The Day I Got My Results

Yup, you read correctly. Today my results for the final semester was published in the portal.

I actually didn't expect it to be out today, although according to the calendar it would, because just a few days back I received an email from a lecturer posting our tentative assignment marks. I was thinking, considering our assignment marks hasn't been approved by some authority, then the exam results shouldn't be either. But, obviously I was wrong.

All American Rejects concert. 

I played badminton today, and I realized I actually improved a little compared to Wednesday! I can actually reach for more shots, especially dropshots, and my legs aren't sore (they were sore yesterday and today- imagine that!). But this tells me one thing: I need to exercise. I have not played badminton in weeks, and this week I've played twice. Maybe I should start jogging or running or something, just to maintain my stamina. Even now I'm feeling tired.

But as we were heading home from badminton, I checked my phone to see that I had received a text from a friend with 3 simple words: results are out. And I got really nervous. But it turned out okay. I didn't have to be nervous after all. In fact, I'm actually very happy with my results.

I also read on Galaxie's blog that Will Ferrell is this year's most overpaid Hollywood star. And if Land of the Lost is one of his better movies I agree. I remember nearly falling asleep while watching it in a friend's house and in the end we stopped it and went to bed. Sometimes he is just not funny at all even though he tries to be.

My mum also told me something interesting one day. She said that she read that in a study conducted, it was found that people with longer ring fingers are better at maths and science subjects, and whereas people with longer ring fingers are better at arts, humanities, social sciences, etc. It sounded really interesting to me, but I can't tell for sure whether it's true or not, although I have longer index fingers and am studying communication. 

Here's something I suddenly thought of that's unrelated to everything I've written so far. I know that Heath Ledger is dead and his last role as the Joker was really good and he received a prestigious award (Oscar, if I remember correctly). I also know that The Dark Knight is a movie that almost everyone will say is good. Yet the awful truth that will shock people is:

I have not watched it yet. 

Another Surprise!

A member of our gang, Yixian, turned 18 on November 16.

So when we remembered that it was only a week away, we hurried into preparations for yet another surprise.

Peng Han asked his college mates when they're celebrating for him, and when we found out it was on his actual birthday, what did we do? We made adjustments to celebrate it on Tuesday, a day later, instead. How generous of us. But anyway most of us are only free on Tuesday.

Our plan? Prepare items for a BBQ, go to his house when he's out, hide in his room and when he returns, "SURPRISE!". His mum was also so kind, allowing us to have the BBQ and even providing drinks and spaghetti.

Birthday boy with the birthday cake. 

 

Wrinkled sausages

 

But due to unforeseen circumstances, we made do with surprising him while he's in his room using the computer, doing who knows what. But we made too much noise and he heard us. The good news is that he didn't know we were celebrating with him (I think!).

Birthday boy, posing this time.

 

So it was back to the good old times when we just fooled around making fun of ourselves and laughing at each others' antics, which included dancing, an imitation of peeing and teasing each other with friendly insults. I think we all just basked in each others' company because we only go crazy when we're together. Really, we do! Normally most of us are more reserved, but that changes when we see each other. Add a meal, some drinks and privacy, and the roof is blown away. 

There was even a moment when a couple of us danced to the infamous chicken dance of our school, made popular by some senior prefects. Other priceless moments will only stay in our heads.

 Group picture! Yi Xian, Peng Han, Shaung, Yong Bin, Steven, Arif, Iman, Yi Lin, Yuet Yin, Jia Wei and myself.

At the end with all of us stuffed with food, we had to take a walk around the neighbourhood, waving at cars passing by (one even stopped, good thing it wasn't a bunch of gangsters!), looking at the homes of some of our high school teachers.

And then we packed up and called it a night.

Achieving

Back in high school, I remember how many teachers encouraged their students to participate in all sorts of things and get a certificate. Especially in Form 5, many students join different clubs and societies in order to get enough points to get an A for co-curricular activities.

But now that I look back, what was the point of all those things?

