Painful Psychobabble

A Close Shave?

2012-01-05T09:53:00.003+08:00

Just before heading out, I looked into the mirror for a cursory check on my hair. No, it wasn't in place.

I adjusted my fringe, tried to smooth out any stray hairs. No, it still doesn't look right.

My scalp. It's showing.

I tried to spread my hair across, but to no avail. Every time I distributed my hair across from left to right, the other side would start to show.

Shit.

My hair was thinning. My goodness, was this how I looked in the morning?! Why didn't anyone tell me about this??

I was getting frustrated. What was meant to be a habitual adjustment of my hair has turned into an almost full-blown crisis.

Damn it. Chemotherapy has finally taken its toll. Looks like I might need to shave soon.

I give up.

I got out of the washroom, hoping and willing intensely that no one would take notice of my hair... or the lack of.

Walking into the adjacent room, I noticed a sink with an array of shaving blades, brushes and powder. Alarmed, I walked briskly past a bald guy with an assistant, whom I assumed was helping him achieve that clean shaven top.

So what now?

Is it time to lose my mane of glory? The irony.

Then, I woke up.

2012, Another Beginning

2012-01-01T22:52:00.000+08:00

Holy crap, it's 2012!

Just when I thought I couldn't be less active in my blogging, I've "surpassed" all expectations and managed to eke out a grand total of three entries for 2011. Needless to say, it's not that I'm too busy to pen my thoughts down, but I always seem to end up relegating blogging way down on my to-do list.

So enough is enough. It's time to start the year right by finishing up what I intended to briefly blog about almost a couple of months back.

Yup, it was my "homecoming" trip to New Zealand.

So there… All good things must come to an end.

It’s always been that way. No matter how long the holiday stretches, there must be an end.

But it’s different this time too. I’ve remarked to countlessothers about this trip as “回家的感觉真棒”.

After spending 5 months in New Zealand on a student exchangeprogramme, I’ve grown to fall in love with this country, and Auckland City inparticular. Of course, for many others who have visited Auckland before, itis not a city that one can easily fall in love with.

I've heard many who have described Auckland as cold, faceless and withoutcharacter, unlike other NZ cities like Wellington and Christchurch (before theearthquake). Of course, to be brutally honest, the apparent "foreigninvasion" from the Asian community certainly doesn’t help its case.

Yet it is this city that I’ve feel almost at home. The only foreign city that I can navigate around without anymaps. Coupled with the idyllic pace of life and great company, I could not ask formore.

The cheap and wonderful whites help too!

Four years on, something felt different about Auckland.

New buildings and new shops have popped up, albeit at a slower pacethan in Singapore. It has evolved, become more commercialized and international (akaAsian).

HuluCat Bubble Tea

Auckland City felt somewhat distant.

It was only weeks ago that I envisioned myself to be overwhelmed bybittersweet nostalgia, with every step I take or every corner I turn. Afterall, it was a place that I had dreamt of in my dreams on several occasions. No kidding.

Then it struck me.

The answer was clear as day.

Almost everyone I knew from my bioengineering courses, NUS and OverseasChristian Fellowship were no longer around.

The remaining two survivors...

Indeed, the fond memories I had of Auckland were defined by theexperiences and relationships. Auckland was simply the place where thesememories were forged.

Without the right people, the buildings remain as stoic and distant reminders ofthe better past.

It was time to move on and stop clinging on to the past.

Who knows what the future might hold?

Bleak Birthdays

2011-09-07T18:38:00.000+08:00

In less than two weeks time, I’ll would be taking my Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) at Maju Army Camp. So yes, that means my birthday is lurking around the corner.

Like Pavlov's dogs, I've been indoctrinated to view my birthday as some sort of deadline, training like a monkey for months before September, just for the sake of some petty cash.

I've digressed.

IPPT aside, birthdays are occasions I scarcely look forward to. You might ask, "What about the presents one receive?"

Surely, everyone loves receiving presents, right?
WRONG.

I don't.*

Imagine the following scenario...
It’s your birthday. Friends and families are seated round the table. After extinguishing the bonfire created by the candles on your birthday cake, you reach excitedly for the intricately wrapped present.

The crowd eggs you and you rip it open to find:
A deluxe set of 101 scented candles, intricately crafted by Scandinavian unicorns and infused with the essence of thousand year old Icelandic lilies.

No offense to scented candles fans.

Would you go:

1) Hysterical
"OMFG. What were you all thinking? Other than increasing my risk of a non-existent asthma, the only use I have for it is to throw them in a barbecue pit and hope it works as a fire starter!"

or

2) Hysterically... grateful.
"OMG. I absolutely love these candles to bits! Ever since I was born, I always dreamt of scented candles made from the tears of unicorn and blood of extinct flowers! Thank you so much. The next time I accidentally burn down my house, I will certainly think of you guys!"

You get my drift.

There is no way you can wiggle out of “bad gift” situation, other than feigning your enthusiasm and gratitude. Admittedly, people may see through your pretense when you start kissing and washing the feet of your givers with your tears of gratitude (or sorrow).

But that is not true, you would argue. People who know you well enough will give gifts that are appropriate, no? Personally, receiving gifts that are “near-misses” are as tragic as receiving exquisite scented candles.

Examples:

Observation - Kelvin loves drinking wine.
Decision - Let's give Kelvin a bottle of award-winning Californian chardonnay.
My response - Chardonnay aged in American oak barrels??? Nooooo...

Observation - Kelvin likes using expensive looking notebooks.
Decision - Let's just give him a limited edition Moleskine notebook which would cost an arm and leg.

My response - I would much prefer a notebook which actually runs on power.

Observation - Kelvin likes playing the piano.
Decision - Let's just give him a piano!
My response - Sadly, this has not happened so far. *hint hint*
Okay, fine.
Maybe it’s just me getting more picky about my presents.

What about gifts vouchers? Surely, that circumvents the problem by giving the receiver a full liberty of picking his/her ideal gift.

You might have given me Kinokuniya book voucher, but what if the book I want is sold only in Borders? Ah... Would you have given me Borders vouchers? Now, we know what happened to those recently.

In the end, cash is king. Ang pows (or red packets) are ultimate gifts with no restriction.

And this brings everything to a full circle at the end of the year. The amount that I received would be recycled, as I would be obliged to give the same amount to others. In effect, there is no nett return.

Utilitarian views aside.
I still recognize the emotional and social experience of presents. Rather than be a killjoy pouting at every gift received or given, I shamelessly subscribed to the act of parading a Want List.

(Yes, you've finally reached to the crux of this long post.)

1) Professional looking pencil case
2) Formal but not so formal-looking document bag
3) Cool looking sports watch
4) Juliusspital “Wuerzburger Abtsleite“ TRAMINER Spaetlese 2005
5) Deepest Blue - Late September CD
6) Piano, the real deal.

*I don't mean what I say. Trust me, I still enjoy receiving gifts. If you plan to buy something for me, I would not stop you. Seriously.

Rational Irrational

2011-08-25T22:00:00.002+08:00

I always believed that in politics, sound reason should be the bulwark in decision-making. Vindictive words and actions only serve to cloud judgement. My relative disinterest in this presidential election made it difficult for me to weigh the pros and cons of each candidate.

But not anymore.

The recent shenanigans employed by PA, HDB and PAP against WP have hardened my stance. Like the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back, I’ve concluded that my ideal president should not have any links to a morally bankrupt political party.

My decision has been made.
I officially endorse Tan Jee Say as my choice of president.

Mid-year Review

2011-06-24T11:28:00.001+08:00

I'm back!
.
.
.
for now.

This is the longest hiatus I've ever taken since I've started blogging. Halfway into 2011 without an entry, I was in two minds about whether to continue blogging or just shut it down altogether. So the time was ripe to revisit my original intent of blogging, as it has certainly evolved over the years,

During my army days, the sole purpose was to hone my writing skills. I was thoroughly convinced that I could guard the mindless wasting of my brain with some pseudo-intellectual discourse on my social life and current affairs. Of course, that pragmatic goal quickly retrogressed and my blog became a place where I could seek solace and bitch publicly.

In my four years ~~of torture~~ in NUS, it kept me sane (or so I think…) as I struggled through an engineering course, despite my apparent lack of aptitude for it.

It was great fun delivering verbal diarrhoea, knowing that friends and stalkers (or fans as I endearingly call them) would read my rants and raves. Yet because I knew intelligible life forms were actually visiting my blog, I felt compelled post regular updates.

On days when I was swamped with work, I resorted to posting an obligatory series of web comics. During periods of gruelling examinations, I would take a break altogether.

Just I thought I was really busy in NUS… Then I graduated and entered the workforce. The frequency of updates was proven to be directly correlated to scarcity of time.

Then came... Facebook.

If I wanted to announce anything to my circle of friends, I no longer had to resort to my ailing blog. If I wanted to make my friends envious (not deliberately of course…) of my overseas escapades, I could upload photo albums with a few clicks of the button. Complete with auto-resizing and reduced resolution!

In a nutshell, Facebook provided greater interaction with people I knew and cared for.

Yet surprisingly, I’ve found a good reason not to shut this blog down.

Public Comments
I never fail to be amused that my rants on NUS modules BN3101: Biomedical Engineering Design and MUA3201: Chamber Singers are still able to attract random viewers via Google.

Just Google "BN3101" to amuse me.

So what's next for this blog?
My guess is probably nowhere.

As a matter of fact, I cannot imagine Blogspot to continue on perpetually. The mere thought of visiting a blog already sounds so passé to me. But like an open diary, I might return to reminiscence the naive crap I've written over the years.

Of course, I might even add on to this ever growing list of incriminating rubbish from time to time. Probably not as often as I used to, but hopefully more frequently than once every 6 months.

Till then...

Random picture!

A Jayden New Year

2010-12-24T22:36:00.010+08:00

"Doesn't time really fly? I can't believe 20XX is already coming to an end?" where XX is an integer representing a year.

Maybe age is indeed catching up on me, but that is one common refrain I've found myself repeating over the years. Nonetheless, without a doubt, 2010 has been one bloody quick year.

There are so many things I can say about 2010, but I think a picture speaks a thousand words.

So as I'm spending my Xmas and New Year in Taiwan, here's me wishing everyone a

Merry Christmas
and
A Happy New Year!

The Final Juice

2010-09-08T18:06:00.003+08:00

Yup, the countdown clock is ticking furiously.
My days of living in Leith Park is greatly numbered.
And what better way to drown my sorrows than a bottle of wine?

With special thanks to a HockHua Tonic exhibition in Compasspoint, I manage to snitch the last bottle of Five Geese McLaren Vale Shiraz 2004 at a bargain price! (I think it was below 30 bucks.)

Surprisingly, the experts concur with my tastebuds too! I Knew my cheapskate predilection wouldn't hinder me from finding gems such as this.

"Medium-bodied; very good texture and structure; ripe tannins run throughout the blackberry and cherry fruit; overall elegance."
Rating: 5 Stars, 94 points
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion, 2008 Edition

"Great nose of Vegamite, beetroot, and licorice an even better palate - well rounded and flavoursome with lovely soft tannins. One judge's comment 'yum'."
Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
Winestate Magazine (Sep/Oct 2006) Regional Tasting - McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek and Fleurieu

But it was slight pity that I had to pair this lonesome highfalutin (Thanks Kuan Yew for this word) habit of mine with an Annoying Orange.

Second Month, Second Job

2010-08-06T16:54:00.003+08:00

I am sleepy sleepy sleepy. So in a bid to keep awake, here's a quick update of my life.

I'm into my second month of work and things have not turned out to be half as bad as I imagined. My ex-colleagues in NUHS had previously warned me of the cut-throat back-breaking pace of work and the ruthless backstabbing nature in the advertising industry.

I had to brace myself for the culture shock, in view of the soporific mindless work which goes on in NUHS Research Office. *apologies to my ex-colleagues* :p

Lo and behold, all the warnings turned out to be... TRUE.

.
.
.

But thankfully, my role as a medical writer allows me to be detached from the bitching, backstabbing and midnight stints which occur ever so often in other teams.

Working under natural light

So far, the busiest period this month had been sales pitches. And all I had to do was convince the rest of the world that I am a medical expert, capable of reciting the etiology, pathology, treatment guidelines of diseases.

Ah, with my "comprehensive medical background" and in a bid to protect my a**, I had to resort to an indiscriminate use of weasel words.

Samples of my pet opening phrases when I am consulted for my advice:

Most studies have shown that...
There is some evidence to propose the following treatment protocol...
Unfortunately, there is no firm consensus to the use of ABC...
It is generally agreed that a stepwise approach is the most...
In conclusion, a number of doctors consider XYZ drug as a possible drug of choice...

Then again, I suspect my non-committal advice might be the reason why I was given this on the day I met my boss.

Given a choice, I would have preferred: "There is a growing body of evidence to suggest a possibility of you being fired".

Timeless

2010-07-23T09:22:00.001+08:00

No matter how I look at it, why don't I have sufficient time to write a decent entry?

And then, it happened.

2010-05-31T22:02:00.007+08:00

It had finally happened.

For almost six months, I had waited for the opportunity to throw in that letter.In that period, I witnessed friends, acquaintances and colleagues take the plunge. And I could only view with increasingly envious gaze.

It was inexplicably tempting to take the easy way out and settle for a low-hanging fruit. Like a ticking time-bomb, I viewed the impending graduation of the next batch of university graduates with trepidation and angst.

As the months came and went, the protracted ennui grew tiresome and tedious. It certainly did not help that my colleague who joined the office a week earlier than me, had left for greener pastures.

Interviews came and went. Hopes were raised and dashed, as simply as the capricious wave of an unseen hand.

I became obsessed with the manner with how I would leave my present job. I conjured out scenarios of how I would throw in the letter. I vicariously relished each moment of surprise when I inform my colleagues of my escape route.

And then, it happened.

The long-awaited moment arrive packaged in a nifty little phone call. A week later, I had put my name on the dotted line. A new chapter had begun, and it was time to close the existing one.

Hooray!
Or... Not?

The joy I expected to derive out of informing everyone of my impending move never came to pass. Instead, the process was fraught with hesitance, guilt and trist, far from the scintillating bursts of delight I had expected.

These were the people who have made the lackluster nature of administrative work tolerable, with a generous dose of warmth and no holds barred good-willed bi**hing.

With my letter, the Research Office had lost one person, but life grinds on with or without me. Yet I can only hope that I continue to be blessed as I have been in NUHS.

The Beginning of The End

2010-05-24T15:05:00.001+08:00

This week has begun innocuously, but inevitably, it can no longer end in the same way like the other weeks.

Gagging Google

2010-03-16T17:55:00.002+08:00

Recently, I have been having quite a lot of kick with the predictive capabilities of Google search engine. Because Google tries to guess what you will be typing and rank the possibilities according to the associated popularity, the results have been rather telling.

Judging from my random tests, the typical Google user in Singapore are one racist bunch.

Smelly, smart, ugly and cheap?! Not say I want to say...
*Ouch*

Irritating Interviews V

2010-02-12T15:13:00.011+08:00

Ah yes.
It's like the mother of all blogging backlogs. But I guess it's never too late to try to clear it. Although there is now an added impetus to start writing about interviews... for reasons I shall not reveal. Heh.

Interview #20
August 17th, 2009
Company: Wilmar International Limited
Category: Agribusiness especially Palm Oil
Position: Management Trainee

What's Hot:
• Located at Great World City, which is just a stone throw's away from town
• The second largest company listed on the Singapore stock exchange and wildly profitable.

What's Not:
• Potential posting to countries at Africa.
• Non-Bioengineering and heavily involved in industrial plants. (I might as well have majored in Chemical Engineering)
• Office is located at Great World City but if I were to be based in the plant itself, I would probably condemned to some ulu corner of Singapore.

Bing Factor:

The greatest tragedy occured a couple of months after the interview. I learnt from my NUH colleague that not only was the starting pay of Wilmar competitive, they allowed new employees to decide on a wide array of departments (so not necessarily at industrial plants). Coupled with excellent welfare benefits and bonuses, I realized I have inevitably sabotaged my own interview.

Sigh...

Interview #21
August 19th, 2009; 7.00AM!
Company: MW Medical
Category: Mobile Clinic
Position: Management Trainee

Beginning at a maddeningly early time, the day began on the wrong note when I realized that the clinic had not yet opened! Arriving just as early was WG, my BioEngineering mate, who had also made it to this second round.

When Dr Lau finally arrived, he had the audacity to justify that the interview was scheduled at such a time to prepare us for future abnormal working hours. (Erm... But you were late?)

In a nutshell, the interview mainly had Dr Lau presenting various ways that MW Medical had screwed up, and we had to offer our own opinion and solution. In which, he tried to instigate criticism among us three interviewees, though to not much avail.

Yet the most disturbing part of the interview was not Dr Lau or the interview per se. But it was his enthusiastic introduction to a management trainee who helped us photocopy our CVs.
The trainee had stayed on the post for almost a year.

After lunch, I was due to return back for the written test. But with a piano lesson scheduled later that afternoon, I finally decided that learning how to make music would prove to be a better use of my time.

All in all, I would say the wisest of us all was the fourth person, who did not even bother to turn up for the interview.

What's Hot:
• Located walking distance from Marymount MRT Station

What's Not:
• The job position of a management trainee should be renamed as cheap sai kang labourer.

• Potentially irritating boss.

• Tiny company relying narrowly on a small customer base.

Bing Factor:

On that same fateful day, as I was taking the Circle line from Marymount MRT, I received a phone call which almost broke me down to tears of joy. NUH had offered me the job!!! Like a dream come true, I reconfirmed the news repeatedly.

I could finally and officially turn down the job offer at AITBIOTECH (refer to Irritating Interviews IV).

Interview #22
August 12, 2009
Company: Singapore - MIT Alliance
Category: University Research
Position: Executive (IP/Research)

While I was quietly confident of the good impression I had made on the director FL during the interview, I was surprised to be called in for an additional round of interview.

This time, another senior interviewer had replaced FL as an interviewer... thankfully. Because I had mentioned confidently to FL that I would choose SMA over NUH, if I was being offered by both... And NUH had already made the offer. *oops*

In any case, this interviewer took me by surprise. He managed to expose my "overwhelming enthusiasm" for an apparently administrative job, even in the midst of heavy smoke bombing attempts with my well-honed interview skills.

