Though the blade is weak and rusted
it yearns for the whetstone rather than the shealth
perish in it's lust for purpose
be it in anguish or glory
I said I would take full responsibility for removing your collar.
But in what way?
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Rest well Ang Haoming..
Today started with a gloomy heavy storm in the morning. Quite unusual to have such a shower in the morning at this time of the year. Other than that, everything's the usual routine. Wore my raincoat and rode in the horrible weather to work.
Lunch. Went home to cook instant noodles as per a thousand times in the past few years. Somehow while trying to drain the noodles(in the pan in my right hands) with the strainer in my left hand, I actually poured all the cooked noodles straight down the sink. I was totally lost for words. I cannot explain why this can actually happen. It's like something has happened. And something did. After cooking another pack, I notice Angeline smsed me.
Haoming has passed away.
Shocked and sad. Everyone including me always thought that he was recovering slowly at home these few years. We know that it's not by leaps and bounds but at least things were going uphill. I linked his recovery blog and checked on it once in a while but it has not been updated since Aug last year. I thought that the recovery was going fine and there was nothing to report about so his sis stopped posting. Everyone was too busy with their lives trying to build up their foundations in society. I myself, was also occupied with my own "recovery". Everyone always thought that there will be one day when we can talk to him again when he recovered.
Michael Chan is in Africa now and Colin in Qatar. The rest of the people worth contacting are ACK, Apryl, Karen, BB and BP. We all agree that this is the best route for Haoming to take. It is a relieve for his family members and himself since the accident almost 4 years ago. It is only 6 more days to his birthday. Looks like he is not fated to pass 29 years of age. Life has been hard on him. Ostracized and ridiculed during his schooling stages. Just when he actually kick started his life and is finally ready to live it up and it all had to end.
Pointless phrase: "if i had known"
If I had known, I would have let him win in soccer, basketball, magic/star wars cards, suan him less, encouraged him more.... Still can recall like a hundred different silly action of his from 15-16 yrs ago. From agreeing to accompany him to stalk down Jiaying's place to him doing his "super saiyan" stance to boost up his basketball prowess... silly things. But it was these silly things that kept many people entertained for long periods of time.
Few would acknowledge the great value of such people in our daily lives.
Let's all hope that you will get a more deserving life the next round. For now, do rest, your tiresome journey is now at an end.
Lunch. Went home to cook instant noodles as per a thousand times in the past few years. Somehow while trying to drain the noodles(in the pan in my right hands) with the strainer in my left hand, I actually poured all the cooked noodles straight down the sink. I was totally lost for words. I cannot explain why this can actually happen. It's like something has happened. And something did. After cooking another pack, I notice Angeline smsed me.
Haoming has passed away.
Shocked and sad. Everyone including me always thought that he was recovering slowly at home these few years. We know that it's not by leaps and bounds but at least things were going uphill. I linked his recovery blog and checked on it once in a while but it has not been updated since Aug last year. I thought that the recovery was going fine and there was nothing to report about so his sis stopped posting. Everyone was too busy with their lives trying to build up their foundations in society. I myself, was also occupied with my own "recovery". Everyone always thought that there will be one day when we can talk to him again when he recovered.
Michael Chan is in Africa now and Colin in Qatar. The rest of the people worth contacting are ACK, Apryl, Karen, BB and BP. We all agree that this is the best route for Haoming to take. It is a relieve for his family members and himself since the accident almost 4 years ago. It is only 6 more days to his birthday. Looks like he is not fated to pass 29 years of age. Life has been hard on him. Ostracized and ridiculed during his schooling stages. Just when he actually kick started his life and is finally ready to live it up and it all had to end.
Pointless phrase: "if i had known"
If I had known, I would have let him win in soccer, basketball, magic/star wars cards, suan him less, encouraged him more.... Still can recall like a hundred different silly action of his from 15-16 yrs ago. From agreeing to accompany him to stalk down Jiaying's place to him doing his "super saiyan" stance to boost up his basketball prowess... silly things. But it was these silly things that kept many people entertained for long periods of time.
Few would acknowledge the great value of such people in our daily lives.
Let's all hope that you will get a more deserving life the next round. For now, do rest, your tiresome journey is now at an end.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
so far so bad for my studies
This week is the start of exam week. Can say it's my least prep exam ever in this course. Somehow dun feel very motivated to work as hard as before. Wasted the long weekend doing what I wanted instead of what I should have. Biomechanics 1 is definitely going to suffer, with a possibility of being my first grade of just credit, Psychology is going to die if the paper dun come out as I have predicted it to be.. and Principles of resistance training will always be tough cos it's set by Prof Newton. So why issit that I lost my sense of urgency? Good question. Gotta analyse that after my exams. It's abit too late for that now. I hope the good results from the mid term can help to buffer abit.
And as usual, tons of activities as well as distractions will always pop up magically during exam weeks. Gotta cancel lots of interesting nature activities but ended up doing other stuff instead of studying... like blogging.. heh...
Just paid for next sem's fees. Another large heart pain but at least it's the final one. Next sem's timetable is also out. No tutorials but all of the lectures on weekends! 5 whole weekends from morning to evening. See beh sians... and not to mention the literature reviews and lab reports that will be marked by the Australia side. It's going to be a tough one! Oh yeah and the 2 weeks trip to Perth for the labs followed by the FINAL exams.
argh. Most of my Acros 100 B&W was ruined cos the focusing screen of the FM2 dropped loose inside the camera and I din know about it. Most of the shots was rendered outta focus.... Fortunately there was digital backup that day at the barrage. Another lesson learn in the usage of camera from the manual era.
