Of friends and effort..

Are friends something that just happen or are they acquired through constant effort and endeavour?

There can be quite a few definitions of friends around, depending on your personal values.

Friends can be people who you enjoy company with, hang out with, look to when you are bored, and confide in.

Friends can be your insignificant sidekicks who you look to when you need help, when you are in deep shit, or when you think you can make use of them.

Friends can be a blessing, just as they can be a disappointment.

In the ideal world, friends would exist even without any effort. Sadly though, our world is not ideal, and far from it at that.

It's weird, but I have come to realise that respect and intimacy are inversely related.

The closer that someone is to you, the more likely you are to take them for granted.


Just something Drew, Alvin and I talked about over Teh 'O' Peng at our favourite supper hangout.

Friends and supper, always a great combination... =)

A budding star..

Honest comments please!

More than words...

Have you wondered how simple word manipulation can evoke vastly different feelings?

Happy because you now know it;
Sad because you only know it now...

See Feel the difference?

--

Anyway, to digress, I think I saw the most powerful and apt MTV in all of music history, last Sat.
We had selected the song “More than Words” and the MTV simply took our breath away…
I think it must have been an apparent dig at the song title as the MTV had nothing, except words.
Just simple scrolling text and a black background – Refreshing and compelling...

When old friends meet... Part II

Venue: Teo Heng KTV, HK Cafe
Cast: The usual
Verdict: Good times are always too short...

---

Photos, for your viewing pleasure..
Captions and updates to follow, if the time allows...

Meihui - Siying

What's that smile supposed to mean?

Multi-tasking at its best

Yit Woon and his pretty gf

Elson - Weiwen - Me

Jacky Wu - Landy

Engrossed

HK Cafe. The same 3 guys + Jinyuan

I think I was getting tired

The 4 vases... Oops

你是我的眼 - 林宥嘉

Moving lyrics, stirring voice, brilliant song...




如果我能看得见
就能轻易的分辨白天黑夜
就能准确的在人群中
牵住你的手
如果我能看得见
就能驾车带你到处遨游
就能惊喜的从背后
给你一个拥抱
如果我能看得见
生命也许完全不同
可能我想要的我喜欢的我爱的
都不一样

眼前的黑不是黑
你说的白是什么白
人们说的天空蓝
是我记忆中那团白云背后的蓝天
我望向你的脸
却只能看见一片虚无
是不是上帝在我眼前遮住了帘
忘了掀开

你是我的眼
带我领略四季的变换
你是我的眼
带我穿越拥挤的人潮
你是我的眼
带我阅读浩瀚的书海
因为你是我的眼
让我看见这世界
就在我眼前

爱要...

耐心等待,

仔细寻找,

感觉很重要...

Hackers get hold of critical Internet flaw

If you conduct transactions online and care about your confidential information, read on...

---
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - - Internet security researchers on Thursday warned that hackers have caught on to a "critical" flaw that lets them control traffic on the Internet.

An elite squad of computer industry engineers that labored in secret to solve the problem released a software "patch" two weeks ago and sought to keep details of the vulnerability hidden at least a month to give people time to protect computers from attacks.

"We are in a lot of trouble," said IOActive security specialist Dan Kaminsky, who stumbled upon the Domain Name System (DNS) vulnerability about six months ago and reached out to industry giants to collaborate on a solution.

"This attack is very good. This attack is being weaponized out in the field. Everyone needs to patch, please," Kaminsky said. "This is a big deal."

DNS is used by every computer that links to the Internet and works similar to a telephone system routing calls to proper numbers, in this case the online numerical addresses of websites.

The vulnerability allows "cache poisoning" attacks that tinker with data stored in computer memory caches that relay Internet traffic to its destination.

Attackers could use the vulnerability to route Internet users wherever the hackers wanted, no matter what website address is typed into a web browser.

The threat is greatest for business computers handling online traffic or hosting websites, according to security researchers.

The flaw is a boon for "phishing" cons that involve leading people to imitation web pages of businesses such as bank or credit card companies to trick them into disclosing account numbers, passwords and other information.

