I feel happy! I just met an old friend today, totally coincidental. We just hit it off soooo well, like we were old pals! Was a delightful encounter. Assignments piling up, readings not done. Im not myself!
Friend told me about Hinduism. Advocates freedom in choice of following God, and that as long as the last thought before u die is of God, then u'll go to heaven. In a sense, I find this infinitely more 'pleasing' than some other 'cruel' religion. Religion is just a medium for acceptance of God, and sometimes this medium can be warped, cult-ified, or turned into propaganda. Sometimes people fall to the 'love-bombing' that is practiced, and when in an emotionally unstable state, join, and let the religion take over their lives. However, I'm STILL a free thinker/deist, so don't come lecturing me about religions if u don't want a piece of my mind.
There IS a difference between true and blind faith.

Enter cutest multi-coloured parrot ever on window sill.

Jon: (turns head slowly, smiles at cutest bird, and waves like an idiot) MOM! COME! (Says this in a restrained shout, afraid to scare bird away)
Mom: I can't! I'm drinking orange juice!
Jon: (Flabbergasted) Forget the orange juice! Come QUICK!!!
Dad: What is it?
Jon: A bird! At the window sill! COMEEE!!
Sis: (Squeals)
Cutest Bird: (pecks at glass, looking at me with inquisitive eyes, like saying hi) Chirp!

Family gathers in room.

Mom: Aiyo! It's a parrot!!
All: So cute!!
Jon: (Smirks)Maybe it means I'll pass with 'flying colours' in exams.
Mom: (ignoring me) SOOO CUTE! Parrots worth lots of money! Let's try to catch it!
Sis: (ignoring mom) Let's feed it!
Mom: My hand full of orange juice, feed what?(Before she finishes, sis rushes out to kitchen)
Dad: We should take a picture of it
Jon: On it. (takes cam phone to snap a photo) Walao, cannot see shit la, my phone sucks.
Mom: Angie! Where are YOU?! No need crush the seeds la, by the time you come back the bird fly away already!
Sis: (arriving with seeds) How to feed it? We must slowly advance and put the seeds on the inside first. Let the birdy know it's safe.
Jon: (slaps forehead) Like that'll work... the bird probably can't even see it.
Mom: Come la, I show u. Slowly open the window first. (mom and sis mimic snail movement to window)
Cutest Bird: (Hops anxiously from one end to the other of the ledge, staring with cautious eyes).
Mom: SEE LA! FLY AWAY ALREADY! WALAO, u waste time crushing the seeds for what? If you come earlier then can already.
Jon: (Lame look) Like it really matters... still fly away in the end right?
Sis: (very sad) Aww, I should have taken a picture of it, it was so cute! (makes cute sobbing sound)
Dad: (Laughs) So cute the bird!

Exit family.

Mom: (voice echoing outside) Parrots worth lots of money wan, especially those that can talk! Should have use plastic bag man...
Jon: (shakes head)

Compared with Western medicine, most of us will wonder in amazement where does Traditional Chinese Medicine(will use TCM for short) even come into play, or in fact, religion faith and culture. I'm going to say something absolute, something straightforward, and impactful. We are taking things for granted. Yes, all of us, including me. We live in this technologically enhanced world with everything backed up, done for us - with babies being innoculated against diseases, with life-threatening viruses paled away in history - that everything negative seems 'unlikely' to happen. We take things for granted that the western scientists with their advanced bio-technology can solve every kind of threat, but we are actually living behind a screen; one that filters out the REAL world out there. It's a constant fight against disease, and someday, we might lose. What really needs to happen, is(touch wood), for something drastic to occur; then people will be shaken out of their state of comfort and into panic; panic, from realization that we were so helpless all along, that without the struggling scientists' efforts we didn't stand a chance from the start, even against common influenza per say. When all hope is lost, when no helping hand is available, the 'outcasted' pillars of support like religion will kick in; probably this is the only time that people can appreciate such aloof, but endearing mediums of faith.

On another note, TCM can achieve what Western medicine can't at times. For example, acupuncture can block certain movements of limbs. It is mind-boggling to even think about how the Chinese managed to taste and classify every different herb and find it's use - to concoct prescriptions, to test them out, and even be successful. The tons of acupoints in the body - how did they discover them?! If we only put our perceptual sets and differences aside, and harmonize both sides of technology, then I believe disease will meet a foe to be reckoned with.

