...scribbling on frozen windscreens...
...easter candles and Mass on a weekday...
...what a gentleman. not many of us left these days...
...christmas cards left on the parish table. waiting...
...wandering about the times when their white hair was black/brown...
...closing my eyes and images rushing in, forcing a smile...
...the sweet coincidence in His plans...
To school!
Uncle T
13 Dec 2007
The Rediscovery of...... 6:35 am
I'm gonna discover; rediscover something that I once knew. I think the last time I truly felt it was....15,16? I'm gonna find it back now. It's somewhere....I just know it. Gotta find it.
Debate. One of the best ways to learn is debate, discuss, dispute. Ask questions. Ask questions of questions.
Some people deem it lonely. Solitude, perhaps? Amidst the cold. Was this not what I asked for?
You awake daily with the hope that you bump into a stranger, a book, a phrase, that will change your life forever. That hope is powerful.
Uncle T
Debate. One of the best ways to learn is debate, discuss, dispute. Ask questions. Ask questions of questions.
Some people deem it lonely. Solitude, perhaps? Amidst the cold. Was this not what I asked for?
You awake daily with the hope that you bump into a stranger, a book, a phrase, that will change your life forever. That hope is powerful.
Uncle T
Random spurts from the library 3:04 am
As usual, been ages since I've blogged. Funny that's how often I start entries these days.
In the library in week 1 of the holidays. Trying, which is the key verb, to do my assignments before I head off for a long, and costly, holiday this Sunday.
Do you not sometimes get the urge to tell the world how you feel inside? Perhaps those urges manifest today in terms of blogging. And mass school murders.
Filled with trepidation about this holiday. Nice, rosy things tend to upset; we often set too ridiculous expectations to such things; like holding an ice ball and hoping it would last forever. But on a happier note, the holiday would be with Yong :) Darling, let's have a splendid holiday! (considering the amount of money we are spending on it).
But I think first we have to see what we define as a "good holiday".
Miss my housemates. They are good people. Miss people back home.
Uncle T
In the library in week 1 of the holidays. Trying, which is the key verb, to do my assignments before I head off for a long, and costly, holiday this Sunday.
Do you not sometimes get the urge to tell the world how you feel inside? Perhaps those urges manifest today in terms of blogging. And mass school murders.
Filled with trepidation about this holiday. Nice, rosy things tend to upset; we often set too ridiculous expectations to such things; like holding an ice ball and hoping it would last forever. But on a happier note, the holiday would be with Yong :) Darling, let's have a splendid holiday! (considering the amount of money we are spending on it).
But I think first we have to see what we define as a "good holiday".
Miss my housemates. They are good people. Miss people back home.
Uncle T
3 Nov 2007
Simple thank-yous 3:48 am
Such simple things that make you rethink your existence; how simple actions are not mere moments that should be lost in the dustbin of mundanity. So cheem, but if you think about it, rather true.
Watching fireworks from my window, with a few boxes of our own in the flat next door. Played regional floorball tournament last weekend, a day I've waited for close to 8 years to play a sport competitively.
You see? Simple things bring so much meaning, if only we, I, spend just a moment more beyond that moment of unconscious action to think about the act and the preceding journey that led you to that.
So cheem, but if you think about it, rather true.
Uncle T
1 Nov 2007
Random Clouds 10:07 pm
I have not been updating my blog. Of late too, questions about people and social circles have cropped up. What is my blog for? Who reads?
Anyhow, watched Coventry v. West Ham, my 3rd football game in this country :) Sadly, Coventry lost. That very night, I was moved by blind loyalty to cheer the side that obviously played better but lost, in my view, from the lack of the touch of quality.
I'm diseased. With a seemingly drawn out and nagging nigbigzitthwart that makes me ineffective, scared of facing reality and inefficient. Its making me ask silly questions too. I need to refocus, and re-centre. Its just that the core is currently a vacuum.
Uncle T
Anyhow, watched Coventry v. West Ham, my 3rd football game in this country :) Sadly, Coventry lost. That very night, I was moved by blind loyalty to cheer the side that obviously played better but lost, in my view, from the lack of the touch of quality.
I'm diseased. With a seemingly drawn out and nagging nigbigzitthwart that makes me ineffective, scared of facing reality and inefficient. Its making me ask silly questions too. I need to refocus, and re-centre. Its just that the core is currently a vacuum.
Uncle T
24 Oct 2007
Description, no prescription. 6:45 pm
A unified, universal perversity,
Where social morality echoes through the
Empty chasm of mortal existence.
What fills it is that perversity;
The one we shun and denounce,
But which is closest to our tarnished souls.
Desire, lust, greed, fear, impatience, betrayal,
All which the religious is quickest to admonish.
Yet, the halo is often a social accessory
That is quick to come off in the confines of solitude;
Is it not easy to forget He/She is there.
O peversity that cankers.
Who to blame for it? The Fall?
Cannot be us, can it?
I want to banish it,
Yet it is I who willingly latches it onto my existence.
It hurts greatly trying to remove its tenticles.
Uncle T
Where social morality echoes through the
Empty chasm of mortal existence.
What fills it is that perversity;
The one we shun and denounce,
But which is closest to our tarnished souls.
Desire, lust, greed, fear, impatience, betrayal,
All which the religious is quickest to admonish.
Yet, the halo is often a social accessory
That is quick to come off in the confines of solitude;
Is it not easy to forget He/She is there.
O peversity that cankers.
Who to blame for it? The Fall?
Cannot be us, can it?
I want to banish it,
Yet it is I who willingly latches it onto my existence.
It hurts greatly trying to remove its tenticles.
Uncle T
10 Oct 2007
How is it like to be a potato? 8:27 pm
How is it like to be a potato?
With people, cooperations and schoolkids alike, wanting you so bad?
With mothers enticing children to swallow greens with your presence?
With being confused for being a green when you're not?
When you wield the power to pump the tyre around the girth?
When you, after being processed thoroughly, are my favourite unhealthy snack?
How is it like, Potato, being so renowned?
Or should I even be asking you that?