I had joined a multimedia class in the school holidays one year, and we were taught video editing, photo editing, web design, etc. Of course at the end of it all we were given a cert, but I realized that I have lost those skills I learnt. So while I have a certificate to show me knowing how to do those stuff, it is fake, for I don't know how to.

Last year I also joined a host of competitions. Chemistry, Maths, English, Bible Knowledge (although I'm not a Christian). Just to get a certificate. Thinking back, I was really brainwashed.

But then again, achieving isn't a bad thing either. It helps a person set goals in life. Achieving something, no matter how insignificant, still makes a person feel better. It is a nice feeling, after all, to achieve something.

Tomorrow will be the start of another week, and I hope to achieve something- making full use of my spare time. 

Friday the 13th

This time last week, I had completed my finals. It has been, officially, one week.

Today is Friday the 13th. I don't know why is it supposed to be bad luck day. Nothing unwanted happened to me today as of now, except that the plan to watch 2012 today didn't work out.

My typical day now includes me going online for quite a few hours, watching the TV, especially if there's a nice movie, and also ripping DVDs into my computer.

That class picture was taken after our last paper. Wasn't the whole class, but was most of us anyway. We went to this Bali-ish garden located between 2 blocks. It was funny because I had never been there before. I just never went exploring. It was always really hot when we are out, anyway.

Ahh. That picture shows more of the garden. That's a picture of the Shamalamadingdongs. Yeah, it's a mouthful. Shama Lama Ding Dong's the group name. Somehow over the course of making videos we named ourselves. All the groups did, and ours was, well, Shamalamadingdong. But it wasn't the 6 of us all the time, it's just that every time a video is produced in the name of Shamalamadingdong, it would constitute some of the 6 of us.

But that's not all the pictures we took that day. A LOT of pictures were taken in the 4 hour break in between exams. We were so bored, and it so happened that some classmates brought MacBooks with very fascinating webcam effects. Hence, we couldn't resist experimenting. Here's one example.

Holidays: First Week

College holidays have just started and I'm already making myself busy. This week alone I've watched two movies already- The Time Traveller's Wife and Jennifer's Body.

Time Traveller's Wife was better than I expected; it was a romance film but was well written I suppose.

As for Jennifer's Body, I'm a little confused. It doesn't seem like a horror flick, neither does it look like a comedy. And until now one part is still keeping me wondering. How exactly does Amanda Seyfried's character know when Jennifer is on an eating spree?I think that at the end of the day, it's just a movie in which some people are trying to make money by using Megan Fox's current popularity.

That's another thing I've realized- This year I'm really looking at movies from a different point of view. I'm beginning to be more "media literate", although most of the time I'm still watching them for pure entertainment.

I also went back to my high school this week. It was nice seeing the teachers again and not being scolded for missing classes or listening to them talking about how important our SPM is, or what route we should take in college. It was really, really nice as those teachers are now so nice, asking us how we are. As for those that were nice to us, they just became nicer. Unfortunately, one teacher I was hoping to see couldn't be seen.

But this week was 'productive', at least, for me. 

Things I Found

Last week I found my scout jamboree's activity book and card. The book was what you'd expect- speeches, camp information, schedule, etc. The card however, was a different thing. It was a list of activities that we can perform, and upon completion they will stamp the card. Get 20 stamps and you qualify for a badge.

I was never active in scouts. I had only joined for the points, and had even quit at one point. But having been brainwashed by the administration that having co-curriculum marks would be important in the future I gave it another try.

Obviously at the beginning I was hopeless. And then the opportunity to join the jamboree came up (that was in 2006), so I took it.

It wasn't easy for me, living in a jungle for 8 days. I craved city life, city food, and my own bed. But what can I do? Nothing. So I had to suck it up and wait hopefully for the day I leave.

But thinking back, it wasn't that bad. It was really hilarious even, at times. And it gave me a lot of experience, too.