Here's a shot that's outta focus but still usable:
And I particularly like this light-hearted shot:
Wasted my time and effort at little India. All the shots was not salvageable.
This is worse than lomo-grade dreamy... but at least got some nice bokeh of light.
Some soft and harsh contrast edits digi pics from the barrage:
Ok, a to do list after June 9th:
1) Plan Njd GL training camp with Marcus
2) Recce trip
3) Carry out that plan
4) Plan out the night activity for main camp
5) Supervise the execution
6) Org night cycling (jio Flo and Andrea too)
7) More badminton if possible
8) Carry out planned physical conditioning
and of cos... shoot more film, maybe use a roll of IR or even Kodachrome film in June! And of cos try to master shooting Joyce's Instax 7! Shot a few recently.. the results are horrendous but fun nonetheless.
All these in just a short few weeks before the craziness starts again in July.
And as usual, tons of activities as well as distractions will always pop up magically during exam weeks. Gotta cancel lots of interesting nature activities but ended up doing other stuff instead of studying... like blogging.. heh...
Just paid for next sem's fees. Another large heart pain but at least it's the final one. Next sem's timetable is also out. No tutorials but all of the lectures on weekends! 5 whole weekends from morning to evening. See beh sians... and not to mention the literature reviews and lab reports that will be marked by the Australia side. It's going to be a tough one! Oh yeah and the 2 weeks trip to Perth for the labs followed by the FINAL exams.
argh. Most of my Acros 100 B&W was ruined cos the focusing screen of the FM2 dropped loose inside the camera and I din know about it. Most of the shots was rendered outta focus.... Fortunately there was digital backup that day at the barrage. Another lesson learn in the usage of camera from the manual era.
Here's a shot that's outta focus but still usable:
And I particularly like this light-hearted shot:
Wasted my time and effort at little India. All the shots was not salvageable.
This is worse than lomo-grade dreamy... but at least got some nice bokeh of light.
Some soft and harsh contrast edits digi pics from the barrage:
Ok, a to do list after June 9th:
1) Plan Njd GL training camp with Marcus
2) Recce trip
3) Carry out that plan
4) Plan out the night activity for main camp
5) Supervise the execution
6) Org night cycling (jio Flo and Andrea too)
7) More badminton if possible
8) Carry out planned physical conditioning
and of cos... shoot more film, maybe use a roll of IR or even Kodachrome film in June! And of cos try to master shooting Joyce's Instax 7! Shot a few recently.. the results are horrendous but fun nonetheless.
All these in just a short few weeks before the craziness starts again in July.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
KARma ENroute
It finally happened.
I stand by our decision to remain silent was the right route.
You wanted the answer. You got it. By experiencing it first hand.
You say that it was a deterioration of character.
I say that it was there all along.
I knew it would surface.
Time was the factor.
You took the exact step I took back then. I understand that backing out was the hardest thing.
I applaud your courage and decisiveness for you have liberated me from the mistake I made so long ago.
You were the last link. Please do not step back in again.
Be steadfast and be wary not to be drawn in by his self-destructive, self-pitying charade.
Just walk away and allow himself to be consumed by the pit he will eventually dig for himself.
And this time I will not be the one to provide the chance for him.
There's reasons for me to be ecstatic... alas the occasion is not totally a joyous nor will it be a lasting one. You are just hoping against hope, for changes that will not occur as has been proven. Your willingness is ever vulnerable to his craftiness.
I know the only method of saving you but it wrenches my heart that I do not have the capability or rights to do so.
The rare window of opportunity is open. Time is running out.
Once again I am forced to sit back and let the decade old history repeat itself one more time.
This time it is even harder to leave my emotion out of the equation.
Therefore if action is to be executed,
the balance of morality will once again be tested.
I stand by our decision to remain silent was the right route.
You wanted the answer. You got it. By experiencing it first hand.
You say that it was a deterioration of character.
I say that it was there all along.
I knew it would surface.
Time was the factor.
You took the exact step I took back then. I understand that backing out was the hardest thing.
I applaud your courage and decisiveness for you have liberated me from the mistake I made so long ago.
You were the last link. Please do not step back in again.
Be steadfast and be wary not to be drawn in by his self-destructive, self-pitying charade.
Just walk away and allow himself to be consumed by the pit he will eventually dig for himself.
And this time I will not be the one to provide the chance for him.
There's reasons for me to be ecstatic... alas the occasion is not totally a joyous nor will it be a lasting one. You are just hoping against hope, for changes that will not occur as has been proven. Your willingness is ever vulnerable to his craftiness.
I know the only method of saving you but it wrenches my heart that I do not have the capability or rights to do so.
The rare window of opportunity is open. Time is running out.
Once again I am forced to sit back and let the decade old history repeat itself one more time.
This time it is even harder to leave my emotion out of the equation.
Therefore if action is to be executed,
the balance of morality will once again be tested.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
May Updates- studies so far+ S90 pics
Knew it was a big mistake to get them from my bro. It’s just a stupid anime series but somehow the cliffhanger endings just entice you to continue on to the next episode until you are nodding off in front of the screen. What’s worse is that now at work I am nodding off in front of the screen too. Ok self imposed ban of anime until I clear all my presentations and exams, which I will be facing wave after wave of them starting this week.
