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	<title>XJ Portal &#187; General</title>
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	<description>Where I speak with fervour.</description>
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		<title>XJ Portal &#187; General</title>
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		<title>Pensive</title>
		<link>http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/pensive/</link>
		<comments>http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/pensive/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:00:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>xjportal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Postbox]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://xjportal.wordpress.com/?p=470</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently or rather these three days, I&#8217;ve been quite lucky.  I won a substantial amount of money the past two days playing mahjong which is more than enough to buy that River Island shirt I was eyeing the other day.  I decided not to play mahjong today because it seems excessive that one should spend [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=xjportal.wordpress.com&blog=1538606&post=470&subd=xjportal&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br /><p>Recently or rather these three days, I&#8217;ve been quite lucky.  I won a substantial amount of money the past two days playing mahjong which is more than enough to buy that River Island shirt I was eyeing the other day.  I decided not to play mahjong today because it seems excessive that one should spend his time gambling for three consecutive days. Luck came in the form of a mobile phone on the ground.  That was the beginning of a series of actions in which I am currently evaluating within the capacity of my skull.  To be precise, that was not the actual beginning.  I had seen the phone fall out of the pocket of the poor boy&#8217;s pants.  I was walking across the road when I saw two boys riding a bicycle towards my direction on the opposite end of the road.  I noticed clearly with my very own eyes the phone dropping out of the Malay boy&#8217;s back pocket.  My first reaction was to continue walking and observe if the boy had realised what had happened.  I felt that it would be silly of me to attempt to stop a bicycle cycling  halfway across the road.  I crossed to the other side of the road and halted as I approached the phone on the ground.  I was hesitant, wondering what to do next.  I looked around me and discovered that the people who had crossed the road together with me did not notice the phone and the two boys had already cycled too far a distance for me to call out to them.  Furthermore, that would look stupid.  I cautiously picked up the phone and stared at it.  As I had expected, it was not something I would use myself.  It was a pathetic Samsung two megapixel phone which was in a very worn condition with the paint at the corners scratched off.  I wondered how much the phone would be worth if I sold it to a second-hand dealer, then I thought about my moral obligations as an upright citizen of our glorious nation.  How would I feel if I had lost my phone?  Wouldn&#8217;t I be cursing the person who didn&#8217;t return it to me?  However, the devil repossessed my mind again by implanting the thought of how troublesome it would be for me to meet this person just to return him his phone.  I turned off the phone.  </p>
<p>I was still on my way home when I decided to turn on the phone and await for the boy to call me.  Alas, there was a password for the phone to be fully functional.  It was the boy&#8217;s demise that he had placed a password to lock his phone and prevented a fickle person like me from returning it to him.  Perhaps it was the higher being/s manner of punishing me for even harbouring such sinful thoughts in the first place.  A pang of guilt permeated my soul.  But just as guilt ran through my veins, loathsome thoughts pervaded my mind.  I wondered that maybe it was a blessing in disguise that the boy was looking for, this might be the most appropriate reason for him to get a new phone.  However, my conscience was still intact and I surmised that he would probably be disciplined by his parents all because of me.  </p>
<p>After my lunch, I started on the pile of laundry that I had not ironed for two weeks.  Possibly it was my way of repenting for lazing around these few months before my enlistment and for knowingly taking away somebody&#8217;s possession by doing the things I ought to do.  Honestly, I do not comprehend the depths of my soul very well and cannot conclude that I did that out of repentance.  It could be that I did not want to collect bad karma that would result in poor A level results.  Yes, I can tell that all this sounds absurd, but life is complicated yet beneath all these complications, there is no meaning.  Everything is meaningless, even these words that I am typing.  Words are just names we created ourselves for the matter that surrounds us.   That is what I&#8217;ve concluded.  There are no real goals, maybe we are all just pets under the care of higher authority that we do not see.  However, it is only natural and instinctive of us to just carry on living and do what we are &#8220;supposed&#8221; to do.  Only because we are human, we think too much and wonder what meaning there is to life.  Meaning itself is meaningless and if you ever think about such things, you would just go in a roundabout motion and perhaps even end up in an asylum.  That is conceivably why religion was created with it&#8217;s purpose of pacifying such unanswerable thoughts.</p>
<p>I think I&#8217;ve droned on for a tad too long already.  Anyway, I&#8217;ve to give tuition in half an hour&#8217;s time and I shall end my mad thoughts here.  I&#8217;m finally getting my first month&#8217;s pay for tuition today!</p>
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		<title>Sagacity</title>
		<link>http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/sagacity/</link>