One particular incident that I remember clearly was when I injured my ankle. I was running to complete an activity, and somehow I slipped. When I got back, I realized that my ankle was swollen a little, so I asked to be allowed to stay back at camp. While the others continued their 'quest', I went to the army tent to seek medication. By nighttime I can even feel how swollen it was. I was really down, because it was the second last day in which we can get the activity stamped, and with that swell I doubted I could.

Surprisingly though, the next day it wasn't that bad. I could walk pretty normally, and so I decided to take a risk. I decided to go for the badge. And how lucky I was! The last day was like... the day of opportunities. Most of the people in charge of the activities gave us a stamp for free. I remember one who gave me 2 if I could sing and dance. I did it, although realizing how stupid I looked because I was desperate for the badge.

And... I completed 20! I was so happy. It was the happiest moment in the duration of the camp for me. I wanted to prove to myself that I can achieve something in scouts, and to the others that I'm tougher than they think. And to be successful was just unimaginable. I was happy happy happy happy.

The second happiest moment was, of course, surviving the whole thing. I think it was 9 days in total. When I came home I smelled (as a result of not bathing, though I did clean my face and brush my teeth daily) and I was really tired.

But it was all well worth it.

The End

Today at 315 pm, I completed my last paper for Foundation in Communication.

After class most of us headed to a nice spot in college to take another group picture. The funny thing's that I've not been to that place, until my last day in college.

As for the exam, originally I had wanted to write what I know was right in the question about abortion instead of writing what he put in his notes. I know that his notes aren't entirely correct because I did a research on abortion for english. But in the end I chickened out. While it pleases me to stand by my principles, the marks matter more to me. And since the lecturer's the only one who will read it, I figured that getting the marks for the question is more important.

But what a year it's been. I realized that I've grown a lot this year. After experiencing so many different things I've truly "opened" my eyes.

It's really a nice feeling, having nothing to commit to. I have no assignments, no exams, no classes.  

Now it's just waiting for the results to arrive and stay at home. I'm looking forward to having freedom. Now I shall not use the Internet so often and instead watch movies on Astro or the cinema. Already I have promised friends to watch 2 movies.

One movie I'm interested in is Salt. It stars Angelina Jolie, and the trailer's really interesting.



Yup, it's in Russian, though I think the actual movie's gonna be in English. Nonetheless it's grabbed my attention. I hope it's gonna be released soon.

Exams, Exams

It has been said that this exam would be the last time I'm required to sit for an exam as when I enter the degree program everything's coursework.

It is also a very important exam, for it will determine whether or not I will be able to go abroad.

 Yet, despite all this, I am still being distracted by so many things. I find myself studying for a little while before something else catches my attention. I remember this was the case when I was a kid, too. I would be distracted by so many things while completing my homework.

At the same time, although I'm studying I find it really hard to absorb much information. Just one year ago while cramming for SPM I had a much easier time. I think I'm just not concentrating enough.

So what's been happening in my life these days? Nothing. Apart from the All American Rejects concert I have not gone anywhere else. I just stayed at home, and tried to study. When I couldn't it means that I've given in to temptation.

Sad, but what can I do. College has softened me in some ways although I was strengthened in other ways.



That's a really funny video! Really smart of that guy. Pays to know your students well, which is something I'm not known for, but I'll save it for another post.

As for the Arnold Schwarzenegger picture, I've Googled it, and he says it's just a coincidence. I have my doubts, though. If you would like to see the entire note without his picture, go here. There's also an article talking about it, and I'm sure that if you're curious you will Google it yourself.

Here Comes November

It really is amazing that it's November already. In a few more days I shall be sitting for my finals and thereby completing my course, although it does not seem as if a year has passed at all.

Yesterday was Halloween. Somehow this is one of the few Western festivities that did not wash over here, although it would be fun to dress up.



That was Ellen DeGeneres playing a Halloween prank on Taylor Swift.



And that's Ellen's 2009 Halloween pranks.

