Larkin Step
"NURSING a fractured knee, Ng Ling Kai picked up her guitar out of boredom and recorded an original song using the camera on her Apple MacBook. She posted it on YouTube.
Three months and thousands of YouTube views later, independent Australian record label Lempicka Records came knocking."
- The Straits Times
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Lifestyle/Story/STIStory_513230.html
It is kind of another miracle made possible by YOUTUBE. In recent years, there has been so many people becoming famous over YOUTUBE and so many stories of people's lives changed with YOUTUBE connections. I think YOUTUBE should get a prize for that, for creating a new way in which people can interact, showcase themselves in an otherwise restraining environment, and even a new route to building a career.
It's not just YOUTUBE, social media like facebook has also changed our lives. But besides being a passive user, can we be also actively tapping on the opportunities that these new media provides? It would be foolish to try to pretend that we are still in a society the way it was before these media arises. It is the phenotype of the society now, these YOUTUBE and Facebook things.
The idea is, other than surfing YOUTUBE for fun and Facebooking to catch up with our friends, these media also provides additional routes in which we can utilise in reaching our goals. Do not underestimate what these can do. Like Ling Kai's story is just the perfect example.
My lesson here is really, do what I want and enjoy doing and keep doing it :) And believe that if I really do try and wish for that, and not another 100 things at the same time, then there is no way that it cannot be done. This is something Bioengineering Day 2010 taught me as well. Do not give up and think about if I have utilised all the resources I can use in order to reach my goal.
A story from << 水煮三国>> by 成君忆: A man asked a little boy " what's wrong, you look really upset". The little boy told the man that he is desperate to get a piece of huge rock out of the way, but even though he was all the energy he has and even tried the lever method, he still failed. The boy said " I have done all that I can." However, the man smiled and said, " No dear, you have not used all you can." and jumped into pit to remove the piece of rock easily.
When I think that I have reached my limit or that a task is really hard to accomplish, before I stop, consider if I have used all that I can get my hands on to help me. And even if I know that I can do something myself, think of all the possible ways in which the same result can be achieve and decide what would be the best method. We sometimes have resources that we do not see and thus give up too easily, YOUTUBE and Facebook etc can be the new resources that have arised that we can learn to tap on. I guess that the end of the day, this might be want people refer to as an eye for opportunity or business acumen.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" - Mathew 7:7
Blood of Thai Protesters
It just struck me this morning, as I spooned cereal and sipped coffee, the irony of things. Look at the banner on the top of the page: Help save lives, be a blood donor. And that article below: Thai protesters throwing gallons of blood at their PM to request for elections.
Take this 2 ways man. The more caustic ones among us might laugh, them being almost a perfect match: the banner a fantastic propagation of the red shirt message. While really, on the more empathetic side, think about the gallons of blood draw and thrown at people's doorsteps and what those fluid could have done for the needy out there. How many lives would we have saved?
The interesting is, the power of ideology; that can drive people to behave in a certain way otherwise so hard for us. The more interesting is, when such ideology can be even more powerful then all the sweet care-for-your-fellow-man cries out there.
I was at a conference by Institute of Civil Engineers last Thursday and one topic of discussion we had then was why certain infrastructure are well maintained in Africa and some not? I was shown a photo of a church made of straws and clay walls, and nevertheless, one of the crème of the top architecture given the local situation. Surprise surprise, it was even constructed by the local people using their own hands and own money. Given that the families are surviving way below the global poverty line, it is an amazing effort.
This is not about the church, nor about supporting ideology. But it indeed shows how much power ideology can have, and the significant role it can play in directing the actions of people.
Anyhow, coming back to the bloody issue, my heart goes out to the lives, those blood shed at politicians' doorsteps could have saved.
A piece of my dark cloud
I am feeling very despondent all of a sudden, and very lost about what is becoming of me. I don’t feel the drive to work hard towards a goal. Or do i have a goal? I have made so many bad choices. In fact, all the choices I have ever made were bad. I thought that I would bring them a better life, but I have realized now what I have done are all in vain. Yet, I am already on a path of no return, on the way of which I might have screwed up my chance of going for what I really want, and my happiness. It feels like a dream, that I am doing everything in a routine and sleep-walking manner. I feel out of control, and can find no way back to where I want myself to be. I like to keep myself busy, so that I feel useful, satisfied and achieved. But where am I heading exactly, hiding away from the sorrow that I can’t even afford to show. Now I know I must put all these losses aside, because he is not one of high self-esteem and he is not one who can put away all his troubles to sleep soundly at night. I must smile, be satisfied, and be happy. It is all that I can do for him now. He’s willing to and has already made so much sacrifice for me, so he shall not see the sorrow. If it must be an illusion for us all, let it be. Let those who should not be hurt be protected from harm.
Sentosa
Went to Sentosa for technical run for Sojourn today, and guess what, i met a hwa chongian!
Sorry that i have forgotten his name :p ops. but i recognised him immediately. Ming Seng's vball teammate ^^ (haha, a bit paiseh to own up sia, but i ll definitely remember if i find out again)
What a coincidence that he missed his vball kbox session today and came to sentosa with his army friends, and therefore we managed to meet each other. Thanks for inviting me to play vball with you, talking about the past as we go along ^^ it really brought back nostalgic and fond memories of time in HC. And i am really glad that my vball skill is not totally gone after such a long time of negligence.
