Frosty the snowman
Frosty the Snowman
Was a jolly happy soul
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
And two eyes made out of coal
Frosty the Snowman
Is a fairytale they say
He was made of snow
But the children know
How he came to life one day
There must have been some magic
In that old silk hat they found
For when they placed it on his head
He began to dance around
Frosty the Snowman
Was alive as he could be
And the children say
He could laugh and play
Just the same as you and me
Frosty the Snowman
Knew the sun was hot that day
So he said let's run
And we'll have some fun
Now before I melt away
Down to the village
With a broomstick in his hand
Running here and there all around the square
Saying catch me if you can
He led them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop
And he only paused a moment when
He heard him holler stop
Frosty the Snowman
Had to hurry on his way
But he waved goodbye
Saying don't you cry
I'll be back again some day
Thumpety thump thumpThumpety thump thump
Look at Frosty go
Thumpety thump thumpThumpety thump thump
Over the hills of snow
Another week to christmas day. Its a joyous occassion to rejoice, making merry and singing christmas songs. Of all the songs, frosty the snowman is the one I love the most. The tune and lyrics are catchy and simple. Yet, it is from the simplicity that the message carried across touches the heart of those who listen to it and sings to its tune. It tells the tale of magical incidents where a snowman comes to life and makes merry, playing catch with children. The eenchanting tale brings life and colour to our world, giving us a chance for our imagination to run wild and to believe in something, something like a snowman coming to life. Is it not delightful to hear of such a miracle? It touches me deeply, i feel the warmth to my inner soul when frosty knows that he won't last long but he just don't give a hell of a hack to it.
"Frosty the Snowman
Knew the sun was hot that day
So he said let's run
And we'll have some fun
Now before I melt away"
He knew that he would melt and cease to exist but he didn't lament about it. Instead, he chose to bring joy to the world and play catch with the children. He was so lively and he ran all over the place, not like of anything near to a dying man. Perhaps life is short, but so what's wrong with that? Frosty has shown us how we should lead our lives, to treasure every second, minute and hour we have. No matter how long, how short it can be, we shall live up to the most of it. Oops, i'm feeling the tears in my eyes again now, but just can't help it.....
Monday, December 18, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Entrapped in a room with the air-condition set to unbearable coldness, i had to await my turn for presentation while suffering from hunger pangs and panic runs. I always fear presentations, to be specific and exact, speaking up in front of a crowd to offer my opinion. Observe, i dont speak unless i have to, explaining to a large extent of my silence and solemn look during tutorials or group discussions. I just dont like to speak up, its a characteristic of mine. Everyone has some weakness, something he fears, presentation would be my number one fear factor! fancy that coming out from a NUS student who is likely to be a expartriate in the future who has to lead a group of staffs under him, what does that speak of?
Mr Shekelle has issued his concern to me before about my presentation topic that i have choosen. How can i forget the day of the lecture when he started off the lesson with the excel file magnified on the big screen, displaying all of our topics. Beside my topic, he added a little remark beside it, "topic too similar to one done last semester, not recommended " undeniably, that got me a little shaken up, as i ask myself "where to find another topic to do?" I approach him and express my choice of procceeding anyway. He gave me the consent and i did my preparatory works before the day comes.
One after another, the speakers went up to do their 5mins presentation for this lsm module. Evolution and comparative genomics has been a interesting module, it would have been better if there's no confrontation! The name itself is already so intimidating, instead of calling it a presentation, confrontation does carry a aggressive connotation! I picture two person fighting and arguing with each other when they do "confront" each other. I was sitting there, waiting for my turn, i was experiencing mixed feelings, hoping for it to end soon so that i can go for dinner, at the same time wishing for my turn not to come. I did the slides sloppily, only rushing it just two days before the confrontation, didn't felt that i'm well prepared for it.
