Whining over swine

Firstly, our batch of graduates this year have to face the grimmest economic situation in our generation.

Not only that, we have the swine flu situation that is becoming of utmost importance to everyone, especially for people going for grad trips to US, Europe, Australia, NZ, etc where there are confirmed H1N1 cases. Secretly, I'm praying that Eastern Europe won't get hit hard by the virus although that possibility is quite low given the close proximity to the Western side and the fact that border controls within EU are not restrictive.

What can we do? Nothing actually, just that this year's graduates are just really suay.

For updates on swine flu outbreak locations across the globe. Click here or here for the exact world locations in Google Maps.

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Swine Flu

Oh dear...

Swine flu is spreading like flies.

Let us all pray for the disease to be contained. The countries with people infected with swine flu are growing at a very rapid rate.

It is a very worrying sign indeed.

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Donovan's 1 month Celebration

My parents and I went to my sis place for Donovan's 1 month old celebration. There were quite a lot of people and I helped to look after the baby for some time while my sis and bro-in-law took care of the numerous guests.

Baby sleeping

He slept throughout the noise only waking up and crying during feeding time. According to my sis, Donovan is a night owl as well. He likes to sleep in the day and wake up at night. I guess that particular trait is ingrained in his genes already.

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Brozeit

Treated Derrick to dinner at Vivocity Brozeit for helping me to print my reports. It was my first time eating German pork knuckle.

The pork knuckle might look small in this photo but it is actually really big in portion

Had some Paulaner beer and watched a soccer match after the dinner. The meat portion was like the summation of meat i normally have in all the meals in 2 days. Felt really full after the meal.

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Most challenging trip

This Europe trip is definitely my most challenging trip that i planned so far. Within the span of my 30 days in Europe from 31 May to 29 Jun, there are...

1 pax joining on 1 Jun, 1 pax leaving on 6 Jun, 3 pax joining on 8 Jun morning, 1 pax joining on 8 Jun night, 1 pax leaving on 18 Jun, 1 possible pax joining on 21 Jun, 1 possible pax leaving on 28 Jun.

Now this is what i call a trip planning challenge. Luckily they got some experienced hands here.

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Over!

The roadmap for HRM was really all the lecturer gave in the exam and I'm glad that my short preparation paid off. Wasn't able to finish the last few bits but I think the overall feeling after the exam is quite fine.

Yay! No more exams in NTU! The only hurdle left is the FYP presentation on 4 May. Anyway, I went out with some of my coursemates to celebrate in town despite most of the rest having 1 last exam next tue. We had dinner at Shokudu in Raffles City. We had quite a lot of food as shown below.








Watched The International after that at Marina Square. The synopsis and review are as follows.

Interpol Agent Louis Salinger and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman are determined to bring to justice one of the world's most powerful banks. Uncovering a myriad of reprehensible illegal activities, Salinger and Whitman follow the money from Berlin to Istanbul. Finding themselves in a high-stakes chase across the globe, their relentless tenacity puts their own lives at risk as their targets will stop at nothing - even murder - to continue financing terror and war.

This film by Tom Twyker is indeed one of the most classy thrillers that I have ever watched, a little too classy as some essential grittiness seems to be lost. The show showcases many locales like Berlin, Lyon, Luxembourg, Milan, New York and Istanbul with the city backdrops alluring and enticing. The highly architectural shoots were quite unique in cinematography and style as well. Clive Owen does quite a good job as the pained and troubled interpol agent with a vehement will to defeat the ruthless corporate giant.

However, there are some gaping loopholes in the storyline and it is a little too complicated for its own good. Audiences crave for more action and not so much technical junkie. Some of the action sequences are very intense, especially enjoyed the shoot out in New York Guggenheim Museum which was an amalgation of excitement and realism set in a unique noir-like circular rampway.

Final verdict: Loved the picturesque locales and the unique cinematography, but story is a little too laggard and action needs more oomph.

***

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2 Down, 1 more to go

Had my UAV examination today. I did the best of what my memory could churn out from my limited understanding and memorization of the notes. Didn't do too well or did too badly, just plain average.

Next up, HRM paper which is my final examination in NTU.

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1 Down, 2 to go

Cleared Business Finance today. I think it is one of the hardest electives that I have taken in NTU. Took the module due to many recommendations from my coursemates but the course syllabus had been modified to make it tougher as well as the change in lecturer. The preparation period for the exam took longer than each of my two core modules this semester. Darn, should have cleared the business elective earlier when i had the chance.

Anyway, i must start revising for my two other modules which i had barely touched yet.

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AWARE

I read the news in great interest recently as the political 'coup' of an organisation was virtually unheard of in Singapore until now.