What's Hot:
• Non-sales.
• Potentially decent pay.
• Great food at cheap prices! Techno Edge (AKA Engineering Canteen), Olive Cove, Dilly's Creation, Pavilion Cafe, and McDonald's...

What's Not:
• Administrative, logistical and desk-bound. Serious sai kang.
• Basically non-bioengineering.

Bing Factor:

Already Awaiting

2010-02-11T17:40:00.001+08:00

Oh goodness.

There comes a point in one's life, you know what you are doing now is simply not what you want. But the next step points to bigger questions with even more elusive answers.

Oh Lord, help me.

Grammar Fail

2010-01-19T17:19:00.002+08:00

Even Microsoft Word has given up...

Moping MMIX

2009-12-31T15:55:00.006+08:00

So here is it.
The king of procrastination has finally returned back to the blogging desk to pen the last few words before the arrival of 2010.

Ever since I've joined the humdrum of the work force, blogging has been relegated to the lowest rung of priority. The number of unpublished post is piling up, and it has evolved into some peculiar obligation that heralds from the past decade, especially with the advent of Facebook.

Before this entry, I had intended to...

Finish my lame entries chronicling my maiden job hunt "adventure".
Recount and confess my evisceration, dismemberment and mutilation of Bach; excoriation of Beethoven for my Grade 8 Piano Examinations: A morbid epiphany chiding me that I should never dare make music as a career.
The "phlegmiest" sore throat I had in my life. *ahem* (Then again, this might be to explicit for public consumption. I mean, not literally!)
Rave about the coolest alien movies in 2009: District 9 and Avatar.
The number of pineapples I ate at Pontian! (Okay, probably not juicy enough as a standalone blog entry...)

And with the backlog of entries, I have yet to...

Rename all my music files, especially the classical music which I "borrowed" from Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. (Yes, I'm THAT anal-retentive.)
Help my sister sell of her CK Handbag. (It'll probably be back in fashion by the time it goes up on eBay.)
Join a choir.
Get my Standard Chartered Credit Card.
Decide and purchase an insurance plan before I get abducted by a UFO.
Get my rotting DBS Vickers Securities account working. (I should really sue DBS for compelling me to miss the first boom in stock prices.)
Read the bible from the book of Genesis to Revelations.
~~Get another job~~ Find out what I really wanna do with my life.

It is ominous and almost inevitable that the productive people (aka working) I know who maintain an active blog is whittling down in numbers. Considering that I've gained a fair bit of notoriety with my "non-working" nature of my work, my next job would surely be more 凶.

Well, as I attempt to embark on a clandestine online business, I wonder how much time I would have left for this blog? Aiyah...

Anyway, No time for sentiments!

Go to dig your grave, MMIX (2009)!

Tiding Over

2009-12-13T01:10:00.003+08:00

Sorry for the long hiatus again... New post coming soon.
Heh.

Ate Days

2009-11-23T08:37:00.003+08:00

Ever since I joined the masses of sheep, trudging along day in and day out, there just ain't enough just ain't enough time to do my usual stuff these days. Sadly, blogging has been relegated to one of my lowest priority.

Yes, look at the time this entry is being posted and you would more than understand. :p

Anyway, I just found out one of my favourite blogs in Singapore which had taken a hiatus a couple of year back, is back on the blogging scene again! And no, it has nothing to do with Xiaxue.

I've not read 8 Days (the magazine) for over half a decade, but back in those days (am I that old?), the last page would usually carry a witty article about the adventures of a bloke called Jason, with two wacky gals Saffy and Amanda.

Then, I stumbled upon: http://www.saffyamanda.blogspot.com/

Brilliant stuff, I say.

On the Blink of Extinction

These days, I try not to blink. Because I’m scared that, if I do, it’ll be New Year’s Eve, and there’s no way in hell that I’m ready for that yet.

Someone needs to tell me: How could it possibly be the end of the year already? Where did 2009 go? I actually remember it just being 1999. Back then – and excuse me if I sound like my grandmother – everyone was really excited about the year turning 2000. Y2K was on everyone’s mind. No one wanted to fly on New Year’s Eve just in case, when the clocks struck midnight, all the computers shut down, and Superman can only be in so many places at the one time.

Imagine if all the computers shut down today. Half the world’s population would drop dead from instant Facebook deprivation.

I started 2009 with so much hope and promise. There were so many projects I wanted to do. It was such an exciting time, though Amanda later pointed out that it was probably the champagne breakfast that made everything look so glossy and rosy.

“I’m going to brush up on my French,” I said on 1 January.
“Oooh, mais oui?” Saffy cooed. “Well, I’m going to lose three kilos! I am determined to fit into my skinny jeans again!”
“I’m going to find a boyfriend who adores me!” Amanda sighed blissfully.

Twelve months later, I can barely count to ten in French while Amanda is still wasting her time with the Cockroach, her long time on-again, off-again insectile looking boyfriend. “This is so incredibly depressing,” she said recently, her luxuriant hair vibrating with anger and missed opportunities. “Why am I still with that incredible loser? Why am I not working this out? I must be missing something. Because, seriously? I deserve a whole lot better. I’m beautiful, goddammit! And this kind of crap does not happen to beautiful people!"

To which Barney Chen posted on Amanda’s Facebook wall: “Oh yes, it does. Just look at Madonna!”

Meanwhile, Saffy…Well, let’s just say, it’s not looking so good in Saffyland.

She wandered into my room the other day, her face white as snow. “It’s not possible,” she breathed quietly. “How did I put on an extra two kilos? I’m supposed to lose three, not put on another two!”
“Well, you have been going to a few parties.”
“But I don’t ever eat anything at those parties. I just drink the free booze!”

I didn’t have the heart or nerve to tell her in person, so I went onto Google and emailed her several links to articles detailing the calorie count of your average Cosmopolitan, and gin and tonic.

This morning, Saffy announced that from now till January 1, she’s not eating any solids. “I’m just going to drink water and eat celery sticks,” she said with the kind of grim determination you normally associate with people who are about to get a face-lift and tummy tuck.

Amanda pulled a face. “Celery sticks? Why celery?”

“Because they have no calories in them. Apparently, you use up more calories just chewing them. So, it’s a win-win situation,” Saffy said. There was a haunted look in her eyes.

Not so random memory: When we were kids, the new year was such a magical event. In my books, it was way better than Christmas. Because somehow, in the space of seconds, we left behind the present. Yesterday, last week, last month, two seconds ago, last night…all these events suddenly, magically, became something called “last year” at the stroke of midnight. It was the coolest trick.

But marking the passing of another year is cool only when you’re five and the days seem so much longer. These days, I wake up, stumble into the bathroom, blink, and it’s the end of the day, and I have no idea what I’ve done all day. And increasingly, it seems to me that it’s not just the days that are disappearing without a trace; it’s also the years. At this rate, I’m going to be wearing adult nappies, hooked up to a respirator and eating jelly because no one can find my dentures.

“And the last words you hear won’t be ‘Good night, see you tomorrow’ but ‘Switch him off!’” Amanda said grimly.
Saffy says she doesn’t care if those are the last words she hears. “As long as I’m thin and can fit into my skinny jeans, you can say whatever you want to me just before I croak it!”

So no, I’m not looking forward to New Year’s Eve. I’m not ready. Which is why I’m not blinking.

La La

2009-11-20T00:46:00.001+08:00

To be Updated... Soon.

Earful of Earwigs

2009-11-03T17:43:00.001+08:00

Sure sign that work has become a tat too boring,

When you start singing...

Spider Pig!

Does whatever a spider pig does!

can he swing from a web?

No he can't

He's a pig!

Lookout!

Here comes the spider pig!!!

Irritating Interviews IV

2009-10-23T12:50:00.012+08:00

Sadly, blogging is now turning out to be a rare luxury with increasing workload and impending piano examinations. Nonetheless, I must persevere and complete the choleric chronicles of my inane interview adventures. Ha.

Interview #16
August 7th, 2009
Company: All Eights
Category: Laboratory Diagnostics System Distributor
Position: Technical Marketing Executive

What's Hot:
• Located off Upper Paya Lebar Road + 3 direct bus services = 20 minutes public transport time
• Although situated in one of those industrial warehouse-like building, it boasts of a "proper" air-conditioned office, furnished with meeting rooms and cubicles. (Unlike ACHEMA... Haha.)
• Impressive training opportunities for marketing exectuives, both local and overseas, funded by All Eights, SIM and external companies.

What's Not:
• EEeee. Not one of those sales job again...
• Asked to do an impromptu mock sales pitch. I felt as if I was caught with my pants down.
• Speaking of pantless interview, All Eights sounds like... (Clue: Think HIV)

Bing Factor:
(On a scale of 1-5; 1 being a crappy job & 5 means BINGo!):

Interview #17
August 11, 2009
Company: AITBIOTECH
Category: Genomic services provider and Life Science Equipment Distributor
Position: ~~Customer Support Specialist~~ Product Specialist

The invitation for an interview came from a dubious-looking email:

Dear Kelvin

Would you be available for an interview??

A***
AITBIOTECH

After a few exchange of emails, I noticed A***'s abstinence of periods and commas, while consistently use of double question marks. But I shall resist the temptation to reproducing more emails.

That aside, it was great timing that my parents were away from Singapore, allowing me free reign over the family car. Especially after considering that AITBIOTECH is cruelly located at Ayer Rajah Industrial Estate!

Expectedly, it was one of my most ill-prepared interviews ever.

A sales-based job in a SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) was a double turnoff for me, compelling me to employ my black belt of procrastination. Right up to minutes before the interview, I was still ~~mugging~~ rushing through my notes about AITBIOTECH.

YET...

If the Sanofi-Aventis interview was a catastrophic failure condemned forever to bring shame to Kelvins in the world, then the interview at AITBIOTECH could be likened as a spectacular Nobel-Prize, Pulitzer-Award winning success.

Halfway through the interview, I realized my random unprepared babble about "meeting new people" had fortuitously struck a chord with A***. It all past in an unexpected blur and a quick tour of the laboratory-office premises.

Before I left, A*** had outrightly offered me the job.

Shell-shocked and cornered, I whipped out my wisdom tooth card. That was, my plans to extract my wisdom tooth before commencing work proper.

As I left the Ayer Rajah Industrial Estate perplexed, I received another call from Recruit Express, which led to Interview #19.

What's Hot:
• Extremely amiable CEO: A boss I believe I could work well with
• Monthly salary of $2500: Meeting my minimum cutoff salary
• Although Under EDB's Local on-the-Job Training (LOT), A*** had chosen not to enforce the mandatory one/two year bond.

What's Not:
• Sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales sales

• Ayer Rajah Industrial Estate is simply not friendly to public transport users.

• Monthly salary of $2500: Sorely insufficient since I was expected to have more own tranport

Bing Factor:

Interview #18
August 12, 2009
Company: Singapore - MIT Alliance
Category: University Research
Position: Executive (IP/Research)

My second interview in NUS was in the heart of Engineering. The walk to the Office certainly brought back more memories as opposed to that at School of Medicine. For the umpteenth time, I was filled with disgust, bitterness and nostalgia as I saw engineering muggers sprawled lifelessly on the tables outside Dilly's Creation. Heh.

Ironically, the ubiquitous muggers lay buried in their books, I too was "blessed" with a 2 question-test, designed to gauge how boomz my England would be.

After an hour of scribbling legibly (at least to my best effort), I awaited for Part II, which thankfully featured only two interviewers (K**** & FL).

While the interview was not as spectacular as that in AITBIOTECH, I was cautiously confident that I had made at least a positive impression on FL. (That apparently had unexpected implications later on... but I digress.)

What's Hot:
• Non-sales, FINALLY.
• Postulated higher starting pay.
• SMA Office would be located at NUS Faculty of Engineering. Which means... Great food at cheap prices! Techno Edge (AKA Engineering Canteen), Olive Cove, Dilly's Creation, Pavilion Cafe, and McDonald's...

What's Not:
• Administrative, logistical and desk-bound. ZZZZzzzz.
• NUS... Not exactly looking forward to the protracted bus/mrt/bus journey.

Bing Factor:

Interview #19
August 14, 2009
Company: MW Medical
Category: Mobile Clinic
Position: Management Trainee

This was one interview I was initially extremely excited because I had somehow comprehended that the post was some management trainee position at a French multinational company.

Then Au**** from Recruit Express informed me of the ~~salary~~ allowance, which would be a literally groundbreaking S$1800.

All hopes shattered when I googled "MW Medical".

That day was a sleepy morning, and I took the Circle Line to Marymount for the first time. I arrived rather early so I detoured to Shunfu Mart to get my extra caffeine fix from a cup of Kopi-peng (Ice Coffee).

I arrived 15 minutes early to a boring looking clinic in Sin Ming Plaza. It was one of those moments where I spot another candidate already seated and filling up a form.

"Ah-ha! Rival spotted."

As I proceeded to fill up the application form, I heard "Kelvin!".

Oops. It was a fellow NUS BioEngineering mate! Talk about tiny Singapore.

In short, the interview was rather forgetable, but much more should be said in my next entry post.

What's Hot:
• Management Trainee = Great potential for rotation to different departments
• Located walking distance from Marymount MRT Station, slightly over half hour in journey time

What's Not:
• Management Trainee = Great potential for sai kang (AKA shit job)
• $1800 Allowance

Bing Factor:

Professing Professor

2009-10-11T22:25:00.003+08:00

These days, the line between reality and fiction blurs. I am almost used to being addressed as Dr Kelvin or Professor Lim, at least on my work NUS email.

But as of recently, my academic recognition has even seeped into my old NUS email.

Subject Header: Appointment

Hi Professor:

Hope you are well! I was wondering if you are free tomorrow at 11 am to discuss some doubts from Chapter 3. Pls let me know if you are available. If not, please let me know, I will come up with some alternative time slots.

Warmest Regards,
S*********

HMMMMM... I really need to check who in NUS is teaching Chapter 3.

Publicizing Publications

2009-10-01T10:46:00.004+08:00

As usual, in my vain attempt to compensate my lack of time to blog ~~during~~ after my work, here's a quick entry to keep this blog going...

As some of you might know, part of my current job scope deals with publications arising from researchers in National University Health System (AKA NUH + NUS School of Medicine + NUS Faculty of Dentistry).

Thankfully, I am not required to read every single article but dabble with those that fall under Tier 1. Like graded examinations, these papers have been appraised and classified into different tiers, gauged mainly by their impact factor.

The impact factor, often abbreviated IF, is a measure reflecting the average number of citations to articles published in science and social science journals. It is frequently used as a proxy for the relative importance of a journal within its field, with journals with higher impact factors deemed to be more important than those with lower ones.

Most unfortunately, being the usual impatient me, I was inclined to make a premature judgement, just by reading the titles of the publications.

Here is a sampling of publication titles...

Consequences of incomplete repair of acute type A aortic dissection.
Verdict: Normal

Danqi Piantang Jiaonang (DJ), a traditional Chinese medicine, in poststroke recovery.
Verdict: Potentially herbal but interesting

Potential pharmacological control of the NF-kappaB pathway.
Verdict: Potentially normal... NOT.

Aspirin and dry eye?
Verdict: Short title, must be brilliant.

Would you perform thrombolysis in this acute ischemic stroke patient?
Verdict: No.

The influence of birth size on intelligence in healthy children.
Verdict: Eat more, women!

Premarital sexual intercourse among adolescents in an Asian country: multilevel ecological factors
Verdict: We need more papers like these.

Synergistic antileukemic effects between ABT-869 and chemotherapy involve downregulation of cell cycle regulated genes and c-Mos-mediated MAPK pathway.
Verdict: Title too long, FAIL

Surface functionalization of titanium with hyaluronic acid/chitosan polyelectrolyte multilayers and RGD for promoting osteoblast functions and inhibiting bacterial adhesion.
Verdict: This is not the abstract, Mister. DOUBLE FAIL.

Protein kinase SGK1 enhances MEK/ERK complex formation through the phosphorylation of ERK2: implication for the positive regulatory role of SGK1 on the ERK function during liver regeneration.
Verdict: Stop it. FAIL FAIL FAIL.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) produced via NF-kappaB signaling pathway mediates migration of amoeboid microglia in the periventricular white matter in hypoxic neonatal rats.
Verdict: ... ...

Stimulation of N-terminal truncated isoform of androgen receptor stabilizes human ether-á-go-go-related gene-encoded potassium channel protein via activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2.
Verdict: I quit.

Ever so rarely, once in a very blue moon, one of NUHS researchers would be involved in a SUPER TIER PUBLICATION. By their definition, impact factor would have to exceed 15 (which is really high).

This super researcher would then be confered a God-like status, causing the whole Research Office and Corporate Communications to cease normal work activities. Massive whoring to the Mass Media would go on an overdrive, at least to gain some cheap publicity.

Just one a week ago, we were informed of one ~~super~~ such paper. And with bated breath, I present... ...

~~WORLD~~ BLOG PREMIERE!

Title: Specific LysRS serine 207 phosphorylation regulates Ap(4)A production in immunologically stimulated mast cells, thus implying that LysRS is a key mediator in gene regulation.
~~Super~~Authors: Yannay-Cohen N, Carmi-Levy I, Kay G, Yang CM, Han JM, Kemeny DM, Kim S, Nechushtan H, Razin E.

Abstract
Lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS) was found to produce diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap(4)A) in vitro more than two decades ago. Here, we used LysRS silencing in mast cells in combination with transfected normal and mutated LysRS to demonstrate in vivo the critical role played by LysRS in the production of Ap(4)A in response to immunological challenge. Upon such challenge, LysRS was phosphorylated on serine 207 in a MAPK-dependent manner, released from the multisynthetase complex, and translocated into the nucleus. We previously demonstrated that LysRS forms a complex with MITF and its repressor Hint-1, which is released from the complex by its binding to Ap(4)A, enabling MITF to transcribe its target genes. Here, silencing LysRS led to reduced Ap(4)A production in immunologically activated cells, which resulted in a lower level
of MITF inducible genes. Our data demonstrate that specific LysRS serine 207 phosphorylation regulates Ap(4)A production in immunologically stimulated mast cells, thus implying that LysRS is a key mediator in gene regulation.

