Move on

Cucumber trumpet

2008-06-09T14:37:00.001+08:00

Retarded tpt...

Cabbage slide flute-Lightly Row-

2008-06-09T14:33:00.001+08:00

Now we can play with vegetables if we don't like eating them. LOL!

Big Broccoli Ocarina:Angels We Have Heard On High

2008-06-09T14:32:00.001+08:00

Japanese are the BEST! HAHAHAHA

Berlin Philharmoic's home on fire

2008-05-21T03:06:00.002+08:00

News below taken from BBC.com. And not too long ago, news of Simon Rattle's wavering support from the orchestra members surfaced; he may be ousted from the Orchestra, which will be the first in the orchestra's history if it really happens.

Fire at Berlin orchestra's home

German firefighters are battling to extinguish a fire at the home of the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra.
All staff and visitors at the concert hall have been safely evacuated, a spokesman for the fire brigade said.
Firefighters are trying to reach the source of the blaze, via the roof of the distinctive 1960s building.
"We don't believe anyone is in danger as the fire appears to be [confined] to the roof," fire crew spokesman Marco Trenn said.

Bassoonist Stefan Schweigert said the fire brigade had allowed musicians into the building to remove instruments that had been left in lockers overnight, although some, such as pianos, were too large to move.
It is unclear what caused the fire. The area around the building has been cordoned off.
Firefighters are in the process of cutting holes in the building's tent-shaped zinc roof to get at the fire. Reports say the building has suffered major damage.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.
Firefighters on the rooftop of the Berlin Philharmonic building trying to put out the fire
"We can rule out a total write-off of the Philharmonic," firefighters spokesman Jens-Peter Wilke told n-tv television.
"But the building is obviously in danger. We're doing all we can to rescue this important cultural site in Berlin."
The Philharmonic, Berlin's leading orchestra, is directed by Sir Simon Rattle.

Imitation of vietnamese manicurists. Hilarious.

2008-05-19T23:29:00.001+08:00

Funny prank in the office! I have one of those powerpoint slides if you want! :D

2008-05-19T23:05:00.001+08:00

NTU Student survey - Funny comments

2008-05-17T04:40:00.001+08:00

Nasi Babi Ori 2

2008-05-17T04:14:00.001+08:00

I wan 1 Nasi Babi. Lol!

The Internet is for porn avenue Q original - Video

2008-05-15T01:38:00.002+08:00

4 Years after...

2008-05-13T15:40:00.009+08:00

Goodbye, student life! And on to the cut-throat world of the reality.

Below are some pics taken at the Graduation dinner in school on 9th May, 08.

I swear these were our BIGGEST smiles EVER! :D

We were trying to take photos with the video mode. Lol

New Music?

2008-05-13T02:22:00.002+08:00

What's with this obsession of creating newer and more obscure music that no one seems to like?

Music in the early ages were used to accompany rituals. Later on, they became music for entertainment - to accompany dances, singers - and so on. There's no need for me to go into the brief historical development of music cos it will bore you to death.

20th-century composers such as John Cage, Karlheinz Stockhausen, John Adams and D. Shostakovich are among the most prominent. Other than Shostakovich being more 'conventional' as compared to the rest mentioned, most works by these modern composers are, interesting to play at best. I certainly wouldn't term most of these sounds as music. Let me just show you one video of John Cage's Variations III to demonstrate my point.

John Cage's Variations III (1962-1963)

The human voice, crumpling of paper, wound-up toy 'marching' around in an area surrounded by clarinets, man banging his head on a wall, buzzing your lips while submerging your face in the water...all these form a piece of music? Isn't it incredible then to discover that while you're sitting in your office in front of your desktop typing, you're hearing music of the combined sounds of air-con vent rumbling, that printer, fax machine and colleagues walking around whispering/laughing? No! How can anyone call that music? These so-called pieces of music are merely showpieces, more to please audiences visually than aurally.

Then there are those compositions which sound like gibberish and have no visual effects to credit for. Like the new composition that I'm playing, it causes everyone great distress. Apart from the lack of melody (the atonality of it), the very frequent change of time signatures, tempo and bad rhythm/note-relations make the singer and musicians sound and look spastic.

Compositions take a great amount of time to complete and I salute composers for that. But do you really enjoy writing works that don't sound logical or nothing vaguely like music? Perhaps I am too conservative to lash out at composer like this. And I will bet my bassoon on it that if people find classical music too cheem, these new compositions aren't going to help the music scene find new audiences at all.

So what is the way to go if new daring compositions (that don't sound vaguely like music) don't draw audiences and classical music is far too boring/cheem for people to enjoy? I have no idea either. My only suggestion for you composers to save yourselves is to start writing sane works which make musicians and audiences happy. You don't want your audiences to start a riot like what happened to Stravinsky's premieres of Rite of Spring...

New skin!

2008-05-12T13:44:00.005+08:00

Decided to be more daring with my choice of blogskins. Had wanted to choose some bright, cheerful and kiddy skins, but i don't think it can get past my conscience.

- I'm not 15yrs old anymore - LOL.

Think this skin has more cheerful colours than my previous ones. Don't like those emo skins...too depressing for sane humans to read.

And I added many emoticons inside my Blogger posts!
Naruto ones!
Pukka ones.

Dunno what this is.

And... The normal ones.

Honda's Robot conducts Detroit Symphony!

2008-04-25T20:50:00.002+08:00

THIS is one way to raise money for your orchestra. We just have to THINK.
There are so many things music can associate itself with, if you think about it.

Humanoid robot to conduct Detroit Symphony Orchestra

May 13 concert slated to generate attention for technology and music education
April 24, 2008 (Computerworld)
By Sharon Gaudin
A humanoid robot will conduct the Detroit Symphony Orchestra next month, mixing two different cultures -- technology and music.

Honda Motor Co.'s Asimo robot was built to help people and to someday assist the elderly and disabled in their homes. While many features are still in development, Asimo has already become something of a robotic ambassador.

Jill Woodward, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, said she hopes having Asimo conduct a song in the sold-out May 13 concert will spark interest in science, technology and music among adults and children.
"It's an interesting marriage of technology and culture," said Woodward. "He's being programmed [to conduct the orchestra]. The musicians will have to follow him and do what he says. It will be interesting to see if he has, shall we say, a different take on the piece."

Woodward added that she hopes the robot will draw attention to the symphony's Power of Dreams music education program that is funding an effort to teach inner-city children to play stringed instruments. "Asimo inspires kids in technology, and now he's interested in music," she said, laughing.

Honda has donated more than $1 million to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for its music education fund.

Asimo will conduct the orchestra for one song -- "Impossible Dream" from the musical, Man of La Mancha. The robot also will present a lifetime achievement award to world-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who will play at the concert but will not be conducted by Asimo.

The day after his concert debut, the Asimo robot will demonstrate its conducting abilities to local music students. Yo-Yo Ma will join in to give a master class to a select group of students.

In February, Honda showed off Asimo's ability to climb stairs and run at the Kennedy Center in Washington as part of the Japan Culture and Hyperculture festival.

Honda began working on robots back in 1986, first building a pair of walking legs. In 2000, the company's engineers unveiled an early version of Asimo, or Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility. Asimo made its debut in the U.S. on Feb. 14, 2002, when it rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

Today, the robot is able to walk forward and backward, climb up and down stairs, and even run at speeds of nearly 4 miles per hour.

Over the next five years, Honda is slated to establish a program to provide private lessons to aspiring students with financial need, support the orchestra's youth ensemble performances and raise funds for efforts such as the African-American Fellowship Program.

White Gold - The True Cost Of Cotton

2008-04-17T11:38:00.001+08:00

Pick your cotton carefully.

Jimmy Kimmel Does Product Testing on Kids

2008-04-16T15:20:00.001+08:00

We should feed naughty children with wasabi cereal.

Jimmy Kimmel Does Product Testing on Kids part2

2008-04-16T15:17:00.001+08:00

Lol. How about honey bunches of chilli pepper?

Impossible students or impossible teacher?

2008-04-04T23:24:00.006+08:00

I have this secondary 1 bassoon student, whom I have not yet met. However, I have already come to find him SO annoying, pesky and rude that I am so glad I don't have to see him for more than 6hours this year.

Thank you, A.S.

No. of smses: at least 10
No. of calls: 6 of which I only picked up 1 (had no idea he called 5 more times as my phone was on silent mode and I was busy with my bassoon)

Level of irritation the above contact caused me: 9/10
Intensity of murder intent: 9/10

The SMSes
Slightly irritating: "Are you going tmr to my sch if you dun reply i m not going"
Rude: "If i dun rcv any sms from you then i m not going tmr you also dun need to go if i dun rcv any sms from you" (Er what are you talking about?)
Bizarre: "Just asking wad is ur service provides" (That sounds wrong...but I think you mean service provider.)
Rude and immensely irritating but amusing at the same: "When i called you you sound quite fierce" (punctuations please!)
Pesky: "Are you coming tmr?"
Irritating: "Sat? 10am?" (Yes for the 1000th time. Our language of communication is English, I believe.)
Making my blood boil: "Ok you sure you will come?" (I suspect that's why he asked for my service provides. Wait. Service provider, to be correct. Maybe my smses were intercepted by Aliens before it got to my student.)
Amusing: "Oh ok slp dun be angry I shall not disturb you any further Sry slp accept my forgiveness" (That was his reply to my sms - "If you continue saying or asking things that are inappropriate for a student to say, i shall reconsider teaching you. Please kindly bear this in mind." Also, stp usg abbr 2 mch it mks me dizzy. U r confsg pls n slp. Do you also want to kowtow and offer me tea?)
Irritating: "Um just to confirm is it this sat 10am?" (My smses to him got intercepted by aliens. I'm sure.)
The last straw: "You sure you tmr 10am coming?" (I am so going to give you some colours to see for our first Teacher-student meeting.)

Story of annoying student and losing-her-patience teacher to be continued...after the first meeting tomorrow. I'm sure my darling student will provide me with lots of materials to write on.
___________________________________________________

My primary 5 malay student, to whom I have to teach mathematics to, is asking me if I do feel like killing her.

Yes, I do. Sometimes.

But I can't murder my cash cow. Oh well.

She hates mathematics to the core. I even have to resort to tearing papers or looking for sweets to make mathematical concepts easier to grasp. Oh, come...on...

She also does not pay attention and whenever I ask her if she understands what I'm explaining, she says yes. Then when it comes to doing a similar question, she comes up with this "I don't understand..." pet phrase to deal with me. I so feel like a cassette recorder.

I doubt she's dumb. She simply doesn't want to understand and remember whatever was being explained. It's in one ear and out the other.

Maybe, this is a sign...that I'm not fit (enough) to be in the teaching profession.

But I should probably just take my money despite having to age 5 times faster than teaching someone who likes maths better. Sigh.

Kota Kinabalu getaway?

2008-04-03T23:41:00.014+08:00

That's Mount Kinabalu! Excellent sunrise views and scenery...But it's not quite possible to ascend to the peak without being rather advanced in rock climbing! T-T

However, there're still tons of things one could do in Kota Kinabalu if mountain climbing isn't your forte. Kayaking, diving, snorkelling, wind surfing and whatever water sports you can think of, it can be done cos this place has glorious beaches and is surrounded by some five or six small islands. Think that is enough to keep one busy for 3 or 4 days at least. Sounds so exciting! (Hm...I sound like I'm paid to promote Kota Kinabalu... :D)

As I googled Kota Kinabalu, I came across this blog that advertises on adventures to Kota Kinabalu (particularly climbing) and which comes under STB. Price seems quite steep though. Not that the mountain isn't. :p

Rappelling amidst swirling clouds sounds inviting! The rock climbing pictures are so deterring... :c
Scary!!!!!! Look at their helmets. But falling from that height sure will 脑袋开花 lor.

