Thursday, March 27, 2008
When I haven't any photos...
...I start musing.
I'm more than halfway through my week-long mid-semester break which, funny enough, isn't even in the middle of the semester; it's after the fourth week of study when the semester's 13 weeks long. Silly Aussies and their holiday systems.
Not that I'm complaining though. I have two assignments due next Friday, one of them being a paper on Film Narrative (FTV1050 - Contemporary Film Studies). If you recall, I did Contemporary Television Studies last semester as an elective and got hooked immediately, not to mention that studying for the subject was what brought Carrie and I together...but that shall be a story for another day.
Anyway, I'm once again doing excessive research to score highly in my assignment and I hope it pays off like it did last year. In fact, through excessive research last year (by excessive I mean above and beyond what is normally expected in a first year subject), I managed to produce a (high distinction-scoring) piece of writing which until today I read and reread now and then for a session of self-indulgent glee. Hell, it might be craptacular in a true academic's eyes, but for humble ol' me I was the smartest bugger in class.
Plus I wrote it during the extremely heavy first week of October i.e. student council elections week. And the week before that was the YKLS production. And the weekend before that was September with the Monash Ball, and the weekend before that MNSM went to Kuala Selangor to clean up a swamp, and the weekend before we went river hiking at Chiling. Craaaaazy.
Which made it all the more sweeter when I got my results back. If you'd like to read my discourse on gender performativity in House, M.D. (the one with Hugh Laurie), click here. Told you I'm self-indulgent. Still, try not to plagiarise? Thanks.
Moving on to other news...
I fell sick last Monday (the 17th) from a throat infection (complete with phlegm-coughing, fever and sore throat) which seems to hit me once every quarter. It became really bad, subsided, and then went away almost completely yesterday, but came back to haunt me again this morning just to spite me, leaving me hacking and spitting. Maybe this has something to do with that cup of coffee and that bar of Cadbury Crunchie I ate yesterday.
In my defense, because of the sickness I had to completely eschew coffee and chocolate for almost two weeks; I couldn't stand the deprivation any longer! The cough this morning is preventing me from having another cup today...Grr...
That germ's a bitch. I really need to find out what this annoying affliction is from the doctor. Oh, and also stock up on antibiotics in anticipation of future outbreaks.
And I'm spent. I was about to go on rambling about being a coffee addict but I've been delaying my work on that Film Studies assignment for the past hour with this blog post. I hope you guys are happy (that you have something to read, that is...).
Until next time, may you not fall sick as I did.
Pointless Fact of the Day:
On the topic of Cadbury Crunchies, there's this really cool Crunchie ad that was screened unchanged for almost 20 years in Australia and New Zealand. 20 years! Even the DiGi Yellow Man ads only last for around half a year despite their novelty and hilarity.
Take note that this ad first screened in the 70s.
I'm more than halfway through my week-long mid-semester break which, funny enough, isn't even in the middle of the semester; it's after the fourth week of study when the semester's 13 weeks long. Silly Aussies and their holiday systems.
Not that I'm complaining though. I have two assignments due next Friday, one of them being a paper on Film Narrative (FTV1050 - Contemporary Film Studies). If you recall, I did Contemporary Television Studies last semester as an elective and got hooked immediately, not to mention that studying for the subject was what brought Carrie and I together...but that shall be a story for another day.
Anyway, I'm once again doing excessive research to score highly in my assignment and I hope it pays off like it did last year. In fact, through excessive research last year (by excessive I mean above and beyond what is normally expected in a first year subject), I managed to produce a (high distinction-scoring) piece of writing which until today I read and reread now and then for a session of self-indulgent glee. Hell, it might be craptacular in a true academic's eyes, but for humble ol' me I was the smartest bugger in class.
Plus I wrote it during the extremely heavy first week of October i.e. student council elections week. And the week before that was the YKLS production. And the weekend before that was September with the Monash Ball, and the weekend before that MNSM went to Kuala Selangor to clean up a swamp, and the weekend before we went river hiking at Chiling. Craaaaazy.
Which made it all the more sweeter when I got my results back. If you'd like to read my discourse on gender performativity in House, M.D. (the one with Hugh Laurie), click here. Told you I'm self-indulgent. Still, try not to plagiarise? Thanks.
Moving on to other news...
I fell sick last Monday (the 17th) from a throat infection (complete with phlegm-coughing, fever and sore throat) which seems to hit me once every quarter. It became really bad, subsided, and then went away almost completely yesterday, but came back to haunt me again this morning just to spite me, leaving me hacking and spitting. Maybe this has something to do with that cup of coffee and that bar of Cadbury Crunchie I ate yesterday.
