........... 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

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

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

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

An Inspiration 11:20 pm

es

My tutor, without the bow tie, David Miller.

Popper & Miller.

Sir Karl Popper.

The inductive reasoning we use everyday should be discarded. What we should adhere to, is not on the insistence of justification but rather the strength of falsification, if we should try even seek the truth of theories. That is 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

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

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

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Uncle T

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.

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

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

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

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

Snippets of Spring 9:02 pm

Uncle T

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