Yesterday just cleared the one on biomechanics. That is one assignment/presentation that can really test your patience. As we have no tutors or lecturer in Singapore, we all five of us in the group are totally clueless how to go about doing it except to follow the limited guidelines in the booklet. Prof Anthony was nice enuf not to ask any questions after the presentation but I suspect mostly it’s due to the fact that he is rushing to make it for his flight back down under.
Even though we made a critical error in the critical features section, I assume we should not score too badly compared to some of the groups. I seriously wonder if some of them even cared about their work. Some groups appeared to be so ill prep. Almost all the groups exceeded the time limit, read off their script card in a monotonous soul less type of way, and quite a bunch did not even bother to dress properly. Prof Anthony was obviously chagrinned by that last point and repeatedly mentioned about it, albeit in a sugar coated kind of way (aussie ang mohs always have this very nice way of berating ppl). Dy***** can actually wear a t-shirt with a gaudy red short with white pokkadots for the presentations. At first I thought I was the only one who find it attention seeking (in a very wrong kind of way) …heheh… but later I found that the 3 sisters in my group also bueh tahan.
And of cos.. the usual treatment for bday boys after the show is over.....marcus's hair already got wasabi treatment a few days before. Now is popcorn follow up. More mayhem was to continue at Carl's Junior after this with dry ice but that's for another time....
Yesterday just cleared the one on biomechanics. That is one assignment/presentation that can really test your patience. As we have no tutors or lecturer in Singapore, we all five of us in the group are totally clueless how to go about doing it except to follow the limited guidelines in the booklet. Prof Anthony was nice enuf not to ask any questions after the presentation but I suspect mostly it’s due to the fact that he is rushing to make it for his flight back down under.
Even though we made a critical error in the critical features section, I assume we should not score too badly compared to some of the groups. I seriously wonder if some of them even cared about their work. Some groups appeared to be so ill prep. Almost all the groups exceeded the time limit, read off their script card in a monotonous soul less type of way, and quite a bunch did not even bother to dress properly. Prof Anthony was obviously chagrinned by that last point and repeatedly mentioned about it, albeit in a sugar coated kind of way (aussie ang mohs always have this very nice way of berating ppl). Dy***** can actually wear a t-shirt with a gaudy red short with white pokkadots for the presentations. At first I thought I was the only one who find it attention seeking (in a very wrong kind of way) …heheh… but later I found that the 3 sisters in my group also bueh tahan.
Speaking of which, it was good fun teaming up with Angeline, Irene and Eunice. Actually this was the 2nd time (1st time is Human Anatomy I presume?) we were in the same project group but it was the first time we actually worked together. The experience changed my perspective of them since the first sem. Somehow I got this affinity with ’88 friends as the past would show. Or perhaps my brain/maturity level is 7 years slow. Yeah, that’s probably it! Hah! So not all is doom and gloom after all ever since the 2-faced betrayal/abandonment earlier this term. Ryan on the other hand repeated his bochup attitude toward the project. Something like what he did to me and Edmund during our teaming up on the Care & Prev of Injury module. This time round I dun feel that annoyed cos the presentation went ok but I don’t think girls felt so forgiving …. Esp during the project peer review.
Coming up next: Psychology presentation this Friday. Followed by Prin Res Train Pract exam next sat and then … the exams….And I think I’m falling sick…. Actually no lah, that was just lazy tok…..
Now waiting for Cat and whoever left of the family in S’pore to go ramen hunting! Think only left Whale since Duck is assumed to be in China and Baby left for Aust to take her anaesthetist exams. Next on the target is Nantsuttei. I dun expect it to beat everyone’s favourite Marutama but please dun let it be Ajisen-level crap.
Sept-Oct will be my turn to go Australia-Perth. It’s unfortunate that my first trip to the country will be a very rushed and assignment packed trip. Already bought the tickets by Tigerairways. Actually wanted to join the Northeasterners and take SIA so that I can get mileage pts (and more leg room) but at twice the price? No way. Overseas notification for NS done, travel insurance done, but still procrastinating on the Aust Visa as well as the accommodations.
Reminder to self: complete one roll of Kodachrome in Aust. Time is running out for the last place on earth that can develop these films. There are 2 other rolls and I refused to shoot them in Singapore if given a choice. The other options are to join Cat in Hokkaido in July and Hsia in Europe in Aug. But limited mileage pts, mileage seats, study schedule and company leave cancelled any hope of those.
My lower extremities got weaker significantly. Can barely do a proper kick anymore and my knee PCL is at it again. The longer this Sports and Exercise Degree drags on, the worse my overall health is gonna be. Irony of the century huh? Hopefully my heel can heal by June so I can do some serious cardio (as well as badminton) when the exams are finally over.
Hmmm. Past regrets are catching up these days. Some from as long as a decade ago. Good for idle introspection but that’s all they are useful for. Well I cannot really call regrets anyway for I would prob still do the same thing again if brought back through time. Yeah… just keep telling yourself that.
