Sunday, November 25, 2007
Monday, November 05, 2007
What's painful and occurs twice a year for most undergrads?
Ans: The exams are here again :)My last series of papers as an undergraduate. Life after this is a huge "?" . My final year project seems like a big mystery to me, although I already know what I'll be working with. It's going to be exciting. Before the fun stuff, the boring stuff happens first. Exams are a pain. *Groan* Despite telling myself to start early for revision every semester, I always find myself procrastinating and studying at the very last minute. What's the difference this time? I'm really unsure of what I know or what I have to read. I'm relying on God's grace again, as always. The amount of stuff that has to be memorized and vomited out feels inhuman.
These are the days that I'll be battling it out:
20th Nov - Cell Biology
23rd Nov - Muscle Biology
27th Nov - Immunology
28th Nov - Structural Biology
30th - Immunomics
Having a hard time convincing myself to do my best. I know I'll regret if I don't though. Mugmugmugmugmug. My eyes are closing despite how hard I will them to stay open. Nothing seems to be going into this empty head of mine. Still. I will trust God. That's all that really matters.
Ans: The exams are here again :)My last series of papers as an undergraduate. Life after this is a huge "?" . My final year project seems like a big mystery to me, although I already know what I'll be working with. It's going to be exciting. Before the fun stuff, the boring stuff happens first. Exams are a pain. *Groan* Despite telling myself to start early for revision every semester, I always find myself procrastinating and studying at the very last minute. What's the difference this time? I'm really unsure of what I know or what I have to read. I'm relying on God's grace again, as always. The amount of stuff that has to be memorized and vomited out feels inhuman.
These are the days that I'll be battling it out:
20th Nov - Cell Biology
23rd Nov - Muscle Biology
27th Nov - Immunology
28th Nov - Structural Biology
30th - Immunomics
Having a hard time convincing myself to do my best. I know I'll regret if I don't though. Mugmugmugmugmug. My eyes are closing despite how hard I will them to stay open. Nothing seems to be going into this empty head of mine. Still. I will trust God. That's all that really matters.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Switchfoot: Let That Be Enough
This song means alot to me. And the answer is God :) Everytime I fall down, I am a step closer to You. It hurts, but I know You'll be there to comfort me. You sent Your angels and I thank You for them. When I asked You to mould me 8 years ago, I certainly wasn't expecting this and I know there will be more to come. My sandcastles are falling apart, but Your love is enough.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Some good things that have happened lately:
The bacteria have decided to be good and start overproducing purple protein! Yay. Nice dark purple protein :) Thanks to them I got a payrise. Hahaha. And I get to do more stuff in the lab.
Eliz taught me how to play something on the keyboard :) Germ got me a guitar, but I've yet to really play with it.
Hiphop dancing has provided a pretty good outlet for excess energy and a perk me up weekly event.
Other than that, I really have to buck up on my homework. Lagging faaaaaarr behind. No more slacking.
The bacteria have decided to be good and start overproducing purple protein! Yay. Nice dark purple protein :) Thanks to them I got a payrise. Hahaha. And I get to do more stuff in the lab.
Eliz taught me how to play something on the keyboard :) Germ got me a guitar, but I've yet to really play with it.
Hiphop dancing has provided a pretty good outlet for excess energy and a perk me up weekly event.
Other than that, I really have to buck up on my homework. Lagging faaaaaarr behind. No more slacking.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Chocolate and Slavery
The sinister story behind chocolate
Steve Chalke
September 18, 2007
CHOCOLATE is regarded as a treat, a sweet luxury often given as a gift. But that is only part of its story. The rest is more sinister. Two hundred years after the British Empire abolished the slave trade, nearly half the world's chocolate is made from cocoa grown in Ivory Coast, West Africa, where tens of thousands of children are forced to work on plantations as slaves.
A 2002 study estimated that at least 284,000 children were trapped in forced labour in the West African cocoa industry, the majority of these — some 200,000 — were to be found in Ivory Coast. Even the most conservative estimates, including those by the chocolate companies themselves, concede that the number of chocolate slaves is at least 12,000.
