Here goes then.

A weekly update on the best articles students pursuing H1 General Paper should look out for in the week's issue of 'The Economist' - which will definitely help in expanding their grasp of current affairs and also get updated about the pressing issues facing us today across a wide genre of topics.



I've just finished this issue so this is here instead of this week's edition. More articles than I'd initially expected when I conceived this project..


Stanley McChrystal goes
Barack Obama has sacked his commander in Afghanistan. But the real worry is that the war is being lost.
- In depth: Afghanistan -
More than a one-man problem


Clouds of hypocrisy
An offer to supply Pakistan with nuclear reactors shows China at its worst.
- In depth: Nuclear proliferation in South Asia - The power of nightmares


Japan's new government - Enter the prudent Mr Kan
The new prime minister tries a novel campaign strategy for upper-house elections


Russia and its neighbourhood - Russia's empty empire
Russia�s neo-imperialist ambitions founder on the rocks of reality
Extra: Kyrgyzstan's humanitarian crisis - Sad homecoming


Charlemagne - Help them to help themselves
The EU should not just hector China about universal values but encourage it to follow its own laws


Schumpeter - Too many chiefs
Inflation in job titles is approaching Weimar levels

Zimbabwe's diamonds - Blood and dirt
President Robert Mugabe is determined that diamonds should prop up his party

The blockade of Gaza - Hamas is making ground again
As pressure mounts on Israel to lift the siege, Hamas gains

A Saudi tower - Mecca versus Las Vegas
Taller, holier and even more popular than (almost) anywhere else

French football - Three neuroses on their shirts
What the travails of Les Bleus say about modern France

The evolving blogosphere - An empire gives way
Blogs are growing a lot more slowly. But specialists still thrive

International bureaucracies - Secretarial work
Bureaucracies grow faster than they can be pruned

Uniqlo - Uniquely positioned
Fast Retailing, Japan�s biggest clothes retailer, hopes an innovative strategy will make it the world�s biggest too


The campaign against palm oil - The other oil spill
Palm oil is a popular, cheap commodity, which green activists are doing their best to turn into a commercial liability. Companies are finding them impossible to ignore


Quantum computing - A quantum hop
Not a leap, perhaps, but two important steps on the way to making quantum computing practical

SPECIAL REPORT - DEBT


Repent at leisure
Borrowing has been the answer to all economic troubles in the past 25 years. Now debt itself has become the problem, says Philip Coggan

Comment! (0) | Recommend!

I was feeling that this should actually be the heading for the upcoming week as well as the week that had just passed.

Induction week is over, and it had been strewn with a whole range of activities, most of which had to do with standing still, cue guard duties and security duties.

Anyways, I should be ashamed of not updating as frequently as I would like to even though now I get to use the laptop every night. Just this week alone someone updated so many more times than me. Oh man, I can't believe it..

Protecting people, Enhancing lives

So it ended up by a quirk of scheduling that I have to do my third guard duty in seven days this evening. Maybe guardroom should be my concurrent posting. >.< Then again, will be doing with three more Plt 3 guys, so should be alright I guess, eventually we still all know each other by sight.

Security duties over at City Hall on Sat granted us an off today (That's why I can still blog in the morning while the rest of the command runs i-dunno-how-many-km). Then again, I only get half a day due to the aforementioned duty. Saw many big shots pre, during and post parade, and also the biggest shot of them all who came over to vet the rehearsal. You know, the three starfishes living in a fortified sandcastle where Aaron works? That dude.. came in civilian and caught us off guard.

Thankfully only doing one more round this Sat before moving on to being part of the Youth Olympic Games. I totally can imagine myself gaining lots of weight having KFC (and lots of extra sets) for breakfast, lunch (but luckily not dinner). Think I have already developed some sort of fried-chicken-phobia in just one day.

My ex-superiors weren't kidding when they said that EU has the most offs out of all the units in the command. They were right.. On Friday we had cohesion over at Shaw Lido (that was the off in recognition of the role the guys played for SAF Day, marhing in the parade as well as performing security ops). Had to rush down from camp in the morning after the few of us dismounted from duty and were almost late. 'Knight and Day' turned out to be pretty alright.. Though it was rather retarded at times.
________________________________________

Was out of touch with the world on Sat and that really played on my mind during the four hours I was on duty and the countless hours spend in the holding area.

