Thursday, December 10, 2009

The ALL consuming JOB

Just got a job at IDA the last week. 830-6 mon to thur, 830-530 fri.

$8/hr, 1.5x OT
Getting paid on weekday pub hols while enjoying the off
weekend off
2 days paid leave
medical benefits

these are some of the perks that accompanied the job
btw im doing a 4 mth contract till end march

SO I FIGURED
i had to try out wad a regular job was like. The UPSIDE ===> kill time, make money, meet new people. The DOWNSIDE ==> burn your time away, pretty much fatigued on weekdays to do anything else e.g. exercise.

TIll NOW
im still figuring whether to stick with MECH eng or not.

CHEERS!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

A POTPOURRI

Ok so here's my situation.


1. Its time for decision making regarding the confirmation of my uni course(mech eng)

2. Finding Job Time!

3. Ippt window opening soon?

Lots if thoughtful consideration have been given to 1 and 2, lazy to type

Saturday, November 7, 2009

My NS journey from 090108 - 081109

ok i have to admit that all my posts until now were mainly about ns as much of this 1 year 10 months was centered around it. The following will be a summary of what transpired and some additions of my own. Hopefully, it is an unbiased conclusion of an eventful charter of my life.


Enlisted on 9th jan 2008--
My feelings that day were momentous, and i broke into tears as my composure was somewhat shattered by the reality of conscription.
However, there was a bright side. Rong Jun happened to be my bed buddy and it was a real stroke of luck.
In BMT, i could literally taste the regimentation of recruits. The physical and mentally taxing sermons kept me on my edges.
As most of us recruits set on sights on officership, there was a certain competitive spirit, but displayed chivalry.
Despite that, i really had fun(it was the most enjoyable period of my ns life)
We had understanding commanders too.
I made mistakes and was punished for it; all of us were.


BSLC @ SISPEC
Posted there at the end of bmt.
Morale was an all time low for those posted at the beginning of the course cause did not manage to get into OCS.
SISPEC was seen as a secondary choice.
Developed an initial inferiority complex--no kidding, i was grousing.
Decided to stay positive and adhere to the rigor of the 8 weeks.
Training was slacker than bmt over there.

ASLC @ TAB
Tengah AirBase Field Defense Squadron.
ALL I CAN SAY is that the admin is fucking disorganised. Course was so slack but no one was complaining, since the heck care mentality 'since we were only gonna be 3SG' made it seem like no big deal.

In these 1y10m, if i've learnt about the way SAF goes about doing stuff, OFFICERS PLAN, SPECIALISTS DEPLOY. Specialists are 'on the ground', without being 'put through the mill' will be unable to control the men in times of adversity. It is even more crucial for specialists to learn how to execute command and control efficiently. Even for NSFs, SPECIALISTS need to go through courses that only officers go through in such areas. I stress that the training standards of both officers and specialists should be equal despite differences in rank and job scopes so that specialists will be able to AID officers in times of need. OFFICERS PLAN, but if they are unable to attain knowledge of what happens on the ground or if all the SPECIALISTS happen to be INCAPACITATED, what is going to happen to the platoon? I hereby stress again that officers need to get on the ground too in case of such an eventuality. Even higher management should not fail to realise the need to do so as it may result in a better decision? Finally, officers should not demand that of specialists if they cannot do so of themselves. Its all about taking the lead.

PLAB - FDS
Finished my ASLC and got posted here.
On the job training helped me comprehend my areas of weaknesses which BSLC & ASLC could not rectify. First experience handling men in a unit.
Alot of 'firsts' showed that i was still inexperienced and i strived to improve myself for the betterment of the unit.
RSAF OPEN HOUSE.
INSTRUCTOR TO FIELD DEFENSE COURSE.
NATIONAL RUNWAY CYCLING.
SAF DAY PARADE.
These were some of high key events in my unit where i was involved in. And yea, i had my share of tough times too.

In the SAF, NSFs are posted to different units which they often stick with till they ROD. Some units will probably be more outfield intensive for various reasons and maybe involved in overseas exercises too. I was probably one of the luckier ones to not have any overseas training because of the varying scopes. Yea this will probably invite scorn and insinuation over its 'slack ness'. Nevertheless, those who give their utmost deserve respect.

