Now we always knew Dolphins are smart. They're highly evolved creature that actually communicate with each other besides SEX! SEX! MATING NAOOO! or HUNGRY! HUNGRY!. Which is actually impressive. But they've just got smarter. Either they reversed engineered the data chips place in them or some of them spent wayyy too much time in sea-world rehab that they actually now and ONLY now have learnt to use tools. They're already capable of breathing in air so they're halfway to getting on land and KILLING US ALL.
Spoke too much? Here's the sauce.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article5439491.ece
DOLPHINS have developed tools to help them hunt for food, according to new research, which suggests the mammals could be even smarter than previously thought.
Bottlenose dolphins from an extended family in Australia’s Shark Bay have taken to protecting their noses with pieces of sponge when foraging for fish on the abrasive sea bed.
Scientists at Georgetown University in Washington DC believe a single dolphin discovered the foraging technique by chance and then passed it on to her offspring. Its use has had a marked impact on the dolphins’ hunting and social behaviour as the animals deploying the sponge tool spend more time alone, rummaging through sand.
While several animals use tools by instinct – such as birds that cover themselves with leaves for camouflage — the US scientists say discovering a new tool is a direct sign of intelligence.
“There’s a strong link between animals with larger brains and tool users,” said Janet Mann, a marine biologist who led the research. “Bottlenose dolphins have a brain second in size only to humans.
“Dolphins are already good at catching fish so they don’t need tools, but they’ve discovered this sponge makes their job easier. Working out how to use tools in a creative way like that is a hallmark of intelligence.” The foraging technique came to light a few decades ago – very recently in evolutionary terms – when a local fisherman spotted what looked like a strange tumour on a dolphin’s nose.
Researchers eventually worked out that the “tumour” was a conically shaped sponge and it became apparent that the dolphins would spend considerable time searching for one the right shape to fit their nose.
The sponge is used to scatter the sand gently on the sea floor and disturb buried fish. When a fish is spotted, the dolphin drops the sponge and gives chase.
Scientists discovered that although dolphins tried to teach the hunting technique to all their young, it was mainly female offspring that grasped the concept. Those males that use sponges for hunting do so discreetly and avoid other male dolphins.
Mann admits we still do not understand dolphins well. “It’s hard to get inside their heads because their brains are constructed differently and it’s very hard to analyse their language, but they do seem very intelligent,” she said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Its very interesting that males don't give a hoot. Like Humans, it must be the male ego.
"I don't fucking need tools to hunt woman, now where is my fucking tuna!"
Soon, the sponges will become "extentions" to the noses of these Dolphins, much like how primitive snails had to find real shells but after years of this sort of evolution, they are able to grow their own shells in adulthood. Yes, if you didn't already know, snails grow their own shells.
Next thing you know, they'll be making seige weapons.
-Panzerz
Friday, January 16, 2009
PPP begins (overview of 3D2N camp)
Just returned from the 3 days 2 nights camp by my polytechnic. Spamming chocolate into myself. Most delicious way to be emo.
My next few years in poly are either going to be epic win or epic lose.
I've been to many group outings - not so many, because I don't like them, but enough. When the facilitators of whichever activity try to herd the group of more than 8 randoms together, major divides always pop up to make it at best only partially successful, and at the end all you learn is that you should avoid working with assholes and avoid assholes in general.
In 2007, there was a gender divide in the Singaporean delegates that went to India. By 2008, after four years in the same school, two of which we spent in the same class, 2/7 still missed a pissload of people. Even OBS took some crap, if I heard right.
I don't know if it's because people are maturing, or because the number 17 is just right, or because DPA filtered out the noobs and small-voiced faggots, but there was no douchebag drama this time round. Hell, I'm not sure there were many douchebags there, my presence notwithstanding. By the first few activities, which were fairly simple things like running around the whole school, a few people from my group of 17 came out of nowhere and promptly began filling up unofficial leadership roles. No, they weren't asked, not even encouraged. And there was no jostling for attention - remember that there was no previously aforementioned pecking order or state of affairs that predetermined things. Mostly strangers to each other. So these people didn't have the benefit of having the intellectual high ground (come on, how many people in our old school actually want to engage TOFU in an argument?), or were the head of a clique (important for female politics), or anything. They just popped and took charge.
If I'm not wrong, even OBS leads people by the hand and gives them a poopload of restrictions, hammering cheers into the group and all that to ensure idiots are kept in check. Here we were served a steaming pile of open-ended. BBQ? Go buy food yourself. Late? Too bad. Bedtime? Your choice. They specified early on that nobody is obliged to look out for emo kids sitting in the corner and offer them emotional support.
There were very simple tools only - some well-done preaching (even if it was full of bullshit pop psychology, there was good emphasis on choice), a few official group leaders who were only one year older than us, and no gimmicks. The games were simple, yet managed to promote - shall I dare to say it - team work. Spontaneous cohesion. Not much prodding from the assigned leaders or the facilitators.
How well did I do? Well there has to be a reason for eating chocolate antidepressant, right? I fit well into the role of background helper (when I'm not messing up), but at the end of it, I still felt like a big failure compared to everyone else. Quite similar to the India experience in some ways; when your team manages to organize and execute a good barbeque, and all you did in the supermarket was look for cheese slices and accidentally bump into people because you're nervous about looking stupid and all that, man, you can really smell the fail seeping out your ass.
And no, not everyone was the epic headstrong type, but seriously I'm not going to use them as an excuse.
Big failure? Overall yes, but if we're talking about things learned, then no. This was a resounding wake-up call.
My next few years in poly are either going to be epic win or epic lose.
I've been to many group outings - not so many, because I don't like them, but enough. When the facilitators of whichever activity try to herd the group of more than 8 randoms together, major divides always pop up to make it at best only partially successful, and at the end all you learn is that you should avoid working with assholes and avoid assholes in general.
In 2007, there was a gender divide in the Singaporean delegates that went to India. By 2008, after four years in the same school, two of which we spent in the same class, 2/7 still missed a pissload of people. Even OBS took some crap, if I heard right.