"I was not intentionally seeking to cause anything that could break the Internet," Kaminsky said Thursday during a conference call with peers and media. "It's a little weird to talk about it out loud."

Kaminsky built a web page, www.doxpara.com, where people can find out whether their computers have the DNS vulnerability.

As of Thursday, slightly more than half the computers tested at the website still needed to be patched.

"People are spending tens of thousands of hours getting this patch out the door," Kaminsky said.

The US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT), a joint government-private sector security partnership, is among the chorus urging people to quickly protect computers linked to the Internet.

"Just like you should wear a seat belt going down the road to be safe in a car accident, the same applies here," said Jerry Dixon, a former director of cyber security at the US Department of Homeland Security.

"The patch is your seat belt. The exploit is out there and you definitely need to take precautions. Now is not the time to keep waiting."

Two "exploits," software snippets that take advantage of the vulnerability, have been unleashed on the Internet in the past 24 hours, Securosis analyst Rich Mogul said during the conference call.

"The threat is there," Mogul said.

Source: Hackers get hold of critical Internet flaw

The Dark Knight

Everyone around me is raving about just how good the film is and why Heath Ledger really deserves a posthumous Oscar for his role as The Joker.

And the many reviews out there aren't helping at all! I'm already refraining from reading any of them and the suspense is just becoming unbearable.

So...

anyone out there who hasn't watched this yet and is willing to watch it with me?

Please?

Of coffee, evenings and soul

I enjoyed the night when we went out for coffee and talked.

Maybe it's just me but good company is really priceless. You just feel at ease and you can talk about everything under the moon.

It's easy to share happiness with just about anyone;
but it's another thing altogether to share just about anything with someone.

When old friends meet..

Date: 20 July 2008
Venue: Fish & Co, Tampines
Event: Lunch - Class 6/1 of 1997 (Fengshan Primary)
---

Fish & Chips

Seafood Platter

It was a gathering long overdue; the last one probably happened 2 years back.
You always need a catalyst for such gatherings to take place and Siying was the one this time round.
Although the expected turnout shrunk at the eleventh hour, it was a few hours of good fun and company.

It’s interesting to see how everyone has grown and matured and yet still be able to click with so many topics.
And of course, there were the usual poking fun at each others’ traits:

Siying’s “…Then?”. PJ’s shot angling. Yit Woon’s boyishness. Elson and Jeanette’s prawn shelling. My Eyes-Wide-Shut (EWS) smile.

Elson - PJ - Yit Woon - Me

Siying - Jasmine - Jeanette

Seems like Jasmine and Siew Choo are the only ones who were absolved of any mockery. Maybe we really should have brought up Chinese Dance. Haha.

Even though we all changed quite a bit, the adage, “Old habits die hard” could not be more true than ever. Some traits in us just do not go away. You might not realize it, but when everyone else says so, you just have to agree with it. Especially so, when its coming from people whom you have not met in years. Haha.

And, it seemed that marriage was a hot topic too - 2 of my friends will be walking down the aisle in 2010!
One of them is my “tu-er”, and that was not too much of a surprise.

The other one is Weiwen, and honestly, I did not think for a moment that marriage would be on the cards for him that quickly.
He never seemed the sort who would want to settle down as yet. Haha.

Well, but I’m happy for the both of them. :)
I’m already looking forward to the first wedding dinner!

On a lighter note, I think my eyes really can't be seen when I smile in photos... Just take a look at the photos below and count the number of times you can actually see my eyes..

P.S. It's not an easy feat!

EWS #1

I think Siew Choo was looking at me

EWS #2
Okay I close my eyes too even when I don't smile

EWS #3

Siew Choo - Siying - Jasmine - Jeanette

Now I know what's a photogenic face

I actually like this photo...

Let's roll back the years...

Okay once more!

---
Going for this gathering kinda put things into perspective.
I really should have gone for the sportsclass gathering some time back. My bad!
I’ll make sure I turn up for the next one, if everything else permits…
Scouts’ honour!