ORD 081109--
As an Nsmen, i am aware of my liabilities. I am glad that NS taught me to be more aware and open minded. It was not a smooth sailing experience but i have become a more rugged person because of ns.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Random Musings

Its heartening to see that the flame which has been kindled with passion does not burn out.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Freedom: A Perception

A little while ago, being an active serviceman in my unit, i yearned to be free of all the obligations and tie-downs so i could experience true 'freedom'. National Service, at that point in time, seemed to be a form of restraint. Whilst i was still in NS, i could not enjoy freedom.

Now, 6 weeks from then, as i recollect previous issues i realized that my perception of freedom was somewhat garbled. True freedom in fact lies in the mind, the ability to view something different from conformity, so it seems and to hold on to that vision.

Spread your wings and soar into the sky.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Climbing: A Passion?

Its been almost two years since I've stopped training as part of the TJC climbing club. Despite that, i can still vividly recall a typical day of training in my alma mater; one thats filled with the vicissitudes of life.

If i recall correctly, i joined TJCCC as i was intrigued by the tiles and orientation of both the climbing/bouldering wall and as part of a personal quest for overall fitness; which was exuded by the grace of professional climbers.

At that time, i admit that i was not that physically well-built, nor did i possess enviable strength to begin with. As a result, my performance from the start wasn't fantastic but my predisposition to think optimistically succeeded in overcoming any negative emotions. That, coupled with the initial enthuse, continued to make me believe that i would improve as time went on which i really wanted to prove.

The culture at that point was a competitive one, where the better equipped climbers would be given more attention to ensure that they would live up to TJCCC's expectations whereas the average climber would be ignored. It seemed to be like a case of 'Perform or be shunned'. At certain stages, i was propelled to believe that the unfriendliness of the coach towards myself was because of my inadequacy. This was a mental state which i constantly grappled with.

Nevertheless, i was persistent and continued to show a positive outlook as it was more likely to spur improvement within myself. Over time, i poured in effort and improvement showed, though somewhat negligible compared to the standards of others.

I managed to make a physical breakthrough and trained to hone my techniques and composure with fervor. But more importantly, the greatest takeaway from my 1 and half year stint at TJCCC is the bonds of friendship forged with the other members. I value their company and friendship, even if i revealed close to nothing about myself to them.

I do not expect anyone else to understand my feelings at those plateaus. This is merely some personal recollections.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Everchanging perceptions

Its been awhile since tumultuous thoughts occupied every fiber of my being; with the newly ingrained acceptance.

I have to say that i at least, realized that each plays his/her own role in society and that each role is just as of paramount importance as the next. Notwithstanding disputes, people may have some disagreements with their own roles and with that of others.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whilst i was still conducting the field defense course as an auxiliary instructor, i had the notion that once the course was over, it was over. This stemmed from the fact that the trainees would pass out eventually and become the respective shift men. I was indeed wrong, proven that i could still be a mentor to the guys. The relationship between trainee and instructor is still ongoing, albeit on a new level. It was heartening to be proved otherwise.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

A little more than 2 weeks ago, I was informed by OC that i was to be attached to 20th FDC as an auxiliary instructor. At that point in time, I did not have any expectations of the course and its trainees.

Today, I find myself constantly reminded of an instructor's responsibility in shaping one's character as peers reminisced about their past experiences. Indirectly, my actions would affect how the trainees turned out to be after passing out. More importantly, the impression that i had left imprinted on them as my eventual subordinates would impact me be it for the better or for the worse.

I overheard an incident today which happened quite a while ago. It certainly shocked me. The length of which one could go to just to demand respect from others was inconceivable. Often, the upbringing of a person is the main cause of any mistakes he/she may make since he/she may have been led to believe that it was right to do so.

As an instructor myself, i realise the magnitude of my actions on the trainees themselves and will not condone any erroneous acts as a result of any irresponsibility. As i continue chipping away to perfect the sculpture beneath me, i can only pray that it will not turn out as a grotesque imitation of the dark side within myself.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Watching the commissioning parade for the 1st time was definitely an experience to remember, not only for how majestic it might have been, but a constant reminder of the divide between officers/specialists that will never cease to exist.