So far the S90 my boss helped me to get from Japan has been serving up to expectations with maybe a couple of minor gripes like the super lousy lanyard and short battery life but it's ok, I bought a cheapo 3rd party batt already. Image quality esp in dark conditions have been a dream. Here's a few samples:
Taken using the colour accent function where u can choose a colour (in this case green) and the rest of the pic goes monochrome. Anyway this was taken at a bak kut teh shop somewhere in KL.
Testing out the bokeh. Yep, the out of focus pt lights are pretty pleasant (for a compact).
Here's the in-focus pic. Somehow the saturation shown at the back of the (very nice 3 inch) LCD is much better than after I transferred to PC. The saturation can still be tweaked back in post process but I'm generally lazy. Esp if you got 100+ pics to post pro.
Dynamic range ain't too bad either as can be seen from these evening harsh contrast shots.
performs well in dimly lit indoor conditions too like the one in Ma Maison at The Central.
And a nice product photography by Angeline at Aston Suntec City.
An impressively sharp and relatively noiseless Selegie night street scene taken HANDHELD(!) from Peace Mansion. Wide 2.0 aperture can really be useful! If only it is 28mm instead of 24mm, then it would have been the perfect cam for me.
and.....
Some photos from a couple of weeks back at Marina Barrage/Marina Square with the Njd juniors:
Poor Kenney Kanna bullied again... try to spot him in the pic. My photowhoring skill is ever so incredible... got everyone in on the first try as usual.. heheh... The color on from the Canon S90 looks abit cartoonish over here. Dunno why. From this perspective Jackson said I resemble the Annoying Orange.
They tried to fly kite (yes the real thing, not the nos-how variety) but somehow some genius tore the tails off both the kites which effectively grounded them. Kaisiang's epic "mischeivious bird" mistake should be the joke of the day and will be remembered for some time to come.
Switched the Canon S90 to nostalgic mode to get their fav boyband style group pose pic.
Anyway I noticed we also spent the afternoon at Marina Barrage before we mass watched the first Ip Man around 2 christmas back.
Too bad Joyce cannot be here due to eye infection so it means Karen's got a free treat liao hah! Tong xiang finds it rare to have such a chain of tickets and decided to pose with it!
Ip Man 2 was not bad in the action dept but the whole concept of showcasing humble Chinaman humbling the foreigner is getting old. Nonetheless, the correct group of ppl (it's njd ppl in a martial arts film and tong xiang to entertain me)= very enjoyable! The front row of ppl was so hyped up that when Ip Man finally defeated the "baddie", they clapped their hands... it's very ??? but oh well it adds to the atmosphere!
And of cos.. the usual treatment for bday boys after the show is over.....marcus's hair already got wasabi treatment a few days before. Now is popcorn follow up. More mayhem was to continue at Carl's Junior after this with dry ice but that's for another time....
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
An Explanation & An Advice, beyond 10 years late
Evil propagates when the Good remains a spectator.
At the turn of the Millenium.
I ignored what i suspected to be so. I was not ready so I took the easy way and sat back. The one whom I introduced into the group took away what I self-talked myself into ignoring. We all feared for the worst but did not intervene for it was a choice made from free will from both parties. To reveal the truth will be as effective as flogging a dead horse. For the eyes will always only see what it desires to view. You had the right to know what you were getting into but the other end of the scale outweigh the right. Just ever so slightly. We had to leave everything as it was and I hoped with all my heart that the truth reveals itself very soon or never ever at all... so as to prove me wrong.
A decade went by. I very much accepted the fact that we were wrong, and very much happy to be so.
So why now must tears of disappointment line your eyes? Caused by the very reason, the decade old fear that we have all placed behind us. You wanted self affirmation, but the elements had split, memories faded. I was the only one who could guide you, yet I was also the one who must not speak my biased mind.
Lift your veil & clear your view.
You cannot afford to be soft or simple this time.
Please make the critical step without regrets.
For the regrets will not be yours alone.
At the turn of the Millenium.
I ignored what i suspected to be so. I was not ready so I took the easy way and sat back. The one whom I introduced into the group took away what I self-talked myself into ignoring. We all feared for the worst but did not intervene for it was a choice made from free will from both parties. To reveal the truth will be as effective as flogging a dead horse. For the eyes will always only see what it desires to view. You had the right to know what you were getting into but the other end of the scale outweigh the right. Just ever so slightly. We had to leave everything as it was and I hoped with all my heart that the truth reveals itself very soon or never ever at all... so as to prove me wrong.
A decade went by. I very much accepted the fact that we were wrong, and very much happy to be so.
So why now must tears of disappointment line your eyes? Caused by the very reason, the decade old fear that we have all placed behind us. You wanted self affirmation, but the elements had split, memories faded. I was the only one who could guide you, yet I was also the one who must not speak my biased mind.
Lift your veil & clear your view.
You cannot afford to be soft or simple this time.
Please make the critical step without regrets.
For the regrets will not be yours alone.
Friday, April 02, 2010
20th Mar Wushu Family outing
My blitzkrieg style of jio-ing for a wushu family outing was quite a success a couple of weeks back. Only thing was that Weiquan manage to duck this outing as he was still overseas. China I believe? Everyone seems to be in China nowadays. Met at noon for lunch at our fav ramen restaurant Marutama, the affectionately nicknamed "Basketball Ramen" stall by most Singaporean due to it's rather forgettable Japanese name and the stall emblem which resembles a basketball (that's just squashed a fly).
