Looks good eh?



Game's out tmr!

Adolescent Psychology pulled a stunt on all of us a few weeks back.

We were told that for mid terms, the test format would be MCQ ... and it's Open Book, and the thing is the only book are lecture notes.

So we were like ... wow ... surely there's no such good thing in the world. Who the hell gives MCQ with open book?

Well ... when i went in on that day itself, the instructions page was like filled with words, stating multiple answers for some questions, NO answers and deduction of marks for not TOTALLY correct answers, meaning some questions have to been left totally blank, or 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or all boxes shaded. Zzz ...

Craziest MCQ i've ever done.

Scores are not posted up yet but all we know is that, lowest score is 17 and highest score is 42/50.

Bless me.

This weekend quite shiok ... cos it was super duper long for me. Friday's dota was weird cos we had 6 players so had to split team. Kenneth was pissed so he unleashed his crazy NS after Jul's friend farmed too much with SF and LR ... and it was quite funny with me using SA and ken's NS hunting him down.

Then it was Arts Open 6 hours after i reached home. Super hot and i am still sunburnt. But we got 3rd overall la so it was good. Man Utd drew with Everton that night which sucked.

Yesterday was slacking day. Sy stayed over then we went for lunch at gardens with my parents. I had a wine set to collect at The Central so we went there to shopped around as well. Dinner was fabulous as usual and even though i was extremely tired when i got home, i still watched some thriller show called mind hunters i think on tv...

Today went to check out the release of Red Alert 3 at Shaw in the morning. But they only had those special packs on sale which are quite expensive. So i guess i will wait till wed to purchase the standalone game pack. Went down to Vivo to find the bunch of people who were supposed to go Sentosa. But we didn't go in the end and instead went to Mind Cafe to spend the holiday. I've got a bad headache now ... popped some panadols already but i guess i need to sleep.

Ok school starts tmr! Time to get back to work.

Heroes is losing it. Similarly with Naruto which i stopped reading after Sasuke left because i thought the story isn't making too much sense.

Too much twists ain't good afterall.

Luckily Prison Break is still entertaining.

Retainers suck. Braces are much better.

Soci is making me think too much. Defining religion is problematic. Indeed. Even F1 or the World Cup can be a religion.

And today's tutorial on race and ethnicity made me wonder if there are only 4 official "races" in Singapore, ie. Chinese, Malay, Indian, Others ... if i am mixed, what do i come under? If i am to follow my father's race, why is it so? Why can't i follow my mother's?

So how can you truly define race?

Been watching She Diao Ying Xiong Zhuan lately ... and it's pretty amazing how the characters are interwoven together. Have always been a fan of Shen Diao Xia Lue so it's quite an eye-opener to see where Guo Jing, Huang Rong and the other characters come from.

Like for example the story behind Yang Kang, how come he was branded evil and was 'killed' by Huang Rong. Different scenarios often come into mind as to how the story would have changed if he was good. But then eventually i would slap myself out of this daydreaming and marvel at how much i actually like the ending of Shen Diao.

I mean if Yang Kang hadn't died, Yang Guo possibly wouldn't turn out to be so great. Haha ... let me indulge in some form of wuxia fantasy for this few weeks.

Well ... at least it allows me to appreciate characters like Hong Qi Gong whom was just a vague memory for me in Shen Diao. His uprighteousness and glutton-personality, coupled with the fact that he was the shifu of Guo Jing and Huang Rong made me felt a tinge of sadness when he was attacked and poisoned by Ouyang Feng.

And because of this two stories, i realised that this She Diao is actually a trilogy, ending with 倚天屠龍記. Well it did arouse my interest to go find out more but i guess whereas the first 2 was a continuation in the sense that some of the characters were brought forward, the third story was a bit foreign as it took place a hundred years after Shen Diao. Probably the only familiar ones still involved in 倚天屠龍記 were Guo Xiang and it's only her formation of Emei Sect.

But i also realised that in the trilogy, the constants that are present are the fight for power and martial arts skills like Jiu Ying Zhen Jing, Xiang Long Shi Ba Zhang and also the military textbook Wu MU Yi Shu apparently written by Yue Fei. Other stuff also include being upright, good vs evil, relationship and status evils, as well as the power different dynasties and cults wielded at that period of time.

Then it got me wondering who was the most powerful of them all, no thanks to Dragonball and Naruto =x ... but i guess there would never be an answer because unless a tournament was set out which wasn't possible because all the characters couldn't be there. Wang Chong Yang was hailed as Tian Xia Di Yi, but he died of old age. Tong Xie Xi Du Nan Di Bei Gai all had their unique techniques. Guo Jing learnt from many people, well so did Yang Guo, but the latter's intellect is definitely higher. And he learnt 蛤蟆功, 古墓派功夫, 打狗棒法, 獨孤求敗剑法, 九陰真經 and then he developed his own unique set of 黯然銷魂掌.

