I'm not right but are you?

Something really unsettling happened to me today and i've just got to get it off my chest. Was on MSN with a friend of mine and we were having a discussion about HIDs. He's thinking of getting HIDs for his ride and we were more or less talking about general stuff, like where to install, whats the difference between 5000k, 6000k, etc. Everything was going on quite ok until one part, which i should try my best to recreate.

K> So, do you experience any washout effect with your HIDs when it rains?
Me> Well, yellow light always penetrates rain better than white light.

Can't remember the exact sequence of the conversation after, but these two statements were like the fuse that will ignite the blast that was about to follow. Basically, I talked about some facts which i feel he should know(and which i think he most probably doesn't). My friend proceeded to tell me that most people don't appreciate beating about the bush and to stop being so defensive and telling him stuff that he already know. Well, I don't like being disliked, so i guess that must have been quite a "wtf, hold on a minute" moment for me. and you know what made it worse?

ME> Well, I'm sorry if you find my information irrelevant to you.

That sorta made him lose it. In retrospect, I'm aware it sounds a bit sarcastic, but that was the furthest thing from my mind. I really meant that, for what that meant. It wasn't a snide remark, in fact, it wasn't even tongue in cheek. it was something like "shucks, so u dun need that?", rather than "excuuuuse me for butting in". Apparently he didn't felt the same. What i couldnt bear was the fact that he had to keep on harping on his age and experience as bywords for wisdom. Kept on giving me stuff like, "i've been there, done that", "u got to self reflect", "don't be so stubborn","don't insist you're right", "you're still young", "things you don't know",etc. I don't know about you, but i find it really ironic that he's telling me to accept that i am too stubborn and defensive when he's sorta like forcing me to accede to his opinions. to top it off, Its double irony when this friend in question is only a few years my senior.

Anyway, I'm not a "conflict person" but it seems my every attempt to placate him seems to make him think i'm doing my utmost to insist i'm right and he's wrong. He even said something like this, " Here i am trying to correct you and you're being sarcastic?" His last message to me was this.

K> I think this is going nowhere. If u still think you are right, then you're right.

Its ironic again, that this statement came just after i texted back that right or wrong wasn't even an issue in this particular discussion. I'm sad that things had to end that way but i really feel losing your cool in a discussion/argument only serves to reinforce the point the proponent was making. sometimes, people get mad because they cannot accept the fact that the other party makes more sense.

Well, the whole situation started because he was asking me for MY help and for MY knowledge. Turns out the end result was I was not of any help, and i was now the culprit of irrelevant information. Looking back, its true that i didn't gave him a straightforward answer. Maybe I should have saved myself trouble and heartache and just gave a yes or no answer. Maybe I shouldn't have tried to "act smart" and volunteer unrequired information. Maybe I should have just said i didn't know. So many maybes eh?

This episode really makes me feel that we really ought to make an effort to communicate with people better. words are really like double-edged swords. The same sentence can convey feelings so different from what they originally intended. And its really hard to convince people otherwise once the damage has been done. Although people might not show it, this no doubt have left an irrevocable mark on their impression of you, however hard they may try to deny it. One other thing I realise from this, and its really hard for me to accept it, is that (some)people don't think much of you if you're poor/rich/young/old/jobless/idealistic/u get the idea. In my case, being young doesn't mean you don't know the world is pragmatic. Being young shouldn't deprive you of the right to assert your own opinions. And being young, doesn't meant you know any lesser. And you know what? I don't think I can even call myself young anymore. But i don't(at least, i try not to) judge people who're younger. Because I don't think thats the way it should work.

There. I've said it. Quite a lengthy post. But even if there's only one other person who have read my entire posting and agree with or understands what I've said, I'm glad. I can't think of any other better non-destructive way to vent my frustration other than this. Now that its all out, I guess i don't feel half as bad=)

Quote of the day: The older ones aren't necessarily the wisest, while the foolhardy ones aren't always the youngest.

Hello, CSI guy...

Today's last episode of CSI was kind of a letdown. I was expecting top-notch quality, seeing it was supposed to be directed by Quentin Tarantino. I like how Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and the Kill Bill series turn out, so I was kinda looking forward to today's 2 hour special of one of my favourite tv shows. There wasn't any fancy moves or some slick cinematography, not much of the "Tarantino effect" either( u know what i mean..). There was a few scenes that I felt was interesting. The part where Nick dreamt that he was dead was hilarious, with the coroner going " un, does, tres!" and then proceeding to cut him up. "Would you do the honour of the Y-incision?" "SUrE!!" Everyone started going zanny while taking out Nick's heart(He's got a good heart!~guffaws~) and all his innards. All this, while Nick looked on quizzedly at the hole in his chest, wondering why the good doctor's high on crack.

