Strive to Achieve

Afghanistan War

2011-08-07T03:12:00.000-07:00

What began as a popular and even seeming prestigious project seeking to eradicate the Taliban stronghold (alleged ally of the numerous terrorist organizations and groups), gradually became an albatross around the US government's neck, drawing accusations of corruptions and even perpetuation of even greater social and economic instability especially in the war-stricken regions. In Saturday, with the crash of the Chinook helicopter and deaths of 30 US troops in Eastern Afghanistan, this inevitability has brought about even greater debate among the general public regarding on our reported "success" in the war as believed by some with the killing of world terrorist organization leader-Osama Bin Laden.

However, one thing that is doubtless is that this is a war with such labyrinthine complexity that no single country no matter her military or economical dominance will be able to derive a clear practical solution in time without affecting her own economic and social security. This is precisely what we are seeing today with the economic slug and massive unemployment that America is experiencing currently, which many international critics argue to be mainly due to the monstrous amounts of aid money the country is still giving to support the war and other social developments that can be otherwise necessarily used for domestic economic boosts and growths. To make things worse, America can now no longer (or with much difficulty) be able to pull herself away from this hydra-head monster without creating even greater international and regional social instability. Hence, this definitely will prove to be much of a challenge and indeed a tricky one for the Obama administration to fulfill their promises to the general American voters.
Another stressing situation is the alleged lack of support by the Afghanistan allied government, which are often accused of allowing for a rather lenient hand in their tackle of specific terrorist organization in the country. This hesitating move (different observers hold varying views) by the Afghan authorities was argued by some international critics to be more of a sinister move or plan to urge for greater and better aid and military donations by the western (especially American) countries.

The war in Afghanistan will definitely not be one which will end favorably soon especially due to the varying elements of objectives hold by the different key players that hence deter their full collaborated support and ultimately the effectiveness in the combat against global terrorism.

Somalia Piracy Threat

2011-08-06T07:02:00.000-07:00

The recent report Somalia's Sea Wolves published by Times by Times correspondent Alex Perry definitely helps us in drawing some light to the stressing situation in Somalia and its repercussions and impacts on the global sea trade route. Though the Somalia pirates are currently now faced with an international armada at sea, which is part of an agreed commitment by more than ten over countries in the United Nation to ensure the stability and security of the sea region, the unfortunately truth is that piracy remains and continues to surge. This is further elaborated by one of the dominate pirate kings Fingers that Perry interviewed whom not only justified his cause but also even relates piracy to their Libertalia way of life.

One of the main contributing reasons to the issue of surging piracy that is given is due to the lack of a strong onshore authority in the country. Decades of racial tensions and riots and political sabotages and corruption have long stripped the country much of her economic capital and hence pulling all possible strands of economic growth to a halt. This worrying situation in turn resulted in high unemployment rates across the country and even to those pathetic few who are hired, their meager salary are not even enough to support themselves. This massive waves of unemployment young adults are unlikely not tempted and attracted to the lure and pernicious claws of piracy, which are often seen as the only source of sustainable income especially in the poverty-stricken northern part of Somalia.

It should not be come as a surprise to many that even with the constant and agreed collaboration between countries around the region and even world military superpowers such as America and China, there are often loopholes and that it is impossible to safe guard every single ship and vessel sailing through the region. This is often to the lack of military resources devoted and also the vastness of the sea regions that are required to be patrolled and protected. As a result, pirates soon begin to avoid direct force confrontation with the Allied naval forces and will rather patiently wait for the naval warships to sail off to patrol another region before starting to loom in to their targets.

I Found Back My Blog

2011-08-02T05:48:00.000-07:00

Perhaps this is another perfect example of the side effects due to our or rather my dependence on technology or should I actually just admit it as my silly mistake altogether that I had not taken the pain to memorize my user name and password to my blogspot back then. However, enough said, I should and must continue my blogging legacy and try my best to compete against Zhi Xiang's like 100 ++ blog post (not sure the numbers has stagnated as he is too too busy involved with his national service).