		<comments>http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/sagacity/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:03:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>xjportal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Meme]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://xjportal.wordpress.com/?p=264</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Fabian prodded my brains a little today.  He claimed that it doesn&#8217;t matter which end of the middle class spectrum a person is and he sees no point in somebody belonging to the upper middle class rather than the middle and lower echelons of that class.  He believes they are the same.  However, I beg [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=xjportal.wordpress.com&blog=1538606&post=264&subd=xjportal&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br /><p>Fabian prodded my brains a little today.  He claimed that it doesn&#8217;t matter which end of the middle class spectrum a person is and he sees no point in somebody belonging to the upper middle class rather than the middle and lower echelons of that class.  He believes they are the same.  However, I beg to differ.  It does matter.  Afterall, the middle class is a wide range especially in Singapore.  I didn&#8217;t quite get what he meant when he mentioned happiness because I do not regard wealth as having much involvement in one&#8217;s fufilment and happiness.  Certainly, it plays a part if one has insufficient wealth in his coffers but generally it does not affect Singaporeans as the majority of us have more than enough to provide for our sustenance.  Happiness has to be derived from one&#8217;s inner self whether he is contented with who he is, the things he has done and the achievements he has gained (though they might be small) that brims with gratification.  There I shall put an end to my discussion on happiness since the main topic I am supposed to be droning on about is the difference between the various segments of the middle class.</p>
<p>The middle class is definitely not comparable with the upper class and our poorer fellow citizens below as these classes are separate due to their vast disparities.  The upper class are generally thought of as the uber-rich with chauffeur-driven cars, mansions and butlers like the fictional character Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl (which Fabian suggested).  They are deemed as untouchable, but that is untrue as a person&#8217;s wealth can rise and fall similarly to the tides of the pacific ocean.  Furthermore, Singapore is indeed meritocratic even though the rich or the richer inevitably have the upperhand.  Thus it is not inconceivable for a fishmonger&#8217;s child to become a multi-millionaire.  I have once again deviated from the discussion about the middle class, but it is important to first envision the contrariety of the classes.  </p>
<p>Now I must come to depict the differences between the upper middle class and the rest of that class.  The income of the people in these two groups are visibly far apart.  One from the upper middle class can earn twice or more than another from the remaining of that class.  If a man from the upper middle class marries a woman of the same stature, their income would double, whereas if a man from the other group marries (in the worst case scenario) a woman with negligible earning capacity, their income would be substantially less than the aforementioned couple.  Let me portray the results simply and clearly.  The former would be able to stay in a landed property, drive an expensive car, own country club memberships, buy luxurious items (depends on how spendthrift he is, though I would recommend a more frugal lifestyle if one is to maintain his finances) and provide his children with an overseas education.  The latter, on the other hand, would be staying in a HDB flat (nothing wrong with that, there are upper middle class people who stay in hdb flats and rent out their other properties and hdb units are usually bigger than condominium units), might not be able to afford a car, own no country club membership, have to avoid buying luxurious items (some use credit and end up getting burnt) and most likely unable to afford their children an education abroad.  These are the harsh facts of life.  One can be born in the upper middle class but that does not assure his status will remain throughout his life.  Therefore, everyone has to strive to achieve what they desire and I affirm that happiness does not lie in a person&#8217;s financial worth.</p>
<p>I think I bore some of you with such posts, but I haven&#8217;t blogged in quite a while so I think that&#8217;s reasonable enough to be excused.  I shall make this post a little longer and more enjoyable with this &#8220;Meme&#8221; that I copied from Xiuru&#8217;s blog.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><span>List of the top 100 grossing movies of all time.</span></span></span><span><span>  Bold the ones you&#8217;ve seen.</span></span></p>
<p><strong><span>Titanic (1997)</span></strong><strong><br />
<strong><span>The Dark Knight [2008]</span></strong></strong><br />
<span>Star Wars: Episode IV &#8211; A New Hope (1977)</span><br />
<strong><span>Shrek 2 (2004)</span></strong><strong><br />
<strong><span>E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)</span></strong></strong><br />
<span><strong>Star Wars: Episode I &#8211; The Phantom Menace (1999)</strong></span><strong><br />
<span>Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man&#8217;s Chest (2006)</span><br />
<strong><span>Spider-Man (2002)</span></strong></strong><br />
<span><strong>Star Wars: Episode III &#8211; Revenge of the Sith (2005)</strong></span><br />
<strong><span>The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)</span></strong><strong><br />
<strong><span>Spider-Man 2 (2004)</span></strong></strong><br />
<span>The Passion of the Christ (2004)</span><br />
<span><strong>Jurassic Park (1993)</strong></span><br />
<strong><span>The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span>Finding Nemo (2003)</span></strong><br />
<span><strong>Spider-Man 3 (2007)</strong></span><br />
<strong><span>Forrest Gump (1994)</span></strong><strong><br />
<strong><span>The Lion King (1994)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span>Shrek the Third (2007)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span>Transformers (2007)</span></strong><br />
</strong><strong><span>Iron Man [2008]</span></strong><strong><br />
