Thursday, November 30, 2006
wow. i spent the entire afternoon researching and researching and researching and tabulating data and tallying the data and tabulating the data and then tallying data and answering phone calls and tabulating data and tallying data for my dearest boss because some secretary to some big shot made some noise to some secretary of another big shot who made noise to another big shot who made noise to another slightly smaller shot who make noise to my unit's big shot who made noise to me, the SAF's smallest shot so my job is to make the biggest noise to shoot everyone and everyone live happily ever after. ERM. sorry again?
Aunties are funny people. Seriously.
On Another Note, I hate seat-snatching people who snatch away seats just because they know i wouldn't fight for the seat with them. #$#$#@%@#$@#
|| nobone ran out @ 11/30/2006 08:39:00 pm ||
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
I was just doing some housekeeping of my documents/photos.. Look what i found
1) Cockpit, cone or kegel karst
The hills are cone in shape. Depressions which are star-shaped known as cockpit are formed along major joint intersections. The depressions would over time become flat alluvium-covered plains which are towered by steep conical hills
2) Tower or turn karst.
The hills are steeper. Cliff faces and jagged summits are formed from consolidated and massive limestone. Small shallow caves known as foot caves forms at the base.
3) Crevice Karst
The surface is alternated by joints which have been enlarged to as much as 6m wide and 20m deep. After repeated weathering, the main joints develop into deep chasms. A landscape consisting of jagged ridges and pinnacles are formed as the adjoining faces retreat.
Other conditions which are necessary for the formation of karst landscape includes soluble limestone or dolerite that must be jointed instead of being permeable. Karst features are poorly developed in chalk as water can percolate through. The water should also drain away as when there is presence of water, karst landscape would not be able to form.
There are 4 stages in the formation of karsts landscape. According to the Cvijic’s karst cycle, the cycle starts with Youth followed by Maturity, Late Maturity and lastly Old age.
When rainwater comes into contacts with limestone which are exposed, this causes dissolutions along the lines of weaknesses. Clints and grikes which are narrow vertical channels separated by sharp narrow ridges are formed as a result. Terra
In the maturity stage, surface drainage flows into swallow holes which are actually enlarged openings. It disappears beneath the ground through sinkholes. It joins a developing subterranean drainage system. There are very little surface streams. These streams flow for only short distances, usually on clay-lined channels. An extensive cavern network is the result of water descending along bedding and joint planes which erodes and widens through solution as well as erosion.
The extensive cavern network formed in the previous stage causes a weaker rock structure. As a result, the surface collapses. Karst windows are formed on the surface. These features allows the underground streams to become visible. Long and narrow irregular depressions called solution valley develops. A few sinkholes merging together are able to form compound sinkholes and extensive depressions which are called uvulas. The features are formed when the roof collapses. Poljes are elongated basins which have flat floors and steep enclosing walls which are created by fault controlled erosion. It may sometimes contain large lakes.
Hills bears semblance to Iselbergs, called buttes remain behind. Also other features like hums and termoines scatter the landscape. They are separated by broad and flat basins which are covered with clay residues.
|| nobone ran out @ 11/29/2006 10:32:00 am ||
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
School-ing Memories At Random...
(below) Sec 4B during Racial Harmony Day. I look so... different...
Sec 4B - 2years later.
NOV 2004 - CLASS BBQ(someone organise again leh)
TPJC BAND - 02 MAY 2004.. Hmmm.. =)
TPJC 03A06.. Last Day of School.
And i was just chatting with my BMT buddy...
da says:
LESS THAN FIVE MONTHS TO ORD
ridz:ass riddyculously ridzaded.. says:
i lost yr HP num
ridz:ass riddyculously ridzaded.. says:
yes
da says:
OH MY GOD
ridz:ass riddyculously ridzaded.. says:
hahaahaha aa
da says:
OH MY GOD
ridz:ass riddyculously ridzaded.. says:
ridz:ass riddyculously ridzaded.. says:
what
da says:
OH MY GOD WE ARE GOING TO ORD SOON
ridz:ass riddyculously ridzaded.. says:
OH YESS!