I don't know if it's because people are maturing, or because the number 17 is just right, or because DPA filtered out the noobs and small-voiced faggots, but there was no douchebag drama this time round. Hell, I'm not sure there were many douchebags there, my presence notwithstanding. By the first few activities, which were fairly simple things like running around the whole school, a few people from my group of 17 came out of nowhere and promptly began filling up unofficial leadership roles. No, they weren't asked, not even encouraged. And there was no jostling for attention - remember that there was no previously aforementioned pecking order or state of affairs that predetermined things. Mostly strangers to each other. So these people didn't have the benefit of having the intellectual high ground (come on, how many people in our old school actually want to engage TOFU in an argument?), or were the head of a clique (important for female politics), or anything. They just popped and took charge.
If I'm not wrong, even OBS leads people by the hand and gives them a poopload of restrictions, hammering cheers into the group and all that to ensure idiots are kept in check. Here we were served a steaming pile of open-ended. BBQ? Go buy food yourself. Late? Too bad. Bedtime? Your choice. They specified early on that nobody is obliged to look out for emo kids sitting in the corner and offer them emotional support.
There were very simple tools only - some well-done preaching (even if it was full of bullshit pop psychology, there was good emphasis on choice), a few official group leaders who were only one year older than us, and no gimmicks. The games were simple, yet managed to promote - shall I dare to say it - team work. Spontaneous cohesion. Not much prodding from the assigned leaders or the facilitators.
How well did I do? Well there has to be a reason for eating chocolate antidepressant, right? I fit well into the role of background helper (when I'm not messing up), but at the end of it, I still felt like a big failure compared to everyone else. Quite similar to the India experience in some ways; when your team manages to organize and execute a good barbeque, and all you did in the supermarket was look for cheese slices and accidentally bump into people because you're nervous about looking stupid and all that, man, you can really smell the fail seeping out your ass.
And no, not everyone was the epic headstrong type, but seriously I'm not going to use them as an excuse.
Big failure? Overall yes, but if we're talking about things learned, then no. This was a resounding wake-up call.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Chastity Cup
I just had my first pubbing experience at an open air pub round the corner to my hotel in Bangkok. How many of us had actually gone to pub and took some fun bun stuff.
I had dinner at the same pub as well. I ate and then I took a look at the cocktail menu. I saw something that greatly aroused my interest. "Tequila Sunrise" is the name of a famous cocktail and I ordered it. It costed merely 160Baht, or a mere S$6. Finally I lost my chastity for these kinda things. My first pubbing experience was in Bangkok, Thailand. Its going to be remembered.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
o level results lol
yes lol
Oh god, am I on a timer. I hit myself with sedatives (otherwise I'll probably make this post really long), and Bridge may not come through - if I had completed more refined drafts of it this probably wouldn't have happened. I had hoped that the drabness of my life and the absence of a motivating force would be things of the past after my O Levels. This has not been the case.
Not to say nothing has happened. There HAS been some progress on Bridge, and I did complete a video project. But that's just excuses, and let's talk about other stuff (dodged!).
Results today. Wasn't very excited to be honest. Was more worried about my social skills after two months of stagnation. Wish I had the courage to talk to JJ, but she and I don't talk much; in any case, if I advanced any friendships with the opposite sex right now, it'll probably just become a plug for a bigger problem, like Geia was.
I've probably already said this, but I went in expecting very mediocre scores. Frankly though, I didn't care much about the scores anymore. After DPA, my enthusiasm for learning things other people pressed into my face eroded very quickly. This is primarily why my revision was so lackluster - I did not have a strong purpose. All I had was a childish want to beat Mikana at studies and a little bit of peer/parental pressure.
I have DPA, born of my few talents, projects, and friends. Nothing academic. Even my testimonial had Zephy's Pistol Ninja in it, no joke. I'm done with bring told to tell the xylem from the phoelem when I don't want to. I got pretty good results anyway, despite studying little. I was expecting a C for my Science, got a glowing A1 instead. Bullshat the written F&N paper, A2. They said on the powerpoint slides I had five distinctions - five! The most I've ever gotten was three.
But alas. There were bad surprises as well. I had only 4 distinctions. Humanities was a dismal A2, and Literature even worse: B3. That was disappointing. It was also weird. Didn't know whether to jump for joy, or be very annoyed at myself. Does it mean I'm not a writer by nature? I got all these doubts.
Another reason why I haven't been revamping Bridge - I'm becoming pretty good at artistic critique (or so I think) and I don't want to have to see my own work objectively.
I've been slowly talking more to people on the GZF forums. Learning about their lives. Bits and pieces. Some people go there to rant. People who have socially-unacceptable romantic feelings, some guys who've had divorces in the family, joined real fight clubs, stayed in their rooms for months on end, got arrested. But it's all background occurences, cold newspaper headlines, until you really get into the rants and the raves. It's not about what happens. It's about how happy and terrible and destroyed they feel. And when I watch from this angle, or talk to people who are in a worse spot than me and I learn firsthand how they feel about their lives... I think I don't have the moral right to be lazy, and I don't have the moral right to complain and bitch. This is just me. I'm a selfish guy, so I won't presume to pass judgement on how much emowanking the rest of you should do.
In a few days I'll be in a 3D2N camp. The notification and details came the say day as the O Level results. It's chocked with probably useless team activities and group hippie crap, but I'll see what I can squeeze out of it.
I dedicate this poast to Vonterul! Internets ftw
Oh god, am I on a timer. I hit myself with sedatives (otherwise I'll probably make this post really long), and Bridge may not come through - if I had completed more refined drafts of it this probably wouldn't have happened. I had hoped that the drabness of my life and the absence of a motivating force would be things of the past after my O Levels. This has not been the case.
Not to say nothing has happened. There HAS been some progress on Bridge, and I did complete a video project. But that's just excuses, and let's talk about other stuff (dodged!).
