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About a month’s time from today, it’ll be my brother’s 21st.
So let me just break down how would I describe him from my perspective.WHEN I ASK QUESTIONS / MAKE REQUESTS
He’s very much like rapidshare.com/hotlink.com/megaupload.com* because if you
bombard him will questions, he will be pissed and sometimes, even though you are
able to ask a question, you would have to wait for a few seconds before he answers.
*these are places to download your favourite media but you can only download one
at a time and have to wait for about 30 seconds to download a link.WHEN I TRY TO REMEMBER ALL THE GOOD THINGS
I cannot seem to remember when was the last he actually did something, willingly,
for me. I would appreciate to get at least something, small, in return if I did a favour.
I bought him a few planes with my own allowance when I was younger, gave him
a $10 note I found on the floor while walking, simple things that he would request for,
and honestly, the list can go on. All these while I have been doing extra things for him
that made me came to a point that I’m way too nice and that I should actually stop
or tone down. Knowing his huge ego, if I would have told him, he would reply
"Then why try in the first place?" I should have known better.WHEN I’M JUST BEING MYSELF
Sadly, I don’t feel comfortable with him around because he always disses me,
thinking that I might be too sensitive (although sometimes I feel that is his ego
that makes him insensitive). Whenever I think of him, he’s always laughing at
silly things or finding things to mock about me. Either that, or he’s always angry:
frowning < shouting < showing tantrum.I can’t seem to break down any further
because there’s only so much he opens up to me.derek
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So I was watching American Idol last week and so happen to hear a catchy tune.
Turned out to be the Youth Olympic Games Cheer for Singapore.Names are edited away for privacy purpose lol.
Facebook: What some are saying about YOG Singapore CheerYouTube
derek
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External Link: http://www.blip.tv/file/3664274derek
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Just having some mixed emotions this past weekend.
Somehow, it was expected and yet very saddening.Nicholas (extreme left), who is a lone child, was one of my friends in our clique.
We would play pool, bowling, watch movies or anything together after school.
It was towards the end of secondary school that he was suffering from initial
stages of brain tumour, which gradually became worse these past few months.Starting last December, we did regular visits to keep him company and it was on
21st May this year that a message was sent out from his handphone by his God Sister
saying that he has left us for a better world that early morning, two days after we last visited him.Rest in peace, Nicholas (1990 – 2010)
I’m sorry I am not able to lend you the Avatar DVD.
It hurts so much to see someone of my age in such pain.
The few of us will continue to visit your house to keep your
family company whenever we have the time. Now that you are
somewhere safe in God’s hands, may you continue to play
all your favourite music on your saxaphone!with love,
derek -
"Sit back and enjoy an amazing musical journey from Bukit Merah to New York. Derek has performed at several places including Club Momo, Plaza Singapura and Street CLAP! early last year, making this his second appearance on the programme. Following "Save A Life" from Street CLAP!, we present you "From Here to New York" – a trip, through the state of mind, to overcome the blues."
15 May 2010
Saturday
7:50pm – 8:10pm
Bukit Merah Central Amphitheatre
(Located near Blk 166/NTUC, map given below)
Link to mapShow your support for Pink Dot!
derek -
Happy Belated Mothers’ Day!
My brother, myself and mom went out with Auntie Sally’s side, Uncle Peter’s
side and Serangoon Por Por to have lunch just now.The day before we went to have dinner at Tampines with my father’s side.
Somehow we always eat at Fortunate Restaurant with my mom’s side. lol.
Wanted to eat at there but it was over crowded ttm cause they don’t take reservations.
Being forced to find an alternative, we walked around to see Old Town White Coffee.
I thought it was a great suggestion because it was branch and the food there was
a mixture of breakfast and lunch but there was something I forgot. Bad service.
Several dishes came late, drinks were duplicated and the service staff cannot be
heard clearly and simply didn’t care to define what he was serving. He
landed three drinks on the table and when my brother asked him:
"What drink is this?"
"Mocha"
"and this?"
"Mocha"
"err.. how about this one?"
"Mocha"They were all Mocha but of 2 different types. The first plate of Nasi Lemak
came and the rest came after reminding them – resulting to half an hour delay,
My brother pointed out their slogan. Their philosophy explains further:They are really living up the name.
Kudos, Old Town. First was ECP, now this branch.derek
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Why do I feel so sad?
I don’t know why but I’m feeling rather down these few days.
Especially so today: have been taking short naps, stoning, feeling this heaviness
every now and then, not knowing what made me feel this way.Listen to my current music playlist
Purest of Pain – Son By Four
"I wish I could tell you I’m feeling better every day."
Distance and Time – Alicia Keys
"Will you take a train, to meet me where I am? Are you on your way?"
Forever Young – Alphaville
"Let us die young or let us live forever."