When you are grown in one place, but harvested by people from the South?
When cooperations process you being your intrinsic self?
Should I ask Chemicals and Salt as they perhaps are the cosmetics of your barren self?
Or should the packaging which you are in after being pulped into chips?
Uncle T
With people, cooperations and schoolkids alike, wanting you so bad?
With mothers enticing children to swallow greens with your presence?
With being confused for being a green when you're not?
When you wield the power to pump the tyre around the girth?
When you, after being processed thoroughly, are my favourite unhealthy snack?
How is it like, Potato, being so renowned?
Or should I even be asking you that?
When you are grown in one place, but harvested by people from the South?
When cooperations process you being your intrinsic self?
Should I ask Chemicals and Salt as they perhaps are the cosmetics of your barren self?
Or should the packaging which you are in after being pulped into chips?
Uncle T
11 Sept 2007
My Own Blockbuster 6:50 pm
I don't reckon that it will be considered an epic. Ever.
Yet, it had it poignant moments, and moments which I hope will stay in that portion of my grey matter which governs my daily life, my daily choices.
As I sat in the cinema seat expecting a family comedy, there were two episodes in the movie that moved me:
1. When you pray for courage, does God give you courage? When you pray to bring your family closer, does he make your family closer, or does he give you the opportunity to love them more?
2. To change the world, you can't really do it in a single act, but by cumulating small "Acts of Random Kindness", you possibly can.
Funny to make a reference to Mother Teresa and a Hollywood flick in the same breadth, but the former's personal letters have recently been published, revealing that Mother Teresa indeed suffered till her very last breathe the torment of knowing God being there yet not feeling His presence, does tie in with the second episode of the movie that I found moving.
Very often, especially being fresh out of teens, it tends to get easily cynical and jaded, and things like "change the world" and "world peace" tends to snugly belong to the bosoms of Miss Universe candidates. But the movie reminded me that "to know that one life has breathed because you lived, this is to have succeeded" (R.W.Emerson), and I don't need to be the President of the US (okay fine, bad choice of benchmark) to benchmark world-changing success.
How often do we complain, us with religions, that the Divine does not answer our prayers, or so we think. I think He answers our prayers with many opportunities that are carefully hidden in the little crevices of daily life, however routine however extraordinary, and that episode in the movie thoroughly reminded me of that, enough for me to blog after so long.
It does not need to be an epic, a blockbuster by capitalist standards (box office sales), but simply that those episodes in the movie spoke to me, it is my blockbuster. The cynic may say those are carefully crafted moments in order to win over your epiphany-tear-jerking points. I say that through the script writers, the director, the actors and even the script itself, those episodes were indeed those crevices in life that we often miss that contains so much inight into life; my life in this case.
Morsels that turns into a banquet. 5 loaves and 2 fishes, for the 5000.
Its my blockbuster. Do you have one? Look beyond the popcorns perhaps the next time you pay your $7/$9.50. You may just find yours.
Uncle T
Yet, it had it poignant moments, and moments which I hope will stay in that portion of my grey matter which governs my daily life, my daily choices.
As I sat in the cinema seat expecting a family comedy, there were two episodes in the movie that moved me:
1. When you pray for courage, does God give you courage? When you pray to bring your family closer, does he make your family closer, or does he give you the opportunity to love them more?
2. To change the world, you can't really do it in a single act, but by cumulating small "Acts of Random Kindness", you possibly can.
Funny to make a reference to Mother Teresa and a Hollywood flick in the same breadth, but the former's personal letters have recently been published, revealing that Mother Teresa indeed suffered till her very last breathe the torment of knowing God being there yet not feeling His presence, does tie in with the second episode of the movie that I found moving.
Very often, especially being fresh out of teens, it tends to get easily cynical and jaded, and things like "change the world" and "world peace" tends to snugly belong to the bosoms of Miss Universe candidates. But the movie reminded me that "to know that one life has breathed because you lived, this is to have succeeded" (R.W.Emerson), and I don't need to be the President of the US (okay fine, bad choice of benchmark) to benchmark world-changing success.
How often do we complain, us with religions, that the Divine does not answer our prayers, or so we think. I think He answers our prayers with many opportunities that are carefully hidden in the little crevices of daily life, however routine however extraordinary, and that episode in the movie thoroughly reminded me of that, enough for me to blog after so long.
It does not need to be an epic, a blockbuster by capitalist standards (box office sales), but simply that those episodes in the movie spoke to me, it is my blockbuster. The cynic may say those are carefully crafted moments in order to win over your epiphany-tear-jerking points. I say that through the script writers, the director, the actors and even the script itself, those episodes were indeed those crevices in life that we often miss that contains so much inight into life; my life in this case.
Morsels that turns into a banquet. 5 loaves and 2 fishes, for the 5000.
Its my blockbuster. Do you have one? Look beyond the popcorns perhaps the next time you pay your $7/$9.50. You may just find yours.
Uncle T
18 Jul 2007
Youth Bulge Theory 2:05 pm
I stumbled upon an article today that gave an alternative perspective on the war in Afghanistan, using youth-bulge theories and demographics as a source of wars and violence in general. The article can be found at: http://opendemocracy.com/conflicts/democracy_terror/islamism_war_demographics_rage
It is not scriptures from holy books or poverty that drives the conflict in Afghanistan, the article says. Rather, it is the "youth bulge" that spurs this violence. In fact, poverty alleviation actually can actually fuel the violence, given the youth bulge condition present.
To better understand how poverty alleviation with the youth buldge condition actually fuels violence is to first understand youth bulge. Youth bulge theory posits that, based on the study of history, shows clearly that when 30% or more of a nation's male inhabitants are in the 15-29 age bracket, the result is chaos, violence and upheaval. This creates a huge pool of economically superfluous young men who, because of humanitarian aid, are not in hunger, fed, but out of jobs. To get those limited positions in society, they will fight for it, and for fed and able-bodied men with no jobs, starting and sustaining fights on the basis for survival is not hard to fathom.