Silence..

Then again, I don't really have an invitation to play cupid or God regarding all these issues. So its not up to me to say what should happen and what shouldn't.



When things just don't go to plan..

Coming right up

Orientation drills starting Tuesday, and will last until Friday. Hopefully we'll be able to go home after working hours.. And we were all promised that it would be a hell of a week. Anyways, some people are going to face the wrath of 2WO Dick after dumping stores right along the corridor after we returned to camp at midnight.

And that was after we witnessed Germany going 3-0 up on Argentina (It finished 4-0). Paul the psychic octopus strikes again.

I am currently in a dilemma over what to get..
A Blackberry Bold 9500 without camera? Yet only Starhub has it..
An iPod Touch? I really need an mp3 player with nice apps but should I wait until September after some Apple conference or what not before getting it?
A HTC Snap? HTC Legend looks way better though. Then again, heard that Blackberry works faster with less lag. And the BBs with cameras look great as well.

Arghh touch choices for a gadget-noob like me.


COOL :D

Comment! (0) | Recommend!

Some people say
That everything has got its place in time
Even the day must give way to the night
But I'm not buying
Cos in your eyes
I see a love that burns eternally
And if you see how beautiful you are to me
You'll know I'm not lying
- Swear it Again - Westlife

So so poignant.. My sentiments exactly.
Maybe, just maybe, there are things that are worth fighting for, yet there may be others also that long to be given a chance, just one chance.. to perform, to shine, and to vindicate your decision.

And when seems to be all doom and gloom, always be reminded that even in your darkest moments when you feel your strength and will beginning to waver.. someone's always looking out for you.. somehow, somewhere..

Comment! (1) | Recommend!

14:26 - Germany v England stats:
- Germany have reached the last eight in every World Cup they have competed in since 1938.
- England have never won a knockout match against a former world champion on foreign soil.
- Germany have the best penalty shootout record in World Cups.
- England have the worst penalty shootout record in World Cups.
- Stats mean absolutely nothing on days like today.

BBC live text

It ended 4-1 to Germany.
_______________________________________

Unexpected (Good) News?
Reported to work on Wednesday morning sporting a very very fresh orange brassard. Headed straight to the audit for some boring safety briefing (Frankly, who wants to sit through a few hours of learning how to prevent dengue fever, heat injury and the like?). Lunch at the canteen followed, and then a short sojourn to the GS office (to see what life Jon and Wayne will be living for the next 18 mths) before retreating back to the audit for more safety briefings.

Rained heavily in the afternoon as we LECC dudes made our way across the road to our new (horrible) bunks. The ceiling has a huge hole, cupboards that had been mauled by previous owners and a floor that had not been swept for ages though there were three people living in that room before they vacated it for us that morning.

Guess there were plenty of positives to take away though.
- We were dismissed at 1730 hrs..
- I did not get pinned down for guard duty for Wed (God bless them trying to find replacement LBVs 'cos theirs' still at home), Thurs or Fri because..
- LECC people have offs on both days
- And next week's stay-out.. so I would not have to spent chilly nights in that bunk looking at detainees from next door carrying sandbags and walking aimlessly round and round the track.

Orientation drills (read - stay-in for I dunno how long) will not start until after YOG due to the fact that we'll be down performing duties for both National Day and YOG. Cool? Not so when you consider how many burnt weekends that will equate to. Then again, maybe I'll see you around if you attempt to gain entry during rehearsals while 'shopping' at the City Hall area.

Fate or just mere coincidence?
Visited some of my ex-bunkmates for a game of mahjong.. after which I totally swear off putting money on the game. Meal at Aston's followed with Zhanyi and HC. The former's MC running out today and he'll be back in camp Monday morning before he recourses at the end of the month after that horrible incident on Vesak day.

Spent the two days of off online.. Leveling up 5 times. Wanted to form some plans for Friday.. but they were scuppered by.. well. Other things. Never mind then. I thought I would get a break (pun intended) with two days off - never did it cross my mind that I'm not the only one relaxing at home on weekdays. Oh well.