What really provoked my sentiments was the way the 'coup' unfolded and the indiscriminate dispatching of the old guards who had been in AWARE for many years. Even more disturbing was their unrevealed agenda which they had evaded from answering to any of the queries.

There were many discussions on their hidden agendas and they seem to be Christian fundamentalists who seek to push their religious and anti-homosexual stance into the secular organisation which core values include non-discrimination of race, gender, religion and sexuality.

Shocking indeed, to know how far some people will go to possibly instill conservatism in people.

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Exam period

Another week has past. Completed my FYP on tue and it had been a mad rush to get the entire report typed out. Turned out to be quite fine in the end so i'm quite satisfied with the report. It is basically the biggest chunk of report that i have ever written. Hope that the FYP presentation will go well as well.

Been lacking the motivation to study for exams for the past few days. My final 3 papers in NTU, and i am such a procrastinator.

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Crazy Air Fares

Checked Emirates website and i got a shock. Check out how low the air ticket prices to Europe have dropped. The prices are inclusive of taxes and surcharges by the way.

I could have saved $137 (coz the Emirates air tickets to Munich is $741 compared to the Lufthansa ticket which i bought at $878). Never mind, never expected prices to drop so low and at least mine is a direct flight.

It's the perfect time for overseas trips considering how cheap the air tickets are now. So very tempting.

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Last Lesson in NTU

I had my last lesson in NTU which is my business elective just now. Relieved is the feeling i would say. Not that the modules this semester are tough, but it's just that 4 years is really a long time and i guess it is time to move on to another stage of life.

I've never really liked studying. The most fun and interesting modules that I took in NTU are Magic Voice in the World of a Singer and Introduction to Black and White Photography. Both of them are electives and i guess none of my core modules made the cut for me. Not that I think all modules should be carefree or entertaining, but I guess my interest in my specialized field had waned long ago for the effort put into the schoolwork to be so reluctant, deliberate and loathsome. Without passion, everything seems like a drudgery and i sure felt it for quite a long time. I feel that i have lost something rather than gained something during the 4 years, it's probably joy or energy. Maybe in the future, i would reminisce the days in university but i do doubt that possibility.

The best thing to come of my uni life is definitely my student exchange. Living in a foreign country for half a year is indeed an experience that i will never forget. How can i ever forget cycling to TU-Delft for lessons along Mercuriusweg and onward to Abtswoudseweg passing through the graffiti and poster clad tunnels, braving the strong winds and enjoying the company in Delft. We toiled together for some really tough exams and traveled to many different countries in Europe. There was work life balance I would say, part enjoyment and part hard work, something that seems quite rare here on this small little island.

Well, I am talking like I have graduated already. That will be official in more than 3 months time (provided i pass all my modules and FYP this semester i hope). Til then, I still have to wrap up my lagging FYP and revise for my upcoming exams.

I can't wait for FYP to end. I can't wait for exams to end. And most importantly, I can't wait to go back to Europe for my month-long grad trip! At least I got something to look forward to.

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Gran Torino

Went Vivocity to watch Gran Torino with Qy and Ys just now. I must say that Gran Torino is one of the best movies that I have ever watched. The review and synopsis are as follows.

Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski becomes increasingly unhappy with the arrival of some Hmong people into his neighbourhood. When neighbour Tao was caught trying to steal Walt's vintage 1972 Gran Torino, the boy is forced to work for Kowalski. Isolated from his own family members and having just lost his wife, Kowalski gradually becomes friendly with Tao and his family. Eventually he learns about Hmong culture even. Soon, Walt loses his racist side and becomes protective to Tao and his sister from gang harassment.

Gran Torino revolves around Walt, his distant family, his neighbours, his pastor, his hairdresser, and the people harassing his neighbours. Sounds boring? Not one bit in my opinion. Clint Eastwood absolutely nails his character as the stern, nationalistic and foul-mouthed war veteran who basically pisses many people off with his standoffish attitude. Deep inside, the guilt of his past memories still haunt him. The themes of this movie are quite ambitious as well, spanning from immigration and racial issues, the psychology of post-war soldiers, violence in general, to the theme of death and loneliness. This movie encapsulates all these themes and issues and they translate perfectly onto the big screen.

Sounds too serious? Nah, there is plenty of humour in the show as well. Sarcasm, comical snide remarks, blunt humour, digs, hilarious name callings, etc provide much entertainment for this show. The character development is really commendable with the sharp, acid yet personable screenplay, the impeccable acting, and the brilliant plot. Clint Eastwood does an amazing job as an actor as well as a director and in this show, we get the best of both worlds. Gran Torino is an immensely engaging, touching and endearing film that will be etched in many audiences' minds for a long time. Highly recommended.

*****

Gran Torino Trailer

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