Prof Shekelle announced my name, its my turn to go up there and get confronted by the audience on the floor. I have seen the earlier presenters bombarded with questions from the audiences and the judges. The atmosphere is anything but relaxing as i drag my feet to go up there. Up there, i open my mouth to speak, fortunately, audible sensible words do come out of my mouth.
"Hi, i'm going to present the topic, an enthological approach to human laughter", i hear a couple of "ooooo" coming from the audience. Next comes a series of events which i never see it coming. When it comes to the definition of laughter, what i had on the powerpoint slides was "hahah ho ho ho he he he he " to define laughter. I didn't meant for it to be a joke and was serious bout it when i mentioned that i think i dont have to mention what laughter is. The audience just break into laughter. I seriously am clueless to what's so funny bout it. I was not aware that my presentation is "funny" though its bout laughter. The audience and the judges were enjoying themselves, smiling and laughing at times. That was the whole turning point of the tension i felt before the confrontation. For the first time in life, i was actually enjoying a presentation. It is interesting to note that i had experience what my presentation is bout, human laughter; its function as a social bond, its ability to breakdown nervousness and makes one feel comfortable. I have uncovered the art of presentation unknowingly. It is none other than laughter!
Injecting the sense of humour, mentioned in my presentation is about being witty, the ability to react to a situation and make a funny remark about it requires fast thinking. Being witty is a form of intelligence, and people are appreciated for this sort of intelligence. Women love man who r humourous who can make them laugh. interestingly, man are interested in meeting a women who laugh in his presence. A man's own laughter does not reflect any interest in the women.
I think being funny is not what everyone is born with. Its a talent and its a gift that u should appreciate. Making people laugh is no easy job. It requires a gift of touch. Give a pat on the shoulder of someone who make u laugh the next time. They definitely deserve that for putting so much effort and thought into it.
Mr Shekelle has issued his concern to me before about my presentation topic that i have choosen. How can i forget the day of the lecture when he started off the lesson with the excel file magnified on the big screen, displaying all of our topics. Beside my topic, he added a little remark beside it, "topic too similar to one done last semester, not recommended " undeniably, that got me a little shaken up, as i ask myself "where to find another topic to do?" I approach him and express my choice of procceeding anyway. He gave me the consent and i did my preparatory works before the day comes.
One after another, the speakers went up to do their 5mins presentation for this lsm module. Evolution and comparative genomics has been a interesting module, it would have been better if there's no confrontation! The name itself is already so intimidating, instead of calling it a presentation, confrontation does carry a aggressive connotation! I picture two person fighting and arguing with each other when they do "confront" each other. I was sitting there, waiting for my turn, i was experiencing mixed feelings, hoping for it to end soon so that i can go for dinner, at the same time wishing for my turn not to come. I did the slides sloppily, only rushing it just two days before the confrontation, didn't felt that i'm well prepared for it.
Prof Shekelle announced my name, its my turn to go up there and get confronted by the audience on the floor. I have seen the earlier presenters bombarded with questions from the audiences and the judges. The atmosphere is anything but relaxing as i drag my feet to go up there. Up there, i open my mouth to speak, fortunately, audible sensible words do come out of my mouth.
"Hi, i'm going to present the topic, an enthological approach to human laughter", i hear a couple of "ooooo" coming from the audience. Next comes a series of events which i never see it coming. When it comes to the definition of laughter, what i had on the powerpoint slides was "hahah ho ho ho he he he he " to define laughter. I didn't meant for it to be a joke and was serious bout it when i mentioned that i think i dont have to mention what laughter is. The audience just break into laughter. I seriously am clueless to what's so funny bout it. I was not aware that my presentation is "funny" though its bout laughter. The audience and the judges were enjoying themselves, smiling and laughing at times. That was the whole turning point of the tension i felt before the confrontation. For the first time in life, i was actually enjoying a presentation. It is interesting to note that i had experience what my presentation is bout, human laughter; its function as a social bond, its ability to breakdown nervousness and makes one feel comfortable. I have uncovered the art of presentation unknowingly. It is none other than laughter!