However, in order not to appear as cold-blooeded killers fighting for themselves, many of these men take lofty stand-points to come across as "honourable executioners" of the elites. Hence, because of this adament inclinations to use religious rhetoric as a cover of their cause, an appeal to rational interpretations of religious scriptures will hardly dent their violent "fanaticism".
Looking at Afghanistan's "reservoir" of fighters coming from its burgeoning young males, greatly outnumbers the number of soldiers NATO can put on the frontlines. While the article does not provide any solution, it leaves me guessing what kind of solutions the West and other policy-makers may put forth in light of this demographic-driven war.
Any solutions to suggest?
Uncle T
It is not scriptures from holy books or poverty that drives the conflict in Afghanistan, the article says. Rather, it is the "youth bulge" that spurs this violence. In fact, poverty alleviation actually can actually fuel the violence, given the youth bulge condition present.
To better understand how poverty alleviation with the youth buldge condition actually fuels violence is to first understand youth bulge. Youth bulge theory posits that, based on the study of history, shows clearly that when 30% or more of a nation's male inhabitants are in the 15-29 age bracket, the result is chaos, violence and upheaval. This creates a huge pool of economically superfluous young men who, because of humanitarian aid, are not in hunger, fed, but out of jobs. To get those limited positions in society, they will fight for it, and for fed and able-bodied men with no jobs, starting and sustaining fights on the basis for survival is not hard to fathom.
However, in order not to appear as cold-blooeded killers fighting for themselves, many of these men take lofty stand-points to come across as "honourable executioners" of the elites. Hence, because of this adament inclinations to use religious rhetoric as a cover of their cause, an appeal to rational interpretations of religious scriptures will hardly dent their violent "fanaticism".
Looking at Afghanistan's "reservoir" of fighters coming from its burgeoning young males, greatly outnumbers the number of soldiers NATO can put on the frontlines. While the article does not provide any solution, it leaves me guessing what kind of solutions the West and other policy-makers may put forth in light of this demographic-driven war.
Any solutions to suggest?
Uncle T
12 Jul 2007
........... 12:18 am
Orders kopi peng and duck noodles...
It is about 2 weeks since I have arrived back home. Well, back to work tomorrow. You know your life needs a booster when work is like army; the only thing you look forward to the whole day is book-out. It has not reached that for me. Not yet. Not when its merely 2 weeks on the job. Wrong. Job connotes paid labour. Training, learning is the word.
And learn I do indeed. So much to learn, something new everyday so long as you keep your mind open, and ears willing, one will grow wiser with everyday that you're one day closer to your final bed.
Watched Harry Potter today; nothing life changing after all the cinematic magic; just that dull thud of reality that my life can never be like Harry Potter's no matter how much I will it. Often known as fiction. Pure fiction.
"Thoughts shape words, words shape actions, actions shape habits, habits shape character, character shape destinies." Such wise words He offers when I ask Him for guidance. And this came from an email floating around my inbox today. Listen, and you will here His voice. Clear out the scepticism and nurture faith. Only then will we start to His whispers that were all along there.
Uncle T
It is about 2 weeks since I have arrived back home. Well, back to work tomorrow. You know your life needs a booster when work is like army; the only thing you look forward to the whole day is book-out. It has not reached that for me. Not yet. Not when its merely 2 weeks on the job. Wrong. Job connotes paid labour. Training, learning is the word.
And learn I do indeed. So much to learn, something new everyday so long as you keep your mind open, and ears willing, one will grow wiser with everyday that you're one day closer to your final bed.
Watched Harry Potter today; nothing life changing after all the cinematic magic; just that dull thud of reality that my life can never be like Harry Potter's no matter how much I will it. Often known as fiction. Pure fiction.
"Thoughts shape words, words shape actions, actions shape habits, habits shape character, character shape destinies." Such wise words He offers when I ask Him for guidance. And this came from an email floating around my inbox today. Listen, and you will here His voice. Clear out the scepticism and nurture faith. Only then will we start to His whispers that were all along there.
Uncle T
8 Jun 2007
Aiyoh..... 2:08 am
Orders saturated fats and unhealthy sedatives and comfort chocolates and...
Boy do I need exercise. Must. Will have to do. When I have time. Depends on the weather. Oh well.
Its the penultimate paper tomorrow. Essentially 2 papers away for this chapter to come to a close. It has been harrowing, trying, educating, humbling (along with many other -ing words).
Its logic tomorrow. And floorball afterwards! That one I can't wait for.
What goes on in my head? How do I think? What helps me think? What impedes my thinking efficiency? Can my thinking capacity be altered, expanded or made deeper? Things that I will have to think about.
The western liberal project, since Enlightenment, has promoted individualism. Liberal economics thinks along self-interested rational indivduals. Yet, I can't do that. Other people's interest continually invade my decision-making. Perhaps its because of the culture/ environment I was raised in. Perhaps its just me.
Other countries have charged Singapore, more specifically the government, for being undemocratic, possibly charges of authoritarianism. The reason for concern in levelling such charges, I assume beyond the need to find some country's sovereignty and probe at it, is the resulting oppression of individual liberty of Singaporeans.
True, there may be laws that "fine" us regularly, with a death penalty that would send the Aussies hopping. Yet, one can look at it from the standpoint that these laws provide rules that we know will be observed by other members of society, and thus makes social decisions easier to make, hence making us "free-er" from the problems of being fearful of other members of society acting in ways we may not expect. Sure, this is just a generalisation.
But also, by building our non-dependency on the government for welfare, the laws may actually makes us "free-er" compared to many welfare states in the West, where taking welfare payouts may make the individual dependent on the state, and therefore less free, contrary to the Western-default rhetoric.
Oh well, just muses. I'm only starting to appreciate all that I'm studying after the exams. Ha. Like how Dragonball may perpetuate a western superiority (haha. Guofeng say one!): when you power-up, your hair turn yellow (yellow ppl where got yellow hair?)
Uncle T
Boy do I need exercise. Must. Will have to do. When I have time. Depends on the weather. Oh well.
Its the penultimate paper tomorrow. Essentially 2 papers away for this chapter to come to a close. It has been harrowing, trying, educating, humbling (along with many other -ing words).