DANG the laksa was unforgettable. To wake early in the AFTERNOON at 2pm with thick, creamy laksa flirtatiously patronizing ur nostrils is one of the best luxuries in life. The thick, grainy, laksa introduced a spasm of delight as it unleashed the different tastes so locked up by a night's(morning? considering I slept at 5am) sleep. First u get the sweet and creamy influx of coconut milk, blanketed by a spunky spice that tinges on sambal+macdonalds chilli(wtf). Then comes the sour aftertaste u get from sucking on lemon/lime, which so accentuates the spice when put in simultaneous succession, that ur hand will mechanically dip into the laksa and bring back a 2nd spoonful of that holy water. It's purifying; u can feel the warmth spread down ur throat and throughout ur body, with every tastebud and cell screaming for more, till that bowl is emptied and our poor eyes stare forlornly at the last remnants of what was once a volcanic lava pool, desperately hoping against hope that the emptiness is delusional - need I even mention the beansprouts, and chunks of fishcake/fishball/egg and thin, smooth, soft noodles?

On a second note, Happy New Year! Just the same old, New Year. I'm still hungry. Orange juice and meepok+pizza bread to the rescue! No kidding! One could seriously put on weight from what I just ate, or am eating, but considering breakfast was denied to me by pleasant dreams, I'd say it all works out to me still being 53kg.

I NEED to study! Haven't touched anything in a WEEK! Must go kill self nao. >_<

Ever wondered how names can suddenly change, yet the person we know is still the same? Today I just met a very old friend of mine, dating back to primary school days. She used a different name now, and somehow I felt so awkward calling her by that, that I didn't even call her by any name. I just started talking without addressing her lol. It's weird how names can create perceptual sets for us as well. What goes against this norm, would then seem awkward to us.
Similarly, with nicknames, they change the perceptual set of the original name. Some nicknames are nice, while others just aren't pleasing to hear; and to the person using it, it may seem warm and sincere, but to others, it may be offensive and embarrassing. I feel sometimes it's impossible to be fully sensitive and aware of everything around us. No one is perfect, thus let's not make hasty judgments or negative feelings about anything or anyone around us. Life is too short to harbour hatred, and by the time u realise it, time will have passed, and the opportunity to say "I care" will be gone forever. Thus now I would like to say "I care", to all my friends out there. Take care too, Jonathan. Cya~!

Perceptual sets are interesting. I used to do lots of anagram solving together with a friend last time, but this time I couldnt see the link in HW111 tutorial. It's always intriguing to discover something new, and for a while I was quite hyped. Then it got boring, and my mind drifted off...

Why do people get emotional? I'm asking this because I like to emo as well lol. Listening to emo songs, watching emo movies (Doesn't mean i draw dark eye rings and cut myself, hell no). In a warped logic, liking to emo makes me masochistic LOL. I cry easily when I watch sad movies. I just can't control it... I'm quite sensitive to sad things. I cannot express in words my adoration and idolization of emo songs. In a sense, when we are sad or depressed, watching emo stuff actually makes us spiral deeper into sadness and amplifies the heart-ache? Or does it counter the feeling and make us think that we are more worthy of happiness than our condition asserts? I've no idea. When I feel sad, I'm oblivious to what actually goes on. It's hard to get around on our own, but somehow or other, if our mental perseverance is strong, we can endure it out. Time heals the wounds, but memories still stay... Oh well.

-I repeat - Ain't gona care so much anymore

Hsien: Jonathan, this is a warning to you for skipping today's CB(C)801 lecture. Do you know the consequences of missing a lecture? You will miss out on one whole topic!

Jonathan: (Aside) Yea right. I can read up the notes on my own - pretty much what the lecturer does anyway. Feels good to leave at 2.40pm instead of 4.30pm!

Jonathan: Man, that lecturer doesn't know shit! He's just reading from the lecture notes and making the words seem more meaningful by slowly pronouncing them in an awkward emphatic tone that sounded like a frog trying to sing. It was unbearable. He read out the graph's axis names as if they were an elaboration of what it actually meant, but NOO, it's like me telling you my name when u ask where I stay.

Hsien: Tell me about it

Jonathan: How can I tell you when I can't even tell what he's trying to say?

Hsien: Fine, have it your way, but this will be the last warning you naughty boy.