Though I didn't like how the villian went out. From the way it was going, you'll think it was like a Saw doppelganger. The signs are all there, Taped instructions, gun to end his life, diabolical  death traps, only one way to live,etc. deja vu, anyone? I could have expected Jigsaw to pop out any moment when i saw the part when Grissom pushed the button to get a live feed on Nick's condition(Saw II, anyone?)

Well, drama review aside, went down to the driving range in the morning with the intention of getting some early exercise. Turns out they close for maintenance every Tuesday; doesn't open till 1230hrs. Oh well, doesn't really matter, since i've got a session lined up with the guys tomorrow evening. Sorta went around the island today with a few friends looking for performance parts today. Don't know what came over them though. I was there just for the ride, since all the stuff they were looking at were pretty hardcore for me. I don't need 6pot brakes or ball-bearing turbos. In fact, I don't even care if its twin scroll or not. Maybe i'm a wee bit interested in a brake upgrade though i don't foresee that coming anytime soon.

In any case, I don't think the locally available Mazda3 is a good platform for heavy-duty mods. Its not like in the US where they have 2.3l mazda3s and people mod them to kingdom come; with all the suspension bars, forced induction and what-have-yous. Over here, we have this 'tiny' problem with the authorities, who don't look too kindly at our attempts to be "fast and furious". Anyway, even if we could, I don't think there's anyone available locally thats good enough to blueprint or bring out the mzr engine to its highest potential(well, call me a cynic).

Maybe things will change in time to come, but u know the old saying, " the more things change, the more they stay the same"...

What do pictures do for you?

Just finished watching "One Hour Photo". Man, Robin WIlliams really outdone himself with this one. He's really a class act, I've never seem him in a bad guy role, he's always the comedian, or at most, some strange robot. I like films like this, especially with such an engaging performance from one of Hollywood's most endearing thespians. The film is about photos and really question the significance something so ordinary can mean to an individual. Some things the protagonist said in the movie really makes for some food for thought. the stuff about pictures confirming your existence and that nobody(well, outside the art world anyway) ever takes photos of the little things in life, when these are the stuff that really makes up everyday life. One quote that was particularly memorable was that nobody takes a picture of things they want to forget. If you've watched the show, I'm sure you'll agree with me that the way he delivered his lines; the tone, the mannerism, the expression, really makes you stop and think for a while.

Anyway, I've got a bone to pick. Why is it that some job application processes like to ask questions that are really hard to answer? Stuff like "Name one event that has changed your life" and " Give an example where you motivated others to achieve more than what was possible", etc.. Its basically like a story telling competition here. C'mon, we're not writing a novel here, how many people do you know had had some life-changing or near-death experience? The strange thing is, it seems perfectly acceptable to make up some awe-inspiring event. After all, who knows whether you're lying? They weren't there when it happened. I could be the Count of Monte-Cristo or one of the three musketeers and no one will be any wiser.

In any case, I guess its good excercise for my inactive brain cells. I haven't been using any grey matter since graduation. well, not much anyway. My mind's getting a little rusty and some imaginative writing might not be such a bad idea after all.

Damn blades

Brauns finally got around to sending those long awaited convocation shots to me so now, at long last, my convocation picture collection is complete(i think). Actually, these are just the same pics, but with different people.^_^ Anyway, the last few pics were quite spur of the moment though, we just suddenly thought it would be a neat idea to just drive up Nanyang Hill and take pictures there, so thats what we did. As you can see, we don't really have award winning choreography skills, so we just arrange the cars this way and that and that was about it.>_<.

I liked the pic with the SAFTI tower in the middle though. that was brauns' idea. heh.

Anyway, as i was telling ah bao, LOOK AT THIS!!!!^^
here's the link to the photo album again.--->CONVOCATION PICS!

Well, went for my weekly golf game this week with high hopes, since one of my uncles just gave(loaned) me a full set of his old clubs. I was getting kinda bored using one of my aunt's since female clubs are just a lil bit shorter. Was really eager to test out the irons as well as the 3 and 5 woods( never used those before). Unfortunately, the irons weren't of the cavity-backed variant. They were blades and were mightily unforgiving. Almost all my shots were grounders. You've really got to hit the ball just right. A few of the regular golfers there tried my clubs and commented they were really hard to hit. The local pro tried my 7 iron and immediately said the clubs are good but you've really got to know how to flex its muscles. Told me this is not a good set to start with. The ironic thing is, all of them took the club, took a swing, and ping!...ALL of them hit fantastic shots.-_-"

I guess thats about torn it then. I don't really got much of a choice, except buying a brand new set. Which will sorta defeat the purpose of getting this one from my uncle in the first place. I don't want to repeat what i did with bowling when i first started out; buying all(almost) the best equipment with the false hope that they will improve my game when that's the last thing i should be worried about.