These children are forced to apply pesticides without protective clothing and to work for up to 12 hours a day on the plantations for little or no pay. Their toil helps the giant chocolate makers produce the chocolate we find on the shelves of our stores.
Parliamentarian and social justice crusader William Wilberforce, whose life-long crusade resulted in the abolition of the slave trade — which then formed a critical part of the economic foundations of the British Empire — would be horrified. A recent feature film, Amazing Grace, heralds Wilberforce's crusade to free the slaves, yet the tragedy is that more people are ensnared in slavery today than in the entire 400 years of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Human trafficking generates $A37 billion annually and enslaves at least 12 million around the globe. Some estimates even put the number of people enslaved as high as 27 million. And the epicentre of today's slave trade is in Australia's backyard — South-East Asia.
The tragic nature of this industry is evident when you realise that the average age of a girl locked in sexual slavery in South-East Asia is 12 or 13.
However complex this trade in people, it is inescapable that there is a strong and foundational link between poverty and modern-day slavery. People who are poor are more vulnerable. We can't fight slavery without fighting poverty.
Overseas aid is critical to developing better public justice systems but it is also important in providing livelihoods for emancipated slaves.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, people trafficking is the world's fastest-growing crime, already bigger than the international drug trade and second only to the illegal buying and selling of arms.
But action is being taken. Stop The Traffik, the organisation I founded three years ago, now has more than 600 member organisations in 60 countries around the globe determined to raise awareness of the problem and to demand action at all levels to bring it to an end. One of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal is as consumers. In 2000, the chief executives of the major chocolate makers were hauled before the US Senate and a bill was proposed that would require the chocolate industry to certify all their chocolate as "slave-free".
The cocoa industry successfully lobbied against this, arguing that the supply chain for cocoa was complex, with middlemen buying the beans and mixing them before selling them on to conglomerate buyers.
But such major companies control the market and they can determine under what conditions they buy their cocoa beans. Unless the industry can guarantee that our chocolate is not made from beans picked by trafficked children, then we will never make progress. Industry must be able to tell people which farms beans are from and must guarantee no trafficked labour.
Consumers for their part should buy chocolate only from those companies that give this guarantee. It is a practical way we can all contribute to today's crusade to end modern-day slavery.
Human trafficking is a global problem that requires a global response. At the end of his life William Wilberforce referred to the battle against slavery as "unfinished business". Today, working together, we can complete the task.
Steve Chalke is founder of the global Stop The Traffik campaign. Go to: http://www.stopthetraffik.org.au/
An extremely painful thought: If boycotting chocolate can end the slavery. Yea, I will. But, can it?
The sinister story behind chocolate
Steve Chalke
September 18, 2007
CHOCOLATE is regarded as a treat, a sweet luxury often given as a gift. But that is only part of its story. The rest is more sinister. Two hundred years after the British Empire abolished the slave trade, nearly half the world's chocolate is made from cocoa grown in Ivory Coast, West Africa, where tens of thousands of children are forced to work on plantations as slaves.
A 2002 study estimated that at least 284,000 children were trapped in forced labour in the West African cocoa industry, the majority of these — some 200,000 — were to be found in Ivory Coast. Even the most conservative estimates, including those by the chocolate companies themselves, concede that the number of chocolate slaves is at least 12,000.
These children are forced to apply pesticides without protective clothing and to work for up to 12 hours a day on the plantations for little or no pay. Their toil helps the giant chocolate makers produce the chocolate we find on the shelves of our stores.
Parliamentarian and social justice crusader William Wilberforce, whose life-long crusade resulted in the abolition of the slave trade — which then formed a critical part of the economic foundations of the British Empire — would be horrified. A recent feature film, Amazing Grace, heralds Wilberforce's crusade to free the slaves, yet the tragedy is that more people are ensnared in slavery today than in the entire 400 years of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Human trafficking generates $A37 billion annually and enslaves at least 12 million around the globe. Some estimates even put the number of people enslaved as high as 27 million. And the epicentre of today's slave trade is in Australia's backyard — South-East Asia.