Jonathan: (Brushes hair coyly, looks down, then looks up again with cat-eyes) Sorry, won't happen again! (Walks off with a defeated, deflated posture; but grins when back is turned. Wink wink ;) )

= Sleep = the thing I lack most in this mundane life. Nooooooo, why do I sleep at 4am knowing I have to wake at 8am!? The reason for having slept so late being doing BLOG STUFF. Gawd. Lack of sleep renders complex thought process and functionability ineffectual, and I recall(for those who haven't heard it yet), that I alighted at Jurong East MRT and nearly exited the terminal before I realised I wasn't at Boon Lay on a day with 3 hours sleep. I know it's pointless, yet once I start doing something I wanna finish it! OMG I'm so bimbo la. But I, or WE, have gotten used to sleeping late I guess. It's a trend nowadays. Heck with the beauty sleep. Who needs beauty anyway! Though the days of sleeping at 3am and waking at 5am in army are gone, sometimes I do 're-visit' such days during holidays xD

Jonathan: It's inevitable
Hsien: It's too much for one man(woman?)
Jonathan: We should not waste our time in idle discourse!(Like what you're doing now)
Hsien: Ok, enough of Godot, I gotta go to school already. T_T Ciao~

Dear Jonathan,
Why do you like music so much? I just saw you at the free access lab playing youtube music out loud and not caring who gave a shit! How could you? You could have at least asked me to be there to listen as well. I LOVE music. I LOVE ALL music!!! Chinese, english, jap, korean, cantonese, (havent heard malay/indian before sorry). Since we're talking about the Romantic Period in 103, I believe this post will correctly associate these two genres with each other. Music has sentiment, the supernatural, spontaneity, the common and ordinary, everything! It tunes our feelings so much with the lyrics and rhythm that we become one with the music; and this is heightened by closing your eyes and really feeling the intricate, delicate strings of music, of each tone, accompanied with the vocal enunciation of words that carry so much meaning with the tune; it just makes you wanna drown in it, and forget everything. I love emo songs the best, as they really set u in a contemplative mood and bring back sad/fond memories. Every song has a story behind it as well, and im more into the emotional side of songs.
Lovely how songs can touch the heart-strings and throw us into a downward spiralling stairway of feelings and thoughts.
So, Jonathan, I believe our likings are similar. I am as like you as you are me; we are one? LOL holy shit this is getting weird. But sometimes you and I can be two separate entities, two body of thoughts. I would like to agree with you most of the time, but sometimes I just can't, it's not right. Sorry pal, but that's just how it is : )

Best Regards,
Hsien Jun

The title is a nonsensical word; so u can pretty much guess the genre of content that this post contains :P
Why do I even blog? Dear reader, notice I don't pen down everyday events, like waking up, walking to school, eating, sleeping in lecture(oops xD), and so on. Why do I omit such 'important' details u may wonder. Well, I assure you that it isn't UNintentional, which, for retardedness' sake, means I intentionally omitted it (zomg so lame). I am NOT interested in mundane stuff. Simply speaking, neither is Jonathan, the author of this blog. Now u may be wondering what the hell I'm talking about. Don't worry, I am wondering as well. This codswallop happens when you have nothing to write and try to come up with something, which is the main point of a blog - creation; and creation has to be new and interesting, not stale everyday routines, or slight modifications in that routine. Memorable events, thoughts and feelings, and lame stuff, will exist here.

You must not know 'bout me
You must not know 'bout me
I could have another you in a minute
Matter fact [s]he'll be here in a minute, baby

You must not know 'bout me
You must not know 'bout me
I can have another you by tomorrow
So don't you ever for a second get to thinking you're irreplaceable

First of all, I'd like to say I'm hungry. It's 1.03pm and my tummy has yet to carress any food (- . - what a way to start a post) -
I like to give nicknames to the things I like. I believe some of us out there love to do so as well. I feel it gives a personal touch to it and lessens the distance (perceived or actual) between the objects/people. For example, I like to call Charles Dickens 'Dicky man', and an ipod touch 'that touch touch thing'. !! I know some of you will be like, 'no way!!' But let me tell you: "WAY!" Yea, this does not only extend to books and objects, but people as well; however names will be confidential.

Jonathan: Unbelievable the things that we do, really.
Hsien: Or maybe it's just the things I do?
Jonathan: It really isn't THAT obvious, random boy
Hsien: Uhh.. thanks ah..