Results today. Wasn't very excited to be honest. Was more worried about my social skills after two months of stagnation. Wish I had the courage to talk to JJ, but she and I don't talk much; in any case, if I advanced any friendships with the opposite sex right now, it'll probably just become a plug for a bigger problem, like Geia was.
I've probably already said this, but I went in expecting very mediocre scores. Frankly though, I didn't care much about the scores anymore. After DPA, my enthusiasm for learning things other people pressed into my face eroded very quickly. This is primarily why my revision was so lackluster - I did not have a strong purpose. All I had was a childish want to beat Mikana at studies and a little bit of peer/parental pressure.
I have DPA, born of my few talents, projects, and friends. Nothing academic. Even my testimonial had Zephy's Pistol Ninja in it, no joke. I'm done with bring told to tell the xylem from the phoelem when I don't want to. I got pretty good results anyway, despite studying little. I was expecting a C for my Science, got a glowing A1 instead. Bullshat the written F&N paper, A2. They said on the powerpoint slides I had five distinctions - five! The most I've ever gotten was three.
But alas. There were bad surprises as well. I had only 4 distinctions. Humanities was a dismal A2, and Literature even worse: B3. That was disappointing. It was also weird. Didn't know whether to jump for joy, or be very annoyed at myself. Does it mean I'm not a writer by nature? I got all these doubts.
Another reason why I haven't been revamping Bridge - I'm becoming pretty good at artistic critique (or so I think) and I don't want to have to see my own work objectively.
I've been slowly talking more to people on the GZF forums. Learning about their lives. Bits and pieces. Some people go there to rant. People who have socially-unacceptable romantic feelings, some guys who've had divorces in the family, joined real fight clubs, stayed in their rooms for months on end, got arrested. But it's all background occurences, cold newspaper headlines, until you really get into the rants and the raves. It's not about what happens. It's about how happy and terrible and destroyed they feel. And when I watch from this angle, or talk to people who are in a worse spot than me and I learn firsthand how they feel about their lives... I think I don't have the moral right to be lazy, and I don't have the moral right to complain and bitch. This is just me. I'm a selfish guy, so I won't presume to pass judgement on how much emowanking the rest of you should do.
In a few days I'll be in a 3D2N camp. The notification and details came the say day as the O Level results. It's chocked with probably useless team activities and group hippie crap, but I'll see what I can squeeze out of it.
I dedicate this poast to Vonterul! Internets ftw
Monday, January 12, 2009
ENGLISH O levels REPORT
TOFU - A1
Lime - A1
Nosedigger - A1
Panzerz - A2
Nosedigger - A1
Panzerz - A2
Giant - A2
100% distinction for English in the Pebble Fort
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Thai-phoon
Too lazy to type anything solid, so i'll use these few photos i took in Bangkok do the talkin' (with some help from the captions)
This is the Pratunam Market. Used to be effing crowded. Pretty empty, no thanks to recent events.
Well, this is a newly built building (wasn't there last year when i went). Some shopping mall or office building, yet to visit. MY dad says its parodying King Kong, but i think its just a man clinging on for dear life o.0
Was on the lookout for a rarer side of Thailand, and i saw this right opposite the shop where my dad was buying some jeans for my mom. If only we see S'poreans playing any sports, not just takraw in whatever confined space...we could be so much better in the sporting world
Saw these 2 shirts on display at 2 different locations. Just had to take pictures of them, since i wasn't planning on buying them. There were more designs, but i got shooed by the vendor. LOL.
Just before checking out of the hotel, I happened to peek into the basket, and lo and behold... 2 condoms... Yep, the sex industry is indeed thriving in Thailand.
This is the Pratunam Market. Used to be effing crowded. Pretty empty, no thanks to recent events.
Well, this is a newly built building (wasn't there last year when i went). Some shopping mall or office building, yet to visit. MY dad says its parodying King Kong, but i think its just a man clinging on for dear life o.0
Was on the lookout for a rarer side of Thailand, and i saw this right opposite the shop where my dad was buying some jeans for my mom. If only we see S'poreans playing any sports, not just takraw in whatever confined space...we could be so much better in the sporting world
Saw these 2 shirts on display at 2 different locations. Just had to take pictures of them, since i wasn't planning on buying them. There were more designs, but i got shooed by the vendor. LOL.
Just before checking out of the hotel, I happened to peek into the basket, and lo and behold... 2 condoms... Yep, the sex industry is indeed thriving in Thailand.
Friday, January 2, 2009
The Hero Pattern
This was created made by Lord Raglan to show the similarities of various ancient mythology/hero-myths of different cultures and the patterns of heroes of today's literature as well as the literature of ancient times.
Incidents which occur with regularity in hero-myths of all cultures:
1. Hero's mother is a virgin;
2. His father is a king, and
3. Often a near relative of his mother, but
4. The circumstances of his conception are unusual, and
5. He is also reputed to be the son of a god.
6. At birth an attempt is made, usually by his father or his maternal grand father to kill him, but
7. he is spirited away, and
8. Reared by foster -parents in a far country.
9. We are told nothing of his childhood, but
10. On reaching manhood he returns or goes to his future Kingdom.
11. After a victory over the king and/or a giant, dragon, or wild beast,
12. He marries a princess, often the daughter of his predecessor and
13. And becomes king.
14. For a time he reigns uneventfully and
15. Prescribes laws, but
16. Later he loses favor with the gods and/or his subjects, and
17. Is driven from the throne and city, after which
18. He meets with a mysterious death,
19. Often at the top of a hill,
20. His children, if any do not succeed him.
21. His body is not buried, but nevertheless
22. He has one or more holy sepulchres.
Apparently, no one has the full 22 but the scores are as follows, (at least the top few)
Krishna: 21
1. His mother Devaki had several children before having him, thus making her very un-virginal; Devaki almost counts as royalty because her father Devaka was rich enough to afford a dowry of 400 elephants fully decorated with golden garlands, 15,000 decorated horses, 1800 chariots, and the hiring of 200 pretty young ladies to follow her.