I wonder how sturdy these tiny bridges are...?

Really no canes...

2008-03-25T16:02:00.004+08:00

I refer to my previous post on 10th March 2008 regarding the suspension of the Jones Double Reed Products domain space.

They're officially closed as of 10th March 2008 according to a thread in the IDRS forum.

Hello All: It is with much dissappointment that I post to say that I recieved a
call from my good friend Ken Wagner to inform me of the official closing of
Jones Double Reed Products as of 3/8/2008. The is some talk that some other
company may come in to try to salvage JDRP, but as of now this is currently just
talk. I will keep you posted as things unfold.
Best Regards,

ChadTaylor
Bassoon Services723 Steamboat CtOttawa, IL 61350PH-815-343-2492

Here is the link to the IDRS forum thread on the Jones Double Reed issue.

Now, where should I get my cane supplies from? :o

Of Reeds, Music, Books and Anime...

2008-03-19T14:26:00.004+08:00

I find it a joy to make reeds at my own leisure and not being under any stress to prepare good reeds for senior recitals and the like. It is only at this time when I feel so relaxed that I can truly have the luxury of time to...try to make perfect reeds. At any other times, reed-making is a chore and can be an utterly frustrating, hair-pulling affair.

Inspired by a blog that allows cyber users to order DURIANS online, I'm now quite set on the idea of creating a blog to sell my bassoon reeds, and oboe reeds if my friends want to sell theirs. :D

Am currently studying Tchaikovsky's Symphony no.4 - playing 2nd bsn in a school orchestra concert on 9th April at Esplanade Concert Hall. Personally, it's one of the hardest symphony I've ever played. I am not very much concerned with the technical difficulties cos they will be overcome. But the 1st movement is full of hemiolas, endless dialogues between the strings, woodwinds and amongst themselves - it will require a laborious effort to make it sound decent. Even Berlin Phil couldn't do it well. How can a conductor who calls herself a policewoman and does not realise her double basses were rushing their quavers??? And that everyone is just not together?! Most of the time, she just doesn't realise how best to rehearse a student orchestra to get the desired results. Or maybe, it's empty up there.

Sibelius Symphony no.2 is nice...especially the pastoral sounds of the 1st movement. Reminds of vast green meadows and birds chirping in the dawn of day. Looking forward to hearing it live. Hee...

For book lovers, you might have heard of this FREE audiobook library online called librivox (click!). For those who haven't, it's a wonderful website that offers tons and tons of books you can download in the form of mp3s. They have such a wide range of books you'd be surprised. It ranges from bibles (yes, you read it correctly) to literature greats like Hamlet, children's stories, history books and even Princicples of Economics. I even found a collection of Beethoven's letters. I'm currently listening to Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice". The first 3 chapters were read by an Englishwoman, which suited me very well. However, I can't say the same for the rest of the book for they were read by Americans. Not very nice for a story written by an English novelist. It loses its flavour. Like putting bah kwa into clam chowder.

I'm totally hooked to Naruto now. I don't have to say more. ;)

Senior recital 13.03.08

2008-03-14T12:12:00.006+08:00

It is finally over...

Was really nervous for the 1st half of the recital, so my favourite piece by Hummel wasn't played nicely...but kind of settled in for the 2nd half and started enjoying playing the pieces. To me, there were a few funny moments...

I was halfway through the 1st piece of the 2nd half when my mouth and throat were so dry it could combust in flames. And the stage crew brought my water bottle in backstage by mistake. So I had no water onstage and was so desperate. I took a look at my reed soaker... drink it or run in backstage to drink after this variation VI? Haha. Of cos running in in the midst of playing was impossible and it was too gross to drink the water in my reed soaker, so I tried picturing chocolate in front of me. It worked!!! Hehehe...

The other one was when I was moving so much that I almost lost my balance and quickly shifted my weight backwards to prevent me from tripping over myself in the middle of my playing. Lol.

Oh, my friend had used her phone to take some videos of me playing (the Variations and the Trio). Will post it when I get it from her!

Doing a 1hour solo recital is no joke. It's so physically & mentally tiring and the experience was so intense that after I had gone to bed, my mind was still going through all that had happened at the recital. So that kept me up till early this morning before I could finally get some sleep. Conclusion: Solo recitals are bad for health.

My friend thinks that I'm more comfortable playing with people than alone by myself. I totally agree. However, I'm glad I had a chance to push my limits - to see whether I am a solo material. Apparently not. But no regrets whatsoever. I'm still glad I did this performance degree though. A very special experience. :) Credits go to my teachers in school, friends in school who shared with me days of good and bad, friends outside who support me by helping me with getting a bassoon, reed-making tools and canes and lastly my parents who gave me their support and totally liked my recital. My dad gave me full marks for my recital. :D

Next, it's stepping out into the real world and searching for the "perfect" jobfit. Of cos it'll never be perfect. Well, still have a few months to muse. :)

No canes!

2008-03-10T22:58:00.004+08:00

Dear old Jones Double Reed Co. has forgotten to pay for their domain space at http://www.jonesdoublereed.com/ and it has been suspended until...they pay up lah. All of us can't get our canes now since they only take orders online via the website.

What might happen months down the road if Jones still doesn't pay for its domain space:
(assuming Jones is the best cane available and the most preferred brand)

1 month: People who make their own reeds stop selling reeds. Income is reduced.

Students start buying commercially-made reeds like Rico for instance. Playing is compromised.

3 months: Bassoonists start to run out of reeds to play. Recycle reeds. Playing is very compromised. Overall pitch of orchestra and band is super compromised to 438Hz. (old reeds play flat)

6months: Bassoonists go on strike until they have new reeds made from Jones canes. Orchestras and Bands have to fly bassoonists in from other places (given that they don't play on Jones reeds). Those on low budget cancel concerts due to lack of the important bassoon section.

Music scene comes to a standstill. No people go for concerts. Restaurants and shops in the arts hub face difficulties. Gigsters have no income at all. S'pore's economy falls into a slump due to consumers' reduced expenditure and careful spending.

See how important bassoonists are? Don't take them for granted ok...reeds are most important to a bassoonist. Good reeds are hard to come by and they have to come from good quality cane.

So, help Jones get back into business by sending in your donations now! :D

Almenraeder's way of reed-making

2008-03-09T14:15:00.007+08:00

This excerpt's taken from an article written by Gerald E. Corey in the IDRS Journal...

(Forming the reed)
When you think the cane is ready to be folded, take a knife with a rectangular end and notch the rear of the cane (here Almenraeder means to score the tube section at the bottom only, as in his drawing, Table IV, Fig 5). The flatter the two halves are against each other at point 'a' and 'b', the better the prospect for a good reed. (See Table IV, Figs. 4 and 7.) Shape the other side of the reed blade to match the already shaped side and bind the halves together tightly (as shown in Fig. 5.).

Immerse the bound reed in water for about five minutes, and after greasing the mandrel force it between the two halves being careful not to push the mandrel quite as far into the reed as is tied with the string. If the cane has been gouged properly, the two halves will round out about the mandrel equally.

Using a wire which has had its temper removed and is flexible, attach it to the middle of the reed just where the string wrapped around it comes to an end. Unwind the string and push this wire into place as shown in Table IV, Fig. 1, at 'h' and 'i', tightening the wire again with the pliers.
Score the reed across 1/4-inch below the first wire, using the three-cornered file, so that the second wire once fastened into position will not be able to move. About four windings from the very bottom of the reed score the bark again so that when string is rewound onto the reed it will not slip.

After greasing the mandrel again, fasten the ring of it into the vise and place the reed on the mandrel. With a waxed cord, begin to bind the reed as tightly as possible, starting downwards from the second wire ring. The tighter this binding is made the less opportunity the two reed blades have to slip. If the reed does not come off the mandrel with ease, gently squeeze the cheeks of the reed and it will slip off readily.

With the reed held at the binding between the thumb and forefinger so that the flat part rests on the base of the thumb, and using a slender pen knife, carefully peel the bark off from the area 'f' and 'g'. File smooth any unevenness which remains.
Dampen the blades of the reed and place them upon a flat chopping block. Using a razor pressed against the tip of the blades, separate the halves of the reed by hitting the razor with a small hammer. The reed's tip will now have the shape of Fig. 4. If the two halves are more open than is illustrated in Fig. 3, correct this by squeezing the first wire ring. If the sides, on the other hand, be too close together, they can be opened by pressing with the pliers at points 'h' and 'i'.

(Scraping the reed)
With slightly dampened shave grass which has been squeezed flat, scrape the inside of the reed as far as it is possible to enter. Now try the reed on the bassoon to determine if the high or the low range responds best. If the low register is difficult, the fault is due to the wood being too thick near the first wire. In this case the reed is filed in this area on both blades, care being taken that a gradual taper to the tip is maintained.

When response is difficult in the upper register, more wood should be removed from the tip area of both blades. Generally speaking, the tip of the reed blades should approximate the thickness of writing paper, thickening gradually all the way to the first wire.

Scrape both sides of the reed (see Fig. 6, 'k' and 'l') a little thinner than the middle thickness of the reed. Caution must be taken that the reedmaker observe the solidity of the cane with which he works, always bearing in mind the hardness of the wood being worked. Incidentally, it is best to have the sides of the reed of equal thickness (see Fig. 8). It must be emphasized that enough thickness must be retained in the area of 'o' and 'p', (Fig. 8) to give the reed the needed power and strength. Additional ease of response can be assured by filing the inside of the reed with shave grass, always with the reed damp.

If all the foregoing instructions have been carefully observed, the reed should now be ready for use. During the first four, five or six days reeds undergo many changes. The blades may spread too far apart or come too close together. Adjustments can readily be made by following the previously given instructions. Reeds have a tendency to become stronger after the first few days' use. When this occurs scrape towards the tip of the blades as often as necessary using shave grass. A little wood may also be removed from the sides of the reed.

Any accumulation of food particles on the inside of the reed may be removed by using a chicken feather, and if the reed is used a great amount it should be aired out.

If by chance, during the gouging process, the cane which now lies near the first ring has remained too thick, the reed will not produce the lower tones on the bassoon freely. The blades will not vibrate freely or respond easily to the breath. To overcome this difficulty I have found it advisable to push the first wire ring closer to the second.

Should the opposite condition prevail, that is, too much wood gouged from the cane and the higher tones do not respond correctly the reed may be improved by pushing the first ring up towards the tip of the reed.

A word of caution: do not tamper with the ring too much. It is best to leave the ring in its original place, but if movement of the ring is needed, care should be taken to move it as little as possible. The finished reed must have the shape of the illustrated reed shown at Fig. 9.

Phone call from a friendly Indian man...

2008-03-07T14:04:00.003+08:00

Me: Hello?
Indian: Allo...(interrupted by bad phone reception) may i speak to @#*$&(#% ...?
Me (cannot make out who he's asking for) : Who are you looking for?
Indian: Alloou....can i speak to mr mohammed -something- ?
Me: Wrong number.
Indian: Is this 6#######?
Me: Yes.
Indian: Then can i speak to mr !*&%&##^&?
Me: Who are you looking for? (getting impatient)
Indian: Can i speak to mr ($&%^#(?
Me: Er...are you looking for Mr Y?
Indian: Yes. %$(%*&%(#
Me: He's not at home.
Indian: Are you @(*$*&#%^_!... ?
Me: Are you....wat??
Indian: Do you understand English ???
Me (irritated): I don't understand it cos your accent is so strong.
Indian: ...... (and hung up)

That was quite rude of me. But you funny guy. You asking me if I understand English?!
What else could I have responded in that situation? *roll eyes*

Newest batch of reeds!