Haven't we all said something then live to regret it? Or live to regret not correcting the wronged impression at that time when we still had the chance? Sometimes I speak without thinking... and this has led to a lot of unintended misunderstandings, and also hurting of others' feelings. Some matters are easily clarified, others are not; especially when feelings are concerned. I guess that type of misunderstanding can never be cleared once started. Perhaps only with time can the truth be revealed - perhaps ten years later when "estranged enemies" meet then things can be cleared(like in the movies LOL) - that sometimes what we do, or do not do, can be all solely for someone? -

Been slacking this weekend, just felt no motivation at all to study, so I gamed from 11am to 2am, with brief readings of sparknote summaries in between breaks. Oh well, guess this sem will be the revival of my jc/sec sch life. Note that I don't specifically list any names in my entries. My thoughts and feelings are of a general philosophical scale, and even if I do direct them at anyone, names will be strictly confidential.

When people get too clever, they tend to 'over-think' and see every possible sentence said as having insinuations and connotations, when in fact the innocent defendant doesn't mean a thing.
Self-conscious maybe? Or is it just an over-active mind trying to mask the mask it's already wearing?
Not everyone is evil out there. Not everyone is out to get us. Why does knowledge have to pollute innocence? Is there such a need to defend one's own rights at the expense of a blind fury against others? Is there a need to fear being misjudged or being in a shameful situation where one fears one is misunderstood to be fishing for compliments?
I think not. What does it matter? Is ego/pride that important?
I wonder if such things can even be controlled. But it's interesting to observe the different character traits.
I have tons of flaws too. A libra is flighty, dreamy, impractical and silly at times, and indecisive; but do i defend myself with an aggression or set up a hard shell to mask my inner weaknesses? No! Weaknesses let us realise that we are imperfect, and imperfection paves way for improvement. Hope people can do the same too and make the world a better and more peaceful place to live in.

Dear Jonathan,

Need I say anything more? School is taking up so much of my time... I cant have my social life, I can't meet you, I can't go out often, I can't... I just feel so trapped...And time isn't really kind on me either. I got 5.5 days left to complete 500 pages. HELP! I want to enjoy, I need to relax, but the circumstances are preventing this. I procrastinate my HW111 stuff, I haven't read Bleak House for a day... this is insane. But, I still know that I am happy, that I can do it; and though I complain and seem flustered, I actually don't let it get to me at all. Thanks for caring about how I feel, Jonathan I would like to know you better; give it some time : ) (But time is running out)

Best Wishes,
Lee Hsien Jun

There's just so many spoilt/rude people on this earth, that it's tedious to even begin counting. Well, some people claim others lack tact, while they themselves are the ultimate brutes/unrefined ones(man the nerve and hypocrisy!). Well, it's only a matter of time before we see the true colours; and boy, I don't like one bit of what I have seen so far in my education life. But all in all, I'll still be myself; those people can do what they want, but it doesn't affect me anymore, simply because I just wash my hands off such people. If they wanna talk, I'll talk just like any normal friend would to another friend, and show equal concern as if nothing had happened, and probably that'll only make them feel worse for behaving so childishly with no effect. This is damn funny. Oh well, I've seen too much of this, and I jolly well know how to deal with it; and life goes on : D

Everytime you wake up, ask yourself, if this were to be your last day, what would you want most? What a way to give meaning to a nice dreary morning! How bad can things get, seriously; rather be happy than be sad right? Let's all thank our being so fortunate and stay happy! Whee!
Ain't gona care so much anymore-

For those who can't express themselves via words or feel comfortable doing so, they tend to diverge into other aesthetic ways of presenting themselves, like dressing up, or being extravagant. Other people express themselves via drawings and paintings, or writing; Today's Victorian Literature lecture inspired me to talk about this. In a sense, we should not be prejudiced against people who want other forms of attracting attention or feeling a sense of existence and meaning; but somehow or other, when we see those haughty chicks strutting about in an eminently swaggerish way fluffing their frills and decked in latest fashion, stockings, abnormally interesting boots, eyeliner/eyeshadow/fake eyelashes, we tend to get disgusted? I mean, to a certain extent it is bearable and even attractive, but over doing it is too much - they are trying to fill up the emptiness they feel by satisfying material wants - I think I'm being too harsh, but yea, some things just need the negativity. Oh and girls who smoke, give me a break, u're not even worth appearing on my blog.

