heaven on earth

I was reminded of this picture during our Global Issues lecture today, hence decided to post this photograph.

This picture was taken in '94 during the famine in Sudan by a photo-journalist Kevin Carter. This photo eventually won a Pulitzer Prize.

The photographer committed suicide months later due to depression.

The baby was crawling towards a UN Food Camp about 1km away. Perched some distance away, the vulture was waiting for the death of its own food - the baby.

Some argue that the photographer should have just helped the baby instead of taking this shot. But if not for photos like this, the outside world would never have known what about issues like these. Even if this child was saved eventually, how about the million others?

I thoroughly agree with what the lecturer said - we're the blessed 20% of the world - the 20% with a choice of what to eat for breakfast the next morning when we wake up, whilst 80% of fellow human beings eat whatever they can find.

Yet we hear ourselves complaining that life's boring.

We need to learn to cherish our blessings.

My birthday's coming up in about 1 month's time and someone just asked me what I wanted for my birthday.

Honestly, I don't know. At the moment, I don't think I lack anything. A car maybe?

When I was young, my dad used to get me gifts that I wanted for my birthday. Usually, it'll be LEGO toys (huge castles, etc.). For the record, I loved LEGO; Birthday present, X'mas present, Exam-reward = Lego (mostly).

I do not say this pridefully, but I've been used to material gifts that they have became mundane, everyday matters. Yet the thing about material gifts is that they'll never be able to satisfy the owner. After having this, you'll want that. After getting that, you'll eye another. We hardly treasure material gifts, even if they cost a bomb at the time we bought it.

Just a while ago, I was looking at what dearest made for me during my birthday last year. It wasn't an expensive gift, nor was it extravagant. Yet what overtook me was warmth and love - something seemingly expensive material gifts cannot bring.

So for everyone who's reading and wondering what they should get me for my birthday, let me help you abit - I just want to spend it with dearest.

There's nothing that I want, nor do you guys have to give me anything.

The greatest gift isn't out there in the world. The greatest gift is always right beside you. Life often takes its toil on us - problems, stresses, frustrations, anxieties, uncertainties. These often cloud the beauty of what we already possess. Nothing is perfect, no-one is perfect. Learning to see good in our loved ones and appreciating them for what they've done; treasuring each and every breath we take; treasuring the gift of time we have with them - is all that matters afterall.

After months (possibly years) of waiting, Singaporeans can finally get their hands on the iPhone 3G! Being a gadget-freak, I wanted to be the first to own one too (spice that up with abit of kiasu-ism).

HENCE, I reserved my set and picked it up at SingTel Comcentre TODAY (22 Aug - the very first day of the launch ok?). Okay, they launched it at 12.01am with lots of fanfare and hoo-hah and I wasn't exactly the first one to get my iPhone - but I still got it on the first day. One of the SingTel staff told me that the first person in Singapore (rather, the first person to get his iPhone from Singtel) came at 12noon yesterday and queued for a whopping 12 hours.

I queued for about 1 hour and he commented that it was "quite good already". Some queued for 5 hours. Well I picked it up during office hours on a workday, so I'm expecting after-office hours and weekends to be a mad dash. It was a rainy day so it wasn't hot but take note that you'll have to queue outdoors (under shade though) for some time. Therefore, if the weather is hot and humid, you might want to think twice if you can't stand heat and numerous chattering souls. Out of the boredom of queueing for 1 hour, I made a new friend from NAFA - Joel. He's a Visual comms student and we had small talks about iPhone, life and what not.

I must commend SingTel for their EXCELLENT (almost flawless) planning and crowd control though. The moment I exited Somerset MRT and headed for Comcentre, LOTS (and I mean lots) of staff was on hand to guide me to the correct queue. They provided drinks (bottled water, hot coffee - good on a rainy day) and even iPhone handheld fans (see picture below - good quality one okay, quite aesthetically pleasing too). The staff were friendly enough and ready to help with whatever questions you have. The queueing goes about in "batches", so the place doesn't become overcrowded.

Here's the basic flow:

1. Queue Phase 1. Staff verify your reservation and take down your necessary details (plan, phone type, etc.)

2. Queue Phase 2. This is the queue to enter the "glass house", the rather-beautiful structure used to house the sales of all iPhones.

3. Queue Phase 3. This is where you are 5 minutes away from getting your iPhone, inside the glasshouse.

Security staff are everywhere (by security I mean externally-contracted, bouncer-looking young gentlemen and not ah-peks, so don't try anything funny) to maintain good crowd control and SingTel staff with iPhones walk around so you can play with them (the iPhones) whilst waiting.

As the queuers mentioned, getting an iPhone at the launch is all about personal ego. We can probably wait, but we wanna feel good to be the first ones to get it. Also, the iPhone isn't a super phone to begin with, it's all about the aesthetics.

You can read about a ST reporters' report on the launch at http://blogs.straitstimes.com/homeground

Pictures (taken with N95, not iPhone).

Phase 1 of the queue. Look at the crowd at 12.30pm on a Friday.

I took this picture while queueing during Phase 2. Everyone's staring "drool-ingly" inside the "glassbox" - a glass and steel cube.

Finally inside the glassbox! Very prompt, efficient yet friendly service. There must be like 50 counters.

The much coveted prize. 16GB iPhone White.



Accessories you can buy at the launch. They offer a 10% discount.

I must say I really like the paper bag. Everyone was literally STARING at my bag as I strolled towards somerset MRT (esp. those starting to join the queue) and on the way home.

This is the fan they distribute FOC to those in the queue. It really works quite well I must say.

School's out (officially - it's the semester break).

I'm so getting my iPhone on Friday. =)

16GB White. Whooo!

Gonna catch "Money No Enough 2" with dearest later.. watching these "MTV" made my anticipation rise!




and another one...



Which do you think is better?

It's -1 week to study & exam week and -3 weeks to the term break.

I've got 1 paper to sit for during the study & exam week and most of my major/ most gruelling assignments are done and over with. Here's what I'm left with:

1. Presentation on Writing for Chinese Media

2. Group essay of 6000-7000 words on the impact of globalisation as demonstrated through cable television (that makes about 1500 words per person).

Plus I've more or less secured a "stable" grade for the examination subject this semester (as compared to the fretting last semester), so the exam isn't much of a worry.

***

On a lighter note, has anyone heard of netti-pot or nasal irrigation? It's supposed to be a good way of getting rid of sinus/ headaches (to do with sinus)/ allergies. The main concept is to "flush" your nasal passage with saline (salt water). Many researchers have proven the effectiveness of "netti-potting" and it is recommend by many ENTs due to the absence of side effects, as compared to anti-histamines and vaso/bronchodilating nasal sprays.

The act of flushing water through your nostrils (u induce water into one nostril and it flows out from the other) sounds refreshing to me, might be tempted to try.

I found someone selling netti pots on ebay Singapore, about $15 each.

Here's how it looks like:

I'll let you know how it feels like if I decide to try it, but in the meantime has anyone tried this before or knows anyone who has?

You can read more about nasal irrigation on wikipedia and on this blog.

Okay, here's the new (and hopefully final) layout change for my blog. New yakker (tagboard tool) implemented, so yak ahead.

Posts and updates coming right up.