How the last few days of 2006 went by

Timmy played both my song requests for Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” and “Run” when I actually requested for either one! One of the best Timbre nights I’ve had thus far man…

Anyhow, a bit of backtracking before we come back to today.

Wednesday, 27th.

Met up with Kwa, Wee Seong, and Caleb for dinner, desserts, and drinks (where I drove us to Timbre, my favorite hangout in addition to the fact it was their first time there). With the downpour subsiding and light drizzle taking over, it wasn’t much of a crowd for the popular EIC band which plays there on Wednesdays. Yet, a fair amount of supporters still made their presence.

Over dinner a while earlier, I was once again impressed how small the world is, as well as pleasantly surprised to know my friend’s new girlfriend is actually the sister of a UCC usher I know! My friend initially declined to spoon-feed me with the answer (her name that is) unless I guessed the sister’s name, though he mentioned both the girls do know me. After a the short but agonizing distress he put me through, he finally dropped a hint which let me guess his girlfriend’s sister’s name. Right on!

Thursday, 28th.

The disappointing weather, coupled with a last minute call to visit my (maternal) grandmother in hospital prompted me to abandon the supposed Team C outing to JB (well, the possible flooding and dreary weather all day long was an extra deterrence). In the end, I followed Dad all around to run some errands before heading back home (for a change of decent clothes) and out again to meet a friend who’s having trouble with matters of the heart.

Details aside, we wrapped up dinner at TCC in CitiLink with a last minute decision to watch the movie, Borat. With no idea nor background in what the plot was about, I took up her advice and challenged myself to the wicked humour she promised. True enough, the movie delivered one of the best (though sickly) “mockumentaries” of all times. The accent, [swimming] costumes, surrealistic American people he meets along his adventure and stomach-hurting-brain-infusing scenes of “bodily encounters” made it all but boring. I was led to believing this was reality TV for a good half of the movie!

Oh if I haven’t mentioned that this film is rated R21, don’t be surprised. Go find out why there’s so “much” nudity and vulgarities involved, though the latter was so much less impressive compared to the former. Oh, and don’t forget to bring a date who will laugh their toes off with you, if not, the audience should suffice.

Friday, 29th.

A million and one thanks to Luyi for her lunch treat at BakerzInn at Paragon! Been so long since I last saw her that she made a bit of Jap cheesecake for me, on top of wanting to treat me for no valid reason! I guess it was only gentleman-ly of me not to insist, since I haven’t earned my first paycheck as a working adult yet. Heh. Don’t worry girl, you’ll be fine, and you’re definitely not stuck at where you are. Moreover, don’t fall into the same trap like I did, of sacrificing everything/everyone without gaining anything in return, but that’s what a Murphy’s advocate deserves. You know what I’m bull-sh*tt*ng about.

Met Mak for coffee later at Borders’ Bistro, where we caught up a bit on our lives, with more of the meeting being that of his business idea and sales pitch to get me interested. I later had to rush off towards Cineleisure for my Indoor Stadium (SIS) year-end gathering by evening time. What made this one special was that Raymond and his team booked a theatre and preview lounge for about a hundred part-timers (including all ushers, security and groundsmen) for the newly released “Night of the Museum” and buffet reception thereafter. It was the one time we ever felt treated like VIPs inside the preview lounge (at level 6). Hopefully I’ll get a chance next time to throw a party there and all my blog-ders will be on the invite list.

Everything after the movie/reception was impromptu, and after much debating, I decided not to join the clique to K-box since I can’t sing, won’t sing, and will never sing in public. Since I was also not prepared to wait for some of them to finish K-boxing before chilling at St. James Powerhouse, I randomly suggested to JK, KS and QQ of my fav hangout, Timbre. Especially since I knew Timmy was playing tonight.

Off we went!

And boy did I have no regrets! Other than the 20minute waiting time before we finally got ushered to a table right beside the stage, everything from the weather and company, to the happy hour and that new bespectacled waitress was perfect. Well, and the band Timmy too lah. Least expected of all, when I wrote a tiny slip of paper requesting for Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” / “Run”, Timmy actually played them both, before transiting seamlessly into U2’s “With or without you”. See the video below (courtesy of Keesiu)!