2008-03-05T13:52:00.017+08:00

These 6 new reeds I made (from the last remaining stock of reed blanks). All appear satisfactory other than for 2 whose blades don't really meet perfectly. This time round, I had taken extra care to make sure the line I cut in the centre of the blade is straight - marking the centre line and bending the reed blank over the edge of a knife. Otherwise, your reed might have this kind of opening after it's cut open... (( or )) :c

This is about the most important/difficult step from my experience, since this line will determine whether both blades of your reed will meet perfectly. If they do, you'll have a well-balanced reed to start with. If not, you'll have a hard time trying to adjust a badly-formed reed. Bending the reed blank over a knife reduces that possibility of making a badly-formed reed by 60% as compared to the method of using the knife to mark a straight and fine 'cut', which almost always ends up with a smiley )) , sad (( or confused S reed.

Side-view. Trying to show what I mean by blades which meet perfectly and those which don't. However, pics taken by a 3.2megapix camera apparently cannot make it. Top-view. There are only 2 reeds here which have slightly smiley mouths...again camera cannot make it.

Well...IT Fair's starting tomorrow!!! :p

Rehearsals

2008-02-28T22:30:00.013+08:00

I had senior recital rehearsals both yesterday and today. Yesterday's was satisfactory, while today's is as though I don't know the bassoon. :( Exaggerated, but you get the idea.

I felt more relaxed the day before...it was in zhang's studio and i slept well the previous night. Lips weren't tired (practiced 2hours before that), reed was not resistant at all, though slightly on the insensitive side.

Today...the reed (new one) was rather taxing :f for me as it was 15 cents flat - I had to clamp down on my reed more than usual. So, I approached the concert hall with the worry that my pitch will be atrocious and I am going to be so tired from clamping on my reed so much that I will not have enough lip strength to last long. On top of that, a book gave me the brilliant idea that simulating a nervous and freezing me would allow me to experience the worst case scenario, which would 'hopefully' give me less cause for subjecting myself to the psychological torture on the actual day since I'd have already been through it all. Well, I had my worst case scenario now. Let's hope it will only be better! *keeping my fingers crossed* :y

Also, I've been told not to practice too much. All I should ever do is eat well, sleep well, be healthy, maintain my stamina, and seek musical inspiration. But it seems I've not had any inspiration for a looooong loooooooooooong time, so much so that I suspected if I even had it in the first place. Playing band music does not help. Perhaps, I shouldn't blame it on the band music. It does have something to do with your musical upbringing since young, I reckon. By that I mean who started you on the instrument and the music you come to play everyday for the next few formative years of your playing. Bad habits are the hardest to kick and I'm still learning to unlearn it... :z

Get out of here!

2008-02-25T22:27:00.006+08:00

Yeah. Life is like a box of chocolates.

The arrogant pig has somehow declared himself king here. Don't f***ing come here and treat yourself like the emperor. I don't care how you were treated in China or even in this freaking school. This is NOT CHINA and definitely not YOUR territory cos anyone who has a wee bit of decency or manners will not condone your rotten behaviour, which reminds me of dogs which pee everywhere they like to declare them as THEIR territories.

With people like you and numerous others who are equally lacking in their characters, a gazillion rules would not stop these people from behaving like animals. They cheat, they lie, they steal, they bully...

Pls get out of Singapore.

-My Dartboard-

Toto!

2008-02-23T08:49:00.008+08:00

Was this CLOSE to having a millionaire in my family on 21st Feb. Pffft...
And so the talk of the day and the day after was all about how we could have been winners of at least 1 million. Man...I'm sure this talk will last a few more days at least. -.-"'

Frankly that day when I was queueing up to buy Toto, I was quite surprised to see how young the folks betting on Toto and 4D have gotten. Even teens were betting. Then again, young people just WANT to dabble in anything and everything. Not that I'm not young...my schoolmates are all telling me I'm looking younger leh. Hehehehehehehehehehehehe!

Oh, when I had to ask my younger sis the gambler on how to buy Quickpick, she tells me I should go and 撞墙死掉算了啦。

Yeah. After you. :D

Friendly neighbors

2008-02-14T01:24:00.002+08:00

Some people should know that it is not very pleasant to not give warnings and call the cops the moment their total peace and quiet is at risk. I got such a friendly visit from the cops, (well, technically they visited my sister instead, coz I was busy cleaning my bassoon and didn't hear them knocking at our door numerous times), whose purpose was to relay my neighbors' messages that I should not be playing a music instrument until so late in the night.

How late is late? The time your schooling children go to bed? Or when you working adults go to bed? Or is it just an excuse to shut out anything that disturbs your peace and quiet regardless of what activity you're engaged in at that moment?

Please just confront me. It has a better effect than calling the poor cops. Even though they're public servants.

Death Note parody TRANSLATED debu note

2007-12-13T15:23:00.001+08:00

Ryuk...! LOL!

萧敬腾PK战全记录1/7 2007/05/11

2007-12-04T02:43:00.001+08:00

帅呆了！歌声太有爆发力...I LIKE...!!!

Funny indian commercials

2007-11-25T05:26:00.001+08:00

I say these are even more entertaining than wat we have here...

Indian prank call: You Kicked My Dog

2007-11-25T05:20:00.001+08:00

Camlin Marker Funny Indian Commercial Advertisement

2007-11-25T05:09:00.001+08:00

LOL!

Peugeot 206 (INDIA)

2007-11-25T05:05:00.001+08:00

Siao eh...

Funny Indian Ad

2007-11-25T05:01:00.001+08:00

Darlie can take this. Hehe...

Lust | Caution

2007-11-24T02:44:00.000+08:00

One of the nicest movies I've watched. Though there're E.X.P.L.I.C.I.T. sex scenes, they're all part of a rather good plot imo...rather than those R21 films which just show sex without the plot. The ending left me feeling slightly sad though.

The BIG BIG question is: Did TL really enter KW??? (it looks real to me. but then again, what do I know? B))

And WOW...that quail-egg sized diamond ring! I "Wah-ed" so loudly myself. Which sane girl wouldn't?!?! Even KW got so touched by it she betrayed her comrades and got themselves shot the japanese fashion at a scary quarry. Hah.

Also...don't find an ABC who's not going to act as an ABC. It was so strange hearing LH speak.

Did I also mention that KW is SO gorgeous? (O.O)

Who blogs?

2007-11-23T00:13:00.000+08:00

The best way to make your blog a ghost site is to NOT update regularly. :p
Well, i'm neither overseas, a loafer, a self-important person, or have nothing better to do. That explains the sparse entries recently. Hm...so what was I in the days of religiously updating my blog?

Why do people blog then? And I wonder if people EVER wrote diaries or daily journals in the first place. I used to buy pretty diaries when I was a teenager. However, the fire in me always dies within the first paragraph and those poor diaries would then be banished to my ignored items corner. *Oh Gosh. That was so many years back...*

So (by assuming diaries back then equates the online blogs of today) if I am normal, and I don't write diaries, then are people who blog abnormal? --- p.s. That sounds vaguely reminiscent of Carrie Bradshaw's column "Sex and the City". Btw, I recently became a Sex and the City addict. Still am. :D --- Back to the question. I guess a mathematical formula is due here to make that hypothesis, but then I'll be taking it too far and that makes me less normal, so I'll stop at that.

Right. Some bits and pieces of the past few months of my life for people whom I've not been in touch with for a long time:

*Warning: Strangers keep away. Uninteresting content below. Read at your own risk*

School was busy - so busy that it made me wonder what is really different this semester? Only that I have a German module...but I have no more theory and history classes. The hours roughly equate. Or was I very slack for the erm...past 2 years??? *Gulp* In any case, school was satisfying for the most part although I've had my share of disappointments too. Oh, I did surprisingly well for my German exams despite my instincts plus my 3-4 years of no German. *BEAM* The best performance I've had in this semester was my wwind quintet's performance of Carl Nielsen's Wind Quintet Op.43. That was probably my last quintet performance in school. I suppose I'll be put into the Poulenc Trio group (!!!) next semester...but under the same teacher. Hmm... Got an email from school asking me if I'll be interested in a musicology module next sem. Sounds interesting as there is some research topic that we need to present on. Then again, I need to concentrate on preparing for my graduation recital on 13 Mar 08...so early leh... and the *toot toot toot* studio get the April dates! I wonder if there is some sort of conspiracy there. Or is their teacher going to be gallivanting before that? A*******

Ok, enough abnormality for one day. ;)

German

2007-10-22T01:06:00.000+08:00

I had to do a really difficult german language test last Friday...

Realised that my knowledge of german vocabulary is far from sufficient at this level. I had a 'Schreibaufgabe', which means I had to write a few paragraphs. The topic was on my opinion towards male and female drivers. Hahaha. Niemann would think I only know the words 'gefährlich' and 'ungefährlich' when she reads what I wrote. Aaaahhh...Studying overnight and not sleeping is so bad for the brain. Mine had already gone on strike like the Deutsche Bahn folks by the time of the test. Sigh...

Na ja...ich werde überleben! (Stimmt das?)

Reeds for sale

2007-10-18T03:03:00.001+08:00

Bassoon reeds* for sale!!!

*these are reeds guaranteed to play. customization possible upon request. orders should ideally be made at least 2 weeks in advance. however, emergency orders will be entertained if there is stock available. :)

interested, please leave me a message on my tagboard!

Updated

2007-10-16T22:00:00.000+08:00

Like this new blogskin...
Ignore the words cos it's irrelevant plus it's not even my creation. :)

Click on the links to the right to navigate! (about/tag/links/credit/past)

Met an old friend who's temp-ing in the school now...nice to see one friendly and familiar face around in that cold building. All the best for your audition! To hell with reality. Go chase your dreams...for now. :p

What can I do 7 months from now?

2007-09-01T00:41:00.000+08:00

Think I'll close this blog...

:(

Hokkien Photographer

2007-08-29T23:01:00.000+08:00

No manners!

2007-08-29T00:35:00.000+08:00

Singaporeans are always rushing to somewhere. So they can get rather impatient when they don't have their way...literally. I nearly walked into this middle-aged lady while crossing the road. She simply wanted no obstructions in her way and I got the loud 'TSK' and 'STUPID' exclamations coming from her mouth. That really pissed me off. Now, am cold and hungry and pissed. Rainy days don't make my mood very good especially when I'm too lazy to go out in the stormy weather just to get some food. The scattered-brain me also boarded a bus and told the bus driver to stop and let me alight cos I couldn't find my wallet. Thought I'd left it in the computer lab in school. Just when I got down and rummaged through my bag again, I found it. The day didn't start too well and didn't end too well either. Except for a rather good bassoon lesson I had today. :)

Anyway, back to that auntie on the street. I don't think she was rushing to her parent's deathbed. Neither did she look like she was going for some important business meeting. Why the rush, auntie? Even if you really HAVE to rush to somewhere and I was blocking your way, you didn't have to be so irritated. If you would not be so irritable, I am quite sure you'll also be a happier person. Auntie ah, li bo ga si ah...! Tsk!

Perhaps I can forgive that auntie lah. Courtesy Lion campaigns weren't yet concocted by the gahmen in her youth.

Which tree represents you?

2007-08-28T01:47:00.000+08:00

Look at your birth dates and choose the corresponding tree that represents you!
It's mostly true for me... :)

Click on the pictures to see a larger view.

2007-08-28T00:00:00.000+08:00

Drama during Noon Recital 27 Aug

I thought the year 1 violinist had seizures when he didn't appear onstage after the audience waited for more than 5mins. Some students were probably too bored and started applauding. Turned out that the violinist had a broken string and was changing it backstage. I bet he was practicing so hard that his string broke. No surprise since it was a Paganini caprice.
But still... T_T"'

First bassoon studio class this semester

Quite a fresh start. He asked the two year 1s to play their audition pieces and asking us to comment...but er...in the end, he hardly asked for our opinions.