Well ... it would have been some fight.

I thought this post portrayed exactly England's recent transformation to a side which reminded me a lot of the Man U of last season ...

By Martin Samuel
"Fabio Capello, the England manager, goes into a World Cup hiatus having made history, revived a broken team and breathed life into dying men. Not a bad two months, then. The most eye-catching fact is that this was England’s fourth consecutive group six win, which represents the best start the national team have made in the qualifying stage of this competition, but bald statistics cannot express the extent to which the Italian has transformed English football, or the way he has contrived to do it with so little fuss.

Capello has made a prolific goalscorer of Wayne Rooney again, brought harmony to the heart of midfield, emboldened a protégé in Theo Walcott and found a line-leading centre forward in Emile Heskey where it was previously considered none existed. He has turned a group of players who staggered from their last campaign, shell-shocked like war veterans, and made them the epitome of calm, battle-hardened efficiency. In adversity here, they did not panic. Under incredible pressure in Zagreb, they rose to the challenge. It is like watching a different team, yet the personnel has barely changed.

Capello said he wished to be judged only when the competitive games began, and his self-belief was justified. The stuttering England witnessed in his friendly games is a distant memory now, a childish doodle, an early work, crude and unformed. This is the real deal. Maybe this England will be, too.

Credit is due to all who have played a part in carrying out Capello’s instructions with such assuredness, but, in Minsk, it was down to three in particular: Rooney and Steven Gerrard, the match-winners, and Heskey, whose selfless efforts have turned England into prolific goalscorers, with 14 in four competitive matches (and only two of those in the turkey shoot of Andorra). Heskey’s name rarely appears on the scoresheet but his aura does, it is what has turned Rooney into the confident, world-class forward who has been missing since the European Championship finals in 2004.

The days of trial and error are over. Capello knows Rooney’s best position for certain now and it is behind a target man-striker. It will take exceptional circumstances for him to be moved again. Together, Heskey and Rooney put in football’s equivalent of a double weekend shift and then some in Minsk, always available, always providing an option for a midfield that needed to move the ball on quickly under pressure from a youthful Belarus team. With the scores level at 1-1, Heskey and Rooney combined for a goal that illustrated perfectly why their partnership is such a success. Heskey battled his way down the left flank, shrugging off the attention of defenders, looking up for a quick cross only to see Rooney having problems holding the line and half a yard offside. He delayed, rode another challenge, waited until Rooney was in the perfect position to receive and slipped him the ball, the striker opening his body to steer it past Yury Zhevnov in the Belarus goal. Together, they made it look so simple; in reality, it was far from that.

Yet England are making a lot look simple these days. This was a tough game and Belarus are difficult opponents, capable of messing up superior opposition the way the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia did Steve McClaren’s England when drawing at Old Trafford. By the end, though, England were in complete control in a way that surpassed even the teams managed by serial qualifier Sven-Göran Eriksson. Rooney’s second put air into the scoreline, and what a beauty it was. Rooney dummied a pass 35 yards out but continued his run towards goal, at which point he was picked out perfectly by Gerrard.

As Belarus hit the panic switch, Rooney dribbled around one desperate tackle before finishing high into the net from eight yards out. It was a goal that spoke for England’s rebuilt confidence and of one man in particular. Capello is starting to get a higher level of performance out of Rooney than any other manager in recent years; perhaps even Sir Alex Ferguson.

Had Gerrard not hit a post with an open goal beckoning after going round a defender and the goalkeeper, the scoreline would have matched the victory in Zagreb, but it would be churlish to make this miss — although it was a howler — too much of an issue; especially as Gerrard did Capello’s bidding by starting on the left and got the goal that eased the pressure on England and put the team on their way.

It came after just 11 minutes. Frank Lampard won a tackle in midfield, the ball ran loose, Rooney scuffled for it, found Gerrard and he steered a sublime curling shot out of the reach of Zhevnov and into the far corner. He has now scored twice in the past three games in which he has started left of the midfield four. Perhaps that debate can be laid to rest, too, now?

What Capello also got right, though, was his assessment of the technical ability of the Belarus team, with his comparison to the nimble, shortpassing game of Arsenal. Those who believed the England manager was indulging in hyperbole and perhaps a little self-preservation by talking up the difficulty of the opposition were quickly dissuaded from this hopeful fantasy by the Belarus response to England’s first goal. Far from being stunned or subdued by Gerrard’s early intervention, they used it as the motivation to play to their attacking strengths and came at England, initially overrunning the midfield with quick, imaginative passing interchanges and movement.