Injecting the sense of humour, mentioned in my presentation is about being witty, the ability to react to a situation and make a funny remark about it requires fast thinking. Being witty is a form of intelligence, and people are appreciated for this sort of intelligence. Women love man who r humourous who can make them laugh. interestingly, man are interested in meeting a women who laugh in his presence. A man's own laughter does not reflect any interest in the women.
I think being funny is not what everyone is born with. Its a talent and its a gift that u should appreciate. Making people laugh is no easy job. It requires a gift of touch. Give a pat on the shoulder of someone who make u laugh the next time. They definitely deserve that for putting so much effort and thought into it.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
How much do u believe in horoscope, fortune telling, divination, feng shui and other means to predict one's life and destiny? The idea of the fact that one particular chinese horoscope website successful attempt at describing my personality by just input of my birth hour and date is enough to set me into a series of self-thought. I'm always engage in mind-activities like this. Simple things set me into the mental probing process.
I don't like the idea at all. I don't like the fact that the site is so accurate. It simply reinforce the point that there is some specific engineering process that is going on with the design of every person in this world. There's a formula, that is at this hour and this date, you shall be made in this way. I'm disturbed, that our begining has already been laid down by some force out there, this unseen force that carve us. If this is so, what can we speak of about our future? Wouldn't that mean that the future has already been designed, a blueprint of what we would go through is already there. We are merely players in this game. Can we not be the ones who shall mould our own futures? Are we helpless, going through a series of events that we are made to go through? I do not wish that it will be that way. I want to be in control. Speak not of destiny, I shall retain the ability and power of finding my life.
I don't like the idea at all. I don't like the fact that the site is so accurate. It simply reinforce the point that there is some specific engineering process that is going on with the design of every person in this world. There's a formula, that is at this hour and this date, you shall be made in this way. I'm disturbed, that our begining has already been laid down by some force out there, this unseen force that carve us. If this is so, what can we speak of about our future? Wouldn't that mean that the future has already been designed, a blueprint of what we would go through is already there. We are merely players in this game. Can we not be the ones who shall mould our own futures? Are we helpless, going through a series of events that we are made to go through? I do not wish that it will be that way. I want to be in control. Speak not of destiny, I shall retain the ability and power of finding my life.
Monday, November 06, 2006
This blog has been lifeless for a long time. There is no activity. I had been engrossed with my assignments, too busy. There hasn't been much about my life, that's the main point. Study and write papers. I dont wish to bore u people with the details. Only something worth mentioning is that I find myself getting to know more people this semester. Through all kinds of peculiar ways?!?!? maybe peculiar aint the right word, interesting way should be more appropriate.
Most of my current stream of new friends are from the chinese studies modules loh. I think that we are along the same line of thought, which explains y it is so. U noe the strange thing is that, i realise i never know myself entirely. Some parts of me, i could never understand. I realise, through the reading materials that i got to read for my CH module, that there r two forces in a man that influence his behavior or thoughts. They are the emotional and the rational sides. The emotional side of me is disturbingly unpleasant. I have been through it and trust me, u can do crazy things that u will never think of. Its scary. Its insanity. But i'm so glad that i know myself capable of such things. I mean i would not wish to have live in ignorance and laugh at others for their silly acts, at least to me it may seem silly at first. After i been through this. I said to myself that hey, i'm just as vulnerable as them. Other's moment of follies can befall on oneself too. We are all susceptible to the same kind of threats. The weakness of the human nature, we cannot escape this innate self; our emotional needs.
I won't want to remark that i have grown up and become mature. Its far from that. Maturity is so much more than that. Its experiences from life, from interaction with people from all walks of life too. I feel that something bout me has changed. Everyone change, at some point of life, but to what extent? Something change, but i'm still the Qinli that you all know. Well, something just changed.