Some tips if you're going to watch a World Cup match at a local community center near you

- Be prepared for smoke, lots of it. Yes, smokers pretty much flock there since its an open-air ground (= no restriction on smoking).
- Bring your own chair (preferably bar stools) You never know how courteous locals are when they just pull a chair and settle down right in front of you when it's obvious you had been standing there all along.
- Look out for crazy people. There's a crazy old bugger screaming 'ole ole, goal goal' intermittently even when's there's nothing on. Irritating to the max in this setting no doubt.
- CAUTION - TEENAGE SCHOOLGIRLS. You know, those teenagers smitten by hunks like those footballers on the big screen? I did not know whether to laugh or to cry when I keep hearing things like "Oh no.. Go Brazil..", "Yay Brazil~", "Ohhhhh~ Yes Brazil!" in a sweet yet anxious voice behind me.

The Heeren in limbo
Spent an afternoon off in Orchard alone on Saturday. Business at Far East was slow, apparently shoppers and retailers alike were still reeling from the flood recently. And and, why are there only female shoppers all around? =/

ION was rather crowded, and 'Kinokuniya' over at Ngee Ann City was totally packed. Funny how a bookstore can attract more people than the entire Basement of Far East.

The Heeren by comparison was in quite a sorry state. Shops under renovation on the first four floors welcomed me on my first visit since one year ago for STJ.. And so much has changed. Things are not the same now that HMV's gone.

Dinner at Jack's Place with my dad followed a rather interesting detour over to *scape for RedMango's yoghurt. The steaks were not bad.. (: The whole potato almost made me puke near the end though. Maybe it's the skin.

'Its gonna be a good night~'
Its a Sunday night (Oh shucks 4 days of breaks over just like that.. Pretty uneventful) and I'm following three sports at once. Ok, the F1 just ended. So now I'm left with the 3rd ODI between England and Australia at Old Trafford on BBC 5live Sport and the Round of 16 match - Germany vs England.

Apparently the guys over at the cricket ground were cheering and play stopped for a while to see England pull one back against Germany on the big screen and see a no-goal given against Lampard when it was so obviously a goal. Pretty much football-fever all over the country. Even revelers at Glastonbury (), there for the music festival it hosts, are watching the match on big screens. Pity the acts performing during the match.
______________________________________


13th over - Eng 54-2 (TARGET 213)
Big consternation at Old Trafford relating to the "other" England match - no spoilers, as promised, but there has just been an "incident" which may make headlines for decades... There's also a hold-up while something in front of the sightscreens is covered with a tarpaulin. New batsman Paul Collingwood's first ball is a wide, his first legal ball is a yorker which he digs out for a single to mid-wicket.

38 mins
This in incredible. You know 1966? Well apparently, what goes around comes around. Frank Lampard hits a shot from outside the area, it beats Manuel Neuer, bounces off the underside of the bar and bounces about two feet over the line. It isn't given. It's almost unbelievable.
______________________________________

Anyways, other than the fact that that incident's attracting a lot of comments on Facebook, it appears that there's a psychic monkey in Germany who can predict scores in matches involving Germany.

Lol.

Now that I check again, my friends on facebook, even those who have exams starting tomorrow, are hurling so much (cyber) abuse at poor Jorge Larrionda and his lineman, and by extension, at FIFA President Sepp Blatter who's so against goaline technology not unlike cricket's and tennis' 'Hawkeye' system. Aw.

I especially like Clarkson's (my NH and HC oboe junior) "may lightning strike the linesman when he raises his flag". Oh man, that was just pure classic. I like that

Alright, its 2300 hrs now and I have no idea how I'm going to report to work fresh and ready for the morning 4.8km run tomorrow. Well, if they ask, just blame it on England lah.

Update - England getting thrashed here. Maybe its the system. No one doubts that these are good players, yet they're getting battered by a fluid Germany playing 4-2-3-1. Horribly exposed. Deserves to go home despite that disallowed goal. Even our Foreign Minister George Yeo 'salutes Germany' on FB after their win.

ARGH GUARD DUTY TMR.. So its stay-in then for one night

Comment! (0) | Recommend!

And we hung on through the tough drilling on Monday, to make it for the certifcate presentation and the actual parade the very next afternoon.