2. His father Vasudeva was the son of King Surasena, but was not quite a king.
4. Devaki learned that she was pregnant with someone special when she became pregnant with Krishna; outside from that, her pregnancy and giving birth were normal.
5. Krishna is considered an avatar of the great Hindu god Vishnu.
6. The wicked King Kamsa had imprisoned Vasudeva and Devaki, and had killed their previous offspring. He thus followed the footsteps of baby-killers Pharaoh, Herod, and Amulius, who came after Moses, Jesus Christ, and Romulus and Remus.
7. When he was born, he was switched with Yogamaya, daughter of Yasoda and Nanda (mother and father), thus frustrating Kamsa.
8. Yasoda and Nanda return to their home and raise Krishna there.
9. There are some childhood details, such as his learning to dance, his having fun with some gopis, and his fighting some wicked demons.
10. King Kamsa invites Krishna and a friend to a wrestling match, hoping that Krishna will be defeated.
11. But Krishna wins, prompting Kamsa to order Krishna's foster father and several others murdered. Whereupon Krishna kills Kamsa.
12. Krishna marries some beautiful princesses.
13. Krishna helps make a certain Ugrusena king; he himself becomes king after a while.
14.The Kurukshetra War counts against this; Krishna also fights more demons, plays his flute, and has some fun with his gopi groupies. Krishna's fun loving is a rarity among religious prophets; only Jesus Christ comes anywhere close with his turning of water into wine for a wedding party.
15. Krishna delivers the Bhagavad-Gita to Arjuna at the beginning of that war.
16. Krishna's family misbehaves, giving Krishna a bad name.
17. Krishna's family and clan are destroyed in a civil war, leaving him to wander around.
18. Krishna shot in the foot by a hunter named "Old Age" (jara); his brother turns into a snake and goes into the sea.
19. Krishna dies in a forest by the seashore.
20. He had no successors.
21. He rose up into heaven.
22. Several places are described as his last resting place.
Moses: 20
His parents (1 and 2) were of the principal family of the Levites and (3) near relatives; he is (5) also reputed to be the son of Pharaoh's daughter. Pharaoh (6) attempts to kill him at birth but (7) he is rafted away , and (8) reared secretly, We are told (9) nothing of his childhood, but on reaching manhood he (11) kills a man, and (10) goes to Midian where (12) he marries the ruler's daughter. Returning (10) to Egypt, he (11) gains a series of magical victories over Pharaoh, and (13) becomes ruler. his rule lasts a long time, and (15) he prescribes laws, but later he (16) loses the favour of Jehovah, is (17) removed from his leadership, and (18) disappears mysteriously from (19) the top of a mountain. His children (20) do not succeed him. His body (21) is not buried, but (22) he has a holy sepulchre near Jerusalem.
King Arthur: 19
His mother, Igraine, is (1) a princess, and his father is (2) the Duke of Cornwall. He is, however, (5) reputed to be the son of Uther Pendragon, who (6) visited (7) Igraine in the Duke's likeness. At birth he is apparently in no danger, yet he is (7) spirited away, and (8) nothing of his childhood, but on reaching manhood he (10) travels to London, (11) wins a magical victory, and (13) is chosen king. After other victories he (12) marries Guinevere, heiress of the Round Table. After this he (14) reigns uneventfully, and (15) prescribes the laws of chivalry, but later there is (16) a successful conspiracy against him, while (17) he is abroad. he meets with (18) a mysterious death, and his children do not (20) succeed him, His body is (21) not buried, but nevertheless he has (22) a holy sepulchre at Glastonbury.
Jesus: 18
His mother, Mary, is (1) a royal virgin (descendant of King David),
and his father is (2) Joseph,
who is (3) her close relative.
He is reported to be (5) the son of God,
who (4) sends his Holy Spirit to Mary.
At his birth King Herod (6) tries to kill him,
but he and his parents (7) flee to Egypt.
We are told (9) almost nothing of his childhood,
but on reaching manhood he begins to enter (10) his future kingdom.
He teaches successfully (14) for some time,
prescribing (15) ways of behavior and belief.
His enemies (16) persecute him,
and he is executed (18)
on top of a hill (19).
He defeats the forces of evil (11)
and eventually returns (10) to his heavenly kingdom.
He has (20) no children to succeed him.
His body is (21) not buried,
but he has a sepulchre (22) in Jerusalem.
Mohammad: 17
His mother Aminot is (1) a royal virgin, and his father a Abdullai is (2) king of Mecca. He is also from the Quarais family (3). He is also reputed to be the son of God (5). At his birth Hablilabi (6) tried to kill him in Mecca. He is wafted away (7) and reared secretly (8). We are told (9) nothing of his childhood. Later he goes (10) to Medina where he marries (12) a princess Kadijat Kuburat, also of the royal Quarais family. He gains a series of victories (11) over his adversaries. His (13) rule as prophet (14) lasts a long time, and he prescribes (15) laws. written in the sacred book of the Quaran (Koran). Later he loses favor with his subjects (16) and is driven (17) from the throne, though he later re-establishes himself. His children (20) do not succeed him. He has (22) holy sepulchres in Mecca and Medina.
Beowulf: 15
His parents are unknown but probably royal (2).
As a baby he was set adrift in a boat (6 & 7),
laden with armor and weapons.
He is adopted by (8) the king and queen of the country to which he drifted.
We know (9) nothing of his childhood,
but as a man he is banished from the kingdom (17?).
While he is in exile, the monster Grendel ravages the kingdom, and when he hears of this,
he (10) returns.
He (11) slays the monster and his mother,
and (12) marries the princess Freeware.
He and his wife (13) rule
for many years (14),
and he (15) makes laws about religious and political life.
He dies (18) in a fight with a dragon.
His body (21) is placed on a ship and sent to sea,
and the people (22) build a monument to his memory.