The Tall and Short of relationships

While having a conversation with my classmates a few weeks back, I was asked if tall guys prefer short girls as their partners.

That was a question I had ever thought about. Personally, as long as the girl isn't taller than me, I'm fine with it. Well, I just can't imagine standing beside my girlfriend and looking shorter; I would feel inferior!

You could say its an ego trip and I wouldn't disagree. So, it would be suffice to say that I would not go after any girls who are taller than 1.79m (or 1.8m as I always fondly declare, for convenience that is).

I used to think I would only want someone around my height as my other half. But now, I think it's no longer an issue. Both are equally nice, with its fair share of pros and cons. Haha.


How about you?

品冠 - 我以为

妳曾说不想有天让我知道 妳对他 有那么好
妳说会懂我的失落 不是靠宽容 就能够解脱
我以为我出现的时候刚好 妳和他 正说要分开
我以为妳 已对他不再期待 不纵容他再给妳伤害

我以为我的温柔 能給妳整個宇宙
我以为我能全力 填滿妳感情的缺口
专心陪在妳左右 弥补他一切的错
也许我太过天真 以为奇迹会发生

我以为终究妳会慢慢明白 他的心已不在妳身上
我的关心 妳依然无动于衷
我的以为 只是我以为

我以为我的温柔 能給妳整個宇宙
我以为我能全力 填滿妳感情的缺口
专心陪在妳左右 弥补他一切的错
也许我太过天真 以为奇迹会发生

他让妳红了眼眶 妳却还笑着原谅
原来妳早就想好 妳要留在誰的身旁
我以为我够坚强 却一天天地失望
少给我一点希望 希望就不是奢望

What keeps you going forward?

To keep myself sane and to constantly motivate myself, I believe the segregation of short and long term aims is critical.

Short term:
No classes on an evening
Overseas trip
Meet ups with friends
A game of cards, winning eleven.. (the women dont get it)
Mum's dinner awaiting
Sat morning soccer
Fridays
The cool and sleek latest gadget in town (transitory)

There are of course many other minute things that just come to your mind randomly.
But essentially, these are all the mundane things. The simple pleasures in life.
The things that keep me looking forward to everyday.

Long term:
I think whatever I write under here currently wouldn't be accurate and most likely would be the standard goals that everyone else has.
Till I have a clearer picture of what's ahead, I will update this in due course.

Talking about looking forward to something, I don't have classes tonight and I think I'm gonna join the guys for another jog. Haha.

Vonda Shepard - Baby dont you break my heart slow

I like the way you wanted me
Every night for so long baby
I like the way you needed me
Every time things got rocky

I was believing in you
Was I mistaken do you say
Do you say what you mean
I want our love to last forever

(Chorus)
But I'd rather you be mean than love and lie
I'd rather hear the truth and have to say goodbye
I'd rather take a blow at least then I would know
But baby don't you break my heart slow

I like the way you'd hold me
Every night for so long baby
I like the way you'd say my name
In the middle of the night
While you were sleeping

I was believing in you
Was I mistaken do you mean
Do you mean what you say
When you say our love could last forever

(Chorus)
Well I'd rather you be mean than love and lie
I'd rather hear the truth and have to say goodbye(goodbye)
I'd rather take a blow at least then I would know
But baby don't you break my heart slow

(Bridge)
You would run around and lead me on forever
While I wait at home still thinking we're together
I wanted our love to last forever

I was believing in you

(Chorus)
I'd rather you be mean than love and lie
I'd rather hear the truth and have to say goodbye
I'd rather take a blow at least then I would know
But baby don't you break my heart slow

Dont love and lie
I'd rather hear the the truth and have to say goodbye
I'd rather take a blow at least then I would know
But baby don't you break my heart slow
Baby don't you break my heart slow

Football wit - Frank Lampard

If you do not know already, Lampard has this uncanny ability to find the back of the net via all kinds of deflections - the back, head, shoulder, chest, shins, legs, and even butts.

