The Da Vinci Code-FAQ

HOW MUCH OF THIS NOVEL IS TRUE?
The Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of fiction. While the book's characters and their actions are obviously not real, the artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals depicted in this novel all exist (for example, Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings, the Louvre pyramid, the Gnostic Gospels, Hieros Gamos, etc.). These real elements are interpretted and debated by fictional characters. While it is my belief that the theories discussed by these characters have merit, each individual reader must explore these characters' viewpoints and come to his or her own interpretations. My hope in writing this novel was that the story would serve as a catalyst and a springboard for people to discuss the important topics of faith, religion, and history.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CLERICAL SCHOLARS ATTEMPTING TO "DISPROVE" THE DA VINCI CODE?
The dialogue is wonderful. These authors and I obviously disagree, but the debate that is being generated is a positive powerful force. The more vigorously we debate these topics, the better our understanding of our own spirituality. Controversy and dialogue are healthy for religion as a whole. Religion has only one true enemy--apathy--and passionate debate is a superb antidote.

SOME OF THE HISTORY IN THIS NOVEL CONTRADICTS WHAT I LEARNED IN SCHOOL. WHAT SHOULD I BELIEVE?
Since the beginning of recorded time, history has been written by the "winners" (those societies and belief systems that conquered and survived). Despite an obvious bias in this accounting method, we still measure the "historical accuracy" of a given concept by examining how well it concurs with our existing historical record. Many historians now believe (as do I) that in gauging the historical accuracy of a given concept, we should first ask ourselves a far deeper question: How historically accurate is history itself?

ARE YOU SURPRISED BY THE BOOK'S SUCCESS?
Stunned. I worked very hard on this novel, and I certainly expected people would enjoy it, but I never imagined so many people would be enjoying it this much. I wrote this book essentially as a group of fictional characters exploring ideas that I found personally intriguing. These same themes obviously resonate with a great many people.

ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?
Yes. Interestingly, if you ask three people what it means to be Christian, you will get three different answers. Some feel being baptized is sufficient. Others feel you must accept the Bible as immutable historical fact. Still others require a belief that all those who do not accept Christ as their personal savior are doomed to hell. Faith is a continuum, and we each fall on that line where we may. By attempting to rigidly classify ethereal concepts like faith, we end up debating semantics to the point where we entirely miss the obvious--that is, that we are all trying to decipher life's big mysteries, and we're each following our own paths of enlightenment. I consider myself a student of many religions. The more I learn, the more questions I have. For me, the spiritual quest will be a life-long work in progress.

THIS NOVEL IS VERY EMPOWERING TO WOMEN. CAN YOU COMMENT?
Two thousand years ago, we lived in a world of Gods and Goddesses. Today, we live in a world solely of Gods. Women in most cultures have been stripped of their spiritual power. The novel touches on questions of how and why this shift occurred…and on what lessons we might learn from it regarding our future.

PARTS OF THE DA VINCI CODE DESCRIBE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE RELIGIOUS GROUP OPUS DEI. HOW DOES OPUS DEI FEEL ABOUT YOUR NOVEL?
I worked very hard to create a fair and balanced depiction of Opus Dei. Even so, there may be those who are offended by the portrayal. While Opus Dei is a very positive force in the lives of many people, for others, affiliation with Opus Dei has been a profoundly negative experience. Their portrayal in the novel is based on more than a dozen books written about Opus Dei as well as on my own personal interviews with current and former members.

THE COVER OF YOUR BOOK MENTIONS "THE GREATEST CONSPIRACY OF THE PAST 2000 YEARS." WHAT IS THIS CONSPIRACY?
Revealing that secret would rob readers of all the fun, but I will say that it relates to one of the most famous histories of all time…a legend familiar to all of us. Rumors of this conspiracy have been whispered for centuries in countless languages, including the languages of art, music, and literature. Some of the most dramatic evidence can be found in the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci, which seem to overflow with mystifying symbolism, anomalies, and codes. Art historians agree that Da Vinci's paintings contain hidden levels of meaning that go well beneath the surface of the paint. Many scholars believe his work intentionally provides clues to a powerful secret…a secret that remains protected to this day by a clandestine brotherhood of which Da Vinci was a member.


WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR THE DA VINCI CODE?
This particular story kept knocking on my door until I answered. I first learned of the mysteries hidden in Da Vinci's paintings while I was studying art history at the University of Seville in Spain. Years later, while researching Angels & Demons and the Vatican Secret Archives, I encountered the Da Vinci enigma yet again. I arranged a trip to the Louvre Museum where I was fortunate enough to view the originals of some of Da Vinci's most famous works as well as discuss them with an art historian who helped me better understand the mystery behind their surprising anomalies. From then on, I was captivated. I spent a year doing research before writing The Da Vinci Code.

HOW DID YOU GET ALL THE INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THIS BOOK?
Most of the information is not as "inside" as it seems. The secret described in the novel has been chronicled for centuries, so there are thousands of sources to draw from. In addition, I was surprised how eager historians were to share their expertise with me. One academic told me her enthusiasm for The Da Vinci Code was based in part on her hope that "this ancient mystery would be unveiled to a wider audience."

YOU SEEM TO HAVE A FASCINATION WITH SECRET SOCIETIES? CAN YOU COMMENT?
My interest in secret societies is the product of many experiences, some I can discuss, others I cannot. Certainly my research of organizations like NSA, the Vatican, NRO, and Opus Dei continues to fuel my intrigue. At a more fundamental level, though, my interest sparks from growing up in New England, surrounded by the clandestine clubs of Ivy League universities, the Masonic lodges of our Founding Fathers, and the hidden hallways of early government power. New England has a long tradition of elite private clubs, fraternities, and secrecy. On that theme, the next Robert Langdon novel (already in progress) is set deep within the oldest fraternity in history…the enigmatic brotherhood of the Masons.

THE TOPIC OF THIS NOVEL MIGHT BE CONSIDERED CONTROVERSIAL. DO YOU FEAR REPERCUSSIONS?
I can't imagine why. As I mentioned earlier, the theory I reveal is one that has been whispered for centuries. It is not my own. Admittedly, this may be the first time the theory has been unveiled within the format of a popular thriller, but the information is anything but new. My sincere hope is that The Da Vinci Code, in addition to entertaining people, will serve as an open door for readers to begin their own explorations.

HAS ANYONE IN ORGANIZED RELIGION COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF YOUR NOVEL?
Yes, many people in organized religion have come out in support of this novel, and, of course, many have come out in opposition as well. The opposition generally comes from the strictest Christian thinkers who feel the idea of a "married Jesus" serves to undermine His divinity. While I don't agree with this interpretation, this is immaterial because the dialogue itself is a deeply empowering and positive force for everyone involved. Suddenly, enormous numbers of people are passionately debating important philosophical topics, and regardless of the personal conclusions that each of us draws, the debate can only help to strengthen our understanding of our own faith. Much of the positive response I get from within organized religion comes from nuns (who write to thank me for pointing out that they have sacrificed their entire lives to the Church and are still considered "unfit" to serve behind the altar). I have also heard from hundreds of enthusiastic priests. While many of them disagree with some of the ideas in the novel, they are thrilled that their parishioners are eager to discuss religion. Father John Sewell of St. John's Episcopal Church in Memphis stated it particularly eloquently in the press recently, saying: "This [novel] is not a threat. This is an opportunity. We are called to creatively engage the culture and this is what I want to do. I think Dan Brown has done me a favor. He's letting me talk about things that matter."

WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A CONSPIRACY THEORIST?
Hardly. I'm quite the opposite, in fact--more of a skeptic. I see no truth whatsoever in stories of extraterrestrial visitors, crop circles, the Bermuda Triangle, or many of the other "mysteries" that permeate pop culture. However, the secret behind The Da Vinci Code was too well documented and significant for me to dismiss.

HOW DO YOU WEAVE SO MUCH INFORMATION INTO YOUR STORIES AND YET KEEP THEM SO FAST-PACED?
Writing an informative yet compact thriller is a lot like making maple sugar candy. You have to tap hundreds of trees…boil vats and vats of raw sap…evaporate the water…and keep boiling until you've distilled a tiny nugget that encapsulates the essence. Of course, this requires liberal use of the DELETE key. In many ways, editing yourself is the most important part of being a novelist…carving away superfluous text until your story stands crystal clear before your reader. For every page in The Da Vinci Code, I wrote ten that ended up in the trash.

CAN YOU SYNOPSIZE THE PLOT FOR US?
Sure. A renowned Harvard symbologist is summoned to the Louvre Museum to examine a series of cryptic symbols relating to Da Vinci's artwork. In decrypting the code, he uncovers the key to one of the greatest mysteries of all time…and he becomes a hunted man.

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE WRITERS?
John Steinbeck for his descriptions…Robert Ludlum for his plotting…and Shakespeare for his wordplay.

RUMOR HAS IT THAT YOUR DAILY WRITING RITUAL INCLUDES SOME STRANGE PRACTICES. IS THAT TRUE?
Well, I suppose that depends on what you consider strange. I do write exceptionally early in the morning. If I'm not at my desk by 4:00 A.M., I feel like I'm missing my most productive hours. In addition to starting early, I keep an antique hour glass on my desk and every hour break briefly to do pushups, sit-ups, and some quick stretches. I find this helps keep the blood (and ideas) flowing. I'm also a big fan of gravity boots. Hanging upside down seems to help me solve plot challenges by shifting my entire perspective. Okay, I guess all this does sound a little strange.

