Breakthrough

I should have posted this yesterday by 9am but I was far too lazy and tired, so I’m doing it now.
Last Saturday, Kwee Haan, Brian, and I took part in our virgin Sundown 42.195km, in fact this distance is our first too.
I realised that it pays to be minimally conditioned before taking on feats like this, because it requires a lot of stamina and endurance (both physical and mental). Hence, it’s important that one has been running fairly regularly of at least 10-20km before taking up long-distance marathons. Of course, supplements like power gels and energy drinks come in handy too, provided you’ve trained yourself to run with that extra weight. A full-body warm-up stretching is a must before runs, the intensity at which you’re running might cause upper body crams in your arms, back, or deltoids too. Carbo-loading and hydration the day of the run is essential as it jams your body with a huge influx of carbohydrates and fluids which will be burned off intensely during long-distance marathons; this includes more rice, noodles, pasta, potato, bananas, etc.

Picture 1: Before the run. Anticipating certain doom, we’re hoping to return before daybreak.
Picture 2: After the run. Elation and relief that we’ve triumphed! Hey the sky’s still dark! :D
During the run itself, maintaining an effective pacing and momentum is necessary to optimise one’s stamina. In the case of impending muscle cramps, there is a need to stop immediately to stretch that muscle group; it helps far better than allowing the muscle to fully cramp-up and limping the rest of the run. Many runners love to have their mp3 players plugged on, I’m no exception; it really helps to have your favourite upbeat songs (in my case it’s club remixes) taking your mind off the pain and inducing a stable running pace. At about 18km into the run during the East Coast stretch reaching the Siglap Park connector, the remix for Brandy’s ‘Long Distance’ started playing which was rather hilarious (imagine: With you is where I’d rather be, but we’re stuck where we are. It’s so hard, you’re so far. This long distance is killin’ me.) LOL!!!
Based on the visual timeboard, I came in at 5hrs 30min, far better than my expected timing of 6hrs even though I wasn’t feeling too well and kept coughing all through the run. I ought to thank the guy who rubbed my back towards the last 2-3km of the run when I coughed a bit too badly; throughout the race I saw runners who stopped to help the guy/lady cramping by the sides. Somehow it’s these little acts of paying it forward that give people an unforseen warmth and motivation to push on (I zoomed off after giving him a word of thanks LOL)!

It’s 6.30am in the morning, and we’ve just pwned 42.195km through the run!
Now that I’ve broken through the 42km mark, I feel a new found motivation to continue running as a hobby and participate in more events in the future!
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AHM’s next. Nike Human Race, Run for Hope, New Balance Real Run, and Stanchart anyone?

PWNED

Another recap post.
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PWNAGE 1
Last saturday (23rd May 2009), 15 of us went for Distant Worlds ~ Music from Final Fantasy!!!
I remember when ticket sales first opened to arts fest members, the tickets for both shows were sold out within the opening day, and when SAF anounced a 3rd show and opened ticket sales, the tickets were sold within a day and a half too. The lucky 15 of us managed to get tickets for the 3rd show. I’m gonna be a bitch, so to those who didn’t catch it, OH WELL maybe next time? :P

Setlist
1) Final Fantasy VIII – Liberi Fatali
2) Final Fantasy X – To Zanarkand
3) Final Fantasy VIII – Don’t be Afraid
4) Final Fantasy VII – Aerith’s Theme
5) Final Fantasy I-III – Medley 2002
6) Final Fantasy V – Dear Friends
7) Final Fantasy IX – Vamo’ alla Flamenco
8) Final Fantasy series – Main Theme
- Intermission -
9) Final Fantasy VII – Opening Bombing Mission
10) Final Fantasy VIII – Fisherman’s Horizon
11) Final Fantasy XI – Memoro de la Stono – Distant Worlds
12) Final Fantasy IV – Theme of Love
13) Final Fantasy series – Swing de Chocobo
14) Final Fantasy VIII – Love Grows
15) Final Fantasy VI – Opera “Maria and Draco”
Encore
16) Final Fantasy VI – Terra’s Theme
17) Final Fantasy VII – One-Winged Angel

Obviously, those 3 pieces in bold are by far the most celebrated ones that would make almost anyone go wet! The local arts fest orchestra was the playing orchestra for the Singapore length of the Distant Worlds tour. Many would say that the performance standards were fairly decent, but even then I felt that this performance was practically my, as a fan’s, first orgasm since this is my first time at a Final Fantasy concert!
Do you know what it’s like to be left PWNED and wet on your seat? You need more.
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PWNAGE 2
The same day as the Distant Worlds concert, Heng Hiang and I went to collect our Sundown race packs.

