50% Gone... Another 50% More To Go... ...

Phew, the past 2 days was really very hectic, tiring and painful.

13th November 2008 was the first day of my 4th Year, 1st Semester examination. Following closely was three more examination papers which falls on 14th, 18th and 19th.

To mark my first day of examination, I was late for 10-15 minutes! When I reached, I noticed that some students had already completed question 1 and was moving to question 2!! Before my pulses could return to normal after the dash to the examination hall, my heart started thumping again.

Thank God, I still managed to complete the paper on time.

Honestly speaking, once after my IA, after not having studied for one semester, it is really hard to pick up my books again. This semester, I really have no motivation and drive to study, though I very well know the fact that this is already my final year and I should be making use of the opportunity to study harder.

Yup, logical and easy to understand. However, I just cannot push, motivate and get myself working... Hmmm....

To speak the truth, I have no great, burning desire to study hard in order to get good grades, unlike some of the scholars out there, eg: my gf. I really admire their attitude they depict in their studies! Simply amazing...

Time really flies. Till today, I still can vividly remember the struggle 3 years ago when I had to come to a decision as to which degree should I be pursuing.

Actually, one of my friends asked me this question, "If you were given the chance to choose what degree to pursue and at which Singapore University, what would your choice be?"

What a timely question. I believe it is also time for me to start thinking back about what I have accomplished so far in my life and how I actually lived the past 3 years of my life. Have I only been spending it or living it.

First thing first, will I change course if I had the chance to? Not very sure. Till now, I still do not regret pursuing my Honors in Computer Engineering in NTU even though others always claim that the school is a dumping ground for other faculties.

Maybe if I were to choose again, I would like to give NTU Accountancy a try. First, it is a 3 yrs course. Secondly, it is located at NBS (Nayang Business School) thus there are bound to be more pretty girls as compared to the Engineering side... =p

Even having said so, I certainly learn many different skills and gain alot of new knowledge while pursuing my degree there. And not to forget, I have known a handful of good friends. Yup, only a handful, and all of them are equally lazy in studies like me... Lolx...

Though lazy and unmotivated in their studies, they are more truthful and sincere. Bare minimum, they are not someone who enjoys talking behind your back and act as if nothing happened when in front of you. And they have a name for them... ... oh, "hypocrites".

As for NUS or NTU, up till now, I still prefer to study in NTU or probably SMU. Again, SMU because there is a higher possibility of meeting nicer females.

Though NTU is more out of the way and less prestigious than NUS or SMU, I still think that NTU is more suitable for me. Less competitive and less stressful. Well, at least personally, I only like to mingle with those who are not competitive in nature.

It always get on my nerves when people start comparing results and use it as an opportunity to trample on others just to push themselves up. Quite pitiful if you look at them. They can only seek to verify themselves through such comparisons with others. A depiction of low self esteem in them.

So, does that mean that I do not like to tell others about my results? Nah...Not true... I only selectively inform some people (parents and gf aside, of course). I will only choose to tell those who really ask out of concern. Actually, one can really distinguish those who are concern about you from those busybodies. The difference is very obvious!!

Alright, another of my ranting again. Though it seems that it had been quite long since my last rant. I don't even remember what I last ranted about. Lolx...

Amazing Holes!

These holes are both amazing, and really terrifying -- especially #8! Their sheer scale will remind you of just how tiny we really are!

1. Sinkhole in Guatemala

The photo above is of a sinkhole that occurred early this year in Guatemala. The hole swallowed a dozen homes and killed at least 3 people.


2. Diavik Mine -- Canada

This mine recedes below surrounding water levels. It is so huge and the area so remote that it has its own airport with a runway large enough to accommodate a Boeing 737. It looks equally amazing when the surrounding water is frozen.



3. Mirny Diamond Mine -- Serbia

Here is an absolutely beastly hole, which holds the title of largest open diamond mine in the world. At 525 meters (1,722 ft) deep, with a top diameter of 1,200 meters (3,937 ft), there's even a no-fly zone above the hole due to a few helicopters having been sucked in.



4. Bingham Canyon Mine -- Utah

Stated to be the largest man-made excavation on earth, extraction began in 1863 and still continues today. This increases the pit size constantly. The hole's current state is miles deep and 2.5 miles wide.


5. Great Blue Hole - Belize

This incredible geographical phenomenon known as "The Great Blue Hole" is situated 60 miles off the mainland of Belize.

There are many blue holes around the world, but none we believe as stunning as this one.

6. Glory Hole -- Monticello Dam, California

A glory hole is used as an overflow for when a dam is at full capacity and water needs to be drained from the reservoir. The 'Glory Hole' Monticello dam is the largest of its kind in the world of this type of spillway, its size enabling it to consume 14,400 cubic feet of water every second.