The tragic nature of this industry is evident when you realise that the average age of a girl locked in sexual slavery in South-East Asia is 12 or 13.
However complex this trade in people, it is inescapable that there is a strong and foundational link between poverty and modern-day slavery. People who are poor are more vulnerable. We can't fight slavery without fighting poverty.
Overseas aid is critical to developing better public justice systems but it is also important in providing livelihoods for emancipated slaves.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, people trafficking is the world's fastest-growing crime, already bigger than the international drug trade and second only to the illegal buying and selling of arms.
But action is being taken. Stop The Traffik, the organisation I founded three years ago, now has more than 600 member organisations in 60 countries around the globe determined to raise awareness of the problem and to demand action at all levels to bring it to an end. One of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal is as consumers. In 2000, the chief executives of the major chocolate makers were hauled before the US Senate and a bill was proposed that would require the chocolate industry to certify all their chocolate as "slave-free".
The cocoa industry successfully lobbied against this, arguing that the supply chain for cocoa was complex, with middlemen buying the beans and mixing them before selling them on to conglomerate buyers.
But such major companies control the market and they can determine under what conditions they buy their cocoa beans. Unless the industry can guarantee that our chocolate is not made from beans picked by trafficked children, then we will never make progress. Industry must be able to tell people which farms beans are from and must guarantee no trafficked labour.
Consumers for their part should buy chocolate only from those companies that give this guarantee. It is a practical way we can all contribute to today's crusade to end modern-day slavery.
Human trafficking is a global problem that requires a global response. At the end of his life William Wilberforce referred to the battle against slavery as "unfinished business". Today, working together, we can complete the task.
Steve Chalke is founder of the global Stop The Traffik campaign. Go to: http://www.stopthetraffik.org.au/
An extremely painful thought: If boycotting chocolate can end the slavery. Yea, I will. But, can it?
Thursday, September 13, 2007
There was an old lady feeding squirrels in the park in Savannah and we snapped pics of the squirrels while they were in a frantic rush for bread crumbs.
How I miss the benches under the trees back in Tech. In Singapore, there are no squirrels scampering across the field from 1 tree to another. There are only cats. :s
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Dearest, most esteemed parents have left for their 2nd honeymoon. Not even sure if my parents EVER had a honeymoon. They were really poor when they got married. I'm left at home with Ruffy. It's just the both of us. If I'm hungry I may just cook her. Heh. (Like real) It's really quiet at home :S I like noise. So I'm making noise at home. TV, radio, etc... If not it's pin-drop silence.
Anyway, I present : The Cross
Something tells me I don't want to be like Fido Dido here. Though many times I ask God the very same question.
Friday, August 31, 2007
I survived! 2 sleep deprived nights preparing powerpoint slides for 2 consecutive days of presentation. I'm getting used to talking on the stage. Not forgetting the graded Immunology tutorial that didn't make sense in the beginning. The worse is probably over for now, until the exams roll round the corner.
Time flew exceptionally quickly this year, and before I know it, I'll be out of NTU and into the Biopolis. Is there more to life than this? Feeling really restless, really unproductive, not just in terms of work, but in God's kingdom. How I long to go out there and proclaim the good news with no reservations.But, noooo.... One must always speak with properly peppered words. What wisdom is it to speak like a fool? I am fool because I talk like one.
I really admire Travis, for giving it all to God. I miss them lots. All the bible studies, crusade meetings, prayer meetings, the evangelizing, the parties, movie outings, roadtrips...
The crusaders.
Time flew exceptionally quickly this year, and before I know it, I'll be out of NTU and into the Biopolis. Is there more to life than this? Feeling really restless, really unproductive, not just in terms of work, but in God's kingdom. How I long to go out there and proclaim the good news with no reservations.But, noooo.... One must always speak with properly peppered words. What wisdom is it to speak like a fool? I am fool because I talk like one.
I really admire Travis, for giving it all to God. I miss them lots. All the bible studies, crusade meetings, prayer meetings, the evangelizing, the parties, movie outings, roadtrips...