Buddha: 15
2. His father Suddhodhana had been a king, or at least a noble.
4. When he was conceived, his mother Maya dreamed that a white elephant had entered her body through her side.
5. He was an enlightened being on his last reincarnation before achieving Nirvana.
6. Suddhodhana tries to keep him from his future career by spoiling him instead of by trying to kill him.
7. He suffers that spoilage through his childhood.
8. Maya dies and he is raised by her sister Mahaprajaprati.
9. Little is known about his life with Mahaprajaprati.
10. He sees an old man, a monk, a sick man, and a dead man, and deserts his wife and son in search of enlightenment.
11. He goes on a long quest, mortifying the flesh, and experiencing Mara the Tempter trying to lead him astray, until he achieves enlightenment under a Bodhi tree.
12. He decides to spread the word about what he has learned.
14. and reigns successfully for a period of time.
15. He issues his teachings, which contain laws of a sort.
18. He eats a meal of poisoned pork, an oddity because Buddhism has the ideal of vegetarianism.
20. His son does not succeed him.
21. His body is not buried. He was cremated and has no tomb.
Zeus: 14
His mother, Rhea, is a queen of the gods (1), and his father is (2) her divine husband Cronus. As Titans, Rhea and Cronus are sister and brother (3). At birth Cronus attempts to swallow Zeus (6) who is spirited away by Rhea (7) and raised on the island of Crete by the curetes (8). We are told nothing of his childhood (9), but n reaching maturity Zeus returns (10) and overthrows his father Cronus (11). He then marries his sister Hera (12) and becomes king of the gods (13). For a time he reigns uneventfully (14) and prescribes laws (15) and (22) he was worshipped in temples.
Did it end up long again? damn
-Panzerz
P.S. Scientists think they've found a snake with legs. Its from the late cretaceous period,(aka somewhat dawn of dinosaurs) of its possibly the missing evolutionary link between them and lizards. So tell me, this god guy,he did what?
Incidents which occur with regularity in hero-myths of all cultures:
1. Hero's mother is a virgin;
2. His father is a king, and
3. Often a near relative of his mother, but
4. The circumstances of his conception are unusual, and
5. He is also reputed to be the son of a god.
6. At birth an attempt is made, usually by his father or his maternal grand father to kill him, but
7. he is spirited away, and
8. Reared by foster -parents in a far country.
9. We are told nothing of his childhood, but
10. On reaching manhood he returns or goes to his future Kingdom.
11. After a victory over the king and/or a giant, dragon, or wild beast,
12. He marries a princess, often the daughter of his predecessor and
13. And becomes king.
14. For a time he reigns uneventfully and
15. Prescribes laws, but
16. Later he loses favor with the gods and/or his subjects, and
17. Is driven from the throne and city, after which
18. He meets with a mysterious death,
19. Often at the top of a hill,
20. His children, if any do not succeed him.
21. His body is not buried, but nevertheless
22. He has one or more holy sepulchres.
Apparently, no one has the full 22 but the scores are as follows, (at least the top few)
Krishna: 21
1. His mother Devaki had several children before having him, thus making her very un-virginal; Devaki almost counts as royalty because her father Devaka was rich enough to afford a dowry of 400 elephants fully decorated with golden garlands, 15,000 decorated horses, 1800 chariots, and the hiring of 200 pretty young ladies to follow her.
2. His father Vasudeva was the son of King Surasena, but was not quite a king.
4. Devaki learned that she was pregnant with someone special when she became pregnant with Krishna; outside from that, her pregnancy and giving birth were normal.
5. Krishna is considered an avatar of the great Hindu god Vishnu.
6. The wicked King Kamsa had imprisoned Vasudeva and Devaki, and had killed their previous offspring. He thus followed the footsteps of baby-killers Pharaoh, Herod, and Amulius, who came after Moses, Jesus Christ, and Romulus and Remus.
7. When he was born, he was switched with Yogamaya, daughter of Yasoda and Nanda (mother and father), thus frustrating Kamsa.
8. Yasoda and Nanda return to their home and raise Krishna there.
9. There are some childhood details, such as his learning to dance, his having fun with some gopis, and his fighting some wicked demons.
10. King Kamsa invites Krishna and a friend to a wrestling match, hoping that Krishna will be defeated.
11. But Krishna wins, prompting Kamsa to order Krishna's foster father and several others murdered. Whereupon Krishna kills Kamsa.
12. Krishna marries some beautiful princesses.
13. Krishna helps make a certain Ugrusena king; he himself becomes king after a while.
14.The Kurukshetra War counts against this; Krishna also fights more demons, plays his flute, and has some fun with his gopi groupies. Krishna's fun loving is a rarity among religious prophets; only Jesus Christ comes anywhere close with his turning of water into wine for a wedding party.
15. Krishna delivers the Bhagavad-Gita to Arjuna at the beginning of that war.
16. Krishna's family misbehaves, giving Krishna a bad name.
17. Krishna's family and clan are destroyed in a civil war, leaving him to wander around.
18. Krishna shot in the foot by a hunter named "Old Age" (jara); his brother turns into a snake and goes into the sea.
19. Krishna dies in a forest by the seashore.
20. He had no successors.
21. He rose up into heaven.
22. Several places are described as his last resting place.
Moses: 20
His parents (1 and 2) were of the principal family of the Levites and (3) near relatives; he is (5) also reputed to be the son of Pharaoh's daughter. Pharaoh (6) attempts to kill him at birth but (7) he is rafted away , and (8) reared secretly, We are told (9) nothing of his childhood, but on reaching manhood he (11) kills a man, and (10) goes to Midian where (12) he marries the ruler's daughter. Returning (10) to Egypt, he (11) gains a series of magical victories over Pharaoh, and (13) becomes ruler. his rule lasts a long time, and (15) he prescribes laws, but later he (16) loses the favour of Jehovah, is (17) removed from his leadership, and (18) disappears mysteriously from (19) the top of a mountain. His children (20) do not succeed him. His body (21) is not buried, but (22) he has a holy sepulchre near Jerusalem.