He wanted someone to demonstrate the orchestral excerpts the junior year students had to play for orchestra placement. Named someone who doesn't even want to play in the orchestra and hasn't touched his bassoon for 5months, asked another who didn't have his instrument with him to play, and everyone pushed it away until the cow farmer shouted out my name. Why is it that I'm his last choice? :( I shall prove you wrong...

Speaking of proving him wrong - both joints on my left thumb hurt. It feels 'dislocated'. I can't have been practicing too much cos I have played even more during the CISMA camp. Must be the toccata and fugue lah!!! Imagine having to play this: la-so-la-fa-la-mi-la-re-la-d0#-la-re-la-mi-la-fa-la-la(8ve lower)-la-si-la-do#-la-re-la-do#-la-re-la-mi-la-fa__

Who wants to go to the one-night only Vienna State Opera performance? There's the Russian National concert in Oct I think. Any interested parties?

以牙还牙

2007-08-25T11:55:00.000+08:00

*An eye for an eye*

Am just not willing to waste my time over irresponsible people like you. I shan't be trampled on by parents who think tutors are just maids they hire to sit beside their kids to watch them do work. We value-add ok! *snort*

German

2007-08-25T11:35:00.000+08:00

German 5 class yesterday felt rather scary to me...even before it started. However, as N**mann began the class, it seemed ok cos I found myself understanding what she was trying to say most of the time. Heh heh. Surprise surprise. I also found a familiar face in my class - a particular person from *PO. Was it my fear of those people who simply come into a class with the aim of outperforming the rest or is it just her? I found myself liking her less as we got through the 4hours of german. Ugh. Kept talking nonstop and would grab whatever chance there is to speak or ask a question. Arrogant schwein.

2007-08-23T02:26:00.000+08:00

Oh dear.

I wore my top inside-out for half a day. Only when I buttoned up did I realise it.
"Hm...why is my button so funny?" (flip the ends of my top inside out to see)
"EEEEEKS!" (rushed off to nearest toilet to change)

Aiyo eh...need to do a brain-scan man.

Farewell...

2007-08-23T02:11:00.000+08:00

Sent C off yesterday and gave her a sweater as a farewell present. Glad that she can finally study flute overseas. Do make full use of this precious experience! Am also sad cos she'll no longer be around to do suppers, go on fun outings together and to argue with.

The school's so boring now that my gang has all left school to pursue further studies or work. Sigh. I gotta get used to it and find new lunch and dinner kakis! :(

All the best to you all who're overseas following your dreams!
And don't lose your instruments!

881

2007-08-23T00:11:00.000+08:00

Watched 881 over the weekend - So Singaporean...but better than JN's.

Some catchphrases from the movie:
"Techno ChiKoPek"
"Po Jiao" - There's a Leading 'chicken' in the movie haha.
"Techno Bitch"
"Hit the little man 'tao', hit the little man 'chui', hit the little man 'ka'..." LOL.

If you like Singaporean humour and can understand some Hokkien, it's a nice show to watch. It's hilarious. :D

Random

2007-08-21T01:16:00.000+08:00

**Ab-Bb trill fingering: Bb fingering, trill G key**

I've forgotten the above trill fingering for at least 3years man...cos the other puchner I used to play on has the Ab-Bb trill key. My bassoon doesn't have it. :

Finally! Studio classes are going to be held on Monday nights! No more rushing to school on Saturday noons... :)

I gotta stop buying stuff on impulse.
Just awhile at the bazaar and Co-op made me spend over $60...Schaum's German Vocabulary study guide, post-its, instant mashed potatoes, biscuits, Nintendo Monopoly, One-plank Bridge puzzle, mints. The monopoly and puzzle games were ridiculously cheap lor. I need to brush up on my german vocabulary (Schaum's is quite good!). Food to store in my locker when I'm too lazy to leave the Conservatory to buy food. Post-its are for reminding me the To-Do's...no choice since I'm getting senile...

Managed to adjust a pzzzzzzt reed quite successfully today. Perhaps I should make a video of my reed-making/scraping processes so I'll remember what adjustments I did. I'm senile, remember? Who knows I might even be able to sell these reed-making videos in future!

Reeds that have no buzz to it sound too 'slow and stupid' whereas reeds that are too buzzy are immensely difficult to control. Especially one that's stiff also. Can't recall how exactly I made it less buzzy, but the trick to scraping reeds is to be even and careful - too many scrapes or too localised scrapings will only cause the reed to be bumpy, collapse and be unplayable. Having the dial indicator might speed up the process, but it makes me prone to do alot of localised scrapings. Perhaps I shouldn't get it anytime soon.

2007-08-19T02:04:00.001+08:00

Maybe I should really keep quiet during quintet.

I think a chamber coach who doesn't get to see what happens during her students' quintet rehearsals is unable to give a true reflection of their chamber music skills in terms of grades. And some people who don't actually contribute ideas get credited for it. Whereas the ones who did got lower grades (from the past sem results). She simply awards grades based on one's skills on his/her instrument - which I think is reserved for their instrument major teachers instead. But how well the student can demonstrate those ideas on his instrument also plays a huge part. Even if you contributed the idea and you can't materialise it, that's as good as nothing.

So, perhaps the only way to go is to contribute my ideas during class...but it's way too selfish and doesn't help the quintet...

_________________________________________________________

I can quite successfully turn a thick-sounding reed to a relatively good reed now.
The problem lies with the buzzy-sounding reeds after going to the guillotine. Attempts to make them un-buzzy have been mostly fruitless. In the end, they can't really play. Doshitei? 1 reed blank 5bucks lor. I wasted 10bucks already. :(

:(

2007-08-19T01:35:00.000+08:00

What am I doing?

She is fussy. Or am I just not playing well enough at this stage?

Any use of practicing every night until I get thrown out of the practice rooms?

Too many questions and no answers now.

:(((

狗狗猩猩大冒險

2007-08-16T14:32:00.001+08:00

Funny chimp!

Pankun 阿笨阿占

2007-08-16T14:12:00.001+08:00

^_^

Pankun 阿笨阿占

2007-08-16T14:11:00.001+08:00

^_^

Wang Liang - Oboe

2007-08-15T12:32:00.001+08:00

He's my age... :|

AYMC

2007-08-15T00:25:00.000+08:00

That Asian youth music competition was one bizarre affair.
Audience - mostly PRCs, were walking in and out of the theatre at Suntec Convention Centre, with bowls of instant noodles and drinks in their hands, talking loudly, hopping in and out like they're at a picnic. People are even more well-behaved than that in cinemas here.
Gosh.

Contestants were young kids, mostly from China. One 8yr old girl played 东方之珠 accompanied by.......a CD. I even recall hearing this song on 安培那杯儿童karaoke when I was a kid! So farnie...There were alot of contestants who did the *ahem* Instrumental Karaoke and also looked like they were going to perform for 七月歌台 - one particular boy looked like a chinaman who accidentally time travelled to the victorian times and was trying too hard to blend in. Wah Lau...

Ridiculous...After listening to 2hours of crap, we finally saw Luis coming onstage. The Mozart sounded good, though a little reserved and on the soft side. Hey, too bad you were sandwiched between 2 saxophonists - Mr Casablanca and Mr Paganini - they're simply TOO loud.

Tired. Will post the video and sound clips tomorrow. :p

Personality Test

2007-08-13T00:12:00.001+08:00

Symbol test - Which symbol appeals to you the most?

Choose the symbol that you like best and then the one that you like second best. Don't allow any intellectualization about it, just make a quick and simple choice. Afterwards read the analysis and explanations.

*Scroll down for the analysis*

My choice: 1.Squiggle 2.Triangle

Squares feel most comfortable with a stable environment and clear directions on what to do. They are conservative and like things that are regular and orderly. If given a task they will work on it until it is finished, even if it is repetitious, cumbersome and lonely.

Rectangles like structure and regularity. But they will better establish it with organization, meetings, committees and so forth. This will have to be done the proper way, taking all rules and regulations into consideration. If given a task they will start organizing it to be sure it can be done the most systematic way.

Triangles are goal oriented. They enjoy planning something out and then doing it. They get motivated by the accomplishment. They will tend to look at long-term issues, but might forget the details. When given a task they will set a goal and work on a plan for it.

Circles are social and communicative. No hard edges. They handle things by talking about them and smoothing things out with everybody. Communication is the first priority, and making sure there is harmony. When given a task they will talk about it.

Squiggles are off-the-wall and creative. They feel best doing new things and get bored with regularity. When given a task they will come up with bright ideas about it.

The square, rectangle and triangle are all convergent. They are working towards something specific and finite, and they do it in a logical and systematic way. But they might be lacking in personal creativity.

The circle and squiggle are divergent. They are creative, extroverted, and intuitive. They will reach out around them into new areas and to other people. But they aren't particularly systematic or dependable.

This categorization is very useful for evaluating people for job positions or for finding out how well people will work together. If you really need something specific done, the square is most likely to do it exactly as specified. Squares will work great in the accounting department. If things need to be organized amongst a group of people, then the rectangle is most likely to make that happen. A triangle might be a good executive, setting goals and making sure they are met. The circle will be good at public relations. If anything new is needed a squiggle is the person for the job. Advertising, problem solving etc.

The different categories of people might often get into conflicts with each other if they don't realize that they each work differently. The convergent people might get frustrated that the divergent ones don't care about deadlines. The divergent people might find the convergent ones cold and narrow minded, not taking human factors and new possibilities into consideration.

These categorizations can tell us a person's preferred method of working with something.

A square will need fairly specific instructions. They are not happy just floating around, not knowing where they are going. A square will feel good about being presented with a technique and carrying it through until it is done. It doesn't matter much if it is repetitious, regularity is a source of comfort. For a square it is a good idea to have more of a formal routine, certain rituals that are repeated.

A rectangle needs to see how things are organized. Rectangles enjoy understanding the principles of what they are doing. The rectangle will feel comfortable knowing and noticing that systematic techniques are being used and that they have names and so forth.

A triangle needs to make goals and accomplishments. They would appreciate making a list of tasks and then checking them off. It should always be clear what the underlying intention is for each task. If the direction is agreed upon, the triangle can be quite flexible on how the task is to be accomplished.

A circle doesn't need a plan or a system. They prefer to talk about whatever is at hand. Achieving harmony is more important than using the right procedures or techniques.

A squiggle must be presented with new and different things. Unexpected perspectives and angles are what motivates them. It is perfectly fine if no procedure is defined and every session is different. They are flexible and avoid preconceived ideas about where they will end up.

If it isn't already apparent, there is no value judgment connected with each category. None of them are better than the other. Each one is a somewhat fragmented package and has qualities that are better for certain purposes.

Scatter-brained

2007-08-12T15:47:00.000+08:00

Suddenly realised that the staff access card is still with me!!!
Crap...getting more scatter-brained.

Must pass it to my ex-colleague asap.

Bizarre placements

2007-08-12T00:43:00.000+08:00

Couldn't quite contain my disbelief when I saw the placement lists for orchestra and chamber this semester. I'm neither placed in the orchestra nor the new music ensemble for the first concert. Yet, I'm in R's chamber group. 唐三藏 forever trapped in 白骨精的魔掌...*Boohoo*

I don't want so much free time lor...and the placements for all the winds are so odd. So many young birds in there. Good luck...Wyh.

Never mind...die die also must fight to play 1st for Eroica and the other Mozarts in the November concert.

Senior recital pieces......hea..d...ache.......