Pity Beat and Na weren’t there to witness it. Murphy’s Law I tell you.

Hair’s dry now, bed’s calling, and work beckons tomorrow. Till 2007, enjoy the remaining days of Christmas (Christmas has 12 days remember?) and happy splurging at all the post-Christmas-pre-New-Year-End-of-Season Sales in 2006!

See you girls and guys soon!

Oh yes, don't forget to check out Keesiu's blog on the SIS gathering and Timbre where she has uploaded pics and vids...she's definately done a better job than I have with all the appealing visual displays. Thanks!

Charlotte's Web

After watching the free Lunchbox @ Esplanade (where this Jazz singer Dawn Ho) was performing several Christmas melodies, and where I met KC again, an impromptu decision of catching a movie to while away the afternoon was made and between Charlotte's Web and Curse of the Golden Flower. Instead of waiting another hour for the latter, we decided to go ahead with the Charlotte's Web and capitalise on the tertiary discount at the Cathay, $6 per ticket before 5pm (though we later found out lasts till 28 Dec only).

Anyhow, the movie per se. The short review goes like this...

The classic story of loyalty, trust, and sacrifice comes to life in this live-action adaptation. Fern (Dakota Fanning) is one of only two living beings who sees that Wilbur is a special animal as she raises him, the runt of the litter, into a terrific and radiant pig. As Wilbur moves into a new barn, he begins a second profound friendship with the most unlikely of creatures – a spider named Charlotte – and their bond inspires the animals around them to come together as a family.

Having studied the literature text back in Secondary 2, it comes as no surprise I knew the plot and ending already. But watching words manifest on the big screen seems more gratifying, plus the fact I was constantly trying to recall what happened in the literature text. For one thing, I couldn't even remember the words Charlotte wrote on her web!

In addition, I didn't know who were the actors behind the voices, until the ending credits, and was joyfully surprised Julia Roberts actually lent her voice to Charlotte! And even more surprised Oprah Winfrey lent hers to one of the animals in Zuckerman's Farm too!

For 100 minutes, I'd give it 3 out of 5 popcorns. For the apt cast and special effects (and whatever else they used to train the animals to move/talk with surrealism), I'd add in another popcorn. For Dakota Fanning and her bright future that lays ahead, I'd give her full marks.

Check out the official movie website here.

Merry Christmas!

Have a Blessed Christmas Everyone!

It's the eve of Christmas!

I took this off JJ's blog, figured it was worth considering as a Christmas gift this year. Heh.

It's the eve of Christmas!

I took this off JJ's blog, figured it was worth considering as a Christmas gift this year. Heh.

In the spirit of Christmas

The trouble with my FYP

To save myself the trouble of explaining the whole frustration and dilemma I'm facing with my FYP, I write this to answer my dear friends (and cousin) who wish to show concern for my lack of faith.

So the FYP story goes like this...

Based on the last time I talked about the general scope of my FYP, fast-forward the time to present, where I've undergone numerous re-designs with my Solidworks (this 3-D design software) that isn't crucial to the purpose of the FYP yet essential to me creating a tribometer in 3-D space for fabrication purposes.

By the way, Tribology is a term used to describe the study of wear with reference to hard discs. And a tribometer would be as you guessed, some crap machine that helps in measuring stuff to give you the data.

So because of the group ME3102 robot shooter design project and the exam preparations last month, I hadn't exactly pushed forward for my FYP until recently, when the meetings with the particular MNC re-started. My prof, unfortunately, hasn't been very helpful, though seniors have reported him to give his students a lot of freedom (which translates to self-discipline and personal responsibility). I can't exactly say he's "bo chup", since he always wants to meet me (when I really have no updates to present except for the minor re-designs here and there, and the efforts in obtaining part quotations from companies).

The problem I face, is essentially red tape. When discussions between NUS (as represented by my prof) and the particular MNC happen, the people at "the top" have idealistic goals which I can fathom, but cannot accomplish by myself. Yet, when they offer help, they often come in words and I'm left to run about like a headless chicken, sourcing for part quotations and the like.

The big problem, which you can foresee next, is that of money.

Talk is cheap, but when we talk about who will pay for the parts and workmanship, it seems like an eternal battle for shirking responsiblity in a diplomatic manner.