Baby just got her PR status the day before. Congrats! It's like finally! Very soon can get citizenship liao and can officially buy new public housing. Either that or after get married to JS, Whichever comes first. But she's got other plans... she's looking to buy a condo unit now to hasten the moving out from the AMK flat due to some obnoxious housemate.
Had my Fujifilm compact with me and trying out the Agfa Vista 400 film. Here's camwhoring in the rain! Not bad colours under such flat lighting.
Along the way to find Cat's Jap dessert at Raffles City.. we took tempt shelter at MICA building. Never gone inside before. It's rather nice and quiet on weekends. There's a rather grotesque sculpture in the center as well as a small contemporary art gallery by Chinese artist.
Oops.. bleached baby's face with the flash.
Cat doing her Hi-5 to her more courteous species. Inside MICA, everything is abit more atas. Back in the 80s Singa dun even wear shorts, this current version even got a tux!
I wonder what's so scary about the toilet in MICA.
And Whale FINALLY joined us in the evening after kooning the entire day away! But the wet weather is really very conducive for that no doubt....
.......as we can see here.... Cat rolls up at the esplanade.
another camwhoring session at the rooftop. Wonder why I got that psychotic look... and the more I look at Whale, the more he resembles the guy in the McDonald's Double McSpicy TV commercial that is showing now. Be it in body language or looks! See the video below!
I wonder if he says those things to Emily anot.. BRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr........
And I gotta credit the technique for creating this effect to Ilyana who taught me this with a digital camera inside the Bugis Ritz Apple Strudel store. Works on film too apparently! Hah! Nice!
Coming down from the rooftop, I notice that the green lighting was kinda cool and decided to get a snap of it. The background red really does a nice contrast!
Thanks to Baby for helping me with this shot. I look evil......gooood.....hehehehhe.....
Hopefully the next trip everyone can be present.
Next one must ask ah Cat to try Santouka Ramen liao! Heard it's not bad but I believe it ain't gonna bounce the "basketball" outta the court for me.
Baby just got her PR status the day before. Congrats! It's like finally! Very soon can get citizenship liao and can officially buy new public housing. Either that or after get married to JS, Whichever comes first. But she's got other plans... she's looking to buy a condo unit now to hasten the moving out from the AMK flat due to some obnoxious housemate.
Had my Fujifilm compact with me and trying out the Agfa Vista 400 film. Here's camwhoring in the rain! Not bad colours under such flat lighting.Along the way to find Cat's Jap dessert at Raffles City.. we took tempt shelter at MICA building. Never gone inside before. It's rather nice and quiet on weekends. There's a rather grotesque sculpture in the center as well as a small contemporary art gallery by Chinese artist.
Oops.. bleached baby's face with the flash.
Cat doing her Hi-5 to her more courteous species. Inside MICA, everything is abit more atas. Back in the 80s Singa dun even wear shorts, this current version even got a tux!
I wonder what's so scary about the toilet in MICA.
And Whale FINALLY joined us in the evening after kooning the entire day away! But the wet weather is really very conducive for that no doubt....
.......as we can see here.... Cat rolls up at the esplanade.
another camwhoring session at the rooftop. Wonder why I got that psychotic look... and the more I look at Whale, the more he resembles the guy in the McDonald's Double McSpicy TV commercial that is showing now. Be it in body language or looks! See the video below!I wonder if he says those things to Emily anot.. BRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr........
And I gotta credit the technique for creating this effect to Ilyana who taught me this with a digital camera inside the Bugis Ritz Apple Strudel store. Works on film too apparently! Hah! Nice!
Coming down from the rooftop, I notice that the green lighting was kinda cool and decided to get a snap of it. The background red really does a nice contrast!
Thanks to Baby for helping me with this shot. I look evil......gooood.....hehehehhe.....Hopefully the next trip everyone can be present.
Next one must ask ah Cat to try Santouka Ramen liao! Heard it's not bad but I believe it ain't gonna bounce the "basketball" outta the court for me.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Not a smooth sem
Somehow I have been abandoned by those classmates whom I thought I was close with. The worst part is that it's due to unknown reasons. Normally I would go ahead and find out what happened but not this time. I think my future will be better off without people whose words and actions cannot be depended upon. Is camaraderie dead nowadays? This path down the sports sector is going to be a lonely and challenging one. I'm not intimidated.
Now I am teamed up with one that I thought I swore never to team up with again. No choice. No other groups I was familiar with already since everyone already had their fixed cliques/project groups. There is nothing I can or will do about this betrayal but it will not be soon forgotten. So far this new group is working through things just fine. I just hope Mr R will not do what he did the previous time and jeopardize the entire group's marks just for his own glory. There's no absolution in this world and definitely not in this class. For no good reason, friends become strangers and vice versa at a flick of a finger. The upcoming 2 weeks Perth trip is going to be interesting in a bad way. With only less than 2 sems left, this is the first time I actually want this course to be over asap.
ASAP as in right this f****** minute.
Now I am teamed up with one that I thought I swore never to team up with again. No choice. No other groups I was familiar with already since everyone already had their fixed cliques/project groups. There is nothing I can or will do about this betrayal but it will not be soon forgotten. So far this new group is working through things just fine. I just hope Mr R will not do what he did the previous time and jeopardize the entire group's marks just for his own glory. There's no absolution in this world and definitely not in this class. For no good reason, friends become strangers and vice versa at a flick of a finger. The upcoming 2 weeks Perth trip is going to be interesting in a bad way. With only less than 2 sems left, this is the first time I actually want this course to be over asap.
