Too tired yesterday... so making up for it today...

Wednesday Sept 03
Yesterday was a fruitful day in school. During AHRM class, we had an exciting discussion on TITs (that's Technology Innovation Teams, not what you think it is!) and a box of chocolates from the Mezza9! The exquisite little bites of cocoa, milk and sugar had Chinese paintings on marzipan on top of it, attached to the main chocolate by a piece of tiny choc resembling a magnet. Some even had Chinese words on it and we were all trying to read the poem that was on the marzipan. Had lotsa fun doing that! Paulin Straughn's lecture was next. She's one woman who makes Social Research Methods fun! It was like a gossip session but we learnt stuff. She simplifies concepts and illustrates them with her own examples so that we internalize what is being taught. It's been a long time since I got a lecturer that good.

After camping at the library for hours, I walked out and standing at a corner near the Chinese Library, I took in a wonderful view. The sky was just turning dark. There were very few clouds in the sky and the stars were twinkling in the dark blue sky. In the distance, bright lights were flashing and ships were moving across the small strip of sea that was visible to me. I had a feeling of deja vu. Of a time when I stood there, alone in the night, detached from the world. I made a wish. I wished that someone I liked will like me. It was a long time ago when I was young and naive. Now, you and I are good friends and I'm thankful that we didn't start at all. But I will always remember the nights under the stars.

I witnessed an accident. Young boys really shouldn't drive.

Have you ever seen a windwheel made from the legs of a chair? I have. A pickup had a study chair with wheels - the kind that spreads out at the bottom like the roots of a tree trunk and can spin to make your chair higher. It was placed upside down and when the pickup moved, the "roots" started spinning. It was a cute sight.


Thursday Sept 04
Quote of the day:
In marriage, it is not finding the right partner that is important, but being the right partner. (as seen on the screen while taking the NEL)


On Mills and Sociological Imagination
I've always thought that I write too simply. Perhaps I'd be an author of children's books. Perhaps I should be a teacher of primary school kids. Until I read Mills. Simplicity and clarity of written expression are what he thinks all sociology academics should do. High-sounding language are but a tool used by most to elevate their status in their own eyes. It is merely a convoluted expression of a simple idea. To that extent, we should internalize meanings of technical jargon and explain them as simply and clearly as possible. Perhaps this is why the Americans took 10 years to millions of dollars to develop a pen that writes in outer space (no gravity) and the Russians simply used PENCIL.


Thought of the day:
Each human being is like a jigsaw puzzle, built from many pieces that fit together. However, some never finish fixing the jigsaw as they either cannot find or lose the pieces or they try to fit the wrong pieces into the puzzle.