I am currently be it fortunately or unfortunately stuck and trapped in my national service. Sorry for using such a narrow and negative perspective but which I strongly believe will be immediately forgiven by anyone who shares a common burden and commitment. In case you are wondering, I had already completed my A level examinations and has secured a course in a local university. The grades that I received were lower from my expectations, and I do and still do feel a strong sense of remorse over my poor performed results. Haiz... Seriously till now, I still are unable to accept it but what can I do about it and life still has to go on forward. Though the course, accountancy, that I am enrolled into, is fairly good but I nevertheless believe based on my abilities, I definitely could and should do much more better. Never mind, looking at the bright side, I honestly believe that this is a second chance that is given to me to remedy my past regrets and mistakes and I will excel in it.

Love and romance-an invention of the media industry

2009-11-26T03:36:00.000-08:00

The miracle of love is that of its protean nature to assimilate steathily and readily into our lives, and often along with its salient tantalizing effect when you release it. It is not so much about its intangible or tangible effects, but rather due to our steretypical mentality of it, unfortunately a by-product of the media industry, that make it to be so wonderful and miraculous but yet perilous at the same time to us. While a quick scan of some of the popular Korean, Japanese drama serials may reveal many stories revolvering on issues not pertaining to only on love/romance, but also generally related to kinship, hatred, sex and violence, an indisputable fact is that the element of romance and love has become one of the salient characteristics of the media industry. Detractors such as overly anxious parents and teachers have constantly arguing about the various negative implications of such movies and drama serials in deplicting an often distorted version of romance by highlighting the disturbing increasement in the cases of teenage relationship and pre-martial sex, while on the other hand, movie operators and media coperations are quick to rebut on the fact that there is actually no real guidelines and regulations on the issue of romance, and that they are merely supplying and satisfying the desires and wants of the public.

The Green Revolution

2009-10-30T06:27:00.000-07:00

The perennial apocalyptic mess of prolonged droughts and floods in Qinghai, Gansu in China and reports of rising sea levels due to the melting of the icebergs in Antartica, such as the creaking of the Ross Ice Shelf has paranoid conservationists, politicans for years. Though massive fundings are channelled to the restoration of our once pristine planet/environment such as the development of green technology to replace the use of coal and fossil fuels which are the major contributors of environmental degradation especially with their ubiqutious emission of greenhouse gases, little results have since been reaped from it. China, despite promises of stricter environmental laws and controls such as the target of expanding the renewable energy sector to 8 percent of the total domestic energy market, still remains to be the most populous and polluting country in the world, not to mention there are already criticisms questioning the validity and feasibility of the various environmental policies, for fear that they may be undermined by the widespread corruption and general inefficiency by the officials in the inplentation and monitoring of their enforcements. Still, the news of growing emphasis of the need to conserve the environment by politicans, adversay groups and more importantly the individual consumers and citizens nevertheless impunge a new sense of hope and confidence for our environment.

The raging war in Afghanistan

2009-10-17T02:36:00.000-07:00

General's Stanley Mcchrystal's request for an increase in the number of American troops in Afghanistan had left the world poundering about the effectiveness and success of this eight year long intervention. Advocates of the intervention would be more than ready to pull out a series of failed terrorists attacks, most notably for the recent failed plot to bomb a Dallas skyscraper and draw their arguments that if not for the Us presence in Afghanistan to curb the Al-Qaeda insurgency, much more destruction/devastation would prevail (though I think this view is a bit cynical). On the other hand, critics to the intervention such as Zafar Bangash are likely to highlight about the high rates of corruption by the local officials and more now than ever, the various limitations in American's intervention such as to improve the livelihood of the people, especially those who stayed at the border of the capital where there are constant terrorist attacks and a general lack of security. Many alternative methods are suggested such as the investments in the construction of public amenities such as schools and hiring of teachers in the rural areas to tackle the spread of radical teachings. However, there is one major problem that needs to be curb and to a certain extend be nibbed at the bud and that is the high rates of country-wide corruption. According to a reliable website (the name to be kept in secrecy to avoid ......) an approximation figure of more than 27 percentage of the foreign pool of investment into the region may have already channelled into the coffers of the officials, military and more disturbingly the Al-Qaeda and other militant Turks/radicals.

Mid-autumn festival

2009-10-03T07:12:00.000-07:00

Today is the long awaited mid autumn festival. Finally, I can pamper myself with the mooncakes that mum bought the day before (I think there are a total of 5 boxes of them) and immerse into the annual lantern festival. Oh I never forget. According to Straits Times and the Astronomical America Webpage, this year's full moon will be the brightest and biggest for the century. I must remind myself to set up my telescope for some moon-sighting.