ASAP as in right this f****** minute.
Joyce's 22nd (belated 21st) Bdae present
It's been sometime since my last handmade present. Whether cos it's therapeutic or just plain meaningful, I dun really need a reason. I just like doing them. Which is kind of an irony cos I just plain suck at art. I just hope whoever did receive any handmade present of mine will like or maybe even to the extend of treasure them. Cos they are all really made through extensive designing and sourcing of materials. Very wu3 sim1 (got heart) one ok!
This present is sort of a belated gift. Suppose to be for Joyce's 21st bdae. Would have been a fitting gift to signify such a significant point in her life. Esp that year she gave me a hand drawn card and a erm.. helicopter that she built and spray painted. Really touched. Never expected ppl at this time and age still can do presents manually. I dun count. I'm a weirdo.
This present was originally designed to be an image projector box for slide film with some surprises inside. Perhaps the idea came from a collimation of my 2 most recent hobbies: Portable illumination (Torchlight) and Imaging (Photography). Getting a suitable optic for the projection was a real headache. And if you remember from your physics class, the focal point adjustment would drive you to suicide. Since I have no wish to end up giving Joyce her 21st bdae present when she is 210 yrs old, the idea was dropped. Or perhaps just temporary KIVed. An idea is like a journal article, not of use now but perhaps a treasure to some other researchers (or present makers) in time to come. All are too good to waste. Too bad i lost the drawing plan!! Argh! Oh well. It's still in my head.
To prevent anymore info loss, the designs of the present from then on was planned in an Excel sheet. From the materials, to the steps, to the timeline.... even contain all the images I googled and from past photos.. those I intend to use in this present. From preconception till end product, the present design was modified numerous times (I had a year to do it since I cannot complete my final design before her 21st bdae due to exams stress...ooops!). Not to mention lots of design changes even DURING the making process.. ahhh.. the never ending quest for perfection!
The final design was a table top display ornament... yeah boring idea, but I like that idea! Hah!
After many trips to Sim Lim Towers, bras basah complex, daiso, paper market, online shopping, etc, to brainstorm for ideas and acquire all the materials.....
Let the official construction begin!
Using my vernier calipers, I took measurements of the inner diameter of the glass dome. This was done quite arga arga cos the LCD display gave up on me years ago... while my knowledge on how to use it gave up even longer ago... after sec sch I think!
Hah... My ingenious eat snake method of doing the measurement...
Drawing the cross lines from corner to corner to determine the center of the board.
Now drawing the inner circumference using the compass.
There you go... perfectly centred inner circumference!
Just a check... perfect...
After measuring and aligning with the compass... the outer circumference too.
To fix the hinge to the 2 bottom base board.
Gotta mark out the holes for the screws, which I had to buy from another supplier cos the ones that comes with the hinges are not suitable.
Now using my trusty Dremel to drill the holes for the screws.
Next will be the LED diffuser...actually it's a decapitated squeeze bottle hah...
But the walls are abit too opaque so using clear tape on the inside and outside to solve this prob....
Next is to wrap the diffuser with grills. But guess what folks? The diffuser idea was abandoned after that.. and the innocent bottle got decapitated for nothing... get used to the world kids! heh... (But the materials was conserved for possible future projects... go green they say!)
For the decoration of the base surface a circular disk.....
......of flowery-glittery patterned flooring was used. 2 holes drilled for white LEDs to protrude from the bottom.... but yet again the designed was changed later on....
The stupid 5mm drill bit tore up my circular disk when i drill the 2 LED holes.. so I resort to using a finer bit using the dremel set.
See the difference? Left: flooring with damaged holes. Right: Flooring with nicely drilled holes.
Guess what? The double LED idea was also dropped! Then what of the holes? U shall see.....
Of cos, with LEDs, comes the power supply. These battery holders are made just to hold the 2032 series button Lithium cells but they can only hold 1 cell. So with abit of a twist from my multitool... they can now guai guai accommodate 2 cells!
Bending the legs so they can sit nicely inside the board.
Had to sacrifice one of those UV keychains from my torchlight days since the UV LEDs I ordered from China have yet to arrive.
Just when I was wondering how can I substitute the abandoned diffuser, I happened to remember I had 3mm and 1/4 inch piping readily available either through my contractors or in my office itself. Since I dun have a pipe bender.. used my 2 multitools instead... ended up with sore hands and ugly pipes!... hahah...at least it worked!
1/4 inch pipes would sit readily inside the two 5mm holes I has drilled earlier on for the LEDs but those pipes would be too thick and spoil the aesthetics of the present. Therefore 3mm pipes were selected. But the next challenge was how to fill up the holes?
Used these exclusive wires I bought off a member of CPF (candlepowerforums, not that bloodsucking govt body) years ago. I wonder if I can find them in Singapore. Truly good stuff. Teflon coating to fend off the soldering iron and silver coated super thin wires for delicate modification jobs.
Thanks to the slippery teflon coating, the wire was able to slip to the other end despite some bends in the pipe that was kinked.
And here's the solution to fill up the 5mm holes together with the 3mm pipes that I mentioned earlier: 2 part epoxy fix! Mix 'em and apply 'em... kinda messy though... heh.