Clad in number one uniform, the officers-to-be valiantly trudged upon the parade square with fierce pride gleaming in their eyes. In the auburn sunset, it was a sight to remember. With eager anticipation from the crowd, the parade commenced on a high note and finally climaxed when friends/family gathered on the parade square to greet the new lieutenants, commissioned officers of the SAF.

As i sat transfixed at the sight which beheld me, a familiar tension built up in me, one which spoke of bitter resentment and elation. I was certainly overcome by mixed feelings at that time, disappointment exacerbated by memories of the past. This disappointment stemmed from realisation that i was a mere 3SG.

Upon completion of my ASLC @ TAB, my rank was just handed out like leaflets. No elaborate ceremony, no number one uniform, no parents and friends were there, no minister to grace the ceremony. Definitely a stark contrast to the commissioning parade i observed. Aren't we specialists also commanders in the SAF? Having passed out from a leaders' course, shouldn't there be at least some form of recognition despite our course being inferior in terms of duration?

Rhetorics aside, the issues of disparity remain long standing. Even recently when Minister For Defence Teo Chee Hean announced the initialization of the SCT rank insignia to provide greater recognition, I feel that it is inadequate but then again, its only my opinion. To spearhead something now which was previously left undone is i would say, a complete mockery, oh deride that.

In units, there are shared sentiments from fellow specialists. Are we specialists to be sandwiched between the men and officers with diminished powers of autonomy? Counting down the months to ORD, i can only bemoan the state that society has fallen to.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Sometimes, even human beings function in a way that is beyond comprehension.

For instance, it's queer, but i have noticed how hard it is for people to be frank towards themselves whilst criticizing others for their flaws/actions. In a way, they're displaying a complete disregard for their own and such an action may seem contemptuous. Military context is the epitome for this reasoning, with commanders reprimanding the men for mistakes they may have committed before.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Behold The Year Of The Ox

The Lunar New Year is here once again, bearing another of the 12 zodiac animals, and it's finally the Ox's turn to make its debut. Happy Chinese New Year to everyone out there who have not already been wished and their more fortunate counterparts. I definitely welcome this year with good faith and renewed vigour(ORD year!). At the same time, i hope everyone will begin this year with much prosperity and radiance.

I was interested in the significance of the year of the Ox and the following was what i chanced upon on the net.

The Year of the Ox has special significance for people born in 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997and 2009.

The Ox is born under the signs of equilibrium and tenacity. He is a hard and conscientious worker and sets about everything he does in a resolute, methodical and determined manner. He has considerable leadership qualities and is often admired for his tough and uncompromising nature. He knows what he wants to achieve in life and, as far as possible, will not be deflected from his ultimate objective.

The Ox tends to have a calm and tranquil nature, but if something angers him or he feels that someone has let him down, he can have a fearsome temper. He can also be stubborn and obstinate and this can lead him into conflict with others.

Ox people are often deep thinkers and rather studious. They are not particularly renowned for their sense of humour and do not take kindly to new gimmicks or anything too innovative.

Once settled in a job or house, the Ox will quite happily remain there for many years. He does not like change and he is also not particularly keen on travel. He does, however, enjoy gardening and other outdoor pursuits and he will often spend much of his spare time out of doors.

Due to his dedicated and dependable nature, he will usually do well in his chosen career, providing he is given enough freedom to act on his own initiative.

The Ox is particularly well-suited to those born under the signs of the Rat, Rabbit, Snake and Rooster.

Famous Ox People: Louis Armstrong, Napoleon Bonaparte, Jim Carrey, Kate Moss and Johann Sebastian Bach.

As the year grows by, the economy is expected to take a greater downturn and it requires much resilience, painstaking effort for many to get by. What an apt symbolism the ox is for us right now, i would say.

A new year is always a ripe time to begin afresh. To me, what matters not are the things that i've done wrong but rather the changes i can make from these errors. Erring is human nature, forgive and forget.

A NEW BEGINNING AWAITS US. Forge on guys

Monday, January 12, 2009

Adsense: the beginning of a learning journey

A short while ago, i stumbled upon an interesting topic while giving thought to my future. Would an office job be suitable for a person like me? Would i be content with a mundane life after graduating from university? How would my life change if i could achieve a certain degree of financial independence? And then it struck me that people had in fact considered all these before hence they would have found ways/answers to their questions.