Problem kid

2007-08-11T23:59:00.000+08:00

My student sat in the practice room holding her bassoon for 2hours today without even attempting to 'borh' her bassoon. Neither did she answer me when I posed her questions. Except fiddling with the silly B flat key...

Me: Can you play all the notes that you have learnt up till now?
Student: *sits down there fiddling her Bb key and doesn't move otherwise*
Me: Can you play all the notes that you have learnt up till now?
Student: *silence*
Me: Have you forgotten all I've taught you?
Student: *silence*
Me: Just play whatever you know...
Student: *looks at her bassoon and fiddles with the keys*
Me: Ok...You decide whether you want to play the bassoon or pack your bassoon and go home.
Student: *Silence...continues fiddling with bassoon*
Me: ...You want to play or go home?
Student: *continues playing dumb and deaf*
.
.
.
.
I was sick of repeating myself and went about making my reeds. So when the 1hour was up, I told her to pack up and go home...the 2nd hour passed and she ......... STILL SAT DOWN THERE FIDDLING WITH HER BASSOON!!!!!!

I finally raised my voice a little..."You've been sitting here for 2 hours...Go pack up NOW." After a while longer, she finally moved her butt slowly, kept her bassoon and got out of the room quietly...

If she was my junior in secondary school, my reaction would have been oh-so-different.
Now, I have to coax and beg..."Play a little louder....come on...push more air... just hold it a little longer...yes! that's good! now let's try the next note..."

Am I a bad teacher? Is that why she's behaving this way?
Someone should set up a special class for these problem kids who play dumb and deaf and are lazy.

Oh, did I also mention that she cancels my lessons with her every alternate week?

2007-08-10T13:52:00.000+08:00

Is there anything more painful than losing someone you love deeply? She just lost her boyfriend of 7yrs. The guy said he's sick and tired of the relationship and wishes to concentrate on his career for now. 7 yr itch? Whatever.

It pains me to see her cry herself to sleep, wake up and break into tears again...
Seeing her reminds me that my problem is so microscopic, yet I still cannot help feeling upset sometimes...

Sigh...

Musings

2007-08-10T00:48:00.000+08:00

Listening to my newfound favourite jazz artist, Tony O'Malley's Autumn Leaves as I type this...

Should I go for the Tasmanian Music Festival?

No:

The orchestra wasn't any good according to those who were there last year.
I have to drop my Japanese language module in NUS - a few hundred points gone.
Not enough time to prepare for the National Piano and Violin concerto competition pieces.
It's not fully sponsored.
No friends going with me.

Yes:

Get to go overseas - been wanting to do that for a long time.
Bring my bassoon on her virgin music festival overseas.
Get some quality alone time to sort out my thoughts.
Networking.
Opportunities.

What should my decision be...?___________________________________________________

Relationships are so fragile. Love between friends, Love between lovers...can be so volatile that's akin to a delicate chemistry experiment. Some chemical reactions are irreversible - and if it's unfavourable, too bad then. Let it be a lesson. I'm afraid there're certain chemicals which we will never be able to find out their entire set of properties in our time - it's just not meant for us to discover. When the right scientist comes along, it will happen like how the right key fits into the right lock at the right time.

Guys can be quite hard-hearted when it comes to relationships. (Girls are too soft-hearted!!!) There are just too many differences between guys and girls - the way their minds and hearts operate. It sometimes takes a few failed relationships to realise just some of the many differences. But personalities also matter alot.

So complicated.

Humans aren't without flaws and you got to accept them in their entireties - more so for lovers. I guess that is the rest test.

Understand.
Communicate.
Share.
Trust.
Cherish...

2007-08-02T22:31:00.000+08:00

我最讨厌有些人只会坐在一旁指挥别人而不帮忙

又有一些人不自动，不会帮忙就算了。。。还帮倒忙。

咳。。。

还有啊，我越看他的嘴巴越想笑，一直在twitch不停。但是又不能不看，因为他在说话嘛。不看又没礼貌。。。看了又要强忍住笑。真烦。

他现在有一个新奴隶不用，一直叫我帮他做这个、做那个。连倒水也只叫我做。
那你请她来做啥？！

*#($)@*#&$^%^@*

Pankun and James: shopping for shoes

2007-08-02T00:34:00.001+08:00

阿笨is so funny!

Concert Review: Hey Figaro!

2007-07-29T17:32:00.000+08:00

I bought tickets to Hey Figaro! thinking it's another usual opera production and to my disappointment, it wasn't.

Firstly, I was sitting at the balcony next to the stage at circle 3. View was, as they say, RESTRICTED.

William Lim's entrance as a 'conductor' gave me a nice surprise - it was rather comical actually.

Next, the curtain rolled up and bodies were lying around on stage props. Ok, I understand it's a prelude...

But when I saw Elvis, Cowboy and a 70s' starlet strolling out on stage and Elvis doing the Saturday Night Fever dance, I was...dumbstruck.

You can probably imagine me cringing throughout the entire performance. Figaro came out dressed like Chao Ah Beng with the bling bling accessories, chao ah beng dancing in the arms of Elvis, the 70s' starlet (Rosina) blurting out an antique cantonese song in an italian opera - ok, I thought the song was funny in that context - SM starring Dr. Bartolo and Rosina, appropriately decked in a tight black leather dress. It was bordering on absurdity.

No doubt Il Barbiere di Siviglia is an opera buffa (comic opera), but the garish costumes, silly dance moves were simply distasteful.

On the other hand, I thought TPO did a great job - the orchestra has a very nice, mostly well-balanced and blended sound. Despite some mispitches from the horns and a little tempo disagreement among the orchestra members, it was a very pleasant experience. Well done.

However much I disliked the modern twist to what's going on onstage, most of the opera singers were fantastic. Especially Liang Ning (Rosina), Saran Suebsantiwongse (Fiorello), Yungbae Yang (Figaro) and Dominique Morlez. Fiorello left a very deep impression on me with his great voice and ability in following the orchestra. Liang Ning's vocals are one of the best I've ever heard so far. Great techniques...though she would be more suitable for the role of Madam Butterfly.

Hope to see another performance of Il Barbiere di Siviglia faithful to the traditions sometime in the future.

Upcoming Concerts

2007-07-29T15:55:00.000+08:00

Thank God I've still got student concession...anyone feeling poor?

Not very impressed by Nina Kotova when she played with SSO...hmz.

Yong Siew Toh Conservatory Orchestra
15 Sep 2007 Sat, 7:30PM

Music Director: Wang Ya Hui
Violin: Zuo Jun
Viola: Zhang Manchin

Strauss - Emperor Waltz, Op. 437
Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat major for Violin & Viola, K. 364
Stravinsky - Firebird Suite (1919)

Vienna State Opera
26 Sep, Wed 7.30pm
Le Nozze di Figaro

synopsis
An Opera Buffa (Comic Opera) in four acts, with text by Lorenzo da Ponte and music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Le Nozze di Figaro is a "sequel" to The Barber of Seville. It recounts a crazy day in the palace of the Count Almaviva with risque, sparkling humour. From a maelstrom of love, infidelity, courtship, intrigue, gallantry and fickle fancies, arises a comic series of mistaken identities which are resolved with forgiveness and reconciliation.

Seiji Ozawa, holder of several honorary doctorates and international awards, and who has worked with the world's most famous orchestras leads The Vienna State Opera, widely considered as one of the most important opera companies in the world. The orchestra of the Vienna State Opera has seen a long line of famous conductors through its history, including Gustav Mahler, Hans Richter, Richard Strauss and Lorin Maazel, and comprises members from Austria's renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

*I can get the $180 tickets at $90!!!* Muahahahaha!!!

SINGAPORE SUN FESTIVAL OPENING CONCERT & OPERA GALA

A full-scale orchestral concert featuring the Russian National Orchestra with eminent conductor Alexander Vedernikov (Music Director & Chief Conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre), celebrated baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky; and exquisite mezzo-soprano Ruxandra Donose performing a selection of beloved arias and music by some of the most renowned composers of opera.

Saturday , 20 OctoberTime : 7.30 p.m.
Russian National Orchestra
Alexander Vedernikov, conductor
Dmitri Hvorostovsky, baritone
Ruxandra Donosè, mezzo-soprano

Programme:
ROSSINI : Overture to Guglielmo Tell
GLUCK : ‘Che farò senza Euridice’ from Orfeo ed Euridice
RACHMANINOV : Cavatina from Aleko
MUSSORGSKY : Prelude to Khovanschina
BORODIN : Prince Igor’s Aria from Prince Igor
SAINT-SAENS : ‘Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix’ from Samson et Dalila
SAINT-SAENS : Bacchanale from Samson et Dalila
VERDI : Overture to I Vespri Siciliani
ROSSINI : ‘Largo al factotum’ from Il Barbiere di Siviglia
ROSSINI : ‘Una voce poco fa’ from Il Barbiere di Siviglia
ROSSINI : Duet ‘Dunque io son’ from Il Barbiere de Siviglia
VERDI : Prelude to Act I of La Traviata
VERDI : Iago’s Creed : ‘Vanne, la tua meta gia vedo’ from Otello
BIZET : ‘Habañera’ from Carmen
DONIZETTI : Duet ‘Al alto ardor’ from La Favorita

Venue:
Esplanade Concert Hall 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore

Ticket prices:
$ 258 / 208 / 158 / 108 / 58

Booking website
http://www.sistic.com.sg/

THE RUSSIAN NATIONAL ORCHESTRA @ THE ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

Founded by the renowned pianist, conductor and composer, Mikhail Pletnev, the Russian National Orchestra now makes its début in the inaugural Singapore Sun Festival, performing with Grammy-Award winning violinist Pinchas Zukerman; the “passionate and inspiring” Russian cellist Nina Kotova; the Juno-Award winning cellist Amanda Forsyth; and one of the most exciting pianists of his generation, Piotr Anderszewski.

Tuesday, 23 October Time : 7.30 p.m.
Russian National Orchestra
Mikhail Pletnev, conductor
Nina Kotova, cello

Programme:
TCHAIKOVSKY : Francesca da Rimini, Op 32
TCHAIKOVSKY : Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op 33
TCHAIKOVSKY : Symphony No 6 in B minor, Op 74 (Pathétique)

Thursday, 25 October Time : 7.30 p.m.
Russian National Chamber Orchestra
Pinchas Zukerman, director / violin
Amanda Forsyth, cello

Programme
VIVALDI : “Autumn” from the Four Seasons, RV 293
VIVALDI : Concerto for Violin and Cello in B flat, RV 547
BACH : Violin Concerto in E, BWV 1042
MOZART : Symphony No 36 in C, K425 (Linz)

Saturday, 27 October Time : 7.30 p.m.
Russian National Orchestra
Mikhail Pletnev, conductor
Pinchas Zukerman, violin
Amanda Forsyth, cello

Programme
BEETHOVEN : Coriolan Overture, Op 62
BRAHMS : Concerto for Violin & Cello in A minor, Op 102
BEETHOVEN : Symphony No 7 in A, Op 92

Sunday, 28 October Time : 7.30 p.m.
Russian National Orchestra
Mikhail Pletnev, conductor
Piotr Anderszewski, piano

Programme
MENDELSSOHN : Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Op 21
SCHUMANN : Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 54
RACHMANINOV : Symphony No 2 in E minor, Op 27

Venue:
Esplanade Concert Hall 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore

Ticket prices:
$ 188 / 158 / 128 / 88 / 58

:(

2007-07-28T02:13:00.000+08:00

I'm sad.

The sadder thing is when you suddenly realise you've been living in self-deception all these while.

Coz I told myself that I'm fine.

But now I know I'm not.

Events day

2007-07-26T21:04:00.000+08:00

Tired.