<strong><span>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone (2001)</span></strong></strong><br />
<span>Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [2008]</span><br />
<strong><span>The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)</span></strong><br />
<span><strong>Star Wars: Episode II &#8211; Attack of the Clones (2002)</strong></span><strong><br />
<span>Pirates of the Caribbean: At World&#8217;s End (2007)</span><br />
</strong><span>Star Wars: Episode VI &#8211; Return of the Jedi (1983)</span><br />
<span><strong>Independence Day (1996)</strong></span><strong><br />
<span>Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)</span><br />
<span>The Sixth Sense (1999)</span><br />
<span>Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)</span><br />
<strong><span>The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)</span></strong></strong><br />
<span>Star Wars: Episode V &#8211; The Empire Strikes Back (1980)</span><br />
<strong><span>Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)</span></strong><strong><br />
</strong><span><strong>Home Alone (1990)</strong></span><strong><br />
<strong><span>The Matrix Reloaded (2003)</span></strong></strong><br />
<span>Meet the Fockers (2004)</span><br />
<strong><span>Shrek (2001)</span></strong><strong><br />
<strong><span>Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span>The Incredibles (2004)</span></strong></strong><br />
<span><strong>Dr. Seuss&#8217; How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)</strong></span><strong><br />
<span>Jaws (1975)</span><br />
</strong><strong><span>I Am Legend (2007)</span></strong><br />
<span><strong>Monsters, Inc. (2001)</strong></span><strong><br />
<span>Batman (1989)</span><br />
<span>Night at the Museum (2006)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span>Men in Black (1997)</span></strong><strong><br />
<strong><span>Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)</span></strong></strong><br />
<span><strong>Toy Story 2 (1999)</strong></span><br />
<span>Cars (2006)</span><br />
<span><strong>Bruce Almighty (2003)</strong></span><br />
<span>Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)</span><br />
<span><strong>Twister (1996)</strong></span><br />
<span>My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)</span><br />
<span><strong>Ghostbusters (1984)</strong></span><strong><br />
</strong><span>Beverly Hills Cop (1984)</span><br />
<span><strong>X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)</strong></span><strong><br />
<strong><span>War of the Worlds (2005)</span></strong></strong><br />
<span>Cast Away (2000)</span><br />
<strong><span>The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)</span></strong><br />
<span><strong>Signs (2002)</strong></span><strong><br />
</strong><span>Hancock [2008]</span><br />
<span>The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)</span><br />
<strong><span>Rush Hour 2 (2001)</span></strong><br />
<span><strong>WALL•E [2008]</strong></span><strong><br />
<span>National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)</span></strong><br />
<span>Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)</span><br />
<strong><span>King Kong (2005)</span></strong><br />
<span>Ghost (1990)</span><br />
<strong><span>The Da Vinci Code (2006)</span></strong><br />
<span><strong>Aladdin (1992)</strong></span><br />
<span>Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)</span><br />
<strong><span>Saving Private Ryan [1998]</span></strong><strong><br />
<strong><span>Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span>Kung Fu Panda [2008]</span></strong></strong><br />
<span><strong>X2: X-Men United (2003)</strong></span><strong><br />
</strong><span>Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)</span><span> </span><br />
<span><strong>Back to the Future (1985)</strong></span><br />
<span>300 (2006)</span><br />
<span>Wedding Crashers (2005)</span><br />
<strong><span>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)</span></strong><br />
<span><strong>Ratatouille (2007)</strong></span><strong><br />
<span>Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)</span><span><br />
<strong><span>Batman Begins (2005)</span></strong></span></strong><br />
<span><strong>Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)</strong></span><span><strong> </strong></span><strong><br />
<span>The Exorcist (1973)</span><br />
<span>The Mummy Returns (2001)</span><br />
<span>Armageddon [1998]</span><br />
</strong><strong><span>Superman Returns (2006)</span></strong><br />
<span>Gone With the Wind (1939)</span><br />
<span><strong>Pearl Harbor (2001)</strong></span><strong><br />
<strong><span>Happy Feet (2006)</span></strong></strong><br />
<span>Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)</span><br />
<span>Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)</span><br />
<strong><span>Madagascar (2005)</span></strong><br />
<span><strong>Toy Story (1995)</strong></span><br />
<strong><span>Men in Black II (2002)</span></strong><br />
<span><strong>Gladiator (2000)</strong></span><span> </span><br />
<strong><span>The Day After Tomorrow (2004)</span></strong><strong><br />
<strong><span>Mr. &amp; Mrs. Smith (2005)</span></strong></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Try this &#8220;Meme&#8221; if you have time.  See if you have watched everything on this list.</p>
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		<title>Irresponsibly Daft</title>
		<link>http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/irresponsibly-daft/</link>
		<comments>http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/irresponsibly-daft/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:22:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>xjportal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Postbox]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A levels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hilary Clinton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Obama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sarah Palin]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://xjportal.wordpress.com/?p=210</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[

