Diamonds Are Not Forever

I have just read a few articles in relation with the scarcity of diamonds. In seems that diamonds are not as scarce as we thought it to be. The supply of diamonds throughout the world is controlled tightly to ensure diamonds appeared to be scarce.

Thanks to this artificial scarcity, diamond suppliers are ensured of fetching high price by selling diamonds. Therefore, the little sparking object of adoration you wish to have (I generally mean the females ;p) is not as precious as you thought it to be.

Yes. We have been fooled over the worthiness of diamond. In actual fact, this object of desire is actually worth much less than its market value. Thanks to cartel, the suppliers can dictate the price of diamonds by limiting the amount of diamonds in the market.


Diamonds are forever. I think most of us would be very familiar with this catchy phrase. A diamond ring would suppose to last forever. Diamonds are not to be sold again as it would bring bad omen. To popular belief, that is. One should keep the diamond to oneself throughout one's lifetime. No matter what.

This phrase did not exist through history as we thought it to be. It was invented somewhere in the 1940s. In actual fact, it serves to prevent other people from reselling their engagement rings. This would enable the continuous sales of diamonds in the market without the presence of a secondary (second-hand in other words) market.

Prior to that, giving engagement rings at wedding ceremonies were not very common. It's because of nice marketing strategy that changed the preception. Now it would not be uncommon to see diamond rings being presented as an engagement gift.

Talk about the importance of advertisement. Imagine that!

Cravings For Ice-Cream

Halfway across the globe, there is a terrible heatwave that is just extremely cruciating. The scorching heat is torturing those who are not able to withstand the almighty sun that shines upon the Earth. The weather is getting hot these days. I have to admit that. Even here in Singapore.

What is the first time that comes to mind? Perhaps something cold and sweet to give that temporal relief? Oh yes. I miss having ice-cream in my life.

How wish I could have ice-cream from Haagen-Dazs. Just melts in your mouth. I would prefer Raisin Rum though. Taste nicer than Belgian chocolate.

Or perhaps just dash down to any Swensen's outlet to order a banana split for dinner.

Well. There is always the alternative of having cheap sundae cone from McDonald's. And milkshakes too.

Don't know why. Just have the cravings for ice-cream. Right now I just wish to sit in front of the television and have a tub of ice cream in my hands.

By the way, ice-cream doesn't quench your thirst. You throat will feel even more dry than before. Perhaps drinking water would be a better option (=

I'm Still Sick

The situation just got worse. I didn't recover much since last week. Have to go over to UHWC. Again. Saw the same doctor. Again. This is the first time in my life where I go to a clinic for twice a week. This is so not right for me. To be exact, everything is so not right today. Is Monday suppose to be a terrible day?

The bad thing - this time around there are a lot of people doing medical check-up. Why didn't these students do their medical check-up earlier? Plus why do you all have to come after lunch time? Hate them for delaying my medical consultation session.

I told the nurse that I urgently need to see the doctor. At least I made an effort to sound like it's very urgent. Surprisingly, she didn't put me in priority list. Perhaps she thinks that students doing medical check-up is more important than a patient who is bleeding inisde.

Here, I have to thank the nurses for making my day a nice one. Very nice indeed. I've waited for more than half an hour before I get to see the doctor. If I have severe bleeding inside, I would be half-dead by the time I meet the doctor. Talk about efficiency and quality service for a start.

The doctor didn't look surprise to see me again. I thought when you see a patient twice in a week, something must be wrong with him right?!

Alright. Have to admit that all these sickness is attributed to my work stress. The doctor is so right and I'm so wrong. Couldn't believe that I'm already suffering from work stress before I graduate. Scary. Freaks me out.

Rewind.

I was stucked in the MRT station for half an hour. The management didn't even bother to evacuate us out of the station until it was very late. It's only the next morning that I found out all southbound trains were out of service due to some power failure.

Oh yeah... thanks to them for making my Monday a terrible day. I left my office before 12 and reached the clinic at 2. What an enjoyable journey. Longest ride ever. I'm almost half-dead in need to see a doctor at that point of time. It was torturing. Really.

Anyway, couldn't blame them. Systems do break down occasionally, no matter how good the maintenance is. Just have to blame luck for not being on my side today. Suddenly I feel that all of my luck had been worn out *sigh*

The heroes of the day must be those working round the clock to fix the loose cables inside the tunnel. It must have been a hard day for them. Trying to mend the problems while everybody else is complaining over the suspension of MRT service is not fun.