It's like...all the blood left my brain making my head so l.i.g.h.t. I couldn't walk straight.

Doing events are tiring...even when you're not the one delivering the presentation. Haha...

Tomorrow still continuing that event...then watch Barber of Seville at night. (Hopefully Rossini's stretti will wake me up lei...)

Gonna go ...............

The Historian

2007-07-24T23:04:00.000+08:00

"My dear and unfortunate successor..."

Am currently on the 261st page of this book and it's been the cause of my many late nights. Shan't attempt to write a review on it since the story is just unravelling...and I'm not even halfway through yet! Anyone who likes history, Europe and thrillers might want to read this. It's basically a novel based on some historical facts, one historical character - Vlad Tepes III aka Dracula - and the rest are just fiction. It's simply amazing how many years the author spent on her research just to write this book. 10 years!!! She was curious about Bram Stoker's reasons for writing a novel based on the name of this historical character...most people probably still do think that Dracula is merely a fictional character. No. He was a Prince from Wallachia (now part of Romania) in the 15th century...

Actually, some people compare this book to Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code...well, I can see the similarities - some historical facts interwoven with fiction and is based in Europe and America too. There's word that there're already talks on making this into a movie__too. Translations of this book currently stands at 35 languages...a mighty number for a fresh writer.

Anyway, reading about Byzantine, the Ottoman Empire, Vlad Tepes III, Romania made me do some googling and see what I found out about Vlad Tepes III - Dracula...

"Vlad's father was under considerable political pressure from the Ottoman sultan. Threatened with invasion, he gave a promise to be the vassal of the Sultan and gave up his two younger sons as hostages so that he would keep his promise...

Vlad suffered much at the hands of the Ottoman, and was locked up in an underground dungeon; however, his younger brother, Radu, caught the eye of the sultan's son (Homosexuality in that time already!). Radu was released and converted to Islam, before being allowed into the Ottoman royal court...

These years were influential in shaping Vlad's character; he was often whipped by his Ottoman captors for being stubborn and rude. He developed a well-known hatred for Radu and for Mehmed, who would later become the sultan. According to McNally and Florescu, he also distrusted his own father for trading him to the Turks and betraying the Order of the Dragon oath to fight them...

There are several variants of Vlad III the Impaler's death. Some sources say he was killed in battle against the Ottoman near Bucharest in December of 1476. Others say he was assassinated by disloyal Wallachian boyars just as he was about to sweep the Turks from the field or during a hunt. Other accounts have Vlad falling in defeat, surrounded by the bodies of his loyal Moldavian bodyguards (the troops loaned by Prince Stephen remained with Vlad after Stephen Báthory returned to his country). Still other reports claim that Vlad, at the moment of victory, was accidentally struck down by one of his own men. Vlad's body was decapitated by the Turks and his head was sent to Istanbul and preserved in honey, where the sultan had it displayed on a stake as proof that Kazıklı Bey was dead. He was reportedly buried at a monastery located near Bucharest, yet the exact place of his burial remains unknown, as excavations at Snagov monastery, usually mentioned as his final resting place, have found no human remains...

Outside of Romanian folklore the reputation of Vlad Ţepeş is considerably darker. Vlad III Ţepeş has been characterized by some as exceedingly cruel. Impalement was Ţepeş's preferred method of torture and execution. His method of torture was a horse attached to each of the victim's legs as a sharpened stake was gradually forced into the body. The end of the stake was usually oiled, and care was taken that the stake not be too sharp; else the victim might die too rapidly from shock. Normally the stake was inserted into the body through the anus and was often forced through the body until it emerged from the mouth. However, there were many instances where victims were impaled through other bodily orifices or through the abdomen or chest. Infants were sometimes impaled on the stake forced through their mother's chests. The records indicate that victims were sometimes impaled so that they hung upside down on the stake.[5]

As expected, death by impalement was slow and painful. Victims sometimes endured for hours or days. Vlad often had the stakes arranged in various geometric patterns. The most common pattern was a ring of concentric circles in the outskirts of a city that constituted his target. The height of the spear indicated the rank of the victim. The corpses were often left decaying for months..." taken from Wikipedia.
for more info on Vlad III/Dracula, go to here...

2007-07-24T19:10:00.000+08:00

The Brazilian cheese bun: Fail!

I'm eating that late in office at 7plus in the evening with my music turned on loudly as I'm waiting to print out event handouts cos some people just can't be bothered..."I can't guarantee...handouts will be out in time...most likely u'll have to use the existing ones" - which the trainer finds unacceptable?! Thanks...very helpful.)

Offices are always scary places to be in at night...especially when you're alone.

Sesame cream cheese bun: Slightly sweet...passable.

Cheese bun with blueberry filling: Nice!! (cheese and blueberry, one of my faves!)

Have finished up 3 buns...left 2 more types to go.
Both are er...cheese stuff.
.
.
.
.
.
It's now 8.45pm...and I'm still waiting for the handouts to be printed...
.
.
Left office at 9pm.

Work

2007-07-24T00:32:00.000+08:00

I feel that work that has to be passed through my boss to the bigger boss should be handled in a better way...cos the way bosses work duplicates the efforts and waste A - L - O - T of time...

And the bigger boss gives instructions to my boss, who in turns relays them to me...then I'll get the work done and pass it back to my boss who'll submit it to the bigger boss. 8 cycles of that just today!!! You could try to imagine how frustrated I was, but where bureaucracy's involved, that's how they work. Anyway, it's just so ironic...the ideas the unit perpetrates and how it actually works are not even near.

So if you ask me how working life is like so far, I'll tell you...:
1. not actually having time to msn your frens
2. always prone to irritation
3. looking forward to lunch - the best thing of the work day other than knocking off time!
4. doing double/triple/.../quintuple work when it could have been more efficient
5. learning to control your temper/mood 忍者术！！！ haha...
...and the list goes on...

I'm glad they've already found someone to come in next wk...Looking forward to having a week of hols to myself before I start my final year. But will definitely miss my colleagues when I leave...

Rehearsal...

2007-07-23T23:13:00.000+08:00

For a long time, the rehearsals I've attended have been quite inefficient...resulting in them being less-than-enjoyable, often making me feel I'd make good my 3 hours elsewhere. Things were being repeated over and over again plus conductor sometimes making rehearsals worse by being ignorant of their compromised rehearsal methods/conducting, which were perhaps due to an unprepared ensemble...?

Whatever it is, I don't think I've ever felt this good about a rehearsal with the band since WMC 05. L. knows what he's doing. Given good planning, time management and a good sense of what makes the ensemble tick, I'm sure the process leading up to the concert will be an enjoyable one. And a great concert with B.B., let's hope! Salvation is here! Yay!!!

Argh...but I gotta do so much about my section. She really needs alot of help since she's stopped bassooning for quite a long time. Oh well, I do need to practice too! Toccata and Fugue can compare to my etudes liao...or even surpass them. *Sob & Faint*

I need to make better reeds...mine are currently too 'student-ish'...

Gotta make the soloistic and flexible (but more difficult to control) reed that laoshi churns out.

Where is the dial indicator when I need it? Mm...that won't solve all my problems though, cos the quality of the cane, hardness, flexibility of the reed counts alot too...and it's quite impossible without those measuring tools (that cost a bomb).

More practice...more practice...more practice...

Let's see how my current batch of blanks turn out! (soaking in water for the 3rd day...soak for 3 more weeks?)

An Equal Opportunity?

2007-07-21T13:21:00.000+08:00

Was browsing through a certain website...

"Tutti BassoonAudition:
....position is open to Australian citizens and permanent residents and New Zealand citizens only....OA is an Equal Opportunity Employer."

There's no such thing as an EQUAL opportunity employer. Just how contradictory does that sound when you advertise the position as something that's ONLY for people of certain nationalities...?

Something to a[muse] U...

2007-07-20T15:09:00.000+08:00

And I'm doing all these in.......of...fice... *bleh*

*Comics taken from www.phdcomics.com.

MPO concert on 14th Jul 07 in KL

2007-07-18T23:00:00.000+08:00

The coach ride to KL was boring...so we played UNO! Well...just a simple game of UNO is no fun right? The loser was called an A**hole and made to stuff as many 小馒头 into her mouth. Watch the video to see who's the unfortunate soul... :p

At the MPO concert that evening...

I liked Wagner's Prelude to Die Meistersingers, which was the opening piece. Followed by that was Joshua Bell playing Prokofiev's Violin Concerto no.2. It's A.M.A.Z.I.N.G how Bell managed to capture my attention with his first few notes already. Even though I've not heard this concerto prior to this, I liked the performance...he has a very good tone. :)

Second half was unbearable cos it was Bruckner's symphony no.6...I have never really liked Bruckner and don't think I will for a very long time to come. What made it worse was when my nose suddenly became irritated and started to run. And the Bruckner was 55mins long!!! I was stuck in a concert hall with music I didn't like, a runny nose and no tissue at all. I had to keep sniffing to not make a mess of myself. When Bruckner finally ended, my nose stopped running too. I MUST be allergic to Bruckner. That must be it.

See the queue to get Joshua Bell's autograph and photos! Machiam popstar...! Classical Popstar hehe...
This photo was snapped after they thought I managed to shoot them. But no...my ancient digicam just hanged and refused to budge lor. After a few seconds of frantically trying to press the button, I caught HIS surprised look with the camera flash. Heh...cute pic! **this is a sign that it's time to retire this old camera**

The next morning, we met Frankie who's just finished playing for a gig the night before...well we woke up late and in the end he only met us for a while before he had to leave for s'pore. Later that afternoon, we met Liz who had just won a concerto competition the night before! She'll have her concerto debut next year with the ad-hoc orchestra playing Haydn's Cello Concerto No.2 in D major. Congrats Liz!!!

Think I've only heard the 1st cello concerto by Haydn before and I love it to bits. Haydn and Mozart music, in fact music of that period, were meant to be pleasing, for entertainment...

Anyway, I've digressed. So we got a treat from the fresh-out-of-the-oven concerto winner! :D A pity we never got to see little Nicole, so we had to pass the bubble gun prezzie to her mummy.

Glad we got the right toy for her cos her mummy said she's crazy about bubbles! :)

Career Plans?

2007-07-14T03:20:00.000+08:00

Are life plans really necessary...? Do YOU know what you want? Many of my frens have graduated. In fact....most. Some are going for further studies, others are job-hunting and a few have no clue at all. I'm going to face the same problem next year and am I really going to start working like I've told everyone? Maybe my dad will get a windfall by striking TOTO first prize and pay off all my debts...even send me overseas. Nice...

If I'm job hunting next year, would it be for money or self-fulfillment first? More money = higher opportunity costs incurred = lesser time to spend on playing music = lesser time to hang out with friends = :(

(Search for) Self-fulfillment = waste more time looking for job = get nagged = get pissed off = anyhow find a job = lousy paycheck & sucky job = even more pissed off = :(((

Conclusion? look for a rich husband. wahaha...my senior's got a rich hubby and she's so well-off now that she hires a yoga coach to go to her house and give her lessons. The other days she goes shopping, have high-tea and do other tai-tai things. How relaxing and ... brainless. Can't imagine engaging in brainless activities 365days a year, 24/7.

Anyway, interesting blog post here about Why Career Planning is Time Wasted...

What kind of a blogger am I?

2007-07-14T03:19:00.000+08:00

You are a David Weinberger.

You are smart, savvy, interested in why people do what they do,
enjoy questioning yourself and are not balding.
Take the What Blogging Archetype Are You test at GAZM.org

Which Bleach character are you?

2007-07-10T23:20:00.000+08:00

You scored as Rukia, You are Rukia. You're bossy, blunt, stubborn and quite strong for a girl- mentally and physically. Even though you're a bit guyish at times, there is still a really girly side to you-and when guys come into soul society just to rescue you, you act hard and stuff but you're really quite touched!