WHEN IS YOUR NEXT NOVEL COMING OUT?
Because my novels are so research-intensive, they take a couple of years to write. My next novel will be another Robert Langdon adventure (picking up, in fact, where The Da Vinci Code left off). Currently, there is no release date scheduled because the book is not yet near completion.

Merry Christmas everyone! The day we are looking forward to is finally here! And soon, it will be gone. So, cherish it. Christmas is the time I look forward to sending my well wishes to my dearest friends, family and relatives; but of course, it's not the only time of the year that I would do that. It's just that everyone gets extremely happy and excited on Christmas day. For instance, I have so many smses just in 21 mins and I believe that more will come in...thanks for your cards, sms greetings people. Merry Christmas to you too. May your wish come true.
Nowdays, as Christmas becomes more commercialised, it seems to me that people have already forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. It seems like a must to make a trip to Orchard and buy something for your friends or family. To me, a card or even a simple Merry Christmas will mean a whole lot to me! And to be honest, I really couldn't be bothered to go down to Orchard and squeeze my way through the crowd. I would devote this special time to my family and my beloved. Wait, don't be mistaken. This "beloved" here refers to my books. By the way, I had just bought Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code yesterday. Been thinking of this book way before school closes. Now, I finally get my hands on it. Will start reading as soon as I finsh John Grisham's The Client. Erm, I think the Christmas season is overwhelming. I so excited that I just can't sleep. Perhaps I should go and finish up on Grisham. Merry Christmas once again!

Had been spending these few days with myself and my family. Friends? Nope. I'm really guilty to say that. But I'm really too tired to even reply their smses, msg and even blog! What more spend time and go out with them. I mean, it's not a chore to do that, it's just that I'm simply too exhausted to move. Plus, I'm down with a flu. It's really horrible. I think I'll soon use up every single piece of tissue that I can find in my house. Later, I'm going to play a game of Monopoly with my brothers. They have been monopoly-crazy these few days. Kept on playing monopoly until late into the night. I don't think I'm in the best condition to play(you know, with the flu and the dizziness). I think one of them will win tonight's game. Guess that I'm going to be the BIG TIME LOSER(in their words) tonight. But, losing just a single game is not something to be shameful of. Afterall, I've won a couple of games...better not let my bros read this...if not they are going to say:" Losing to such a worthy opponent is nothing".
Anyway, better be serious these 2 weeks, cos school is going to start in 2 weeks time... the J1s will be coming in...it seems like it's only yesterday that I've started college. And now, in 2 weeks tine, I'll be a J2! Looking forward to it? You bet. But come j2, I'll have to study real hard. Certainly look forward to the challenges ahead.

It's really a busy day...(but it's worthwhile, tell you why later). Fill in the feedback form in the morning and went for lunch at "somewhere far", Jurong East at exactly noon. Since we had quite a long time before 2.30, when we had to go NUS to collect our posters, we walked to IMM to shop. We were all so tired, drained out...
It started raining on our way back. So, we decided to take the NUH bus instead as the place is just next to NUH. Since our poster was not laminated or whatsoever, we had to use the plastic covers meant for wet umbrellas to wrap up our posters to prevent them from the splashing rain. We must have look stupid to the security guard...but well...It was raining so heavily that we could not run to the bus-stop. We waited for the rain to stop before we went back. Soon, after about 30 mins of waiting, the rain stoppped. We then made our way to the bus-stop to take the bus back. When we returned, everyone in the lab were admiring our posters. Yes, the researchers. They made comments like, "Nice poster", "so many diagrams, I never had so many pictures for my project before". And we are not the ones who are proud. Our mentors were the ones.
Soon after we returned, we were told that we need a mounting board. We then rushed to Holland Village to get in. Btw, it was drizzling and the walk was quite long. Horror of all horrors, we counldn't find the mounting board there. We were so desperate for the mounting board as we don't want to come tomorrow. And so, we took a cab to Jurong East. After getting our mounting boards and other materials, we took a cab back. We quickly mounted the posters and went down to the admin to give our posters, logbooks,...We were given a shock when we were told that we need to fill in a clearance form. We were keeping our fingers cross that our mentors will be in. Thankfully, they were. Before we left, there were a couple of " Goodbyes", "Good luck" and "visit us some time". Don't worry, we will.

To everyone at AGP lab:
Thanks for everything all of you had given to me during these 5 weeks. Thanks for the jokes, laughter and teachings. Thanks for the wonderful memories. Because of you, I realise that research work is not-all-so boring and monotonous. Have a good Christmas holiday and May God Bless all of you.

*I DReam* By TAufiK BatisAh


Verse 1:
In my mind
I can climb
All the mountains that surround me
My spirit's there, where eagles dare to fly


In my heart
There's a spark
That can light the world around me
An open door, where I am sure dreams are


Bridge 1:
It doesn't matter if I win
Or the colour of my skin
Cause the race is all about
Believing in yourself


Chorus 1:
And I dream
I can run
Like the wind
And be strong
When my heart just wants to give in
I dream
I can be
The hero that's in me
When I dream, I dream


Verse 2:
If there's a time
In your life
When the odds are so against you
There's no defeat, if all you keep is pride
First or last
Slow or fast
There's a dignity that makes you
Keep driving on, when worlds have come apart


Bridge 2:
It doesn't matter rich or poor
Or the things you've done before
Cause the race is all about
Believing in yourself


Chorus 2:
And I dream
I can run
Like the wind
And be strong
When my heart just wants to give in
I dream
I can be
The hero that's in me
When I dream, I dream


Middle 8:
I dream
Of a moment
That forever will be golden
When the torch is passed
Only dreams will last
That are shared by everyone


Chorus 3 & 4:
And I dream
I can run
Like the wind
And be strong
When my heart just wants to give in
I dream
I can be
The hero that's in me
When I dream, I dream

My poster...final version... 

The apoptotic cells are those whose nuclei are stained fluorescent blue...pretty, isn't it?  

Dreaming of You
Franne Gold & Tom Snow





Late at night when all the world is sleeping
I stay up and think of you
And I wish on a star that somewhere you are
Thinking of me too

Cause I'm dreaming of you tonight
Till tomorrow I'll be holding you tight
And there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be
Than here in my room dreaming about you and me

Wonder if you ever see me
And I wonder if you know I'm there
If you looked in my eyes
Would you see what's inside
Would you even care?

I just wanna hold you close
But so far all I have a dreams of you
So I wait for the day
And the courage to say how much I love you
Yes I do!

I'll be dreaming of you tonight
Till tomorrow I'll be holding you tight
And there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be
Than here in my room dreaming about you and me

Corazón
I can't stop dreaming of you
No puedo dejar de pensar en ti
I can't stop dreaming
Cómo te necesito
I can't stop dreaming of you
Mi amor, cómo te extraño

Late at night when all the world is sleeping
I stay up and think of you
And I still can't believe
That you came up to me and said "I love you"
I love you too!

Now I'm dreaming with you tonight
Till tomorrow and for all of my life
And there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be
Than here in my room dreaming of you endlessly

Dreaming of you tonight
Till tomorrow I'll be holding you tight
And there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be
Than here in my room
I'll be dreaming of you tonight
Endlessly
And I'll be holding you tight
Dreaming...with you...tonight!

Oh my! I really can't describe my feelings right now...lost for words...can i say that I'm feeling happy, delighted, cheery, buoyant, elated, ecstatic, exhilarated, enruptured, exburerant, over the moon, triumphant,...opps, did I just say that I'm lost for words? Anyway, the reason is as simple as this: The research attachment is going to end NEXT WEEK! After next week, I'll be able to do anything i want! The only sad thing is that I've only 2 more weeks before school starts. If only time would stop on 18th Dec...
Enough of the impossible...the time spent today is quite...i would say, well spent... did my second draft of the report (which SK said it was quite good) and made a few changes to my poster (which SK hasn't gone through). I think I'm most likely going to print my poster on Tues or Wed...Left at around 5.45 to queensway to photocopy something...By the time I reach home, I'm exhausted, both mentally and physically...
Now, after 9 hours of sleep, my energy are replenlished and I'm all ready to start doing what I'm supposed to be doing...you all too...stop reading now and start work!

I Turn To You
Written by Diane Warren

When I'm lost, in the rain
In your eyes I know I'll find the light
To light my way
When I'm scared, losing ground
When my world is going crazy
You can turn it all around, yes

And when I'm down you're there
Pushing me to the top
You're always there giving me all you've got
For a shield, from the storm
For a friend, for a love to keep me safe and warm
I turn to you
For the strength, to be strong
For the will to carry on
For everything you do, for everything that's true
I turn to you, yes

When I lose, the will to win
I just reach for you and I can reach
The sky again, I can do, anything
'Cause your love is so amazing
'Cause your love inspires me
And when I need a friend
You're always on my side
Giving me faith taking me through the night, yeah

For a shield (for a shield), from the storm (from the storm)
For a friend, for a love to keep me safe and warm
(For a love to keep me safe and warm)
I turn to you (I turn to you)
For the strength (for the strength), to be strong
For the will to carry on, uh
For everything you do
I turn to you, yeah, ohhh

For the arms to be my shelter through all the rain
For truth that will never change
For someone to lean on
For a heart I can rely on through anything
For the one who, I can run to, ohh I...
Turn to you...ohhh yeah

For a shield , from the storm
For a friend, for a love to keep me safe and warm
(To keep me safe and warm, yeah)
I turn to you (I turn to you)
For the strength (for the strength), to be strong
For the will to carry on, oh ohh
For everything you do (everything you do)
For everything that's true
For everything you do, ohh
For everything that's true
I turn to you

Have been considerably quite a long time since I last blog. Well, perhaps not really. It's just that nowadays, when I reach home, I'm too tired to do anything. Even watching TV and reading magazines. Sometimes, I just wish that time will past more quickly.
Woke up feeling unusally happy today. Maybe it could be because the attachment is coming to an end. 9 more days. You can be assured that I'm certainly looking forward to it. Oh, I just received an e-mail from Aida! I did not expect it, seriously speaking. Her e-mail really made my day. Haven't been in contact with her since she left. And I really don't know what to reply! But, I eventually manage to when I started thinking back, recalling the time we had together. I've known her since I was Sec 2. She was a jovial, cheerful girl. Always laughing and chattering. Really miss her after she left. Come to think of it, I've actually quite a number of friends from St Margs. It's like the potential "life-long" friendships were forged there. It's really a forgetable 4 years. Though life goes on and everyone is moving on with life, the memories remain up there in my head. Even though I may have made friends in JC, they are simply not the same. At least, to me, they aren't.