To be honest, I have been slacking off, a lot. I’m PWNED…
This leaves a few alternatives:
1) I’d be walking right from the start, and might even offer my services to help the rear runner right at the back carry the signage at the back.
2) I can attempt to run it all, and drop dead (not literally) halfway through, and end up not getting the finishers medal.
3) I can jog so slowly I’d still be halfway through after sunrise. (Note: the 42.195km component starts at 2359)
4) I’d freak out, and FALL SICK before the run.
5) Be a bitchy cheater, and hail a cab after jogging for 5km, and alight just 3km from the finish point.
This looks bleak.
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Since this post is all about getting PWNED, I thought it appropriate to post this video by Ryan Higa, about the definition of ‘PWNED’.
Enjoy~

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PWNED

Bintan 05-09

Yours truly visited the sunny island of Bintan in Indonesia recently from 20th-22nd May.

Picture 1: As most of you would know, Indonesia is the land of the Garuda (or Eagle).
Picture 2: Bintan Ferry Terminal.

Picture 3: Bintan Lagoon Resort reception.
Picture 4: Deluxe Sea View Facing Room. The newly renovated decor (no picture) is even nicer than this.

Picture 5: Can you believe it, this cost SG$3.00 from the resort’s minimart.
Picture 6: View of the resort from the front field.

Picture 7: Open-concept massage pavillion facing the beach on one side, and the resort on the other.
Picture 8: Looks familiar?

Picture 9: The resort’s very own beach.
Picture 10: Trust me, the sand’s so fine and soft I could lie in it! This is what I call the true Island Life. Learn from it Sentosa!
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We went out of the resort a few times, even out of the Bintan Resorts area once.

Picture 11: Pasar Oleh Oleh… THE tourist trap.
Picture 12: Boring as hell, you can finish walking in 15min. The only thing useful about this place is the minimart where you can stock up on your snacks instead of paying exorbitant prices at the resort minimarts.

Picture 13: I saw this on sale at most of the souvenir shops… There were ashtrays, and even keychains of it.. Quite disturbing I must say.
Picture 14: Bintan Resorts’ Mangrove Tour. We didn’t go though.

Picture 15: A small local beach kampong outside of the Bintan Resorts grounds.
Picture 16: The local town west of Bintan, 20min drive out of the Bintan Resorts area.

Picture 17: A new kelong resort out of the Bintan Resorts area, yet to open its doors to the public.
Picture 18: The local beach, very different from what you see at the resorts.
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My impression of Bintan is that it’s best to go there simply only for a resort beach holiday. The local grounds resemble whatever you see in malaysia, and the biggest town of Tanjung Pinang is too expensive (SG$88 with a total travelling time of 3+hrs to and from) to travel from the Bintan Resorts area. The pricing for rooms may see decent and quite affordable, but everything else costs mony money money. You can easily be spending more on the food and activites above everything else.

Picture 19: The ferry home. We could see our ‘Big Wheel’.
Picture 20: Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.
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The next time I go Bintan, I’m sticking to having it as a resort holiday~

OFF

It’s been awhile since I posted anything and I actually have a lot to post, but right now I’m not in the mood.
URGH.
I’m wondering where everyone went, or should I say, I’m wondering where am I such that no one can find me?
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What’s the point of holding a simple birthday party and inviting special friends when I feel as though there’s almost no one?