Its logic tomorrow. And floorball afterwards! That one I can't wait for.
What goes on in my head? How do I think? What helps me think? What impedes my thinking efficiency? Can my thinking capacity be altered, expanded or made deeper? Things that I will have to think about.
The western liberal project, since Enlightenment, has promoted individualism. Liberal economics thinks along self-interested rational indivduals. Yet, I can't do that. Other people's interest continually invade my decision-making. Perhaps its because of the culture/ environment I was raised in. Perhaps its just me.
Other countries have charged Singapore, more specifically the government, for being undemocratic, possibly charges of authoritarianism. The reason for concern in levelling such charges, I assume beyond the need to find some country's sovereignty and probe at it, is the resulting oppression of individual liberty of Singaporeans.
True, there may be laws that "fine" us regularly, with a death penalty that would send the Aussies hopping. Yet, one can look at it from the standpoint that these laws provide rules that we know will be observed by other members of society, and thus makes social decisions easier to make, hence making us "free-er" from the problems of being fearful of other members of society acting in ways we may not expect. Sure, this is just a generalisation.
But also, by building our non-dependency on the government for welfare, the laws may actually makes us "free-er" compared to many welfare states in the West, where taking welfare payouts may make the individual dependent on the state, and therefore less free, contrary to the Western-default rhetoric.
Oh well, just muses. I'm only starting to appreciate all that I'm studying after the exams. Ha. Like how Dragonball may perpetuate a western superiority (haha. Guofeng say one!): when you power-up, your hair turn yellow (yellow ppl where got yellow hair?)
Uncle T
29 May 2007
Its finally starting 6:58 am
My first major exams in 3 years. Its finally here. Its starting. I wonder what I take along, what I leave behind...
Amen.
Uncle T
Amen.
Uncle T
22 May 2007
The Clock and the streams of consciousness 4:53 am
The clock sits squarely above the partition line on the wall. I have been noticing the clock for some time now; when I first saw it today it had the hour hand at 10, and now, its at 10 again. But I was sure it moved, or has it?
Surely it has. It was bright outside, noisy inside (the library). Now its bright inside, and quiet everywhere (except for 'Top Banana' going on in the distance at the Union). It is quiet enough for me to hear the exams looming round the corner shelf, awaiting to come and go.
A tad bit nostalgic, not homesick. Miss makans with Daddy, and driving along our roads. You know, I actually have not left campus grounds for...some time now. The beauty, or pathetic sad-state, of being on a self-contained campus. But the Tocil Woods, with the ducklings, gooslings, make up for this isolation.
Back to studying I guess. Can't wait to have the exams over; to head over to Berlin, Reims, Stratford and home. Yet, don't want it to come (the exams I mean) because I'm afraid I won't appreciate the exhilaration of post-exams well enough; the holidays will pass me by like a whiff, and soon I will be back at a desk, possibly slaving over the unfinished work of someone who has had authority to give me work to do, and thereby easing their own workload. Ambivalent, that's what Ian loves to say. Perhaps I'm not ambivalent, rather torn, having myself being at both the polarities.
Come what may, so they say (who's they? who's we?). I'm starting to appreciate my course at university much more. Think it will be an exciting academic year ahead. But what is still left begging is what I'll be doing beyond academics. Who knows?
Uncle T
Surely it has. It was bright outside, noisy inside (the library). Now its bright inside, and quiet everywhere (except for 'Top Banana' going on in the distance at the Union). It is quiet enough for me to hear the exams looming round the corner shelf, awaiting to come and go.
A tad bit nostalgic, not homesick. Miss makans with Daddy, and driving along our roads. You know, I actually have not left campus grounds for...some time now. The beauty, or pathetic sad-state, of being on a self-contained campus. But the Tocil Woods, with the ducklings, gooslings, make up for this isolation.
Back to studying I guess. Can't wait to have the exams over; to head over to Berlin, Reims, Stratford and home. Yet, don't want it to come (the exams I mean) because I'm afraid I won't appreciate the exhilaration of post-exams well enough; the holidays will pass me by like a whiff, and soon I will be back at a desk, possibly slaving over the unfinished work of someone who has had authority to give me work to do, and thereby easing their own workload. Ambivalent, that's what Ian loves to say. Perhaps I'm not ambivalent, rather torn, having myself being at both the polarities.
Come what may, so they say (who's they? who's we?). I'm starting to appreciate my course at university much more. Think it will be an exciting academic year ahead. But what is still left begging is what I'll be doing beyond academics. Who knows?
Uncle T
18 May 2007
An Inspiration 11:20 pm
es
My tutor, without the bow tie, David Miller.
Popper & Miller.
Sir Karl Popper.
To begin with, we shouldn't even worry about which theories to choose from when dealing with the pragmatic problem of induction, for there is hardly any recourse to scientific theories to do practical things (eg. technology). Physics laws don't teach us how to build bridges, but rather tells us what not to do (falsifies) for the bridge to theoretically not crumble. It is not scientists but engineers, using their problem-solving ability, not scientific theories, that builds a bridge that stands. Therefore we don't need theories to take practical action. That is Miller.
Popper is an inspiring smart man, one whom my module currently covers. His clarity in thought and writing is terribly impressive. Miller is his protege, continuing his mentor's work in falsifiability, defending it vigorously, and a reputable name in academia. And he is my tutor.
I am blessed, to have such a learned tutor; one who does not 'know' what induction is. I wonder how life might change for me if I don't employ inductive reasoning.
Uncle T
17 May 2007
Sigh..... 12:49 am
Just a couple of days back, I was elated when Guofeng told me my floorball stick arrived. Yes, the Floorball exco were very sweet and bought me a stick. Eternally grateful.
Since coming down with fever last week and missed training, I was looking forward to training today; a chance to relive the exhilaration playing the game and using my new stick.
After all the 'fiddling' with the stick in my room for the past couple of days, I headed down for training; and badly sprained my ankle during drills. I didn't even get to play games today; this time was a bad sprain.
What can I say. Can't even walk now. Hobbliing boy am I.