Christmas is coming! I just bought the Christmas cards yesterday. 21 more days to Christmas. Previous years, I would have been done writing the cards. But this year is exceptional. All because of the research attachment. By the way, the cards are really cute. Hallmark. So cute...You will know what I mean when you all receive the cards. I think it's so funny to send cards to people whom I have not met since Sec 1...It's like I've forgotten how they look and all that...but, we still send cards to each other during Christmas. Weird, isn't it?
2 more weeks till the end of the research attachment. Really glad that it's going to be over soon. I really don't want to repeat any of the experiments that I've done. I rather write my report and do the poster. But 2 weeks is quite a long time to do the report and poster, given my efficency. Never mind about all that. Things will work out when the time comes. Better study and do my tutorials now.

DLR Assay Results 

Western Blot 2 

Western Blot 1 

Wow! Another week had just gone by...phew! It's another busy week. It's seems like what's revolving around research and more research...but, it's good experience anyway. And so, I've decided today that I'll put up another blog soon for my journal on my research attachment. And so, look out for that(this is especially targetted at Lydia...). Actually, there's nothing much to write. What's happening now is just going to IMCB, research and then back home again. It's quite boring and the novelty really wears off. i'm feeling a little tired by all that now. Next week will be week 3 of my attachment. And it'll mark the middle of it. And soon 2 weeks later, I'll probably miss IMCB and by next year, I'll be talking about the fun I had during this holiday. Well, what can I do? That's just me.

note:took this from Joyce's blog. its really hilarious. :) enjoy.

THE YOUNG PERSON'S GUIDE TO THE CHORUS
In any chorus, there are four voice parts: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. Sometimes these are divided into first and second within each part, prompting endless jokes about first and second basses. There are also various other parts such as baritone, countertenor, contralto, mezzo soprano, etc., but these are mostly used by people who are either soloists, or belong to some excessively hotshot classical a cappella group (this applies especially to countertenors), or are trying to make excuses for not really fitting into any of the regular voice parts, so we will ignore them for now. Each voice part sings in a different range, and each one has a very different personality. You may ask, "Why should singing different notes ake people act differently?", and indeed this is a mysterious question and has not been adequately studied, especially since scientists who study musicians tend to be musicians themselves and have all the peculiar complxes that go with being tenors, french horn players, timpanists, or whatever. However,this is beside the point; the fact remains that the four voice parts can be easily distinguished, and I will now explain how...

THE SOPRANOS are the ones who sing the highest, and because of this they think they rule the world. They have longer hair, fancier jewellery, and swishier skirts than anyone else, and they consider themselves insulted if they are not allowed to go at least to a high F in every movement of any given piece. When they reach the high notes, they hold them for at least half again as long as the composer and/or conductor requires, and then complain that their throats are killing them and that the composer and conductor are sadists. Sopranos have varied attitudes toward the other sections of the chorus, though they consider all of them inferior. Altos are to sopranos rather like second violins to first violins - nice to harmonise with, but not really necessary. All sopranos have a secret feeling that the altos could drop out and the piece would sound essentially the same, and they don't understand why anybody would sing in that range in the first place - it's so boring. Tenors, on the other hand, can be very nice to have around; besides their flirtation possibilities (it is a well-known fact that sopranos never flirt with basses), sopranos like to sing duets with tenors because all the tenors are doing is working very hard to sing in a low-to-medium soprano range, while the sopranos are up there in the stratosphere showing off. To sopranos, basses are the scum of the earth - they sing too damn loud, are useless to tune because they're down in that low, low range - and there has to be something wrong with anyone who sings in the F clef, anyway.

THE ALTOS are the salt of the earth - in their opinion, at least. Altos are unassuming people, who would wear jeans to concerts if they were llowed to.Altos are in a unique position in the chorus in that they are unable to complain about having to sing either very high or very low, and they know that all the other sections think their parts are pitifully easy. But the altos know otherwise. They know that while the sopranos are screeching way on a high A, they are being forced to sing elaborate passages full of harps and flats and tricks of rhythm, and nobody is noticing because the sopranos are singing too loud (and the basses usually are too). Altos get a deep,secret pleasure out of conspiring together to tune the sopranos flat. Altos have an innate distrust of tenors, because the tenors sing in almost the same range and think they sound better. They like the basses, and enjoy singing duets with them - the basses just sound like a rumble anyway, and it's the only time the altos can really be heard. Altos' other complaint is that there are always too many of them and so they never get to sing really loud.

THE TENORS are spoiled. That's all there is to it. For one thing, there are never enough of them, and choir directors would rather sell their souls than let a halfway decent tenor quit, while they're always ready to unload a few altos at half price. And then, for some reason, the few tenors are always really good - it's one of those annoying facts of life. So it's no wonder that tenors always get swollen heads - after all, who else can make sopranos swoon? The one thing that can make tenors insecure is the accusation (usually by the basses) that anyone singing that high couldn't possibly be a real man.. In their usual perverse fashion, the tenors never acknowledge this, but just complain louder about the composer being a sadist and making them sing so damn high. Tenors have a love-hate relationship with the conductor, too, because the conductor is always telling them to sing louder because there are so few of them. No conductor in recorded history has ever asked for less tenor in a forte passage. Tenors feel threatened in some way by all the other sections - the sopranos because they can hit those incredibly high notes; the altos because they have no trouble singing the notes the tenors kill themselves for; and the basses because, although they can't sing anything above an E, they sing it loud enough to drown the tenors out. Of course, the tenors would rather die than admit any of this. It is a little-known fact that tenors move their eyebrows more than anyone else while singing.

THE BASSES sing the lowest of anybody. This basically explains everything. They are stolid, dependable people, and have more facial hair than anybody else. The basses feel perpetually unappreciated, but they have a deep conviction that they are actually the most important part (a view endorsed by musicologists, but certainly not by sopranos or tenors), despite the fact that they have the most boring part of anybody and often sing the same note(or in endless fifths) for an entire page. They compensate for this by singing as loudly as they can get away with - most basses are tuba players at heart. Basses are the only section that can regularly complain about how low their part is, and they make horrible faces when trying to hit very low notes. Basses are charitable people, but their charity does not extend so far as tenors, whom they consider effete poseurs. Basses hate tuning the tenors more than almost anything else. Basses like altos - except when they have duets and the altos get the good part. As for the sopranos, they are simply in an alternate universe which the basses don't understand at all. They can't imagine why anybody would ever want to sing that high and sound that bad when they make mistakes. When a bass makes a mistake, the other three parts will cover him, and he can continue on his merry way, knowing that sometime, somehow, he will end.

Top Ten Reasons for Being a Soprano
1. The rest of the choir exists just to make you look good.
2. You can entertain your friends by breaking their wineglasses.
3. Can you name an opera where an alto got the man?
4. When sopranos want to sing in the shower, they know the tune.
5. It's not like you are ever going to sing the alto part by accident.
6. Great costumes - like the hat with the horns on it.
7. How many world famous altos can you name?
8. When the fat lady sings, she's usually singing soprano.
9. When you get tired of singing the tune, you can sing the descant.
10. You can sing along with Michael Jackson.

Top Ten Reasons for Being an Alto
1. You get really good at singing E flat.
2. You get to sing the same note for 12 consecutive measures.
3. You don't really need to warm up to sing 12 consecutive bars of E-flat.
4. If the choir really stinks, it's unlikely the altos will be blamed.
5. You have lots of time to chat during soprano solos.
6. You get to pretend that you are better than the sopranos, because everybody knows that women only sing soprano so they don't have to learn to read music.
7. You can sometimes find part time work singing tenor.
8. Altos get all the great intervals.
9. When the sopranos are holding some outrageously high note at the end of a song, the altos always get the last words.
10. When the altos miss a note, nobody gets hurt.

Top Ten Reasons for Being a Tenor
1. Tenors get high - without drugs.
2. Name a musical where the bass got the girl.
3. You can show the sopranos how it SHOULD be sung.
4. Did you ever hear of anyone paying $1000 for a ticket to see 'The three Basses?'
5. Who needs brains when you've got resonance?
6. Tenors never have to waste time looking through the self-improvement section of the bookstore.
7. You get to sing along with John Denver singing "Aye Calypso."
8. When you get really good at falsetto, you can make tons of money doing voice-overs for cartoon characters.
9. Gregorian chant was practically invented for tenors. Nobody invented a genre for basses.
10. You can entertain your friends by impersonating Julia Child.

