Gaaaaahhhhh!!!

Update: I was sitting in the bus listening to these two chinese women speaking to each other with a pretentious English accent. Gaaaaaahhh!!

Get with the programme laaah!! You're in fucking Singapore!

Robbers snatch dog poo

A Chinese woman has told how robbers snatched a parcel of dog poo wrapped in newspaper out of her hand outside a bank.

Mrs Chen, of Laohekou city, was waiting in the bank to withdraw money when nature suddenly called for her dog.

"While I was waiting in the queue, my dog had to poo. So I asked for several pieces of newspaper to wrap the poo," she said.

After wrapping it, Chen left the bank, and was waiting to cross the street to throw the parcel into a rubbish bin when the robber struck."

A motorcycle stopped swiftly before me, the man on the rear seat seized the package from me, and they sped away," she said.

Police are investigating the case while "laughing at the stupidity of the robbers", according to Chutian City Papers.

Calvin and his nonsense

Calvin: HEY! ive been so busy and havent got time to contact you but rmember I LOVE YOU!
Me: Haha! Awww.. So sweet.. I love you too!
Calvin: yay! the world is full of LURV!
Me: Hm. Have you been taking these little pills?
Calvin: how did you know about the pills?
Me: Heh heh. Let's just call it a hunch.
Calvin: i think ure acquainted, that's what i think. stop acting like ure a camel.

Geddit? Camel? Hunch? Wahahahhaha.

Incident with Mag

YC wanted me to update my blog with more juicy stuff. And just as well that this thing came up.

Short sentences ok? I'm tired.

I was on duty this evening. On the way back, they dragged me off to this food tasting thing. I informed them I was on duty. They said never mind, it's ok. Since my "boss", Mag, said it was ok, then fine, I'll go.

Turned out that I wouldn't be back in time for roll call and had to get 2 boarders to help take attendance. But I'd still have to do the lights out round to make sure everyone's in bed. When I reached the hostel, I went to the common room and found 4 boarders sitting around and
chatting. They told me they have permission from Noemi (no the spelling IS like that), the new AHM. I told them Noemi is not on duty, I am. They insisted she's on duty. I called up the office and confirmed that I'm on duty. Mag somehow found out that I'm not happy that Noemi is
doing duty for me. We tried talking, but stupid Blackberry isn't cooperating, and I kept getting cut off. I send her this sms:

Ok la, we leave it as it is. I'm not ungrateful, just that I need to know before I scold the kids for asking permission from the wrong ahm. We had this problem with lilian v for the longest time when she was hm and anyhow gave permission, and don't want it recurring again.

Then she sends me this sms.

I think u should work wif a team in mind. D kids will explain n u can verify. Like u would verify with andrew. Must we be scolding boarders like they r dirt. generally 2nd floor r older n jc boarder who r preparing for prelim.

I was FURIOUS!!

I tried composing this sms:

Much as I hate to pick a fight with you yet again, and I think you're afraid to answer my call, I have to say this. I resent what you said about me treating boarders like dirt. I want you to take it back because it is not true. I had a legitimate reason for scolding them because they were up past lights out without the permission of the AHM on duty (which is me, by the way. I was not informed of anyone who is covering me.). If you want to talk about a team mentality, here's a thought. You should let me know when someone is doing my duty. Someone playing as a team
should not be keeping the big picture to herself only.

Then I decided to cool it, so sent this sms to Andrew.