By the time, I read the last line of the abstract, I was convinced that my past, present and future insomnia was, is and will be certainly cured.

BONUS WALLPAPER GRAPHICS
Cool Wallpapers for your handheld devices!

Random Eww

2009-09-29T09:58:00.001+08:00

Premature Promotion

2009-09-21T16:17:00.004+08:00

Taking a brief respite from my innervating irritating interview blog entries, I've decided to spill the beans on something I've been busy with.

Yes, in the past couple of months, friends and foes have speculated that I was slacking around during my job hunting season. But in actuality, the truth couldn't be further from that.

I have been deep in research, furthering my studies in secret.

In fact, I have become the first NUS student to complete his postgraduate studies within 2 months!

As one of the youngest researchers in NUS, I am currently in the midst of setting up my own research group.

All interested candidates, please email me your CVs/resumes and "statement of purpose", like this young man from India has.

Subject Header: Research Guidance

To

Dr. Kelvin *. *. Lim
Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research
Department of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Science
National University of Singapore
14 Science Drive 4
Singapore - 117543

Sir,

I am R. S****** from Hyd******, India. I am writing this mail regarding the opportunity to gain research experience in your lab.

My main interests lie in population dynamics and sexual selections. I have just completed my field research project titled "Selection of the egg attachment sites by the Indian Golden Gecko Calodactylodes aureus" and currently working on its manuscript. In the past, I have worked on several short projects on reptiles and birds.

I would like to improve my skills under your guidance as a research student/volunteer. I am aware of the dedication and hard work that is expected on my part while working under you and I assure that given a chance I would strive to reach your expectations.

Please find the attached documents (resume and statement of purpose).

Thanking You

Sincerely
--
R. S******
Flat No. ***
S****** S***** Apartments
E********* Colony
Hyd****** *** ***
Andhra Pradesh, India.
***********@gmail.com
Mobile no.- +91 ***** *****

"Experience should be counted not in years but in frequency of action"

Gyrating Genie Genes

2009-09-20T02:14:00.003+08:00

What am I doing?!

Irritating Interviews III

2009-09-11T10:18:00.013+08:00

Interview #12
July 29th, 2009 (11.00AM)
Company: Alert Life Sciences Computing
Category: Electronic Medical Records Software Company
Position: Regional Clinical Facilitator/Trainer

It was an immense moment of relief and joy as I received a phone call from ALERT Life Science, informing me of the details of the second interview. Because this job finally broke the mould of "sales or research laboratory", to describe me as desperate for it was certainly no exaggeration.

Yet, truth be told, it was an interview proved to be memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Rose, the interviewer was one that I could not "click", no matter how hard I tried

He (YES, it's a guy!) ranted on and on about his vast experience and peppering in random questions in between. I knew the death knell was definitely sounded when he began dishing out advice on how to perform in an interview.

Short of physically punishing him for his verbose predilections, I still managed to muster an obligatory smile... before turning my back on ALERT Life Sciences, for the last time.

Heavy-hearted, I left Suntec City for World Scientific. Fate, cruel as it can be, I had almost resigned to it.

What's Hot:
• Will there be another job that is non-research and non-sales for me out there?
What's Not:
• Or will I shelve all plans for completing my fundamental piano exams?

Final Bing Factor:

The battle between conflicts of interest between personal pursuits and career goals continues...

Interview #13
July 29th, 2009 (3.00PM)
Company: World Scientific Publishing Company
Category: Publishing Firm
Position: Marketing Executive

So that was it.
Presented with the documents and contract, all I had to do was put down my signature to seal my fate with World Scientific.

Over the phone, Ronald had informed me that the pay was S$2200. Disappointed but not surprised, I had mentally prepare myself doing all the necessary calculations by factoring in possible financial incentives and transport allowances.

BUT, I completely flipped when I realized that S$2200 was all I would be receiving. Sales targets existed without any incentives or allowances!

Considering that it was a job that wasn't highly ranked on the B-Factor, the pay was unequivocally unacceptable, but yet difficult to reject, in the face of a horrendous interview in the morning at ALERT Life Sciences.

So I played my father's favourite delaying tactic, that is "I am really keen on this job (yeah right...), but could you give me a day to reconsider the terms and conditions?"

Empty-handed I entered World Scientific, empty-handed I left...

Bing Factor:

?

Interview #14
July 30th, 2009
Company: 1st BASE Pte Ltd
Category: Customised life science services provider such as DNA synthesis or sequencing
Position: Customer Care Specialist

What's Hot:
• In the fields of life science
• Potential switch from front-line customer service to backroom laboratory
• Non-sales
What's Not:
• Science Park II. The environment and location was anything but a walk in the park.
• Non-sales but... still within customers' firing range.
• Towards the end of the interview, my pretence and professionalism were thrown out of the window as my face contorted with bewilderment and horror... ... when I was informed that the salary range was from $1700-$1800!

Bing Factor:

As I was still reeling from the psychological damage inflicted from hearing such shockingly low pay on the bus back home, Ronald from World Scientific called. This time, to confirm whether I was still interested in accepting the offer. Oh yes, today was decision day...

For a split second, in the face of $1700-$1800, the $2200 that World Scientific was offering suddenly didn't sound too little.

Through gritted teeth, I replied...
"Thanks but no thanks."

It was done. I was still jobless.

Interview #15
August 3rd, 2009
Company: Medtronic Navigation
Category: Navigation systems (e.g. for assisting surgical procedures in operating theatres)
Position: Technical and Application Specialist

The interview was conducted by an amiable chatty sales manager, Darren and an ultra bitchy HR personnel, Chloe.

Through the interview, Darren was brutally honest of the nature of the work involved. Conduct hands on troubleshooting on-site, "tearing the whole navigation systems apart and putting it back screw by screw".

And then came Chloe. Focusing only on internship and FYP experience in wet-lab conditions and my couple of years as a reporter in the Ridge Magazine, she concluded that those experience made me "untechnical".

I wonder whether she spotted me rolling my eyes uncontrollably.

What's Hot:
• "World's largest medical technology" MNC, listed on Fortune 500!
• In the field of Biomedical Engineering
• Minuscule possibilities of going overseas for short training stints
What's Not:
• Science Park Drive, a park you can reach conveniently by driving
• Glorified mobile technician job
• Future promotions to... Sales Manager! Sales... Yea!

Bing Factor:

Interview #16
August 4th, 2009
Company: National University Hospital
Category: Hospital
Position: Clinical Research Coordinator

"Clinical Research Coordinator... what the heck does that fancy sounding name mean?"
A quick search on Wikipedia threw this definition:

The Clinical Research Coordinator is responsible for conducting clinical trials using good clinical practice under the auspices of the Principal Investigator. Good Clinical Practices Principles have been defined by Madelene Ottosen of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston as:

• All trials are conducted ethically, as defined by the Declaration of Helsinki, rigorously, as defined by the International Conference on Harmonization Guidelines.
• Benefits outweigh risks for each patient.
• Rights, safety and well-being of patients prevail over science.
• All available non-clinical and clinical information on any investigational • agent can support the trial as designed.
• All trials are scientifically sound and clearly described.
• All clinical trials have current Institutional Review Board approval.
• Medical decisions and care are the responsibility of qualified health care professionals, specifically physicians and, if applicable, dentists.
• Everyone involved in the clinical trial is qualified by training, education and experience.
• Informed consent is given freely by every participant.
• All study documentation is recorded, handled and stored to allow accurate reporting, interpretation and verification.
• Confidentiality of subjects is respected and protected.
• Investigational products maintain Good Manufacturing Practice in storage, manufacturing and handling.
• Systems to ensure quality are implemented in all aspects of the trial.

Despite being conducted by four interviewers, the 15-minutes interview proved to be the shortest one I've attended ever. And then came the twist.

Even though the job title was "Clinical Research Coordinator", the positions available was anything but. Then looking at my résumé, I was suggested to take on one of them involving publications and brochures.

"Oooo. Very interesting...", I thought.

Then it was braggadocio with no bounds... before being halted prematurely and suddenly by one of the professors.

What's Hot:
• Non-research, non-sales
• Coordinating scientific publications with Corporate Communications
• Writing of annual corporate brochure
• Potential inter-departmental switch in NUH
• Location: It's in NUS... Free concerts at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music!
• Food: It's Cheap!
What's Not:
• Location: It's in NUS... AGAIN.
• Food: It's Cheap... and near Science canteen.
• Does the job scope sound like that of a clinical research coordinator?
• I think one of the professors didn't really like me... Hmmmm.

Bing Factor:

Irritating Interviews II

2009-08-30T12:00:00.000+08:00

The next slew of interviews began to show some promising signs...

Interview #6
July 7th, 2009
Company: Genome Institute of Singapore
Category: A*STAR Research Institute
Position: Research Officer

What's Hot:
• High pay? (Well, all A*STAR research officers are paid more than decently.)
• "Exciting prospects" of progressing to laboratory managers, even without a Masters/PHD
What's Not:
• Extremely repetitive and routine genotyping work
• Biopolis... ...

Bing Factor:

~~Interview #7~~
July 8th, 2009
Company: MP Financial
Category: Financial Consulting Firm
Position: Liberty Intership Career Program

What's Hot:
• None
What's Not:
• Everything. I rather teach music than to take up financial consulting.

Bing Factor:
___

I didn't bother turning up for the interview anyway. Heh.

Interview #7
July 8th, 2009
Company: World Scientific Publishing Company
Category: Publishing Firm
Position: Marketing Executive

What's Hot:
• Medium-sized company with over 200 staff with offices in 8 countries
• Leading local publishing firm for Scholarly, Scientific, Technical and Medical (SSTM) market
• Possible links with my BioEngineering background?
What's Not:
• Direct sales constitute as part of the marketing mix.
• Taking charge of either Physics or Mathematics catalogue. *vomit*

Bing Factor:

This was one of the most gruelling interviews involving a panel of 4 interviewers, as mentioned in my past post. Yet instead of panicking, I managed to intersperse the interview with marketing terms and convinced them I was a budding marketer at heart.

I had indeed master the art of "wayang kulit".

Interview #8
July 13th, 2009
Company: Recruit Express Pte Ltd
Category: Recruitment Agency
Position: ~~Recruitment Consultant~~ Medical Staffing Executive

What's Hot:
• NONE
What's Not:
• I was tricked! Disguised as another name, I had unwittingly applied for it. Misled that the interview would be conducted by a recruitment consultant wanting to screen potential candidates for another job, I actually went for the interview... before rejecting it when all came to light.

Bing Factor:

Interview #9
July 17th, 2009
Company: Alert Life Sciences Computing
Category: Electronic Medical Records Software Company
Position: Regional Clinical Facilitator/Trainer

What's Hot:
• Portuguese multinational company albeit not in the billion dollar league
• 4 weeks training course in Porto, Portugal!
• Annual company retreat in... Portugal!
• Potential opening for supervisory role in Asia Pacific branch.
• Possible inter-departmental switch from frontline trainer to software programmer
• Working in a hospital!
What's Not:
• 8-hour shift work during software implementation in Emergency Room department
• 5 day work week, including weekends.
• Regional work with the first couple of years in Penang, Malaysia

Bing Factor:

Alert Life Sciences Computing is a Portuguese software company specialized in transforming paper-based hospital systems to a paperless electronic medical record system.

As a clinical trainer, it involves having to act as "a key facilitator agent between health professionals and ALERT® and assist users to become familiarized with usage of the company's software".

Majority of the time and effort is invested in on-site training, meaning that one has to literally hold the hand of doctors and nurses to convince them to make an effective switch.

Exciting eh? At least the interviewer Portuguese Pauline managed to stir my interest.

But unfortunately, this job requires one to be based at the hospital where ALERT has a project in. And in this case, at Penang Adventist Hospital!

OMP! (oh my piano)

Interview #10
July 20th, 2009 (10.30AM)
Company: World Scientific Publishing Company
Category: Publishing Firm
Position: Marketing Executive

I was happy but not exactly jubilant with joy when I was informed that I was shortlisted for the second round of interview. ALERT Life Sciences had effectively made the Marketing Executive role slightly less attractive.

So... Bing Factor (Updated):

For the second interview, I met with the Executive Director, Mr Max Phua and Mr Raymond. It was slightly awkward when Phua questioned how much I liked books.

My response:
Eh... I really really love them?

Or at least that was what I probably sounded like.

Convincing FAIL.

In any case, I and another potential candidate (China foreign talent) were then showcased to the array of books that were published by World Scientific. Unfortunately (or fortunately), Dr Phua, the Chairman was too busy to meet us.

After which, it was time to grab lunch and head to town for...

Interview #11
July 20th, 2009 (3.00PM)
Company: AstraZeneca
Category: Pharmaceutical Company
Position: Medical Representative

What's Hot:
• Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical MNC
• Comprehensive training programme
• Direct bus service to Wilkie Edge (Opp. Peace Centre)
• Each-a-Cup bubble tea outlet on ground level!
What's Not:
• Sales driven with sales target
• Required to purchase own transport *kapuk goes my bank account*

Bing Factor:

I was already exhausted but gulped down another cup of coffea robusta (AKA Kopi-O) to intoxicate the Z-monster. But I soon realized that my efforts would be washed down the drain.

The interviewer actually expressed surprise that I did not have any prior working experience.

Hello?! My résumé clearly stated that I had freshly graduated in July so how the heck can one interpret me to have past sales experience?!

Then, it dawned upon me that my application was recommended by some incompetent recruitment consultant from Recruit Express. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed my bubble tea from Each-a-Cup after the interview. Heh.

However, I must mention that this was the only company that rejected my application via snail mail.

Irritating Interviews I

2009-08-24T10:58:00.040+08:00

If resumés are static photographs of one's abilities and skills, interviews are like windows from which an interviewer can peer into. Likewise, an interviewee can catch a glimpse of the workings of a company during this time too.

Of course, interviews are by no means an accurate gauge, and largely depend on one's ability to cast an effective and credible smokebomb of delusion.

With light finally visible at the end of this smoky tunnel, I've decided to release all details chronicling this long and arduous journey.

Interview #1
February 2009
Company: Recruit Express Pte Ltd
Category: Recruitment Agency
Position: Recruitment Consultant

What's Hot:
• My maiden job interview!
What's Not:
• Not in my field of study.
• Long working hours.
• Involves cold calling.

Bing Factor
(On a scale of 1-5; 1 being a crappy job & 5 means BINGo!):

I recalled that I was still having an early lunch at Megabites, when my phone rang.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized I would be having my first job interview. In a matter of hours, I had bought a copy of Fearless Interviewing by Markey Stein from the NUS Career Centre.

But my apprehension was unfounded as the interview turned out to be an informal chit-chat session. At the end of it, I was asked to complete a Harrison InnerView Questionnaire, to assess whether my personality profile would be a good fit to the job.

Days later, I received a phone call and email from the interviewer, informing me that I should redo the questions and resend it back.

As per spoken, please redo the Harrison Inner View Questionaire. There is nothing really wrong in the first test you did, but perhaps you may want to recall what I have mentioned to you in the interview about what we are looking for our consultant. For eg., we need someone who can work in a fast-paced environment. Or we need someone who has no fears in overcoming obstacles. Please redo, and return to me via email once you have completed. Thank you.

Of course, after doing the second round schizophrenically, I "passed".

One day before the second interview with the CEO, I backed out of it altogether... ...
.
.
.
.
.
.
as I was busy preparing for my Physiology II test.

It was only much later that I found out a typical recruitment consultant was paid $2200 with incentives. And subjected to pay cuts if minimum targets are not met.

Final Bing Factor for Recruit Express:

Interview #2
April 8th, 2009
Company: Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Category: A*STAR Research Institute
Position: Research Officer

What's Hot:
• Dr Edwin Chow's pet project
• Non-laboratory aspects such as coordinating clinical trials with doctors and researchers in NUH
• High commercialization prospect
• Fresh hot lemon tea at 3PM, from Mondays to Thursday
What's Not:
• Laboratory work
• Biopolis... AGAIN?!

Bing Factor:

During the interview, I made the fatal error of positioning myself as an overenthusiastic undergraduate keen on furthering my studies (yeah rite...) and publishing papers. Only to realize that the job post requires the exact opposite.

Interview #3
May 4th, 2009
Company: BES Technology Pte Ltd
Category: Biomedical Engineering Services and Distributor
Position: Sales/Project Engineer

What's Hot:
• LOCATION
Just located under a kilometre away at Lichfield Road, I literally walked to the company!
What's Not:
• Tiny company constituting of single-digit staff count, in a single shophouse.
• Doing sales isn't exactly my cup of tea.
• Name of the company is a sheer turnoff.
What kind of name is "BES Technology"? Surely, they're not trying to convince others with their name... What they really lack is a company cheer:

North South East West
Who's the Best?
BESTech BESTech is the BEST!

Bing Factor:

Interview #4
May 7th, 2009
Company: Achema Pte Ltd
Category: Life science and hospital equipment distributor
Position: Sales Engineer

What's Hot:
• Location? Jalan Pemimpin was a single bus service away.
• Bigger than BES Tech, though not much
• Less engineering and more life science
What's Not:
• Industrial warehouse environment, with the office thrown at a corner
• Thus, toilets weren't exactly the cleanest.
• Lush pantry was not in sight.
• Sales... again.

Bing Factor:

Interview #5
May 22nd, 2009
Company: Sanofi-Aventis Pharma Manufacturing
Category: Pharmaceuticals and chemical manufacturing
Position: Process Chemist

What's Hot:
• Multinational Company (MNC)
• Pharmaceutical MNC
What's Not:
• LOCATION: Gul Circle, AKA bloody TUAS.
• Ridiculous mismatched in terms of job scope

Bing Factor:

If you're thinking how the heck a Bioengineer like me is able to snitch an interview for a Process Chemist post, it was actually courtesy of my father pulling strings.

Unfortunately, those strings nearly strangled me to death.

Because the job post demanded a person with Chemistry educational background, I had to convince the interviewer that I was incredibly versatile and immensely gifted, even with my lack of relevant qualification.

Oh... How much I winced and cringed in my seat during the whole time.

