2007/2008 Sem 2 Examination for ARTS HONOURS

Module Code	Module Title	Grade
GEK1522	Global Environmental Issues	C+
GEK1525	Evaluating Claims Related to Health	A-
TS4218	Theatre and Postmodernism	A-
TS4401	Honours Thesis	B+
TS5212	ASIAN INTERNATIONAL CINEMA	A

CAP: 4
(CAP computed is accurate based on progress & declaration made as at time of printing.)

Examination Status: 2nd Class Honours (Uppers)

I'm glad that even before exercising my S/U options (I just have to remember to exercise it early tomorrow morning before I forget and head off for reservist), I have obtained a 2nd class honours (uppers). Praise Be to God! While the grades for Global Environmental Issues were expected, the grades for Evaluating Claims to Health came as a pleasant surprise.

The card replacement offices open from 10am to 6pm and are located in uluated locations like Choa Chu Kang, Ang Mo Kio, Jurong East. The nearest one's at Hougang. This peeves me completely, because I don't have time to go down to these places to change my card.

I am really peeved. This is the fourth or fifth time my ezlink card has "suddenly" gone wonky and will not work. I have gone down to the concession card office upteenth times and still this happens. It is not funny especially when you have already paid for the hybrid concession scheduled to start the next day at a freakingly expensive rate of $97.00

After slogging for a week, wearing the giraffe and kangeroo suits, I have finally gotten my paycheck for my efforts. Though not much, it will probably see me through the month of June and will most likely get me some winter clothing, or at least a winter jacket for World Youth Day too. I have another week of work before reservist hits and while it is ridiculously hot being a mascot, at least it is a temporary source of income. Today however started off badly. Before I set out for work, I felt a feeling I have not felt felt for so long - the sickening feeling one gets before one collapses and blacks out. Although I have no idea why it occured, but it was so bad that I had to lie in bed for a while and that caused me to be late for work. That didn't please Boss very much, seeing that he was already in an irritable mood. As things would have it, a migraine has been bugging me the entire day as well.

I have been pondering about a few things lately. What if a person sets up a childcare centre of sorts, only because it is a means for himself or herself to fulfil in the children the things he or she never had the chance to have or could do. Children being the perfect receptacles, become mouldable and make up for a particular childhood lack or neglect. They become and allow projections of oneself and one's unfulfilled desires and become means by which people vent their frustrations and anger upon. They become channels for wish fulfilment. Take the cliched examples of sportsmen or has-been sportsmen become coaches because they wanted their trainees to become what they could never be. I think this is a highly troubled thought.

Brian is working with children and mascoting, to earn money for his trip in July. While he is tired, and perspires alot in the mascot suit, he is having the time of his life, and hopes he can bring a touch of happiness to the lives of the children.

I didn't go for the talent agency's casting call. Felt that there was no point to and besides I had work at child-care, students' activities centre - work I would consider more fulfiling and interesting. While it is indeed tiring getting up early in the morning to get down to Pasir Ris, the first day especially was a killer having only slept 2 hours after a long games com-followed by-main com meeting on Vesak Day, I survived and this is the third day with the establishment. It is going to be a packed two weeks with so many things planned, but at least I am getting something out of this.

Carnivals and funfairs are such fun. They allow adults to become like children again - running from stall to stall, getting excited about the food... I'm thankful for the invitation by Steph and Janice to join them at the fundraising funfair in aid of the St. Francis of Assisi Home and Hospice. It definitely made my day. I wish the St. Michael's annual feastday carnival were as vibrant and as multi varietied as it was. It such a shame that the carnival always ends at 2pm and by 1pm, all the food's gone. Carnivals should last from morning to evening and have an endless supply of food to cater to people coming at various times. Then again, it makes a difference regarding the scale of the carnival and whether you can get big companies like M hotel, Waterfront Copthone, Pan Pacific to set up sponsored stores.

Got a call from the talent company, apparently, they want me to go down on Tuesday for a photocasting of sorts - I just know that there is no point to all these, because I am just not model-material, I am not photogenic (which is why I prefer to be behind the camera) and neither do I fit the sizes of the people who get the commercials. Somehow there is a certain pan-asian look that ALL companies in Singapore look for as the faces to front their commercials.
Oh well, looks like another round of insults as I go down to the company for the casting shoot.

There are a million and one things I would like to do right now - attending the thanksgiving cg and BBQ on Wednesday, canoeing 1-star course with the CSS people, baking macarons... but I can't due to the unfortunate circumstances that have cropped up - The Masters application and proposal are due this week and I haven't gotten down to doing anything. It is also bugging me that I can't hand in a complete application as referee hasn't handed me the referral letter yet. Have I ranted about the terrible amounts of red tape in NUS yet?; and my weighing devices are ruined and I haven't gotten a new weighing scale yet. I have explained how particular macarons are haven't I?

I think alot has been bugging me of late. I'm not sure if it is stress, but I feel frustrated and restless. I need money and I need work and I'm not sure if I can get any for the weekdays. I am seriously worried and I think I need a break. I want to roll about lazily on the beach, yes I want to be covered in sand like Muah Chee. I want to get away even for a little while. Time's running out for the FOC com as well and I'm worried about the games and the logistics for games.... I'm worried and fretting about a million and one tiny things that are irritating the hell out of me. I'm old and I'm aching. I feel like I'm breaking into fragments. I apologise but I am whining. I want to do muay thai. I want to canoe. I want to dragonboat!!!