David James, the England goalkeeper, was not looking convincing and when Pavel Sitko — a 22-year-old left-sided player who will surely not remain at his club, Vitebsk, for long — tested him with a shot from 20 yards, it took James two attempts to bring the ball under control. Not a good sign. There were more worrying developments on the flanks, where Wes Brown and Wayne Bridge were getting little protection and the Belarussians were looking increasingly dangerous.

Igor Stasevich, a 22-year-old right-sided player with BATE Borisov, the first Belarussian team to make the group stage of the Champions League, was causing Bridge particular problems and it was no surprise that the equalising goal should be his creation. If this underplays the contribution of his team-mates it is only because there were too many involved to list by name, the goal coming at the end of 23 passes in a manner that made Capello’s reference to Arsenal seem remarkably prescient.

Cutting to the chase, though, Stasevich dummied a cross, Bridge did not so much buy it as have the damn thing nationalised and Sitko stole in behind Brown at the far post so that when the ball did arrive, he stooped low unmarked with only James to beat.

On another night, under another manager, there might have been darting eyes and nervous glances. Instead, Capello gave his players the hard stare and they continued executing the plan as directed. It sounds so straightforward, this new thinking, maybe even a little dull. It is not. For this team, it is revolution writ large, although Capello will make it look and sound easy, like so much of what he does."

My new favourite Jay Chou's song ... 说好的幸福呢


你的绘画凌乱着

在这个时刻

我想起喷泉旁的白鸽

甜蜜散乱了

情绪莫名的拉扯

我还爱你呢

伴你断断续续唱着歌

假装没事了

时间过了走了

爱情面临选择

你冷了倦了我哭了

一开始的不快乐

你用卡片拭写着

有些爱只给到这真的懂了


怎麽了 你累了 说好的 幸福呢

我懂了 不说了 爱淡了 梦远了

开心与不开心 一一叙说着 你在不舍

那些爱过的感觉都太深刻 我都还记得


你不等了 说好的 幸福呢

我错了 泪干了 放手了 后悔了

只是回忆的音乐盒还旋转着
要怎么停呢


x2


怎麽了 你累了 说好的 幸福呢

我懂了 不说了 爱淡了 梦远了

我都还记得

你不等了 说好的 幸福呢

我错了 泪干了 放手了 后悔了

只是回忆的音乐盒还旋转着
要怎么停呢

Each time when there's a new album, a few songs would stand out and make their way to my play-it-over-again playlist ... like Zui Chang De Dian Ying, Jie Kou, Bu Neng Shou De Mi Mi ... just to name a few recent ones.

I like the new album more than the previous Wo Hen Mang one, probably because there are more songs that are very much like Shuo Hao De Xin Fu Ne ... like Dao Xiang, Gei Wo Yi Shou Ge De Shi Jian and Hua Hai ...

Emileen's 21st ...



Conditioning the freaking dumb snail ...

Sometimes your lecturer says the funniest things.

I swear the whole LT heard him say ...

"Motivating factors are very important in work performance. Especially when you set goals. Imagine this, if your parents promise to buy for you something if you get 1st class honors. Imagine if your parents buy a condom for you if you get 1st class honors, that will definitely be a motivating factor."

The whole LT froze for a second before a mixture of sniggers, shocked faces and wtfs occurred.

Don't blame him. Hongkie english.

I was trying to very hard to figure out what was the word he wanted to say. I think it's condo.

But then seriously, the "Mmmm" sound was really very very distinctive.

Sometimes i am afraid for the young adolescents around me. Yes yes i know there's too much emphasis on my growing up recently, machiam as though i know a lot. But nope it's not that ...

Perhaps coupled with the fact that i've been exposed to an increased level of adolescence information lately and some entries by a dear one, i can't help to feel and think for these young people. They profess of "true love", of stability in relationships, and of the need to constantly see each other. I admit i do love to be the optimist, yet the realism of worldly affairs have taught me well. Let me tell you the easy parts - falling in love, constantly seeing each other and feel even more in love, thinks that nothing will ever go wrong, and maybe that everything is just so plain simple.

The rest are the difficult parts.

And they usually happen. Mind you, i don't mean they are 'difficult to happen', but they are definitely difficult to handle. They are like scripts gone wrong, or when your team scores an own goal, or when your bak chor mee turns cold. Yeah it's that kind of feeling. But times the magnitude by a lot more la.

Thankfully Man U's winning at Blackburn. =)

AHHHH SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT!!!!!!!! SHIT!!! I AM GROWING UP TOOO FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!

... uhem ...

So, anyway, I've got 2 presentations and 2 tests next wed. Bless me.

Notice how the words, language and profile analysis of personality tests, horoscopes blah blah and yadda always come out sounding all so nice?

Notice how they praise you until your head damn big?

Notice also the "feel-good" after effects?

=)

Yesterday's DC meeting was interesting. Pete did a MBTI test on us and i checked out my INFJ profile. And boy ... it is accurate ...

