Comments, opinions and an occasional ramble
Aaron Ng
Aaron is a final year undergraduate at the Communications and New Media Programme, National University of Singapore. He is currently the managing editor of The Campus Observer, an editorially independent paper operating in NUS. He also does freelance design, both for web and for print. Eventually he hopes to be an academic and manipulate future minds.
Homepage: http://aaron-ng.info
Posts by Aaron Ng
The stage is set
Jul 6th
Italian versus French affair for World Cup 2006 finals.
I never expected the team of old geezers to make it this far. With the team averaging 28 years old, I am truly amazed at the amount of energy left in their legs. During the group stage, they looked like they were headed for an early exit. I didn’t expect them to even get past the group stage. Truly amazing comeback.
The Italians were less of a surprise, although it was still surprising somewhat. The Italian defence is famous, and they are also famous for defending one goal leads. Traditionally, the Italians don’t go in search of goals if they are one up. Therefore, it comes as a surprise that they are winning games by more than one goal margin.
Interesting match-up for the finals. I wished Germany got in though.
History repeats itself
Jun 30th
Three years ago, a girl I knew claimed to have scored 4.6 for one semester. Strangely, she was not placed on the Dean’s list. Eventually, she disappeared quietly and apparently graduated without honours.
Today, history repeats. A guy proclaimed in front of a group of my friends to have scored 4.6 in the previous semester a few hours ago. I just checked the Dean’s list online and his name is not there. I’ve been on the Dean’s list twice, with a score of 4.6 and 4.7 respectively. There’s no way one can score 4.6 and not get on the Dean’s list, not when the overall cap score is claimed to be above 4.0.
The things that some people do for the sake of preserving their egos. And the best part is, the guy knows the girl, and he knows how that lie caught up with her until she couldn’t face the friends she lied to anymore.
??????????????????
Homecoming
Jun 27th
I went back last night to attend the arts camp subject talks. It was a nice homecoming indeed.
Arts Club was where I started my exciting life in university. I attended the entire arts FOP, and I went on to join the 24th MC. I made many friends, and many of them will remain good friends many years after graduation. My time in the 24th was tiring, but it was satisfying, until the end when I was backstabbed big time by a person whom I regarded as a brother. That is perhaps the lowest point in my entire time in NUS, for it left me with a couple of broken friendships, and my broken heart. Thankfully, many of my friends supported me throughout, and I am grateful to all of them.
Because of this heartbreaking episode, I decided to leave Arts Club. I went on to NUSSU Exco, and founded my department’s academic society. Both were challenging and fun in their own right, but my fondest and most nostalgic memories are still in Arts Club, where I turned from an ignorant freshie to a savvy undergrad. No matter where I go in NUS, I can’t banish the longing deep down inside me to return to Arts Club.
It has been a good 2 years since I decided to leave Arts Club. However, yesterday refreshed the memories of the good ol’ days and made me think. I came to the conclusion that Arts Club is still where I really wanted to belong. Perhaps it is time to go back and contribute, although in what capacity I don’t know.
It helped alot to know that I have been vindicated of the bad mouthing by my backstabber. He’s shown his true colours now to everyone, and even those that had been blinded now see some light. His actions have caused even his supporters to desert him. The latest news I got yesterday is that he failed a couple of modules and thus have to stay back another semester, but he claims he’s not graduating because he’s doing honours. I shall not forget to mention he has a new plaything, an innocent freshie. Looks like he wants to continue his chase for the Guiness Records of having the most number of ex-girlfriends (I think it is coming to 20).
Well, I just feel glad that eventually, as the water recedes, the stone surfaces. All those high and mighty words, even to the extent of invoking the name of God are mere acting. He tried to ruin my reputation in an attempt to cover his wrong doing, but in the end he ended up self-destructing. I chose to walk away, keep quiet and move on with life instead of engaging in a tit for tat. Look where I am now. I am legitimately pursuing honours, with a chance at first class. I’ve been engaged for 3 years now, and I’ll most probably be marrying next year. I’ve secured assurances of support to further my studies till PhD. My friends have not ditched me. Perhaps, my departure from Arts Club has resulted in me not being as close to some friends as before, but at least we are still friends.
