NIE - a garden for study

Essay test today. Seeping coffee, revising and getting into the mood for essay writing.

Windsurf at East Coast

Went East Coast to windsurf. The wind is pretty strong, so is the current though. Looking at the people spending the slow sunday afternoon, nicely idling away is a wonderful feeling - so de-stressing.



Here is a short video with nice sound of waves.

Pioneering - what every scout should be proud of

At the National Pioneering and Scout Craft competition today. Pioneering is what every scout should be proud of. I have never seen any other uniform group building such impressive structures. Don't get me wrong. I am a firm believer of uniform group - all uniform group! Growing up from NPCC at secondary school and over 4 years as scout teacher i/c, I strongly believe uniform group (UG) provides the discipline, interpersonal communication skills, team spirit ... which classroom lessons can never provide enough. UG is a necessary supplement to classroom education.

Although my unit is not as impressive as the top schools in Singapore, they have improved over the years. We may not be winners, but we lose graciously - something I find most sports people cannot grapple with. And more importantly, they are happy and enjoying themselves - And I am proud of them!!!

Here are a few pictures from the tower section.:
This is picture from our unit:
This picture vividly shows the spirit and brotherhood of scouting - people helping and supporting one another. Something so rare in our modern society. Doesn't this remind us of the Raising the Flag of Iwo Jima - the never say die attitude. This symbolises the scout law - A scout has courage in all difficulties.

Retail Therapy? - Bose Computer Speakers Companion 2 Series II

Bought a pair of Bose computer speakers - Companion 2 Series II. Tried that out first thing I got home. What can I say - wonderful! Terrific mid range.; the vocal is clear. That's what I'm looking for, not those bassy gaming kind. For those who is looking for deep bass - gaming, action DVD ... can go for the Companion 3, the one with the woofer; that will be about $300 more expensive.

I don't expect superb sound like a huge system, but for a pair of speakers without a woofer, I must say it out perform all other speakers of its range. Of course needless to say, the cost 'out perform' others as well.

Release of GCE 'O' level results

Today is the release of the 'O' level results. Went back to my old school. Wonderful to see so many of them doing so well - they are jumping for joy!

I was so excited I have forgotten to take pictures.

Also wonderful to have people thanking me for their distinction in physics and so happy to have those with A1 'asking' for treats. I gladly oblige.

Needless to say, there are those who didn't do as well as they have expected. Some cried, some take it graciously.

Whatever it is - life still goes on.

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt
From a speech given in Paris at the Sorbonne in 1910

ACJC cross country at Turf City

These are some pictures taken from the ACJC cross country at Turf City. For one reason or another, I am not sure why, I didn't take part in the teacher's run. Not a lot of teachers actually run though. Spent some time with the MRC people.

A weekend

A rather eventful weekend:

1. Friday night, - went to attend the scouts investiture at the - cemetry; in fact, it is the Chinese Cemetry near Adam road. Actually, I was invested there 4 years ago. A rather lucky place for investiture actually. The 3 secondary one boys invested there 4 years ago are among the best performing scouts. And, all the 3 of them, 16 years old going to 17 now, were there on Friday night - invested to be venture scouts! The new teacher in charge was also invested there. And, there was also a record high number of Unitian Unicorn scouts invested. Looks like everything is going well.

Needless to say, the leaders ended off the day with a supper, coffee shop style, as always. Very heartlandish. Wonderful break from the ACian culture.

2. Saturday night.Watched Hossan Leong standup comedy. Very Good.

3. Sunday (today) - Blade at East Coast. A wonderful day to spend the weekend.

4. My first Tex document. Tex is a 'classic' typeset for mathematics and science . It is suppose to look nicer and more pro then microsoft equation editor. It is suppose to be faster as well!?!? I took sometime trying to get this out actually. However, I heard that the newer version of Microsoft Word is using the Tex typeset as well?!?!?!

Also, looking forward to the release of the following results in the following week:

1. 'O' level 2006
2. Frank Cooper Sands 2006