And did I mention, I was given a chemistry test too? Not surprisingly, I failed with flying colours. :p

Dilettante Dilemma

2009-08-20T09:30:00.007+08:00

(And I can't believe I've to resort to blogging in html, with blogger getting so screwed up...)

I'm Not Your Mother

2009-08-15T01:25:00.005+08:00

It was unprecedented and unexpected.
But without a doubt, I've morphed into...
.
.
.
.
...Stella Zinman.

(To Be Continued...)

怎麽办

2009-08-12T10:15:00.000+08:00

What am I to do?

The second wave of interviews has finally drawn to a close last week, with the third beginning yesterday. And this has been one helluva rollercoaster ride.

I always liken interviews as examinations. You only have one shot at it, there is simply no second chance if you screw it up. So getting called back for a second interview is like passing it, albeit not acing it.

You might think that after going through so many interviews, I would almost qualify as a professional interviewee.

But sadly, I am not as interview-smart as I would like to be and at times, I would be totally caught off guard.

Like examinations carrying different modular credits, the potential reward behind every interview can differ widely.

Clinching second interviews from MNCs and hospitals are already worthy of celebration.

Then there are those SMEs providing specialized laboratory services and/or distributing life science equipment to biomedical research institutes or hospitals. Application for these companies tend to be fraught with reluctance, and preparing for such interview is sometimes viewed as tiresome.

And then, there is A********H, a SME inviting me for an interview with a dubious one-liner email.

It was no surprise I dreaded going for the interview since it had nowhere fulfilled my ideal criteria of a blockbuster job. I procrastinated until the very last minute before preparing for the interview.

Right up to the meeting place, I was still going through the products that A********H were carrying and figuring out what the heck I was doing here.

Then, at 10.30AM, I was offered the job.

I burst into a joyous fit of song and dance as I skipped gleefully from towards the car.
NOT.

Instead, as the CEO of A********H presented his decision, I somewhat panicked, while still maintaining a façade of restrained confidence and happiness.

I did not help that as I was being interviewed, my handphone was buzzing silently yet madly in my pocket. Upon returning the call, it was to schedule another interview for a separate job.

Agad.

My worst fears have finally come true.

I'm offered an "okay" job but the jobs I truly desire are still in the first phase of interviews.

As my dad would always cautioned, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush". But would this bird in my hand be worth more than four in the bush?

Yes, I know. The local economy is in its doldrums and I should not be so picky, but the motivation not settle for mediocrity is almost irresistable.

For now, I'll try to play the stalling game as I attempt to delay the signing of the contract to the very last minute.

God Help Me.

Bungling Blogger II

2009-08-06T23:26:00.000+08:00

That's it. I'm going to make a permanent switch to Wordpress since Blogger seem unable to get its act together.

But of course, I should be preoccupied with my morning interview tomorrow, especially with my H1N1-inspired symptoms blossoming from within.

This is gonna be the most ill-prepared interview I'll ever have. Pun intended.

Dubious Email

2009-08-04T17:32:00.001+08:00

I found this sitting suspiciously in my email this afternoon.

Dear Kelvin

Would you be available for an interview??

A***
A********H

I was tempted to reply...

Dear A***

Yes!!

Kelvin
Psychobabble

Bungling Blogger

2009-08-03T23:38:00.001+08:00

Is it me or is Blogger getting more screwed-up?

Posting an image typically involves me trying to log in to my account via either Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome or Microsoft Internet Explorer, and hoping that one of them will work.

Today, all of them failed.

Looks like it's really time to for greener pastures.

On and On

2009-08-03T16:00:00.000+08:00

It continues...

Running Amok

2009-07-31T20:21:00.006+08:00

Every year, ~~every~~ most Singaporean guys excluding those bai ka bai chiu (broken leg broken hand), are subjected to an annual physical ~~threat~~ test.

Like the past few years, in an attempt to make the training process an "enjoyable" one, I was tempted into buying:Sony Mdr-As20J Active Style Headphones: $27.00
Belkin Sports Armband Plus with FastFit: $39.90
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 9: $135.00
Total damage: $201.90

Yes, I've however unfortunately exceeded the Silver incentive of $200.

So... In order to break even, this is now exclusively made available to you readers!

Biotherm Aquatrio Skincare Set

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AQUASOURCE OIL FREE - Hydra-Mineral Lotion Purifying Water (200ml)
With a soft and effective toning action, perfect Step 1 with this hydrating formula by helping to remove residue traces of impurities. After application, skin feels pure, moisturized, and looks incredibly radiant.

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This fresh, transparent, non-greasy, non-sticky gel-cream melts onto the skin as soon as it is applied for a feeling of instant freshness. The formula concentrates the
equivalent of 5,000 liters of spring water*. Ideally moisturized for 24 hours non stop, the skin is soft and long-lastingly matte. The complexion is visibly pure and
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Clarins Men Age Control Skincare Set

Now ~~$155~~ $80!!!

1) Clarins Men Revitalizing Gel (50ml)
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No energy ? An energizing gel that helps boosts tired-looking skin, eliminate a dull appearance and provide the moisturization necessary to prevent signs of ageing.

Active Ingredients:
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This reviving soap-free foaming gel removes impurities like excess oil, dead surface cells and traces of pollution which can make skin look dull and grey. A wake-up-call for all skin types, it also energises and soothes.

Active Ingredients:
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Look tired? Lightweight and non-oily, a refreshing serum that helps eliminate signs of fatigue, dark circles and puffiness around the eye contour area

Active Ingredients:
Ginkgo Biloba : draining action.
Ginseng, Bison Grass, Galanga : boost and energize, firming the skin surface.

Battle Begins...

2009-07-29T01:08:00.005+08:00

Astra Zen

2009-07-20T15:30:00.002+08:00

Reprise

2009-07-20T10:30:00.001+08:00

Career Crossroad

2009-07-19T00:35:00.009+08:00

"What do you see yourself doing X years from now?"
(Let X be a positive integer greater than 3)

If there was one favourite question among job interviewers, that would be it. Be it for the position of a product specialist, research officer, marketing executive or a clinical facilitator.

And most unfortunately, that would also be the question that I never fail to be stumped, regardless how much I've prepared beforehand.

It is sorely apparent that I have yet to convince myself what I really want to be, not least to talk about career goals.

To me, that question is just a fanciful or sophisticated paraphrase of that childhood question, "What do you want to do when you grow up?"

Amidst the blur of short term ambitions of astronauts and pilots, the strongest inkling of what I desired to be was a bedroom trance DJ during my JC days (no thanks to Sasha's Expander).

But like most fantasies, they quickly fade. Only to be replaced by an enigmatic abyss of confusion which I have not been able to explicate as of late.

What could I do?

1. Further your studies.
This arguably could be described as the most stable path after graduation. Absolutely recession-proof, and culminates with a ~~orgasmic Permanent Head Damage~~ well-respected "Doctor" prefix to your last name.

Yet, past experience has repeatedly pointed to my lack of passion in research, as evidenced by the fatality of scientific journals on me by the Zzz monster.

2. Follow your passion.
Oooo.

The word "passion" not only sounds fruity to me, but it conjures out the image of flames bursting from void.

Ok, drama aside. My lackadaisical and fickle nature has resulted in me getting interested in numerous things, but not beyond the threshold of passion.

Some have suggested to take stock of the amount of time I invest in a certain activity, and it might give me a clue on where my passion lies.

Well, going along that line of thought, coming in first in place would be... ...

1. PIANO
LOL.
Of course that would siphon off the most amount of time since I have been preparing for my Grade 8 examinations the end of this year.

AND YES, considering I will be a quarter-centurion old when I take the examinations, I might be in the 99th percentile in terms of age.

You might call me pessimistic, but I would describe myself as realistic not to even flirt the thought of music as a career.

2. BADMINTON
ROFL.

Playing it two times a week doesn't make me a professional. It's simply for fun and maybe for health. DUH.

3. WRITING
Actually, that doesn't really qualify since I've almost halted writing thousand word essays or articles this year.

Even then, writing is a form of art which I appreciate more than I practice.

I enjoy reading commentaries and reviews (particularly those related to current affairs and politics), then debating with myself (Ok, I know I'm weird but it's done in my head!) about the issues at hand.

But when it comes to translating down my thoughts to words, I never fail to encounter an invisible inertia which seeks to expunge every plausible word I would want to write about.

On one end of the spectrum, there lies the prolific writers who can churn out essays and articles like a production factory on hyperdrive. On the other end lies Kelvin, the infertile writer.

4. Wei Qi
The only board game I play which I am not good at, though it makes me look relatively intellectual (at least to the layman). HAHA.

5. Wines
I'm just stating this so to let you know that this is always welcomed whenever you meet me. *hint*

So you see, none of my so-called passions have remotely anything to do with my BioEngineering background.

3. Enter your related Industry
Easier said than done.

With a rather ~~obscure~~ specialized Engineering major, I realized there is only limited number of jobs that can be construed as a good fit to my BioEngineering degree. And too many of them either had to do with research or sales, of which I'm ain't too keen.

Also, most of these jobs seem to require me to undergo substantial training before I can actually contribute back meaningfully to the company.

Which brings me to the question, what is the bloody use of my degree then?!

Agad.

So what now after almost 3 to 4 weeks of job hunting?

My gut feeling is that I am approaching a crossroad soon. And the available options don't look too pretty.

Someway or the other, sacrifices and compromises would have to be made. And I remain torn as ever.

Double-agad. Monday better not come.

Alert Allures

2009-07-17T00:37:00.002+08:00

Will I be Alert?

Twitter Today

2009-07-09T00:54:00.004+08:00

If I was compulsively hooked to twitter, how would my life be portrayed in 160 characters?

9.30AM: Alarm rings. *Snooze*
9.35AM: Alarm rings. ~~*Snooze*~~ Turn off alarm.
10.15AM: An unpleasant voice echos through my room indicating that I should be out of bed.
10:15AM: Damn it. Accidentally turn my alarm off... again.

11.00AM: Eat lunch.
12.00PM: Online booking for ~~stupid~~ badminton court for dad.
12.01PM: Still clicking aimlessly and realizing that courts are being taken by the second.
12.02PM: FAIL. No courts in desired time slot.
12.05PM: Dad (in Pontian) calls to advise trying and checking back repeatedly.
12.10PM: OOOOOiii. Not working.
12.11PM: HEY! One AVAILABLE COURT, book and pay immediately.
12.15PM: Still trying for more courts.
12.22PM: Give Up.

1.00PM: Mug for interview.
1.13PM: Still mugging. And Nuahing.
1.30PM: La la la.
1.35PM: Hmmm. I haven't fill up my application forms. Shit, haven't photocopy transcript.
1.43PM: Where is my original A-Level certificate?!!! I can find my PAP kindergarden one but not my A-Levels?
1.55PM: DIEEEE... Still filling up the form... legibly.

2.05PM: Time management, FAIL. (Have to take cab liao.)
2.06PM: Make Black coffee and eat Japanese beans
2.30PM: Should I bring my laptop or should I bring a document bag?
2.45PM: Change and wash up liao. NO TIME.

3.00PM: Time management, DOUBLE FAIL. (Still at home.)
3.13PM: At Yio Chu Kang road... hello? Cabs???
3.16PM: Yeahhh.
3.40PM: Arrive at W**** S*********. Ah. Huge building with nice lobby, but pity the location.
3.45PM: Asked by receptionist to wait.
3.46PM: Pick up brochure boasting the achievements of the company.
3.55PM: Still reading and trying to pick up more facts even though it is the second time reading.

4.02PM: OOOoo. They have the brochure in Chinese!
4.03PM: Eeee. Put the foreign language material down.
4.15PM: Still rehearsing possible questions.
4.19PM: La la la. Oops. Time to go up to meeting room?
4.20PM: Wah. Got two people interviewing me leh!
4.20PM: Shit. Another person enter.
4.20PM: Agad. Enough liao lah. Three is already a crowd.

4.21PM: Smile. Don't panic. Smile. *AARRGGGHHHHHH*

5.00PM: Ooooo. That didn't turn out too badly... Now. How do I get back home from this ulu place?!

8.15PM: Yes yes, I'm going to be late for piano lessons.
8.17PM: *pant*
8.52PM: Kenna niao by teacher for playing Scherzo as pseudo-dolce. Damn it, I've apparently morphed Beethoven into Mozart.
9.22PM: Brain-dead.

10.00PM: Sleep.
10.15PM: Aarggghhhh. Wake up leh.
10.16PM: Zzzzz.
10.22PM: FINE. I'll wake up.
10.50PM: Reluctantly puts on running gear and kenna label as "crazy" by parents.

..........

1:39AM: Blogging.
1:40AM: Blogging and typing "blogging".

Okay, I shall not be so 无聊.

The Hunt Begins

2009-07-06T16:06:00.003+08:00

Maintaining an updated blog has turned out to be rather ironic.

The deeper I'm buried in work, the more time I'll manage to find to rant here. So unsurprisingly, I actually post more entries during the examination period than during the holidays.

Almost a month after I've returned from Greece and Turkey, I cannot seem to find enough time to do a proper entry.

In fact, I've been busy busy busy...

For all the WRONG REASONS.

I have actually been spending more time and effort, in researching on what to spend than where to earn.

Yes, even after blowing thousands on my graduation trip, I was still busy buying furnitures, vitamins, skincare products, earphones, running shoes, spectacles ~~and handphone~~. And then there's the endless slew of outings, badminton games and piano practices.

At the end of each day for the past weeks, I would send a couple of resumes to convince myself that I was trying my best to get myself employed.

But apparently, I wasn't.

So today will be the day that I declare my official job-hunting journey.

I would stop procrastinating and let Singapore know that a very talented BioEngineer/Singer/Writer/International Star known as Kelvin is ready to enter the job market.

Santo Silence

2009-07-01T00:23:00.003+08:00

What the heck has Kelvin been doing lately?

Not...
1. Online on MSN
2. Joining the rest in flaunting those graduation trip photos (profile picture doesn't count.)
3. Updating this blog

~~Training to be a concert pianist~~

Nah, just ~~appreciating the finer things in life such as Santorini's SantoWines Aidani-Assyrtico 2008 while making music~~ getting drunk.

*Hic*

Clarifying Clarins

2009-06-18T00:53:00.004+08:00

Ha. After a long unintended hiatus from blogging, I'm back... to business.

As usual, I've bagged another prize from my inane unstoppable contest participating. This time, it's not from LUSH but courtesy from Men's Health.

An amazing gift set for your pals, friends, boyfriends and fathers, presenting...

Clarins Men Set worth S$155!

Greek Geek

2009-05-25T00:08:00.005+08:00

I've always had a knack of blogging at all the wrong times. Today is no different.

In less than 10 hours time, I will be on my way to a place which was never really on my "to-go" list. But thanks to Emirates ridiculous price offers, I was permanently infected by the travel bug.

No, not the H1N1 crap going around.

The planning was evolving into another nightmare. Yes, too much information is not necessarily good.So anyway, I think I better go tie up any loose end before catching some sleep.

For now, here's a slice of Turkish delight brought to you by Hadise during Eurovision Song Contest 2009, performing Düm Tek Tek.

And not forgetting meteorite-filled "This Is Our Night" by Greek singer, Sakis Rouvas.

Nobody listens to me

2009-05-16T23:14:00.004+08:00

Taking a break from all the reorganizing and repacking into my new furniture, I found a composition which I wrote long ago.

Nobody listens to me
31st January 1992

One day I was in school. I fell and injured my leg.

When I got home I told my mother but she did not bother.

The next day when I was in school, my leg was swollen.

When I came back home my mother quickly brought me to the doctor and the doctor gave me an injection on my leg then I stayed at home for five days.

If my mother had listened to me, it would not hurt so much.

I never knew I was this emo as a kid.

Finishing Finale

2009-05-10T02:00:00.000+08:00

I meant to blog about this last week, but never really got to click the "publish post" button.

3rd May 2009: Multipurpose Sports Hall (MPSH) 5

Today was a special day.
It was not only the last day of my ~~life~~ exams, it marked the end of my academic life in NUS as a bioengineering undergraduate. Physiology II (PY1106) had the honour to be THE PAPER for Kelvin.

Of course, I figured that my final paper in NUS should be a walk in the park.

1. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
MCQ examinations are what students would kill for, as opposed to those lengthy essay or calculations-galore papers. Put it simply, how bad could it turn out?

Even a monkey trained to shade one oval per line would be able to score around 20%.

2. 60 MCQs for 2 hours
2 minutes per question?! Gahhhh. A pure insult.
Judging that a good number of questions are based upon simple recall of facts, it shouldn't take more than 30 seconds.

3. Year 1 kids.
HAHA. This is the "old bird" speaking man... What do all those Dentistry, Pharmarcy and Nursing freshies know?

4. Me = 2 Exams only.
Since the Chamber Singers II small group singing test had long passed, I effectively had the whole study break to prepare a miserly of 2 papers.
(Of course, how effectively I made use of the time is pretty questionable.)

I could list a few more reasons, but you get my idea...
.
.
.

So Kelvin strolled in to the examination hall, to table 89. "Let's end this with a smile!", he thought confidently.

Listening to Dr. Sanjay Khanna recite the same list of instructions for the last time, he cranked his head to see the digital clock strike "1700".

"The time is 5PM. This is a 2hour paper... You may begin."

*rustle of papers*

Kelvin's eyes settle on the first question... And his heart skipped a beat.
"Nah... They probably reserved the most difficult questions for the first part," he manages to convince himself.

After eliminating the obviously wrong choices, Kelvin attempts to wring out the best answer. And like all other previous papers, he marked a tick on the left hand side of the question to indicate that the question deserves a second look.

The second question.

"Ah ha! You're not going to play mind games with me!" Kelvin triumphantly guesses that the second question will be as difficult as the first one. He knows that all attempts to break him down psychologically would fail.

And yup, he makes another customary tick at the left of question two.

The third question.
"Yes! The questions are still... difficult?" Kelvin negotiates the question valiantly.

And another tick to the left hand side.

The fifth question.
"... ..."

*Two more ticks*

Halfway through the paper, Kelvin soon observes that the "ticks" were fast losing its significance. "I should start marking out questions that I know instead..." he ponders to himself cruelly.

