Titleless...

Haha I guess I don't know what to put for this post. Felt kind of random today. I finished my test on Organic Chemistry earlier today. I was kind of glad that it's over because it is not so easy to study for it. In Form 6, we used almost 3/4 of the year to cover the chapters in Organic Chemistry. Here, we only used around 3 and half months? =_=' It rather torturing actually to stuff all those reagents and reaction for different class of compounds. That's why felt abit stressed yesterday. I relieved it by chatting on MSN and watching anime. It's abit unbearable to not do anything with that amount of stress. Well, it is not over with another test coming up on next Friday. However, I would like to take a short break for one or two days perhaps?

To tell you the truth, I used to think that university life is much simpler and not that burdensome but experience here at NUS for past 2 and half months proved me wrong! It began rather slowly but as it gets to the mid-term, things tends to be harder with much heavier workloads. As it get to the final exams, I think it will be worse. Can you imagine that with only one test per week, I am already like that. The final itself covered everything we learned for the whole semester. I guess I gonna die young? Well, there is a story (which I don't know true or not) about people who used their brain alot tend to die at younger age. Apparently, it is said because their brain cells died more when they used it too much. Whether fiction or not, I think stress the one that is killing us. Despite stress is important (a little stress is healthy and important as a drive of life and progression in life), I guess no one will actually like it.

I think I never tell you about one English debate assignment that I have last week. In this assignment, you suppose to prepare for a debate and also write an essay of around 800 words. I kind of rush through it as I was having other stuffs along that week. Well, it is actually about radical life extension. I just submitted online earlier. This is my essay on it... (read on if interested)

Why We Should Not Extend Our Lives Radically?

In today’s context, radical life extension involves the extreme lengthening of one’s maximum lifespan through various applications of science and technology. In the past, this may be impossible. However, now, with more discoveries being made every day in biological science, biotechnology and nanotechnology, it is no longer an unattainable goal but within the reach of our hands. Despite the benefits that it can bring to various individuals, I believe it will negatively impact our society as whole from the different aspects. Thus, I would like to oppose active promotions of radical life extension to the public due to ethical concerns, and its effects towards society from social and economic point of view.

The ethical concerns surrounding radical life extension can be viewed from two different perspectives which are its implication towards humanity and bioethics regarding the techniques used in extending life. Firstly, the implication of radical life extension towards human can be seen in the changes of their mindset. For example, there will be perception that immortality is achieved through radical life extension which is false. “An individual committed to the scientific struggle against aging and decline may be the least prepared for death and the least willing to acknowledge its inevitability” (President’s Council of Bioethics, 2003, para. 23). Radical life extension cannot insure death due to accidents and incurable diseases. Although some argued that radical life extension will help an individual to spend more quality time with their loved ones, death is not inevitable for their loved ones. This will cause that particular individual to be devastated psychologically due to his or her unrealistic expectations. Other concerns regarding the techniques of radical life extension are not of without proof. Caloric restriction is “process of limiting caloric intake with the intention of slowing down aging.” (every diet.org, 2008). Although this may be true to a certain extent, there is also a high price to pay. With caloric restriction, we tend to be more vulnerable towards infectious diseases. It was noted that “CR decreased survival, increased virus titers, and reduced natural killer cell activity in lungs of aged mice after primary influenza infection” (Gardner, 2005, para. 2). With these two ethical concerns, the need for promotion of radical life extension should be reconsidered.

In addition, there is a social concern that through radical life extension, there will be overpopulation on earth. With the decrease in mortality rate and an increase in population densities around the globe, the phenomenon of overpopulation is unavoidable. Ray Kurzweil, an optimist regarding radical life extension said that overpopulation is not an issue with the use of nanotechnology to solve various problems caused by it (Hamilton, 2005). However, overpopulation causes the depletion of natural resources and destruction of natural habitats at an even faster pace than now (Nahle, 2003). Besides that, there would be a “problem of generational dominance” (Dvorsky, 2008, para. 19). With the older generation holding on to key positions in the office, the younger ones are hindered from moving up the positions and their creativity and skills will be laid to waste. This will affect the confidence in the younger generation as they will be prevented from expressing themselves and be inferior to the older ones. With higher consumption of resources and changes to the global social system especially in the developed countries, have gerontologist even thought of addressing such issues due to the therapies they have created for their own selfish desires?

Finally, radical life extension will affect the economy negatively. This is due to unequal distribution of wealth between the rich and the poor, with the rich owning the technology of radical life extension. With this ownership, the income gap between the rich and poor will widen. Some argued that the wealthy people are the ones who drive the economy of a country, thereby concluding that there is no issue on this. However, take note that this is not healthy for that particular country. An example of this will be India. With highest growth of 22.7% in the number of millionaires in the world (Reuters, 2008) and emergence as one of the upcoming developing country, India remained underdeveloped at most parts of the country. This is because, in India, the poorer people make up the majority of the population and hence, is the majority of the consumers in the country. In the presence of such economic gap, the purchasing power of the consumers will be lowered, thus, lowering the economic drive and growth of that country.