Oh well, golf lessons anyone??

Regretted?

Well, it has been more than a month since i sent my first application and i haven't got any reply except for one. Its ironic that this solitary reply i got came within 3 days. I can't really recall exactly what it read but i distinctively remembered the line "Your application has been regretted". Isn't that something? The company has just rejected you while trying their best not to make you feel bad:-| There were a host of other "we're sorry we can't hire you" stuff before that, but i guess it doesn't really work, does it? Kinda too politically correct, if you asked me. A simplier "I'm sorry you do not fit our requirements" would have sufficed. Well, its blunt, but at least both parties will not harbour any illusions that things are gonna work out.

Anyway, just got word that another friend of mine is tying the knot soon and he is actively looking for restaurants at the moment. Being quite a noob(never been married^^), i was astounded when i heard from him that most established restaurants/hotels require an advanced booking of at least a year before the actual date o_0. Well, its actually a good and bad thing i guess, you get to collect another year of red packets but you've got to plan everything around the wedding dinner date. I don't know, but just thinking about it kinda makes my head hurt a bit.

Anyway, found this really funny clip on the net and i thought i should share it with as many people as possible. I like humour like these, its very universal and you don't even need to understand what's being said to laugh at it. whoever did this did a fantastic job of making it look almost as if it were ripped directly from the movie itself.

Well, here it is:Darth Vadar being a jackass

erm. I do hope you people who do click on that link has the good sense to avoid the suggestive links on the right.
 

Pure BS

uWent for the International Sight and Sound exhibition at Meridien Hotel yesterday. Never been to an hi-fi convention before and it was quite an eye-opener. For starters, SACDs were going for 30 bucks for two! Damn, I would gladly pay 30 bucks for ONE. Those china CDs, by that i meant CDs made in China by Chinese artistes, not Chinese versions of international releases for the Chinese market(those suck btw),were going for 13 bucks a pop, and at close to closing time(7pm), people were looking at placards proclaiming "buy 3 get 1 free!" and there were signs that were like $19.90, $18, $16 bucks! Even DSD-mastered CDs were going for 16 bucks apiece.0_o

Now I feel like such a moron, buying CDs the way i do; when I should have just waited for this sort of event and just splurge. More returns for the same expenditure. The proverbial bang for the buck. Its a good thing I got a free LPCD for the entrance fee, so I didn't exactly come back empty-handed. It was a good thing too that the LPCDs and XRCDs weren't going for a song(pun intended), else it would be a really head-banging experience for me.

As for the exhibition itself, it was a field day for the hifi addict. It was auditons galore, everyone was clamouring to give auditions, hear auditions, explain about auditions,etc. I was really lapping up the atmosphere. There were the 100inch plasmas, 5digit turntables,5 feet high speakers, loads of tube-amplified goodness, and did i mention the cheap CDs? I was really impressed by the Pioneer "pure malt" bookshelves. These babies sound really good for the size(can't say the same for its price). Supposed to be made from century-old whiskey barrels. I'm sure the Pioneer marketing people have reached a new epitome, when they can somehow sell a speaker made from oak barrels and call it "smooth and rich, aged to perfection".

And they're not describing the whiskey.

About studying...

Went to Andy's place for house warming today. Its strange that almost all the housewarmings i go to occurs in the Punggol/Sengkang area. I know the flats are new and they have a lot built there but how come people like to stay at the extreme end of the island? I think the roads will get really jammed up when EVERYBODY goes to work in the mornings. Anyway Andy took some pics of everyone, and what better place to showcase his home then on my humble blog.^^

Yep, everyone was getting comfy. Had quite a good time talking crap about impossible audio setups.^^ Look at the scenery in the last pic. I guess its quite a spectacle living on the 16th floor. You get a nice breeze and a great view, even though its all flats outside. Come to think of it, Andy's place is like a nirvana for people with voyeuristic tendencies.^_^

Anyway, my sister's exchange student friend returned to Taiwan yesterday. Come December and it'll be my sis's turn to go to a foreign land. Must be really cool to study overseas. Come to think of it, we didn't have such programs back when I was in college. There're loads of stuff that we didn't even had access to back when we were still at tertiary level. Heck, now if you study hard enough, you can even skip O levels. I guess being in these direct intake thingies would mean you're incredibly smart, and it'll all work out fine if you did well later on, but what if you screwed up somehow while you were in college?

I wonder what'll become of these so-called elites then, if they caught pneumonia before the A levels, fell into a sewer,etc. Bam!no cert. You're just a PSLE grad.>_<

And that counts for peanuts in results-based Sillypore.

Maybe things don't work like that(haha, i would think not). But sometimes, I really wonder, with all the enhancements and tweaks to the local education system, are the young people nowadays really having it better? I look at my sister when she comes home from school everyday and it seems that its anything but that.