Time flew by in a blur as an epic battle for survival unfolded before his eyes. No prizes for guessing who had the upper hand.

As a coup de grâce, irritating kids started leaving the hall 15 minutes before the end of the paper. Arghhh.

Let me tell you, it was a pretty gruesome sight at table 89.

While the final year students were declaring that they had finally finished, Kelvin was simply... finished.

Winnie Whining

2009-05-03T02:06:00.003+08:00

*sniff*

*sneeze*

*snort*

*snuff*

Poor piggies...

Final Semester

2009-04-19T22:06:00.006+08:00

It was all planned out.

As my final semester in NUS inevitably drew to a close, I had great visions of ending it with a bang.

It would include having atas lunches with NUS pals, at the not-so-newly-opened NUS SUN Asian Bistro.

Great Ambiance.

Pretty Chic DecorAnd of course, seemingly great food.

Of course, after these sumptuous lunches, wouldn't it be great to enjoy to round the afternoon up with an free afternoon concert at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music?

BUT NOOOOOOooooooo.
How did my last two weeks turn out?

Day 0 was on 19 March, Day 29 was on 17th April.
Go figure.

Murderous

2009-04-12T22:04:00.003+08:00

After revising my FYP report for the 4251483th time, I am STILL at work on it.

Strangely, the only person I wanna meet personally now is my mentor.
*stab*

Shakespeared Songs

2009-04-09T18:00:00.001+08:00

Ha. The long-awaited concert of the century is finally over!

My heartfelt gratitude goes out to all who came to concert. And for those who did not, I am also thankful that you didn't. :p

The concert was riddled with so many screw-ups, it was inhumanly possible to list them all.

1) Everyone went FLAT by probably more than a semitone in some songs. It's pretty telling especially when I can't even reach the supposed low F, even after trying to croak it out.
2) Diction was much to be desired. The lyrics were all derived from the great works of William Shakespeare, so it was a pity that hardly any words muttered were discernible.
3) Some pieces started off very weakly, as if no one was quite sure about the actual starting first note.
4) Starting off weakly unintentionally is bad, coming in for individual parts at different times was even worst. It sounded like intermittent bird-dropping.
5) Pitch? Hello? I know there were dissonant chords, but we manage to stretch its definition to possibly the realms of noise.

And just when you thought unaccompanied parts were bad, the bringing in of instruments could not salvage the situation.
6) I know I'm nitpicking, but Miss Cello player, the bass section is relying you heavily for your notes. Coming in at the wrong time certainly did not help matters.
7) Timing timing timing between the choir and the pianist. While an untrained ear might not be able to pick out tonal mistakes, rhythmic ones are much more apparent. The coordination between us could be summed up as "Faster or slower, but rarely in unison." Of course, how could anyone forget the disastrous ending of epic proportions when the choir ended 1-2 seconds earlier than the pianist!

I wonder I can grab the live recording of it, then you can witness some of the atrocities committed.

But my conductor, Dr Katherine Wallace, sums it up most nicely and politically correctly...
"Thank you once again for a great concert last night. I felt there were some truly exquisite moments."

LOL.
Despite massacring Shakespeare, it was still pretty fun though.

Songs from Shakespeare

2009-04-04T22:35:00.019+08:00

It's really unbelievable. Really.

Here is the unabridged entry of my previous post on reasons not to take MUA3211 - Chamber Singers II:

1) It was worth two modular credits (normally four) and there were two 1.5hrs lessons a week. Considering that there are no breaks in between and it ending late at times, the workload is substantially heavier than other “normal” modules. Oh, and did I mention there were extra rehearsals?

2) MUA3211 is almost impossible to ace. A third of the class are currently singing in NUS choir, a third is studying (for real) in Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, the rest are from some alumni chorale or a capella groups or other choirs. After eliminating almost everyone, that probably leaves me at the bottom of the hierarchy, a former choir member.

3) I cannot sight sing, other than maybe pitching basic solfège or major thirds, perfect fifths and octaves. And of course, because there are no hardly any sectionals teaching, you're expected to figure out how it sounds like just from the score (minus an external instrument).

4) My voice has bloody chui-ed. Hitting an E can potentially kill my vocals (and the surrounding people...)

5) The module is held on Tuesday and Thursday, effectively transforming my 3 day week to a full 5IVE day week!

6) This module is absolutely extraneous since I've already overshot my quota of academic credits.

Unfortunately, there was only one reason why I still took this:

1) I enjoy singing in a choir.

Yes, your eyes ain’t playing tricks on you. That’s me being brutally honest.

Singing in a choir doesn't sound remotely as cool as singing in an a capella small group or jamming in a band. In fact, it sounds sissy, soft, limp and lame. The only thing that probably ranks lower (at least to me) are male ballet dancers.

No offense. Heh.

Of course, other than immersing myself in the lush layers of vocals, it was rather refreshing to view NUS in a such different light (or tone). At every turn and corner of the building, you hear music played instead of muggers blasting mainstream music through their iPods.

And just like how lifeless final year bioengineering students present their "findings" in a pathetic poster presentation, these Yong Siew Toh students see their various works culminate in an evening concert, performed to hundreds!

Damn it. I know it's not exactly analogous but I digress.

So anyway, in YST Conservatory style, MUA3211: Chamber Singers II ends with a bang this Monday (6th April 2009) with...
Featuring Canadian Katherine Wallace as choral director; premiering new works "If Music and Sweet Poetry Agree" by Chen Zhangyi and "Folly Folio" by Emily Koh; the prodigious Austrian pianist Andreas Eggerstberger; and last but not least, the comeback performance of the millennium, Kelvin Lim.

For full programme outline: http://scmapp.nus.edu.sg/events/details.asp?e_id=903

La La La

2009-03-15T02:16:00.008+08:00

If education was meant to inspire students the wonders and joy of learning, I think it has failed me on most accounts. In fact, I am convinced that there are murderous consequences...
Of course, there were rare moments in NUS when I genuinely looked forward to lecture... but tragically, these "interesting" modules seem to gravitate strongly towards the Arts and Social Sciences faculty.

This semester was no different. Despite having fulfilled the university requirements of elective modules, I decided that this was my last chance at taking a module that I truly liked.

It was a tough decision with tempting (at least to me...) modules such as Reason and Persuasion (Philosophy), Japanese/French/German Language, Science of Music, Music in the Global Context, Introduction to Film Art.

But in the end, I rashly bidded for MUA3211: Chamber Singers II.

Module Descriptus:
This course allow students to learn the fundamentals of vocal production and choral techinique through participation in a vocal performance ensemble. Students will participate in regular rehearsals, and will learn and perform choral music with an emphasis on Renaissance and Twentieth-century music. Through this course, students will gain knowledge of diverse repertoire, composers, genres, styles and period performance practices. They will also learn fundamentals of vocal production and choral technique and will experience working together in a unique team ensemble.

It was unplanned and unexpected because it was worth only 2MCs (as opposed to the normal 4MCs), 3 hours of lessons, and even had a compulsory audition. In other words, this module is really damn boh hua lah.

But who could resist the temptation of NOT taking a module at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music? The ~~cacophony~~ kaleidoscope of music I hear as I walk to my class is sufficient to make my day.
Fine, I'm not very rational again.

Nonetheless, I've stuck long enough to realize that there's a performance in less than 48hours... and to think that I've never gone for any of the free noon recitals at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory before.

Guess I'll view the conservatory concert hall for the first time, from the stage. AGAD.

Monday Noon Recital
Venue: Conservatory Concert Hall
Date: 16 March 2009, Monday, 12.15pm

PROGRAMME

Piano Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 14 (1912) by Prokofiev
IV. Vivace

Khoo Hui Ling (MUS3), piano

Sonata in A major (1886) by by Franck
III. Recitativo - Fantasia
IV. Allegretto poco mosso

Cantabile by Paganini

Jia Xiaoke (MUS4), violin
Liu Jia, piano

Three Shakespeare Songs by Vaughan Williams

Fancies I by Sven-Eric Johanson

Sigh No More, Ladies (from Much Ado About Nothing, Act II, Sc. 3) by George Shearing

Conservatory Chamber Singers

Leith Park Swimming Complex

2009-03-01T22:41:00.011+08:00

With the mid-term break ending, I guess I'm more than halfway through my final semester.

While I have been feel increasingly compelled to post more entries to chronicle this supposedly momentous period, my hectic schedule has made it near impossible to even upload some inane comic.

Not surprisingly, the main culprit of my utter lack of time would be my final year project.
Yes, blame it on those umbilical ~~chord~~ cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells.
But then again, I'm not about to wax lyrical about the module Chamber Singers II, especially I have a "pop quiz" coming up in a couple of days time.

I'm also not about to start on a skin-related entry.

The LUSH hamper I won is certainly not the crux of this post.

Which kinda reminds me, I've not even blogged about my short 围棋 (Wei Qi or Go) stint at Bishan Community Club!

Ahhh... The splendid lunch at Oosters Belgian Brasserie...

... and the British Queen & Mangosteen Pub.

I've digressed.

Rainy days.
This short and random entry is about the love-hate relationship with rainy days. Like most people, I absolutely abhor braving a thunderstorm outside while squeezing into a sardine-packed public transport.

But hate evolves to love, when I'm at home on a rainy day
The occasional lightning and thunder might be irritating, but snuggling up at the sofa or bed or just sipping a hot cup of chinese tea simply makes my day.

However, less than 48 hours ago, my love affair with rainy days has soured dramatically.

28th February 2009: Home

My precious enclave has finally been breached.

A part of my shelf was utterly destroyed.
The real anguish was when I found out my lifetime-memento of booklets/pamphlets marking the musicals I've watched, the choir performances, my time at Montfort and Victoria and much more had been partially soaked.

Not spared were my cherished collection "political books" including a signed copy of JBJ book!
And I thought the worst was over.

1st March 2009: Home

It rained again.
And this time, it was bloody back with vengeance.

My parents' room was even worse affected than my room.

This looked straight out of the scene of the movie, Dark Water

At one point of time, this was how I felt...

Okay. Maybe not that dramatic and certainly not against the wall.
I was on my fours, scooping up and hoping that I could collect more water than the leakage.

By then, my sister and brother-in-law had just arrived to help contain fast deteriorating situation, while my parents were still happily playing badminton in Yio Chu Kang.

And then, the lights went out.

With the sun receding beyond the horizon, time was clearly running out. More leaks were emerging randomly as I struggle to prevent the master bedroom from turning into a swimming pool.

Wham!

One of the ceiling lights had fallen and a gaping hole began pouring ominously out along the broken wires.

Yup, I never would have imagined, but a beautiful waterfall of yellowish water had spontaneously formed in the middle of the room.

Then it all became a blur of collecting water, empty pail, scoop water, empty pail...
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Almost two hours later, the damage was finally contained.
But the inevitable mess, repair and cleanup has only begun...

Update

2009-02-23T00:33:00.001+08:00

Coming soon.

The Start of The End

2009-01-28T16:22:00.006+08:00

2009 began tumultuously with this.

Already a few weeks into school, and reality finally beginning to sink in that my days in NUS is indeed numbered.

Especially, now that I've officially run out of opportunities to sell my remaining textbooks, after a very unsuccessful attempt at BuyBackAsia.
So here's a final shot. Anyone interested in the following textbooks, please contact me. I guarantee the best price, value and quality!

Title: Essential Cell Biology
Author: Alberts Bray Hopkin Johnson Lewis Raff Roberts Walter
Edition: 2nd

Title: Biology, Concepts and Applications
Author: Cecie Starr
Edition: 6th

Title: Marketing - Real people, Real choice
Author: Soloman, Marshall, Stuart
Edition: 4th

Anyone interest?
A donation is much appreciated...

On a separate note, my Final Year Project has been a bottomless pit in terms of time and effort.
I'm beginning to suspect that my mentor expects me to be in lab during normal working hours, even if it means skipping my lectures and tutorials.

And of course, after conducting my daily experiments in lab, I would have to crunch out some useful numbers, to prove that I'm making groundbreaking discovery.
But I think I'm more more of an alcoholic than a researcher.

Indeed, culturing all these bloody (pun intended) human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells have driven me close to insanity.

But the final straw had to be this...

Do notice that there a tiny lump of growth in the tissue culture flask.
And NO. The flask is supposed to contain clear cell culture medium and NOTHING MORE.

To prove that the twenty-cent-sized lump has to be some sort of insidious creature, here are some photomicrographs of it on the edges...
I get goosebumps whenever I see these evil fungal growth.

So you could imagine how I almost fainted when I found the "MOTHER" Fungus growing in the tray of water in the incubator. The motherfungal thing was at least half the size of my palm!

You might not "appreciate" the gravity / grotesqueness of the situation if you have not handled cell culture before. But it's probably the equivalent of finding first finding a cockroach in your food, and then discovering the cook is a cockroach!

Fine, bad analogy.

On another random note, I just found out that playing 围棋 (WeiQi) and "digging gold" is much frowned upon in Bishan Community Club.

Finally, this entry wouldn't be complete without announcing to the world that I have officially joined...

The Conservatory Chamber Singers of
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory Music

It sounds good, ain't it?

Haha. Actually, it's because I'm taking this 2MC module by Yong Siew Toh "MUA3211: Chamber Singers II"

Module Descriptus:
This course allow students to learn the fundamentals of vocal production and choral techinique through participation in a vocal performance ensemble. Students will participate in regular rehearsals, and will learn and perform choral music with an emphasis on Renaissance and Twentieth-century music. Through this course, students will gain knowledge of diverse repertoire, composers, genres, styles and period performance practices. They will also learn fundamentals of vocal production and choral technique and will experience working together in a unique team ensemble.

As I've mentioned, this is my final semester in NUS. So I decided to fulfill my final wishes and end it off with a bang. Indeed, this module is absolutely extraneous which probably has no effect on my CAP and might even siphon some of my precious time from my FYP.

But who could resist not taking a module conducted in a classroom with a Steinway Grand Piano?

Final Year Crap

2009-01-16T23:32:00.003+08:00

No. This blog hasn't died yet.
My only excuse for a relatively long hiatus is the inordinate grotesque amount of time my final year project has been soaking up. It has derailed numerous ambitious plans I set out to accomplish in the December holidays, but it didn't take long for me to realize that it's already 2009.

Christmas was literally bloody short.

But nonetheless, I still manage to hit an ultra-last-minute trip to Hong Kong.
But because my FYP interim report is due in less than a couple of days time, I think I'll hold off the detailed blogging.
So to tide the dearth of words in this entry, here's an article I wrote for The Online Citizen.
And yes, it's about everyone's favourite political party to hate/love, the Singapore Democratic Party. Heh.

SDP: Misunderstood, misguided or misaligned?
By Kelvin Lim / Writer

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) is arguably Singapore’s most controversial political party, boasting a colourful history involving ideological clashes with the government, inter and intra-party disunity and facing an inundating surge of legal lawsuits and charges.

After years of negative reporting by the local media, the public standing of SDP seems to be permanently marred in the eyes of some Singaporeans.

A quick search into recent archives (2008) of The Straits Times on news pertaining to the SDP has indeed yielded a less than flattering picture.

Date	Headline in the Straits Times
22 August	Chees, five others charged with illegal assembly
2 September	Illegal assembly: Woman fined $650
14 October	Chees deserved jail terms for their conduct in court: Judge
14 October	PM, MM get $950k damages; Amount determined in part by ‘egregious’ conduct of the Chees
15 October	A-G takes trio to court for ’scandalising judiciary’
24 October	Two fined for taking part in illegal assembly

Raison d’être: Civil disobedience

It is tempting to dismiss them as politicians who are bent on breaking laws and creating trouble, but scratch beyond the rebellious surface and it might reveal more than meets the eye. The rationale behind their actions has been explained on their website, and also detailed by Dr Chee Soon Juan’s The Power of Courage.

The SDP states that the most fundamental objective for a political party is policy-making, followed by implementation of policies upon successful election into the parliament. But without free and fair elections, they rationalise that the only alternative path is “for citizens to exercise their rights through peaceful mass protests to compel the PAP to accede to the people’s demands for a free and fair election system”.

In a nutshell, they have been advocating political change through nonviolent action.

Nonviolent action is a means of social change that avoids the use of physical violence. Sometimes going beyond institutionalised methods such as petitioning and voting, it takes the form of civil disobedience. As the name suggest, civil disobedience involves a refusal to disobey selective laws and regulations which are deemed to be unfair and unjust.

Various famous historical examples of civil disobedience were the Salt Satyagraha by Mahatma Gandhi, the Montgomery Bus Boycott sparked by Rosa Parks and resistance against South African apartheid, led by Nelson Mandela.

Framing that principle in the Singapore context, Dr Chee purports that Singapore has its fair share of “unjust laws”, which aim to circumscribe basic human rights such as freedom of assembly and speech. To “overcome” these laws, he advocates breaking existing “unjust laws” even if it results in stiff penalties. He reasons: “The Government can jail 10 persons; it can even jail 100 persons but it cannot jail 10,000 persons.”

Liberalising the Speakers’ Corner: A fruit of civil disobedience?

Since Dr Chee was appointed as the Secretary-General of SDP in 1993, it remains debatable whether his confrontationist approach has yielded tangible results.

In a working paper published by Asia Research Institute titled “Calibrated coercion and the maintenance of hegemony in Singapore”, Dr Cherian George posits that these tactics are aimed at provoking a strong response so to expose “the repressive core of the state”. Yet, due to the Singapore’s small geographical size and its traditional economic strength, the People’s Action Party (PAP) has been able to respond to the multiple acts of civil disobedience with little visible political cost, by limiting legal action to organisers and speakers instead of the participatory audience.

On the other hand, long-time political commentator, Mr Alex Au points out the recent relaxation of regulation on public protests at Speakers’ Corner as a visible fruit of civil disobedience. During the IMF-World Bank Summit held in Singapore in October 2006, Dr Chee Soon Juan and Ms Chee Siok Chin engaged in a standoff with the police for three days and nights, and were prevented from marching to the conference venue. Predictably, it generated unfavourable press coverage worldwide and even earned stinging criticism from the World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz when the authorities tried to bar accredited activists from entering the shores of Singapore.