King Arthur: 19
His mother, Igraine, is (1) a princess, and his father is (2) the Duke of Cornwall. He is, however, (5) reputed to be the son of Uther Pendragon, who (6) visited (7) Igraine in the Duke's likeness. At birth he is apparently in no danger, yet he is (7) spirited away, and (8) nothing of his childhood, but on reaching manhood he (10) travels to London, (11) wins a magical victory, and (13) is chosen king. After other victories he (12) marries Guinevere, heiress of the Round Table. After this he (14) reigns uneventfully, and (15) prescribes the laws of chivalry, but later there is (16) a successful conspiracy against him, while (17) he is abroad. he meets with (18) a mysterious death, and his children do not (20) succeed him, His body is (21) not buried, but nevertheless he has (22) a holy sepulchre at Glastonbury.
Jesus: 18
His mother, Mary, is (1) a royal virgin (descendant of King David),
and his father is (2) Joseph,
who is (3) her close relative.
He is reported to be (5) the son of God,
who (4) sends his Holy Spirit to Mary.
At his birth King Herod (6) tries to kill him,
but he and his parents (7) flee to Egypt.
We are told (9) almost nothing of his childhood,
but on reaching manhood he begins to enter (10) his future kingdom.
He teaches successfully (14) for some time,
prescribing (15) ways of behavior and belief.
His enemies (16) persecute him,
and he is executed (18)
on top of a hill (19).
He defeats the forces of evil (11)
and eventually returns (10) to his heavenly kingdom.
He has (20) no children to succeed him.
His body is (21) not buried,
but he has a sepulchre (22) in Jerusalem.
Mohammad: 17
His mother Aminot is (1) a royal virgin, and his father a Abdullai is (2) king of Mecca. He is also from the Quarais family (3). He is also reputed to be the son of God (5). At his birth Hablilabi (6) tried to kill him in Mecca. He is wafted away (7) and reared secretly (8). We are told (9) nothing of his childhood. Later he goes (10) to Medina where he marries (12) a princess Kadijat Kuburat, also of the royal Quarais family. He gains a series of victories (11) over his adversaries. His (13) rule as prophet (14) lasts a long time, and he prescribes (15) laws. written in the sacred book of the Quaran (Koran). Later he loses favor with his subjects (16) and is driven (17) from the throne, though he later re-establishes himself. His children (20) do not succeed him. He has (22) holy sepulchres in Mecca and Medina.
Beowulf: 15
His parents are unknown but probably royal (2).
As a baby he was set adrift in a boat (6 & 7),
laden with armor and weapons.
He is adopted by (8) the king and queen of the country to which he drifted.
We know (9) nothing of his childhood,
but as a man he is banished from the kingdom (17?).
While he is in exile, the monster Grendel ravages the kingdom, and when he hears of this,
he (10) returns.
He (11) slays the monster and his mother,
and (12) marries the princess Freeware.
He and his wife (13) rule
for many years (14),
and he (15) makes laws about religious and political life.
He dies (18) in a fight with a dragon.
His body (21) is placed on a ship and sent to sea,
and the people (22) build a monument to his memory.
Buddha: 15
2. His father Suddhodhana had been a king, or at least a noble.
4. When he was conceived, his mother Maya dreamed that a white elephant had entered her body through her side.
5. He was an enlightened being on his last reincarnation before achieving Nirvana.
6. Suddhodhana tries to keep him from his future career by spoiling him instead of by trying to kill him.
7. He suffers that spoilage through his childhood.
8. Maya dies and he is raised by her sister Mahaprajaprati.
9. Little is known about his life with Mahaprajaprati.
10. He sees an old man, a monk, a sick man, and a dead man, and deserts his wife and son in search of enlightenment.
11. He goes on a long quest, mortifying the flesh, and experiencing Mara the Tempter trying to lead him astray, until he achieves enlightenment under a Bodhi tree.
12. He decides to spread the word about what he has learned.
14. and reigns successfully for a period of time.
15. He issues his teachings, which contain laws of a sort.
18. He eats a meal of poisoned pork, an oddity because Buddhism has the ideal of vegetarianism.
20. His son does not succeed him.
21. His body is not buried. He was cremated and has no tomb.
Zeus: 14
His mother, Rhea, is a queen of the gods (1), and his father is (2) her divine husband Cronus. As Titans, Rhea and Cronus are sister and brother (3). At birth Cronus attempts to swallow Zeus (6) who is spirited away by Rhea (7) and raised on the island of Crete by the curetes (8). We are told nothing of his childhood (9), but n reaching maturity Zeus returns (10) and overthrows his father Cronus (11). He then marries his sister Hera (12) and becomes king of the gods (13). For a time he reigns uneventfully (14) and prescribes laws (15) and (22) he was worshipped in temples.
Did it end up long again? damn
-Panzerz
P.S. Scientists think they've found a snake with legs. Its from the late cretaceous period,(aka somewhat dawn of dinosaurs) of its possibly the missing evolutionary link between them and lizards. So tell me, this god guy,he did what?
Da Motherland
你好
I have been in China for the past couple of days now... And because I'm living in an area of China that is prety suburb-y, I've managed to see the other sights of Shanghai that tourists don't see.
I have been in China for the past couple of days now... And because I'm living in an area of China that is prety suburb-y, I've managed to see the other sights of Shanghai that tourists don't see.
Who knew the parks here would be so nice and modern. Though small and all...
I hope this trip here by myself will help me gain the experience I need to springboard furthur overseas next time. Perhaps next end year I would launch another expedition, this time though, not to China.
Something I noted was of how I managed to blend it with the Shanghai people. A policeman even started talking to me in Shanghainese instead of the normal mandrian. In case you don't know, Shanghainese is like a dialect, Hokkien, Teocheow, Cantonese, etc. So I was pretty taken aback that I this guy talked to me a real native language.
But I guess in backpacking you got to try to blend in as much as possible. And soak in as much of the locals as possible. And not stick to the touristy stuff of things...