With a swollen ankle, hungry, but Louis Armstrong as company this evening, I'll try to ignore the throbbing and try write my essay. Can you imagine that, having a brand new module in my final term at school, impeding revision.
Oh boy. Jazz, in the bittersweet blues of life, is my best bet now.
Uncle T
15 May 2007
Reuters-Thomson Merger 4:48 pm
- Canadian financial data provider Thomson buys out Reuters for $17b
- Creates worl'd biggest financial news & data firm, leapfrogging US-based Bloomberg
- Expected annual savings fr merger: $250m
- Thomson's interests: law, tax & scientific research
- Thomson, Reuters, BLoomberg: compete in "terminal" mkt: providing news & financial data to banks, traders & brokerages
- In Apr 2007: Bllomberg 33%, REuters 23%, Thomson 11%
- Thomson-Reuters to list in London & Toronoto
- EStimated revenue of $12b, having 49000 employees
- Reputation of Reuters at stack: known for its neutrality
- For 150years, Reuters has had reputation for independence, where no ind can own 15% or more of the company
- Thomson now owns 53%. Journalists unhappy.
- REuters general news may be sidelined for financial news
- REuters boss Tom Glover will head firm
Uncle T
- Creates worl'd biggest financial news & data firm, leapfrogging US-based Bloomberg
- Expected annual savings fr merger: $250m
- Thomson's interests: law, tax & scientific research
- Thomson, Reuters, BLoomberg: compete in "terminal" mkt: providing news & financial data to banks, traders & brokerages
- In Apr 2007: Bllomberg 33%, REuters 23%, Thomson 11%
- Thomson-Reuters to list in London & Toronoto
- EStimated revenue of $12b, having 49000 employees
- Reputation of Reuters at stack: known for its neutrality
- For 150years, Reuters has had reputation for independence, where no ind can own 15% or more of the company
- Thomson now owns 53%. Journalists unhappy.
- REuters general news may be sidelined for financial news
- REuters boss Tom Glover will head firm
Uncle T
13 May 2007
Final Night...finally 4:11 pm
It is finally the last night of our production "Endorian Dreams". I say 'finally' with a sigh of relief no doubt, but does not in any way connotate that I have long for it to end. In fact, it seems all too surreal that the family that I have been heading for the past 2 terms is slowly disappearing.
Uncle T
It has been a special experience producing this, with Prin, my wonderful family, with special mention going out to the secretary and treasurer, and not forgetting AL and Jasmin.
Yet, there is no time to get nostalgic. There is still much that lies ahead; examicitis, packing up, feeding Squirrel, King Lear, travelling, going home, readjusting to home... So much more. Eventuality just chugs on, regardless of your preparations.
But in the meanwhile, please let me bask in some smoke of reminiscence, some shades of nostalgia. Thank you Endora, thank you.
We had 5000 of these postcards across campus.
The Production Family that held the fort, with Jia Wei taking the photo. Silly boy.
Uncle T
8 May 2007
Familiar feeling... 12:39 am
Its a familiar feeling. All too familiar. Yet different; foreign. Its the same tightening walls, but with new flowers beyond the window. Same routine of running towards the Cross when anxiety encircles, but something...something different.
The warm of teriyaki and egg sloshing in my mouth, the thought of Reims, Hunchback and his implications, tuna & croissant, ginger tea,Stratford and taste of treasured freedom all comfort me like water in hell's fires. All these candies cannot surpass the ultimate Peace that eminates from Him. These little sugar granules just lead me finally to the ultimate sweetness of His comfort.
Like jazz, in the bittersweet blues of life.
Uncle T
The warm of teriyaki and egg sloshing in my mouth, the thought of Reims, Hunchback and his implications, tuna & croissant, ginger tea,Stratford and taste of treasured freedom all comfort me like water in hell's fires. All these candies cannot surpass the ultimate Peace that eminates from Him. These little sugar granules just lead me finally to the ultimate sweetness of His comfort.
Like jazz, in the bittersweet blues of life.
Uncle T
1 May 2007
Veggie Love; Cabbage, Pumkin... 5:29 pm
from Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress"
Had we but world enough, and time,
This coyness, Lady, were no crime.
We would sit down and think which way
To walk and pass our long love's day.
Thou by the Indian Ganges' side
Shouldst rubies find: I by the tide
Of Humber would complain. I would
Love you ten years before the Flood,
And you should, if you please, refuse
Till the conversion of the Jews.
My vegetable love should grow
Vaster than empires, and more slow;
An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes and on thy forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore each breast;
But thirty thousand to the rest;
An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart;
For, Lady, you deserve this state,
Nor would I love at lower rate...
"My veggie love doth
Grow as onions and gingers
Nurture in thy cabinet
Having stayed there, overdue for
Cooking.
Just growing."
- uncle t
Uncle T
Hunchback... 5:22 am
HEAVEN'S LIGHT
Quasimodo
So many times out hereI've watched a happy pair
Of lovers walking in the night
They had a kind of glow around them
It almost looked like heaven's light
I knew I'd never know
That warm and loving glow
Though I might wish with all my might
No face as hideous as my face
Was ever meant for heaven's light
But suddenly an angel has smiled at me
And kissed my cheek without a trace of fright
I dare to dream that she
Might even care for me
And as I ring these bells tonight
My cold dark tower seems so bright
I swear it must be heaven's light
Uncle T
Quasimodo
So many times out hereI've watched a happy pair
Of lovers walking in the night
They had a kind of glow around them
It almost looked like heaven's light
I knew I'd never know
That warm and loving glow
Though I might wish with all my might
No face as hideous as my face
Was ever meant for heaven's light
But suddenly an angel has smiled at me
And kissed my cheek without a trace of fright
I dare to dream that she
Might even care for me
And as I ring these bells tonight
My cold dark tower seems so bright
I swear it must be heaven's light
Uncle T
30 Apr 2007
Some more of Spring...and more to come 9:29 pm
"Who is the monster and who is the man?...Sing the bells of Notre Dame"
Whilst uncle t is in the UK, the going ons in Singapore...