In any case, one may never know for sure whether the move towards liberalising public protest at Speakers’ Corner on 1 September was impelled by the SDP’s acts of civil disobedience by, or a deliberately-paced progression towards active citizenship.

A clash of ideals

Former NTUC Income chief, Mr Tan Kin Lian is by far, the most successful organiser in attracting record breaking numbers to the Speakers’ Corner, and advocating justice for unwitting investors who have invested in complex structured products especially those linked to the collapsed Lehman Brothers.

On 14 October, much to the dismay of the SDP, Mr Tan highlighted the importance of investors staying within the laws. He cautioned of “groups that wish to expand their anarchical ranks and would happily urge you to break the law”, and bluntly warned against doing “what many stupid and selfish politicians in Singapore have done and seek self destruction.”

In a reply posted on the SDP website, the party accused Mr Tan of joining in with the voices of scaremongering. Rhetorically, they asked where Mr Tan could have assembled the DBS investors, if activists had not campaigned for freedom of assembly. Rather than disparaging civil disobedience, fighting for political and civil rights could “come in very handy in [the] future”.

There is much debate over the validity of what the SDP has been fighting for, such as whether current laws are really unjust in the first place. Furthermore, people who support ideals pertaining to freedom of assembly and speech may not be willing to intentionally go against established laws which restrict its very definition.

SDP on a tightrope

In March this year, SDP launched a series of “Tak boleh tahan!” (Malay for I can’t take it anymore!) campaigns to protest against rising inflation which resulted from price hikes including the GST increase. Conducted at HDB estates such as Toa Payoh Central and Bishan, it was a calculated move towards engaging heartlanders on bread-and-butter issues.

In the months that followed, the SDP also tried to reach out to local university students at National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU).

Of late, the public outreach process has all but stopped as the SDP and some of its stalwart supporters had been besieged by a series of charges and lawsuits. With hefty compensation sums awarded to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in recent defamation lawsuits, the SDP faces possible bankruptcy and deregistration as a political party.

The party is placed in a more precarious position than ever before. While it has managed to win supporters through the Internet, it remains to be seen and tested whether the newfound support might translate into substantial public support to prevent its demise.

Combined with a lack of consensual support between opposition parties and an ever evolving PAP, SDP must find a way to leapfrog ahead of the current conundrum while maintaining continual contact with Singaporeans, both online and offline.

Dr Chee recognised that “no campaign or movement can guarantee immediate and automatic success”. Whether or not SDP translate its grandiose political ideals to reality without going under is anyone’s guess.

Don't ask me why I'm inserting this random webcomic strip here.

Life of Me

2009-01-05T12:00:00.001+08:00

If my life could be surmised in one poem, it would be this. Uncanny brilliance.

The Old Sailor
by A.A. Milne

There was once an old sailor my grandfather knew
Who had so many things which he wanted to do
That, whenever he thought it was time to begin,
He couldn't because of the state he was in.

He was shipwrecked, and lived on a island for weeks,
And he wanted a hat, and he wanted some breeks;
And he wanted some nets, or a line and some hooks
For the turtles and things which you read of in books.

And, thinking of this, he remembered a thing
Which he wanted (for water) and that was a spring;
And he thought that to talk to he'd look for, and keep
(If he found it) a goat, or some chickens and sheep.

Then, because of the weather, he wanted a hut
With a door (to come in by) which opened and shut
(With a jerk, which was useful if snakes were about),
And a very strong lock to keep savages out.

He began on the fish-hooks, and when he'd begun
He decided he couldn't because of the sun.
So he knew what he ought to begin with, and that
Was to find, or to make, a large sun-stopping hat.

He was making the hat with some leaves from a tree,
When he thought, "I'm as hot as a body can be,
And I've nothing to take for my terrible thirst;
So I'll look for a spring, and I'll look for it first."
Old Sailor 2 Then he thought as he started, "Oh, dear and oh, dear!
I'll be lonely tomorrow with nobody here!"
So he made in his note-book a couple of notes:
"I must first find some chickens" and "No, I mean goats."

He had just seen a goat (which he knew by the shape)
When he thought, "But I must have boat for escape.
But a boat means a sail, which means needles and thread;
So I'd better sit down and make needles instead."

He began on a needle, but thought as he worked,
That, if this was an island where savages lurked,
Sitting safe in his hut he'd have nothing to fear,
Whereas now they might suddenly breathe in his ear!

So he thought of his hut ... and he thought of his boat,
And his hat and his breeks, and his chickens and goat,
And the hooks (for his food) and the spring (for his thirst) ...
But he never could think which he ought to do first.

And so in the end he did nothing at all,
But basked on the shingle wrapped up in a shawl.
And I think it was dreadful the way he behaved -
He did nothing but bask until he was saved!

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T19:30:00.001+08:00

I'm tired.
Really tired...
Not even the Nespresso machine in my lab lounge can perk me up.

I can't believe it. It's the year 2009.
My final school holidays of my life time is ending soon and my to-do-list keeps burgeoning uncontrollably.

Indeed, it's beginning to dawn upon me that my Final Year Project is a bottomless pit in terms of time expenditure.
No matter how much time you spent on it, there is always room for more.
So what lies ahead for me this year...

Free LUSH CDs?

More Monday 围棋 sessions?

And anal-retentive Jokes

In 2007, I visited New Zealand on a student exchange programme.
2008 was less of a bang with visits to nearby countries, Thailand and Hong Kong.

But this year, if things go as planned, 2009 will certainly get really interesting.

Wacky Webcomics

2008-12-18T21:43:00.011+08:00

It is a proven theory that blog activity is inversely correlated with how busy I am. Almost halfway into the holidays and I couldn't be caught up with more commitments than ever. So to prevent this blog from gathering too much dust, here's a quickie post on some of the crap I've collected over the past couple of months.

I always thought that the internet was filled with low intelligence being, but I never knew things could stoop to such level.
My favourite guilty-pleasure web comic has to be http://www.explosm.net/. Unlike http://www.sinfest.net/, the illustrations are rather rudimentary but the humour is utterly preposterous...

... gross,
and sometimes, disturbing.

Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal continues on with my somewhat pet theme on morbidity and death.

That was plain cruel.

Admittedly, it took me a while to understand this comic,

but it's so my type of humour. Heh.

BN3101: The End

2008-11-20T23:59:00.005+08:00

So there we have it.

BN3101: Biomedical Engineering Design, the mother of all Bioengineering modules has finally drawn to a close. And what an experience it has been!

For all who haven't had the privilege of taking this module, it's a compulsory design project module that all NUS Bioengineering students have to take in the first semester for their third year.

The Project (for 2008)

You are working in a Medical Device company
You have no choice who your colleagues are
You are given a small budget and a dateline to do a proof of concept design
Your team is to present to management at the end of 12 weeks a design solution for a new total ankle or total wrist replacement.
Your team is to convince management that you should be given more money (US$1 million) to bring concept to clinical trial.

What to Design

A total wrist replacement
Instrumentations for insertion of the device
Instrumentation for cutting guides

I had manage to delay the inevitable for a year when I bolted out of Singapore to seek solace in New Zealand. But fast forward one year, BN3101 was back to breathing down my neck.

I was dreading every moment of it after hearing all the horror stories from my fellow BIE mates who had already gone through fiery flames of BN3101. Furthermore, the implication of doing a design project module concurrently with a final year project seemed almost insurmountable.

Like it or not, I had no choice. LPPL.

Things started off with a sour note when BN3101 held 4 pre-lectures on week 0. (What the heck are pre-lectures anyway?!) It was expected that everyone mastered Solidworks in that week so each group could start designing on the medical device when semester officially begins.

On another note, for the first time in short history of BN3101, the bioengineering batch was tasked to design two types of prostheses. Half was tasked to design an ankle replacement and the other half, a wrist one. My group was assigned the latter.

So with little engineering background (Bioengineers are not real engineers btw, unlike traditional engineering fields i.e Mechanical/Electrical/Civil engineers...) and zilch knowledge on orthopedic implants, everyone unwillingly embarked on this seemingly impossible task.

After a couple of weeks of brainstorming, my group presented our brilliant ideas to the specialists at Department of Hand & Reconstructive Surgery, National University Hospital.

And boy old boy. Who would forget that condescending remark as our group entered the meeting room "these are the guys that want to design a wrist prosthesis in one semester!" *cue in snigger*

Dr Tan Ter Chyan was so convinced about the impossibility of our project, he assured us that he would talk to Prof Casey to change the scope of our project.
.
.
.
No, he did not.

To be fair, after having quite a bit of fun ridiculing us, he did rope in Dr David Tan to help us out. Nonetheless, everyone was pretty much sian jit pua (Coxford Dictionary: Hokkien adjective to convey boredom, weariness, frustration and emptiness) after the interview.

Of course, apart from designing a total wrist arthroplasty (artificial joint reconstruction) system, we had our individual roles such as intellectual property protection, regulatory affairs, market survey. I "wisely" chose design rationale and design verification.

Aargh. I have no idea how many journals, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) papers and British Standards I had to put up with.
*strikes off future research/career in Biomechanics*

As a group, I personally thought our group was progressing at snail's pace. For example, we only finalized the name of our supposed company in the last couple of weeks before the deadline. Previously, we were unofficially called "terroWRIST" (fingers point to a certain Wayne...)

But thankfully, things did not retrogressed to the dismal state that plagued my previous design project, ME4253: Biomaterials Engineering. It was no surprise I made it my personal goal that ME4253 will be my final NUS project which I screwed up.

The Vascular Graft project that gave me a heart attack.

The smiles belies the bitterness simmering beneath.

With our amazingly helpful mentor, Dr Kim Sangho chasing us for our presentation slides, we actually manage to complete our presentation slides 5 days before the actual day.

And that left us to plan for other interesting stuff.

1. Fake brochure printed on Glossy Paper

The jeans blue border was a personal eyesore to me, so I manage to convince the rest that it didn't look too professional. Much to the dismay of Kenny. (Haha... Oops.)

2. Board to illustrate our amazing surgical instrumentation

Pity the hideous colours and font type though...

3. Surgical simulation for budding pseudo-surgeons

4. To top things off, our dress code was the antithesis of PAP.

However, to others, we looked like :
A) Mourning/Funeral/anything depressing
B) Mafia/Secret society/黑社会
C) University Cultural Centre Usher
D) Waiters/Waitress
E) Etc. Nothing really flattering... Seriously.

So after 12 weeks of group meetings, complicated lecturer-student scandals, McDonald breakfasts, Olive Cove pancakes, YIH lunches, Eusoff escapades and even more pancakes, Wiz-a-Wrist was born.

Wiz-a-Wrist™
It's worth the risk.

The day of presentation (ON A SATURDAY) began miserably with a lack of sleep and last minute printing of individual reports. The disgusting unappetizing lunch at the infamous YIH canteen didn't help matters.

To think we originally planned for a feast at NUS SUN Asian Bistro.

We did try to make it up a bit by having dinner at Kim Gary, Vivocity.

I digress.

It was a fuzzy swirl of events after lunch. But in short team averNUS nailed the presentation, had a clean sweep of the awards and lived happily ever after.
.
.
.
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.
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I wished.

While we thought we emerged as possibly the strongest contenders in the "Wrist Group", there laid an even stronger contender in the "Ankle Group". Group 6, helmed by Eric Cher, stole the limelight. On top of garnering the Best Presentation Award, they took home the Most Innovative Award, which I was personally convinced we would get it.

Nonetheless, they were the rightful winners. As I read about using Fuji pressure-sensitive film to find out about the pressure distribution, Group 6 was already there using actual real films to test their prototype. When our group made use of wood and saws to attempt to model our surgical jigs, Group 6 had produce impressive acrylic models, presumably by rapid prototyping.

Wayne, the master carpenter at work.

So averNUS were relegated to runner's up position along with two other groups.

But hold your breath, everyone.
.
.
.
.
.
.

While we did not emerge as best presentation, we clinched the PRESTIGIOUS DIRECTOR'S AWARD with the following 500 words!

BN3101, Biomedical Engineering Design assembled a team of six people, heralding from different ages, nationalities, and cultural backgrounds. United towards a common goal of perfecting the total wrist arthroplasty conundrum, our diversity enabled us to explore different perspectives to this multi-faceted problem. Starting out with six disparate designs, weeks of adaptation and accommodation gradually converged the best elements of each design to one original idea.

It was in consensus that this module has differentiated itself from other NUS project modules. The concept of adopting a Quality System Template whereby each member was tasked to an allocated specialization further provided a holistic depth of realism. This enabled us to pick up new skills such as CAD drawing with Solidworks, appreciate the intricacies behind a patent application, the workings of FDA etc. This in turn, gave us a slice of what a potential bioengineering job might entail in the future.

Apart from the academic aspect, BN3101 has successfully bonded the six of us as a team. With camaraderie forged, we could trust one another to complete our individual tasks before every meeting, further easing the burden of a difficult module.
The impact of BN3101 was not only observed as a group, but felt on a more personal individual level.

As leader of Group 12, Kenny acknowledges the difficulties in managing a diverse group while taking on an equally daunting project task within a tight schedule. Yet, BN3101 has convinced him that team work was the geist to handling massive projects. By and large, Kenny has thoroughly enjoyed the whole working process and unforgettable experience.

Puay Han contends that BN3101 has increased her knowledge about product development process and product marketing. She hopes that this useful course of learning would be applicable to future career option.

Krizia appreciates the formidable task of solving a real-world medical problem by translating an abstract idea to a concrete design solution, and compelling her “to think, act and talk like a real design engineer”. Furthermore, she values the opportunity of an actual self-made entrepreneur/orthopedic surgeon as a principal instructor of BN3101, who has enriched the learning process.

Like Krizia, Wayne agrees that BN3101 is especially challenging when it comes to designing a solution which is able to meet the needs of patients and surgeons while maintaining its practical feasibility. He posits that unlocking this perennial problem would be creativity.

Unexpectedly, BN3101 has unraveled the meaning of being a bioengineer for Qian Lan. She fondly recalls how this module has taught everyone to be open-minded and allowed the final prototype to be a marriage of various innovative features from different members.

Last but not least, Kelvin is enlightened on the inherent limits of learning through top-down pedantical knowledge and how BN3101 has done the exact opposite. He concurs that “only through learning how to learn, can the learning experience can be truly be expanded beyond boundaries.”

All in all, we as members of Group 12 hope that BN3101 will continue to be a cornerstone to NUS Bioengineering course.

LOL.
Okay, the award ain't that prestigious, because submission was optional and carries absolutely no grade weightage. Nevertheless, it was more of a cheap thrill that my last minute effort to compile, collate everyone's thoughts and ideas paid off.

The day ended with a unimpressionable Quantum of Solace at Vivocity, which was probably more forgettable for Qian Lan who slept through most of the movie.

Korean Kim Chee, a formidable mentorThe white man behind NUS BIE nightmares

On hindsight, BN3101 was most painful because there was so much self-learning to be done. But it was ironically enjoyable because everyone was suffering together. As they always say, misery loves company.

So yeah, guys and gals of Group 12/averNUS, you have truly been of great company.

Election Ennui

2008-11-08T22:20:00.000+08:00

What a week this has been!

In the Northern Hemisphere, we see democratic ideals being celebrated like never before, in the midst of tough economic times.
There was McCain playing catchup...
and who would forget Palin...

and her lipstick.
Change can come, but will it?

And in the distant Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand has also voted for a change of government. Helen Clark will be stepping down as leader of Labour Party too as she conceded defeat to John Key of National Party.
Changes of government seem to sweeping throughout but I wonder when will it ever occur in Singapore. As Catherine Lim, Singaporean fiction writer inks:

Suppose that after half a century of PAP leadership, fatigue sets in and Singaporeans yearn for that magical thing called change. Among the restive young, the prospect of liberties never experienced before must be exhilarating.

The idealist in me refuses to resign to fate.

O Obama

2008-11-03T17:15:00.006+08:00

This is it.
After a long protracted Democratic Party presidential primaries between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the most watched presidential election in the world is at hand.

While I would have preferred an Obama/Clinton ticket, Biden has proven not to a bad choice. At least when compared to Palin. LOL.

Interestingly, this is the first US presidential election that has manage to keep me enthralled for months (possibly distracting me from my school work). Maybe it's the daunting tasks that await for the next president after 8 years of Bush administration...

While I expect neither Obama and McCain to hold the key to all the woes of US and the world, but it is still change I believe in.

Creative Caves

2008-10-27T22:05:00.007+08:00

Support local. If we as Singaporeans ain't gonna support our fellow citizens, who else would?

This brings me to an incident a few years ago, when I wanted to get an mp3 player. I was temporarily torn by a toss up between a cumbersome Creative's Zen NX and a sleeker Apple's iPod. Nonetheless, fervant patriotism compelled me to get choose this.

Creative's Nomad Jukebox Zen NX (20GB)

It conveniently doubled up as a paper weight.

As opposed to this...

Apple's 4th Generation iPodOf course, my decision was partly swayed by the almost $200 price difference between both.

But unfortunately, after more than 3 years, the 3.5mm earphone jack gave way. And even Creative's service centre had deemed it too obsolete to repair it.

Thankfully, Sony Ericsson's Walkman Series of mobile phones more than made up for the loss.

Ssony Ericsson W810i

Of which... I left it on that fateful NUS bus on 1st February 2008. Permanently.
*observes a moment of silence*

A week later, the huge shoes of Sony Ericsson's w810i was filled by my favourite Nokia 6500 Slide.In fact, it ranks as one of my favourite phones to hate, of all times. *@^#*?!!

In the meanwhile, I also bought a Creative MuVo V100 (2GB) as my jogging companion, which conveniently doubled up as a memory thumbdrive.

Creative MuVo V100

Who the heck came up with "MuVo V100 as" a name anyway?

But I could no longer contend with listening to mp3 anymore. I wanted to watch my backlog of tv episodes and anime series, accumulating in my hard disk. I also needed to maximize my efficiency by doing word-processing or reading a variety of documents during those arduous travelling times.

It boiled down to getting an ultra-portable laptop such as the Asus Eee PC or HP Mini-Note.
or an integrated touchscreen phone such as HTC Touch Pro or Sony Ericsson's long overdued Xperia X1.