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
24 December 08
I'd feel guilty about writing over an entry someone else just written, but seeing as TOFU's is really quite short (about the All-American Rejects' new album, hmph, you don't see me blowing a blogpost on an entire album do you? Oh wait, I kinda did) well, fuck him and his mainstream music! I have unparalleled nonconventional taste in the arts! Which is not the point of this entry!
But the cruellest thing you can do to an artist is tell them their work is flawless when it isn't.
- Ben Croshaw
'Yahtzee' Croshaw is the man behind the hit online game reviews Zero Punctuation. He's also Australian, like the Hilltop Hoods! And that guy I was arguing with on Youtube yesterday about Australian gun laws!... Also not what today's theme is (I almost said "letter of the day", there) but I'll throw in some Yahtzee humour at the end because I like his hat.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long post ahead.
I can't quite remember the last time I was pumped about Christmas. Huh. If I had to guess who was behind this inane tradition's continuation I'd say it was my mother. (Don't worry, I'll keep the hate-my-family-for-attention short this time.) She's quite Singaporean.
Anyway I forgot where I was going with this... oh yeah, I was going to be all nostalgic about (drum roll) my past, but then I guess all my Christmases have been rather uneventful... So as a better primer for getting off my ass and begin fine-tuning Bridge again, I'm gonna tag the shitload of secondary school photos I uploaded on Facebook a while ago and see what comes up.
Unfortunately, due to the Pebble Fort's constitution (TOFU is noob!) I cannot post them here. I will describe them instead. A lot of these photographs are my own. I can't say I have too strong of an interest in the art of photography, but there is definitely some. Interesting but unsurprising fact: Mikana probably sparked it off. Holding the post of photographer certainly gave me plenty of opportunity to snap away (Wank away would have been more appropriate, but less accurate).
In between getting stone-hard boners for the pretty maiden, I did manage to catch a few things out the corner of my eyes that I snapped anyway... all in all, I did make an honest attempt to do my 'job' and learned a few things. Just me and my father's camera. Impromptu amateur photography.
When I lost my handphone (again) and inherited a newer one with a camera, I obviously went crazy with it. Because of the poor photo quality and shit resolution, and the fact that I was already out of Drama by then, meant that I would no longer have opportunities to shoot Mikana up close, and of course faraway shots with a phone is invariably crap. So I shot other things.
Taking advantage of the quick setup time and relative inconspicuous qualities of the phonecam, I could whip it out anytime I saw something particularly photogenic. I think my favourite one (ego incoming) came from the night study sessions in school. A student, sitting alone at a table. His bag and study things are strewn around him. This is all taken from behind him, but from the back of his head we can see that he's looking at a clique, engrossed in themselves, just a table away. He's just sitting there and watching them, arms and hands down. I dunno what the rest of you will take away from it, now that it's on Facebook, but predominantly it got me thinking about social barriers, because there's a tangible, powerful barrier in that photo.
Was it because the student was obese? Maybe he was just not very likable? Gender? Racial barriers?
I'm sure the Singaporean Tourist Board would jump to overuse the phrase "Racial Harmony", but the fact is that Racial Tolerance would have been more accurate. All the government conspiracies and prejudices discussed in math tuition aside, a great number of cliques I see are still defined by skin colour and sex. You have the Malay girls over there, the Chinese guys over here, Chinese girls, Indian girls, Malay guys, more Chinese guys.... Yeah, there are exceptions (thanks to Lime, we are one of them =).
There was this girl from Thailand who was my classmate this year. There wasn't a clique she could just fall into... so had a Malay guy as a best friend. Of course, she did tell me that back in Thailand, being from an extremely rich family, most people saw her in terms of money... so what, only necessity can overcome petty things like racial and gender barriers? Eh, lets go back to nostalgia.
Got a photo of Giant, Panzerz and the rest of 4/8 chilling outside the classroom by the railing. I wonder why nobody bothers to record these things? Or maybe I just think it is extra special because my own class, 4/4, has really no unity. No pictures of them.
Here's one of TOFU. It's during one of those dreadful barbaric Scout rituals. (Take that!) In this picture TOFU is sitting right in front of the camera, resting his head on his hand and staring off into the distance while a bunch of other Scouts do push-ups behind him. It's like he's wondering "Is there a life for me beyond making little boys cater to my every whim?" while he's looking towards the sky with hope in his eyes. So yeh, quite funneh. I didn't take this one, stole it off TOFU's blog.
There're a few pictures of female friends as well. If the gender equality in Singapore is anything to go by, unless I'm fucking them in the years to come (I'm not THAT rich, so...) I'll probably never see them again after another year or so. I'll also probably never see much of my other secondary school schoolmates again, so I'm really very pleased that I managed to teach one of my classmates Bridge during the chalet, so it didn't feel like I was wasting people's oxygen. Managed to tie this part of my life off pretty nicely actually in comparison to primary school and (gasp!) India.
Another bad tie-off was 6J. I've received invites asking me to attend a gathering. Though it would certainly refresh me with what kinds of stupid things you say when you're in a social group you don't fit into, and help me write Bridge. I guess I'm really behind in terms of social skills. Too much time on the internet anarchy.
Just uploaded the few photos I managed to take of school surroundings before the next set of Sec 4s invaded and rearranged everything. When I finally got round to it with a proper camera, the desks had been moved and everything we had pasted and left behind, except for some wall and desk murals, were gone. What I managed to salvage anyway is up on Facebook.
I suppose its worth mentioning that on in 4/5, one of TOFU's post-it notes on the door was untouched. It read: "Even though we got burned, look at all the things we learned." It's a geeky Portal quote. But then again, I have come some way despite being "burned" many times. I have to admit my position in life isn't too bad and can get a lot better. Tomorrow, Christmas Day, I'm going back to writing.
And here's some of Yahtzee's British humour, straight from fullyramblomatic.com.
But the cruellest thing you can do to an artist is tell them their work is flawless when it isn't.