The crusaders.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Sunday, August 12, 2007
"Fun game": tagged by eliz
Rules of the game: Each player of this game starts off with ten weird things or habits or little known facts about yourself. People who get tagged must write in a blog of their own ten weird things or habits or little known facts as well as state this rule clearly. At the end, you must choose six people to be tagged and list their names. No tagbacks.
1.Before putting on braces, my 2 front teeth were so obvious that people thought I was smiling when I wasn't. Sometimes, people will actually ask me what am I smiling about when I don't close my mouth completely. :D
2. I've contemplated getting a scooter license so that I can get my very own cream coloured vespa scooter. But, I think I shouldn't. I'm already dangerous enough on a bicycle :S
3. The last thing you can imagine is Dawn running around the jungle in camouflage being GI Jane. After my A's, I applied for the SAF women's scholarship which required me to do exactly that. I made it all the way to the interview, 12 army officers against lil' ole me. Talk about a "live" firing session. Guess they couldn't imagine me carrying a rifle either, that explains why I'm still here. Haha.
4. I own a burgeoning wardrobe of clothes, in which I only wear maybe about 1/3 of the clothing in it. I always find some excuse to keep my clothes no matter how old, small they are.
5. Super bad memory for card games, game rules, jokes and music theory. I've been taught how to play the piano, the cello, the recorder (everyone has lor) and guitar. But, what do I STILL know how to play? I mastered the first 3 instruments, meaning I could play complete pieces on them. The guitar can't be considered because I've yet to play a complete piece on it. Ask me to play now and I can't play ANYTHING. I think I exasperated my piano teacher. You can tell me the same riddle 2 weeks later and I won't be able to remember the answer. Fun right?
6. Read me like an open book. I am lousy at hiding my emotions. Enuff said.
7. I jiggle, wiggle and pirouette in the privacy of my own home. I jiggle, wiggle and swing in dance classes. Yes, I dance. (Well, used to, no chance now.) Surprise, surprise. Though I'm not good at it, but at least it's better than my attempts at mastering an instrument.
8. Disclaimer: I've got sweaty palms and feet. Don't say I didn't warn you. Which makes my shoes smell at times, especially when I wear them for too long.
9. I've been told I snore. Loudly.
10. Listen to Alternative rock Franz Ferdinand, Indie Rock music, Mayday, though I hardly seem like the person to. More of a rock person than a pop person. If it makes sense to you. I also adore the polar opposite of rock music, jazz and easy listening tunes.
The 6 people I pick are: Lichang, Ereen, Geraldine, Christine, Marilyn and Evangeline.
Haha. Finally I answered the questions eh. Not as difficult as I thought.
Rules of the game: Each player of this game starts off with ten weird things or habits or little known facts about yourself. People who get tagged must write in a blog of their own ten weird things or habits or little known facts as well as state this rule clearly. At the end, you must choose six people to be tagged and list their names. No tagbacks.
1.Before putting on braces, my 2 front teeth were so obvious that people thought I was smiling when I wasn't. Sometimes, people will actually ask me what am I smiling about when I don't close my mouth completely. :D
2. I've contemplated getting a scooter license so that I can get my very own cream coloured vespa scooter. But, I think I shouldn't. I'm already dangerous enough on a bicycle :S
3. The last thing you can imagine is Dawn running around the jungle in camouflage being GI Jane. After my A's, I applied for the SAF women's scholarship which required me to do exactly that. I made it all the way to the interview, 12 army officers against lil' ole me. Talk about a "live" firing session. Guess they couldn't imagine me carrying a rifle either, that explains why I'm still here. Haha.
4. I own a burgeoning wardrobe of clothes, in which I only wear maybe about 1/3 of the clothing in it. I always find some excuse to keep my clothes no matter how old, small they are.
5. Super bad memory for card games, game rules, jokes and music theory. I've been taught how to play the piano, the cello, the recorder (everyone has lor) and guitar. But, what do I STILL know how to play? I mastered the first 3 instruments, meaning I could play complete pieces on them. The guitar can't be considered because I've yet to play a complete piece on it. Ask me to play now and I can't play ANYTHING. I think I exasperated my piano teacher. You can tell me the same riddle 2 weeks later and I won't be able to remember the answer. Fun right?