- I know.. 5 months is quite a long time... but who cares. haha -
Not feeling thattt well today but still went to camp. Bought 2 packets of Soya Bean Milk, 2 bottles of Crysanthemum Tea(how to spell?) and one packet of strepsils to nurse my sore throat. I need to get the phlegm out and everything will be alright.
I dont know whats with female SWOs and me. Firstly SWO Mary keep on liasing with me regarding some NS matters. Then today, had this SWO Patricia from HQ MC calling me to hurry me to arrange some PD review for some Injury Case that has been pending since dont-know-when. She was quite motherly and all.. ending with "you know what to do ahhh" in the nice caring tone.. Haha.
On another note, i feel like changing or rather re-orienting my workspace again. I dont want to sit with my back facing the window. Nor do i want to sit with my front facing the window. BLAH. Incoherent as usual. Weird expression. Improve on your sentence structure! Back to the main point, i dont like my secluded little corner because theres too many wires all around! haha. Hazard you know.. As ive been in this section for close to 18 mths and since we change our layout once every 3 mths, i've ran out of ideas already lah.
More Photos
(below) BIG PANTS
Hak's family car when he dropped by e other day..
Screw You!! Literally...
|| nobone ran out @ 11/28/2006 09:48:00 pm ||
Monday, November 27, 2006
jessica's daughter during steph's 21st. looks exactly like her.. so photogenic
this evening @ vivocity. andrew(who just completed BSLC), QB who is waiting to ORD.. and me who is also waiting to ORD(but my wait is longer lor)
|| nobone ran out @ 11/27/2006 09:36:00 pm ||
oh i've been on leave since friday(because i didnt wanna attend something that morning), and like any other weekends, ive been busy doing the things that i usually do.
Back to work tmr!
|| nobone ran out @ 11/27/2006 03:47:00 pm ||
Saturday, November 25, 2006
been learning alot of things. keep it up..
|| nobone ran out @ 11/25/2006 12:08:00 am ||
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
tks to mel. im so... fresh.. revitalised.. rejuvenated... i feel so young once again.... had an interesting afternoon/evening.... apart from being caught in the rain.. and i was soaking wet despite having an umbrella..
|| nobone ran out @ 11/21/2006 10:27:00 pm ||
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Yesterday was quite eventful because it was the 1st time i co-ordinated a ceremony while in my unit. It was the Mindef Reserve Ceremony, where NSmen who clocked the revised Mindef Reserve Criteria of 7HKs and 10 years are phased to this special holding unit called Mindef Reserve. Under the enlistment act, they may recalled back in times of emergency, up to the statutory age limit of 50 for WOSEs and 40 for Officers(they will be untouchables after the age limit... coz some of them will probably in not-so-good-health, to put it nicely).
The above-mentioned is just a summary. Look what happens when you get an Arts student to read directives and GOM... And the speech i wrote for CO was even more erm, interesting with phrases like..
"I would like to thank you for your devotion and dedication over the past decade"...
"With your contribution, the *** is able to shape itself into the capable force it is today"....
"I wish you success in your years ahead"
Looking back, i actually enjoyed the entire process of organising the event. Ms Chua and me were responsible for EVERYTHING. Of course, we engaged assistance from an extremely reliable team of S1 Branchers. Namely, David, Raj, Clev and Dezhong.
Everything had to be done by ourselves. From identifying the nsmen who qualify to sending out of invitation. From indenting the medals, to printing the Certificate of Appreciation. From printing the backdrop to photostating the programme sheet. From designing the signs, to sneaking into CO's office to make use of the colour printer to print out the signs so that they are more attractive. From writing emails to beg for help to get the PA system to making trips to STK to lias wrt e food. Or from travelling all the way to the brewery in a 5 ton lorry to collect the beer dispenser, to figuring out how to chill the beer. Or from selecting what track to play for background music to making courtesy calls to the nsmen to turn up for the event. From rushing out to Anchorpoint to buy balloons, to blowing the balloons. From picking up the food, to displaying the food on the table, to serving food, to washing the tupperwares(or rather, plastic storage boxes) and buffet trays, to disposing the dontknowhowmanyrubbishbags of waste at the trash point. From "kooping" dunnohowmanychairs from the mph, to carrying the rostrum back to the stage in semi-darkness. .............. From accomodating to boss' last minute demands to hospitable to the 70 or so guests who turn up.