They dried fast enough... and the pillars are up! In the middle of the pipes is a Nichia 5mm White LED that was state of the art a few years back. How times have changed.
And the messy and ugly underside....
cut a piece of the mesh grill that was not used earlier.... apply 3M heavy duty but transparent double sided tapes....
and now to prepare the decors.. using nice clover leaf stickers and very thin nylon string that were meant for girls to thread beads.... my colleague saw me buy these during lunch and thought i suddenly turned feminine!
Tie in and dangle the bear...and the middle decor is complete! Now to wrap the mesh grill around the LED.
Yet another idea that was later changed. The UV LED was originally in the centre but later I found that it was not powerful enuf to illuminate the darklight marker words and pics on the glass dome walls. So it was later shifted to the back circumference of the red flooring where the UV will shine up straight on the back glass wall.
Since most of the job is done, it's time to screw in the hinges and connect the platform boards.
And since my art really sucked, I will stick to basic drawings on the glass using the blacklight "invisible" marker. I drew on a piece of paper the illustration before I pressed the paper against the glass wall and I traced the outline from the inside.... Such precaution is becos erasing the blacklight ink is next to impossible. So no mistake! The words were later written under strong UV lighting (Inova X5).
Since the bear was just under the white LED lighting.........and I had some glow powder from Glow Inc......
I "iradiate" some onto the wings!
After 2 nights of soldering... I managed this mess!! Lucky they are meant to be hidden inside! heh!
Took selected photos and printed them on printable transparency sheet, cut them to size and wanted to add translucent backing to them but later decide against that.
Managed to mount them onto the glass wall without using messy glue. Used the 3M double side tape instead. One tiny bit for each corner of each pic.
Engraving the name of the would be owner... And since it's joyce... can't be without a yellow flower now can it?
final touches like glueing....
and applying velcro strips..
Oh yeah.. Since Joyce gave me a super large A3 sized Bdae card, I will do the opposite..... lol...with micro sized printed words.
Here's a slit of velcro so that it will hang from the winged bear's feet.
And since she's got enuf eye strain from mugging NIE stuff... be kind abit and include a magnifying card... heheh...
Plan view.. with the cute little ladybird to tiow you! and to hide the LED of cos.
Back view. Couldn't resist it.. gotta put my initials between the hinges.
And the Front view, of perhaps the most "effortful" present I have made to date. Sure it was messy and rough, but I am still proud of it. Gotta admit it was pretty rushed or it could have been so much more nicer but study commitment beckons and I dun wanna postpone the present into her 23rd yr!
It all looks pretty easy but there are lots of things these pics dun show. Heck.. alot of small processes was not included here. It's gonna take a whole lot from me to top this present! But I believe I can.. but that will be for next yr!
hey lookee here: I also found a box in Daiso that actually fits the present in the x,y & z axis to the inch. And it's actually very presentable!
Too bad I did not take pics of the lighted up effect (both white and UV LED) but I can assure you the effect in subdued lighting is pretty nice.
There! End!
This present is sort of a belated gift. Suppose to be for Joyce's 21st bdae. Would have been a fitting gift to signify such a significant point in her life. Esp that year she gave me a hand drawn card and a erm.. helicopter that she built and spray painted. Really touched. Never expected ppl at this time and age still can do presents manually. I dun count. I'm a weirdo.
This present was originally designed to be an image projector box for slide film with some surprises inside. Perhaps the idea came from a collimation of my 2 most recent hobbies: Portable illumination (Torchlight) and Imaging (Photography). Getting a suitable optic for the projection was a real headache. And if you remember from your physics class, the focal point adjustment would drive you to suicide. Since I have no wish to end up giving Joyce her 21st bdae present when she is 210 yrs old, the idea was dropped. Or perhaps just temporary KIVed. An idea is like a journal article, not of use now but perhaps a treasure to some other researchers (or present makers) in time to come. All are too good to waste. Too bad i lost the drawing plan!! Argh! Oh well. It's still in my head.
To prevent anymore info loss, the designs of the present from then on was planned in an Excel sheet. From the materials, to the steps, to the timeline.... even contain all the images I googled and from past photos.. those I intend to use in this present. From preconception till end product, the present design was modified numerous times (I had a year to do it since I cannot complete my final design before her 21st bdae due to exams stress...ooops!). Not to mention lots of design changes even DURING the making process.. ahhh.. the never ending quest for perfection!
The final design was a table top display ornament... yeah boring idea, but I like that idea! Hah!
After many trips to Sim Lim Towers, bras basah complex, daiso, paper market, online shopping, etc, to brainstorm for ideas and acquire all the materials.....
Let the official construction begin!
Using my vernier calipers, I took measurements of the inner diameter of the glass dome. This was done quite arga arga cos the LCD display gave up on me years ago... while my knowledge on how to use it gave up even longer ago... after sec sch I think!
Hah... My ingenious eat snake method of doing the measurement...
Drawing the cross lines from corner to corner to determine the center of the board.
Now drawing the inner circumference using the compass.
There you go... perfectly centred inner circumference!
Just a check... perfect...
After measuring and aligning with the compass... the outer circumference too.
To fix the hinge to the 2 bottom base board.
Gotta mark out the holes for the screws, which I had to buy from another supplier cos the ones that comes with the hinges are not suitable.
Now using my trusty Dremel to drill the holes for the screws.