Top Ten Reasons for Being a Bass
1. You don't have to tighten your shorts to reach your note.
2. You don't have to worry about a woman stealing your job.
3. Or a preadolescent boy stealing your job.
4. Action heroes are always basses. That is - if they ever sang, they would sing bass.
5. You get great memorable lyrics like bop, bop, bop, bop.
6.If the singing job doesn't work out, there's always broadcasting.
7. You never need to learn to read the treble clef.
8. If you get a cold, so what.
9. For fun, you can sing at the bottom of your range and fool people into thinking there's an earthquake.
10. If you belch while you're singing, the audience just thinks it is part of the score.

1 week had gone by. Believe it or not; I'm actually counting down the days till the end of my attachment. 19 days to go; "Endure", I always tell myself. Don't be mistaken. It's not that I don't enjoy it. Doing experiments, designing them, and proving hypothesis, I enjoy it all. It's just that the long hours tire me out. Other than that, I've no other complaints. I've already learn so much in just one week. It's not just things that are related to the area of scientific research, but it's also things such as working with other people . Enough of these personal thoughts, let's talk about what I did today. Early morning, we drew out the plan for this week. It looks hectic and packed, but the actual fact is that it is actually quite lackadasical. It just require hours and hours of waiting for the process to be done. Thus, we can squeeze in a few others irrevlevant experiments and techniques so that I can learn, and be prepared for the future. Let's gp back to the main aim of this week:" How can one be sure that the expression of NQ01 and HO-1 genes is due to the ARE mechanism?" The answer will be revealed this week, so stay tune. Well, today, I transfered the sy5y cells to 2 6 well plates and leave it in the incubator overnight so that it will be ready for insertion of the plasmids tomorrow morning. After that was reading and more reading. Now, I'm so tired from staring at the books for such a long period of time. Better go to bed now. Sweet dreams, everyone.

Just came back from choir altos dinner...at Joyce's house...it's considered quite fun...ok, I won't use fun...at least, it's quite all right. We had steamboat. I would say that it's nice considereing the fact that we had fishballs, sotong balls, meat balls, mushroom balls,...you get what I mean, right? Well, the dinner lasted for like 1.5 hour? Was really full that I started to play with my food...well, it's a habit, I guess. Had been doing that since smss days...After thedinner, we went to Joyce's room to slack and to digest the food before stuffing ourselves with the bobochacha cooked by Jee Cheng's mum. Seriously, it's the first time I've eaten bobochacha in that colour. I only ate those that are white in colour before. Well,...Anyway, we also had a mini sectional there...The set-piece...I'm really at lost as to what to say...We left her house at around 10.30 and i took a bus with Jee Cheng to the interchange...during the long bus journey, bond formation took place between the 2 molecules of us...really talk...I mean, those things at I tell her are the stuff that I don't normally tell people. Erm, maybe I did, considering the fact that I always open my mouth and talk...Never mind about that. The same goes to her too...I must say that she's really sweet and thoughtful (erm, wonder whether she'll read this or not?). She smsed me to see whether I reach home already or not? I mean it's not my style to do that...so, I thought that's rather nice.
Well, I really tired. Time to sleep and get rest. Sweet dreams.
(P.S: I'll put gel-electrophoresis photo which I did on Friday so that you all can compare and contrast).

Just read from aud's blod that Uncle Stan (as he's fondly called) is transferred to ijtp...so sad...can you hear the sound of my heart breaking into million pieces? Not literally...but, it's really saddening...i may not be able to see him during teachers' day, or any other occassions...I would surely remember those lame jokes of his, his care and concern for us (even as we had graduated), and his many outstanding qualities and his kind and encouraging words...

Today is indeed action day, as promised. In fact, it's action, action day. I really did a lot of experiments and learn a lot from today alone. At 9am, we harvested the cells and extracted the RNA content. Really have to be quite patient here as similar processes are repeated over and over again. Nevertheless, they are necessary. The harvesting and extractin of RNA took about 1hr 45 mins! Next, we used the spectrophotometer to determine the concentration of RNA...quite a lot of calculations involved here. After that, we start to prepare for RT-PCR. The protocol was easy to follow and everything can be done in just one step. The whole process of RT-PCR will take about 3hr 25 mins! this leave me some time to take a rest and to note down everything.
In the afternoon, we started on gel-electrophoresis to separate the DNA fragments. After the gel had set, we "ran" the gel.
At 4pm, we attended a meeting. The meeting was an informal one. Everyone just snack and talk...no pen and paper involoved. Looks like researchers have powerful memory. The meeting was really fun and stress-free. Look forward to next week's meeting.

Gel electrophoresis 

Gel electrophoresis 

Research Attachment- Adventure at IMCB

I've seen my sy5y cells today! They've been successfully cultured! Shall post a picture for you all to see! Anyway, today had been quite worthwhile...I treated the cells with different compounds today! And come tommorrow, I shall harvest them and get the total RNA out. (ok, i mean extract the total RNA). Read up the procedures for the extraction and the principles behind them, and the one step RT-PCR process (that is going to be done on Friday!). Wrote in my log book lots of things...including the procedures for treatment and stuff like that.
Discovered something today. Actually, it's not that I don't know this. It's just that I have not worked with such small volumes and quantities before. I have to prepare the solutions to a every, every small concentration. It's all in microlitres and stuff like that...when I was asked to convert, I was sort of stuck...it's not that I don't know. If given time to work it out, I would certainly be able to do it. But on the stop? It's a little tricky. Blame it on the lack of practice. Anyway, tommorrow will be a busy day for me, so, I think I better get some rest. Good night.

Sy5y cells treated with NGF for 8 days...see the neurones? 

Sy5y cells at higher magnification 

sy5y cells 1 

sy5y cells 

Research Attachment- Adventure at IMCB

Not too bad for the first day. Had a 1 one plus briefing by someone name Joshua and the safety officer. Settled some adminsitrative stuff, such as attendance and getting our access cards. The access cards are so cool...you need it wherever you go...like the name suggests, it enables one to access to some place.
Anyway,spent the morning discussing what I've read on cancer research, phase-2- enzymes, ARE regulated genes with my supervisor/ mentor, and also clearing my many doubts. We went into the project plan next. I'm going to find out the effects of ARE rehulated genes on cells...does it really prevent cancer by activating some pathways? sounds abstract? That's what I thought initially too. But, after discussing futher with my mentor, everything become clearer. And so, I went to search for more information on the cell I'll be working with. The SH-SY5Y cells, its culture medium and its morphology...
Lunch time at Soul Food Court. It's a food court, not a restaurant like Seoul Garden. Ate prata with chicken curry...the prata is really crispy, I must say.
After the bite, I went back the labs. Now that I'm full and energeised, it's time for me to start on real lab work...firstly, we got a lab coat for myself. Like someone said,:" One will not look scientific without a lab coat." And so, we got a lab coat for myself. It is whit and sort of a little too big for me...but, never mind all that. Next was the gloves. We've got a pair of gloves that fit nicely...small-size though...Being fully-geared, I really feel like a true researcher. We went to B2 to collect some solutions to be used for our culture today. Really feel like some doctor on housemanship wearing the lab coat and walking along the corridors of B2 which resembles some hospital. We cultured the sy5y cells after preparing the medium. And it is sitting in the incubator now! Tommorrow, I'll be able to see them. (To Lydia: If you would like some information on how to culture the cells, contact me personally) I think I'll stop here for the attachment, if not, my blog will become a scientific journal.

life is one big jigsaw puzzle.we start out with a few pieces given to us and we piece them together with the help of our family and friends.as we grow older, we have to find the missing pieces to fill up the gaps.sometimes we can't find the right pieces to fit in a gap, and even after many years of searching we still can't find it.there are some pieces that will never be found,so we just have to make do with whatever shape that best fits the gap.maybe it'll grow to fit the gap,maybe it won't.that's the whole idea of filling up those holes in our lives.if we can't find what we've been searching for,accept the closest one and let things be.it's better to look at one complete jigsaw puzzle than one with gaps in it.and it might amaze some of us that the jigsaw puzzle turns out prettier than it was intended to be with these odd pieces in it.

Tommorrow is the day!!! 16th Nov 2004!!! The day I've been looking forward to... The start of my A-star Research Programme at IMCB! I'm so excited, so much so that my heart is pumping so hard that it's going to stop working any moment. Ok, I'm just exggerating here...Anyway, it's a fact that I'm excited about it. I mean, who wouldn't be, when he/she is 1 out of about 200 students who got into the programme? What's more is that the 200 odd of us were selected out of hundreds of others who went for the interview. I'm not showing off that I got into the programme but I am just giving the reason as to why I'm so looking forward to it. It's seems like a long time since the interview in April...or was it May? Anyway, at that point of time, I wasn't sure that I would be selected. What's more get attached to IMCB, which is my first choice. I was even consoling myself that it would be better if I don't get in, cos, I've more time to revise my work. But now, I'm singing a different tune...I guess, that's human. Enough said about the research. Shall talk about it more tommorrow.
My brother and I were looking through some old old photographs yesterday. He found a few cute pictures of himself and was self-praising that night. I can't really believe that he's so "humble". But, the pictures are quite cute. (i must admit). He was even thinking of scanning those pictures and setting them as his msn display pictures. I think i shall put them in my blog some day. We also come across a few naked baby photos of my the other brother. The sec 3 one...we thought of blackmailing him...haha...can't accept the fact that we are still so childish. Anyway, i used to complain that my 2 younger brothers are irritating and immature...but it seems to me that they are quite ok now...I guess it's time. Or is it me? It seems to me that ever since I start junior college, they've all grown up. Maybe still childish, but they are not as mischievous as before. Maybe it's because of school...the long hours spent in school and on homework and studies...that forced us not to spend so much time together. In any case, we have all grown up...and i guess my parents admit that. They are very confident that if the three of us are alone at home, we will not fight and quarrel. I guess, everyone does grow up...it's just a matter of time...