In conclusion, the negative consequences of radical life extension such as ethical issues, social instability and hindrance towards economic growth should convince us that radical life extension is not healthy towards the society and individuals indirectly. Therefore, I would like to once again reaffirm my stance against the promotion of radical life extension to the public.

This is basically an academic essay lar... I am actually quite neutral on this topic in real life. I have nothing against it nor supporting it. Although I believe each person has its own lifespan, we shouldn't really restrict ourselves to it. I mean its important to life healthily and in that process, we are indirectly extending our life, I think? But, I am against any unnatural ways to really extend our lives. It seems that we are hanging and clinging on our lives very tightly, which is not healthy to our minds. Well, its up to you to give a thought or don't even bother it. It is rather a controversial issue after all.

Enjoy your day! I hope no people go google my essay or anything. I give a lot of thoughts on this essay. I surely don't appreciate them stealing it!!! Haha *perasan*

Fiuhhhh!

My hectic week is over at last... What a relief... Yeap, I was so busy until I didn't really have time to blog. With all these study things going on, the last thing on my mind would to update my blog. Well, I end it yesterday with a 14 hours of sleep. Apparently, I was chatting with Yit Yee. She told me be right back as usual. As I wait and wait while watching Dragonball, I actually *ahem ahem* fell asleep. It was such a deep sleep that I don't know what happen until I woke up at around 4am, I realised that she offline already, assuming because I didn't reply her. Oops, sorry, Yit Yee! After that, I actually offline and then continue my sleep until 3 in the afternoon today. Its been such a long time since I had such a long sleep. I guess I am really exhausted. After all, I had class from 8am to 7pm and after that, I got chess training until 11. You can say that I am actually like zombie when I reach home tat time.

Leaving that, I actually want to post on NUS TeamNite 2008. This event is actually about giving awards to NUS team which performed excellently during the past years. Don't get me wrong, I didn't win anything. I was there actually to 'ta hei' for NUS Chess team in which I was in. The day before NUS TeamNite, I was actually rather tired and thought of not going but since I promised to go, I went for it.

Here is some picture...

The picture of where the event was held... It looks abit like those opera theatre in the west...



The picture of NUS Chess team. Usually its bigger than these and only 3 person in this picture which is not receiving award including me. Well, we have to wear formal for that. Really like a big thing.


I went there and watch them giving the awards to all the athletes (I don't know why Chess is categorized as sports as well. Mental sports I guessed). They actually shared about their achievement (only those with highest awards) and I was pretty inspired I guess. Don't ask me why, I don't know why. But well, to comment on the whole thing, it was quite good with excellent performance from NUS Cheerleader team and also farewell for our NUS President (which was apparently leaving at the end of the year). Also, got quite a lot of food that I can eat for free. Taste better than usual food that I ate too.

Yea, so that so called the end of that...

Hmm, next week still got test an I have to study again soon.... T_T When will this end???

Thanks Guys...

First of all, I want to thank all who wish me on my birthday!!! As you all took time to send me comments or SMS wishing me... Thanks a lot... You know who you are...

I would like to say sorry for the late reply. Been really lazy lately, for some unknown reasons. No motivation to study even though there is another test next week. Perhaps, this reminds me of coming exam for every single week until finals (except for the revision week). Stressed out! Not to mention the reports that I need to type and assignments I need to prepare. Especially for the coming week when I have 3 practical sessions, a test, a debate assignment and of course, various tutorials.... I feel like fainting already thinking about it. Terrible days.

Many of you asked what did I do for my birthday. Apparently, I did nothing. I told some of you and somebody called me a liar. It is really that hard to believe? To me, my birthday is just like any other normal days. Well, I actually slept a lot on my birthday. After my class end at 1pm, I came home and go see Mr 'Chao Gung' (hope you know what I mean). Still so hard to believe? Actually for many years, me and my family don't celebrate birthday somehow. I don't know why but somehow lar... My parents will give me angpao (actually just money, but angpao sounds more right) on my birthday and that's all. Perhaps that affected me a lot. So, I mostly celebrate for my friends but not for myself. Too used to it already. Anyway, thanks again for wishing me...

I think for many years to come, this will happen to me. Well, mainly because my birthdate is not on the right date, I think. Wrong timing XD! Maybe I should consider changing my birthdate (just kidding! I can't do that, can I?). But I am just with the way I 'celebrate' my birthday! Just simply sleep will do. I guess that will be my own birthday present. Haha...

NUS Museum...

As I promised in my previous blogpost, some pictures from my visit to NUS museum... Are you ready? Here we go...

The entrance of NUS University Cultural Centre (where all the big event is held. There is even one time when PM of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong came here for his National Day Rally. I happen to see all the police guarding the NUS roads). NUS museum is only a small part of this huge place...
This is the lobby area...
Actually, I forgot to take picture of the entrance to NUS museum... There is a total of 4 gallery but only 3 have exhibitions. The first one...