Rukia

70%

Kon

65%

Inoue

50%

Chad

45%

Ichigo

45%

Ishida

40%

Tatsuki

40%

Which Bleach Character Are YOU?!
created with QuizFarm.com

I bossy? No leh...my frens can attest to that heh...*my band juniors not counted*

Blunt...yeah. :P

Stubborn I guess.

Strong physically and mentally, no-no...that doesn't mean I need to see the Psychiatrist k!

Guyish? No lah...think I'm quite girly now. Can't stand myself sometimes. Ha!

Darn. I'm a trombonist by nature.

2007-07-10T22:32:00.000+08:00

You scored as trombone, Trombone.
This just means you dont fit anywhere else.

trombone

83%

French Horn

75%

Viola

75%

Cello

67%

Clarinet

58%

Oboe

42%

Tuba

33%

Trumpet

33%

Percussion

25%

Bassoon

25%

Violin

25%

Flute

String Bass

If you were in an orchestra, what instrument would match your personality?
created with QuizFarm.com

(O.o)" Bassoon and trombone quite similar lah. One's a tenor voice in the woodwind family and the other in the brass family. So...I'm still a bassoon lar. Heh.

Living Room with.....Daniel Goon

2007-07-10T01:15:00.000+08:00

Changed my blogskin A...G...A...I..N!!! Hah! Actually encountered some problems with the archive linking so gotta change loh...

Digressed.

Just came back from a casual jazz piano recital by Daniel Goon at The Arts House...nice venue! Very cosy...but daniel kept saying the atmosphere's very tense. It might have been more reserved than tense lah. At least some of us tried snapping our fingers along with 'Stand by me'. Futile attempts by the staff there to get us participating though. So, in the end this guy, Darius, who'll actually be featured in Aug's Living Room, was kena sabo-ed by The Arts House staff to sing 'Have I told you lately', accompanied by Daniel. When Darius couldn't remember the lyrics, he resorted to repetition and inventing his own. Heh...better than Emil Chow (Zhou Hua Jian), who's infamous for forgetting his lyrics and having to lalala it! :D

Are TJ and D___n together?! Odd combi... That reminds me of something that happened long ago. D___n actually tried to get a third party to give me his namecard in the name of getting to know me. Which freaked me out haha...And my response that time was "I'd rather be a nun ar!".

Weird things happen.

Just last Saturday, an Ang Moh in his twenties tried to use stupid pick-up lines on me and my sis. Of course he didn't succeed. Don't fall off your chairs yet...

He called us SUPER CUTE.

Man...is he blind or what? We're EXTREMELY CUTE lar. Hee...!!!

Anyway, I saw his hands trembling lor. Try harder next time, boy. Jie Jie's too old...cannot take it lar. Will have heart attack one. Or probably die of laughter first.

Smurfs - Baby Smurf Is Missing

2007-07-06T03:34:00.001+08:00

Nostalgia...

Andy's Smurf Outfit

2007-07-06T03:29:00.001+08:00

LOL!

30 minutes of 80's cartoon Openings

2007-07-06T03:14:00.001+08:00

She-ra, He-man, Transformers, TNMT, Ghostbusters, Smurfs, Care Bears...!!! My favs. Hee...wonder how I had the time to study and watch so many cartoons at the same time. *bleh*

Last weekend...

2007-07-06T03:08:00.000+08:00

This 1st match by the ex-international singapore & malaysia teams was unbearable man. Painfully slow. Ah peks doing everything slow mo *&#)$&*@$%!@*!(^.... It was scorching hot on top of that! No. 5 Malaysia team uncle who has the BIG pot belly had to use 30secs just to kick the football lah. Poor vision?

2nd Match's finally up. Some excitement at least... The singapore team...

The Aussies warming up...We got trampled on as expected. 1st half gave S'pore face only lah...2nd half got thrashed like siao. A:S (3-0) ......

Finally, the Sun's setting!!!

Catching the last sunset at the old National Stadium.

Drama leh...This uncle/veteran carried the torch and lit this cauldron. First time seeing it lit!

Fireworks at the end of the Closing Ceremony at National Stadium. Short though.

Bought this at Great World City after my MilkRun along S'pore River. I like... :) Btw, this came from a push-cart selling Christian stuffs.

2007-07-06T02:59:00.001+08:00

My blog is comment-enabled liao!

Continue to Tag! & Comment!

A great website for your photo albums!

2007-07-06T01:53:00.000+08:00

I must be mad to still be online and blogging at this hour when I SHOULD be sleeping. But am too excited about this online photo album website. MUST recommend to ALL of you! Since Yahoo photos' shutting down, http://www.myphotoalbum.com/ will be a great place to host your photos at.

Uploading is a breeze. There is a java upload tool that lets you access 'My Computer, My Documents' folders on the website itself, select thumbnails of photos you wish to upload and click 'upload'. Voila! Your photos are uploaded into an album. Oh, did I mention that you can rotate your photos by clicking on them (while selecting which to upload) and choosing the 'rotate clockwise' or 'rotate anti-clockwise' arrows? It's SO easy.

Next, they lead you to a page where you edit the title of the album, captions and personalize your photoalbum looks. (Mine's black background with flowers on the top banner :))

That's not all. You need to rearrange your photos? Just click the tab 'Rearrange album' and you can use the drag and drop function to begin arranging them. This drag and drop function of arranging photos is not limited to clicking on that tab. The thumbnail page also has 'options' under each photo and you can do whatever you need THERE.

This website also allows you to upload videos...as do some other photo hosting sites.

No. of stars: *****

Not convinced? View the screenshots here.

Campus superstar 2 QF1a-Shawn

2007-07-03T02:27:00.001+08:00

That's TALENT. Didi, you must return to the competition ok?

2007-07-03T00:56:00.000+08:00

From a forwarded email.

A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of
marriage. They were a loving couple and the boy
was the gem of their eyes. When the boy was
around two years old, one morning the husband
saw a medicine bottle open. He was late for office
so he asked his wife to cap the bottle and keep it
in the cupboard. His wife, preoccupied in the
kitchen totally forgot the matter.

The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the
bottle fascinated by its color and drank it all. It
happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for
adults in small dosages. When the child collapsed,
the mother hurried him to the hospital. He died.

The mother was stunned. She was terrified how
she was going to face her husband. When the
distraught father came to the hospital and saw the
dead child, he looked at his wife and uttered just
five words.

QUESTIONS :

1. What were the five words?
2. What is the implication of this story?

Scroll down to read....

ANSWER:

The husband just said "I am with you Darling".

The husband's totally unexpected reaction is a
proactive behavior. The child is dead. He can never
be brought back to life. There is no point in finding
fault with the mother. Besides, if only he had taken
time to keep the bottle away, this would not have
happened. No one is to be blamed. She had also
lost her only child. What she needed at that
moment was consolation and sympathy from the
husband. That is what he gave her.

If everyone can look at life with this kind of
perspective, there would be much fewer problems
in the world.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single
step."

Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness,
selfishness, and fears. And you will find things are
actually not as difficult as you think.

- - - - - -
MORAL OF THE STORY
This story is really worth reading. Sometimes we
spend time in asking who is responsible or whom
to blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with
the people we know. By this way we miss out
some warmth in human relationship.
Blaming games are seriously energy zapping...you know you should be more understanding, not be absorbed in your emotions and most of the time, by the time you realise, you've already committed all these crimes. Oh, was watching Animal Planet and saw this program about bad-tempered animals. Shrew* is No.7! Shrew's this mouse-like creature that is literally fast and furious and their lifespans are short - they barely live beyond their 1 yr old birthday. Research reveals that getting angry makes you more susceptible to heart attacks and a shorter lifespan. So...better control your temper and you might want to sign up for a Yoga or Zen class! Heh. I choose Pilates - have been wanting to do that for eons... (not that Pilates does anything to curb one's temper)

*shrew (noun)
1. a scolding nagging bad-tempered woman (This definition was used since the 14th Century. Why Why??? MEN can be scolding, nagging and bad-tempered too. There's one inside my house.)
2. small mouselike mammal with a long snout; related to moles
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University

2007-07-01T12:23:00.000+08:00

歌曲:同类歌手:孙燕姿

雨后的城市　寂寞又狼狈
路边的座位　它空着在等谁
我拉住时间　它却不理会
有没有别人　跟我一样很想被安慰

风　停了又吹　我忽然想起谁
天　亮了又黑　我(又)过了好几岁
心　暖了又灰世界　有时候孤单的很　
需要另一个同类

爱　收了又给　我们都不太完美
梦　作了又碎　我们有几次机会　
去追不晓得为甚么爱　
又稀少又昂贵

云在半空中　被微风剪碎
回忆也许美　可是正在飞走对不对

Reeds n Stuff

2007-06-28T23:39:00.000+08:00

A friend recommended me to this site for buying "you pi you qi" bassoon reed stuff!

(MUST BUY!)

And I came across this dirt-cheap 12-bassoon reed case for about less than $50 (!!!!!!) if you don't include shipping charges (going by weight of cos). Anyone who wants to buy anything (in Singapore lah) from this online shop??? Save on shipping heh heh...

(On Wishlist)

Now check THIS out. It is a 10-reed holder with a Hygrometer and Humidifier in it! Cooooooool......I'm gonna buy this lor - if I travel often with my bassoon. It's about $180 for this (reeds not included =)). This is SO going into my WishList. *Grin*

(Planning to buy)

Should I get this (dial indicator)? It's not that expensive (about $300). It might save a lot of time for me. Hm...maybe I'll try to get this by the end of this year?

(In my dreams)

The tip profiling machine saves time but it's not that much a need unless you're bad with knives. If you compare this to the dial indicator, this tip profiling machine seems like something for a lazybum like me. But I'm a poor lazybum, so I won't spend unnecessary money lah. The dial indicator is different - it's not as if you can use vernier calipers to measure the thickness at different points of the reed.

Perhaps if some of us really get a double reed society up and running in S'pore, we could invest in those expensive reed making machines and claim world...er, Singapore domination! Then I can hire any Kampong Ah Niao, Ah Kow at US$1 a day to churn out perfect reeds. LOL.

Back from the Adventures

2007-06-24T01:14:00.000+08:00

Today finally marks the end of a 2-week long stint. Both concerts were so different...Play! was great fun and the FF was quite an unusual orchestra concert. I totally enjoyed doing Play! Hopefully we can do an anime one next yr!

That's us below at the Play! concert. (That was the matinee show. Audience was really dead and unhappening.) Photo: Courtesy of Jason (cheek's bro)

The Bassoons!!! Look at that Contra...My fingers are too short to play a contra comfortably. Any finger extension devices?

Kawaii Neh! ;)

Rehearsing and performing for FF kind of allowed me to experience what's it like to be a professional orchestral musician. Scary. Especially if you don't understand the conductor's style of conducting. Which is quite common...since we all have had different conductors leading us from time to time. And they all have their own quirkiness. But having worked with this C before, it was easier for me. We all know his "pattern" very well liao.

Belt up

Put on your crash helmet

Get ready for a ride on the Viking - Can never tell where you're going to crash into later.

Somehow, captain hook (he's from Peter Pan but nevermind lah) always manages to steer us up to shore alive but maybe not kicking...

I thought it was the graveyard that we were playing to. Audience was so DEAD. I think the loudest applause we got was for Across the Stars from Stars Wars Episode II lor. : I loved Abigail's powerful performance - packed with confidence and character. Lovely encore by her. :) Junhong's rendition of the Glazunov was so passionate. Well done! Choice for encore could be shorter and more engaging next time? Nonetheless a fantastic performance. Good luck for the violin competition!