One more thing to add, after exposure to chinese materials and reading a couple of blogs written in chinese by my friends, i feel like writting in chinese too!!!!!! But not to worry, i'm aware of my english-based readers. So i'm setting another blog in chinese and link it to this one. This blog will still exist. The other blog will be entirely chinese, this one shall be entirely english. This will avoid the confusion and resolve the complains i receive. Seems like people got difficulty understanding my chinese content. Ok, that's all folks.
Most of my current stream of new friends are from the chinese studies modules loh. I think that we are along the same line of thought, which explains y it is so. U noe the strange thing is that, i realise i never know myself entirely. Some parts of me, i could never understand. I realise, through the reading materials that i got to read for my CH module, that there r two forces in a man that influence his behavior or thoughts. They are the emotional and the rational sides. The emotional side of me is disturbingly unpleasant. I have been through it and trust me, u can do crazy things that u will never think of. Its scary. Its insanity. But i'm so glad that i know myself capable of such things. I mean i would not wish to have live in ignorance and laugh at others for their silly acts, at least to me it may seem silly at first. After i been through this. I said to myself that hey, i'm just as vulnerable as them. Other's moment of follies can befall on oneself too. We are all susceptible to the same kind of threats. The weakness of the human nature, we cannot escape this innate self; our emotional needs.
I won't want to remark that i have grown up and become mature. Its far from that. Maturity is so much more than that. Its experiences from life, from interaction with people from all walks of life too. I feel that something bout me has changed. Everyone change, at some point of life, but to what extent? Something change, but i'm still the Qinli that you all know. Well, something just changed.
One more thing to add, after exposure to chinese materials and reading a couple of blogs written in chinese by my friends, i feel like writting in chinese too!!!!!! But not to worry, i'm aware of my english-based readers. So i'm setting another blog in chinese and link it to this one. This blog will still exist. The other blog will be entirely chinese, this one shall be entirely english. This will avoid the confusion and resolve the complains i receive. Seems like people got difficulty understanding my chinese content. Ok, that's all folks.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Things come and go. Memories becomes faint. I'm begining to forget...... forgetting.... sometimes, it is good to forget. Some things should be forgotton. Some should stay. I just feel that things are changing. My life is changed forever. The choice of taking china studies as a minor paid off. Perhaps, this is fate. I'm happy. Y? Happy that i have found it. Found what? There's no need for me to say it, since i noe it, so y mention it?
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Thursday, October 19, 2006
And so i am, living a life of a lone wanderer. Free and boundless, no restrictions and no limitations. I experience mixed emotions and thoughts; at times, I enjoy the peace and quiet of my own personal space I have all to myself. At times, i feel empty and sad. These are the ups and downs of life. A man should look ahead and not allow himself to be buried within his own past. The past is over. The future is not for us to see. What is important is now. The present is all that is crucial.
So i shall talk bout today. I got back my 5000 word chinese term paper done all by myself. It was great, though i got a B+, considering that i done it over a week, with such short period of time, a B+ i would say is a excellent grade that you can expect. Life science still sucks as before. I have thought of what i would like to do for my future. This time, it is something for certain, not just something i said out of impulse. After getting my life science degree, i would apply for NIE and be a teacher. The bond is 3 years, enough time for me to earn the cash for my dream to come true. I would fly to the States to pursue a post-graduate studies in chinese history to get my PHD. I would like to come back to join NUS and further my research and teaching in this field. Its a tough path, one that will take a long time and lots of perserverance to carry on, but I am willing to embark on this road that i have chosen. By the time i come back, i will a 30 year old bachelor, probably.