Have to eat my medicine now. Hope that I will get better soon.

I'm Sick

Yes. I'm really sick. Not in the sense that I'm hated by everyone though. In the literal sense I mean. Thanks to my body, I've got 2 days of medical leave.

I threw up a few days ago. Still don't understand my body have to urge to vomit. It's really torturing. Lost my appetite because of this.

The doctor thinks I'm over-stressing myself over work. Why don't you tell me I'm love sick instead?! The on-campus doctors are just way too.... Urgh... I cannot find a word to describe them.

Apparently I'm not the only one who has fallen sick. It seems most of my blockmates have gotten sick as well. Perhaps is the season where everyone just becomes sick?!

I'm getting better but I still need some more rest. Plus I cannot think of anything to write at the moment. Lost for words. Guess I'll stop here. Good night (=

OT

I don't usually like to work overtime but sometimes I have to. Out of no choice. Plus the money factor too! Obviously, I don't get paid for working overtime. Not even a single cent for that matter.

However, OT is not that bad, especially on a voluntary basis. Sometimes I just like to OT for fun. For the heck of it, that is. It is during these hours that you are free to do anything. I really mean anything. There will be nobody to stop you from doing what you do. Everybody is busy with their own things and cannot be bothered about what other people do.

As a matter of fact, OT is the time where you waste your time away, doing irrelevant things. Irrelevant to your job scope, that is. Surfing the interent don't know for what reason. Writing my diary inside the office. Reading my textbook. Chatting on the MSN.

My other colleagues have to OT, just like I do. The different thing is that they do have unifinished tasks to be complete. They don't use their OT hours to do things irrelevant to their work. Unlike me, that is. Sitting in the office enjoying the air-con.

If I am not wrong, I am the only one in the office that is totally unproductive during OT hours. Plus I am the only part-timer who slacks during OT hours. Is this something that I should be proud of?!

I think the only time that I am productive is during the morning. It can take me one morning to finish one application note but takes me the rest of the day to complete another application note. Talk about productivity versus time!

Now you see why there is a need for me to OT.

* * *

Apparently the World Cup fever has not died down. One fanatic football fan decided to be creative by inveting a bra that can fit all sizes. The name of the undergarment?

Please scroll down if you really wish to know.






























WORLD CUP!!


Fits all sizes.

All women included.

Get it?

I know.

It's pretty lame.

(=

Unfinished Business

I have so many things to do over the weekend. Then procastination decides to take its toll. And thanks to him/her/it, there are so many tasks that are left undone.

The first thing: I'm suppose to shift into my new room! This means that whatever stuff that I left in other people's room must be brought back to my new room. Every single item. By the weekend.

Apparently, I have not even move a single thing into my room. My desktop still sits happily in my old room. With dusts all over. Plus I need to figure out where I put my stuffs.

The second thing: I'm suppose to rewrite another personal statement for my SEP application. Just to impress those officers so that I can go for student exchange. I've filled in four partner universities and I didn't even get one. Lame. And I blame this on my personal statement.

Well in the end, I only managed to change a little of my previous personal statement. At least I didn't wholesale copy from the previous version of my personal statement.

The third thing: I'm suppose to help my uncle to do a translated version of his resume. In my opinion, it would be an easy task to accomplish. Apparently not! I have not been doing translation for almost 2 weeks. It would take me quite a while before I get back into bilingual mode.

At least I did finish writing the resume in Chinese though it took me the whole evening to complete that. There goes half of my day.

The fourth thing: I want to help a friend's friend (or friend for simplicity sake) to play piano accompaniment for her song. Music is my life! Music is my soul! Please let me play some music with my bare hands. Somebody please? Anybody?

Then again, my partner isn't interested to do that for the weekend. In the end, I didn't even get to start my fourth task.

The fifth thing: Darn... I cannot recall for the moment. Well... let's just leave it at four tasks.

I Hate My Room!!

Basically the title says it all. I. Hate. My. Room. Perhaps I don't totally hate my room but the stench eminating from my room is just totally unbearable. I just can't stand the smell. It's very disgusting!