Me: I almost picked a fight with mag just now. She said I treat the boarders like dirt, and that I'm not a team player.
Andrew: How come? When did you two talk? Why is mag antagonising ahms like this?
Me: [And I told him the story from the beginning]
Andrew: Yikes. Sounds ugly.
Me: And she mentioned you, because she dunno that you get whacked sometimes for doing stupid shit too. Her sms to me: "I think u should work wif a team in mind. D kids will explain n u can verify. Like u would verify with andrew. Must we be scolding boarders like they rdirt. generally 2nd floor r older n jc boarder who r preparing for prelim."
Andrew: Why am i always dragged into such things? I cannot see how i can be relevant to this issue.
Me: I dunno. Convenient scapegoat? Heh. She thinks I'm a difficult ahm to handle and that I hate her and only listen to you.
Andrew: Sigh. If she displays leadership like that, no wonder no one listens to her.
Me: Argh. I have no respect for her, but at the same time, I'm worried I'm turning into an irate and difficult person! But accusations like that I cannot swallow! :(
Andrew: Well. I have always felt that things are difficult for ahms as they do their duties at night as it is after a long days' work and everyone's tempers and selfcontrol are short. Much better to wait till morning to talk things over. I think to guard against becoming irate and nasty, you need to keep in priority the boarders' needs and their welfare. If you do that, you'll not go too wrong. Trouble with mag is that she craves approval from the older boarders and ends up like a pale
version of kris.
Me: I'm afraid I'll end up covering my ego and masquerading it as concern for boarders. This has nothing to do with boarders. They were wrong to stay up without permission. If they do, it's ok. But only from the ahm on duty. But that's where the problem begins, because her communication is so poor.

Anyway, talked to Mag shortly after, and admittedly, it didn't start off well. Here's the sms I sent to Andrew to summarise the half hour conversation.

Just talked to Mag. She told me other AHMs don't give her a problem, but I told her it's cuz I got no respect for her. I told her it's her fault communication was bad. She admitted, but said that reports came back from 2 boarders that I scream at them, hence the "treat boarder like dirt". Got 2 incidents, and one of them was my fault, have already apologized to Karen a week after the incident. In the end we ended off quite peacefully.

What I didn't manage to say in the SMS without extending it into a 2 page essay, was that she brought up so many issues, one of which is the fact that I would willingly listen to Andrew but not her; that I would consult him and not her, and that I would fly off the handle if it's her that hindered me in my work. I told her that Andrew would get the same treatment unless he were able to explain clearly the reasons for his actions. And told her point blank that her communication was bad, and that she was not very bright. But she of course retaliated by insinuating that I had mood swings and that I was rather unreasonable. And she cited 2 incidents where I "screamed" at boarders. Incident 1 was not screaming, it was a threat of punishment, and incident 2 *was* screaming (and it was kinda my fault also), but was resolved quite soon
after the event. There was a rationale behind the screaming; it had to do with my frustration for her not wanting to reach her full potential, and some form of defiance on her part.

Anyway, it was over, and I am glad. I mean, I am glad to be leaving soon.

Do you know "The Secret"?

I have heard about "The Secret" for about a week or so now.

Just today, I was talking to YC about The Secret (because she mentioned that she read from Val's blog that Val believes it), and I was suddenly seized with the urge to read the book, just to find out what is the furor that has taken America by storm. I suppose it was also because I'm just being the nerd that I am.

I downloaded a copy of the book from some website, and started reading... for 10 minutes. It is a huge, steaming pile of rotting faeces. I'm not saying it because it's some new age bullshit crap. Wait a minute, it IS because it's some new age bullshit crap. Here's a sample of the sort of brain-rot she feeds her readers.

"Thoughts are magnetic, and thoughts have a frequency. As you think, those thoughts are sent out into the Universe, and they magnetically attract all like things that are on the same frequency. Everything sent out returns to the source. And that source is You."

"The predominant thought or the mental attitude is the magnet, and the law is that "like attracts like", consequently the mental attitude will invariably attract such conditions as correspond to its nature."

So based on that premise, if I want to be a trader, I just have to visualize myself a trader? If I want a Volvo C70, I just need to walk into a dealership and imagine that I'm insanely rich? Then the world will be full of quadrillionaires (especially in America, where they have more than their fair share of morons who subscribe to this baloney) and there will be massive inflation. Or maybe there won't be inflation because people don't have to buy stuff, they can just wish it into
being.

What happens when different people wish opposite outcomes of the same thing? For example, MidEast terrorist wish to blow Americans to kingdom come, and Americans want to rule the world. And beauty queens want world peace. What happens then?

Not only does this pose an intellectual quagmire to those of us who have trouble visualizing this whole hog-vomit, it smells suspiciously like an unfortunate blend of motivation-speak, new ageism, rat entrails, 2-month old leftover food and the like.

And the best thing is, if this doesn't work, she blames it on you, you poor excuse for hamster dropping.