Joice called me to go out to attend the lantern festival together, but I declined her offer, as I planned to finish watching the online Chinese dramma serial-Xian Jian Qi Xia Chuan 3 by today. I was totally obsessed with Long Kai, Jing Tian's sister.

In the end, I changed my mind, due to some unknown reasons, and went out with Joice to the lantern festival. The festival was quite boring (like I had expected earlier), after all this is my fifth time attending the annual festival, but I did not want to be such a wet blanket, else Joice started to condemn me again. (ZZZ)

Holidays???

2009-09-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

The holidays or rather the study break is just around the corner, but I hardly have any mood to do anything constructive currently. Perhaps this is what many of my peers would call it a post-year examination break or something, but one thing for sure, this is really annoying and at times may even be terribly irritating. Alas, never mind about it. Today, I went out with Joice for rollerblading, something that I had not done since the year before, but still I thought that it might just be a great thing to do, especially to keep me occupied for the next couple of hours or so. Moreover, this is also one of the rare few times that Joice took the initiative to be bothered to call me and ask me about it.
I found that my skills had turned rusty, to the extent that I nearly collide onto her when we were practising the double-man salome. I think I should start practising on a regular basis, not after that Joice threaten to condemn me for the rest of her life (made me think of Shinzu and Yingying). I think next time I will post a clip of me performing on the blades, but first I think I will need to polish up my skills. Oh, I nearly forgot. I must remind myself to buy two more spare wheels as one of the wheels of my blades is spolit.
Today, I received back my Chemistry paper and it was actually fairly well done though I expect to do much better. Now, in total, I had received 4 papers, and I think I may or perhaps will get back my general paper next morning. Alas, I am worried that I may not be able to reach the criteria to study H3 subject next year. ZZZ I think I should start pulling myself together and embrace myself for the next challenge-Project Work.

The necessity of capital punishment and other forms of punishments in today's society

2009-07-31T03:17:00.000-07:00

Since primordial past, punishments were often meted out alongside with laws as effective tools of governance by king and cliaphs to ensure order and justice on the land. However, in recent years, with the realization of the shortcomings and ineffectiveness of punishments in curbing crimes, and the rising emphasis of individual human rights around the world, this stimulates a growing need to reconsider the necessity of punishments, especially capital punishment in today's modern and civilised society. The controversy surrounding this issue has never faltered over the years, with many advocates of human rights such as the Freedom Individuals Group arguing for the abolishment of punishments or at least capital punishments for their ineffectiveness and their apparent finality and cruelty (for capital punishment), while detractors such as governmental organizations may be quick to upbroil about the possible societal consequences which may be resulted with the abolishment of punishments such as social disorder/fragmentation and ultimately lead to total chaos (can someone kindly tell me anyother better substitude for this, thanks).

CIP at SCS

2009-07-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

Today was entirely spent doing CIP (community involvement programmes) at the singapore science centre. Alas, I have no time for homework. zzz. However, I am glad that the day was fruitfully spent, not to mention the free tickets to the Da Vinci exhibition at the end of the day. Haha, how typical Singaporean I am. Please do not call me a cheapskate, I am but merely doing the greatest good of oneself. I am sure you would do the same thing when the opportunity arrives. ANyway, we are only allowed to go in at 5 pm, therefore it means that we only had a pathetic 50 to 55 mintues of glancing through the entire exhibition. By the way, the exhibition was really fantastic, and it was entirely different from what I originally perceive it to be. "It may be acused by the frantic of reading of the book the Da Vinci Code". Through the help from our friendly and self initiated guide Fanqi, we managed to grasp the main gist of the exhibitions, after much difficulty filtering off the unwanted pure crapping information. (just joking la).
Basically, Da Vinci was a genious in many aspects such as applcations of sciences, which can be seen in many of his inventions of war machines like tanks and submarines, arts, philosphy and etc. His mastery piece is indisputably the painting of Mona Lisa, which hold many untold controversial mysteries and secrets that still fansinates many till today. One of the highlights of the exhibition was the revealing of the 25 secrets of the painting of Mona Lisa and the detailed analysis of the painting with the use of modern technology such as the infared radiation. (one application of technology for the benefits of mankind-answer for GP lesson) Unfortunately, these 25 secrets were not exactly what I have been hoping for such as the secrets of the Holy Grail or at least something related. zzz
As part of my ending sentence, I think the Da Vinci exhibition is definitely not a thing to be missed. Oh ya, I think Fanqi is more and more like ying ying, not sure if it is due to the reason that they are or to be exact WERE from girl guides. However, one thing for sure, they get excited very easily. Haha. Next time: pls stay tuned for the exhibition of the secrets of Fanqi in the next post. (haha, just joking, Fanqi don't be too excited)