(At a closed door meeting in NUS)

NUS Prof: "Don't worry about budget, if XXX wants this, they will pay for it, after all, what's a few thousand dollars compared to the billions they earn?"

(In XXX when I went to find the representative one day without our bosses present)

XXX representative: "The purpose of such industrial collaboration is to provide you as a student whatever technical/industrial help you need so you can see how things actually work. We want these tests but you have to think of the way in which you can conduct them. If you need parts which you cannot manufacture yourself or in NUS like motors and stuff, we can buy them for you, but if you don't use it subsequently, you have to answer for the money spent. But we're not here to scare you......"

So...here I am, this 19th Day in December, with nothing except a empty camera humidty box waiting for me in my lab. I just sent my drawings for fabrication, approved by the NUS lab tech, but requiring at least a month to complete due to the long job queues of other FYP students. I've asked one company to for a quotation on the motors, but I have to confirm with XXX if a brushless DC motor or a stepping motor would be more suitable.

Either the brushless DC motor or stepping motor would cost about SGD$1000 each. Delivery takes 7 working days, but until I get approval (both in suitability and monetary approval), I can't order it.

Then there's Data Acquisition (DAQ).

In order to record and analyse the raw data the strain gauges will pick up during the tests, I would need a data logger/DAQ device, which I just found out today from the lab tech that it costs around SGD$3000 for the low-end kind. Software should come provided which I will then need to familiarise myself with. And I just emailed the company to request for a quotation.

More time wastage.

And then I will need a PC to capture all the data and analyse them. Question is, who's gonna pay for it/source for it, and where will my workspace be (when both the wear test rooms in the Materials Sci Lab are fully occupied already). I joked and told my lab tech I don't mind setting up shop along the main corridor with all the expensive junk when it arrives.

Oh wait, where's my prof? On off. Till I meet him again on Thursday.

But then again, all he talks about is what he wants me to do, without actually suggesting where I can find stuff, or teaching me concepts/principles. And throughout my 7 semesters, I have had no background in this field of tribology, yet I'm now expected to do more than just Mechanical Engineering? Design that chamber to house the tribometer to operate in minus 20 degrees celcius to 80 degrees celsius, with lowered humidity and pressure, while attempting to design an electronically controlled system to pick up the normal and tangential forces experienced whole the slider/actuator is in contact with the reciprocrating disc (as simulated by the brushless DC motor or stepping motor)?

I don't even know what to write in my interim report or presentation when I haven't even run any tests to obtain results. I sometimes wonder if I was better off doing an FYP where the scope is laid clearly and all you need to do is repeated monotonous testing with existing machines, as opposed to this "opportunity to work with a leading MNC" to start on creating something new.

Wait. Did someone say Christmas was coming? Well it doesn't feel like it. FYP-ing in the day, and ushering at night, I fully comprehend the life of an FYP student. The only good I get out of this seems to be taking my mind of other more important things.

Christmas with Corrinne May

Words can’t express how good Corrinne May was at her one-night only concert at Esplanade. Her crystal-clear pitch-perfect voice held through her 110 minute show, drawing thunderous applause and prompted one encore at the end, which she promptly re-appeared for. Her calm and homely voice not just soothes your soul, it also takes your breath away. I certainly enjoyed every minute of it, but not without the company I had. I think my short review won’t do justice to Corrinne’s amiable personality, after all, which artiste would patiently sign more than 2 hours worth of autographs and grace individual photographs with a queue that stretched as far back where we saw no end? Luckily we waited just 40 minutes before meeting and greeting the talented and humble star we Singaporeans can call our own.



Thanks also to the Esp/UCC ushers who all seemed to be working that night, QQ, Jingkai, KC, Charissa, KC who in one way or another came up to say “Hi”. Apart from them, it seemed as if the whole world was at her concert that night. I met Hanwen and Shufang, Dawn, Shihui, Vincent Lee and Cheryl Chong (both from NUSSU), Azlan and girlfriend (whom he didn’t introduce), other CFA staff like Jean and Melanie, and other familiar faces. Oh and I bet QQ was beaming when assigned to "guard" Corrinne's autograph session.

Thanks to YeeFang who popped by a rare stroke of luck, we found out the NUS Jazz Band was performing at the outdoor amphitheatre for a one-night only gig too. So we got to see Hannah too!