In my defense, because of the sickness I had to completely eschew coffee and chocolate for almost two weeks; I couldn't stand the deprivation any longer! The cough this morning is preventing me from having another cup today...Grr...
That germ's a bitch. I really need to find out what this annoying affliction is from the doctor. Oh, and also stock up on antibiotics in anticipation of future outbreaks.
And I'm spent. I was about to go on rambling about being a coffee addict but I've been delaying my work on that Film Studies assignment for the past hour with this blog post. I hope you guys are happy (that you have something to read, that is...).
Until next time, may you not fall sick as I did.
Pointless Fact of the Day:
On the topic of Cadbury Crunchies, there's this really cool Crunchie ad that was screened unchanged for almost 20 years in Australia and New Zealand. 20 years! Even the DiGi Yellow Man ads only last for around half a year despite their novelty and hilarity.
Take note that this ad first screened in the 70s.
Zhen was here at 12:26 pm,
5 comment(s)
Saturday, March 15, 2008
When I have photos, this happens
One of the major banes of my blogging frequency is the severe lack of photos to go with whatever it was I did that I deem interesting enough to blog about (as I am wont to complain really often). But that's not the case here, thanks to my efforts in coercing Izuan to transfer the pictures onto my (brand new 4GB!) thumbdrive immediately after the party. As the official photographer for MonGa, the student publication, he managed to take many good photos of the party. If any of those photos actually get published in the magazine, well, you can say that you saw it here first!
And the party I'm referring to was the very first Monash Welcome Back Party that happened last night, right on our very own campus grounds. I never knew Monash students needed welcoming back.
14th March 2008 - Monash Welcome Back Party
As the Student Council Treasurer, I was initially (very) doubtful of the viability of the event as I was the one signing off on all the expenses involved; the lighting, the decorations, the food. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the sight of the campus cafeteria converted into what seems like a club on a shoestring budget. The tables were covered with either black or white runners, befitting the theme.
Believe it or not, this is the Monash cafeteria.
Cze Wien and Desmond, the couple that isn't.
Leanne (fellow SAJC ASEAN Scholar and MNSM vice-president) and her Korean friend Young In in the middle.
The party was marred first by starting about an hour and a half late, and then by heavy rains. But once the rain subsided, the performers got up the stage to work the reluctant audience.
You could say that we were the only unreluctant ones.
And then Icky started rapping and everyone crowded the dance floor.
He paved the way for a really great night. Even after he left the stage, nothing could stop the crowd from dancing to the other performances throughout the night.
Bird's-eye view of the party.
Throwing our hands up in the air like we just don't care~
We even had crowd surfers!
That's me trying to dance, as usual.
The main man of the show, Manil de Run, one of MUSA's Activities Chairpersons and the one mostly responsible for the party, showing us how to dance to a Sri Lankan tune.
The crowd trying to bhangra (and mostly failing at it)!
Well, there isn't much for me to say here besides the photos, is there? It was a complete blast, and all that without the stench of alcohol and cigarette smoke permeating the air, the two turnoffs that make me shy away from clubs. And having it outdoors enable better air circulation, too! I'm already looking forward for a bigger party next semester.
Pointless Fact of the Day:
Tracy (the choirmate who came up with an album recently) showed me YouTube clips of this Australian comedy group called The Chaser. There's this segment of their comedy show where they'd interrupt the humdrum of a random bystander's daily life by converting it into a musical. Watch and be entertained!
And the party I'm referring to was the very first Monash Welcome Back Party that happened last night, right on our very own campus grounds. I never knew Monash students needed welcoming back.
14th March 2008 - Monash Welcome Back Party
As the Student Council Treasurer, I was initially (very) doubtful of the viability of the event as I was the one signing off on all the expenses involved; the lighting, the decorations, the food. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the sight of the campus cafeteria converted into what seems like a club on a shoestring budget. The tables were covered with either black or white runners, befitting the theme.
Believe it or not, this is the Monash cafeteria.
Cze Wien and Desmond, the couple that isn't.
Leanne (fellow SAJC ASEAN Scholar and MNSM vice-president) and her Korean friend Young In in the middle.The party was marred first by starting about an hour and a half late, and then by heavy rains. But once the rain subsided, the performers got up the stage to work the reluctant audience.
You could say that we were the only unreluctant ones.