- Ben Croshaw
'Yahtzee' Croshaw is the man behind the hit online game reviews Zero Punctuation. He's also Australian, like the Hilltop Hoods! And that guy I was arguing with on Youtube yesterday about Australian gun laws!... Also not what today's theme is (I almost said "letter of the day", there) but I'll throw in some Yahtzee humour at the end because I like his hat.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long post ahead.
I can't quite remember the last time I was pumped about Christmas. Huh. If I had to guess who was behind this inane tradition's continuation I'd say it was my mother. (Don't worry, I'll keep the hate-my-family-for-attention short this time.) She's quite Singaporean.
Anyway I forgot where I was going with this... oh yeah, I was going to be all nostalgic about (drum roll) my past, but then I guess all my Christmases have been rather uneventful... So as a better primer for getting off my ass and begin fine-tuning Bridge again, I'm gonna tag the shitload of secondary school photos I uploaded on Facebook a while ago and see what comes up.
Unfortunately, due to the Pebble Fort's constitution (TOFU is noob!) I cannot post them here. I will describe them instead. A lot of these photographs are my own. I can't say I have too strong of an interest in the art of photography, but there is definitely some. Interesting but unsurprising fact: Mikana probably sparked it off. Holding the post of photographer certainly gave me plenty of opportunity to snap away (Wank away would have been more appropriate, but less accurate).
In between getting stone-hard boners for the pretty maiden, I did manage to catch a few things out the corner of my eyes that I snapped anyway... all in all, I did make an honest attempt to do my 'job' and learned a few things. Just me and my father's camera. Impromptu amateur photography.
When I lost my handphone (again) and inherited a newer one with a camera, I obviously went crazy with it. Because of the poor photo quality and shit resolution, and the fact that I was already out of Drama by then, meant that I would no longer have opportunities to shoot Mikana up close, and of course faraway shots with a phone is invariably crap. So I shot other things.
Taking advantage of the quick setup time and relative inconspicuous qualities of the phonecam, I could whip it out anytime I saw something particularly photogenic. I think my favourite one (ego incoming) came from the night study sessions in school. A student, sitting alone at a table. His bag and study things are strewn around him. This is all taken from behind him, but from the back of his head we can see that he's looking at a clique, engrossed in themselves, just a table away. He's just sitting there and watching them, arms and hands down. I dunno what the rest of you will take away from it, now that it's on Facebook, but predominantly it got me thinking about social barriers, because there's a tangible, powerful barrier in that photo.
Was it because the student was obese? Maybe he was just not very likable? Gender? Racial barriers?
I'm sure the Singaporean Tourist Board would jump to overuse the phrase "Racial Harmony", but the fact is that Racial Tolerance would have been more accurate. All the government conspiracies and prejudices discussed in math tuition aside, a great number of cliques I see are still defined by skin colour and sex. You have the Malay girls over there, the Chinese guys over here, Chinese girls, Indian girls, Malay guys, more Chinese guys.... Yeah, there are exceptions (thanks to Lime, we are one of them =).
There was this girl from Thailand who was my classmate this year. There wasn't a clique she could just fall into... so had a Malay guy as a best friend. Of course, she did tell me that back in Thailand, being from an extremely rich family, most people saw her in terms of money... so what, only necessity can overcome petty things like racial and gender barriers? Eh, lets go back to nostalgia.
Got a photo of Giant, Panzerz and the rest of 4/8 chilling outside the classroom by the railing. I wonder why nobody bothers to record these things? Or maybe I just think it is extra special because my own class, 4/4, has really no unity. No pictures of them.
Here's one of TOFU. It's during one of those dreadful barbaric Scout rituals. (Take that!) In this picture TOFU is sitting right in front of the camera, resting his head on his hand and staring off into the distance while a bunch of other Scouts do push-ups behind him. It's like he's wondering "Is there a life for me beyond making little boys cater to my every whim?" while he's looking towards the sky with hope in his eyes. So yeh, quite funneh. I didn't take this one, stole it off TOFU's blog.
There're a few pictures of female friends as well. If the gender equality in Singapore is anything to go by, unless I'm fucking them in the years to come (I'm not THAT rich, so...) I'll probably never see them again after another year or so. I'll also probably never see much of my other secondary school schoolmates again, so I'm really very pleased that I managed to teach one of my classmates Bridge during the chalet, so it didn't feel like I was wasting people's oxygen. Managed to tie this part of my life off pretty nicely actually in comparison to primary school and (gasp!) India.
Another bad tie-off was 6J. I've received invites asking me to attend a gathering. Though it would certainly refresh me with what kinds of stupid things you say when you're in a social group you don't fit into, and help me write Bridge. I guess I'm really behind in terms of social skills. Too much time on the internet anarchy.
Just uploaded the few photos I managed to take of school surroundings before the next set of Sec 4s invaded and rearranged everything. When I finally got round to it with a proper camera, the desks had been moved and everything we had pasted and left behind, except for some wall and desk murals, were gone. What I managed to salvage anyway is up on Facebook.
I suppose its worth mentioning that on in 4/5, one of TOFU's post-it notes on the door was untouched. It read: "Even though we got burned, look at all the things we learned." It's a geeky Portal quote. But then again, I have come some way despite being "burned" many times. I have to admit my position in life isn't too bad and can get a lot better. Tomorrow, Christmas Day, I'm going back to writing.
And here's some of Yahtzee's British humour, straight from fullyramblomatic.com.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
When The World Comes Down
All American Rejects like we've never heard them before. Their new album, When The World Comes Down is really, in the words of frontman Tyson Ritter, 'It's nothing like you've ever heard'. All American Reject's last two studio albums, a self titled one and the Move Along album had rock written all over it. They are a little softer in this new album with more acoustic songs on the roster.
If you ask me, I prefer this side of them. There is a whole lot more meaning into their lyrics now and the melody has also got up a notch with the omission of loud sounds... Something PanzerZ would probably find detestable...
I really think this is quite a good album. One of the few albums of the year that has managed to keep me on.
I'm pretty sure hardcore rock guys will not like this new album though.
4 Pebbles out of 5.
-Tofu
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