So i shall talk bout today. I got back my 5000 word chinese term paper done all by myself. It was great, though i got a B+, considering that i done it over a week, with such short period of time, a B+ i would say is a excellent grade that you can expect. Life science still sucks as before. I have thought of what i would like to do for my future. This time, it is something for certain, not just something i said out of impulse. After getting my life science degree, i would apply for NIE and be a teacher. The bond is 3 years, enough time for me to earn the cash for my dream to come true. I would fly to the States to pursue a post-graduate studies in chinese history to get my PHD. I would like to come back to join NUS and further my research and teaching in this field. Its a tough path, one that will take a long time and lots of perserverance to carry on, but I am willing to embark on this road that i have chosen. By the time i come back, i will a 30 year old bachelor, probably.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Friday, October 06, 2006
And so we just stood there and smiled at each other. No words are exchanged. It felt like as if words aren't important anymore. No words can describe everthing in this world. I don't have to say anything. The few seconds of silence, the short moment of just you and me; it felt like eternity, like time just feezes there. Deep down, in my heart, i know..... and so we just kept our silence.....But we know........
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
So far my semester has been extremely busy. Since i'm taking 6 modules, i have very little time for myself. But i'm glad that i have made the choice, enjoying myself when it comes to the chinese studies module. Made a few friends from my project group members. That's what i like about being involved in project works, making friends and knowing new people. I haven't been keeping up to my level of fitness, sad to say..... I have to start to be involved in swimming and cycling once again.
Anyway, I'm me once again! Cool! Ha, and i'm surprised at how fast i can change. I'm glad of the test given to me, it makes me a better person in the end. Facing the obstacle, your confidence gets shaken and you fear. But then, once you overcome it, your morale gets boosted and your inspirations lead you further on. Face your hurdles in life with courage and a positive mentality. Only you yourself can make the difference. No one can help you in this.
Anyway, I'm me once again! Cool! Ha, and i'm surprised at how fast i can change. I'm glad of the test given to me, it makes me a better person in the end. Facing the obstacle, your confidence gets shaken and you fear. But then, once you overcome it, your morale gets boosted and your inspirations lead you further on. Face your hurdles in life with courage and a positive mentality. Only you yourself can make the difference. No one can help you in this.
Monday, September 18, 2006
To the Virgin, To Make Much of Time
by Robert Herrick (1591-1674)
Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times, still succeed the former.
Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Lester was sad one day. He was upset and depressed about something. This issue disturbed him so much that he couldn't get over it. He wanted a solution and he went to the old wise sage Javier. "Oh wise Javier, I am depressed and sad. Could you give me something to make me feel happy? I want to be happy everyday, every hour ever minute and every second." Javier replied, "Ah..... that is very simple. I can make you a potion that makes you happy forever. Go to the whole village, every single house-hold and ask of a person who reveals that he is never sad before in his entire life. From there, ask a piece of fire-wood from this person for I need it to provide the suitable flame to brew the potion. Lester went to the whole village to search for this person. Yet, he could not find such a person. Lester went back to Javier in disappointment and said, "my wise sage, I cannot find anyone who fits your description. Everyone in the village has been sad before." Javier smiled and said, "Now do you understand why I ask you to undertake this task? I wanted you to find out yourself that in life, there are moments of sadness and happiness. What is happiness if there is no sadness? How do you tell them apart if they do not exist in the first place? Happiness co-exist with sadness. To ask for happiness, you will too ask for sadness. So why do you ask of happiness from me? Since you do not want sadness, what is the point?" Lester was very confused. He could not comprehend what Javier was saying.
So Javier took out a stick and asked Lester. "Is this stick long or short?" Lester said, "I think it is long." Javier took out another longer stick, referring to the original stick he asked the same question. Lester said "its short now" Javier asked, "why is it that the same object that I'm referring to, changes in its characteristic even though I did nothing to the stick itself? Did the nature of the stick change? Obviously it didn''t! What is it that changes then?" Lester couldn't answer the question. "The stick didn't change. It is your perspective that changes. It is your views that changes. They are like the water plants on the river without its roots. It drifts from one place to another. It is ever-changing, never constant or consistent. So are your emotions, of happiness and sadness, you sway from one end to the other because your emotions are built on your views and thoughts. And you will continue to do that if you are looking for happiness." Javier continued, "The way of life is the middle-way! It is neither happiness nor sadness. It is the intermediate of both emotions. There is not even a word for it. Yet you can cultivate it. Now take your leave, Lester. This is all I have to say and my answer for you."