On an afternoon where the future sergeants were our so-called helpers and the commanders reduced to targets for group photos, we were king, sort of. For we had completed the course, and received our new orange brassard. With that and our new No. 3, we were finally ready to assume the responsibilities that lie ahead of us.

For a few hours there and then at least, we did not think too much about the future. Instead we reveled in the present, taking evidence of memories that will soon become the past.

And that was how 17/10 POP-ed. On a cool Tuesday afternoon, with parents and commanders in attendance.


Last time in MPTS


With Jtay(:


Our CI, Cpt Michael. Said that he's gonna torture me in my next posting.


With our platoon best, from our section..


Our sec cmdr.. says that I was in contention for plt best.. just that I did not get Gold for IPPT. Lol.


Can you spot the eye of the tiger?

Comment! (0) | Recommend!

Just food for thought..
So the North Koreans shouldn't have gone for the jugular straight from kick-off. They did. And this was what they got in return..

We had a good laugh over it this morning. Thank goodness we did not bet on the North Koreans to win the World Cup, which was on odds of 1000-1.


Portugal 7-0 North Korea (Highlights)


Alright, its not as if I'm not working tomorrow morning. So I shall call it a day after watching both Uruguay and Mexico qualifying from Group A after Uruguay won Mexico 1-0 and South Africa couldn't manage to win by 4 against France as they only triumphed 2-1, again thanks to an early red card (how many have there been already so far? 5, 6?).

Anyways, POP LO!~~ ((:

Comment! (0) | Recommend!

Shucks man. Has any Singtel user out there ever experienced receiving an advertisement just as you were anxiously holding out for a reply from someone else? Argh.. Just happened an hour ago. Made me high for nothing.
_____________________________________

Alright, I'm typing this now that I've returned from watching 'Toy Story 3' with Jtay, Huyuan and Samuel earlier on in the day. Well, TS3 was a movie with quite a bit of underlying themes and messages.

Basically it insinuates that when one should know when to let go of their past when a brighter future beckons. Even if the toys in the movie had given Andy so much satisfaction from his childhood right up to his teenage years, he still decided in the end to give them up in order to let some other child experience the joy all over again. No point depriving someone else by stuffing them in an attic and hording on to them when he doesn't even have the heart and time for them anymore.

This same logic applies even to relationships. When a relationship falters and doesn't work out there's no reason to have such a possessive attitude towards the other party anymore. (For one, that poor person does not even belong to you, and thus you cannot really have command and control over his thoughts and actions) The time has come when you have to let go.. and perhaps let them find other sources of accompaniment and joy instead of laboring on (when you have no intentions of mending fences and getting back on track) - for old times' sake, which many agree is a waste of time and will ultimately bring about more disappointment on either side when expectations gets too high and hopes get busted by one or the other.

Like how Andy made up his mind in the end to give them away (no matter how unwilling he was right up to the last minute, precisely because of 'old time' sake), both parties must set down the ground rules regarding their status soon after they have ended a relationship. Its when these markers are not laid down that things become so confusing and status evolved to something ambiguous when both drift towards one another once again, at least to onlookers and perhaps even the parties themselves.

At this rate, they'll probably never be able to step out from the shadow of their past and truly fulfill their individual destinies given that they're stuck in purgatory (which South Park defines as 'being stuck on a plane waiting endlessly on a runway for permission to take off'). Oh well.. Just some thoughts that were running through my head as the movie concluded and are not aimed at any persons at all.

Otherwise, it's a pretty good family movie and perfectly made for outings and so on. Unlike 'Harold and Kumar' and 'The Hangover' which we (partially) watched during Cohesion at the workplace on Thursday. The former was cut for showcasing nudity, while the credits of the latter were a no-go for the same reason. Go wiki these two movies if you do not know what they're all about (: Frankly speaking, those movies are dead perfect for where I am now though with a bucketload of crude references to sex, a dead-funny plot inciting laughter all around. Of course keep all these from the higher ups la.


My distractions over the weekend.. when the sun's still in the sky.. For when the sun sets..