"When you are trying to work out how it will happen, you are emitting a frequency that contains a lack of faith.... The how is not your part in the Creative Process."

You know what is the one thing that Rhonda Byrnes knows that perhaps much of America doesn't? That Americans (not to mention Val) are stupid enough and gullible enough to swallow her swill.

Verdict: This book is colossally stupid. Don't waste your time. I didn't.

Conversation with W

I had this quite funny conversation with a friend. It started by him firstly insulting my appearance.

W says: And I'm going to make your latest blog rant entry, aren't I?
I say: Haha. I'm not so superficial. Just getting some external info. I pride myself more on being intelligent than being beautiful. Though that doesn't hurt I guess.
W says: Oh trust me, of your intelligence I have no doubt.
I say: Haha. You're just saying that. Wait.. Though that can go both ways. Haha.
W says: Um...no. You also do realise I have this aversion to idiots, right?
I say: Ooh! I used to have that complex too
W says: But working life breeds it out of you?
I say: Then in this industry, I realise that I kinda fall on the other end. I'm not sure if I'm just intimidated by their loud voices rather than their logic, but I always feel dumb after a discussion.
W says: I tend to feel that way too with I'm with loud people...even if I think they're idiots. Might be the volume.
I say: Yeah.. And the speed at which they speak
W says: I have to deal with idiots on a daily basis...and I'm not talking about the kids.
I say: Haha. I think this is a funny conversation. You might make the blog after all.

Wahahaha. This guy has got to be the most cynical person I know. And the conversation continues.

W says: I mean...hello, why even bother to backstab a contract teacher? I'll be off to NIE in less than a year...there's no point whacking me...but some do. And these are idiots with the "I've taught for more than 10 years" complex. Its like...if you want to make Dean or something...whack someone who actually counts...
I say: Haha. You're right. But maybe it's really a complex. If it were strategic, then they would whack whoever counts. Now it's just a personalityi defect.
W says: Exactly...or maybe they're just too stupid to realise that I'm not a threat

I'm not sure why I found that funny. Heh heh. But it is lah. :P

I have lots to post, and I haven't done enough. But here's a morsel for your entertainment for now. Maybe I'll blog more when I'm on the bus.

God's faithfulness

I was listening to this amazing sermon this morning. This is an excerpt
of it. I actually took the trouble to type it out.

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Friends, when you are in the midst of temptation, the first thing you've gotta think about is the truth, that God is faithful. Don't' let your mind go to "I don't wanna do this". Don't let the first thing you think about be "Oh, I don't wanna get into trouble". Don't even make the first stop the consequences of sin, although you should deal with that reality.

The first thing you should think about when in the midst of temptation, when your heart is drawn away from the Lord, is to think about how good God is. It's to think that HE IS FAITHFUL - God is faithful. And it doesn't matter that all the emotions in your heart are shouting the opposite, those feelings are lying to you, the truth is in the word of God - GOD IS FAITHFUL.

He IS faithful.

He's being faithful to you right now.

And don't measure God's faithfulness by the ease of your life. Don't measure God's faithfulness by a headache-free existence. Don't measure God's faithfulness by a conflict-free relationship. Don't measure God's faithfulness by what you see in your life - How easy your life is, how nice your life is. Measure God's faithfulness by the cross of Jesus Christ. That is where you are to look. God who did not spare His own son so that our sins can be forgiven. Jesus who laid down His life while we were yet sinners and rebels against him - That's the depth of God's love. That's the measure of God's love. Measure the faithfulnes of GOd by His promises - That he would never leave us nor forsake us. He will always be with us. God is faithful. Cling to that truth, because when you are looking on and gazing on a faithful God, when you are recalling all of His faithfulness in your life, our sin is a pale, empty thing, when you are gazing upon that God. That God who has never done anything but good to you.

Our brothers and sisters, He never promised us a pain-free existence. He never promised us a life that was free of suffering. Jesus went to the cross to redeem us from our suffering, so that we can have hope in the midst of suffering. You might be in the midst of a trial - God is using that for your good. God is with you. He is faithful.
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-Joshua Harris, Covenant Life Church