We’re not stupid

Hey Josie and the Valiant (NOT) Pussies, YOU LOSE!
As we all know, the results of AWARE’s EGM is out, with a vote of no confidence passed against the new exco with 1414 to 761 votes.
Initially when this whole issue came under media obsession, one would think that the issue involved mainly homosexual acceptance vs religious conservatives. However, as the conflict carried on between the new exco and the old guard, with tensions rising to the level of boiling outburst, one can see that this whole issue has nonetheless blown out of proportion involving religious activism vs secular organisations, with the touch of sensational media spotlight.
Honestly, on one hand I fail to understand why so big a fuss has been made out of it, on the other, along with most other Singaporeans who aren’t really bothered about it, this whole AWARE saga is quite the socio-political drama we need to spice things up a bit. In fact, I do enjoy watching the catfight that is going on, even though I do have my stand on it: secularisation should NEVER involve reigious influence!

My pre-EGM view: If a secular organisation like AWARE falls into the hands of religious activists under the guise of “valiant warriors fighting for a greater good”, these people will DEFINITELY reshape the goals of the organisation to suit THEIR religious beliefs. What’s the point of an organisation being secular, if it operates on the hands of a ruling religion that imposes its ideals on the non-religious or believers of other faiths? These so called ‘warriors’ are threading a very fine line here. Push too much and step on the religious beliefs of other faiths, and that’s as good as shaking the religious balance and peace Singapore has achieved post-riot. The government should step in, disband AWARE, let the old guards regroup under a new secular NGO to continue the good work they’ve been dong so far. As for these “valiant warriors”, they can regroup for all they want as a religious NGO without tainting the definition of “secular”, have their supporting church members join up, and voice out their bullshit via the proper channels. It’s easier to deal with an NGO that’s not doing anything substantial for the economy or society and making too much noise than it should, than dealing with a secular NGO that has been split into 2 camps with one involving religious activism that has gone beyond the lines. Seriously, the new exco can use their church links to recruit all the numbers they want, even win the EGM come May, but they are never going to truly win anything if they continue to step on everyone else’s toes trying to win a petty fight.

To quote the email that was sent to parents regarding the issue: “ALL IT TAKES FOR EVIL TO TRIUMPH IS FOR GOOD PEOPLE TO DO NOTHING” – This is quite the irony. Precisely the majority of Singaporeans couldn’t really be bothered and are doing nothing except to enjoy the drama, that allows these attention-seekers to triumph in their drama and nothing else. This drama is getting boring, next season please?
To quote Derek Hong: “It’s not a crusade against the people but there’s a line that God has drawn for us, and we don’t want our nation crossing that line.” – Seriously Mr. Hong, if Singapore is YOUR God’s nation, I’m leaving for good. Why threaten to overturn the religious harmony and co-existence we’ve been enjoying for 40 odd years by imposing your beliefs on non-believers with sweeping statements like this?

Well it’s good that the old guards won and now have the support of the MAJORITY people, so it is expected that they ought to carry on the good work they’ve been doing, and REMAIN SECULAR.
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Hot Men

Imagine this: you work at Sakae Sushi. One afternoon, a customer signals you to take his/her order, and the request turned out to be, “can we have the soft-shell crab temaki, sashimi, unagi chawanmushi, and Hot Men?”
I was out with chocobo today, and we happened to have the tea buffet over at Wheelock’s Sakae Sushi outlet. Of course this being a buffet, it involved an intense jamming of food down my throat, to cover the cost of the buffet (I shall not go into the specifics as to how many plates we ate though…). We asked for the bill, and as I checked the order list I found something very amusing:

I’m just wondering, what if customers do get what they want (literally) by ordering that o.o!
~
Chocobo tried to use the birthday voucher for the tea buffet, and apparently the voucher is not applicable to buffet meals. This I totally don’t understand! If I get a complimentary voucher for my birthday for being a member, yet I cannot use it on buffets; what if I happen to be celebrating it with friends by having a BUFFET? From what I see, if such an issue arises, it’s going to deal damage to their customer relations, leaving customers displeased. Shouldn’t they earn more if the discount voucher is used to pay for a cheap buffet, rather than a huge à la carte spread?
We decided to fill in a comments-form, with yours truly helming the written comment/suggestion. I can’t remember what I wrote exactly, but it goes something along the lines of: “I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY BIRTHDAY VOUCHER CANNOT BE USED ON A TEA BUFFET MEAL, SINCE IT IS A BELATED CELEBRATION. IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE, AND I AM EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED.” (Yes I wrote it in CAPS)
I know we’re being really bitchy, but it is still within our role as a customer to question. If it really were a birthday celebration, an issue like this would be one hell of a mood-damper. Why be nice anyway? Aren’t they supposed to be marketing and building effective customer relations?
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After last thursday’s Biz Comp paper, and last sat’s Accounting paper, I am currently halfway through my exams, leaving 2 more papers. Biz Comp catalysed the “resign-to-fate syndrome” in all of us, and accounting literally took us into the disease, wholesale. What a bitch of a paper! This is the first time I’ve come across a question that required me to form up a cash budget, through value-comparison and observation of transactions from a balance sheet and income statement; this means I’m practically coming up with the cash flow statement, only difference being that I do not produce a statement, but use the values to determine the cash budget. I shall let heaven decide my fate…
As such, I can almost surely say that I’m currently in GAGA mode. No this has nothing to do with Lady GaGa (although she rocks). I’m just cranky I guess, so cranky that a gummy bear song actually cracks me up like a mental patient.