Its World Cup time (:

We had nights out on Tuesday and me, YL and JS basically trekked all over CCK trying to find a McDonald's outlet that was screening the match between New Zealand and Slovakia live. Thanks to some help from some friends, and also Kaihui, we managed to locate one all the way at CCKCC, near Stagmont and PJC. The match itself was pretty eventful, with NZ equalising right at the death to send the uncles in the outlet into delirium. They most presumably had gambled on a draw.

Watched the three matches on Friday night/Saturday morning online.. Germany were very unlucky, the US and Slovenia played an excellent match where the States came from two goals down to force a draw.. but England, oh England. A total waste of my time - they played so poorly that I think even the Singapore national team could threaten the Algerians more that what the English managed the whole match. Sloppy, slow and inconsistent, they let the Algerians run riot over them. Johnson can't cross for nuts, Rooney was so desperate he played as a Defender, Midfielder, Winger and Centre-Forward all at once, and Barry just needlessly gave away the ball so often.. He even almost let the Algerians through on goal with a botched back-pass. Well, then again, Algeria did not play particularly well either, yet England's shortcomings were evident for all to see.

Last night I went with my dad over to the CC to catch the match between the Netherlands and Japan on the big screen. The atmosphere would have been great if not for some deranged bugger who appeared in the second half and distracted everyone with nonsensical hand movements and shouting. Japan were unlucky to lose.. and the Dutch are through after Cameroon lost to Denmark in the 2.30am match.

Went home after the first match and caught the match-up between Ghana and Australia on my laptop. Unconvincing from the Africans while Australia after doing a Germany by being reduced to ten men early in the match held on doggedly for a deserved draw. And did I mention that the Germans missed a penalty? Talk about a world cup of surprises. This edition definitely have them all.

Who would have thought Spain could lose in the face of Swiss efficiency? Only me in the whole bunk.. =/


Training to be like them.. someday.

IPPT on Tuesday, which I did moderately alright. And then we moved on to drills and more drills as the weekend beckoned. On Friday alone we drilled from 730am all the way to 530pm. Cool session which left me with bruised hips (from change-arms drill) and a sore left calf.

Jtay reported to camp on Wednesday and had a first hand experience of PT - MPTS style two days later. Managed to catch up with him on Thursday night and had a good long chat on everything under the sun. Did the same when I called Jos on Wed to vent about some stuffs as well. Haha. Finally the week's over.. One more week closer to ORD.. Though there's still a long long way to go (~72 weeks?) s=22.gif border=0>

Lastly..

PASSING OUT IN 02 DAYS
PRIDE, DISCIPLINE, HONOUR!~

_____________________________________
Photo credit - WonderLandNeverLand on Flickr
Photo credit - amateur_photo_bore on Flickr

Comment! (0) | Recommend!

Highlights of a very mundane week..

060610, SUNDAY

Spent the whole day guarding the camp, or rather, sitting at the desk in the guardroom looking at CCTVs and recording particulars of anyone entering camp. Yes, I was the very lucky Guard 4IC. Say no to prowling and sentry duties, turnouts and staff parades. The only times I exited the room was to open the gates for vehicles, chat with the sentry, purchase drinks from the vending machine and collect rations.

Sgt CT was our guard cmdr, and thankfully the Duty Officer was benign not to turn us out. As a result, in between shifts people can be found in the air conditioned rest room upstairs playing Monopoly Deal! as well as sleeping in relative comfort. As for myself, I was entertaining myself at the desk on a lazy Sunday afternoon with magazines and filling in part of the section cmdr book. After last parade, we erm.. ordered McDelivery. Chalet eh? Lol.

And Macs never like to deliver to our camp, only preferring to do so after 11pm. >.<

At night the sgts all booked in and camped at the guardroom playing Monopoly.. Lol. Ultimate. Addictive game indeed.

070610, MONDAY

The morning started with me doing desk duty from 3am all the way to 8am. Was quite tired and was about to sleep when detail returned with a deserter caught in the middle of the night -.-

That morning the reservists came back and it was hell of a mess at the guardroom trying to process all of them.

No guard rest for us that morning after we dismounted as there was a CBRE briefing by the guys from 36SCE.

At the end of the day I'm thankful I'm not in the chemical unit. Imagine wearing Mopp 4 for route marches and exercises for two years. Not my cup of tea thank you.