I'm pretty bored with the mundane, and superficial life that we're going through right now. It is inexplicable how everything goes about the same, everyday, and there's just this feeling of emptiness. 'What is terrible is to have thought' - I totally agree. Innocence would render us totally oblivous to the philosophical aspects of life, and we wouldn't even question our existential meaning. True we have friends etc, but after everything, won't some of us ask ourselves: 'hey, I did nothing substantial today?' Oh and when I say superficial, reader, I mean those who go 'I cant stand looking at this person because he/she is sooo ugly'. I mean, it's ok to judge a person's look, but at most leave it at that, do not let it interfere. I'm ashamed to say I know such people(thankfully a minority), and I know people who know such people as well. We are all equally disgusted. I don't really care about such things; I don't bother to wear new clothes every single day or even change them on a frequent basis. What's the point of this shell? It's so fake seriously.

Just feeling random, and I type random things when I feel random. Random boy is random. Whatever~ Man, give me something interesting already; something out of this world. I guess I can only find that in novels, of which I cannot fully enjoy with time's imprisonment.

Rith-rath, street rat,
I don't buy that.
If only they'd look closer,
Would they see a poor boy? No siree.
They'd find out, there's so much more to me~

Those who are astute enough will discern where this comes from. It's amazing how u may think you know the person, yet you are miles away from knowing him/her. Have you ever wanted to know a person so much more? Such an amazing movie... Why can't I concentrate? I'm so distracted and can't read in peace. Why am I even blogging? Am I escaping into my fantasy world again? While life is full of trouble and vexation, we stomach it; but I find it hard not to let it surface in my mood. To pretend I'm happy would just be a banal case of wearing a mask, like everyone else? I guess I'm stressing myself out too much. Sorry for not being a good friend at times.

Black and white,
Difference ever so slight.
Move from left to right,
Then u'll see the light.
Get what im trying to highlight?

Dear reader, judging from this random comparison you can see I'm the epitome of boredom. Why did I even bring these two together? Well, I guess it's to show how cruel or cruelly simple love can be.

Ponyo is a very heartwarming tale about how simple and innocent love can actualize, and the artist cleverly masks the realities behind the vibrant and cute images; but we all know how deceptively heart-wrenching that is for some of us -
- I know how u feel.

Jordan Witham on the other hand is this weird 20 yr-old guy who has been having sex with his car for 4 yrs, and is in love with it, preferring 'her' to women. Reader, Love is BIZZARE I tell you - physically and mentally, for poor Jordan - no doubt about it.

So, reader, which type of love do you prefer? Or would you rather be a misanthropist, a misogynist, or a feminist?

Dear Reader, you don't know me. I know you don't, and you know i know you don't. As a matter of fact, I dont even know myself. There's just so many random thoughts going through my mind that I dont know what to write. I suddenly thought of Jane Eyre, and shall comment on it.

This poor girl, torn between two lovers - one who is so full of passion, and another who is so missionary-like that he is devoid of passion - has to make a choice. A very interesting thing that remains imprinted in memory is the way the sagacious Mr Rochester plays around with Jane. I can't believe what happens in real life actually materializes in the form of words in this archaic book, and many memories just flooded into mind. Why do people ignore the one they like? Why do people pretend they have likings for other people in front of the one they like? We know it is cruel, but we still do it(I'm guilty of it myself); Why?? It's human nature. Why do people even get jealous? I hate jealousy, and I made a personal promise never to get jealous. This in effect may turn me into a hypocrite, as the fact that I even need to make a promise deems me unworthy of being totally jealous free. Still, I hate it. If you like someone, you should have the sense that he/she should have the freedom he/she deserves. As the saying goes, you let someone go only because you love them. Human emotion truly is perplexing. Now before this gets any more didactical, I shall conclude with a quote.

-Memories hurt the most, especially when they're dear-

It's been 5 years since I started blogging again; Boredom is the mother of my blog. Guess I'd pen down thoughts and meaningful quotes here so I won't forget them next time; it's always useful and fun to look back at ur thoughts many years ago - hence the title: reminiscence. I don't believe in the 'Hey-all-of-you-come-and-tag-me' bullshit; this is just a low-profile diary for me. If you like it, that's good, but i wont force people to read or comment.

Songs are beautiful. When you're alone, they're another voice speaking to you. They represent the spectrum of thought that the mundane or banal cannot achieve, and this spectrum is in constant oscillation. Songs tune our imagination to fit their mood and rhythm, and I seriously can just get lost in them if not for the fact that I have a stupid 891-sexy-paged-book to read.

I don't wanna forget an interesting fact: Nemo actually means 'no one' in Latin. So the movie Finding Nemo actually means finding no one! How apt for a search and rescue mission for a fish . You gotta love Disney for his ingenious and subtle sarcasm/puns.

Nice quote:
To the world you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world.