And talking about the guests. We were quite encouraged with the 33 Nsmen who turn up. This is despite them phasing into the Mindef Reserve in April.
Was even more encouraged with the presence of the Active PSOs/OCs/2ICs/CSM/RSM/PCs and the list goes on... I've never been sooo close to soooo many of my unit officers before(coz we were all in the mess). And i had to be extremely nice and warm and all because im the organizer, or one of the hosts... Had to go around smiling and distributing drinks and cut fruits and making people queue up for food and giving them paper plates and clearing their rubbish and make small talk, tell them what is so special about the $186 Hamilton Khaki Series gift watch and SAF National Service Medal(with their names engraved on the underside) and collar pin..... I really felt like a waiter...
I must say i am quite satisfied with yesterday's event. I didnt expect it to turn out so well, by my standard. Although there were a few miss cues as a result of boss' indecisiveness(ie. decided to change EVERYTHING 5 minutes to 1730), there were practically no other screwups(maybe not enough paper plates... so we used ration box). Couldnt finish the food so we got the Guard House ppl and Duty Medics to have them! Ha.
More importantly, it is the people who made a difference. Early in the morning at 8, i sent out an email to all the officers/wo who turned up and cc it to CO, and my branchmates who helped out.
" Good Morning Sirs/Mdm,
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to you for gracing the Mindef Reserve Ceremony. We hope you had an enjoyable and pleasant evening.
We would also like to thank all those who have kindly assisted in one way or another. The ceremony was made possible through your active co-operation and dedicated contribution.
Please convey our message of thanks to all those whom we might have accidentally left out
Thank You"
And we've got a reply from one of the OC who said that "credit shld go to the huiping and gang"... And then CO who said that he "shared the same sentiments.." and then thanked "S1, S1 branch and nsmen section"...
The OC really made my day when he said he could really see the team spirit. Finally.. Someone finally recognize us.. (perhaps u wldnt understand.. u need a boss like mine to see how unmotivated we can get...) It is all these little EQ "things" which makes a difference. Tio Bo?
And oh.. CO knows i stay in Tampines.. First of all, i think my boss wanted to test me(he was looking at CO when he asked me the question.. we were near the buffet table)..
Boss: Ridza. What are u going to do with all the food?
Me: Since we havent eat, we will stuff ourselves tonight...
Bosses: *laugh*
Boss: How abt the beer?
Me: No choice. We will have to dispose it.. Will return the barrel and dispenser tmr.
Bosses: Yea.. No choice..
Suddenly...
(CO turns to look at me directly)
CO: Ridza.. U stay in tampines right?
Me: yeah.. correct sir..
CO: Yeah. I thought it was you.. I saw u buying ice-cream for a little kid near the stadium
Me: (trying hard to recall).... oh yeahh.. for my brother.. near the swimming pool right.. I stay around the area... You were there?
CO: Yeah. But i didnt think u saw me lah.
Me: I stay next to the block with the "show-room" above.. where u can see the entire tampines..
CO: 856E?
Me: No.. 856*
CO: My mum stays at 856E..
BLAH BLAH BLAH.. we were practically discussing abt Tampines blah blah blah..
And then..
Me: But i find the place a little bit far..
CO: You mean far from camp? must take mrt and all?
Me: erm. yeah.. but then also far from the bus stop.. coz its quite near the interchange but not exactly that near..
CO: oh yeah...
(ooppps.. i think he thinks im hinting that i want a lift home... and fyi, i dont really like such an idea lah)
and we blahblahed for awhile.