Just read the newspaper and found an interesting piece of news that turn my tireness into interest and now, all I want to do is to say that "I'm so proud of St Margs'". Now, you may wonder why? The reason: Indonesian trade Minister Dr Mari Pangestu was a student at St Margs. Now, that got you excited...The article also mention that her name and photograhs can be found all over old school magazines. She was also the captain for the netball team, secretary of the career society and a member of the drama and debate society. She was also the top student for English and English Literature. She left the schoo with the top honour- the Dean Dumper Trophy. Well, her achievements are so many and great. What made me so proud is the fact that St Margs can actually mould students into future leaders and great people whom contribute to the society and whom can be our role model and someone whom we are proud of.
So, that's just what I read. I'm sure many others will be just like me;
This aside, I hearby announced that PW is offically over. We went to school at 9.30 today to arrange and pagimate our files for submission. After submitting the GPF, Ms Ong brief us about next year; who our new CT is and gave out progress report. She commented on our results and gave us some advice. When she gave mine to me, she asked, "So, how was the tea session with Mrs Lim?" Ha! To think she still remember that! All I can manage is a "Good". She wrote as part of the remark:"... 4 distictions next year." Sure, I'll work hard towards that.
Well, it's our class first BBQ today! At Rochelle's place. It was good. The food, the place, the atmosphere. Bascially, everything! Thanks Rochelle for opening her house to us. Now, I'm just so tired and drain out. Better catch my beauty sleep now!

Listen up, everyone! Shu Hui's secret to 4 As in exams!!! Interested? Read on! We asked Shu Hui for her secret to ace-ing in exams during choir today...and her answer? Sleep... Ha!!! She claimed that when we get enough sleep, our brains will be clearer and hence, what we have studied come freely and readily to our minds and hence, we will be able to do well...well, I hope that I'm like her...Better catch enough sleep...
Anyway, choir yesterday wasn't really choir...what I mean here is that we did not sing... Instead, we had sort of a heart-to-heart talk...I can't say it really is that, but I can't find a more suitable word, and so... Anyway, the com people asked for our opinion of the choir and our problems and suggestions that would benefit the choir...well, we were really honest and open in what we say...and that, I would say is good to a certain extent. We were really honest to the extent that we did not even hold back when we were critising some people...but it's constructive feedback, so well...
Altos is finally going on a outing...details have not been drawn out...but maybe it'll be steamboat at Joyce's house...so sweet of her to open her house to us...depending on the date and time, I may not be able to go, cos of the research attachment..Speaking of it, I'm really looking forward to it...I must make the best out of it and you know, have fun! It's going to be a busy holiday and yet I've so much incomplete homework, waiting for me to do...Wednesday; we are all going to school to hand in PW file, after which is class BBQ; Thursday; I'm going out with Lydia to do homework, this girl thought I'm crazy, but I really need to complete my homework before my attachment; Friday; It's going to be the extra long chemistry lecture... Oh my! I think I better get to bed and rest my brain and soul...I want to do well!

I think I'll keep this blog short and sweet. Afterall, I am all so tired and exhausted from today's Chinese and Biology Olympiad. My brain cells are dead; and soon I predict that I may be brain dead too.
Well, I guess Chinese was alright. I'll keep my fingers cross for the result.
And so, after Chinese, we met Miss Lee outside the hall and she brought us to NIE, NTU, where we were supposed to go for the Olympiad. So much for empowering us. Anyway, we set off and took the same bus and train as my mentor and jj. A pity that they did not join us. I think that they were going to jurong point for lunch. They've been saying that since op on tues. At Boon Lay Interchange, we took 199 to NIE, NTU. We were the first in the line. Soon, students from jj came. Shortly after, came rj, hc and ac. All of them had some notes in their hands. Some rj people were even carrying Campbell!!! The old edition, noted Allele. So scary!!!Well, we were not put off by that. At least Charmine and Mark were not. They were pretending that they had long studied and were, you know, revising. What crap! 199 came some time later and we board the bus. It was so packed. Most of them had to stand. Soon, we began our journey to NIE, NTU. As we did not eaten our lunch, we decided to stop at the cafe for a quick bite. Maybe it's because we had a teacher with us. Cos, when we alight, the rest followed suit. We climbed up this really long stairay to the cafe. It's called "Stairway to heaven". What a nice name. But nevertheless, it was really energy demanding to climb it. After a quick lunch of sandwiches, we went to the venue to take the paper. We were late by only 3 mins??! But we just miss out on the instructions part. We have two hours to complete Part A and B of the paper. There are 100 questions altogether. There are some of the questions which I think most of us will know, and at the same time, there are a few questions in which the terms used never existed in my dictionary! Well, I shall not elaborate further. I managed to complete both parts way efore the 2 hours, and my mind began to wander. I counted the number of lights in the large hall. 13X12, that is the number. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who counted. Charmine counted too. After the 2 hours, we had a 15 mins break and guess what, I saw Wanting! It's her birthday today! Happy Birthday! Anyway, after the short break, we went back to another gruelling 2 hours of another 100 questions again! This time, after completing the paper, I was already thinking of what to eat for dinner!
Eventually, we were dismissed. We walked to the bus-stop and waited for the bus. The first time we saw the bus, we were still debating whether it is a loop service or not. And we saw a bus-stop opposite and thought maybe it was not. So, we did not board it. But it turns out that the bus-stop opposite is for the shuttlebus. And so, we waited for another bus. And when it came, it was so overcrowded that we could not even board it. Sadly and angrily, we had to wait for the third one. This time, we finally board the bus. But it was so filled with people that I thought I might suffocate to death should I alight any minute later.
Upon reaching Jurong point, I went to Life Bookshop and bought a book and then bought my dinner. I took a bus home. The journey was so long. But at least I get to sit. Now, I'm really tired. Need to rest and sleep. I thought I said that I would keep the blog short and sweet?

SAINTsational Fair 3
Went to St Margs funfair this morning with Lydia, Shamane and her two brothers...Lydia had $100 worth of tickets and kept on sponsering us food and games..Thanks girl! Well, we met at 9am and saw Aud at the entrance...She suggested going in together and we were like "Why not?" Besides, the more the merrier...Anyway, we first went to the parade square and saw the cheerleading girls...After that, we went to the cafe to enjoy the air- con and ordered food...We ordered one of everything and spent more than half an hour there, after which we went to play games...well, it was actually Shamane's brothers who played the most and helped Lydia to collect tokens so that she can exchange something for Pam and Pris...so, there we went playing games...There is also this SAINTsational Draw thing on the ticket...so, we detach it and gave it to Pastor Fuman who kindly agreed to help us put the it into the box...As we were not going to stay for long, we told him that he can have the prize if the number was called. After exchanging for a toy to give to the twins, we went to the canteen and tried to use up our coupons on food...we bought all kinds of rubbish...from brownies, sweets, candy floss and chicken wings...we then realised that we did not give Pastor Fuman the ticket so that he can collect the prize if the number was called.So, Aud and I went around the school looking for him...From St John's Chapel to the cafe. We were about to give up the search when we saw him at the parade square. We quickly ran to him and gave him the ticket. He was quite surprised and said: "I thought you all left already. How come you are still here?" Anyway, we went back to the canteen where Lydia and Shamane were. We saw Uncle Stan and chatted with him...he was still the good, old uncle stan who look as jovial as before...He did not look like he's a day older since I graduated...the same goes to major...I'm touched that he will remember us and came to talk to us in the cafe. I really miss the good, old st margs days...although we had a lot of assignments and tests, but, we knew that we can always count on one another's encouragements and prayers...That precious 4 years will always occupy a significant place in my heart...

I will never forget
It has only been a short time
A really brief, memorable 8 months
I will never forget.
I guess it must be really challenging for you to teach us
A class who is reserved during lessons but is the exact opposite during breaks
I guess it must be difficult for you to teach us
A class who is so lifeless, so apathetic
I guess you must be upset
To see all the Os, Es and Fs
But I hope despite all these,
You have derive some satisfaction from teaching us
Transforming us
Our class once so lifeless
Now no longer so
Our grades will hopefully
Be turned into As by next year
It was you who constantly nag at us
All the naggings and pep talks
I will never forget.
Thank you for coming into my life.
God Bless you wherever you go.

The greatest pain in life
is not to die, but to be ignored.

To lose the person you love so
much to another who doesn't care at all.

To have someone you care so about so much throw a party...
and not tell you about it.

When your favorite person on earth
neglects to invite you to his graduation.

To have people think that you don't care.

The greatest pain in life,
is not to die,
but to be forgotten.

To be left in the dust after another's great achievement.

To never get a call from a friend,
just saying "hi".

When you show someone your innermost thoughts and they laugh in your face.

For friends to always be too busy to console you when you need someone to lift your spirits.

When it seems like the only person who cares about you,
is you.

Life is full of pain,
but does it ever get better?

Will people ever care about each other,
and make time for those who are in need?

Each of us has a part to play
in this great show we call life.