The first gallery is actually about art, something that I do not know how to appreciate (because I don't understand it). However, I actually took some picture of artwork that is abit special...

Lol looks cool to me...The warrior that is...
Hmm...
Another thing that I don't know...Maybe someone can help me out there...Here come the second one... It actually about some Malaysia's artist... So, rather Malay-ish (not a racist term I hope).

The first picture reminds me of a one day trip to Malacca that we had... Somemore, this artist is from Malacca... This sure bring back memories...

And the last gallery is my favourite because it involve historical items from China...

In the beginning was this Chinese caligraphy...

This one is huge... Let me see, its around 5m x 3m if I not wrong...Roughly around there...Next, Chinese pottery... All these items come from different dynasties (Tang, Sung, Eastern Han, etc...).. I wonder how they manage to collect it... They sure worth alot nowadays. Not to mention there is 50 pieces of it, maybe more...

Then got this one... Porcelain pillow! I wonder how they sleep on such hard thing... Maybe it's comfortable... Never try before one...
Next piece is very interesting... We actually see the picture of it in our History textbooks...Can you guess what is it?

Hmm, too small for you? Let me enlarge it....
Still can't guess??? Its called oracle bone! FYI, it is used to 'menilik nasib' or fortune-telling in ancient Chinese culture... Quite amazing to see it here...

Then, entering cosmetic world of ancient Chinese, come the bronze mirror...

Of course, it no longer reflect lar. Can't you see the rust on it?

Then, some ancient weaponries... Arrowhead and axehead (axehead is from older period which is Neolithic I think)

Last but not least, jewelerries made of jade...
Both these pieces are rather large actually... I think as big as my both hands. I wonder when u wear it, how do you go around with it...(Good question!)

So, here is the end of my journey at NUS museum... Sayonara!

Which Road will You Choose???

Today's post is a little bit philosophical. I am pretty inspired to write this post when I was washing up before going to bed. So, I just give it a thought to blog it out (Yea, toilet sometimes does inspires me). As the title goes, which road will you choose? What does this means? Well, have you given a thought that the decision you made yesterday or a weeks ago or even years ago is wrong? Or perhaps you thought that if you choose to do one thing over another, the outcome will definitely be better. I had, for many times of my life, regretting over a single decision that I made and until today, I still did not really get over it.

Let me then tell you another story which is about this friend of mine. Well, he actually study in a particular university in Sarawak currently. Around two weeks ago, we actually had a chat and he complained to me how he regretted choosing his university as a place for him to start anew. He had bad experiences previously and been looking for a change of environment. So, there he was, realising or more accurately thinks that he is in a worst condition that before. As we chat, I actually asked him this question. "Is there anyone's life that are easy and without bumpy roads? (Bumpy road well basically refers to hard or tough times). He actually answer me this, "Yes, your life is." I was rather upset or agitated with his answer. Why? Because he don't know a single issue that is in my life currently and he assumed my life is easy kind. I don't know about you, but to me, I felt it was an insult.

I understand that what my friend is feeling. Maybe because I felt the same as well. I decided for NUS looking for a change of environment as well but things don't really turn out as well as I think they would. I sometimes do wonder if my decision to come to NUS is wrong or right? Every difficulty I encounter, this question will pop out. Maybe, I should pursue my tertiary education locally. Since I came here, I had terribly miss the food and of course, my friends back in Malaysia plus a lot of things as well. Friends? Not that I don't have any here but then can't really find one that I could really clique with it. It is just very different compared to friends back in Malaysia. Perhaps, I shouldn't even try to compare them. Really, really different experiences I had here. On the other hand, I get to see the world a little bit with different cultures brought by different people (eventhough Malaysia and Singapore is so near, both is different from the other). Good or bad? I don't really know!

Coming back to the topic, I understand sometimes that things don't happen our way and this happens a lot of time in all of our lives I believe.But really, if these so called 'bad stuffs' don't happen to you, is it really better? I hope all of us can take some time off to actually justify this. If our life is all smooth, is it really that good? Or if our life is full of negative events, is it really that bad? You may look at this and say that, 'how bad things be good?' I never say that it will be good. I am just saying it may not be that bad. Call me an optimist or anything. but if every bad things that happened to you is bad, no matter how many good things that happened to you, it will never be enough and I mean NEVER!

This is actually remind of the poem we study in secondary school called Road Not Taken. Though I don't fancy poetry, it kind of make sense. I believe that everyday, we encounter crossroads. Even if one can pick either road with full discernment of how the road goes, he/she will never know how that road ends until he/she reached that destination. However, once we taken that road, it will be too late to regret or rather we shouldn't regret about it no matter how tough is it. What can you do if you do regret? I can only say 'Too bad!' to you. There is no U-turn anywhere or anyway that you can take the other road. As you go through whichever road, the path that lies behind you dissappears.

Maybe you can recall about it from time to time but after you done with, please get on with life...