I feel like I haven&#8217;t updated in aeons.  Yeah actually I haven&#8217;t.  I think most of you know that I&#8217;ve been busy with exams this week.  I think I did rather badly for the chemistry and biology papers I took, Math was alright but I&#8217;m not sure if I&#8217;ll pass.  South-east Asian History is the [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=xjportal.wordpress.com&blog=1538606&post=210&subd=xjportal&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br /><p><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-SG X-NONE X-NONE              MicrosoftInternetExplorer4              &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--></p>
<p><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-SG X-NONE X-NONE              MicrosoftInternetExplorer4              &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--></p>
<p style="line-height:115%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;">I feel like I haven&#8217;t updated in aeons.  Yeah actually I haven&#8217;t.  I think most of you know that I&#8217;ve been <strong>busy</strong> with exams this week.  I think I did rather </span><strong><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;">badly</span></strong><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;"> for the chemistry and biology papers I took, Math was alright but I&#8217;m not sure if I&#8217;ll pass.  South-east Asian History is the only subject that I feel confident of passing, but I&#8217;m not certain what grade I&#8217;ll achieve.  This week has been tiring because I&#8217;ve been <em>sleeping at 4am and waking up at 10am</em> to study as three of my papers were in the afternoon.  I still have one more wretched week to go&#8230;</span></p>
<p style="line-height:115%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;">I just finished my dinner and watched a little news.  China has a fake milk scandal <strong>again</strong>.  I was utterly shocked to hear of such irresponsible people who let babies die for the sake of profits. </span></p>
<p style="line-height:115%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;">I also watched news on another irresponsible person with a mouth that should be </span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;">sealed tightly</span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;"> with tape, <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Sarah Palin</span>.  If you don&#8217;t know who she is, let me tell you.  She&#8217;s a forty-something year old woman who is supposedly <strong>very</strong> conservative as she is <strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">anti-gay</span></strong> and <strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">anti-abortion</span></strong> and apparently she is the Republicans’ bid to become the next vice-president of the United States of America.  Well, I can tell you she&#8217;s really irresponsible.  Apparently I think she&#8217;s <strong>too busy</strong> being the governor of the GREAT state of Alaska and <strong>too preoccupied</strong> with shooting her mouth off on tv to care about her own daughter.  With her supposedly conservative upbringing of her children, her daughter got pregnant at </span><strong><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;">16</span></strong><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;">.  She tries to show how conservative she is by saying that her daughter will marry the guy who impregnated her.  A <strong>very responsible </strong>mother indeed. </span></p>
<p style="line-height:115%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;">Today she goes rattling off about how patriotic she is by sending her son off to fight a lost cause, Iraq.  I suppose she would like him to be a <strong>martyr</strong> and let the country honour him as a hero.  Well that&#8217;s <strong>not</strong> the only thing she said today.  She said that she won&#8217;t rule out a </span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;">war with Russia</span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;">.  Such great words said with such fervour, but once again <strong>irresponsible</strong>.  The USA had <strong>desperately</strong> avoided a war with the USSR almost the whole of half the last century and now she&#8217;s telling us that she wants to fight Russia just because of Georgia?  Oh my.  I wonder what&#8217;s going on up there in her nut called the brain. </span></p>
<p style="line-height:115%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;">I don&#8217;t exactly like Obama as you can see from a previous <a title="Resonating Emptiness" href="http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/resonating-emptiness/">post</a> that I was a Hilary supporter, but I think the Democrats do more good than the Republicans.  The Republicans are always busy picking up a war with another country (maybe that&#8217;s why many third world countries dislike the US) that they just let the economy rot.  Look at the subprime crisis, it&#8217;s a classic example.  Every time a Republican becomes president, the US goes into a budget <strong>deficit</strong>.  The Democrats, on the other hand, prefer to keep their noses to themselves and are usually very concerned about the economy.  Bill Clinton did a good job of helping the world economy prosper, though I won&#8217;t say he did great in his personal life.  I think Sarah Palin should <em>simply</em> think before she speaks.  It seems she&#8217;s audaciously trying to garner more votes for Mccain than to think about serving her nation <strong>properly</strong>.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:115%;">
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		<title>Momentary Feeling</title>
		<link>http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/thought-of-the-moment/</link>
		<comments>http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/thought-of-the-moment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:02:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>xjportal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poem]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://xjportal.wordpress.com/?p=161</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I decided to write a short poem today, since my exams are over and I&#8217;ve plenty of time this weekend.   I hope you like it.