Each of us has a duty to mankind
to tell our friends we love them.

If you do not care about your friends
you will not be punished.

You will simply be ignored...
forgotten...
as you have done to others.

The World’s Most Beautiful

I’d give anything to see the sun set on the horizon,
I’d do anything to gaze at a full moon in the night sky;
Even a rainbow would make me smile,
And I’d love to swim in crystal clear waters
Of an untouched sea;
Sometimes I’ll see a shooting star,
And try to gaze from afar,
All the diamonds in the night sky;
The mist on the mountains is breathtaking,
As is walking in rainforest;
To see cascading waterfalls I’d do anything for,
As to stand on the highest peak in the world,
And look at the sights below;
I’d love to soar on wings above the clouds,
Across the bluest skies;
I’d do anything to see
All the beautiful things in the world,
Like a red rose blooming in the Sahara,
Like a river twisting through a dusty land,
All the beautiful things in the world;

But I also know I am looking at
The world’s most beautiful creation,
Every time you smile,
And every time I look into your eyes.

SAJC Open House
Reached school at 9.50am to report for duty at the choir booth. Joyce called me last night to inform me to come in school uniform today. As I was too tired from looking at books, I did not bother to ask her the reason. But I found out today anyway. It turns out that the guy had it printed wrongly. What was supposed to be at the back was in front. *Sigh* Maybe some people had understanding prob or did they not make the instructions clear? Whatever it is, the guy had agreed to re-print the shirt. Back to today. It was weird going to the open house in sch uniform. Esp when everyone else is wearing t-shirt. Oh well, we sure did stand out.
We just started counter duty when we were told to go to AVA for practice. Well, we were very reluctant to go. Tending the booth is such a fun thing to do. No consumption of energy and brain cells, plus, you get to talk (to the sec 4s and to your other friends when they go past). But we went back anyway. Throughout the practice, pple came and left. The practices were not too bad. The only thing is that we just couldn't concentrate and couldn't stop moving and talking. In the end, we ended up repeating and repeating parts of the song until we have perfected it.
By the way, I think I have come to a decision for my inner struggle- whether to take S papers or not? After much consideration and discussing it with my friends, cousins, relatives and my parents (and even my 2 younger brothers), I think that I would take it. Most prob it's maths and chem...If i am rejected, then well, I have nothing to say. If I am successful in my application, well, i will surely do my best to cope and to do well in it. Should i not be able to cope, i can always drop it. Like what Lydia told me, I can decide not to sit for the paper even on the day of exam. No pressure, but it would be best if I can do well, and get into THE faculty of my choice.

Just chatted with Lydia on the phone...she started it first...she was the one who smsed me to ask about my promos results...oh well, promos results...
I guess I did quite fine this time round. At least better than common test. But I think that the papers were relatively easier too...
Besides talking about results, this earth watch pres also asked me if I'm free to go to St Margs funfair next Saturday...she has $100 worth of tickets...Imagine $100...and she did not even pay a single cent for it...apparently her lovely juniors gave them to her cos she's so fun-loving, sweet, blah, blah, blah...Anyway, it's a pity that I'm not free on that Saturday...if not, i will definetly help her to spend the money! Enough of all this crap, it's time that I start studying and preparing for my chinese exams which is coming real soon...and on the same day is Bio Olympiad...better prepare and do the school proud...

Just chatted with Lydia on the phone...she started it first...she was the one who smsed me to ask about my promos results...oh well, promos results...
I guess I did quite fine this time round. At least better than common test. But I think that the papers were relatively easier too...
Besides talking about results, this earth watch pres also asked me if I'm free to go to St Margs funfair next Saturday...she has $100 worth of tickets...Imagine $100...and she did not even pay a single cent for it...apparently her lovely juniors gave them to her cos she's so fun-loving, sweet, blah, blah, blah...Anyway, it's a pity that I'm not free on that Saturday...if not, i will definetly help her to spend the money! Enough of all this crap, it's time that I start studying and preparing for my chinese exams which is coming real soon...and on the same day is Bio Olympiad...better prepare and do the school proud...

I've been wanting to write this entry for a long, long time...since last saturday...but i can't, cause someone may see it...and the supposed surprised will disappear...but i guess i can write it now, since her day is just tml and i guess it doesn't really matter if she finds out today? Now? i doubt she read this anyway...so, here it goes...Last Saturday, I went out with jie, gi and wei ti buy yuwen's pressie...we spent more time talking crap than thinking of what to get for her...and this time round, we spent a relatively shorter time to decide on what to buy...after we bought the pressie, we shopped around Paragon and basically chatted...and we even sat and enjoy a cup of road-side ice-cream...long time since we last did that...gi also revealed that she may be going overseas to study at the end of the year...whta's the surprise here? Everyone seems to be going overseas nowadays...just hope she enjoys studying there and remember us...all the best gi!

The Reason- Hoobastank

i'm not a perfect person. there are many things i wish i didnt do
but i continue learning. i never meant to do those things to you.
and so i have to say before i go, that i just want you to know

i've found a reason for me, to change who i used to be
a reason to start over new, and the reason is you

i'm sorry that i hurt, its something i must live with everyday
and all the pain i put you through, i wish that i could take it all away
and be the one who catches all your tears, thats why i need you to hear

i'm not a perfect person, i never meant to do those things to you
and so i have to say before i go that i just want you to know

i've found a reason for me, to change who i used to be
a reason to start over new, and the reason is you
i've found a reason to show a side of me you didnt know
a reason for all that i do, and the reason is you

I just completed my pw meeting notes and finished typing the group evaluation... Everyone was late for pw yesterday...i ended up watching parts of the rehearsal for the music awards... and guess what? weiting and some others had form a band and they are going to perform...and i didn't know that until YESTERDAY! But that's not a big deal, i'm sure there are many others out there who may not even know until Monday itself...Anyway, i thought that they were good...and i didn't know (again) that Weiting can play the drums... and after yesterday, i thought playing the drums is cool and i'm going to learn how to play (or is it hit?)
After pw, i went out with my mum for lunch and i bought a new phone! At long last! Anyway, i am quite satisfied with the new phone i got and that it does not seem to matter that i'm the one paying for it...Luckily it's not very expensive...if not, my pocket is going to burn...better start saving...or should i get the money from my dad? He doesn't know that i have bought a new phone...but i guess he wouldn't mind since my old phone is really OLD!

Phew! Promos are finally over...I can now relax, watch all the shows I've missed and made up for the beauty sleep that I have lost...Wait, actually, no...I slept earlier during the exam period...10pm...is that earlier enough? I mean, I don't want to fall asleep when I'm doing my paper...That's logical isn't it? Well, today's going to be my pw day...we are going to meet in school and do all the things we need to do before submitting our files in...After pw, I'm meeting my mum and maybe I'll be getting a new phone today!!! I've been saying that for so long...since starting of the year? I don't know...but I'm so excited over it...can't wait for pw to be over...hopefully in a few hours time?
Now, my brother is so envious...his eyes are green with envy...he has maths paper today...while he was trying hard to memorise his formula last night, I was there watching tv...well, not that I inconsiderate...he did watch the show too and I think he laughed the loudest...and he thinks that being taller than his elder sis is a big deal...and that he can laugh at me and calls me his mei-mei...whenever he does that, I would rebut by saying "I have a gor-gor in SEC 1" and he will stop this nonsense...actually i think my brother is quite mature for his age...he is only sec 1 and he's studying, well, not very hard, but he managed to get decent grades so far...so unlike of the other brother who is now in sec 3...but doesn't study but sit in front of the computer playing who-knows-what silly games...what is really the point is that he is sitting for his 'O's next year and he doesn't seem to get his foundation firm...and he will not get it unless he sit down and concentrate on his studies...esp for his chinese... his chinese grades are always in the range of 20-something to 30-something... my dad even suggested him to take Malay instead...ha, you're right dad! Enough said about my two younger, irritating brothers... I can't keep on nagging at them...it isn't my job...it's my mum's job...but i guess they will soon realise that they will have to grow up one day and get on with life with the reality...

September 19, 2004

Informing God
Read: Psalm 139:1-6

Can anyone teach God knowledge? —Job 21:22

Bible In One Year: Ecclesiastes 1-3; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We cannot tell God anything He doesn't already know. When we pray, we simply put into words what He's been aware of all along.

That doesn't make prayer unnecessary; rather, it encourages us to pray. We find relief in talking to Someone who knows us and our situation fully. It's a comfort to know that God's response arises not from information we give Him, but from His perfect knowledge of our circumstances. He knows all conditions—past, present, future—that bear on our well-being.

"Your Father knows," Jesus said in Matthew 6:8. He knows our thoughts, our intentions, our desires; He is intimately acquainted with all our ways (Psalm 139:3). He knows the anguish of our heart, the strain of continual frustration, the enemies inside and outside that war against our souls.

So, can we presume to dictate the time and terms of our deliverance from trials or adversity? Can we say our way is better, more likely to develop our soul? No, we cannot teach God anything. He alone knows the way to bring us to glory. Out of all possible paths, He has chosen the best, the route most adapted to who we are and what He has in store for us.

We cannot teach God knowledge, but we can love and trust Him. That's all He asks of us. —David Roper


The answer God may choose for me
Is sure to be the best,
So may I always thankful be,
And in His goodness rest. —D. De Haan

God knows the end from the beginning, so we can trust Him with everything between.