-----

Portrait of an INFJ - Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging
(Introverted Intuition with Extraverted Feeling)
The Protector

As an INFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in primarily via intuition. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit with your personal value system.

INFJs are gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and creative, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types.

INFJs place great importance on havings things orderly and systematic in their outer world. They put a lot of energy into identifying the best system for getting things done, and constantly define and re-define the priorities in their lives. On the other hand, INFJs operate within themselves on an intuitive basis which is entirely spontaneous. They know things intuitively, without being able to pinpoint why, and without detailed knowledge of the subject at hand. They are usually right, and they usually know it. Consequently, INFJs put a tremendous amount of faith into their instincts and intuitions. This is something of a conflict between the inner and outer worlds, and may result in the INFJ not being as organized as other Judging types tend to be. Or we may see some signs of disarray in an otherwise orderly tendency, such as a consistently messy desk.

INFJs have uncanny insight into people and situations. They get "feelings" about things and intuitively understand them. As an extreme example, some INFJs report experiences of a psychic nature, such as getting strong feelings about there being a problem with a loved one, and discovering later that they were in a car accident. This is the sort of thing that other types may scorn and scoff at, and the INFJ themself does not really understand their intuition at a level which can be verbalized. Consequently, most INFJs are protective of their inner selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it. They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be secretive.

But the INFJ is as genuinely warm as they are complex. INFJs hold a special place in the heart of people who they are close to, who are able to see their special gifts and depth of caring. INFJs are concerned for people's feelings, and try to be gentle to avoid hurting anyone. They are very sensitive to conflict, and cannot tolerate it very well. Situations which are charged with conflict may drive the normally peaceful INFJ into a state of agitation or charged anger. They may tend to internalize conflict into their bodies, and experience health problems when under a lot of stress.

Because the INFJ has such strong intuitive capabilities, they trust their own instincts above all else. This may result in an INFJ stubborness and tendency to ignore other people's opinions. They believe that they're right. On the other hand, INFJ is a perfectionist who doubts that they are living up to their full potential. INFJs are rarely at complete peace with themselves - there's always something else they should be doing to improve themselves and the world around them. They believe in constant growth, and don't often take time to revel in their accomplishments. They have strong value systems, and need to live their lives in accordance with what they feel is right. In deference to the Feeling aspect of their personalities, INFJs are in some ways gentle and easy going. Conversely, they have very high expectations of themselves, and frequently of their families. They don't believe in compromising their ideals.

INFJ is a natural nurturer; patient, devoted and protective. They make loving parents and usually have strong bonds with their offspring. They have high expectations of their children, and push them to be the best that they can be. This can sometimes manifest itself in the INFJ being hard-nosed and stubborn. But generally, children of an INFJ get devoted and sincere parental guidance, combined with deep caring.

In the workplace, the INFJ usually shows up in areas where they can be creative and somewhat independent. They have a natural affinity for art, and many excel in the sciences, where they make use of their intuition. INFJs can also be found in service-oriented professions. They are not good at dealing with minutia or very detailed tasks. The INFJ will either avoid such things, or else go to the other extreme and become enveloped in the details to the extent that they can no longer see the big picture. An INFJ who has gone the route of becoming meticulous about details may be highly critical of other individuals who are not.

The INFJ individual is gifted in ways that other types are not. Life is not necessarily easy for the INFJ, but they are capable of great depth of feeling and personal achievement.

Jungian functional preference ordering:

Dominant: Introverted Intuition
Auxilliary: Extraverted Feeling
Tertiary: Introverted Thinking
Inferior: Extraverted Sensing

-----

And there is a part by Marina Margaret Heiss that i thought is really true ...

"INFJs are deeply concerned about their relations with individuals as well as the state of humanity at large. They are, in fact, sometimes mistaken for extroverts because they appear so outgoing and are so genuinely interested in people -- a product of the Feeling function they most readily show to the world. On the contrary, INFJs are true introverts, who can only be emotionally intimate and fulfilled with a chosen few from among their long-term friends, family, or obvious "soul mates." While instinctively courting the personal and organizational demands continually made upon them by others, at intervals INFJs will suddenly withdraw into themselves, sometimes shutting out even their intimates. This apparent paradox is a necessary escape valve for them, providing both time to rebuild their depleted resources and a filter to prevent the emotional overload to which they are so susceptible as inherent "givers." As a pattern of behavior, it is perhaps the most confusing aspect of the enigmatic INFJ character to outsiders, and hence the most often misunderstood -- particularly by those who have little experience with this rare type."

Interestingly, i've often read about MBTI personality tests throughout my psychology education, but have never gotten close enough to doing a proper one. Last night one wasn't quite proper also as they were all scenarios. But i think knowing one's "type" is helpful is developing a profile, perhaps in terms of working relations in a work setting.