This week was the week when all my classmates got emotional about the course ending and us splitting. There has been posts on Facebook as well as on blogs, and it's a nice thing to know that the class is fond of each other although we've only met in January.

I'm actually looking forward to ending this year, for some reason. There are so many things I want to do, and not having any classes gives me time to do that.

But at the same time, I know that I must not think of next week just yet. For now, I shall have to work hard, study and hope that it pays off.

Amazing Race: Behind the Scenes

Now I've always wondered what it would be like to be in a TV production, working behind the scenes. It's just so fun knowing how your favourite TV show was made.

After watching an episode of the latest season of The Amazing Race, I decided to do a little research on this. Exactly how is TAR made?

Once the contestants are informed, they will be required to apply for visas to a number of countries. However, to keep things mysterious they will apply for visas to more countries than the ones they will visit. This way they won't know for sure which country will they visit, and which will they not.

At the beginning of the race, you see that they will depart 12 hours from their arrival time. So say if they arrive at a pit stop at 8pm they will depart at 8am. However, sometimes, due to unforeseen circumstances, it will be a 36 hour break, so on TV it still looks like 12.

Pit stop extensions happen for a variety of production-related reasons: extremely bad weather, problems setting up the next leg, Phil being sick, a team lagging several hours behind the rest of the production, and so forth.

Then, sometimes they would head into a designated car. I've always wondered wouldn't it be easier for them to communicate if they sat side by side instead of front and back? Well here's the reason:

Every team is accompanied by a two-man production crew composed of a cameraman and a sound techie. In vehicles, the cameraman always rides "shotgun," and the sound tech sits behind the cameraman. So if they're in a car, the second teammate sits behind the driving teammate. And in a taxi, both teammates are squashed together behind the taxi driver (the better to get both teammates in one shot!).

In addition to these two-man crews, there are also extra camera crews set up at the locations of the race tasks.

But you almost never see these crews on the show, thanks to their own skill, as well as the work of the Amazing Editors.

Oh and in the airports they would head to a counter and ask for 2 tickets. But in actual fact, that scene was reenacted. Teams actually have to buy FOUR tickets- 2 for themselves, and 2 for the production crew. Sometimes they get to fly together with Phil. And during flights if a team is delayed by the crew they will be given time credit.

As for the pit stops, I read that all the clues and pit stops are only placed when the production crew are told of a team's arrival. Once a team had to redo their checking in scene because when they had arrived at the pit stop the team had not.

Cool, eh? You should read this and this.

This Is It!

Michael Jackson's This Is It is coming soon. Or is it here already? I'm not a Michael Jackson fan, so I don't really pay attention to news related to him.

Here's a tutorial by Corey Vidal on how to dance like MJ. His lesson includes the famous moonwalk.



He does point out that it is really hard to replicate the moonwalk exactly as it is as MJ's dance skills are superb.

Knock yourselves out.

The Beginning of the End

The second last week of classes just ended. Next week will be the final week, then it's exams.

But I feel relieved, for I have successfully completed ALL my assignments on time. Today after my presentation, not only did I breathe a sigh of relief that I've completed the presentation and came out fine, but also that I have officially no more deadlines. Now I can just focus on studying for my finals.

After class today a few of us went to Pyramid for a movie. Me, Dixie and Zanardy weren't in the mood so we gave it a skip. Instead we headed to Subway for lunch, and immediately followed it up with dessert at Krispy Kreme. We bought a dozen and shared. I think we had 6 doughnuts untouched.

But it was a nice outing. We managed to talk for a change instead of sitting in the cinema. We talked about our past and the future.

October is already coming to an end, and sadly I've not managed to even start on A Series of Unfortunate Events. Hopefully after the exams with so much time at my disposal I can turn to books and the TV and not use the Internet so often.

Last thing before I end: I find Wipeout a really funny show. Just seeing the contestants' antics on TV and how they fail in obstacles are awfully funny. And guess what? Wipeout Australia is now on AXN (Thursday nights with repeats on Friday evenings if you're wondering).