080610, TUESDAY

Gas chamber was pretty alright. Had to enter in Mopp 4, change canister in there, do exercises then take out the whole mask and say our NRIC rank and name before walking out. No kick la . Saw other unfortunate people run (and get f***ed by Conducting), making friends with the fence, screaming vulgarities like nobody's business. Cool. Once in a lifetime experience, that.

And I entered with an open wound on my face no less. Someone else had one on his arm (which was not even exposed to the tear gas) sought permission not to enter. Brave? Hm.

Tips if you ever experience tear gas - don't rub your face with your hands, don't wash with water as well (the gas reacts with water.. and sweat). Lastly just stay calm even if the gas mask wasn't really very airtight like mine and the gas just seeps in. Breathe through the mouth. :D

090610, WEDNESDAY

Close combat training at the field (and mud of all places). Learnt some basic locks. Last lesson the previous Thurs was on break fall.. and thankfully we did not revise that there and then. PT in the afternoon which was just circuit at the track for 5 rounds with hops, push ups, squats and jumping jacks.

Received our No. 3 at the Audit and took measurements for my No. 1 uniform. Looks like I'm hopping across the road to LECC (Legislative, Enforcement and Ceremonial Company) come the 22nd along with another month of stay in drills.

100610, THURSDAY

CCT yet again, this time at the indoor range (yay). Learnt more locks with throws.
PT in the morning - 10 times we sprinted up the slope, then we lunged up it. Fun.

110610, FRIDAY

Drills in the morning.. The platoon likes to drift when turning. -.-
Overall was quite ok with all the static and marching.. Anyways I have one month of drills staring at me in the face hence I might as well enjoy during it.

Recruitment talk at the range. Who wants to sign on? Over my dead body. Maybe as MP Specs yes, but as a Man, definite no-no. Imagine going to SISPEC for BSLC after this -.- Waste of time.

CCT in the afternoon - did three-man teams, sweeping and throwing.
And that marked the end of the week..
______________________________________________

Seems like BSLC posting orders were out the same day as the SCTs finished their Foundation Term at SISPEC. Jtay's coming to MP.. on Wed after block leave. Quite happy for him as he had received the very posting he wanted all along. Some others went ASLC.. Have fun with trees in SG and Taiwan, then return and tell us if there's any difference between them. Maybe Taiwan has nicer mountains. Then again, we don't really have mountains here in SG do we?

The SCTs have block leave and we don't after we pass out? What's the logic in this?


Oh, one very important thing - WORLD CUP 2010
Watched the South Africa - Mexico match at home.. Was appalled that Mexico did not go three or four up before half time given the chances they had. SA hit back with a wonderful goal before Mexico equalized late on. Fair match? Great opening to the tournament.

Alas, the next match featuring France and Uruguay was a let-down.

Argentina did very well against Nigeria.. Messi was.. breathtaking to say the least. The Nigerian keeper had an excellent game though.

And England, oh my. What a blunder. Nuff said. Even I can hold the ball better than him man.. >.<

The McDelivery advert that shows up time and time again during the match is very irritating don't you think? =/

And and I want to play mahjong again >.< Got game jio me alright? (:

Going back to camp early since I wanna escape from reality which stares at me whenever I blog-hop there's nothing much to do at home.

Took me one hour to iron my two sets of No. 3 to perfection. Life skill - All of you guys should go iron your own clothes.. I wonder if someone actually does that.. or just throws them all to the domestic worker at home?

______________________________________________

TAGS

J - I have no idea who you are still.. >.< Do you mind enlightening me? (if you still visit this blog often that is) Many apologies!

Amelia - True, I agree with you as well (: Tough time for all as we come under scrutiny from the public. Yet I believe that all of us will pass through this test unscathed and come out stronger. (: We need to keep to our convictions and faith in God - and not let us be unduly influenced by others. Anyways, I never knew you read my blog.. Thought you had forgotten it as two months have passed.. Haha. Thanks for tagging ((:

emosong - Hahaha, OST from your latest favourite Korean drama serial? LOL. Have you watched the last episode btw? :P

emokid - Hais, yeah.. What to do? So many things troubling me nowadays..

li rui - Sorry for late reply! Haha, yeah I did.. What about you? (:

Comment! (0) | Recommend!