Earlier this year, i attended a talk conducted by a group of entrepreneurs/professionals who did investments/consultations. They happened to talk about the very real possibility of achieving financial independence/freedom. At that time, i was quite intrigued as i did not have any inkling of knowledge to fufil this criteria and therefore did not research about it.

Of late, my stance on this matter has changed and i hastened to seek out the ways of attaining financial independence on the web. As oblivious as i was, astonishment came my way as i found out that there were several ways to do so. Hence i began reading quite extensively on the methods used.

I researched on popular topics like adsense, payperpost advertising, ebay, stock exchanges, network marketing etc. And from these topics, i came to a similar conclusion as everyone else(or from the websites that i've read so far) that while all these seem easy, its the amount of effort that you put in that will take you to heights you deserve.

And Im real glad to find a opportunity that is unique and which has worked wonders for some. It has been a long stall but finally i'm able to embark on a trail of mounting possibilities

Friday, January 9, 2009

Reflections of a 2nd Year Soldier


In an inkling, i'm already one year past enlistment and now, its time to face the last 10 months of my tenure. Though the last 10 months of service feels like a long time, the past one year flew by more quickly than expected, and i guess the rest of you Jan guys feel the same. In the past one year, there were many transition phases that i went through and these certainly helped me mature as a person. I am more confident now to handle challenges with the experiences that i have gained as a trainee/commander. The regimentation in the army has also instilled an awareness of health within myself and now, more than often, i will motivate myself to run for extended periods. Running not only helps to take my mind of any matters in camp/home, the sweat and effort also keeps me very much alive as i enjoy the cool breeze along the way. If there was something that i could do for the rest of my life, this is it. Aside from fitness, the friendships that i've forged during coursetime/service were invaluable as these bonds help us remember that we're in this together and friends in need are friends in deed. Now i can look forward to ORD optimistically.
Cheers

PayPerPost Advertising

The advent of technology has indeed brought about a series of changes, the most celebrated of them, hailed as one of the world’s greatest wonder’s is the invention of the World Wide Web. With the world wide web, and its popular acronym ‘www’, people have flocked in millions/even billions to explore its multitude of functions which are expanding even as we speak. Communications via the media are probably the most developed on the web itself, with the web being the most accessible and convenient(anyone with a computer and internet connection can integrate with the web). Since its invention, people have gone beyond from just a normal conversation to networking using MSN messenger etc. The eventuality is that everyone on the net anytime, anywhere can easily hope to meet someone else on another place/continent.

In particular, this space shrinking invention has led to the formation of online businesses, utilizing the untapped potential of internet markets nonetheless. In fact, as millions continue to find their own space on the internet, this potential’s development could be limitless.

Companies such as PayPerPost were spot on in this aspect, introducing and at the same time promoting usuage of the world wide web. Today, anyone looking for any kind of unique product can hope to get a complete furrow of information relating to without even glimpsing it beforehand.

At the same time, people who previously couldn’t tell about their experiences with certain companies products can now be granted an opportunity to do so online, anytime, anywhere, as long as there is a computer with internet access in sight. PayPerPost has made this even easier by giving incentives to people who love to write to spill the beans on their products/services/websites. This really cannot come at a better time.

Advertisers can also put ads on PayperPost simultaneously, thus being better positioned to link with their potential customers. With the products’ advertising and its reviews readily available, how coincidental can it be that customers are convinced readily to purchase the advertised products.

PayPerPost has also in good faith, demonstrated its responsibility towards the publishers and advertisers by placing restrictions to ensure that rampant irresponsible actions do not occur.

In my opinion, this industry will continue to grow further and PayPerPost can definitely hope to ride on this boom as affluence increases and people become more liberal

Say hi to the new year ahead

Its been a while since i last blogged but anyway, happy new year to you all again~!

2008 has been such an eventful year for me, the major thing being my enlistment in the army. Nonetheless, the year has passed by quickly and fruitfully, me being able to learn more about all aspects of life. With a new year to look forward to, i get this refreshed feeling of being able to start over again, to wise up and face all new challenges that await.

Pesevere on and good luck