And then Icky started rapping and everyone crowded the dance floor.
He paved the way for a really great night. Even after he left the stage, nothing could stop the crowd from dancing to the other performances throughout the night.
Bird's-eye view of the party.
Throwing our hands up in the air like we just don't care~
We even had crowd surfers!
That's me trying to dance, as usual.
The main man of the show, Manil de Run, one of MUSA's Activities Chairpersons and the one mostly responsible for the party, showing us how to dance to a Sri Lankan tune.
The crowd trying to bhangra (and mostly failing at it)!Well, there isn't much for me to say here besides the photos, is there? It was a complete blast, and all that without the stench of alcohol and cigarette smoke permeating the air, the two turnoffs that make me shy away from clubs. And having it outdoors enable better air circulation, too! I'm already looking forward for a bigger party next semester.
Pointless Fact of the Day:
Tracy (the choirmate who came up with an album recently) showed me YouTube clips of this Australian comedy group called The Chaser. There's this segment of their comedy show where they'd interrupt the humdrum of a random bystander's daily life by converting it into a musical. Watch and be entertained!
Zhen was here at 4:15 pm,
0 comment(s)
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Semester 1 2008 and "What I think about the elections"
It's been a whopping three weeks since I last updated, and I apologise for that; just getting used to the new semester, that's all. Being the Student Council Treasurer as well as the Nature Society President both at the same time ain't easy work, and to top it off, not forgetting my choral and academic obligations as well. Then again, what else is new?
Anyway, the new semester started off with a rather hectic orientation. This semester marked the first time that the student body is being more involved in conducting the orientation than merely acting as buddies/guides throughout the week. Despite that, we managed to survive and orientation ended on an unceremonious note; as happened in previous semesters. Of course, I'm looking forward to increased student involvement in the coming semester as it'd bring Monash Sunway Campus closer to the idea of a typical university orientation program. We'd need a lot of planning for that, however.
Probably the only interesting photo I took during Orientation Week
On the other hand, this year's Orientation Bash was crazy. Typically, the Orientation Bash/Party is a free-for-freshies event that happens on the first weekend of the semester in order to further orientate students in the new intake. This time around, there were 220 participants and only about 30 or 40 buddies to manage them, resulting in widespread chaos. Nevertheless, the second half of the day spent in Sunway Lagoon as opposed to remaining on Monash grounds, allowing us to enjoy the theme park in the company of newly-made friends. If it weren't for the Sunway Lagoon portion, I would've (sadly) branded the event a disappointment. Fortunately, it wasn't.
My Orientation Bash group at Sunway Lagoon. And what a great bunch of people they were.
And now for a change of topic; the Malaysian general elections have just recently ended. For the first time in history, the opposition parties have control of five out of the 13 Malaysian states, with Selangor (the most developed one) under the PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat). Prior to this, many Malaysians' woes have fallen on the deaf ears of the ruling coalition; with more than 2/3rds majority in Parliament, many of the people in power have taken their positions for granted. Now that the opposition has taken over, I'm expecting major changes to the country in the coming years.
But you already know that.
What you don't know, though, is my opinion on the matter, and here it is: I can't stand partisan politics. I'm not too happy with the way the country had been managed in recent years, but that doesn't mean that everybody in Barisan Nasional is a corrupt, good-for-nothing, power-hungry man (and at times, with an ugly toupee to boot). Conversely, that also doesn't mean that everybody in the opposition is a country-saving messiah. In national politics, you can't expect both sides to be idiot-free; something that probably should be taught in Political Theory 101. Hence, people should vote not for which party they think is best for them, but for the person they think is best suited to do the job. Unfortunately, partisanship seems to be the primary determinant of voting decision in Malaysia. Except in the cases of how corrupt, good-for-nothing, power-hungry men (and in one case, with an ugly toupee to boot) are finally voted out of power. Thank goodness for that.
With that said, I'm still happy that the opposition has more say in Parliament now. I won't be irrationally exuberant about it, though, unless I start seeing results. The opposition now has a huge burden to bear; the next four or five years will be a hot-water test for them and if they fail to deliver, I won't be surprised if Malaysia kicks them out come the next general elections.
And for the last time, JUST BECAUSE WE ARE A PETROL-PRODUCING NATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT PETROL PRICES SHOULD BE CHEAPER IN MALAYSIA! Someday I'll write something with my shallow knowledge of economic theory and tell you the reason why and act all smart about it.