Sojourn technical run went quickly, with me spending most of the time outside sentosa, getting food for everyone. Though everything went quite smoothly, i really need to learn to look out for other's feelings and be more sensitive towards my surrounding.
Quite happy today, as i managed to talk with a few friends about a variety of things that we resonant in. It is so nice to find people who understand in this lonely world.
Of Hard Work and Sweat
Ke Ming clinched a GOLD in the national wushu competition yesterday! Kudos!
On our way to Toa Payoh Sports Complex, he told me that he really wanted to win. Since the night before the competition, he had been going through what was going to happen in his mind again and again, feeling the adrenaline rush as he gets himself really for THE DAY.
From this, i understood how significant this competition is to him and that he has put his heart into preparing for the competition. He reminded me of the days when i was going for oratorical competitions - the anticipantion, the anxiety and the nervousness. It was really a fantastic experience on hindsight, but not so when i was in the midst of everything.
But really, having such determination and consistancy in going through the routine again and again, physically or in his mind is yet another thing to compliment. I can still remember those nights earlier this year, just before my year-end exams, when i had to really force myself to stay focused as my mind wondered all over the place. It was not easy.
After the prizing giving, i met him again just outside the stadium. Ke Ming casually mentioned that he competed in ba ji 2 years ago and lost. Since then, he has always wanted to win it someday.
This gave me a subtle yet impactful shock. Firstly, because i never knew that he has been working hard for this for such a long time. Secondly, because i am ashamed for thinking that one may get to the top of the stand so easily at all. I am so glad therefore that his has achieved his target after 2 years of hardwork. It was great inspiration to me that evening, and i know now that when i am aiming for something, i've got to sweat for it.
This is really application to research work as well, now that i am in for the job. Nothing comes easily and really, as we always say in those days when we were training in hc, pain is good! No pain, no gain. Then again, it is not only about tolerating that pain for the moment, but to be consistent and perservere in whatever we do on the route to achieving something great!
National Day Holiday
Hoped to settle my schengen visa today, but was lacking insurance and photocopy of my re-entry permit. Hence i ll have to go back again :( but the nice lady at the counter has offered to help me try for a 1 year schengen. Awesome!!
So i got myself covered in the afternoon. Asked for direction from this guy who turns out to be a AIG inssurance agent himself. Lol. It's his lucky day - got a contract without having to explain a thing. But since i have to spend the money, it's oki lah, just let him have his way. But guess in the future i should be more cautious about such stuff.
It's kind of mang3 zhuang4 that I just wacked the AIG building and France Embassy without really knowing where they are. Thanks to mum and lionel who acted as my GPA, i managed to find my way around. While next time i should really be more prepared, this trip has allowed me to discover parts of singapore that i have never seen before and thus i am thankful. I just love adventures!
In the afternoon, there was both anticipantion, waiting and disappointment, and followed by a 'good' rest on MRT (i over shot douby ghout and went all the way to seng kang...lol, now i have really master ting sheng's sleeping on mrt skill :P)
Late evening, met up with Lionel to discuss about HC induction which is followed by the HCUK alumni meeting. We went to this place called miss clarity's cafe or something. It was western food! This plus the Long john silvers i had yesterday proudly made my frequency of eating western food here higher than in UK! But the food was good tonight i must say, though my squid ink rissoto is kinda too buttery that the fragrance of the squid ink is kinda overwhelmed. Xuan You's old macdonald's farm set was a hit though, a full PILE of stuff. Gosh, can't imagine myself having that.
More events coming up for HCUK alumni. Look out freshers! In addition to Singsoc, i can look forward to an exciting and busy time ahead. lol. But guess this is how I managed to jam my attention with 'business' and lead me to where I am now.
If only time could turn back on itself....
Suddenly remembered that this is a nice song... it lingers in my mind today...
《一次幸福的机会》
在那么有限的生命中
能被所爱的人深深爱过
或许不该再奢求再怨什么
世上的遗憾本来就很多
在艰难的说了再见后
你真的不该再紧紧抱我
刚才还能体谅的放开你的手
不代表我就够坚强洒脱
我们曾有过一次幸福的机会
当玫瑰和诺言还没枯萎
别说抱歉 我不后悔
曾经逆风和你一起飞
我们曾有过一次幸福的机会
似乎就要拥有 爱的完美
你说别哭 我说不哭
然后我们都流下了眼泪
Wushu Outting
Today was a fantastic outting. Despite a seemingly depressing start where we were welcomed by a super heavy rain, we still managed to played captain's ball and ultimate frisbee at west coast park as we had planned. During the game, we saw wushu training being practiced too, esp by hao ran who keeps on going into yi zhi ma :P And the fun was followed by bowling, dinner, pool and arcade - a really jam-packed day. After 1 year, i seem to have lost touch with pool and bowling. But this is topped by my xin sheng bu ning.
The company was great. Finally saw the familiar faces who went through those days on the red carpet with me. Actually it felt like none of them have changed much. But argg, i have forgotten to bring the stuff i bought over for them from UK. Gosh, wonder when i ll get to see them again. For Bryan, it is quite obvious we wouldn't get a chance to meet up again until, perhaps, next year.
Whether i have intended it to be this way or not, i realise that wushu has become an integrated part of my life. I am so happy and thankful for having this batch of friends, whose enthusiasum brought me into the sport and whose company kept me going in times when i really felt like giving up. You were my headache, my sorrow, my fun, my laughter, my support... and much more.
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never felt this way before, something's weighted in my heart. so strange...hum...weird?