Ian and his bedfellow. So much for taste.
Fiona visiting UK; In Camden! Nice place.
He stumble through the door, having slept only 4 hours. He tries to wear his splippers as he does so. His hand reaches forward to find stability from the wall. But as his forearm brushes against the wall, the protruding alien, in all its silverness in paint disguise, digs into his skin. Momentum only tugs at the skin, drawing a line that slowly turns scarlet. That is the start of the day for some.
Uncle T
27 Apr 2007
The realm of the complex: Humans 7:05 pm
We have been there all this time. Did you not notice? You play beneath our shade; did you not look up at our foliage? Amidst our bosom you laughed; did you not realise that we cleansed your air?
Now, you suddenly notice us. You notice the cracks, the localised decay, the rare infestation at the roots. You walk up closer, and point that once-limp finger with accusations. You forgot about the green, you forgot about the shade. No. You never did notice it before. But you are good at pointing at the cracks and chinks, are you not?
But is that not the way of the human jungle? As much as we worked tirelessly, you would not notice. The good is dull, the bad is bright. As much as we feel dismayed at this sad reality, I realise that, possibly, that is the way it generally works around here. Yes, here in the human forest.
I guess I will continue to work at what I do. I know that I clean the air because I believe that clean air is better than unclean air; I provide shade because I believe that death by scorching is bad. Moral high ground you say. Well, at the very least, its a firm ground beneath me.
If you decide I am replaceable by an air-purifier, so let it be so. Ultimately, you are the one with the axe; I am the one made of wood.
"The Human Jungle" by ConfusedUncle
Uncle T
Now, you suddenly notice us. You notice the cracks, the localised decay, the rare infestation at the roots. You walk up closer, and point that once-limp finger with accusations. You forgot about the green, you forgot about the shade. No. You never did notice it before. But you are good at pointing at the cracks and chinks, are you not?
But is that not the way of the human jungle? As much as we worked tirelessly, you would not notice. The good is dull, the bad is bright. As much as we feel dismayed at this sad reality, I realise that, possibly, that is the way it generally works around here. Yes, here in the human forest.
I guess I will continue to work at what I do. I know that I clean the air because I believe that clean air is better than unclean air; I provide shade because I believe that death by scorching is bad. Moral high ground you say. Well, at the very least, its a firm ground beneath me.
If you decide I am replaceable by an air-purifier, so let it be so. Ultimately, you are the one with the axe; I am the one made of wood.
"The Human Jungle" by ConfusedUncle
Uncle T
25 Apr 2007
When the world sleeps... 11:34 am
Sun has not been very sympathetic as the new term began. The poor weather since school reopened seemed aligned with the ominous stars of a trying term ahead; the daffodils are crisping with Springs further progress, with dandelions usurping its former territories. Squirrels are reclaiming their lands, and so are the fresh leaves; no longer hidding in buds, flowers are bursting out everywhere; so are the bugs.
The birds are singing their regular songs, as First Light struggles past overnight overcast clouds, past creepers that are slowly regainig their green shade. I am about to head to bed.
The Wars begin. The greatest battle is set to be Within. Be prepared. To engage, to confront, to strategise, to be disciplined, to focus. Its survival.
"Makan boleh make aku life senang sedikit (broken Melayu)"- uncle t
Uncle T
The birds are singing their regular songs, as First Light struggles past overnight overcast clouds, past creepers that are slowly regainig their green shade. I am about to head to bed.
The Wars begin. The greatest battle is set to be Within. Be prepared. To engage, to confront, to strategise, to be disciplined, to focus. Its survival.
"Makan boleh make aku life senang sedikit (broken Melayu)"- uncle t
Uncle T
22 Apr 2007
Democracy... 9:34 am
Demoracy, hailed as the pinnacle to strive towards in the Western world. But is it a double-edged sword?
Uncle T
Uncle T
How Blessed We Are... 9:28 am
How blessed we are...
to go through shit times to know better times,
to have friends there even when you don't think you need them,
to take for granted the present that in the past you would have died for,
to have the prospects ahead that others may not,
to have friends to comfort and in so doing find solutions for yourself,
to have what you have and don't even think twice of having,
to have moments of solitude that you thought lonely but became breeding grounds for wisdom,
to be even here, alive today, with many bombed innocently elsewhere,
to have come so far today, with what you had,
to have had nothing more, nothing less,
to be simply you. to be simply, me.
Say that little thanks today. To Him, to you, to them.
Say it, before it gets too hard to say.
"Who you are today, is God's gift to you. Who you become, is your gift to God", as a wise friend once said
Thank you.
Uncle T
to go through shit times to know better times,
to have friends there even when you don't think you need them,
to take for granted the present that in the past you would have died for,
to have the prospects ahead that others may not,
to have friends to comfort and in so doing find solutions for yourself,
to have what you have and don't even think twice of having,
to have moments of solitude that you thought lonely but became breeding grounds for wisdom,
to be even here, alive today, with many bombed innocently elsewhere,
to have come so far today, with what you had,
to have had nothing more, nothing less,
to be simply you. to be simply, me.
Say that little thanks today. To Him, to you, to them.
Say it, before it gets too hard to say.
"Who you are today, is God's gift to you. Who you become, is your gift to God", as a wise friend once said
Thank you.
Uncle T
19 Apr 2007
Chugging Along 6:33 am
Army did take some sting out of the bite; some wheel out of the car. There has that initial inertia to overcome, one that takes not only will, but simply, time. Yet, Time is less kind than it wants to. It cannot wait. So you are caught. But if you don't wriggle free, you are naught. One never takes in enough of the present. Beauty seems to come alive more vivid in memories. But by then, regret and guilt birth into nostalgia and longing. Longing for what we have now. Back to work. On the lonely country road. No one. Wait...there! The squirrel, full of life, escaping the jealous attacks of the magpie. Embodies vitality, life, that squirrel. But wait...it doesn't care about you. It has its own nuts to seek. You have yours too. So its still lonely, that road. But wherefore will it lead? Or do you decide?