How do you spell the word JOY?? do you spell it like Y-O-J?O-J-Y?O-Y-J or J-O-Y?? by right you should spell it like J-O-Y..but there are people who spell it like the others......JOY stands for [J]esus ,[O]thers,[Y]ourself...which means you put Jesus first and think about others before yourself....and when you do that,you will have happiness...so cool right.that is why JOY stands for happiness...

Once there were many frogs who want to compete each other into who can climb the highest to the top of a tower,and so they went to arrange and stuff.
So on that day,there was a crowd where the frogs had their competition.They started off well but soon one by one started to fell. The crowd was like shouting nagative things to them ,like asking them to give up.So one by one they fell.But there was one frog who went on climbing despite the crowd and in the end,it reached the top.The crowd was very curious and finally, they asked the frog.It turned out that the forg was deaf.

You know,many of us are in the same boat as the other frogs,when we hear nagative things,we give up.Why not trying to be like the deaf frog and ignore whatever nagative things said,even if it is true,take it ,try to change.

that is all i have to say.

the barber, a customer and God

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists." "Why do you say that?" asked the customer."Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving a God who would allow all of these things." The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long,stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" "No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside." "Ah, but barbers DO exist! " answered the barber. " What happens, is,people do not come to me. " "Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

* * *

Your Age By Chocolate!

This is so cool...just try it and you'll be amazed...
It takes less than a minute....... Work this out as you read.
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out! This
is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.


1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would
like to have chocolate. (more than once but less than 10)


2. Multiply this number by 2 (Just to be bold)


3. Add 5. (for Sunday)


4. Multiply it by 50 I'll wait while you get the calculator................


5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1754....
If you haven't, add 1753 ..........


6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.


You should have a three digit number .
The first digit of this was your original number (i.e., how many
times you want to have chocolate each week).


The next two numbers are YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)


THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2004) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND
WHILE IT LASTS

Your Existing Situation
Imaginative and sensitive; seeking an outlet for these qualities--especially in the company of someone equally sensitive. Interest and enthusiasm are readily aroused by the unusual or the adventurous.


Your Stress Sources
The situation is regarded as threatening or dangerous. Outraged by the thought that she will be unable to achieve her goals and distressed at the feeling of helplessness to remedy this. Over-extended and feels beset, possibly to the point of nervous prostration.

Your Restrained Characteristics
Willing to become emotionally involved and able to achieve satisfaction through sexual activity.
Circumstances are forcing her to compromise, to restrain her demands and hopes, and to forgo for the time being some of the things she wants.

Feels that she is receiving less than her share and that there is no one on whom she can rely for sympathy and understanding. Pent-up emotions and a certain egocentricity make her quick to take offense, but she realizes that she has to make the best of things as they are.

Your Desired Objective
Seeks an affectionate relationship, offering fulfillment and happiness. Capable of powerful emotional enthusiasm. Helpful, and willing to adapt herself if necessary to realize the bond of affection she desires. Needs the same consideration and understanding from others.

Your Actual Problem
Depleted vitality has created an intolerance for any further stimulation, or demands on her resources. A feeling of powerlessness subjects her to agitation and acute distress. Tries to escape from this by relinquishing the struggle, and by finding peaceful and restful conditions in which to recuperate in an atmosphere of affection and security.

Some people wait their whole lives to find their soul mates. But not Holly and Gerry.

Childhood sweethearts, they could finish each other's sentences and even when they fought, they laughed. No one could imagine Holly and Gerry without each other.
Until the unthinkable happens. Gerry's death devastates Holly. But as her 30th bithday looms, Gerry comes back to her. He left her a bundle of notes, gently guiding Holly back into her new life without him, each note signed 'P.S, I Love You'.
As the notes are gradually opened, and as the year unfolds, Holly is both cheered up and challenged. The man who knows her better than anyone sets out to teach her that life goes on. With some help from her friends, and her noisy and loving family, Holly finds herself laughing, crying, singing, dancing- and being braver than ever before.

Life is for living, she realises- but it always helps if there's an angel watching over you.

P.S, I Love You 

My brother in Sec 1 just showed off his progress report for last term to me...Well, he has the reason to show off...Afterall, he got a A1 for his literature!!!A1!!! I never got a distinction for my litersture in secondary school before...not even near enough to smell it what's more taste it...hiaz...i guess my parent's lit genes had all gone to him...my sec 3 brother is not really got in lit also...well, there's nothing i can do...he did fairly well in the other subjects except art...he has gotten a F9 for it...can you believe it? I can't...I thought you will not fail art if you have hand in your work on time...moreover, I have seen him doing his work and thought that it was not bad...apparently i was wrong and perhaps, I had a bad taste...or could it be because the teacher had too high the expectation...whatever the case is, i don't think my brother will take art in the future...

I feel so good today! A sense of accomplishment, a sense of achievement...one that is so overwhelming...i just calculated the number of hours i have completed for my nyaa cip...and it turn out that i'm left with only about 2 hours to complete! imagine, only two more hours to go...yeah! After that, i can start to do cip for my school... reflecting upon all these days where i have been today volunteer work, i have actually learnt a couple of things...patience and compassion are two of the things i have acquired. Of course the passion of serving the community keeps me going...i think that even though i started doing volunteer work because of the cca points. it develope the volunteering spirit in me and i always feel good about myself after volunteering...
Secondly, I'm so proud of my PW group members! We have finally completed the draft 1 of our report...We were very serious today when we met...and we spent the whole afternoon and evening at the library cafe to do our report...We stayed there until 9.30pm...we were all so tired when we parted for home...Our endurance, determination to finish the report are things that I'm truly proud of...I hope we will maintain like that and be serious in our work...

What a day to start school this week. It was really a long break from all the work and I finally had the chance to catch up on my work and beauty sleep...
I had quite an interesting day in school today. For GP, we did role-plays...being the advertising agency, production house and the media authourity. It was really a treat for us and a break from the usual GP lessons...
In the afternoon, I went to Biopolis with a few of my friends for the research attachment programme briefing as well as for a meet-the-mentor session. It was still early went we get there so we decided to get a bite at the Matrix Foodcourt. We decided on mango ice-kachang...Imagine! 4 pple sharing a bowl of ice-kachang...funny right?! Anyway, we did it... I also saw some of my friends from other jcs there as well...so, it was considered like a sort of gathering for us too...After the briefing session came the meet-the-mentor session..I was taken to IMCB at the Proteos building together with another girl, Sharon. We were each attached to one researcher and taken around the labs and to get to know the nature of our work. My mentor is a nice guy who make me feel relax. Everyone calls me S.K there. Anyway, we had quite a long talk and I was one of the last to leave IMCB... I was given some literature to read in order to get a rough overview of the field. I was given much antonomy as I get to come up with my own project (but if I can't, then I will have to do the one given and planned by them). In addition, he took me around the place and showed me the various machines, equipments and other places such as the pantry and the dark room...After the session, I am now more excited about the attachment. I can't wait for Nov 16 to arrive!!!

Trust In God

Trust In God
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God how could you do this to me!" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it :

YOU SAY
GOD SAYS
BIBLE VERSES

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you
(John 3:16 & John 3:34)

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28)

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I don't have enough faith"
God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith
(Romans 12:3)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)

Ah-Choo...Ah-Choo...I've just sneezed twice...what exactly does that mena? I remembered my friends saying that when one sneeze two times, it means tha someone is thinking of you...or is it that someone is cursing me? I can't remember all that now that I'm feeling drowsy and aching all over...I really really sick...flu, cough and every thing...Went to see the doc last night and he gave me two days mc...and so, I decided to stay at home today to mediate...and to mug...can't be helped...tests are next week...and promos are coming soon (less than 50 days)...
All the terminology for bio...I can't seem to get them into my brain...I better start eating ginko nuts and fish-cod oil to improve my memory...

My japanese name is 坂本 Sakamoto (book of the hill) 弓美 Yumi (beautiful bow, as in bow and arrow).
Take your real japanese name generator! today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Name Generator Generator.

Jazzup concert! Anyone interested?! 

If Only...

If only we have 48 hours a day
To finish our tutorials, assignments and projects
If only we can turn back time
To undo everything we wish we had not done
If only we have the courage to say a simple "sorry"
To people we have hurt deeply
If only we have the motivation to be the best that we can be
We would feel good about ourselves
If only this world is free of crimes and diseases
With people living happily with one another
Getting along well
Living together in peace
Without riots
Without wars
Without terrorism
This world that we are living in
Would certainly be a more pleasant place
I know it is clinche to say this
Let's make this world a better place for everyone
It just take an individual to get the ball rolling
To spread the good deeds
And soon the rest will follow suit
So what are you waiting for?
Stop reading
And let's get started!

Life goes on

Someone once said: "Life goes on"
Like it or not
Life is really short
The seconds tickle away quickly and quietly
Life goes on
Whether you are in the top 5 college or bottom 5
Life goes on
Whether you have lectures today or tutorials tommorrow
Life goes on
Whether there's class spirit and bonding
Life goes on
So long as you are alive, breathing
Until your last breathe...
Which after that, you will reunite with Father Lord in Heaven...
Watching over this world
Watching over all creatures on this world
Therefore, I urge you people to live each day to your fullest
Spread the love and joy to your friends and beloved!

God's Boxes

God's Boxes
I have in my hands two boxes,
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black box,
And all your joys in the gold."

I heeded His words, and in the two boxes,
Both my joys and sorrows I stored,
But though the gold became heavier each day,
The black was as light as before.

With curiosity, I opened the black,
I wanted to find out why,
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole,
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be!"
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
"My child, they're all here with me."