6. Read me like an open book. I am lousy at hiding my emotions. Enuff said.
7. I jiggle, wiggle and pirouette in the privacy of my own home. I jiggle, wiggle and swing in dance classes. Yes, I dance. (Well, used to, no chance now.) Surprise, surprise. Though I'm not good at it, but at least it's better than my attempts at mastering an instrument.
8. Disclaimer: I've got sweaty palms and feet. Don't say I didn't warn you. Which makes my shoes smell at times, especially when I wear them for too long.
9. I've been told I snore. Loudly.
10. Listen to Alternative rock Franz Ferdinand, Indie Rock music, Mayday, though I hardly seem like the person to. More of a rock person than a pop person. If it makes sense to you. I also adore the polar opposite of rock music, jazz and easy listening tunes.
The 6 people I pick are: Lichang, Ereen, Geraldine, Christine, Marilyn and Evangeline.
Haha. Finally I answered the questions eh. Not as difficult as I thought.
Friday, August 10, 2007
A bird landed on my shoulder in an air-conditioned SBS bus.
?!?!?!?!?!!?
Don't ask me how the bird got into the bus and flew to the upper deck of the double-decker bus, but it did. The poor thing was trapped and flew smack into the windows in failed attempts to get out of the bus. It made a few girls scream and passengers vacate half the deck. It made me scream as it flew into me, but I could only sit in my seat as the stairway was clogged with students it had frightened. Finally, a brave soul, walked to the front of the bus, caught it and held tight onto the indignantly squawking bird. Thank God the pane right behind the bus could be opened slightly and the poor creature was let out where it belongs.
What can I say. 1 bird vs a deck (-1, the brave guy who caught the bird) of frightened passengers.
?!?!?!?!?!!?
Don't ask me how the bird got into the bus and flew to the upper deck of the double-decker bus, but it did. The poor thing was trapped and flew smack into the windows in failed attempts to get out of the bus. It made a few girls scream and passengers vacate half the deck. It made me scream as it flew into me, but I could only sit in my seat as the stairway was clogged with students it had frightened. Finally, a brave soul, walked to the front of the bus, caught it and held tight onto the indignantly squawking bird. Thank God the pane right behind the bus could be opened slightly and the poor creature was let out where it belongs.
What can I say. 1 bird vs a deck (-1, the brave guy who caught the bird) of frightened passengers.
Monday, August 06, 2007
I've been insanely busy even before school started. Lagging behind in my emails and updating this blog. So, yes school started Again. It's the last of the familiar humdrum and strangely, I know I will miss it. Especially Candice and Jac. I would say things will be different this semester as my mind is occupied by different matters. What used to mean alot, mean less now. Otherwise, my thoughtlife is still pretty much tormented by doubts and inadequacy. Which makes me cling on tight to Philippians 4:8 " Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." Been failing miserably at it though, unpleasant thoughts chase me into my sleep, spinning disturbing dreams.
I thought this was the end, maybe it's only the beginning. The beginning of freedom long overdue.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Something that was as ordinary as meeting Faye for lunch today turned out to be the biggest highlight of the week.
A guy came up to us and asked for help in filling out a survey form and Faye started conversation with him, asking him why he was doing this survey. Somehow, later she asked him if anyone had shared the gospel with him and he said yes. However, he wasn't ready to accept the gospel and wanted to let nature take its course, if there was a God, He would send a sign for him to accept Him, no? But, Faye probed him further. By asking him questions about heaven and hell and where did he think he was going to go after that? As for letting nature take its course and signs, I think Faye talking to him out of the blue about Salvation is enough of a sign. Amazingly, the Holy Spirit must have been working on his heart for quite sometime because he accepted Christ readily. Here was this guy thinking that it would just be another ordinary day and walks up to 2 girls to complete surveys and he ends up walking away with eternal life. Ain't it an awesome deal?