HTC Touch Pro

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

But alas.
The integrated phones are not surprisingly overpriced and watching a movie on a laptop while balancing on a bus ain't exactly my cup of tea.

So...

...I succumbed to the inevitable.

My pro-Creative and anti-Apple stance had to cave in, this one time.

Tempted by a 10% discount, I had finally bought an
Apple iPod Touch, 16GB.

Even my mother was a little surprised when she saw the Apple logo.
"I thought you would buy a Creative one?"Nonetheless, I still count myself as an ardent Creative fan, albeit one who is very worried for its future. With continued battering of the global stock markets and lackluster performance by Creative, its stocks have fallen to a mere fraction of its heydays.

Out of pure curiousity, I downloaded its Annual Report for fiscal year 2008 to browse.

Whatever the intention of the "Chairman's Message" in the first couple of pages, I was convinced that the company is almost certainly doomed.

Here's an excerpt from the chairman and CEO of Creative Technology, Sim Wong Hoo.

Dear Shareholders,

Creative is a company that is known to thrive in adversity. The adversities we are now facing, both internally and externally, will serve to propel us forward, albeit more carefully.

We have a very clear vision of what we want to achieve. We just have to be a lot more focused. We are finally seeing the light ahead of us. The path ahead could undoubtedly still be thorny and challenging, but we have the technology and financial resources to clear the way...

....

(Last Paragraph)
Finally, I would like to thank all of you for your patience with Creative. We need this wide breathing space to prepare the company for the exciting opportunities ahead. I believe it will be something you will be very proud of. To Believe in the Impossible.

Wow.
Talk about being brutally honest.

Reference:
CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY LTD - ANNUAL REPORT 2008

Provincial URBAN

2008-10-18T01:28:00.020+08:00

Today's entry post was supposed to be contemplative, pensive in nature, reflecting on another crossroads of my life. But all plans have been hijacked by URBAN, that weekly pull-out from Straits Times.

Yes, it's about the main article discussing about "modern guys do more than cleanse, tone and moisturise". (Of course, my personal bias against URBAN has been well-established ever since they claim that "idebenone is scientifically proven to be the most powerful oxidant" and erroneous information about using salicylic acid of 5-20%. But I digress...)

Back to the article, by the fourth paragraph, I was already cringing when writer, Karen Tee quoted advertising executive Chan Yuan Kuang using a facial wash "with antioxidants". (Sounds like washing $$ to the drain.)

Without getting too distracted, my main point of contention is "Face Saving Aids", a "handy chart to point you in the right direction", namely a list of recommended products.

Karen categorized the products by the type/use and the associated age group: Below 25, 25-45, Above 45.

Bad move. Dr Leslie Baumann, author of New York Times Bestseller "The Skin Type Solution" would advocate that it is the skin type that should determine the product and treatment choice. Ironically, just one page before, under the FAQ section, Karen already acknowledge that "it is more important to choose products suited to your skin type..."

Instead of letting age choose your product, it should only play as one of the numerous contributing factors in determining one's skin type. Put it in another way, if we followed the stipulated age group strictly, one would have to dump all his/her skin products upon reaching his/her 25th birthday. It is as if the skin metamorphosized into another form in less than 24hours of that fateful day.

Okay, rambling on...

So what about the products that she recommended? A quick research yielded this...

1. MenScience Acne Spot Repair, $55
Key Ingredients: Benzoyl Peroxide 10%, Allantoin, Green Tea, Vitamins A, E

Review: $55 for 10% benzoyl peroxide?! An utter ripoff. And that's not considering that 10% BP can be excessively irritating to the skin, and not neccessarily superior in terms of efficacy when compared to 2.5% BP. The inclusion of antioxidants is seriously extraneous. Allantoin is considered to be an anti-irritant though.

2. Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Spot Treatment, $38
Ingredients: Active: Salicylic Acid (1.5%), Other: Water, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Triethanolamine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylates Crosspolymer, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Poterium Officinale Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Camphor, Propylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Menthol, Pentylene Glycol, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Hexylene Glycol

Review: LOL. Pay 38 bucks for less than 15ml of irritating ingredients such as alcohol, menthol, camphor, witch hazel, cinnamon, and ginger... Talk about naturally irritating.

3. SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Combination Antioxidant Treatment, $159
Ingredients: Water, Ethoxydiglycol, L Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Laureth 23, Alpha Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Ferulic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate

Review: Contains potent antioxidants L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and alpha tocopherol(Vitamin E) and ferulic acid. Theoretically efficacious but the packaging is the huge letdown. I personally never understand why do cosmetic companies like using a stupid dropper to suck out serum. Not only does the dropper in container packaging really 麻烦 (troublesome) to use, it lets in all the air and can render the expensive antioxidant packed serum oxidized! If it's trying to be pseudo scientific, they should consider using real pipettes.

4. 4VOO Dynamic Lift Treatment, $184
Ingredients: Aqua, Cyclomethicone, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Cetearyl Olivate (Olive Oil), Sorbitan Olivate (Olive Oil), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Algae (Seaweed), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria), Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit), Echinacea Purpurea (Coneflower), Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle), Malaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree), Serica Powder (Silk Powder), Vitis Vinifera (Grape Seed), Xanthan Gum, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Polysorbate 20, Sclerotium Gum, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Parfum

Review: Wah lau eh. Got too much money to spend right? It does have quite a few antioxidants such as grape seed extract, green tea extracts; cell-communicating ingredient niacinamide; moisturizing agents such as olive oil and hyaluronic acid; and their star ingredients: Palmitoyl Oligopeptide and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7.

Though it's interesting to note from Nicki Zevola for FutureDerm.com

Palmitoyl oligopeptide is a sequence of peptides that reads valine-glycine-valine-alanine-proline-glycine combined with a palmitic acid in order to increase penetration through the epidermis. A 2007 study in Dermatologic Therapy suggests that palmitoyl oligopeptide significantly stimulates human skin collagen production in fibroblasts, which may slow the degradation of collagen over time. On the other hand, palmitoyl oligopeptide has been found to down-regulate elastin expression. From one point of view, this is not a bad thing - as stated in Cosmetic Dermatology, elastin expression naturally increases with age, but the elastin cross-fibers grow in a less organized pattern than in individuals at a younger age, so down-regulating unorganized elastin expression may be a good thing. On the other hand, products that stimulate elastin production have been found to increase the firmness of the skin, so down-regulating elastin expression may not be a good thing, either.

Excellent airless-pump packaging would preserve it better than SkinCeuticals' product.

...
...
...

I stand corrected, but none of the products recommended contain vitamin A derivatives (eg. retinol, tretinoin, retinyl palmitate) of substantial concentrations, or proven skin-lightening ingredients such as kojic acid or hydroquinone. Only two product contain alpha/beta hydroxy acids, MenScience Advanced Face Tonic toner and the laughable Kiehl's Blue Herbal Spot Treatment.

And more blatantly, is the lack of prominence given to aspirin or hydrocortisone-based skin relief treatments. This is unique for men's skin care products especially if one were to shave daily. I'm speculating this was missed out as the writer, Karen, is not a guy. Duh...

Of course, some of the products recommended seem to hold its weight despite its hefty price but on a whole, what I observe from the list is a mish-mash of stuff put together to cover as many brands as possible.

Not surprisingly, my prejudice against URBAN's review on skin products will continue unabated. If you want products with real scientific basis, you're better off researching on the net than relying on URBAN. But if you're feeling lazy, consult your friendly dermatologists but avoid the "beauty adviser at a counter of your choice" at all costs.

The last thing you would want is to be bombared by unqualified sale personnel more keen in closing a sale purchase.

Crossroads I: Job Application

2008-10-14T00:15:00.001+08:00

Ah.

Listening to my free CD "Around the World with Señor Coconut and his Orchestra", courtesy of LUSH99.5, while sipping on New Zealand's Matua Valley Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2007.

(Pseudo) Wine Notes from Kelvin:
A pale straw colour wine. Bouquet is grassy with green apple and citrusy notes. Zesty though bordering on being sharp in acidity. Overall an enjoyable wine for everyday drinking.

Fine, I've digressed from the original intent of this post.

Belying my true state, I have been disturbed.
My heart is burdened.
A conundrum without extrication, a puzzle with no solution.
The dreaded "Quarter Life Crisis", I have reached.

I've been thinking, pondering and contemplating a lot recently. I feel compelled in many ways to take a stab in life and make life-changing decisions. Procrastination and denial has led me nowhere. More than three years have past since I've entered NUS, and I ain't got a clue what the f*3k I'm gonna do when I graduate.

The time has come. At a major crossroad, I can no longer run away from the inevitable, unless unemployment is going to be a career option. If there's a time to make a decision, it's definitely gonna be now.

Yes, a big fat ugly black on hideous red background, NOW.
Of course, to some others, the options on what to do upon graduation couldn't be clearer. Just follow your interest and value system, they say, and the decision will come to light.

But hold your horses, Kelvin. A cursory reflection of my past 24 years hasn't exactly been useful.
If I could surmise my life in two words, it would be "Neutrally Neutral."

When it came to important decisions, I would always pick the safest options, simply eliminating those that seem the most incongruous with my beliefs and values... and somehow, I would manage to eliminate all except one.

So it's business as usual for me, at least for now.

Looking through all the various recruitment talks that have been and will be held in NUS...
Crossing out those that clearly have no connection or interest with me...
Sending one application at a time...
Drinking more wine...
Look at more websites...
Drink even more...
Look.
Drink.
Drink..
DRINK...

DAMN IT. I'm going to be an unemployed alcoholic if I can't make up my mind!

*hic*

Loving Lush

2008-10-08T10:23:00.004+08:00

I'll probably be able to do a proper blog entry after this week. It's amazing and unbelievable how just two modules "BN3101: Biomedical Engineering Design" and "BN4101R: Final Year Project" feels heavier than 5 modules...

Maybe age is indeed catching up on me.

Anyway, I just had to thank Chris Ho many many times over. On 22nd September, I participated in a Lush 995 Cd giveaway contest. Days passed and I thought, "Ain't surprising since I've already won so many stuff from them..."

On 29th September, I tried my luck again but to no avail. Or at least that was what I initially thought.

Fast forward another week and guess what appeared in my mail box...

TWO CDS!!!

Random Rumination: J.B.Jeyaretnam

2008-10-02T01:28:00.001+08:00

MR J.B. Jeyaretnam (JBJ) died from heart failure at 2.57am on 30th September 2008.

A couple of years ago, I saw him hawking the sale of his book, "The Hatchet Man of Singapore" outside CentrePoint. His gaunt and haggard looks convinced me that his days were somewhat numbered. So a couple of weeks later, I asked my SMU friend to purchase a copy of his book with his autograph for me. I rationalized that that the autographed book would indeed be worth a lot when his time is up.

Silly me, right?

Fast forward to 2008, he had been freshly discharged from bankruptcy and registered his new party, Reform Party. A potential political battle was brewing as sideliners speculated a showdown between him and Lee Kuan Yew for the next general election. And most recently, he intended to challenge the High Court over the decision not to conduct a by-election in Jurong GRC following the death of one of the MPs, Dr Ong Chit Chung.

But yesterday, he passed away.

All that political ambitions he harboured had seemed to gone to waste. (Unless his son, Philip Jeyaretnam decides to take up that formidable baton, that remains as pure speculation.)

Throughout his life, he has lived beyond his ideals could take him.

Representing the Workers' Party, he shattered parliamentary monopoly held by People's Action Party (PAP) in the landmark 1981 Anson by-election. Re-elected again in the 1984 General Election, his presence in parliament was indeed unwelcomed.

JBJ soon learnt that being a pioneer in opposition politics does not translate to a red-carpet treatment. In the next couple of years that follow, he was ousted and prevented from participating in the next election by not-so-inconspicuous political engineering. Even after managing to return to parliament as a non-constituency MP in the 1997 General Election, his stay was short-lived, thanks to the slew of defamation lawsuits which quickly bankrupted him.

While Chee Soon Juan would purposefully go against "unjust laws" in hope of revealing the purportedly biased nature of the judiciary system, it was my study on JBJ's cases that personally convinced me that the local judiciary isn't as impartial and independent.

The International Bar Association has summarized the inequities that JBJ had suffered in its July report on Singapore Judiciary System, pages 30 to 35. Presented in a very comprehensible manner, you can download the report from:http://www.ibanet.org/images/downloads/07_2008_July_Report_Singapore-Prosperity_versus_individual_rights.pdf

As I flipped to my autographed copy of "The Hatchet Man of Singapore", there lingers a tinge of regret. The opportunity to meet him on a personal level had slipped by...

For your conviction and commitment, tenacity and valour, principles and ideals, integrity and honour, I salute you, Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam.

A great inspiration for Singaporeans, who aspire to be that political giant you have been.

God Bless.

Overwhelmed

2008-09-18T22:53:00.008+08:00

I never thought that I could would handle so many T75 Flasks in one go.

That probably sums up the past couple of weeks. The deadly combination of BN3101: Biomedical Engineering Design and my Final Year Project is finally taking a toll on me. Indeed, while many have pointed out that I've only 2 modules with one solitude FYP to deal with this semester, it still felt like a horrid 6 modules semester.

But then again, if you've never taken BN3101 before, you would never comprehend the arduous twice weekly group meetings, along with presentations, consultations and tests. Yes, I finally comprehended with my heart and soul why BN3101 is the nightmare for all NUS Bioengineers.

Then again, one would say, it's only one freaking module... How can one single module mess up your semester?

Easier said than done, unless you're doing your FYP at Biopolis. Ha. You probably would have heard me whine about the irritating bus service 95, and how the return trip from NUS would take me an hour.

Then again, I proved myself wrong when I subcultured 12 T75s the next time.

Sigh...

Remind me again why seniors would warn against projects dealing with cells...
Like ADHD-babies, my damned stem cells keep protesting to be seeded, harvested and counted.

So for 3 times a week, I would either have to take my lunch or dinner at least 2 hours after my normal mealtimes, in the name of FYP.

@#@*10.30PM??!! (#*@#@(*@#

I don't know how the heck I'm going to avoid developing gastric pains, but wise time management would be much appreciated.

@*&@)!@#*$#@#@*11.24PM???!?!?!!!!!!!!!!

Believe me, cells can be bloody bitchy too.

FYP Contest

2008-09-02T00:00:00.003+08:00

Before anyone asks me again for a dinner treat, I think it's time I clarify that I am most likely NOT paid the purported S$600 a month.
As you can see, the conditions laid down was that I had adhere to the working hours of 8.30am to 6pm. So yup, I'm guessing that I'll only be getting paid if I'm a FULL TIME attachment student.

Sorry guys and gals. Kelvin will still be as poor as ever, and definitely unable to give you all treats. :p

On other more realistic news...

28th November 2007: Auckland City

After the usual Family Service at St Paul's Church on Sunday, Danny informed of the festive season lurking near Britomart. Combined with the temptation of authentic Indian food promptly threw off my initial plans to study in school and before long, I, along with the rest were soaking up the Bollywood air.

Brought to you by Asia New Zealand Foundation in partnership with Auckland City Council, the annual Diwali Festival of Lights was held on 27th and 28th October 2007 at the rear of Britomart Transport Centre. (Note: Diwali = Deepavali)

The extremely rare times where I witnessed crowds.

Public performances... of course, complete with quintessential dances

Bhelpuri भेलपूरी

With puffed rice, sev, onion, tumeric, coriander and various unknown spices, it was a spicy snack that catapulted me to seventh heaven.

The Bhelpuri Store

More eating and more eating!

Then again, you might be wondering why do I suddenly chose to blog about this.

The International Relations Office organized a Photo Contest and a Quote Contest in conjunction with International Exchange Day. So amazingly, I managed to snag the second prize under the local interaction category! Here's my entry...

The S$150 (of shopping vouchers) Photo

An unexpected touch of Bollywood in Auckland City, during the annual Diwali Festival of Lights

If you've participated in the photo contest, be sure to catch your own photos at the Forum!

Be at IED 2008 on Thurs 4 Sept 08 at 9am to see your own photos on 6 big plasma screens!

The International Relations Office received 300 entries for the Photo Contest IED 2008! Thank you for your visually captivating submissions. The judges had a difficult time evaluating the photos and selecting the eventual winners from such a competent field.

All 300 entries will be shown on 6 big plasma screens at The Forum (below Central Library) from 9am Thurs 4 Sept 08 on International Exchange Day 2008. Be there to see your own photos and those of others from the 4 categories - Indoor Vignettes, Outdoor Moments, Local Interactions, and Getting Around.

Prize winners will be notified and will have to be at the opening ceremony at 9am to collect the prizes.

Be there in 6 days’ time to see your own photos on 6 big plasma screens!

Final Year Project

2008-08-24T22:29:00.001+08:00

Army Arghhh

2008-08-17T23:07:00.000+08:00

Recently, I've been bombarded by a flurry of mail from "The Decisive Force" of the Republic of Singapore.

Our Army is to deter aggression, and should deterrence fail, to secure a swift and decisive victory. In peacetime, our Army is to be ready and capable of conducting a spectrum of operations to protect our national interests and the well-being of our citizens.

So here's the "spectrum of operations to protect our national interests and the well-being of our citizens" which I plainly interpret as pure harassment.

REMINDER TO ATTEND REMEDIAL TRAINING

What the... I take extreme offense. Since when did I fail my IPPT that would warrant a "warning letter"? (Though I wouldn't be too confident for this year...)
But seriously, I haven't taken my IPPT yet so this kind of ominous insinuation is simply uncalled for. In addition, it's still over a month to my birthday! (insert subtle hint, 25/9)

PIONEER

This is probably one of the few "compulsory" must-haves that all army-serving males would receive every month. Despite numerous attempts to try to unsubscribe it, my cries have obviously fallen on deaf ears.

For the sake of mother nature, I will still try to convince those idiots at MINDEF to save the earth and stop wasting paper on me.

Anyway, call me a quibbler but have you ever wondered why this magazine is still called Pioneer? The last time I learnt about this word, Pioneer was associated with new, leading and maybe even trailblazing.

But at Issue 369, and you're still calling it Pioneer?!

armynews | pulse of the army

WOAH. Hold it. What is this? I've never received any publications other than PIONEER . And now this?