Pointless Fact of the Day:
And now for something completely different. I have here three pictures that should elicit a giggle or two from you people. First up is a van I encountered today while in Izuan's car on the way to Sunway Pyramid:
Suitably censored to protect the identity of the vehicle.
"The Leading Choice for Impotence Management" it says. Helps you (or your man) during the general erections.
And while we're on the subject of male anatomy, here's a condom that two unrelated friends of mine gave me on separate occasions:
It's the NYC condom from the Museum of Sex in New York! Totally unassuming, it's your run-of-the-mill family planning kit you normally keep in your back pocket. And then you turn to see the back side of the condom:
Good to know that Malaysia's helping in the worldwide fight against STDs and unwanted pregnancies. Do I hear someone saying "Belilah barangan buatan Malaysia"?
Anyway, the new semester started off with a rather hectic orientation. This semester marked the first time that the student body is being more involved in conducting the orientation than merely acting as buddies/guides throughout the week. Despite that, we managed to survive and orientation ended on an unceremonious note; as happened in previous semesters. Of course, I'm looking forward to increased student involvement in the coming semester as it'd bring Monash Sunway Campus closer to the idea of a typical university orientation program. We'd need a lot of planning for that, however.
Probably the only interesting photo I took during Orientation WeekOn the other hand, this year's Orientation Bash was crazy. Typically, the Orientation Bash/Party is a free-for-freshies event that happens on the first weekend of the semester in order to further orientate students in the new intake. This time around, there were 220 participants and only about 30 or 40 buddies to manage them, resulting in widespread chaos. Nevertheless, the second half of the day spent in Sunway Lagoon as opposed to remaining on Monash grounds, allowing us to enjoy the theme park in the company of newly-made friends. If it weren't for the Sunway Lagoon portion, I would've (sadly) branded the event a disappointment. Fortunately, it wasn't.
My Orientation Bash group at Sunway Lagoon. And what a great bunch of people they were.And now for a change of topic; the Malaysian general elections have just recently ended. For the first time in history, the opposition parties have control of five out of the 13 Malaysian states, with Selangor (the most developed one) under the PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat). Prior to this, many Malaysians' woes have fallen on the deaf ears of the ruling coalition; with more than 2/3rds majority in Parliament, many of the people in power have taken their positions for granted. Now that the opposition has taken over, I'm expecting major changes to the country in the coming years.
But you already know that.
What you don't know, though, is my opinion on the matter, and here it is: I can't stand partisan politics. I'm not too happy with the way the country had been managed in recent years, but that doesn't mean that everybody in Barisan Nasional is a corrupt, good-for-nothing, power-hungry man (and at times, with an ugly toupee to boot). Conversely, that also doesn't mean that everybody in the opposition is a country-saving messiah. In national politics, you can't expect both sides to be idiot-free; something that probably should be taught in Political Theory 101. Hence, people should vote not for which party they think is best for them, but for the person they think is best suited to do the job. Unfortunately, partisanship seems to be the primary determinant of voting decision in Malaysia. Except in the cases of how corrupt, good-for-nothing, power-hungry men (and in one case, with an ugly toupee to boot) are finally voted out of power. Thank goodness for that.
With that said, I'm still happy that the opposition has more say in Parliament now. I won't be irrationally exuberant about it, though, unless I start seeing results. The opposition now has a huge burden to bear; the next four or five years will be a hot-water test for them and if they fail to deliver, I won't be surprised if Malaysia kicks them out come the next general elections.
And for the last time, JUST BECAUSE WE ARE A PETROL-PRODUCING NATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT PETROL PRICES SHOULD BE CHEAPER IN MALAYSIA! Someday I'll write something with my shallow knowledge of economic theory and tell you the reason why and act all smart about it.
Pointless Fact of the Day:
And now for something completely different. I have here three pictures that should elicit a giggle or two from you people. First up is a van I encountered today while in Izuan's car on the way to Sunway Pyramid:
Suitably censored to protect the identity of the vehicle."The Leading Choice for Impotence Management" it says. Helps you (or your man) during the general erections.
And while we're on the subject of male anatomy, here's a condom that two unrelated friends of mine gave me on separate occasions:
It's the NYC condom from the Museum of Sex in New York! Totally unassuming, it's your run-of-the-mill family planning kit you normally keep in your back pocket. And then you turn to see the back side of the condom:
Good to know that Malaysia's helping in the worldwide fight against STDs and unwanted pregnancies. Do I hear someone saying "Belilah barangan buatan Malaysia"?