Uncle T
Uncle T
11 Apr 2007
Its here. Can't run! 9:57 pm
I got hit right in the face.
It flew right into my pimply crevices. And others of its kind did the same. The bugs are here. So are the woodpeckers; I have a love-hate relation with one just outside my window which has a go at my tree. The sun, despite a hide-and-seek with the clouds (can't expect perfection here in the UK), is still a warm welcome. The squirrels are out once more. So are the magpies, in groups.
I found campus to be really quiet, picturesque even. Doing my jogs on the same country road, seeing flowers clammer out of the ground, tranquil. Then I realised why it has been so quiet this Easter break; I trooped to the library today, and there was the Warwick students, studying!! Doesn't help when I'm trying to cover my syllabus for the finals.
PPE is cool. But that means literally taking 4 subjects: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, Maths. Make that 5. Since I'm atrocious at Logic, that's a subject on its own.
Man. So much for beautiful Spring.
Uncle T
It flew right into my pimply crevices. And others of its kind did the same. The bugs are here. So are the woodpeckers; I have a love-hate relation with one just outside my window which has a go at my tree. The sun, despite a hide-and-seek with the clouds (can't expect perfection here in the UK), is still a warm welcome. The squirrels are out once more. So are the magpies, in groups.
I found campus to be really quiet, picturesque even. Doing my jogs on the same country road, seeing flowers clammer out of the ground, tranquil. Then I realised why it has been so quiet this Easter break; I trooped to the library today, and there was the Warwick students, studying!! Doesn't help when I'm trying to cover my syllabus for the finals.
PPE is cool. But that means literally taking 4 subjects: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, Maths. Make that 5. Since I'm atrocious at Logic, that's a subject on its own.
Man. So much for beautiful Spring.
Uncle T
9 Apr 2007
First Barcelona... 4:27 am
At our wonderfully-located accomodation. Splendid.
Park Guell
The goddess who kept following us in posters across Barcelona. I mean Ian's goddess.
Gaudi's intimacy with nature's outlines.
Sagrada Familia. Let's hope its completed soon; a masterpiece.
Yes, the start of my holiday-cellulite programme.
A site not common in the English Midlands.
The man who encouraged my cellulite programme throughout the trip.
The man again, with me, at the biggest stadium in Europe, Nou Camp.
Indeed, this is way overdue. I have already been back from my trip to, first Barcelona, then Rome, with Ian, for about 5 days now. I needed some time to ask myself what did the trip mean to me. It is so easy to let the box-ticking sightseeing and photo-whoring be definitive of the trip. Now, too, that Easter is here, the angst of the pregnant wait for Easter to arrive is now gone, along with my unfulfilled Lenten promises (what's new).
But despite failed promises (very much reminiscent of every New Year resolution I make), the prelude to Easter was very much fulfiling, and in large part due to this trip that which I was graced by Ian's splendid company.
Barcelona.
Barcelona was Gaudi. For me, Gaudi very much typified my trip to the Catalan capital. (Do check it out. If you didn't already know, Barcelona, despite not being Spain's capital, is the capital of the autonomous state of Catalonia, a state within the Spanish state). Cities speak differently to different people. If we listen, cities do speak. For me, it was Gaudi, for others it may be SanGria, or Nou Camp.
Gaudi's adherence and inspiration from nature was inspiring and captivation His intimacy with nature would make any partner jealous. His daring art breaking conventions of his time, is not that foreign in the spirit of the Barcelona people. The city's peoples came across as flamboyant, fun-loving and being daring to try. The Spanish knew how to enjoy. I thought I could hear that in their music as well. Ian and I attended two music events there in the Catalan city, one of jazz in a historic jazz club, and the other of Spanish guitar, in a basilica.
Gaudi's Sagrada Familia captivated both our attention. It was nice to understand the biblical references made in the sculptures and facade. Not just in the unfinished masterpiece, but also in the other churches that Ian and I visited, popular or not. Ian and I are sincerely hoping to see the Sagrada Familia completed in our lifetime. We will be back for Barcelona, then. Especially also disappointingly not getting to visit the Sagrad Cor.
Barcelona was also where the pilgrimage started. For me, after being privileged to have seen a number of beautiful churches in both the cities of London and Paris, I sometimes wonder what to think, or feel, or do when I enter these ancient structures. To some of my friends, it is yet another ancient building, feeling the brunt of time on its facades, and have its insides shaken by the din of tourists and their accompanying photo-flashes. I, too, am guilty of such undertakings. But these are my Father's house. What am I to do then? I didn't know. I still don't. The best thing I can do is to kneel and pray in each church that I walk into. On my knees.
Rome in the next entry.
Uncle T
Crash of Civilisations? 3:52 am
Crash of Civilisations?
Just watched "Crash". In the dim solitude of a late spring sunset, in my kitchen. My abandoned chips, thai chilli sauce and I, sitting in a room that was growing dark. Watching the movie frightened me. It got chilly. I close the window.
Is there really a racist in everyone of us? At best, do we try not to be racist? Is affirmative action a mere counter-force that the world manifests from the guilt of deep-seated racism? I don't know. Do we, really? Is a claim: "I'm not racist" a true one? I don't know.
It is frightening, because, possibly, no matter how hard we try, we can never not be racist. Deep down, we all see colour. Those of us with the gift of sight see colours. Give us all a few more pints of beer, and, possibly, true racial lines will be clearly illustrated, normally held suppressed by education, guilt, moral norms, societal chides, indoctrinated decorum...I don't know.
It is because I don't know that I am frightened. Aren't you? To wake up and find that you're one of those whom you've condemned all your life? Watch "Crash".
Uncle T
Just watched "Crash". In the dim solitude of a late spring sunset, in my kitchen. My abandoned chips, thai chilli sauce and I, sitting in a room that was growing dark. Watching the movie frightened me. It got chilly. I close the window.
Is there really a racist in everyone of us? At best, do we try not to be racist? Is affirmative action a mere counter-force that the world manifests from the guilt of deep-seated racism? I don't know. Do we, really? Is a claim: "I'm not racist" a true one? I don't know.