*Got a end-of-concert-congratulatory-hug from C. HaHa. Really w..e..ir..d...*

Below: Junhong with the cute Zeh-Zehs and Uncle. :p

*Glee on our $$$ faces*

Some quotes...

2007-06-23T02:30:00.000+08:00

Never explain yourself. Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it.
A stranger stabs you in the front; a friend stabs you in the back; a boyfriend stabs you in the heart, but best friends only poke each other with straws.
Nobody is worth your tears, and the one who is won't make you cry.
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. - 1 Corinthians 13:4
Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience. - Victoria Holt, writer

..............................................

Retirement?

2007-06-22T23:14:00.000+08:00

SINGAPORE: The age when a person is allowed to withdraw the CPF Minimum Sum
could be raised from 62 to 65 in the near future. This is one suggestion by
Minister-in-charge of ageing issues, Mr Lim Boon Heng, who has just returned
from a study trip to Japan.
Under the law, CPF withdrawal is tied to the prevalent retirement age. So if the retirement age is raised, then the CPF drawdown age would be raised as well. In May, a tripartite committee studying the issue of employing older workers in an ageing workforce said hiring older
workers beyond the age of 62 would become part of Singapore's employment laws
within the next five years.
To cope with an ageing population, Japan and some European countries are already raising the age at which national pensions are paid out to 65 and beyond. By 2013, all Japanese will not be able to draw out their national pensions until they are 65.
Singapore may follow-suit, with its CPF system. That is because the average life expectancy of the elderly is now 82. So Singaporeans need to think about how to stretch their savings. Mr Lim
said: "I think it is quite reasonable to raise it to 65, if our objective is to raise the employment rate of this group of people, but I think we should do so cautiously. "So we should make employment happen. We should not leave people in a situation where they can't get a job and yet the minimum sum drawdown age is raised. So we must first make sure... that the employment rate [is] going up."
The government is already getting employers and employees to negotiate terms of
re-employment, once the worker hits the retirement age at 62. Extending this
retirement age is not a law yet, as the government first wants to explore what
types of issues will crop up and how they can be resolved.
In Japan, the reemployment law states that the employer is obliged to offer a job to someone who has reached the age of 60 until he is 65. But how this is done is open to discussion. For example, employers can pay the worker less, or arrange for another job for the worker. And the Japanese government is now thinking of raising the retirement age to beyond 70. It has even set a target of 90 per cent employment for those aged 60 to 65 by the year 2030.
Currently, 52.6 per cent of Japanese in this age group are employed. In Singapore, this figure is 41.9 per cent. During his study trip, Minister Lim also visited nursing homes and day care centres in Japan. Many of the elderly in these centres are subsidised by a long-term care insurance implemented by the state seven years ago. But since it kicked in, financial outlay grew from S$45 billion to S$87 billion last year.
So it is becoming clear to the Japanese that this is unsustainable. Mr Lim said such an example showed that the responsibility of caring for the old, should not rest on the state. "As the Japanese are realising, it is the family that should look after the old and it is the community that should support the family to look after the old. This is the lowest cost option for any society," said Mr Lim.
And to help families, Singapore could take a leaf from Japan's example, where there are courses for caregivers, who also have a support network. Mr Lim is also against giving state funding to these caregivers. In Japan, families cannot claim from the long-term care insurance when they stay home themselves to look after the elderly, but they can claim if they hire external help.
"This is a choice which people have to make based on their set of values. And the set of values that I would like to maintain and promote is that it is the duty of the family to look after its old. "Payment to family members breaks that link and I think it would cheapen the care that the family members give to their old if we equate that with payment," said Mr Lim.
Also, there is already the Eldershield plan, which allows the individual or his family to decide what to do with the payouts. As for singles, Mr Lim said there are provisions made for them, such as the building of studio apartments. But as far as possible, he wants to encourage even singles to live in their own homes, and better still with their families. - CNA/yy
*Quoted from Channelnewsasia.com

In the real world, poorly educated/uneducated old folks (above 50) have no jobs and have met with many interview rejections simply cos they're above 30s. What use is raising one's retirement age to 65 then? It does nothing for employer willingness to employ people above 40s. If we follow what Japan does, which is raising the minumum sum withdrawal age to match the retirement age (65), what will these old folks survive on? There's no such thing as a welfare system here lor. We know that we can't really depend on the young to support their parents...

So what do we do then? Increase the employability of folks 40 and above. How? Conduct courses for them...upgrading... Yes, yes...we've heard all these but how many have gained from it? Do these poorly/(un)educated folks know about these upgrading courses and how to sign up for it? There're tons of such courses you can provide - the list can go on and on. When they do graduate from these courses, can the agency guarantee them a job? No, I don't think so. Some simply have given up hope of finding employment. Rely on children? Oh yes, talk about the whole big issue of having your children give you allowances without a complain. GST rate is climbing lah, electricity bills getting ridiculous lah, cost of living is far exceeding the standard of living lah etc.

Say they are offered a job. But it's unsuitable. By that, I mean not having to work as a McDonald uncle/auntie - even then you need to know some english - or helping out at hawker stalls clearing tables. This applies to men especially. I don't think women would mind that much what kind of a job they do as long as it brings money home. I say we're quite practical creatures. :)

A question for the guys:
Would you men, assuming your degree can't fetch you anything better than a hawker stall assistant/supermarket trolley uncle job in 20yrs' time, rather be a househusband and get allowance from your working wife or accept the 'lowly' jobs (as how some see it)? - assuming your wife's still employed and you are childless.

Before you raise the minimum sum withdrawal age to 65, please think of how to make your citizens more employable from the perspective of an employer and how to successfully implement it.

Man...hopefully I'll live long enough to claim my minimum sum payout. MSW age might very well rise to 70 by my 40s... :

Play! photos

2007-06-18T23:03:00.000+08:00

Some photos I grabbed from this blogger from the Play! concert.

Irritating choir guy

2007-06-18T21:49:00.000+08:00

Cheek sent me some links to blog entries about Play! All are pleasant reviews, with some even managing to sneak some shots of us. However, there's one particular entry that irks me.

It seems like she memorised whatever happened in the concert, word for word...Frankly, I don't really agree that the choir was that fantastic. You may call me BIASED. But ever since that Friday morning, I developed a fresh new dislike for the choir members at Play!. This weirdo colleague ("Yan3 dao2") who works in my department and happens to be in the choir for Play! came up to me that morning...

Yandao: Hey! Is your orchestra new ah?
Me: Yes. It's newly set up. (smiles)
Yandao: Oh... No Wonder. Especially your organist. She cannot play her parts ah?
Me: Er. I think she's just nervous. The cameraman was zooming in on her fingers all the time lor. (I was getting irritated)
Yandao: Oh? What's her name?
Me: Dr. E.L.
Yandao: Like that can be doctor ah???
(At that instant, I wished I had concrete to fill up the potholes on his pockmarked face and that insensitive foul mouth of his)
Me: Uh...(I gave him a patronising smile and pretended to be busy to make him GO!)

Later, just before I went for lunch, he came over to my desk again. This time to ask me what time I'll leave for the concert hall later. I said, "Er. I'm not sure", looked back at my computer and fake busy. He lingered there for a moment...and trailed off like a wandering ghost. When it was time for me to leave the office, I packed my stuff gingerly so as not to cause a stir, gestured 'goodbyes' to my colleagues and made my burglar style escape. *Phew!*

This weirdo came to my desk again today asking me when the orchestra's performing again and then wished us all the best. HAH! Thanks alot for your well wishes. I'm so grateful that you kindly reserved your insensitive remarks for someone else. Maybe pockmarks are a way of punishing you, but apparently they don't seem like good deterrents in your case. Piles might work better? But ouch, I don't suppose I'm that evil enough to want that to happen to you...yet. That's how much I detest people like you. Don't ever be so critical of something which you aren't capable of doing better yourself, much less when you know nuts about it.

Oh something interesting about this weirdo. My Asst Mgr often hears him singing in the loo. And today when S & I went to the toilet as we knocked off, we came out hearing him croak from more than 5metres away inside the male toilet. Hmm...Tenor range. Now...Mr. Yandao aka Mr Weirdo has a new nickname.

Mr. Phantom of the Toilet (POTTer).

What hair-raising voice.

(NB. This is NOT a compliment, Mr. POTTer)

Professional Orchestra?

2007-06-18T01:43:00.003+08:00

Perhaps we should send some people back to primary school to teach them how to count...It's so embarrassing how you can call yourself a professionally trained musician like that. Or not even bothering to check on intonation when the unison lines are OUT OF TUNE. Esp. the winds in general. I simply didn't know what to say when friends told me that the viola and clarinet were grossly out of tune. (......)

I think the tubist has too much nutrition liao lar. He's almost always a semitone sharp! Sure get a loose jaw in no time if I have to keep flattening and sharpening to match the tubist/clarinetist. Sorry, my tubist friend, think solo career not feasible for your instrument wor. So, I guess you're stuck in orchestras leh. Bad luck.

Hmmm...many musicians barely bothered doing bits of sectionals. Something which would take up only a few mins of your bitching time...?

Dancing Mad - Final Fantasy VI Trailer

2007-06-18T01:43:00.001+08:00

The other FF soundtrack at Play! Nice themes, some bach-ish organ cadenzas that are nice IF well-played. Bach would turn in his grave if he had heard our organist.

Move on

Cucumber trumpet

Cabbage slide flute-Lightly Row-

Big Broccoli Ocarina:Angels We Have Heard On High

Berlin Philharmoic's home on fire

Imitation of vietnamese manicurists. Hilarious.

Funny prank in the office! I have one of those powerpoint slides if you want! :D

NTU Student survey - Funny comments

Nasi Babi Ori 2

The Internet is for porn avenue Q original - Video

4 Years after...

New Music?

New skin!

Honda's Robot conducts Detroit Symphony!

Humanoid robot to conduct Detroit Symphony Orchestra

May 13 concert slated to generate attention for technology and music education

White Gold - The True Cost Of Cotton

Jimmy Kimmel Does Product Testing on Kids

Jimmy Kimmel Does Product Testing on Kids part2

Impossible students or impossible teacher?

Kota Kinabalu getaway?

Really no canes...

Of Reeds, Music, Books and Anime...

Senior recital 13.03.08

No canes!

Almenraeder's way of reed-making

Phone call from a friendly Indian man...

Newest batch of reeds!

Rehearsals

Get out of here!

Toto!

Friendly neighbors

Death Note parody TRANSLATED debu note

萧敬腾PK战全记录1/7 2007/05/11

Funny indian commercials

Indian prank call: You Kicked My Dog

Camlin Marker Funny Indian Commercial Advertisement

Peugeot 206 (INDIA)

Funny Indian Ad

Lust | Caution

Who blogs?

German

Reeds for sale

Updated

Hokkien Photographer

No manners!

Which tree represents you?

以牙还牙

German

Farewell...

881

Random

:(

狗狗猩猩大冒險

Pankun 阿笨 阿占

Pankun 阿笨 阿占

Wang Liang - Oboe

AYMC

Personality Test

Scatter-brained

Bizarre placements

Problem kid

Musings

Pankun and James: shopping for shoes

Concert Review: Hey Figaro!

Upcoming Concerts

:(

Events day

The Historian

Work

Rehearsal...

An Equal Opportunity?

Something to a[muse] U...

MPO concert on 14th Jul 07 in KL

Career Plans?

What kind of a blogger am I?

Which Bleach character are you?

Darn. I'm a trombonist by nature.

Living Room with.....Daniel Goon

Smurfs - Baby Smurf Is Missing

Pankun 阿笨阿占

Pankun 阿笨阿占