7. Kimberley Big Hole -- South Africa

Stated to be the largest ever hand-dug excavation in the world, this 1,097 meter (approx. 3,600 ft) deep mine yielded over 3 tons of diamonds before being closed in 1914.

And the And the most terrifying one of all... (Drum roll... ....)



8. The Tax Hole

This is the famous 'Tax Hole' that you have likely heard about. It is capable of swallowing trillions and trillions of U.S. dollars ... annually ... never to be heard from again!

The Tax Hole has created a deafening monstrous deficit debt, and forced hundreds of millions to seek "loop holes."

Did you see that coming? Neither did we!

Joke of the Day:

Don't steal, the Government hates competition!

Les Hewit Interview, FREE For Grab!

Another great interviews by FinerMinds.com.

This time the interviewee is Les Hewitt the co-author o the book The Power of Focus. Actually, that was quite an "old" book. I remember I bought it when I was still serving my National Service. Erm...

Never mind that, small issue. The more important thing is that you will be getting this interview for FREE, no string attached! Just head on the website and listen to the great interview on Focus : The Secret Skill of The Sharpest Minds for yourself.

When I was writing this blog post, I was thinking how should I be introducing Les Hewitt and the content about his interview. However, the more I think about it, the more I think it is unnecessary.

The reason is very simple. If you are already interested, you will be motivated enough to click on the link above to find out more. If not, then I guess no matter what I say about the interview, how great or how wonderful it is, you will still not be inclined to listen to the audio.

Firstly, if you have been a loyal reader of this blog, you should know by now that this blog is written with issues such as personal development in mind.

Yup, I do not deny the fact that sometimes I rant quite a lot on this blog (hey, this is my blog afterall right!), however I do make sure that all my complaints and rants are kept to the minimum.

Instead, I seek to provide useful information for all my readers, and that includes you! If you have yet to notice, most of the issues presented here are very related to personal development stuffs.

Therefore, when you read this blog, I am assuming that you are someone who also view self education as an important part of your life.

Just recently I had a personal survey with the people around me and I was quite surprised they actually read less than 5 books a year! Not a day, not a week, neither is it a month, but a YEAR!

Now, I am not referring to those text books or technical books you have to read in order to pass your examinations or do your work.

The books which I am talking about are personal development books. Books which serve to let you know yourself better, how to better control your emotions, thinking etc.

Some people claim that they do not like to read, like my gf! Humph... Therefore, if you were like her, audios and videos may suit you better than just plain reading.

Though personally I still prefer to read than listen. At least when I read, all the words are already on the paper, I do not need to take additional notes, unless I want to. However when I listen to audios or videos, I have to take the extra time and effort to take notes, more troublesome in my opinion, unless there is free transcript of the interview, which will be great!

Do what works best for you. At least do something!

"Formal education gets you a living while self education gets you a life."
~Jim Rohn, The Twelve Pillars of Success~

The best is to merge reading with listening and that is what I am doing.

Also, remember that plain listening and reading will not do you any good. To know and not to know is to not to know. Or

"Knowledge without action is useless. Action without knowledge is dangerous"
~Lao Tzu~

And since you already know what this blog is about (self improvement), then isn't it time to take some actions now to start changing your life and the lives of your beloved ones for the better?


Focus : The Secret Skill of The Sharpest Minds

Catch It At An Angle

Wow... These photos are really great photos taken at the correct timing and correct angle.

Probably someday, I should also be more creative and find such scenery and do some funny stuns so as to make my photos more interesting.

This Is Soooooo Shameful!!

The Chinese in China are really innovative and creative. However, that innovative and creative skills of theirs are often are used in the wrong areas. Instead of using their creative minds to bring improvement to the lives of others, they certainly seem to know how to bring miseries into others.

Up to a certain extent, I am even ashamed to be a Chinese. We Singaporeans are already given the nickname "kaisu". However, comparing ourselves to the Chinese in China, they are really far, far ahead of us.

In China, there was this incident where the customers in Pizza Hut were only allowed one serving of the salad. And you know what? The Chinese in China are really innovative and creative! I really have to take my hat off them. For their creative, guts and lack of shamefulness...

Take a look at how the Chinese bend this rule!

A usual one serving salad




Now comes the main show... First the Base




Next comes the 2nd level










Moving on next to the 3rd level






















Erm... 4th? 5th? 6th? Sorry.... Lost count...







Guess what? A single serving for 11 people!




Let feast on a grander masterpiece








Now I really wonder why the employees of that particular franchise of Pizza Hut is allowing that to happen?

However, thinking back, the staff of that particular Pizza Hut are just employees after all. No use in arguing with the public over a salad right? After all, regardless if they approach or do not approach the customers, they still take their salary...

I really, really, really pity that particular Pizza Hut franchise owner... May God bless you...