I asked God, why He gave me the boxes,
Why the gold and the black with the hole?
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,
The black is for you to let go."

We should consider all of our friends a blessing.
Send this to a friend today just to let them know you
are thinking of them and that they are a joy in your life.

A ball is a circle, no beginning, no end.
It keeps us together like our Circle of Friends.
But the treasure inside for you to see,
Is the treasure of friendship you've granted to me.

Midnight,
not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory
She is shining alone.
In the lamplight the whithered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan.
Daylight, see the dew on the sunflower
And a rose that is fading Roses wither away
Like the sunflower I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
I am waiting for the day Now Old Deuteronomy, just before dawn Through a
silence you feel you could cut with a knife Announces the cat who can now be
reborn
And come back to a different jellicle life Memory, turn your face to the moonlight
Let your memory lead you Open up, enter in If you find there the
meaning of what happiness is
Then a new life will begin Memory, all alone in the moonlight I can smile at the old days I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was Let the memory live again
Burnt out ends of smokey days
The stale cold smell of morning
The streetlamp dies, another night is over
Another day is dawning Daylight, I must wait for the sunrise I must think of a new life And I mustn't give in
When the dawn comes tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin Sunlight, through the trees in the summer
Endless masquerading Like a flower as the dawn is breaking
The memory is fading
Touch me, it's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory Of my days in the sun
If you touch me you'll understand what happiness is
Look, a new day has begun

Finally! The end of the week has arrived! Today had been a great day for me...for once, we get to watch a show for GP lecture, Dead Poet Society...nice show, with a touching ending...In the evening, I went back to St Margs for the 162nd Speech Day...to receive prize...7 distinctions!!!I received the prize (a certificate and $25 Kinokuniya vochure) from the guest-of-honour of the night, Mrs Jane Iggoti Shanmugaratnam...In addition to the usual prizes they gave out, this year, for the first time, in loving memory of Mrs Lee, they give the Caroline Lee Trophy for the Most Outstanding Performing Arts Student...The performance was wonderful...songs, dances, band...the choir sang quite well...they sang Beauty of the Earth and the Benediction...After the performance, we were all excited to take pictures...

Lecture, lecture and more lecture...I had lectures for all the 3 sciences today...I was only half awake half-way through physics lecture...waves...for the starting part of chemistry lecture, i was hoping that the bell that signals the end of the day will ring soon when suddenly she said something that triggered my sleepy mind. I forgot what exactly did she say that make me laugh but I know that it was not really funny as my friends looked at me and commented that I had a weird sense of humour. I don't know why after that, she keep on making us laugh...i find the jokes funny...for instance when she was teaching us the various methods of calculating, she said that those who prefer the "Energy Cycle" method are people who like to cycle...haha and that those who aspire to drive would prefer to use the "Energy Level" method cause they will park their cars in a multi-level carpark. Haha...When she came to the algebraic method, she said that the mathematically inclined pple would prefer those methods and then she went on talking about a boy from the Brainest Kid who's really good in his mental sums...i don't quite see the link but nevertheless, I still laughed...haha... well, laughter is the best medicine afterall...

Isn't it weird to start the week with a Friday's timetable? As the college had missed too many Firdays, today's timetable is acutally a Friday's. As a result, I ended going home earlier than I would on a normal Monday. I was given choc. vochures to sell to help to raise funds for SAV and up till now, I have sold $40 wortth of choc vochures...isn't that wonderful? (and that is excluding my church friends and some other pple...) Afterall, who can resist the temptation of choc? I will also be going on a "choc shopping spree" tml to help my friends buy the choc...i think that would be a real fun...I had never walked into a choc shop and buting $20 worth of choc without hurting my pocket...they will be the ones paying for it and of course, they will be the ones eating it...but the fun lies in buying the choc...how many pple can actually buy choc without consideration for the cost and providing a service for others and having fun at the same time? Anyway, I am quit confident that the choc vochures will sell well and everyone would find it fun to sell those vochures...

My cocktail...try it...it's nice

How to make a faith

Ingredients: 5 parts anger 5 parts self-sufficiency 1 part beauty

Method: Blend at a low speed for 30 seconds. Add a little cocktail umbrella and a dash of fitness

Username:

Personality cocktail
From Go-Quiz.com

Ice cream flavour

Your Icecream Flavour is... French Vanilla!

You're a smooth and silky suave type! You exude class and you believe in tradition. A classical taste who doesn't like things to be too flashy or showy. Climb the Eiffel tower of taste with a spoonfull of you! Oui Oui!

What is your Icecream Flavour?

Find out at Go Quiz

Blogger Help : What is BlogThis! ?

Blogger Help : What is BlogThis! ?

27th Student Council Commendation

It's time that the 26th student council step down and really study for their "A"s... Afterall, they need to and had done so much for the school. To the 26th student councillors:You are a really wonderful group of pple who had and will continue to inspire me to learn, to lead, to serve. Good luck for your future endearvours and continue to be the light that shine and light up the paths of others. Thank you for being there.
Just as the 26th student council step down, the 27th student council step up and were commended at the St Andrew's Cathedral today. They had put in countless of hours of hardwork for today's commendation. All of them, and I mean ALL, were looking very neat and smart in their blazers. I'm really proud to have them as the student leaders of SAJC. I am sure that they will continue to uphold the tradition and the good name of the school. Let's hope and pray that they will do the correct things with the school and student body in mind and let's respect them for they have been given authority. Afterall, we are one big family of the Saints and together, we'll bring the school to greater heights, conquering all difficulties that come our way with the blessings of God.

Post, post common test

Common test is over about 2 weeks and I have gotten my results back...well, my results were quite okay and I feel that I should have studied harde. Well, it's too late to say that now, but I will definitely study harder for my promos...
GP- C6
Chinese- A2
Maths 9233- A
Biology- C
Chemistry- E
Physics- O

Well, at least I managed to secure 2As...Chinese was a pleasant surprise as I thought I did not really study it this year and what shocked me was that it was actually my compo that pull my grade up...Well, my maths is my strong subject, better than my sciences...should have taken F maths then...(it's too late now)... Anyway, this week is going to be a busy week...with a change in leadership everywhere (i mean the council and the CCAs). Friday is council commendation and we can go home after the commendation at 12 noon! Yeah! I'm certainly looking forward to that day...
I'm suppose to be doing research for my GP...ha! So I shall stop writing soon and do my research...btw, below is the lyrics to the song When You Believe...nice song, so enjoy and good night

When You Believe- Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey

Whitney
Many nights weive prayed
With no proof anyone could hear
In our hearts a hopeful song
We barely understood
Now we are not afraid
Although we know thereis much to fear
We were moving mountains
Long before we knew we could
There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
Itis hard to kill

Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will
You will when you believe

Mariah
In this time of fear
When prayer so often proved in vain
Hope seemed like the summer birds
Too swiftly flown away
Yet now Iim standing here
With heart so full
I canit explain
Seeking faith and speaking words
I never thought Iid say
Miriam and Tzipporah
There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
Itis hard to kill

Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will
You will when you believe
There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
Itis hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will
Now you will
You will when you believe

Whitney and Mariah
You will when you believe

Your Future with Draco Malfoy by buttermallow
Username
Favourite Colour
Number of Dates Total	21
Event of First Date	Camel ride
Future	He leaves you for Harry
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More about Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB)

I think I mention in my journal yesterday that I was selected for the research attachment programme during the Nov-Dec hols at IMCB and that I was really excited about it. After all, this is my second attempt to get into a reaserch programme this year (the first one was the Science Research Programme, SRP, which I think I failed the Aptitude Test). Well, MS and YW got into the programme as well, just too bad that we are all going to different research institutes...In order for me to "fit" into the research programme and the institute, not only do I have to read up on current resaecrh but I would also need to know more about IMCB. So, I surf the net and visited IMCB's website and found the following info: IMCB was established in 1987 at NUS. Mission:"to develop and foster a vibrant research culture for biological and biomedical sciences which will support the development of biotechnology for the human healthcare industry in Singapore". Location: IMCB is located on the university campus amidst the science and medical faculties. It is next to the National University Hospital, and close to the Singapore Science Parks I and II. IMCB is funded by the Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR), with some funding from industry and external granting agencies. Since 1987, IMCB has made great achievements and contributed much to the local research. It has gained global recognition and is continually doing so. Recently, a group of IMCB scientists is involved in the SARS research which made lots of findings. Libertas Laeta Parva Puella sign off...

What a wholesome week

What a busy two weeks it had been and it has been a long long time since i last wrote in. Now I shall update you guys out there the happenings that took place the last two week.
Last week was common test week. The things that I had studied during the holidays finally had the chance to be "released'! Ha! Well, if you ask me how common test was, I would regret and tell you that I should not have made so many careless mistakes! Urgh! It's always the careless mistakes that are costing me so many marks. Well, I going to work harder next time.
Just had my Chinese Oral today. It's sort of scary as one of my examiners was looking some strictly at I don't know what! The other one was more friendly. At least it's over now and I don't have to worry about it. Wait till the results come out!
Oh, by the way. I just received one piece of good news! I got into the research attacchment programme at IMCB!!! I thought I would not make it but haha...I've made it! So happy! The only minus point 5 weeks of Dec hols will be spent doing research and I will miss the Hawaii trip(if there is one) at the end of the year!!! But nevertheless, this is a wonderful opportunity for me to be exposed to the state-of-art laboraties. So excited and yet so sleepy...had a long day in school, what to do?! Time to sleep and dream...Good Night!