It takes purpose to share the gospel. If Faye hadn't been direct by going to the point about the Gospel and be persistent enough to push through all the discomfort, I think the guy wouldn't have been saved. Tis a miracle! Imagine saving a soul everytime I eat lunch, but of course it is not up to me. It is all the Holy Spirit's doing for softening hearts. But, we have to do our part too. Many times, I find that I haven't been persistent enough when it comes to sharing the gospel.
We don't know when we are going to die, if I told you that Christ will save you and allow you to go to heaven despite your sins, would you take it? Because time is running out.
A guy came up to us and asked for help in filling out a survey form and Faye started conversation with him, asking him why he was doing this survey. Somehow, later she asked him if anyone had shared the gospel with him and he said yes. However, he wasn't ready to accept the gospel and wanted to let nature take its course, if there was a God, He would send a sign for him to accept Him, no? But, Faye probed him further. By asking him questions about heaven and hell and where did he think he was going to go after that? As for letting nature take its course and signs, I think Faye talking to him out of the blue about Salvation is enough of a sign. Amazingly, the Holy Spirit must have been working on his heart for quite sometime because he accepted Christ readily. Here was this guy thinking that it would just be another ordinary day and walks up to 2 girls to complete surveys and he ends up walking away with eternal life. Ain't it an awesome deal?
It takes purpose to share the gospel. If Faye hadn't been direct by going to the point about the Gospel and be persistent enough to push through all the discomfort, I think the guy wouldn't have been saved. Tis a miracle! Imagine saving a soul everytime I eat lunch, but of course it is not up to me. It is all the Holy Spirit's doing for softening hearts. But, we have to do our part too. Many times, I find that I haven't been persistent enough when it comes to sharing the gospel.
We don't know when we are going to die, if I told you that Christ will save you and allow you to go to heaven despite your sins, would you take it? Because time is running out.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
What the heck are you doing Dawn?
Ah haha.. Yes. Changed the skin again. Shalom pointed out to me that it's the same as Ereen's. Thought I should be more original. Hehe. So here's a more summer vacation theme. Since it's summer back home all year round, this should be a non-issue.
Oh yes, where was I? Saw Frances off at the airport because she was going to HK to work. A whole lot of us went to see her off, probably one of the largest farewell parties I've ever seen. I pray that God will watch over her and keep her. It's not easy being overseas, having to settle down all over again and getting used to the environment. Especially when there is a language barrier.
Finally celebrated Sheena's birthday at Tong Shui and Bakerzin. Realised that we're not really a photo-taking bunch. Hence, the lack of photos with them. Guess I'll remember to bring my camera the next time I go out with them. Burst out laughing when I realised that Teng bought the same bag for Sheena. But, Sheena definitely had the better bag, my bag's rubbery! Hers is leather. But at least, the birthday girl liked it. Had a really great time catching up with them on their lives and talking rubbish. Haha. I think Teng will not tell us anymore stuff because we kept teasing her :P
Yummy Dark Choc something. This is not even mine! Bleah
It' s another week of hustle and bustle, except I get to spend more time at home this week. Which is good! Really need to spend some time packing, unpacking and sorting out junk. Looking forward to meeting more people! Miss them lots.
Oh yes, where was I? Saw Frances off at the airport because she was going to HK to work. A whole lot of us went to see her off, probably one of the largest farewell parties I've ever seen. I pray that God will watch over her and keep her. It's not easy being overseas, having to settle down all over again and getting used to the environment. Especially when there is a language barrier.
Finally celebrated Sheena's birthday at Tong Shui and Bakerzin. Realised that we're not really a photo-taking bunch. Hence, the lack of photos with them. Guess I'll remember to bring my camera the next time I go out with them. Burst out laughing when I realised that Teng bought the same bag for Sheena. But, Sheena definitely had the better bag, my bag's rubbery! Hers is leather. But at least, the birthday girl liked it. Had a really great time catching up with them on their lives and talking rubbish. Haha. I think Teng will not tell us anymore stuff because we kept teasing her :P
Yummy Dark Choc something. This is not even mine! Bleah
It' s another week of hustle and bustle, except I get to spend more time at home this week. Which is good! Really need to spend some time packing, unpacking and sorting out junk. Looking forward to meeting more people! Miss them lots.
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