The cover proclaims that it is issue number 154 so I wonder what have I been missing out on all this while? Heh.

The New Adventures of
Army WOSpecs

This really takes the cake. While I was initially horrified that I had received a third propaganda from SAF, I was soon laughing my ass off when I saw the title.

Seriously, who in the world suggested using the phrase "The New Adventures of..."?!

I mean I could understand if people used it in comics and cartoons such as...

The New Adventures of Captain Planet

The New Adventures of Superman

or maybe throw in Batman.
I definitely wouldn't bat an eyelid.

Goodness. Maybe I should consider laminating this publication since it's the FIRST EDITION.

Oh, did I mention they even include real-life testimonials to convince that this "New Adventures of..." book is really good. And my favourite quote:

Every so often there comes a book that make you sit up and think about your place in the Army as a WOSpec. This isn't one of them but it will keep you motivated. It's simply manificent!

3SG Mahmud (NSF)

Frizzling Food

2008-08-08T18:49:00.001+08:00

It's unbelievable.
It seemed almost yesterday that I was fretting about my lack of internship, and before you know it, I'm outta IBN. Just as I celebrated my final days in IBN, attempting to treasure my last few days in Biopolis, I was more than stumped to find out that my FYP (Final Year Project) will be at IMB (Institute of Medical Biology).

Yes. I'll be stuck in Biopolis for another year.
To think I wanted to dedicate this post to the food in Biopolis... Agad.

Coffee Culture

Fried Kway Teow with Oat Chicken with Teh Tarik

Chicken Rendang with Butter Rice

A random attempt at al fresco dining.

It was awkward, particularly I was eating curry with rice on the steps.
Messy affair, I would say.

Baking Boys

Chicken Curry with Rice

Here's to dining on a proper table...

Chicken Baked Rice with Mocha

Rainy weather plus a cup of Mocha really made my day.

Khansama Tandoori Castle

So...
My final lunch on my last day ended majestically at a palace in Biopolis.
Free lunch by Dr Min Hu and Rensheng!
Why not?

Vindaloo Curry with Basmati Rice, Mango Lassi

The mango lassi though better than the Raj (another Indian restaurant in Biopolis), it still lack the mango "punch" I was looking. Vindaloo curry tasted familiar and brought back flashbacks of Auckland. Unfortunately, it was hardly spicy and lacked the "kick".

GOBI Tiramisu Cake

Despite the perils of using the public transport during the peak hour rush, the cake remained intact... well largely. And yup, I would say the Tiramisu cake certainly didn't disappoint my family.

As usual, once in a month or so, I would always find reason to treat myself to a sumptuous dinner. Thanks to online recommendations by hungrygowhere.com, I uncovered a couple of treasures in Holland Village.

El Patio Mexican Restaurant

Okay, the original intention was visit Monster Mash, a British Retro cafe. But thanks to my sweh-buangzness, it happened to be closed on Mondays.

So a random stab in the dark landed us in this Mexican enclave.

Cheese Quesadilla and Lime Margarita

The Cheese Quesadilla was... cheesy. But I must make special mention to their Tequila-spiked Lime Margarita served in a mug. Delightfully refreshing!

Chicken Fajita

Supreme Burrito

The Chicken Fajita probably emerged as my favourite dish of the night. Highly recommended when you factor in the reasonable prices!

Monster Mash Cafe

Two weeks later, I was back in Holland Village. This time, on a Friday night.
While I was initially regretful of not reserving a table, my fears was quite unfounded when it ain't packed with people. Even on the eve of a weekend.

Monster Mash is a British ‘retro’ Café, we give you what you’ve been wanting for years – great food, first class service and value – ‘top nosh at half the cost’ - ‘nuff’ said really!

ONLY two branches worldwide:

1. Edinburgh
4a Forrest Road,
Edinburgh, EH1 2QN
0131 225 7069

2. Singapore
26 Lorong Mambong,
Holland Village, Singapore, 277685

The Humble Looking Cafe For starters...

Pan-fried Fishcakes, Mixed Leaves, Tomato Vinaigrette

With fish bits mashed together in a potato patty and the tangy twist of the vinaigrette, it certainly whet our appetites.

Monster Sausage and Monster Mash

of course, not forgetting the Monster Gravy...

Okay. The phallic-shaped Monster Sausage looked grotesque and dry, even after pouring copious amounts of Monster gravy.

But, thankfully, the taste was a far cry from what it looked. The sausage was tasty and porky, in a good way. But the mash and gravy was slightly nuanced in taste. :p

Oven Baked Chicken and Fish & Chips

Sticky Toffee Pudding with Custard

I knew we had ordered a winner when the waitress commented that it was a "good choice". Lusciously rich and seductively sweet with tenacious toffee notes, this has definitely gone into my guilty-pleasure list.

And a cute Little Creatures Bright Ale to wash all the calories down.

Of course.
Good food need not be expensive, and expensive food.. might not be good.

Ricciotti, The Riverwalk

Despite my violent objections, I was compelled to dine at Ricciotti (all thanks to SOMEBODY). My previous visit was marred by irritating sub-par service along with mediocre pizza and mix platter. The only saving grace was the homemade Gelato.

So anyway, because of my lackluster experience with their "authentic woodbaked italian pizza", I decided to go with pasta, even though I was never really a big fan of it.

Fettuccine E Salmone

fettuccine with salmon and saffron cream sauce

Saffron?!
Maybe I should blame on my benumbed nose and untrained palate, but I swore it was simply run-of-the-mill cream sauce. Served barely warmed with shredded salmon bits, it was arguably the most unappetizing and soggy Italian meal I've eaten in a long time.

Moca - S$6.80
the classic Italian mocha flavour with espresso, chocolate and milk

At 7 bucks, this was the most expensive cup of coffee I've drunk this year. At first impressions, it had failed aesthetically due to lack of barista art. If normal cafes such as Gloria Jeans and McCafe could bother to invest that tiny bit of effort, I see no reason to excuse Ricciotti.

First taste revealed a whiff of over-roasted beans but it was almost immediately masked by the rather strong aroma from the chocolate. Admittedly, it could be just me nit-picking but it did remind me of the takeaway Mocha at a cafe located in Engineering block (University of Auckland) which I sometimes order just before my Thermofluids lecture.

The Café Cartel, Raffles Place

Jeepers! I went to Café Cartel?
Okay, relax. It was just for a cup of coffee. After all, as the name suggest, café would mean good coffee right?

Small Cup of Tiramisu Espresso

Thanks to deceptively shot photos in the menu, I had assumed it was a normal regular sized coffee.

But tada, it ended up being just a shot of espresso!

Skinny Regimes (updated)

2008-07-25T01:12:00.001+08:00

In some way or other, I seriously suspect that I suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder. It manifests most evidently in my mp3 collection. Not only do I meticulously ensure that the file names of the mp3 are renamed according to an unwritten set of rules, their respective ID3 tags are individually/batch edited. Yes... All 8000 of them.

Anyway, this post is not about my mp3 collection, but about another irrational preoccupation that I have been facing.

This obsession was probably sparked when my skin began breaking out during my secondary school days. As I rampaged through over-the-counter products in Watsons and recommended boutique brands, the problem persisted.

A visit to my family doctor and some horridly overpriced doctor in Punggol did help to a certain extent, but the treatment was unfortunately based on antibiotics such as tetracycline. So when the daily dosage was reduced, my skin was back to its chaotic state.

It certainly didn't help when I entered a dubious chemical defense medical unit known as Medical Response Force (MRF). The perpetual wearing of the gas mask fuelled further breakouts.

I did enjoy half a year of respite from acne when I finally secured constant supply of Accutane from National Skin Centre. While the side effects was mind-boggling, the results was undisputable too. Unfortunately, as I finished the course of Accutane, the inherant problem returned, albeit at a less severe level.

It was only in the past couple of years that I finally manage to harness the powers of internet effectively. Here are three websites that have arguably made a long lasting impact to my "skin regime".

1. Acne.org
Honed by Daniel Kern, he strongly advocates using Benzoyl Peroxide at 2.5% strength to keep those zits at bay.

2. Paula Begoun, the Cosmetic Cop
Begoun began as a makeup artist but made her mark after writing an exposé of the cosmetics industry. In the 1990s, she founded her own skin care and cosmetics company, Paula's Choice while continuing to recommend and critique products on the market.

Indeed, her ingredient driven reviews are much more convincing than the inane and ludicrous marketing employed so prevalently.

3. PubMed and ScienceDirect
To me, there is only one source more reliable than reviews, which of course is, perusing the medical journal yourself. This is the ONLY time when I actually read scientific literature papers on my own.

And the result is...
1. Salicylic Acid 5% by Diana Yvonne
2. Pineapple Enzyme Facial Peel by 100% Pure
3. Tea Tree Oil Facial Wash by Body Shop
4. Babyface Foam by SmoothE
5. Babyface Scrub by SmoothE
6. Soothing Facial Toner by Simple
7. Panoxyl Acnegel 5 by Stiefel Laboratories
8. Acnederm Medicated Lotion by Ego Pharmaceuticals
9. Tea Tree Oil 100% Pure by Thurday Plantations
10. Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Mattifying Concentrate Serum by Paula's Choice
11. Exfoliating 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Gel by Paula's Choice
12. Skin Relief Treatment by Paula's Choice
13. Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 30 by Neutrogena

Out of the apparent overkill of extraneous products, the following are what I consider essential:

Cleanser: Tea Tree Oil Facial Wash by Body Shop

Frankly, I am pretty biased against the Body Shop. Too much fragrance, artificial colouring and irritating ingredients seem to be the main stay of their products. So I was surprised that Paula Begoun "semi-recommended" this product.

The tea tree oil helps to give that added oomph when I'm washing up in the morning.

Ingredients:
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Polysorbate 20, Alcohol Denat. , Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree Oil) , Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Salicylate, Citric Acid, CI 19140, CI 42090.

Acne Control

While I would not qualify to suffer from severe acne, I have sufficient pustules, cyst and nodules to cause massive decimation on my face. Anyone suffering from this perennial pesky problem should comprehend the desperation in trying to control it.

Basically, while there are many ingredients in the market that tout and boast of reducing or removing acne, the following 3 topical chemicals arguably receive the most literature reviews.

1. Benzoyl Peroxide (2.5 & 5%)

This is the mother (or maybe grandmother) of them all.

After decades and decades of research, there are still no topical agent that can rival its efficacy (excluding antibiotics and retinoids).

The only downside is benzoyl peroxide can be overly dry and irritating to sensitive skin. But the greatest pain for me is the bleaching effect it has on fabrics.

2. Azelaic Acid (20%)

The next best thing.

I stand corrected but I believe its effectiveness against acne ranks slightly behind benzoyl peroxide. Yet, the most significant advantage that it does not cause accidental staining to clothing.

3. Tea tree oil (Melaleuca)

I used this actively during my student exchange in New Zealand, but have subsequently stopped after sometime. I was initially enamored by studies that tea tree oil at 5% is less harsh than benzoyl peroxide at a similar concentration. However, it soon became apparent that there were no products on the market with 5% tea tree oil, thus I ended up having to use this 100% neat.

At a concentration 20 times higher than recommended, my skin expectedly didn't appreciate it much.

Exfoliant

1. Exfoliating 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Gel by Paula's Choice

As opposed to Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid, a BHA exfoliates both the skin's surface and inside the pore lining. With the slight anti-bacterial properties, I'm pretty thoroughly convinced that this duo effect can combat both acne and the damages caused by acne.

For further information on AHA and BHA, refer to this article by Begoun.

Ingredients:
Water, Methylpropanediol, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium (Willow Herb) Extract, Bisabolol, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA.

2. Salicylic Acid 5% by Diana Yvonne

Lured and tempted by a friend, I officially stepped to the dark side by purchasing this BHA at 5%.

While the daily use of BHA 2% would eventually result in a smoother skin, any visible effect would probably take eons. So an "industrial-strength" weekly acid peel is quintessential to a quicker route towards that ideal baby-bottom skin.

Ingredients:
Alcohol, Salicylic Acid

3. Pineapple Enzyme Facial Peel by 100% Pure

Admittedly, this purchase was made on impulse.

Those who have worked with enzymes should know how notoriously unstable they are. With a myriad of factors ranging from pH, to temperature, to the presence of ions and concentration, I am still not convinced that the enzymes (bromelian and papain) make effective exfoliants.

Ingredients: Kaolin Clay, Bromelian (Pineapple Enzyme), Papain (Papaya Enzyme), Pineapple Juice, Vitamin C (calcium ascorbate), Lemon Juice

Sunscreen: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 30

Last but not least, sunscreen.

I never expected the day would arrive when I would put on sunscreen regularly, but it did. I am utterly convinced that all the anti-oxidants, anti-wrinkle, anti-aging, anti-every-damn-thing-you-can-ever-imagine-in-the-world would never match up to the prowess of the humble sunscreen.

Yes, as they would always say, The best anti-aging product on the market is sunscreen.

I recommend refering to the website "Environmental Working Group's SKIN DEEP". They have released a summer report on what makes a good sunscreen.

Ingredients:
Active: Avobenzone (2%), Homosalate (7%), Octinoxate (7.5%), Octisalate (5%), Oxybenzone (3%)
Other: Water, Silica, Adipic Acid/Diethylene Glycol/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Vp-Hexadecene Copolymer, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Squalane, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Bht, Cetyl Dimethicone, Bisabolol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Tetrasodium Edta, Butylene Glycol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance

To Purchase, Protect and Provide

Okay. With much digression, the main point of this post is to jio more people to show some care for your skin and not be led by a leash by those evil marketing so prevalent in the cosmetic industry.

With the US dollar sinking to new lows, I have decided to make a shipment of some products from the US via VPost.

I would be making orders from 3 websites:

1. Daniel Kern Store

The star product is unequivocably the 2.5% benzoyl peroxide acne gel in an 8Oz bottle!

8 oz. Treatment
Active Ingredient: 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide

Also Contains: Water, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Sodium Hydroxide.

2. Good Skin at Kohls.com

The three products that have earned the highest accolades from Paula Begoun...

I. All Calm Gentle Sunscreen SPF 25

"base is purely titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which means you get excellent sun protection with almost no risk of irritation. It also has a wonderful silky feel with a nice array of impressive, state-of-the-art ingredients..."

Ingredients: Active: Titanium Dioxide (8.8%), Zinc Oxide (1.7%), Other: Water Purified, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Steareth-2, Silica, Behenoxy Dimethicone, Aluminum Stearate, Tricaprylin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pantethine, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone, Chamomile, Tricaprylyl Citrate, Matricaria, Trifluoromethyl C1-4 Alkyl Dimethicone, Barium Sulfate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Sorbitan Tristearate, Ceteth-2, Peg-40 Stearate, Steareth-20, Sodium Stearate, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta, Bht, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Isopropylparaben,

II. All Right Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF 30

"an exceptionally well-formulated sunscreen, listing avobenzone as one of the active sunscreen ingredients to cover the UVA spectrum, along with antioxidants, cell-communicating ingredients, and ingredients that mimic skin structure..."

Ingredients: Active: Homosalate (10%), Octinoxate (7.5%), Octisalate (5%), Oxybenzone 93%), Avobenzone (3%), Other: Water Purified, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tea-Stearate, Dimethicone, Tricontanyl Pvp, Isohexadecane, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caffeine, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phospholipids, Sucrose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria), Cetyl Alcohol, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Peg-8, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Potassium Stearate, Tea-Carbomer, Disodium Edta, Bht, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben

III. All Firm Rebuilding Serum

"A good, lightweight moisturizer with a very good mix of interesting state-of-the-art ingredients..."

Ingredients: Water Purified, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Peg-75, Glycereth-26, Yeast Extract, Peg-8 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Green Tea Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment Extract, Sunflower Seed Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Plankton Extract, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment Extract, Algae Extract, Saccharomyces/ Calcium Ferment Extract, Acetyl Carnitine Hcl, Sodium Rna, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pantethine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Matricaria, Lecithin, Chamomile, Peg/Ppg-20/20 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Ppg-6 Decyltetradeceth-30, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Xanthan Gum, Oleth-3, Oleth-5, Peg-8, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Potassium Carbomer, Disodium Edta, Bht, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben

2. Walgreens

I've decided to ditched the sunscreens by Good Skin for Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Intensive Anti-Sun-Damage Daily Moisture Lotion (SPF 28).

It is currently the few sunscreens I can find that fulfills the following criteria:
1. For Combination/Oily Skin
2. Contain UVA-protecting ingredients
3. Obtains a relative good review from Paula Begoun
4. Approved by Environmental Working Group (somewhat...)
5. Does not leave white residue after application
6. Avoids Oxybenzone
7. Reasonably priced
8. Contain antioxidants with good packaging

"This lotion-textured, soft matte-finish daytime moisturizer is a good choice for those with normal to oily skin prone to breakouts. Garnier even included a noteworthy blend of antioxidants, and in packaging that keeps them stable..."

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 7%, Other Ingredients: Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone, Nylon 66, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Tomato Extract - Lycopene - Solanium Lycopersicum, Vitamin C - Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Kiwi Fruit Water - Actinidia Chinensis, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium PCA - Magnesium, Manganese PCA - Magnesium, Mica, Sodium PCA - Magnesium, Zinc PCA - Magnesium, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethyl Isosorbide, PEG-8 Laurate, Disodium EDTA

3. Paula's Choice

I am convinced that all of her products have been well thought-out combined with great formulation. With an ultra safe approach, you would find that all the products have not colouring agents, fragrance or irritating ingredients.

Factor in the price, I believe that the Exfoliating 1/2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Gel/Lotion/Liquid is extremely value-for-money.

So what are you waiting for? Send me a SMS soon as I will probably place an order before August. Together, we can beat the US shipping cost!

Featured Websites:
1. Paula Begoun http://www.cosmeticscop.com/
2. SKIN DEEP http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
3. Paula's Choice http://shop.paulaschoice.com/
4. Acne.org http://www.acne.org/
5. Danielkern.com http://www.danielkern.com/
6. Good Skin @ Kohls.com http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/beauty/goodskin.jsp
7. Diana Yvonne http://www.dianayvonne.com/
8. Walgreens http://www.walgreens.com/beauty/