I’m a jelly bear, cause I’m a gummy bear~ *repeat chant*
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Ever since I fell sick weeks ago, my running regime crumbled into dust, and i would do at most 1 run a week that spreads no more than 10km.
A miracle happened just from 9.30-11.30pm. I managed to complete my 20+km in the usual 2hrs cap! Hopefully things start off from here so I can be ready for Sundown 42.
I shall attribute my regained standard to the music I blast while running. Seriously, remixes ROCK! Your momentum chants along to the beat of the mix, your mind drifts off in a sing-a-long to your favourite hits, and before you know it you pass km after km like a stroll in the park.
Some of the remixes I’m currently digging big time:
1) Come Back To Me (Tony Moran & Warren Wiggs Remix)
2) Jai Ho! (Big Kids Lah! Mardi Gras Tribal Slumpdog Reconstruction)
3) Long Distance (Jody Den Broeder Club Mix)
4) Love Etc (Pet Shop Boys Mix)
5) Love Story (Digital Dog Remix)
6) My Life Would Suck Without You (DJ VNO Rework Remix)
7) Poker Face (Jody Den Broeder Remix)
8) Takin Back My Love (Moto Blanco Club Remix)
9) Tattoo (Jason Nevins Mix)
10) I Hate This Part (Digital Dog Radio Edit)
The list just goes on so I’ll just give 10. In fact I have more than one remix of some of the songs playing back-to-back like Utada’s ‘Come Back to Me’, Kelly Clarkson’s ‘My Life Would Such Without You’ and Enrique Iglesias’ ‘Takin Back My Love’.
Dirrty Remixes dot com ♥
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Captivate

Without a doubt, I’m pretty sure we all LOVE Susan Boyle after seeing her phenomenal appearance on Britain’s Got Talent and singing ‘I Dream a Dream’.
Here’s another song she covered way back in 1999, ‘Cry Me a River’, which was recorded for a charity CD organised by her local newspaper. ENJOY!

Tell me, aren’t you mesmerised all over again?
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Some of you might already know, the makers of the hot favourite Bejeweled is releasing a new game come May, titled “Plant VS Zombie”. They’ve even made a trailer for it which came up in April which I find rather addicting and undeniably CUTE!

The song’s downloadable on Pop Cap’s webpage itself (both the English and Japanese versions)!!!
http://www.popcap.com/games/pvz/?icid=pvz_pre_PC_promo_top_1_04_09_09_EN&cuevid=1
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The exams are just around the corner. 2 weeks, 4 papers, lots of mugging and oil-burning, and the semester will be well over with a nice 2 month holiday greeting us all. The basic motivation would obviously be to plough my way through 2 weeks and be greeted with a nice study break; however I do have another, far stronger, motivation, right Chocobo?
1D3M BARE MINIMUM right, I’ll get better than that.
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Initiate

I need to exclaim: I am a fan of Mei-chan no Shitsuji!!! (メイちゃんの執事)

For those who don’t know, here’s the link to the dramawiki for this hilarious drama: http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Mei-chan_no_Shitsuji
For those who know, and have undeniably fallen in love with this drama, here’s the MV to the themesong!