I suppose this ugly chapter of my university life has finally been closed. As I finish this entry, I am reminded of the Chinese saying, 真金ä¸æ€•ç«(“real gold fears no fire”). If you are genuine person, no one can take that away from you.
Spam Spammed Spamming Spammers
Jun 14th
I wonder how the hell the spammers can spam my blog. They are persistently trying to put their stupid messages and URLs in the comments section. Lucky wordpress has the moderation ability and I set it such that I must approve all comments. Else my poor blog will be full of irritating advertising messages. Grrr… DEATH TO SPAMMERS!!!!!
A sweet and brand new SLVR
Jun 6th
My mobile decided to give up on me two days ago. It mysteriously wouldn’t charge. The battery is still alive and kicking, since I could still use the phone on low battery. I lost a Sony Ericsson Z520 a couple of months back, so I reverted back to my old phone.
The sad thing about losing my old phone is that I got it on contract and had it only for a few months before it dropped out of my pocket while I was on the bus. I can’t recontract again so soon, so I would have to pay retail price for a new mobile.
In the end, I didn’t have to pay that much for my new Motorola SLVR. My fianceé’s mobile contract was up and she recontracted so that I didn’t need to pay so much for a new phone. I didn’t expect her to though. I was prepared to pay retail price and live on grass for the next few months. She’s really so sweet and nice to me. I’m really grateful to have someone who would be willing to do so much for me.
Here’s how my new phone looks like:
It’s been a pretty alright experience with this phone so far. I’ve heard horror stories about Motorola’s user-unfriendliness phone interface but I could use it quite quickly. I suppose it’s because this is the 4th mobile phone brand I’ve tried. I’ve used Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson before, so I’m not addicted to any particular interface. The only downside is that Motorola doesn’t use the T9 predictive text input system, which in my opinion is a better system than their EMS system.
I’m happy with this buy because this phone is damn stylish! I think it’s nicer than the V3 series, which in my opinion is a little bit too big. This phone is smaller and thus cut a sleeker image.
I swear NOT to lose this phone.
Losing streak
May 29th
Sian. Lost 4 DoTA games in a row on Gxleague.
I’ve yet to figure out exactly why, but it seems like a combination of factors. Competition inexperience, lack of teamwork and inability to stay calm perhaps all contributed to the losses.
I was chastised by a fellow team mate for coming down too hard on another team mate. Well, I recognise that people do make mistakes, but I seriously find repeated mistakes unacceptable. It’s hard to excuse yourself when many deaths are caused by staying out alone for extended periods of time, causing enemies to jump you with at least 3 heroes. I mean, even in normal public games, people know better than to stay out for extended periods of time, what more in competition?
I suppose competition brings about pressure and thus making people more prone to making mistakes, all the more so when there’s insufficient practice as a team. I suppose that everyone has to learn how to handle pressure and not let it overwhelm one such that one makes irrational decisions.
Oh well, I just hope that even if my team lacks teamwork and experience, at least we should try not lack nerves. At least by staying composed, taking lesser risks and slowly farming, we can keep pace with the opposing team in terms of leveling and farming. If we can’t even keep pace with leveling and farming, I think we’re definitely done for.
On the move
May 23rd
I’m currently in the process of moving out because my block is being repainted! @#$%^&*
Been sleeping late bcause of packing and cleaning my temporary room. It’s bigger than the current one, with certainly alot more furniture and storage space than the old one. However, everything else is worse. The buildings look dark and run down, the kitchens are massively messy and the toilets have little security (it’s too easy for peeping toms to strike). Looks like I have to live with it for the next two months.