Thanks to the previous occupant of the room for making room such a memorable task. Yeah... I'm referring to the person who is from the-largest-democratic-nation-in-the-whole-of-Eurasia. A great applause to you for toturing me with all your stench that seems to linger in the room forever.

Foul smells aside, the room is also in a terrible mess. Hairs are everywhere, not to mention those dusts that accumulate in every corner of the room. I'm very allergic to tiny particles that float in the air and now I have to clean all these things.

Here are some pictures to prove how messy is my room is. Before the big clean-up that is. Mind you these pictures are not altered in any manner.

Maybe not. I decided not to put any photos of my room prior to cleaning. Trust me, it's really disgusting. Even for a guy's standard.

Argh... I like my room to be clean and tidy but I don't like to clean up the room myself. Irony. But I have no choice. The room needs to be cleaned. No matter what.

In the end, I've managed to clean my room. Naturally. After all those sweat and tears. Erm... maybe no tears but I did sweat. And blood too. I can say that I've managed to clean my room after all those sweat and blood (=

Picture worth a thousand words. I'm going to let the picture do the talking. Welcome to my new room in Block D!

Agony

I hate my stomach. Literally. Perhaps I'm the only person in the whole word that hates his own stomach! I really feel like ripping off my stomach! And I really mean it. Literally.

Everytime I'm on the MRT, my stomach will cramp during the journey to work. Every week without fail. Sometimes my stomach chooses to do that on the East-West Line, while other times just make me suffer on the North-East Line.

I feel like really spitting out expletives out loud in the train!!

Perhaps I have a weak stomach. Or perhaps there is something wrong with my stomach?

The pain is just exruciating, leaving me in agony. Why can't the pain just go away? It's really tormenting to be tortured in this manner...

* * *

This week is just a terrible week for me. It seems that I am susceptible in making mistakes. Over and over again. For the past three days. I don't know whether my blunders will really cost me in the near future. Just pray that I will be more careful next time.

The only thing that is comofrting is that I didn't get caught in the rain! No sore throat. No need for Strepsils. This time around I'm smart enough to bring along an umbrella with me.

Grand Finalé

The picutre says it all. Italy won the World Cup 2006, sending Les Blues into despair by a 5-3 penalty kick out. As predicted, the have tied 1-1 during full time and extra time. I knew that a penalty shoot out was inevitable. Again, as predicted.


With Barthez being the goalkeeper, no doubt Italy would win effortlessly. Everybody knows that the French clown (and a bald one too!) is notorious for lettings goals slipped by. Not forgetting his tenure in Manchester United too - messing up everything on the field. After all these years, he's still acts like a fumbling clown.

France should really thank him for the penalty results. Mr. French Coach, would you mind changing the goalkeeper next time if you seriously want the country to become the World Cup champion!

At last, Italy claimed their 4th trophy, making them one less than their Brazilian counterparts. Now they moved to 2nd place in terms of ranking within the World Cup hall of fame.

One thing that I learnt from World Cup is anger management. One must learn how to control one's temper. It's very important to keep that in mind all the time. A lot of star players ruined their career by their impulsive behaviour at the spur of the moment. Does the name Rooney ring any bells?

Too bad for Zidane who received a red card. It's disheartening to see the outgoing French captain being sent off just like that. Must have been a very hard time for him. He never got to retire from the field in a glorious manner. Pity indeed. He should have retired in style! Not out of style.

Finally, the World Cup mania has come to an end. It's finally over so it's time to move on with life *sigh* Can't wait to watch the next World Cup in South Africa!

* * *
Got caught in the rain again. Ate another packet of strepsils. Just relieved that I did not fall sick again this time around. Thank you Mr. Rain for making my day a miserable one XD

Another Boring Weekend....

Darn... I have a funny feeling that I going get sick soon. I just recovered from running nose a few days ago now I'm going to fall sick again. My throat hurts *cry* It hurts not because it's painful but it's due to the fact that I cannot talk much. I'm a talkative sort of person therefore it just sucks big time that I have sore throat!!

Tried taking Strepsils to relieve the sore throat but it doesn't seem to help much. Initially I thought was the flavour that's is affecting my rate of recovery. Then I discard my lemon flavour for the cherry flavour. Apparently there is no difference.

Stupid me. Obviously it's the same!!! Now I'm eating too many Strepsils that I'm going to get toothache soon. Two packets of Strepsils being consumed. Imagine that!