It is the 1st time i was having a conversation with CO although he's been w the unit for about 1 year. The only time i talk to him is when i need him to vet some speech or documents or letter, on behalf of my boss. And oh.. the occasional "i bump into you" in the cramped toilet.
Despite reaching home after 2230 yesterday night, reported to work extra early.. at 0700 this morhing because i took the earlier train.. And then went to Asian Pacific Breweries to return the stuff. Was kinda pissed coz there was no one in the office.. I called a number i saw on a tax invoice and started making A LOT OF NOISE.. This was for the empty barrel which had to be returned.. The dispenser and Co2 tank was already settled. COnsidered abandoning the barrel but then it had ARMED FORCES and ltos of serial number on it.. And the best thing is that, Dys1 whom i went with discovered that...... We cld have left the barrel behind because..... what DyS4 meant is that we return the barrel to him, and not return it to APB.. How exciting is that. Anw, lunched-out again. At ikea BK.. was at ikea during lunch yesterday too.. And abt the beer thing.. funny thing is i dont even drink.. why shld i do all the beer-related thing.. still no answer.....
|| nobone ran out @ 11/16/2006 07:29:00 pm ||
Monday, November 13, 2006
In case you are wondering why i'm so early today, its because i left office at 4pm to...... send registered mail at the post office. correction. send A registered mail to the post office.
And i'm having a headache now. It always occurs if i went out of camp during the day. But to no surprise, it will only happen after house visits or despatch trips(and never after lunch-outs)..
For today, the trip was a little bit different. I took a BIG BIG lorry. Probably 5 ton lorry, to Asian Pacific Breweries AKA the place where they make tiger beer. I went there coz no one else could go since there are soooo few of us in the section and also because david didnt bring his belt. LIKE HUh?
I went with a 2LT from another branch/coy/depot. I dont know if its because of the working culture there or what, but i was literally treated like a (fill in yrself)! Or rather, im just an ordinary man, and all men shld listen to their commanders.. But he was nice. I mean. Nice as in... Overly nice.. Like.. "Im the leader so i shld lead by example so u shldnt do anything much"... like... asking me to stay in the vehicle while he carried e stuff, asking me not to carry the stuff while he carried the stuff... like.. Wow.... Definitely not used to it.. =)
(i dont like ppl to tell me what to do u know) Not that im arrogant or stuborn or what. I mean... i hate it when people(i dont hate the people) tell me what to do...
But in general, there are so many ppl in e organisation whom i respect their rank but on the other hand, theres a considerable percentage whom i really respect(and not all of them are officers or rather commanders). Is there something wrong w my perspective? I can't say "yeah. gonna ORD so just forget this issue"... but then... this issue occurs EVERYWHERE!!!
Ok some minor points i forgot to add in the other time
1) well at least our family day was not held at tekong...
2) dont know what else...
|| nobone ran out @ 11/13/2006 06:02:00 pm ||
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Went for Jason's ORD and Chief Clerk's farewell lunch. Had lots of fun.... But i sat opposite brian and it was a buffet lunch, he really ate alot but i last the longest(i think), coz i kept eating the dessert due to my sweet tooth. Although not everyone attended, we had fun.. definitely..
Clev Wong Ying Zhen(COPA aka coffee-maker aka MAGGIE Q coz of his natural curls)
HMMM...
Hah. before i boarded e train..
(How to rotate?)
|| nobone ran out @ 11/12/2006 10:57:00 pm ||
Saturday, November 11, 2006
A SENTOSA bus in Tampines....
I've always wanted to take this photograph. Look. The Mac Donalds Banner has the exact same colours as POSB's theme.
Oh Yes. AMB Family Day at Sentosa. Woke up early to meet fellow S1 Branchers at Harbour Front Centre Macs for breakfast before proceeding to Sentosa.
Beach Volleyball. Well, you can see Gabbi, CO and Weiren..
CPT Ang. Hmmm. Taller than me!
The telematch...