Hopefully I can complete the move by tomorrow. Well, I don’t have a choice actually; my deadline IS tomorrow. Sigh, day time work, night time move. No time to rest. So tired. Zzzz
2 weeks at work
May 19th
This is the end of my second week at work. Everything has been great so far, except the travelling distance. I wake up in between 6.15am and 6.30am so that I can get to work on time. It’s very tiring to have to wake up so early and I swear never to find work at a place so far away again.
I have a highly experienced, friendly and flexible boss, nice colleagues and good pay for an attachment/internship. As there is no structured internship programme here, save for medical/psychology students, I’m paid temp staff wages, which is $50 a day. It’s good money compared to the amount I’ve heard from other people, which is usually in the range of $450 to $550 per month. 
It is also interesting to note I’m the first guy to have worked in the department. Looks like corporate communications isn’t exactly a ‘guy’ thing. I don’t have a problem with an all female environment because I’ve been around a woman long enough for me to get used to all the ‘girl’ talk. Of course, I don’t talk as much as they do, primarily because I don’t know everyone here enough to join the gossip sessions.
I must say that my department is really short handed. They’re so busy that I wonder how they would have coped if I hadn’t come in. In anycase, it’s been a good learning experience so far. I’ve been mainly doing design work, and I have more things to add to my portfolio now! Hopefully there will be other things to do and learn after I’m done with design. I’m glad that I’m not asked to be a coffee boy or something like that, although paying me temp staff wages would make me an extremely expensive coffee boy. :p
From Bangkok to Buangkok
May 13th
It has been a mad week. I departed for Bangkok on Friday morning at 8.15am and reached Singapore at 10.35pm Sunday night. I went to work at IMH the next day, and I had to travel from Clementi to Buangkok (which is in Sengkang). I had programmes on every night after work from Monday to Thursday, and the earliest I ever got back in these four days was 9.30pm.
I’m so grateful that it’s a public holiday today. I badly need the sleep. Finally, I didn’t have to wake up at 6.15am, although I did wake up at that time. I suppose I’m used to waking up at that time already. But I made myself go back to sleep till 11.30am, and I’m feeling so much better. So I have no excuse not to update on what’s been going on in the past week.
Bangkok is still a nice place, although things were certainly more expensive compared to my last visit 5 years ago. It was very hot and humid though. I bought quite alot of water to drink, but I didn’t spend that much because bottled water is cheap! One bottle of cold mineral water (600ml) cost only 10 baht, which is about 40 Singapore cents.
My fiancee had a Thai friend who brought us around for 2 days, and I am thankful that we had her to bring us around. She brought us to places where we had REALLY good and cheap food, help us talk to cab drivers so that we don’t get lost and best of all, she helped us bargain! I must say that Thai people are really hospitable and nice! Thanks Nuey for being such a nice host!
The trip was mainly a shopping trip, so there isn’t much to talk about, except that I tried my first traditional Thai massage. A word of caution: it is not for the faint hearted. It can really hurt at times, and you are stretched to the MAX. Of course, after the massage, you will feel relaxed and more flexible. However, the process can really hurt sometimes, especially when they press and pull tense muscles.
I blew about 3500 baht on shopping, and that’s about 160 SGD. I bought alot of things with that money though. 4 long sleeve shirts, 3 pairs of long pants, 2 pairs of jeans, a belt, a pink T-shirt and a pair of leather shoes. I think 160 SGD will only get you like a pair of pants and 2 long sleeve shirts in Singapore.
Overall, it was a good trip, although it was quite rushed. It would have been better to stay an extra day so that things can go at a slower pace.
I learnt something on this Bangkok trip that I’m going to share with all the guys. If you enter some shady looking massage joint, you have the option of asking for a “happy ending” after your massage. I leave it to you to find out for yourself what’s a “happy ending”.
Damn tired
May 10th
This is the 3rd day that I’ve been back from Bangkok but I’ve not had the time to even rest properly! Started work on Monday, and my workplace is all the way in Sengkang! I take 1hr 30mins to travel to work everyday, and that makes 3 hours of total travel time. Thankfully, Friday’s a public holiday and hopefully I’ll have the time to write more by then.
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