More than this

I could feel at the time
There was no way of knowing
Fallen leaves in the night
Who can say where they're blowing
As free as the wind
Hopefully learning
Why the sea on the tide
Has no way of turning

More than this you know there's nothing
More than this tell me one thing
More than this ooh there is nothing

It was fun for a while
There was no way of knowing
Like a dream in the night
Who can say where we're going
No care in the world
Maybe I'm learning
Why the sea on the tide
Has no way of turning

(Acknowledgement: Roxy Music)

Arts Students Suck

Here we have a Arts-stream dickhead writing to the forum about how life is so unfair to him:

Arts students at a disadvantage when applying to arts faculty

AS THE new academic year starts in the National University of Singapore (NUS), one is reminded of the fierce competition for places this year and its fallout.

As usual, hard-luck stories abound of arts-stream students from junior colleges failing to gain entry into the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), and their oft-heard cry that they have been deprived of places by science-stream students.

There is some merit in that assertion, due to the inequalities of the system. A cap should be placed on the number of science students in FASS.

To begin with, there are far more science students than arts students. Due to the constant proportion of grades awarded, regardless of stream, this means that it is more likely for a science student to attain a certain grade than for an arts student because of the former's far greater numbers.

This translates into a system whereby for every one arts student, there are many more science students who have equivalent or better grades. This is an inequality in the system, as two students of the same calibre may get different grades simply because they were in different streams.

Also, it is a fact that many science students did not put FASS as their first choice, but still got into the faculty, due to their better grades. In contrast, there are many arts students who put FASS as their first choice but failed to get in.

A faculty's worth is measured by its students, and students who sincerely want to be in FASS are likely to be of more value to the faculty. On the other hand, science students are disadvantaged in FASS, because they lack a grounding in the humanities, are unsure of their aptitude in the humanities as well as their field of study, and may lack passion if FASS was not their first choice. This combination makes for mediocrity.

Lastly, another inequality in the system is that arts students have far fewer choices of faculties than science students. Entry into FASS is generally easier than for other faculties, so if the arts student fails to get into FASS despite putting it as his first choice, there are precious few options for him. For many, entry into the polytechnics has become their last resort, meaning that their A-level education has been wasted.

In view of the inequalities, it is only fair to enact some corrective action.

EDWIN TAN CHOON BOON

(Source: The Straits Times, 19th Aug 2004)

Boo hoo hoo, mummy, I didn't get into FASS with my pathetic results. I hate them, I blame it on the teachers, the examiners, the school, the system etc etc etc. I can't accept the fact that I'm a loser.

...due to the inequalities of the system. A cap should be placed on the number of science students in FASS. Oh i see, practising discrimination on the science students will bring about equality in the 'system'. If you knew about this so called 'system', why didn't you take the science stream in the first place?

...many science students did not put FASS as their first choice, but still got into the faculty, due to their better grades. Hey, Edwin, if your results are poor, just say it ok.

...science students are disadvantaged in FASS, because they lack a grounding in the humanities, are unsure of their aptitude in the humanities as well as their field of study, and may lack passion if FASS was not their first choice. Judging by the fact that your results weren't good enough to get into FASS, shows you probably don't have a sound grounding in the humanities, and if you are really passionate, you will probably be motivated to do well.

Quit complaining you idiot. There's nothing that is going to be done. Just go and re-take your A Levels and do better this time round. Whining doesn't get you anywhere.

How to Chase Gals

Ok, here at Life Sucks, we want to teach our viewers new skills which will benefit them in their life. Now this particular one arised when I was watching Durian King. Adrian Pang's character has fallen for Kym Ng's character after a backside shaking incident. It seems he turned into a gobbly gook after that and did not know head or tail about how to tackle Kym. So he approached Seow Lang and this is what he said (learn well desperate guys) :

If you like a gal, attack! ATTACK! ATTACK!

And they spent the next few seconds holding a parang welding stance. I'm sure that will get all the chicks going. Yeah baby yeah!

http://www.sphmediaworks.com/durianking/

The Naming Game

Saw this article on our local newspaper:

RSS Valour? Why not RSS Rajaratnam or Goh Keng Swee?
By K. C. Vijayan

THE naming of cats 'is a difficult matter', said the poet T.S. Eliot. It is not 'one of your holiday games', he insisted in his celebrated Possum's Book Of Practical Cats. Names suggested for RSN ships ranged from Achiever to Superior but none is of a national historic figure.

I thought of these lines as I watched the sail past of 17 naval craft from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore off Batam two Tuesdays ago, as they steamed into the Malacca Strait on a joint exercise.

The five Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) vessels in the flotilla were christenedValour, Gallant, Independence, Sea Scorpion and Sea Wolf. Perfectly nice names, but what if they had been called RSS Goh Keng Swee, S. Rajaratnam or even Winston Choo?

All the names the RSN has used so far reflect ideal qualities. When a new frigate, a small, fast ship used to protect other ships, was launched in Tuas a fortnight ago, it was called RSS Intrepid.

It was chosen in a contest that drew some 10,200 entries. Other names which contestants suggested ranged from Achiever, Ardent and Allegiance to Sentinel, Superior and Singapura, a Ministry of Defence spokesman told The Straits Times. But no one suggested naming a vessel after a national historic figure.

Mindef chooses names to reflect 'the qualities of the RSN's frigates and commitment of the navy's men and women to ensure Singapore's seaward defence', it said in a statement last December.

Last month, the navy's latest submarine took to sea with the glorious name of RSS Centurion, after the Roman military officer who commanded 100 soldiers. It joins the other three Cs - RSS Chieftain, Challenger and Conqueror - in Singapore's underwater quartet.

RSS Centurion was described as possessing updated stealth capabilities and heavyweight firepower - qualities espoused, if not embodied, by Dr Goh. A review in the 1980s of a collection of his essays on economics paid him tribute by saying defence ministers elsewhere would eagerly await his essays on how to start a defence force from scratch...

(Source: The Straits Times, 31st Jul 2004)

As we celebrate the time honoured tradition of naming ships, we must always remember that the names must be relevant to our local context. Calling the ships after 'qualities' just doesn't cut it. The USA have their USS Carl Vinson, USS Kittyhawk, USS Roosevelt, USS Atlanta etc etc. Being Singaporean, we just got to be the same if not better then them.

RSS Bedok or Chua Chu Kang just doesn't sound right either. RSS Goh Keng Swee (why doesn't he have an English name???) or RSS Harry LKY is a bit off key. Here at Life Sucks and then You Die, we seek to solve our Navy's problem by suggesting a few christianing names for the ships which truely reflects the true qualities of Singapore and the men/women of SAF:

Missle Cruisers:RSS Kiasu, Kiasee, Kiabo

LST: RSS Lobo, Skivers, Zhuo bo

Frigates: RSS Attend C, Attend B, Excuse Sunlight

Flag Ship: RSS KNNBCCB

Anymore suggestions? If not, MINDEF, where's my reward???

When the Sun Hits

Sweet thing, I watch you
Burn so fast it scares me
My game, please don't leave me
Come so far, don't lose me
It matters where you are
As the sun hits, she'll be waiting
With the coffins, under heaven
Hey hey lover, you're still burning
You're his song yeah
Sweet thing I watch you
Burn away

(Acknowledgement: 'Souvlaki' Slowdive)

Durian King

Hi friends, meet Seow Lang, the psychotic geylang ah beng :

This is my territory!

Brilliant acting by Benjamin Heng! Its hilarious! There have not been such a great english comedy produced locally in a while! Watch it on Channel I Fridays 930pm! No i don't work for them!

http://www.sphmediaworks.com/durianking/