ROAR!!!

I got this from Caleb's blog. Because I love parables like these, I'm putting the story on my blog and sharing it. It is definitely worth a read and think-through.

Science and God

'Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ.' The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'

'Yes sir,' the student says.

'So you believe in God?'

'Absolutely.'

'Is God good?'

'Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'

'Yes.'

'Are you good or evil?'

'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a moment.

'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good.....!'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent.

'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

'Let's start again, young fella Is God good?

''Er...yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'

'The student : 'From...God...''

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything,correct?'

'Yes.'

'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues:'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?

'The student: 'Yes.'

'So who created them?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them? There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.

'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'

The student's voice is confident: 'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'

'No sir. I've never seen Him'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'

'No, sir, I have not.'

'Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'

'Yes.'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that,son?'

'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'

'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'

'And is there such a thing as cold?'

'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't...'

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.

'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat.You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have Nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'

'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the Commotion has subsided.

The student looks around the room... 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter.

'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain,felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.

''Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'

'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'

Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man...It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world.These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.

God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down.

Brian desperately needs a weekday job from the 19th of May until the end of the month. Can bake, do wedding/party cupcakes, can waiter, can sell burgers at some fast food joint, can do mascots, can do resources, can clean, can sing in deserted underpasses...

Aaarghhhhh... my finances are so screwed. Who is willing and insane enough to hire someone for just two weeks in each month - May this month, June and July??? I am going to World Youth Day in Winter and I am going to starve. I shall have to learn how to eat Bunaangu, a sap from a plant, Bungaa, a type of bush berry, kangeroo, emu and witchetty grubs, reportedly to taste like nutty chicken... If I am lucky, I could probably sneak off between WYD sessions and wash dishes illegally in some Cantonese restaurant in Sydney's Chinatown the two weeks I am there. This is really one of those times I wish I had a house full of money to swim in ala Scrooge McDuck, but there you have it, life unfortunately ain't a Disney cartoon.

If you have finished your examinations and have time for only one film, I would humbly suggest Taxidermia showing at the Cathay Picturehouse as part of its film festival screening. While it is extremely visceral, and terribly graphic, it is at the same time incredibly, I think, postmodern. The cinematography is beautifully intense and the themes, definitely mature. Themes aside, I can't really get what it is trying to say though, but I just love how it put together all the themes and issues that were discussed during post-mod class. I think Dr. Loon, Nelson or Alvin might have been proud.

I wouldn't recommend it if you want simply a mindless laugh ala Harold and Kumar, or a psychedelic speed trip with Rain and Speedracer. It is a tad difficult to stomach and I would seriously recommend that you do not eat pork or drink any soup before that. Heck, just don't eat anything before the show. I'm warning you, it's gross, but it's worth it. Wonderful film it is!

Today marks the sad demise of my almost new Nokia E51 in shiny black, handphone. It slipped out of my hands as I was crossing the overhead bridge today and had a straight drop down. As you can imagine, it didn't survive, being of the delicate disposition it was. It was a complete wreck and I could barely hold back my tears as I salvaged all that was salvaged all that was salvageable - the sim card. I am very sad.

I am back to using my old phone, the Nokia 2100 but that means that I have inevitably lost some on my contact list. It's okay, it just another two years before I can ask for a handset upgrade...

The NUS administration is definitely a royal pain in the nether regions. I was running around like a fool from the EL department to the Registrar's Office, only to be told that I had to submit an online request for the transcript.. To save people from all these troubles, everything and every step should be stated clearly, even shown ala an idiot's (abeit a little ironically) guide on the relevant website and speaking of websites, why is the NUS website so user unfriendly? It says alot when I need to google to find a darn page on the site doesn't it?

Global Environmental Issues
Postmodernism and Theatre
Evaluating Claims to Health

Three papers down one more to go and I'll be free for the next few months until my Masters start. Everything hinges on the success of the application, which I will only know the results of in October. Until then hopefully I can teach TS1101E and the other level 2000 film modules. Otherwise, I will literally be eating air for the next few months. If I can't get to do my masters under the scholarship scheme, then I'll probably leave academia behind and find a job in SIA. A man has got to eat, even if it means cleaning toilets in Changi Airport, he has to eat.

The ants in my kitchen are seriously scary. I think they are mutant ants. If you think the puny red ants scurrying across your dining table are scary, wait until you see those living on my kitchen counter - those which are so incredibly intelligent as to make them home in the cracks between the cement and the tiles, such that no one can ever find them and burn the entire colony. I think they have over a few generations evolved such that they no longer die no matter the amount of pesticides you spray on them. They have also scarily tripled in size - not surprising considering the amount of man-made chemicals they have been slathered with. Their size however makes their bites rather painful indeed, especially those that crawl on your shirt unawares as you are washing the dishes over the sink.

Sometimes, aunties can be like ants. Crawling and finding their way into your room and nosily peering at your things. They can be very rude ants indeed.