The view when we arrived in the morning... (lazy to put this above)
HQ COY/Base HQ Flag... (after telling ppl what to do, the WOSPEC i/c (i shall not say the name or rank or even appt) MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED...
And the HQ COY ppl are always volunteering the Base HQ ppl to do all the unwanted things....
Found this quite interesting. A whole bunch of balloons which were probably not tied securely to the chair and as a result... flew away...
(below.. my boss)
|| nobone ran out @ 11/11/2006 11:00:00 pm ||
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Since I will be on duty(with some unknown warrant) tmr, I better use the internet NOW. Not that I dont have internet connection in office, but its so laggy!
Anyway. Look at what i've done to my colleagues(minus the DXOs). This pic is the official desktop background of my I-net PC. If i Could, i would have put it up on intranet environment. But tongues will wag... like "HOW DID RIDZA UPLOAD THE PHOTO FROM INTERNET TO INTRANET? MUST BE USE THUMB DRIVE ONE!!"
Yesterday was Jason's last day. He spent over 200 bucks on 8 large pizzas, 30 chicken wings and 8 japanese kinda salads and 4 bottles of green tea - all from OISHI Pizza. And wow thats really alot. Obviously we cldnt finish so he gave 2 boxes of pizzas to CAC.
ARGH. I did branch duty again today and then tmr is my battalion duty.. ARGHH
AND NEXT WED IS THE MINDEF RESERVE CEREMONY!!. WTH!
and i see so many disabled_RANK/NAME nowadays in the OA directory...
And...
Presenting to you what i've(or rather, we) done to my little brother..
|| nobone ran out @ 11/08/2006 08:41:00 pm ||
Saturday, November 04, 2006
To JaS:
I dont need to sign up for "proper" gym membership. didnt know that the NEW Clubfitt gym 100 metres away from my hse is so well equipped till i went there today with Yazid..
(As if JaS reads my blog!!)
And haha its that smurfs evil man!
|| nobone ran out @ 11/04/2006 11:28:00 pm ||
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
A friend asked me a question.
C: So where do u plan to study after NS?
Me: NUS lor. Arts & Social Science.
C: Then what can u become?
Me: (hesitantly).. err. at most become teacher lor?
C: ahh. then u might as well go NIE straight...
Hmm. I refuse to think that far. I only want to get my paper qualifications and see-how-lah-after-that. I dont think im-not-planning-for-the-future.
Some things are better left unplanned. Coz no matter how desperately you try to make things go your way, some things are not meant to be.
He asked me if I've been studying part-time. I was a little guilty. One year ago, i was planning and setting goals. Wanted to accomplish lots of things. But as i reflect today, i think i'm trying too hard to save money.... That i lose out a lot of things.
One guy wrote in to the papers recently stating that its alright for youths to (over)spend on goods which might be deemed as unnecessary or extravagant by the older folks. Its precisely because they won't spend on such things when they grow old.
Ok. I-swayed-off-tangent(so cliched).
It's hard to convince someone that what i've learnt as an NSF clerk is soo much more than what i can bargain for. Though I'm quite sick of work, I know that the knowledge and skill i've garnered and learnt will be extremely useful in one way or another.
Of course there are always directives/instructions/manuals for beginners to read, understand and acquire the knowledge from; but what is more precious is the people-to-people skills i've developed... the soft skills.. serving your customer.. suggesting ways to solve ppl's(economic/social/political/family/financial blah blah) problems.. thinking on your feet.. thinking out of the box... and doing your boss's(need to put 's or not ah?) work.
All these will be handy and useful.. Esp since i plan to focus on the admin/HR line.
Was extremely pissed this afternoon because of the sheer difficulty we face in planning the MR Ceremony namely because the vendor we engaged to supply food is not a supplier under EPS. So gotta register her blahblahblah....
(we cld have just sticked to Elsie's Kitchen or Stamford Catering where to order we just need to click and drop our selections in the system). BLAH....
|| nobone ran out @ 11/01/2006 07:30:00 pm ||