Transit To My Other Life
Hesitant.  Waiting in the crooked line.
The swarming bodies deluge all fears.
Thrilled. Resounding excitingly the beats within.
This scene bores with much familiarity.
Joy. Entering a rhapsody [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=xjportal.wordpress.com&blog=1538606&post=161&subd=xjportal&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br /><p>I decided to write a short poem today, since my exams are over and I&#8217;ve plenty of time this weekend.   I hope you like it.</p>
<p><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/33/52287709_588a12f158.jpg?v=0" alt="//farm1.static.flickr.com/33/52287709_588a12f158.jpg?v=0” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors." /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><span lang="EN-GB">Transit To My Other Life</span></span></strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></p>
<p>Hesitant.  Waiting in the crooked line.</p>
<p>The swarming bodies deluge all fears.</p>
<p>Thrilled. Resounding excitingly the beats within.</p>
<p>This scene bores with much familiarity.</p>
<p>Joy. Entering a rhapsody of sound.</p>
<p>The booms of lightning strike the ears pain.</p>
<p>Anticipation. Running fluid fill the veins.</p>
<p>The toxicity numbs the brain dumb.</p>
<p>Nirvana. Moving gracefully without a care.</p>
<p>These inutile movements squander precious time.</p>
<p>Fulfillment. Departing with a smile and perhaps a kiss.</p>
<p>The heart weeps for the night that has died.</p>
<p>Welcome to the wonderful world.</p>
<p>The intertwining of harsh realities.</p>
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		<title>Resonating Emptiness</title>
		<link>http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/resonating-emptiness/</link>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 23 Feb 2008 06:00:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>xjportal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bush]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hilary Clinton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Mccain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Obama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://xjportal.wordpress.com/?p=128</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[  Once again, the American Presidential election is approaching gradually as the world aniticipates the successor of George Walker Bush as the most powerful person on our planet.  The result of the last election was a blatant error made by our wonderful counterparts from the other side of the world in North America.  They voted Bush for a second term, [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=xjportal.wordpress.com&blog=1538606&post=128&subd=xjportal&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br /><p>  Once again, the American Presidential election is approaching gradually as the world aniticipates the successor of George Walker Bush as the most powerful person on our planet.  The result of the last election was a blatant error made by our wonderful counterparts from the other side of the world in North America.  They voted Bush for a second term, even though he had already ruined their economy and was relentlessly increasing expenditure on the wars in the Middle East.  The Americans made this mistake twice and now they are feeling the harsh consequences of their decision.  The main issue is that the rest of the world gets dragged into the mess they create everytime due to America&#8217;s pervasive influence throughout the global economy.  Singapore&#8217;s politicians can assure us that we would not be heavily affected by America&#8217;s ailing economy with the rise of China and India, but I cannot agree with that.  Our economy might be cushioned by these two Asian giants, but we will still be afflicted by America&#8217;s economic downturn.  The whole world has also been pulled into America&#8217;s fight against insane islamic fundamentalists.  Bush declared war blindly and has in fact assisted the terrorists unintentionally.  He declared war not only on Afghanistan but Iraq too.  This fact is constantly used by the Al Qaeda to affirm its claim that the Americans are trying to purge the muslims and justifies its campaign of terror on the west.  Apparently, Bush Jr. has the same hobby as his dad and together with America&#8217;s stupidity, the entire world is in distress.  We are not only perpetually faced with being murdered by suicidal fanatics, the economy is also heading into a slump just as it was beginning to rise.  The subprime crisis and the US huge budget deficit has really caused severe problems.  The last time it took Clinton to clean up after Bush, now it is time for another Clinton to douse this bush fire.</p>
<p>  In hard times like these, people want to hear calls of positive change.  Obama does just that.  The Americans have always  been known to be positive and very much of their optimism can be observed in reality shows such as American Idol.  An example of an optimistic American is Kristy Lee Cook in the current season of American Idol.  She sold her own horse to pay for her air ticket to the audition.  Americans just go all the way for whatever they dream of without actually putting in much contemplation into the rationality of their choices.  Many times their aspirations are simply impractical and they end up down in the lower echelons of society.  I admire their unwavering optimism, yet their inanity is undesirable.  In the present, I think with all the war on terrorism and turbulent economy, Americans are becoming lethargic and are appealing for a transformation in their country.  I admit that Barack Hussein Obama is a charismatic speaker who stirs up emotions in his speeches and coaxes people unknowingly to believe that he is capable of bringing change to America, but what change is he going to serve?  I am certain that America will be simlar in the future to what it is now even if Obama wins the election.  These politicians have no guts to carry out any change that is deemed too radical.  Furthermore, Obama has only been in the white house for barely a term.  Where is the experience required of an American President?  A greenhorn cannot possibly assume a position of the utmost authority.  If he calls for great change and says America will be revamped under his influence, what is he going to do?  How about banning guns?  The US is the most developed nation in the world, yet it is unceasingly plagued by school shootings.  He promises change, but in his calls there is nothing specific to show how he would govern an America with enormous difficulties. </p>