Lester was struck with such amazement and was enlightened. He finally understood and he stopped asking for happiness, living his life the middle-way.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
In the arts faculty of NUS, there is a canteen. It is known as "The Deck". It is frequented by mostly arts students and is always extremely crowded in the afternoon."The Deck" is built on the top of the slope. It has a number of stalls providing a variety of food. The canteen has a layout resembling a steppe since it is built on a slope. The highest level is where all the food stalls are located. There are three levels in all. And at the lowest level beside the canteen, there is a small area beside it where trees, shrubs and wild grasses grow freely. Wild mynahs populate there and make it their home. The mynahs are notorious for their bandit like character. From far, the mynahs spot the unattended food on the tables, the unsuspecting careless man who left for a moment will return with a shock when they witness the sight of the mynahs gobbling up their food before taking off its flight. The table-cleaners are not happy about the presence of the mynahs. The Indian cleaner say to the Chinese cleaner, "Stupid mynahs, I hate them. Always make a mess with their feathers. I hope someone can do something to them" The Chinese cleaner responded with a chuckle and shook her head.
Now there are two life science undergraduates by the name of Nelson and Javier. They are two rather philosophical and deep people who enjoy nothing but a good round of discussion of issues in their spare time. They went to the arts canteen for lunch. It was quite empty when they reach there. Javier said to Nelson, "Look at the mynahs. Are they not interesting creatures? Free to wander on this earth, with nothing to rein them in. They are enjoying themselves. They do not need to trouble about money nor food for they have their clever means to survive, by choosing to live near to the human community." Nelson replied, "That is an interesting observation. It seems to be that way, my friend." Javier pointed at one mynah, "I wonder if I can come close enough to this creature and pat its head." Javier tried and it was of course, a futile attempt.
Then, Javier spotted something peculiar. It was indeed an unusual sight. On the side of the wall, there was a pair of mynahs. One was turning its back against the other mynah, and that mynah behind it was calling out to it. "Did you see that? A courtship between the mynahs is going on. Let's watch and see what will happen." Javier exclaimed. The lady mynah flew to a green table and stood there. The male mynah followed it and called out again. Yet, the lady was unmoved and remained cold, turning its back as like before. The male mynah was still passionate, trying to impress its love. It followed the mynah everywhere she went. The male mynah suddenly flew away. Shortly after, it returned with something in its beak. It approached the mynah from the front and released it. It turned out to be a tiny chunk of meat. Alas, the lady mynah was unimpressed and turned it back around, treating the mynah in oblivion.
Javier made a remark to Nelson, "The mynah has a choice. Yet, it chose to go through all the trouble and make its own life miserable, trying to please someone who does not appreciate it. It is just not worth it. There are so many other mynahs around. Yet, it sees no interest in the rest, and continued with its futile courtship. I hope one day, the mynah could understand this." Nelson replied, "They say love is blind. Only the outsiders can see things clear enough. Those in love lose their judgment. Love is, I think an entrapment, once trapped, it is hard for you to get out of it. You will be so helpless then." Javier nod in agreement and they left hurriedly for their next lecture.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Welcome to the new blog set up by Javier. Yes. I have lost all my previous entries and the blog links too. I could not solve the problem with regard to the fonts. So, i'm left with little choice but to delete that old blog and setup a new one. This spells a new begining, a new refreshed Javier. My focus from now on shall be less description on my life, but rather to share my views and my theories or fables, parables to convey a message. I hope my blog will be appreciated for its satirical style, its creativity, its humour or even its emotional touch. Writing is a form of art, human creation which reflects the underlying significance of the thinking and rationalisation process. The ability to create is a wonderful feeling.
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