Next will be the LED diffuser...actually it's a decapitated squeeze bottle hah...
But the walls are abit too opaque so using clear tape on the inside and outside to solve this prob....
Next is to wrap the diffuser with grills. But guess what folks? The diffuser idea was abandoned after that.. and the innocent bottle got decapitated for nothing... get used to the world kids! heh... (But the materials was conserved for possible future projects... go green they say!)
For the decoration of the base surface a circular disk.....
......of flowery-glittery patterned flooring was used. 2 holes drilled for white LEDs to protrude from the bottom.... but yet again the designed was changed later on....
The stupid 5mm drill bit tore up my circular disk when i drill the 2 LED holes.. so I resort to using a finer bit using the dremel set.
See the difference? Left: flooring with damaged holes. Right: Flooring with nicely drilled holes.Guess what? The double LED idea was also dropped! Then what of the holes? U shall see.....
Of cos, with LEDs, comes the power supply. These battery holders are made just to hold the 2032 series button Lithium cells but they can only hold 1 cell. So with abit of a twist from my multitool... they can now guai guai accommodate 2 cells!
Bending the legs so they can sit nicely inside the board.
Had to sacrifice one of those UV keychains from my torchlight days since the UV LEDs I ordered from China have yet to arrive.
Just when I was wondering how can I substitute the abandoned diffuser, I happened to remember I had 3mm and 1/4 inch piping readily available either through my contractors or in my office itself. Since I dun have a pipe bender.. used my 2 multitools instead... ended up with sore hands and ugly pipes!... hahah...at least it worked!1/4 inch pipes would sit readily inside the two 5mm holes I has drilled earlier on for the LEDs but those pipes would be too thick and spoil the aesthetics of the present. Therefore 3mm pipes were selected. But the next challenge was how to fill up the holes?
Used these exclusive wires I bought off a member of CPF (candlepowerforums, not that bloodsucking govt body) years ago. I wonder if I can find them in Singapore. Truly good stuff. Teflon coating to fend off the soldering iron and silver coated super thin wires for delicate modification jobs.
Thanks to the slippery teflon coating, the wire was able to slip to the other end despite some bends in the pipe that was kinked.
And here's the solution to fill up the 5mm holes together with the 3mm pipes that I mentioned earlier: 2 part epoxy fix! Mix 'em and apply 'em... kinda messy though... heh.
They dried fast enough... and the pillars are up! In the middle of the pipes is a Nichia 5mm White LED that was state of the art a few years back. How times have changed.
And the messy and ugly underside....
cut a piece of the mesh grill that was not used earlier.... apply 3M heavy duty but transparent double sided tapes....
and now to prepare the decors.. using nice clover leaf stickers and very thin nylon string that were meant for girls to thread beads.... my colleague saw me buy these during lunch and thought i suddenly turned feminine!
Tie in and dangle the bear...and the middle decor is complete! Now to wrap the mesh grill around the LED.
Yet another idea that was later changed. The UV LED was originally in the centre but later I found that it was not powerful enuf to illuminate the darklight marker words and pics on the glass dome walls. So it was later shifted to the back circumference of the red flooring where the UV will shine up straight on the back glass wall.
Since most of the job is done, it's time to screw in the hinges and connect the platform boards.
And since my art really sucked, I will stick to basic drawings on the glass using the blacklight "invisible" marker. I drew on a piece of paper the illustration before I pressed the paper against the glass wall and I traced the outline from the inside.... Such precaution is becos erasing the blacklight ink is next to impossible. So no mistake! The words were later written under strong UV lighting (Inova X5).
Since the bear was just under the white LED lighting.........and I had some glow powder from Glow Inc......
I "iradiate" some onto the wings!
After 2 nights of soldering... I managed this mess!! Lucky they are meant to be hidden inside! heh!
Took selected photos and printed them on printable transparency sheet, cut them to size and wanted to add translucent backing to them but later decide against that.
Managed to mount them onto the glass wall without using messy glue. Used the 3M double side tape instead. One tiny bit for each corner of each pic.
Engraving the name of the would be owner... And since it's joyce... can't be without a yellow flower now can it?
final touches like glueing....
and applying velcro strips..
Oh yeah.. Since Joyce gave me a super large A3 sized Bdae card, I will do the opposite..... lol...with micro sized printed words.Here's a slit of velcro so that it will hang from the winged bear's feet.
And since she's got enuf eye strain from mugging NIE stuff... be kind abit and include a magnifying card... heheh...
Plan view.. with the cute little ladybird to tiow you! and to hide the LED of cos.
Back view. Couldn't resist it.. gotta put my initials between the hinges.
And the Front view, of perhaps the most "effortful" present I have made to date. Sure it was messy and rough, but I am still proud of it. Gotta admit it was pretty rushed or it could have been so much more nicer but study commitment beckons and I dun wanna postpone the present into her 23rd yr!It all looks pretty easy but there are lots of things these pics dun show. Heck.. alot of small processes was not included here. It's gonna take a whole lot from me to top this present! But I believe I can.. but that will be for next yr!
hey lookee here: I also found a box in Daiso that actually fits the present in the x,y & z axis to the inch. And it's actually very presentable!Too bad I did not take pics of the lighted up effect (both white and UV LED) but I can assure you the effect in subdued lighting is pretty nice.
There! End!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)