<p>  On the other hand, Hillary Clinton does not adhere to making people believe in blind faith.  Her oratorical skills are less impressive as compared to Obama&#8217;s, but she has experience for more than two decades in the white house.  Her policies and Obama&#8217;s do not differ much from one another, so voting for her would be a wise decision for Americans.  She has vast experience in US politics and even though she might have failed at times, she has been able to change and improve herself.  Obama has no résumé to prove his worthiness to be the head of state.  Americans ought not to be fooled by empty promises that have been echoed through time, but vote based on the ability to reform America.  This is ultimately not a popularity contest but an election that concludes the world&#8217;s fate within the next four years.</p>
<p>  I do not mention anything about the presidential candidacy of the Republican party because it is rather clear that America is sick of the Republicans and the person who wins the right to represent the Democrats will most probably end up in the Oval office.  This is perhaps why the election for the presidential candidacy is being watched so intensely this time.  John Mccain will be representing the Republicans for sure, but I doubt he will succeed Bush.  It is still too early for either Obama or Clinton to claim victory, but I sincerely hope that Americans make the right choice.  Although I support Clinton, it has no effect whatsoever on the result of the election.  Obama might eventually emerge triumphant, but I will not bare any grudge and hopefully he might be able to revive America&#8217;s economy and not let the rest of the world descend into an aphotic abyss.  For now, America shall decide and make history!</p>
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		<title>Touch of Beauty</title>
		<link>http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2007/10/10/touch-of-beauty/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:32:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>xjportal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poem]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2007/10/10/touch-of-beauty/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
  Have you ever noticed the minute details in life that are present everywhere?  Have you ever wondered why there were some things that you never saw while others did?  Well, it&#8217;s because these things are tiny and easily overlooked by most typical human beings.  Our eyes were polished by nature to absorb the vibrance of colour and numerous [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=xjportal.wordpress.com&blog=1538606&post=96&subd=xjportal&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br /><p><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee308/avrilportal/DSC00004.jpg?t=1192014487" alt="DSC00004.jpg Yellow Flower picture by avrilportal" style="width:665px;" /></p>
<p>  Have you ever noticed the minute details in life that are present everywhere?  Have you ever wondered why there were some things that you never saw while others did?  Well, it&#8217;s because these things are tiny and easily overlooked by most typical human beings.  Our eyes were polished by nature to absorb the vibrance of colour and numerous details.  Our ears were finely tuned to ascult the marvelous sounds that reverberate through our entire planet.  We must treasure these delightful sights and sounds that Gaia bore for us as beyond our dainty planet lies a huge space void of any sounds and hardly any wonderous views.</p>
<p>  You can defend yourself by claiming that you observe a multitude of things in your daily live, but do you really scrutinise your surroundings such that even the often unnoticeable puny objects are not bypassed by your selective vision?  I doubt so.  I have to admit that I am not infallible too such that I&#8217;m also unable to wholly grasp every detail of my environment.  However I do attempt to take note of the smallest things.  An abundance of interesting events can be seen by just giving these tiny details a chance to narrate their story to you.  The yellow flowers above give a little yet beautiful brush of elegance to the otherwise mundane background.  It symbolises a glimpse of what you would enjoy if you would only just take a glance.</p>
<p>  I remember writing a poem by the title &#8220;Touch of Beauty&#8221; when I was Secondary 1 as I sat by my school&#8217;s eco-pond.  It inspired me to write this article about how we frequently neglect the minute details in life.  I would like to share it with majority of you who have never read it.</p>
<p><strong><em>Touch of Beauty</em></strong></p>
<p>Peering into the water,</p>
<p>So crystal clear.</p>
<p>You may notice the plants,</p>
<p>Fiery fishes,</p>
<p>Bright without fear.</p>
<p>But what you missed out ,</p>
<p>May be oh so near.</p>
<p>For these black spots,</p>
<p>Have a part extremely dear.</p>
<p>Tiny as a tear,</p>
<p>These tadpoles swim to the rear.</p>
<p>Hoping to have a chance,</p>
<p>To make it clear.</p>
<p>That they have a role,</p>
<p>To give a minute,</p>
<p>Yet powerful,</p>
<p>Touch of Beauty.</p>
<p>  I hope you don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s too amateurish, but I think it might be as I wrote it when I was still only about 159cm tall.  Please leave comments if you have anything to say.</p>
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		<title>Wallowing in self-pity, that is pathetic</title>
		<link>http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/wallowing-in-self-pity-that-is-pathetic/</link>