Song: My Sunshine
Artist: ROCK’A'TRENCH
Drama: メイちゃんの執事 (Mei-chan no Shitsuji)
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I’m intending to initiate Mugger-Mode: Red.
Well actually I’ve kind of started since Sunday night, minus today afternoon and evening.
Monday 130409 : 1am – 4am, 11am – 2pm, 3pm – 7pm, 8pm – 10pm.
Tuesday 140409: 12.30am – 2.30am, 5.30am – 8am.
Somehow I feel that studying will never ever be enough, so it’s best to just shut the fuck up, sound-proof the room, lock the door shut, leave the lights permanently on, and spend every moment awake on studies. Intense drilling of the mind works best, considering I have so much to study: balance sheets, P&L accounts, depreciation value, FIFO LIFO, flexed budgeting, determination of accuracy of values, locating value break-ups, spreadsheet functions, access concepts, computing and networking in relation to businesses, graphic-only interactive programs and utilities, keynesian VS classical VS intermediate range of AS, ALL markets and relative supply and demand, understanding commanding heights video inside out, exchange rates and interest rates relative to markets, fiscal and monetary policies, balanced budgets a big no no, multipliers, RGDP VS NGDP, internal and external forces determining marketing environment, product and brand recognition and influence, long-term brand recognition in consumers, drawing and segmenting target groups, identifying key target segments, conceptualising and understanding purchase patterns and factors of target segments, methods of engaging target audience, factors of consideration pertaining to market expansion or penetration, promotion and customer attraction methods, the fucking list goes on and on…

Tell me, when will studying ever be enough?
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Wet

I know the post title sounds very very wrong, but it is without a doubt the best word to use.
Yes, I got wet upon seeing this video.

Rejoice bitches, FINALLY there’s progress! I’ve been waiting far too long for this; to feel increasingly perplexed and disturbed by the philosophies and concepts brought up in this anime: the worth of life and death, the complexities or even stupidity of physical human relations, the idea of surpression and/or total reduction and annihilation to eradicate all forms of evil in humans and enforce a united (or should I say forcefully messed together) sea of thought.
I shall not rant on far to deep in this =X
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Recently we had the easter weekend, filled with fun and laughter (and some booze and loud music).
I was surfing around just now and happened to see this easter joke.

The Chosen People
Well, when Moses was on earth back then he was given the Ten
Commandments, but he was not told actually what he should do with them.
He took them to England and confronted a man and asked, “Would You
Like A Commandment?”
The man replied, “What’s A Commandment?”
Moses took a tablet and read, “Thou Shalt Not Steal!”
The man replied, “Go away, we don’t want any of that here!”
Moses went to America and confronted a man with the same question,
“Would You Like A Commandment?”
The man replied, “What’s A Commandment?”
Moses took a tablet and read, “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery!”
The man replied, “Go away, we don’t want any of that here!”
And so Moses went on his way around the world always getting the
same response until he arrived in Jerusalem.
Moses confronted a Jew with the same question, “Would You Like A
Commandment?”
The Jew replied, “How Much Are They?”
Moses replied, “Well….They’re Free!”
The Jew replied, “THEN I’LL TAKE TEN!”

I see why many of us don’t mind partying downstairs ;D
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Very often, we are materialistic people who make impressions based on looks. We don’t even need to listen to what people have to say and we’d already have formed an impression based on their appearance and mannerisms. Time and again, we might verbally exclaim that ‘looks can be deceiving’ and we should ‘never judge a book by its cover’, but how often do we really keep to that? There’s also the other side of things, where pretty often, there is some truth in identifying a person’s character and behaviour simply based on his/her appearance and mannerisms.
I happened to see this video on youtube, and was immensely WOW-ed and impressed for a whole 7 minutes. Well, the Brits were wowed by it too, if you get what I mean…

Youtube has done a widespread embed-removal on all uploads of this video, so click on it to watch it on youtube itself.
BRAVO Susan Boyle!!!
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Mugging…. urgh….

Chocobo

Daniel msned me this youtube link just earlier in the night.
Wonder Girls’ “So Hot” totally GONE WRONG.
WARNING: NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED!

O.O”
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ooooooo I got myself a….
CHOCOBO!!! :D

Ain’t it cuuuuuuuuuuuuute! ♥♥♥
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I’ve been at this point on the PPF curve for a week

Maybe I should start with sleeping earlier…