas for clemency from the Australian government ... "

I am amused, puzzled and a bit pissed over the above reports. First of all; amused over why people still have the rights to get angry over us for this issue. Singapore is a independent country with our own law & regulation; even before plane landed, there are always announcement that carrying drugs is punishable by death; it's not as if we just implemented the new law ... another case of big country trying to exert her influence on a smaller country??

Puzzled .. I am ... should my friend or family member be caught trafficking drugs; well I may help them with my means to plea for leniency, but to be angry??? I tot I will be more ashame?? And the public outcry? And these "Howard has ruled out trade sanctions against Singapore, but added: "The Singaporean government should not imagine that this issue is going unnoticed in Australia." Why should we imagine the issue is going to be unnotice?? The DRUG TRAFFICKER now is a Australian, not a Singaporean ...

Pissed ... Singapore has such a good record for crime rates and now; In a commentary The Australian's editor-at-large Paul Kelly said that while Singapore had the "most intimate ties with Australia of any Asian nation" the execution would "inflict grave damage on its reputation in this country". Because of 1 criminal, our friend accuses us of dealing with DRUG lords in Myanmar!!! I nearly fell off my chair when reading this ... I think whoever accuse Singapore of this is really making a fool of himself in the international scene.

Finally, drugs has claim so many victims; the ill effect of drugs has destroyed so many families, life and future of promising pple ... Nguyen who has suffered povety and as a refugee since young should have known better. Is it justifiable to introduce drugs to others just to pay off the debt of his brother? And is this really a reason to ask for clemency?? Please, before you make an answer, search your heart and soul. I will be deeply disappointed if my government relent on this! Stand up Singapore!

** All post in blue quoted fr: YahooNewsSingapore http://sg.news.yahoo.com/051123/1/3wr29.html

The Arc ... in a vicious cycle

The Arc ... I named this shot. The cropping was modified after comments by my shooting partner, ken. What do u think? ....

Oh, ya, yesterday I finally bought Jay Chou latest ablum, November's Chopin; my friend strongly recommended this .. he tell me all 12 out of the 12 songs are good!! haha! I'm going to judge it for myself, never trust the review from a Fan ... haha! Anyway, the cd I bought is those China version one, cost me $7.90 only as oppose to $19.90 S'pore version! Call me cheapo? At least I dun download right? As to all these piracy and parallel importing, I've only one thing to say, it's a vicious cycle. The distributor/singer/actor always blame consumer who buy pirated goods thus affecting their sales and revenue. But Consumer will always say that all those movies/music/software all priced too expensive, forcing them to seek cheaper alternatives ... What's my point of view ??

Well, both are right, both are wrong ... First, as a consumer, I fully agree that many movies and software are really too expensive! Take movies, tell me, a movie ticket now cost $9.50! Will u pay that amt to watch a substandard show? Especially those lousier production fr HK? At least show like Lord of the Ring or Harry Potter worth the ticket prize, but I can't remember when was the last time I paid to watch HK movie in cinema ... with exception for kungfu hustle and The myth. I think the companies ought to be realistic abt their pricing ... movies, music, software, why not price them cheaper, imagine if MsOffice cost less abt $50 for home edition (Coporate ought to pay more!), who would want to buy pirated? Imagine every household has a copy of original MSoffice; I dun think it will cost MS anything but more profit!!

Yes, u can use the law on pple, what happen? You cause the economic or growth of IT world to slow down ... You force pple to use cheaper/free open-source software. But these sometime cause imcompatibility issues, hindering the gobal trade/business progress! And with more open-source software, software company keep increasing their own price .. killing themselves, killing more consumers! Maybe software leaders/gaming company like microsoft and blizzard should take the lead and sell their products and really affordable price! This will demostrate to the whole world the direction to take!

Paintball at CrossFire, Discovery Centre

Oh, ok, this photo was taken on the 16 Apri 2005. We are at CrossFire Singapore discovery centre; a paintball session! Certainly had a great time then. Why suddenly post this ... well, if all goes well, we are going for there for departmental outing on 23rd Nov!!! That's next wed!! yes!! ...
And well, just to introduce my battlemates ... fr left to right : Frontrow: Bella, Gabriel, Yishan's wife, ME, Kevin. BackRow: Sam, kumar, Simon, Keith, Yishan. Backgnd: Ah bear, Ah tiong, Ayam! hehe!

Searching your heart, searching your soul

Ah, tuesday, what a day I used to look forward to ... because of the great badminton session I had with my 2 bro at JESH. But 1 yr ++ went by, the players get lesser and the enjoyment there gets lesser. Nowadays, if my bros are not going, chances are I will not go ... Why ... many reason can be found if I search my heart and soul.

Today, had a really tired session, and in my 2 yrs experience of playing badminton, it's the first time I had a great fall!!! Lost my footing, landed on my butts! Gosh, knn!! Painful xia!! Perhaps it's Emily Rose punishing me for not believing in her possesion, as I discussed with my bros Wenwei and ken at KFC.

Emily Rose; we all agree it was a good show. Ken ask for our view of the show ... my conclusion is this ... for emily rose the show only ok ... I told him, if Emily wasn't such a devoted Christian, I would have committed 101% she was indeed possessed! Why, I'm wondering if her immense beliefs in God has made her to think this is the sacrifice she should made to "save" the non-believers ... and act of self heroism? Maybe it's also the over-beliefs that cause her to develope mental disorder? I dunno, but then again, the recorded tape of languages proved other wise ... I'm not saying I dun believe her or God, just that we should always try to look at things in another perspective.
Btw, I wanna tell everyone I'm no agnostic hor ... I do believe in presence of gods and satan ... though I am more convinced of the teachings of buddha ... where they preach all religion are for the good of mankind ... if only everyones think likewise; world peace!

Aiya, we are all no saints, but we can always learn to be aware of human weakness and strengths... I do have some philosophies, but dun think will share today. When we are puzzled or frustrated ... maybe it pays to find some quiet place/corner and ... search you heart and soul, maybe you can find peace .... cheers!

Finally, Emily Rose was based on a true story much more convincing, scary and sad ... it can be found here : http://www.fotofetch.com

Hmm, as those who know me will know, other than eat & sleep, I also like to take photos and play badminton. Well, tonite just went to play at Gombak with one of my kakis, tomolo nite and wed nite also playing ... gosh this week going to be strenous with so many session. But bo pian, must play more else scare next time no time play liao ... hmmm, tonite game nothing to shout abt, didn't played well, dunno why leh, like very lethargic. (spelled correctly??)

Ah, well, the lady above is one of my fav badminton player from Japan, Reiko Shiota. Pretty hor! When I took this photo at Aviva S'pore open 05, she was still not a very good player. But she, with her partner, Ogura, just won a grand prix Women's Doubles tittle, I think it was the Danish Open05. They are improving, good, that means we will see more of them!

Desolation

My Bro ken posing for me ... haha! When I ask him to do this, I was trying to get the feeling of desolation, hopeless scenario! I tried with some simple adjustment of contrast/brightness ... some look eerie instead! haha! No choice, poor in editing, should learn more from one of my friend who's good in it!

My debut!

Hi everyone, friends of the world, brothers of the society! Gosh, I'm here with my own blog ... a bit slow maybe, but as they always say, better late then nvr!! haha!!!

This shot was taken in the chapel on 2nd floor of Arts museum. It was a really shiok place, fully air-conditioned! How I wish I have brought along my book to read here!! haha!!  

This is the Singapore Arts Museum!