Jack and The Beansprout 2

Meet the cast of Jack and The Beansprout!

Top row, left to right: Jack (played by Sebastian Tan), Wideo Neo (played by Ivan Heng).
2nd row, left to right: Bamboo (played by Celine Rosa Tan), The Golden Hit Harp (played by Karen Tan) and Goose Mang-gat (played by Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit), and the gansters Dai Long and Diu Lian.
3rd row, left to right: Tua Hia/Mynah (played by Gene Sha Rudyn), and Candy Chew/Pigeon (played by Candice de Rozario).

Guess who?

Guess who I played pool with after work last night?

Locate your Christmas trees!

In line with the festive season...let's have some fun!
Guess where these Christmas decos were put up!

Deja Vu

Deja Vu was an incredible movie with what I felt was superb scriptwriting. Here's the chilling song which formed a motif for the beginning and ending part of the movie.

Jack and The Beansprout

Karen Tan's simply amazing and highly talented...especially singing half the time as The Harp.
Ivan Heng played a "beautiful" role as Jack's mother, Widow Neo, too. Was a good privilege for me to volunteer for Wild Rice's long-running production, in Front-of-House (FOH) duties.

Sitex and Timbre

At Sitex last weekend...we were wondering why Singaporeans didn't need to work on a Friday afternoon so much so it was that crowded. Photos that follow were taken candid-ly and showed just what interests us in our hunt for good bargains. I bought a 100GB Maxtor HDD for Vincent for $149 and another 320GB HDD for Keesiu for $148, which Nat and Meng believed were for myself had I not told them. They were so amazed at my pimp-ing skills that they suggested I give up studying. They were also amazed at the bargain I got - when 320GB for $148 averages out to $1 for every 2GB with more memory to spare!

(the LG booth had LG girls atop a platform parading laptops and the such)

Adjacent to the Sitex fair was the Big Boyz Toys exhibition, which we decided wasn't any harm visiting...Other than the pimp-ed up cars, I was so tempted to buy myself a fusball table for $700 and a 7-ft pool table for $1200!

And then I left Meng, Nat and Siyun to walk around Suntec before heading to Timbre to meet Beat and Na for Timmy (again).

Reminiscence

Youtube isn’t helping at a time like this. Addiction’s sinking it slowly. Blame stress.

Then again, with 2 papers and the last one ending later today, what stress am I talking about?

Anyhow, to my Aunt Irene, Uncle Tony, Cousins Tony, Val, Mary Ann and all, if you’re reading this, remember this song 6 years ago in the year 2000 at Grandma’s 80th birthday? I can’t believe I actually “attempted” to choreograph an item for my brothers and I to perform on stage. Technology hadn’t caught up then, so I doubt there were any videos captured of the “Li Brothers” (or “Blackstreet Boys”) doing a remake of this song. Geez…the nostalgia that lingers….

Hoedown

In line with the exams...here's another clip you can take time out to sing-a-long...

Return to innocence

I miss this song. Good to sing-a-long if you need to destress from all that mugging.

Little Shop of Horrors

From one excitement to another, I’ve been enjoying myself tremendously this week (despite the re-design I now have to do with my FYP after meeting my Prof today).

With a couple more days before the Dim Sum Dollies end their extended season of the Little Shop of Horrors on the 22^nd of Nov, I’d say you’d better get your butt moving. I shouldn’t reveal too much, after all, you’ll want to hear it for yourself from the Dollies, who take on a more backseat role this time (hence the reason why the show’s not titled after them, rather, featuring them).

But don’t quote me on that, the leads and supporting cast put on a strong display of musical talent and vocal stamina when they individually and collectively belted out crystal-clear songs wrapped with fantastic emotional expressions almost always. I wanted to agree on Denise Tan’s singing as being the best, but then realized Pam Oei did a remarkable job too.

Of course, with Dave “Electrico” Tan as the lead voiceover for the fearsome man-eating plant, “Audrey2”, the title of best singer had to go to him. I wonder how every one of them maintains their vocal chords in tip-top shape every.single.day.

Oh one more thing, watch out for the special rain effect, real motorbike entry on/off stage and, needless to say, the seemingly seamless puppeteer-ing of the man-eating plant. Mind blowing!