		<comments>http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/wallowing-in-self-pity-that-is-pathetic/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:04:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>xjportal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[  Before I start on my topic today, I&#8217;ll just give a brief description of the events that happened in my personal life.  There was teachers&#8217; day rehearsal and the choir had to stay back until about 6pm or so because we had to go through two rounds of rehearsals.  I nearly destroyed my voice.  Subsequently, I returned home and headed to Bukit [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=xjportal.wordpress.com&blog=1538606&post=38&subd=xjportal&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br /><p>  Before I start on my topic today, I&#8217;ll just give a brief description of the events that happened in my personal life.  There was teachers&#8217; day rehearsal and the choir had to stay back until about 6pm or so because we had to go through two rounds of rehearsals.  I nearly destroyed my voice.  Subsequently, I returned home and headed to Bukit Timah for dinner with my family.  We ate at some restaurant called Penang Kitchen which served gastronomical delights that were true to the Penang culture.  The scrumptious food was exactly like the genuine hawker fare available in Penang.  I ordered a plate of Penang Fried Kway Teow which is much better than our local version, but as expected it lost to my favourite Ah Teck&#8217;s Fried Kway Teow found solely in Penang.  After our delectable dinner, we proceeded to NTUC which was within strolling proximity from the restaurant.  We purchased some typical weekend groceries and now I&#8217;m back at home.  I&#8217;ll be completing my Biology homework after this post.  Anyway tomorrow is teachers&#8217; day and I&#8217;ll be going out with Fad and Kon again to celebrate Kon&#8217;s belated birthday.  We&#8217;ll be most probably watching Ratatouille.  I swear it&#8217;s the curse of &#8220;I&#8217;ll never watch that movie!&#8221;  Everytime I see a trailer and I say, &#8220;I&#8217;m never gonna watch that movie!&#8221;, I&#8217;ll end up watching it for sure.  I should just shut my gigantic mouth whenever I&#8217;m watching trailers.</p>
<p>  <a href="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc01410.jpg" title="Penang Kitchen"><img width="1522" src="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc01410.jpg?w=1522&#038;h=1140" alt="Penang Kitchen" height="1140" style="width:643px;height:366px;" /></a></p>
<p>  I got fed up with a certain friend of mine recently and I realised that Singapore has been breeding a generation of &#8220;emo&#8221; kids lately.  Many people have questioned the definition of &#8220;emo&#8221;, but I think people understand the rough idea of what it&#8217;s supposed to mean.  The intention of my post in not to conclude the meaning of being &#8220;emo&#8221;, instead I&#8217;m discussing about this terrible plague called &#8220;emoness&#8221;.  The word itself has been used umpteen times that it has become a cliche.  In actual fact, &#8220;Emo&#8221; is just a synonym of self-pity.  It is really pathetic to drown in your own pool of infinite misery.  This friend of mine has something &#8220;emo&#8221; to talk about in his/her every post on his/her blog.  I shan&#8217;t name this friend of mine.  He/She has exhausted my supply of comforting words to offer, I have given up on attempting to soothe his/her sorrows.  The precious words of alleviation from my dewy lips are worthless on such a helpless soul.  If this friend of mine were to commit suicide one day, he/she would have nobody else to blame but himself/herself.  My words are harsh, but it is undeniable.  Who are you to accuse somebody else of causing your death when it was you who took that drastic step to your own doom?  Trapping yourself in negative thoughts of your individual life, would only worsen your mental state and slowly demolish the walls of happiness that prevent the collapsing of your emotional self.  Why complain about lacking friends who are concerned about you?  Observe your surroundings carefully and maybe you&#8217;ll discover that you have been neglecting the love that is exuberated by caring friends.  Stop immersing youself in your trivial sorrows, there are so many out there in this world that are more lacking than yourself, yet they are radiant and hopeful about tomorrow.  It is alright to dip into your problems and post them on your blog once in a while, but total submersion into pity for yourself and blogging about it almost everyday is just plain sickening.  Everybody has days when they are down and feeling all alone, but jubilant days are more numerous.  If you suffer from seamlessly never-ending depression, I suggest you please visit a psychiatrist or a counsellor at least.  There is no pride in being labeled &#8221;emo&#8221;.</p>
<p><a href="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc01407.jpg" title="Ray Rin, XY and Sherwin seem to be studying"><img width="1291" src="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc01407.jpg?w=1291&#038;h=974" alt="Ray Rin, XY and Sherwin seem to be studying" height="974" style="width:312px;height:222px;" /></a><a href="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc01411.jpg" title="At NTUC"><img src="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc01411.thumbnail.jpg" alt="At NTUC" /></a><a href="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc014089.jpg" title="Sherwin doing work"><img src="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc014089.thumbnail.jpg" alt="Sherwin doing work" /></a></p>
<p><em>Encapsulated in the reclusive chambers of isolation, stuck in the hell of thy own creation</em></p>
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			<media:title type="html">Penang Kitchen</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Ray Rin, XY and Sherwin seem to be studying</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">At NTUC</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Sherwin doing work</media:title>
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		<title>Fireworks, are they a throw in the bin?</title>
		<link>http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/fireworks-are-they-a-throw-in-the-bin/</link>
		<comments>http://xjportal.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/fireworks-are-they-a-throw-in-the-bin/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Aug 2007 09:34:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>xjportal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fireworks]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[I went to watch fireworks at Marina Bay today and it got me wondering whether fireworks are really necessary in our country.  Is it a waste of money or a good investment by the government?