It is frightening, because, possibly, no matter how hard we try, we can never not be racist. Deep down, we all see colour. Those of us with the gift of sight see colours. Give us all a few more pints of beer, and, possibly, true racial lines will be clearly illustrated, normally held suppressed by education, guilt, moral norms, societal chides, indoctrinated decorum...I don't know.
It is because I don't know that I am frightened. Aren't you? To wake up and find that you're one of those whom you've condemned all your life? Watch "Crash".
Uncle T
11 Mar 2007
Joke of the Day! 4:29 pm
Orders mee rebus with English tea...
Joke of the day!
Bush says: US care for the "human condition" and its "quiet, effective diplomacy".
Attended the U8 Summit here in Warwick yesterday. Absolutely amazing, discussing if developing countries do have in the policy-making process that affects them. I also hosted a delegate, and it turned out that I ended up hosting one of its 2005 founders.
I see U8 as a tentative platform for furthering some of my work and interests. And hopefully my conduit to meeting some of the developmental bigwigs. Mr Stiglitz and Mr Ha-Joon Chang, here I come! Let's have coffee sometime.
Uncle T
Joke of the day!
Bush says: US care for the "human condition" and its "quiet, effective diplomacy".
Attended the U8 Summit here in Warwick yesterday. Absolutely amazing, discussing if developing countries do have in the policy-making process that affects them. I also hosted a delegate, and it turned out that I ended up hosting one of its 2005 founders.
I see U8 as a tentative platform for furthering some of my work and interests. And hopefully my conduit to meeting some of the developmental bigwigs. Mr Stiglitz and Mr Ha-Joon Chang, here I come! Let's have coffee sometime.
Uncle T
5 Mar 2007
Illness, the sedative we need from the humdrum 9:45 pm
Fell ill after doing an all-nighter for my politics essay, which was due in on Friday. As mentioned, it was on a topic of my personal interest, that of ASEAN. As mentioned, one realises how interesting your own neighbourhood is after leaving it.
Went on down to Bath on Saturday, still nursing that awful flu, and attending SoulAsia Food Festival on both weekend nights. Singsoc sold excellent curry chicken, mee chaim kuay, Milo Dinosaur, pineapple tarts and kaya toast on Sunday. :)
Overall, the company I had over the weekend was excellent. It really was. I would even go as far to say that the trip to Stonehenge (yes, I was up close with 5000 years of history!) and Bath was made memorable more of the company than of the places themselves.
But having fallen ill, other than irritatingly slowing me down, has had its up sides. Ever since falling ill, and also possibly due to the romantic notion of the advent of spring, along with it being Lent, I've gotten more contemplative. This physical slowing down, as given me more time to think and reflect on what the hell am I running on the mill for. This comes timely, after hearing what Ben had to say about this insatiable appetite we all have to outdo each other. The focus becomes on others, then on ourselves. WOuld we go as far as saying this is a rather Asian perspective to life? A competition? I won't dare hazard an answer, really.
But, for me, this illness has definitely helped me put things into perspectives, calmed my nerves and slowly help me regain the focus on my centre.
And its off to floorball now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Uncle T
Went on down to Bath on Saturday, still nursing that awful flu, and attending SoulAsia Food Festival on both weekend nights. Singsoc sold excellent curry chicken, mee chaim kuay, Milo Dinosaur, pineapple tarts and kaya toast on Sunday. :)
Overall, the company I had over the weekend was excellent. It really was. I would even go as far to say that the trip to Stonehenge (yes, I was up close with 5000 years of history!) and Bath was made memorable more of the company than of the places themselves.
But having fallen ill, other than irritatingly slowing me down, has had its up sides. Ever since falling ill, and also possibly due to the romantic notion of the advent of spring, along with it being Lent, I've gotten more contemplative. This physical slowing down, as given me more time to think and reflect on what the hell am I running on the mill for. This comes timely, after hearing what Ben had to say about this insatiable appetite we all have to outdo each other. The focus becomes on others, then on ourselves. WOuld we go as far as saying this is a rather Asian perspective to life? A competition? I won't dare hazard an answer, really.
But, for me, this illness has definitely helped me put things into perspectives, calmed my nerves and slowly help me regain the focus on my centre.
And its off to floorball now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Uncle T
28 Feb 2007
Chinese New Year in Birmingham 9:57 pm
Mic croonin'...Dang, didn't catch Sumit AFTER.
Shuki courteously ensuring that Bryan's wishes of "kuai kuai zhang gao" came true. (ps. Shuks is way taller than I. Most things are)
Mars singing, I playing. Melayu some more!
Delene: Summer dress in winter. Ha.
And the peeps who made it all possible. Singsoc exec :)Uncle T
I like the daffodils... 9:01 pm
Lovely crocus at Lakeside on campus. Love them.
Dr Gabby and I when his team came from London to play floorball.
Warwick teamtalk as we battled Imperial at floorball
As that one world leader picks up the environmental flag and waves it frantically to attempt to leave a legacy as he leaves office, headlines scream about environmental politics. We are getting warmer, so is this winter, so said BBC this morning, from the black box, which was on the crumbed table, in my flat kitchen.
But I'm enjoying the nicer side of the warmer winter; squishing about in winter's remains, amongst the daffodils, crocus and finches that are returning to their element.
Remeber that tree outside my room window? Its still there, standing. Once a low-branched, sturdy tree that was emerald-crowned, was battered during harsh winter nights, was tugged at by drunkards at silly hours, stood majestically bald during beautiful snow-fall, it is now slowly coming back to life. Still standing. What resilience.
I'll really be getting back to my World Politics essay. Its an interesting topic, at least for an unbecoming nerd that I am. ASEAN, the neighbourhood that we all lived in and never knew. Join me? Get to know ASEAN better. We only see its beauty after we've seen it from the outside.
Sumit made me feel real guilty. I'm such a poor Liverpool fan. I feel bad, cause its true. I'll have to be a better Scouser (see? I don't even know how to spell it la!).
85!!!!!! Whee! SHould have gotten 90. -_-