Just read a Football365 article on whether Frank Lampard is leaving, or staying, and I thought this comment was really funny:

P.S. Lampard will only score about 4 a season in Italy as deflections are given as own goals over there and that includes if it just flicks someones shorts or something!!! Do go for a goal bonus Frank, you want it all in your basic!!!"

Coming up short

Quite a few things in mind to accomplish but my hands have been pretty much tied down.

I need a

1. Overseas trip
2. Laptop
3. Break
4. Start revising
5. Time for myself

The last one being most important of the lot.

17 more less days!

You realize how much the status has changed when something radical happens and you don't know anything about it.

It just feels weird.

---

It felt weird too, when we talked that night. Things are forgotten, forgiven and I really hope that you make the right choice out of the lot.

---

We always have a choice; it's what we do afterward that determines the wisdom of our choice.

Tuesday jog

Nowadays, I try to go for a jog whenever I don't have classes, and yesterday was one of those days. Managed to get Drew to join me, and we jogged around the Tanah Merah - Bedok Camp route.

It was probably the first time I had jogged with him side by side, as he was always one of the front runners, literally, back in secondary school days.

Now, it's slightly a different story. All the booze and his horrendous cooking must have taken the running legs away from him. Haha. Anyway, it was a great run; always good to have a running partner. We ought to have more of that.

---

Talking about jogging, I just joined the Nike+ Human Race 10km.


Details:

The Nike+ Human Race 10K
Event Dates : 31st Aug 2008
Time of Event : Est. start time: 1630pm Est. end time: 2130pm
Where: Start Point - Esplanade Bridge
End Point - Padang

One million runners, 24 cities, 10K. Join The Nike+ Human Race, the world’s biggest one day running event.

On 31 August 2008, you can run at the actual event or virtually on Nike+ anywhere in the world.

Categories
• School Team Challenge Cat. A (Secondary + Junior Colleges)
• School Team Challenge Cat. B (ITE + Polytechnic + Universities)
• Men’s & Women’s Under 24
• Men’s & Women’s Open category

Entry Fee
• S$25 (under 24 as of 1st September 2008), S$45 (open category) *7% GST applies.
• Runners will receive a Nike Race tee with pre-printed number bib + other goodies
• Virtual runners have the option to buy a Nike Race tee with pre-printed number bib as well at S$35 * 7% GST applies

It's essentially a charity event as well, with all proceeds and donations going to the three charities:

• The Lance Armstrong Foundation
• The UN Refugee Agency
• The World Wildlife Fund
  
  

So, what are you waiting for?

Carousel

It's been 6 months, and I don't think my heart has fluttered much, if any at all, during this period.

It's not as if I'm going through abstinence but it just has not happened. Maybe I am just not looking for it, maybe its just dead, or maybe its still hurting.

---

Somehow, that aching thought always surfaces when I have time at hand, when work, studies or fun fail to keep me occupied.

Maybe its like what Pat said, the space that everyone needs for himself.

---

Company with someone is always interesting, but at the end of the day, it's an area where I do not wish to tread on again.

Been there, done that,
and weary all over...

疼你的責任

每次你任性时说的一些话 你知道那有多伤人吗
但我顶多只气个三分钟吧 最后依然体贴的送你回家

有时想如果我不是一直让 你也许会懂得学着体谅
但是我完全无法硬着心肠 做得让你有一点难过失望

总觉得有疼你的责任 要你是最快乐最单纯的人
因为你让我的心变得丰盛 原来不奢望的变成可能

总觉得有疼你的责任 让你做最轻松最自然的人

我想不遮掩也是一种信任
爱得了解包容才算爱得完整

When good... becomes too much

Too much of something always proves to be detrimental...

and it applies to just about every aspect too.

When actions are carried out without intricate thought, the repercussions could be massive..

Even when I don't mean it.

When work gets to you

What do you do when stress hits you really bad and you feel like you need a breather?

You get a stress ball of course!

Sitting pretty on my keyboard

And then you start squeezing and squeezing...
till you flush every ounce of stress out of your system.

Preferably one with a smiley face too!

Smile!

P.S. Let me know if you would like to get one for yourself. :)