100 Years – Five for Fighting
"Another blink of an eye, 67 is gone. The sun is getting high, we’re moving on."derek
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Updated Timetable
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Block #1 (Mid-April to Mid-May):
Designing for Mobile Devices | DG28-06-10/A
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Block #2 (Mid-May to Mid-June):
Project 4 | DG28-03-10/F
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Two Weeks Break
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Block #3: (Mid-June to Mid-July):
Project 4 | DG28-03-10/F
Basic Financial Accounting | DG28-03-10/A
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Block #4 to #6 (Mid-July to Early October)
Student Internship Programme (SIP)
———————————————————————————————-1. For sure that two weeks break’s not a break.
2. Going to be so dead for Project 4 thanks to my CDS.
3. Wondering why there’re 2 Student Comm Sessions.
4. Wondering if the August YOG break still implies.
5. Desigining for Mobile Devices reminds me of Interface Design 1.derek
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2009 has been a emotional roller coaster ride for me; it’s experiencing teenage years being caught up in between polytechnic life. Some things did happen unexpectedly and some things just didn’t happen. Just like how I was able to perform at Far East Plaza. Although I wanted to perform late 2008 but it was pushed back a week later which coincidentally started the year with a bang. What more can I ask for receiving Directors’ List Award the 2nd time running? This was something pleasantly unexpected because I had a feeling I didn’t make it. Such things like having a CCA and saving money, however, just didn’t work as I planned. In this super duper long entry, I will pen down every moment I could remember (or at least left an impression on me) in my Junior Year by the various blocks.
Block #01: Brand Building Strategies & Element of Multimedia
(20 April 2009 – 15 May 2009)All I could remember was researching information about Nestle’s Milo, writing essays and screwing up the final presentation for Brand Building Strategies. It was a killer module for me because I was the leader of a three-people group, under a renowned adjunct lecturer, and I was unsure if the direction I led was the right track. Though results proved me wrong, I think this module was bittersweet because one of my group members became one of my closest friends I met so far in polytechnic.
The funny part of Element of Multimedia is that while doing it, I wished that I was on a cruise ship. I thought the challenging bit was taking a video from YouTube and carefully editing so as not to show the original logo that can be seen on the original video to fit inside my fictitious branding for a cruise (I did credit, lol.). The most exciting part was inserting flash navigations into html pages and the development of this simple website.
During this block, if I didn’t remember wrongly, I was on Suria with the given opportunity by Elinur and her aunt to be in the cast alongside with Arif and Siti. We acted a small scene, before our academic year started, about communication/body language and I thought it was really funny because I don’t really know how the behind-the-scenes stuff works as compared to what you actually see on screen. When it was being broadcasted, I couldn’t stop laughing inside while recording from TV. It was a fun and memorable experience to be on TV with friends.
http://www.facebook.com/v/79393980891
Block #02: Interface Design 1 & Professional Communication for Design
(18 May 2009 – 12 June 2009)Interface Design 1 was something I felt interesting and different as compared to what we have been learning. I now know that those ATM machines and those touch screens are actually the same as website design – just that your finger is the mouse and there isn’t such thing as rollover for these interfaces. I learned that buttons are generally bigger for accuracy while simple and clear-cut instructions are in place for easy navigation. This is when I was brought to light of such modules on button sizes. I think this module was fun as I went back to the Science Centre after a long time to check things out, finding that map design is something to master.
The fact that I have not gone out of my comfort zone to work, made Professional Communication for Design an important and the most relevant module I ever took. Making use the first part of this module, I was able to fulfil the promise to my Dad, to start on the website I long wanting to do but could not accomplish due to my busy timetable. Everything went smoothly, it was one of the most well co-ordinated group work ever and I was rather pleased. We wore really formal for the second part of this module as though we looked like we were Business students. We learned little things like gestures and mannerism as well as how to do up a good portfolio which will come in handy in time to come.
During the two week vacation, I went Ayer Itam with my parents for sight-seeing, visited an orphanage home in Indonesia with Chin Sian and Firdaus, had picnic with IMDians at Marina Barrage to celebrate Nicholas’ 20th birthday, and a bus trip Genting with my family to see how things are still the same. On our way there (or back), I remember I was onboard the tour bus parked at the petrol kiosk and my dad waking me up to let me read the news that Michael Jackson had died.
Block #03: Fundamentals of Interactive Authoring (FIA) & Fundamentals of Public Speaking
(29 June 2009 – 24 July 2009)I wonder why they can’t simplify the subject name a little easier to remember because I got easily mixed up Fundamentals of Interactive Authoring (FIA) with Fundamentals of Interactive Multimedia (FIMM) and Interactive Application Development (IADV)! During this block, we were exposed to the start of some hardcore flash coding. We learned quite a few things like how to do linking from one page to another in the form of a sitemap in two different versions, a music player and two games to be placed in a portfolio, as well as some other lessons all in Adobe Flash. It was quite ok because we had a lot of guidance but I think I would struggle without the help of a lecturer.
Public Speaking was an interesting module for me because I thought it would be useful for presentations. We tried all sorts of speeches – impromptu and scripted, informative and persuasive. Every start of the lesson for the first week, we had to gather in front of the classroom and gain some confidence by learning how to breathe properly, introducing ourselves and playing some fun games. I was glad that I have my course mates in my group so it wasn’t that bad. Our lecturer, Rose, was new to the school so she was rather nice hahaha no photos were taken and videos will not be uploaded.