Random notes regarding GP lecture

2009-07-10T08:01:00.000-07:00

Science and Technology.
Science is merely the acquisition of knowledge and skill. while technology, on the other hand, is the application of such knowledge for the benefits and many of a times the destruction of humanity. Hence, owing to the differences between how science and technology are being defined, this makes science to be rather neutral, very much unlike technology which is subjected to the nature of its application.
War is often described to be a political tool which only brings about the destruction of humanity which often takes in the form of deaths and destructions of cities. It is interesting to note that war is many of a times one of the major factor which accelerates the advancement of science and techology. The Wright Brothers invented the first airplane, which however proved to be rather bulky and inefficient, but it is only during the subsequent years later especially during the period of the First and Second World War when we can see a significant change in the design of the airplanes from the past conventional bulky and wooden gliders to the modern motor powered and light weighed air planes.

2009-07-05T22:43:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow will be the official starting of another long and boring school term. Haiz... I still have a couple of homework left uncompleted. I think I should better remind myself to do them later instead of continuing to stone or some would prefer the term rot in front of the computer screen. I happened to found a long lost novel when I was busy tidying my drawers and lockers this morning. The title of the book is Brave New Worlds, I am sure that many of us may have heard or read it before. I do not like to read, but today, perhaps out of my own immensity curiosity or other apparent reason such as the colourful design of the cover of the book, I suddenly found myself reading the book for the entire morning. What a way to spend my beautiful monday morning, I shuld have gone and done something else such as... (zzz couldn't think of anything better to do).
Anyway, I should stop talking about it, as it seems boring. I think I should plan my sechdules for the next few hours now, with the constant reminder that the next few hours should or should I say must be dutifully spent. Ya, I will do my homework which consists of some chemistry assignments and essay before watching one ot two hours of Boys Over Flower Drama Series. Okay, I think that should be it. (kai dong lo)

2009-07-05T07:08:00.000-07:00

Today was not as fruitfully spent as the previous day, at least based on how I see it. The entire day was spent on attending to a rather boring, though meaningful family trip to Sentosa. Please do not think that I am not bonded with my family, rather it is the other way around. Family outing to me is quite meaningful as this is one of the few opportunities that my family and I can bond and open up to one another, all thanks to the hustle and bustle lifestyles in this ever changing world. Hazz... The real problem or rather irritable is that it has the nth time I have been to Sentosa. I can literally figure my way through Sentosa blindedfolded, okay maybe not to that extreme but you get the point alright.
Singapore is just such a boring place, with limited funlands available for us commutors to go to to enjoy ourselves with. Perhaps to the tourists who are coming to Singapore for the first time, Singapore may be an interesting place of visit, but to the residents who have lived in Singapore for the past decades or even more for some, it is definitely the other story around.

"vacation" after midyear examinations

2009-07-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

Today is almost entirely spent trying to convince myself to do the holiday task which was supposed to be done weeks ago. The exam is finally over, but I do not look forward to the days of playing that come subsequently or rather should I say I do not feel like playing, partially due to my econonmics and General papers. I should not say that I have done particularly bad or whatever, though I do not really think I will pass with flying colours. Alas, I think I will stop crying over spilt milk and pondering over the events anymore. Okay, maybe one last sentence. I really hope I will score well in my papers-practice of wishing thinking.
I did not done anything much today, besides the usual pondering over some of the OMG pratice questions from the TYS (ten years series) A level booklets, and indulging myself in the peaceful and beautific fields of nature (pls do not think I am mediating but rather I just spent about two hours lying on the field near my house, observing the flora and fauna which happened to be there).
Oh ya, I just remembered something, thanks to the movie advertising preview which just broadcast in my desk television. Man, I really want to watch the movies Transformers and the Ice Age 3. Better remind myself to watch them today or the day after.