* * *

Predictably, Germany beat the Portugese-men-of-war by a 3-1 margin. Good job Germans! At least you have a place on the podium stand. Pity that only one World Cup trophy is offered to the winners. At least they didn't go home empty-handed (=

Day-off

Thank you Mr. Rain for making my day so torturous. It's because of your presence yesterday that I'm on running nose today. I just can't stop sneezing all day long. Perhaps I should appreciate your effort in helping me to sleep for the whole day??

Guess what.... today's date is 0707. Nothing special anyway. Just that it's a repetitive digit, which I find it to be pretty amusing. It would look nicer if it's the year 2007, then it would 070707. Talk about triple digits for a change (=

Semi-Finals Part II

As predicted, the mighty Portugese-man-of-war is deafeated by Les Bleus, albeit it's a penalty kick that decide on the defeat of Scholari's team. Serves you right for beating the English team!

* * *

I used to like the rainy weather. Watching the rain water drizzle down from the skies is nice, but it's not when you got caught in the rain. Drenched wet even before I start work. My shoes are soaked wet all day. Perhaps I would hate rainy weathers from now on.

Semi-Finals Part I

Italy has done it again. Last minute goals to secure them to the next round. I really have to salute to them for having last minute luck all the time. Last time it was the penalty kick to bring down Australia, now it's Germany. Really sheer luck I would say.

For the Germans, it's a very bad day for them. Being defeated at their own soil. Just terrible. Perhaps they would like to try again next round? For now, they have to fight really hard to get a 3rd placing. At least they don't have to go home empty-handed.

* * *

Oh gosh! My video is on Youtube!!! Some fanatic fan uploaded my performance with Z-Chen on the Internet!! Talk about internet fame for a start.

Only 6 seconds of fame. Why they didn't take the video at this angle? At least I'm still inside the frame for a change.

And David... I know that my face only appeared for a few seconds before they shift focus to Z-Chen. Lucky you, sitting directly beside him and hence getting most of the airtime!!

Criss Angel

Sheer disgust. That's what you would think everytime he finishes an amazing magic trick. Trust me, his black voodoo magic is not for the faint hearted. If you find the guts to watch his shows, I believe at some point you would want to throw up.

Howeveer, I do think he's a great illusionist, albeit his association with witchcraft. Most of his shows would just freak you out, or perhaps leave you pondering on how the hell he achieved those feat.

Behold.. the great Criss Angel.













Anyway, I think the magic trick that split the woman into half is nothing to be amazed about. There is a high possiblity that the woman is physically-disabled (=

One may want to check out his videos at YouTube. Just type in the name "Criss Angel" and you can see a long list of his videos. Be amazed by all his tricks!!

Day 27 @ Work

Today was fast (as in time flies) and I did not fall asleep. I mean i didn't even realise that it was almost 6 o'clock when I finished my application note. What a day!

I left early but it took me more than 5 minutes to go to the ground floor! Have to blame the stupid lift for this. Why can't the lift stop at 3rd floor?! It can go all the way up to the 8th floor and straight down to the ground floor... why the lift can't be bothered to stop at the 3rd floor?!

If today were my last day, I would have kicked the lift door!! Talk about techonology as a double-edge sword. Yeah... this is one of the examples to this statement.

Quarter-Finals

The game is just terrible. I mean why the hell they never send out T. Walcott? What was Erikkson thinking? I know this is going to be his last game but why can't he make at least an effort to put in suitable players on the field?

Beckham and Rooney were out of the game. One due to dehydration while the other one due to a red card issued. Perhaps the coach would recommned Rooney to attend some anger management programme?

To end all this, let me introduce the star player of the match.

Say hi to Lampard. Man of the match. Best player in football history.

Well... he is the only one (one and only one to be exact) who is capable of missing every goal at point-blank range. Everytime without fail. Truly spectacular. Just totally unbelievable.

I mean... who else in the world can achieve this feat? I don't think anyone would be able to do this. It would be nearly impossible for anybody else to be as good as him.

No doubt. He's the best!

England should thank him for his performance at World Cup 2006.

Perhaps he should share his secret on how he kicks the ball (=

I didn't expect England to win, neither do I expect them to lose in such a manner. Perhaps next time?

* * *

Guess the French are good at beating the Brazilians. Despite being five-times champion, Brazil has lost to the French again, albeit a smaller goal difference.