Foremost, I&#8217;m certain that almost everyone loves the excitement and exhilaration they get when they view a spectacular display of fireworks.  The bursting [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=xjportal.wordpress.com&blog=1538606&post=10&subd=xjportal&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><br /><p>I went to watch fireworks at Marina Bay today and it got me wondering whether fireworks are really necessary in our country.  Is it a waste of money or a good investment by the government?</p>
<p>Foremost, I&#8217;m certain that almost everyone loves the excitement and exhilaration they get when they view a spectacular display of fireworks.  The bursting of a dazzling array of stardust&#8230; the thrilling explosions that run shivers down your spine&#8230;  &#8220;The people love it, so the government ought to shoot a few million dollars worth of fireworks if they possess sufficient funds.&#8221;  That&#8217;s what a portion of our beloved citizens feel, while there is another group of our fellow men with a contrasting opinion, &#8220;Fireworks are an absolute waste of the nation&#8217;s money!  An event such as a fireworks festival is utter madness.  It&#8217;s literally burning money!&#8221;  Hmmm&#8230; which side are you on?</p>
<p>Fireworks keep the people happy and willing to vote for the government at the next general elections.  It is true to an extent, but isn&#8217;t it a common thing in most developed nations?  Afterall, it boasts a country&#8217;s economic prowess to be able to afford a breathtaking fireworks display.  Poverty stricken countries are definitely incapable of affording fireworks, whereas Singapore can very well pamper it&#8217;s citizens with fireworks a few times a year.  A few million dollars is negligible in our annual pool of billions.  Our total GDP was 141.2 billion dollars last year.  Furthermore, owning a reputation for having such fantastic exhibitions of fireworks might lure more tourists to visit Singapore which would naturally boost our GDP.  Tourism is of extreme importance to us as we have very little of anything else to acquire money from. </p>
<p>Many argue that this few million dollars can bring the poor another mile forward in their lives.  I agree that this money spent on fireworks could be used for more welfare for the less fortunate.  However, putting this money into fireworks could actually attract more wealth to further help the poor and assist them for more than a meagre mile.  Tourism could bring plenty of money into the country and more investments might be obtained as investors from overseas would be beguiled by Sinagpore&#8217;s stability and continual development portrayed in our impressive fireworks display.  This means that the few million could be multiplied and given back to the community.  I dare conclude that fireworks are undoubtly, not valuable paper being burned into ash. </p>
<p>I think I have covered enough on this topic and most of you are most probably nearly falling asleep reading about this.  There are other benefits of spending money on fireworks but I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ll mention them if not I&#8217;ll be like a long-winded naggy old woman.  Here are a few pictures of the fireworks below.  I&#8217;ll post some more photos when jialing or chingz send them to me.  Try to enjoy the photos taken by my phone.</p>
<p><a href="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc01373.jpg" title="dsc01373.jpg"><img src="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc01373.thumbnail.jpg" alt="dsc01373.jpg" /></a><a href="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc01367-2.jpg" title="dsc01367-2.jpg"><img src="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc01367-2.thumbnail.jpg" alt="dsc01367-2.jpg" /></a><a href="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc01385.jpg" title="dsc01385.jpg"><img src="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc01385.thumbnail.jpg" alt="dsc01385.jpg" /></a><a href="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc01378.jpg" title="dsc01378.jpg"><img src="http://xjportal.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/dsc01378.thumbnail.jpg" alt="dsc01378.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>I&#8217;m getting more anxious as the pressure piles upon my shoulders with each fleeting day that narrows the gap between the present and the promotional examinations.  I didn&#8217;t do any work or study today and my worries are increasing.  I should force myself to do some work and study tomorrow.  The clock is ticking and I&#8217;m not studying&#8230;  All I did was went to choir and went out with choir friends, Jialing, XY, Guin, Fred, Danny, Ray Rin and Wayne.</p>
<p><em>Seconds are fading away as I stay in this amaranthine moment, awaiting for nothing&#8230;</em></p>
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