Well, just like Notre Dame de Paris, I got the chance to meet and greet the cast during the autograph session right after the show ended! Armed with my programme book, I got myself all 8 autographs. I got help in smiling for that near-picture-perfect with the Dollies, but let the other cast members slip away after I procrastinated a tad too long. At least I managed to grab hold of producer Tan Kheng Hua, for this prized shot too!

Guys and gals, waste no more time! I got my 4^th row seat tickets by booking them a month ago. You have less than a week left before they end their extended 24-show run, and you really ought to de-stress with this incredible love-horror-thriller-comedy. If you’ve never seen the Dim Sum Dollies in their previous 3 appearances, it’s time you did!

Notre Dame de Paris "Meet the Cast"

Okay okay okay, this is gonna be one of my favourite posts, thanks to Keesiu and QQ for their help in taking priceless pictures today (and other days too)! The excitement we all shared was beyond words, and everytime I look through the pictures, one can't help but grin from ear to ear!

For starters, when Matt Laurent (who plays Quasimodo) happened to pop out into the Premiere area prior to doors-opening one day, Keesiu and gang jumped at the photo opportunity, which saw me rushing down from the North Terrace level to join in the rare shot. On a separate occasion, when I was stationed at the Premiere area on Sunday, and Nadia Bel (who plays the sweetheart Esmeralda) popped out of the backstage area prior to doors-opening, I grabbed hold of Keesiu and her camera and asked Nadia if she minded a photo with us, to which she gladly obliged! Anyway, Nadia was taking a break from the matinee show, leaving her colleague and understudy Chiara (who plays Fleur-de-Lys) to play the part of Esmeralda that afternoon.

It wasn't exactly protocol for us to take pictures during work, especially in uniform, but what the heck!



We thought that was as much a highlight for us thus far....but we weren't expecting what was to come next...

Having worked 8 shows (out of the possible 11 shows for the first season from 3rd Nov - 12 Nov) thus far, the last matinee show before I stopped working so as to get started mugging full-time for my exams saw an unprecedented surprise when we were told there was going to be a "Backstage Tour cum Meet-the-Cast" session (after the matinee show ended) for a couple of RJC students, for which we were given clearance to join in!

How could one possibly say "no" to that?!

So, inside the function room, we arrived late to find the backstage tour already over, but the cast in the midst of interation with the RJC students. From left to right, the 6 characters Fleur-de-Lys, Gringoire, Esmeralda, Phoebus, Frollo, Clopin, and Quasimodo. Close-ups follow thereafter!



After some patient waiting, the Q&A that the cast had with the RJC students ended and everyone went on a "wild" photo-taking-autograph-signing spree with each and everyone of the cast! Makes one really feel young and paparazzi-like again! Heh.

From top to bottom, Left-to-Right:
The understudy Fleur-de-Lys and Cyril Niccolai (who plays Gringoire),
Laurent Ban (who plays Phoebus) and Jerome Collet (who plays Frollo),
and Roddy Julienne (who plays Clopin).
Matt Laurent (who plays Quasimodo),
Chiara di Bari (who plays Esmeralda),
and me asking Chiara for her autograph.




No prizes for guessing my favourite picture here.

Believe me, your heart would melt too if she held you that close. *cough*

I'm gonna miss Notre Dame de Paris when it ends its second season next sunday, 19th November. All the fatigue was worth it!

The true meaning of Effervescence

For all those who haven't witnessed what diet coke and mentos does to you, watch this.

Now that you have been impressed, be blown away with THIS.

Life will never be the same again!

Notre Dame de Paris

If you're going to catch Notre Dame de Paris at the Singapore Indoor Stadium between the 3rd and the 19th November, here's a treat for you. While most people don't see the need to fork out $298 for a show ticket complete with "red-carpet-VIP" package, many still do. Of course, this evening being the Gala Night opening, I believe many of the stars and VIPs that came didn't need to pay. Of course, for most of us, we’re not going to pay $298 for a 2.5hr long musical that’s entirely in French (less for the English and Mandarin subtitles), are we? So here’s a peak of the VIP ushers and what they do when greeting guests for the red-carpet….Enjoy!