Block #04 & #05: Project Two
(27 July 2009 – 18 September 2009)I was chosen alongside with 8 other lucky course mates, 3 in a group, to be involved in a friendly website competition for TB. It felt like killing two bird with one stone because it was submitting a competition entry as well as fulfilling Project Two. This module, which took up two blocks, was quite an experience for me because I was in the same group with, whose design works were amongst those I envy, Jiayi and Hui Rong. To be honest, I found it difficult to get along because our styles were rather different. Working with people whose work generally looked nicer, I realised on the first few days of idea generation that my designs were not as good as theirs. Being practical and for the benefit of the group, I agree that my work was not up to standard to be chosen for the competition. I learned a lot of things from this project, a lot.
Towards the starting of Project Two, one of my coolest uncle, who is full of wit and humour passed away. Within the next few days I was a little busy trying to get the tribute video up on screens during the wake. It was one of the most difficult times for my extended family and my side too but I believe that we managed and am getting over this incident and will continue to remember him the way he is. A day after we submitted Project Two, I accompanied Elinur together with Huda and her other friends for a fusion concert in school called Dreams II to support her secondary school friends who were dancing. Talking about music events, I also attended Moonlight Voices of the City performed by Edwin Toh, a friend I made at Club Momo, together with some amazing NTU performers including Winnie and Winston. I went back to Siglap Secondary on Teachers Day to find that many teachers have been promoted or had been transferred out to other schools. I also visited Haw Par Villa by myself before having lunch with my sister and my cousin at NTU and also had my first clubbing experience at a gay club during the holidays – that sort of sums up my first semester of my Junior Year.
Block #06: Fundamentals of Interactive Multimedia (FIMM) & Interface Design 2
(19 October 2009 – 13 November 2009)Returning back from the 3-week long holidays, we were back in action to learn more stuff about Flash but with an adjunct lecturer. We learned how to do a few styles of preloaders, masking techniques and had to create a structure of a Flash website using xml sheets (to attach certain data that can be added easily) that was to be made for our assignment – to do another refined portfolio as compared to what we did in Fundamentals of Authoring (FIA). It was quite challenging in a way to design and do codings afterwards on our own as compared to doing it as a group which was our first time after Project Two.
Interface Design 2 was to design on mobile devices to a specific target audience for young adults. It was back to printing A2 boards for final submission but I remember it was a great relief after tons of flashing from previous modules. It was fun and I remember we came out with ideas with a mobile phone and our group came out with using it as an EZ-link card. Quite a fun module aside from icon designs.
Block #7: Interactive Application Development (IADV)
(16 November 2009 – 11 December 2009)IADV was the subject that requires us to do a game. We learned a lot of things pertaining to a game like countdown, count-up, sounds, and also learned "how to add, shoot and remove tofu clips". Although our adjunct lecturer extended the deadline because he saw that we were struggling with schoolwork on a Friday, I was not able to do a proper job. On that day itself, Friday, we were still fixing some last minute bugs and it was that same day at night, I will be on my way to Australia with my family which was planned quite awhile ago which meant that even the extended deadline would not affect me, instead make me worry how my family might think about how our schoolwork can be so time-consuming.
On 18 November: I am constantly reminded that I have friends around me to keep me sane and insane. Friends who have been through thick and thin and brought the worst yet the best out of me. I am truly grateful for those who organised and was present to make my birthday a special day, to make this year a special year to remember. What a great way to end my teenage years before moving forward to my twenties! Thanks guys!
Block #08: Interaction Design (IntrDes)
(28 December 2009 – 22 January 2010)After the two-week break, we had Interaction Design which was quite a fast-paced module whereby we were caught up by a few events which took place. One of it was the Open House, a visit to NEWater Factory and most excitingly, a trip to Korea. I won’t talk much about the Korea trip because it’s under 2010 but the fact that things happened so fast that the moment we reached Singapore, we received our notification through phone that we had to be back in school 9am the next day. I remember two groups joined forces to do the spaces and the content using The SIMS, and I thought it was rather innovative because we were not really taught how to do 3D.
Block #09: Project Three & Communicating Design Arguments (ComDA)
(25 Jaunary 2010 – 19 February 2010)Communicating Design Arguments. This module freaked me out when I remember I kept pondering what will this be all about? Debating over paintings? Mona Lisa? Lucky it wasn’t but something close to that. Based on a topic, find out what you want to make a stand about a certain situation. I had the same lecturer as the one who who taught me brand building. Using this module, I try to make it in line with Project Three so is just killing another bird (read above for reference joke LOL).
Block #10: Project Three
(22 February 2010 – 19 March 2010)I had Sports as a topic for my Project Three and know for sure I didn’t want to do a website for Youth Olympic because it is very difficult if I needed to photo shoot a variety of sports in such a small period of time. Having it close to my reach, I managed to get permission to get back to Siglap Secondary with a good friend of mine to be my model, and have the whole hall to ourselves. I am satisfied with the results despite the response I got during presentation. I hope that I will do better in P4 design and results wise.derek