Follow me @HALIHOW
Firstly, i would like to thank Jeff Jarvis for writing his book What Would Google Do and enlightening me to the ways and wonders of the google platform/business model, John Lee & Theresa Tan who bought me the book WWGD as a birthday gift, though you could have just sent me the ebook and i would've happily read it on my kindle instead, saving you guys some money in the process but i'd be a bastard to put it that way, Larry Page and Sergey Brin for founding Google which in turn led to Jeff writing a book about it, Evan Williams for allowing me to blog about it and google again for buying it(blogger), and lastly Biz Stone and Jack Dorsey and Evan Williams AGAIN for creating twitter and sharing it with me for free.
I once despised the part about my parents being slower at adapting to computers and stuff, but it's been 5 years since the birth of twitter and i only just got it. Like i always say, "twenty is the new old fogey". since 5 minutes ago. This makes sense because i only just turned twenty two weeks ago.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
MY DEFINING MOMENT IN BMT
If you were to ask me for my defining moment in BMT right now, I would probably have difficulty in replying. However much I reflect on my month’s worth of experience in Ladang, I cannot find a single moment that cannot define who I am today, or the moment that has defined my BMT life so far. Could it be the 5 days of gruelling torment in field camp? The day I was entrusted with my rifle? Or even the moment I handed two dollars over to the man who would give me Nike h-Air? A virgin to all these high key events, I personally feel that my most defining moment in BMT would have to be these entire 4 weeks.
For me, the 4 weeks of BMT have been a turmoil of emotions for me as I experienced many highs and lows and discovered myself more, both the good side and Ugly side. I learnt to trust my body’s mental and physical capabilities as the days went by where physical activities progressively increased, making me faster, stronger and better. Coming from a more athletic background then most of my fellow comrades, I knew I had no choice but to display a stronger front especially when they were at their limits. I found words to be of less meaning, but actions that were the driving force in motivating one another. During field camp, when I completed tiring tasks such as shellscrape digging, the temptation to rest would be there, but army has instilled in me the one for all and all for mentality such that when you are done with individual work, you have no choice but to help your buddies finish digging as well, because if someone in your section or platoon fails so, the commanders will give you the “if you play with me I will play with you. I will make you cry” speech and everyone would have to re-do the activity. That was a joke. What I’ve really learnt is that in winning a battle, no Rambo or any special individual is required, but teamwork.
By now most men would say their field camp defined who they are at this point of time, but I realise that it isn’t the same for me. Embarrassingly to say, for me it was about achieving marksmanship for live range shooting. Not only does the SAR-21 has a scope, it has an in built laser target pointer. Personally I felt it would be pretty degrading if one did not bring down the target 26 times for BTP with the help of cutting-edge technology. I told myself that as a soldier, there would be no point in conquering IPPT easily if I couldn’t effectively handle and take aim with a rifle. Failing to make the mark by 1 shot on the day of the test was a blow to my confidence. There was only one thing left to bank on, which was the reshooting.
On the day of the reshoot, I thought quietly, “no pressure, this was going to be easy the second time” But that cocksureness was my downfall. I missed 4 out of the first eight rounds for the first re-test. Disappointed in myself and adding to my depression, I watched as some of my friends successfully achieved their score of 26. Lucky for the first round failures there was a second re-test. This time the stress mounted as I missed 3 of the first 8 rounds which meant I had no more chances to miss. In my mind I felt no one could help me now except myself. However, I was to be corrected quickly. Without the ever-understanding safety officer 2LT Anandraj beside me encouraging me with standard-SAF phrases like “it can be done” and “make your last shot count” I am quite certain I would have failed to perfectly nail the next 8 targets in a row and the second re-test would be disastrous, for there would be no third re-test. Other than extreme satisfaction, there are few words to express the gratefulness and elation I felt after the last target went down. To fall and get up on my feet again, I believe this was one of the moments that truly defined me.
Though it may seem that BTP earned the title of this essay, in conclusion I would like to suggest that my defining moment in BMT starts and ends at the ferry terminal every book in and book out, for it's really not what you leave behind, but what you bring back. I Entered Army with uncertainty and fear but in a short span of time have graduated with a certain degree of confidence and conviction. As my Journey in Tekong and the war against myself to keep pushing beyond my limit continues, I will carry the Motto of Falcon with me, “discipline above everything, death before dishonour”. In that I pride myself, and hope to make every day the best day of my life.
REC BRIAN LEE ZHAN RUI
F4415
7TH MARCH 2010
For me, the 4 weeks of BMT have been a turmoil of emotions for me as I experienced many highs and lows and discovered myself more, both the good side and Ugly side. I learnt to trust my body’s mental and physical capabilities as the days went by where physical activities progressively increased, making me faster, stronger and better. Coming from a more athletic background then most of my fellow comrades, I knew I had no choice but to display a stronger front especially when they were at their limits. I found words to be of less meaning, but actions that were the driving force in motivating one another. During field camp, when I completed tiring tasks such as shellscrape digging, the temptation to rest would be there, but army has instilled in me the one for all and all for mentality such that when you are done with individual work, you have no choice but to help your buddies finish digging as well, because if someone in your section or platoon fails so, the commanders will give you the “if you play with me I will play with you. I will make you cry” speech and everyone would have to re-do the activity. That was a joke. What I’ve really learnt is that in winning a battle, no Rambo or any special individual is required, but teamwork.
By now most men would say their field camp defined who they are at this point of time, but I realise that it isn’t the same for me. Embarrassingly to say, for me it was about achieving marksmanship for live range shooting. Not only does the SAR-21 has a scope, it has an in built laser target pointer. Personally I felt it would be pretty degrading if one did not bring down the target 26 times for BTP with the help of cutting-edge technology. I told myself that as a soldier, there would be no point in conquering IPPT easily if I couldn’t effectively handle and take aim with a rifle. Failing to make the mark by 1 shot on the day of the test was a blow to my confidence. There was only one thing left to bank on, which was the reshooting.
On the day of the reshoot, I thought quietly, “no pressure, this was going to be easy the second time” But that cocksureness was my downfall. I missed 4 out of the first eight rounds for the first re-test. Disappointed in myself and adding to my depression, I watched as some of my friends successfully achieved their score of 26. Lucky for the first round failures there was a second re-test. This time the stress mounted as I missed 3 of the first 8 rounds which meant I had no more chances to miss. In my mind I felt no one could help me now except myself. However, I was to be corrected quickly. Without the ever-understanding safety officer 2LT Anandraj beside me encouraging me with standard-SAF phrases like “it can be done” and “make your last shot count” I am quite certain I would have failed to perfectly nail the next 8 targets in a row and the second re-test would be disastrous, for there would be no third re-test. Other than extreme satisfaction, there are few words to express the gratefulness and elation I felt after the last target went down. To fall and get up on my feet again, I believe this was one of the moments that truly defined me.
Though it may seem that BTP earned the title of this essay, in conclusion I would like to suggest that my defining moment in BMT starts and ends at the ferry terminal every book in and book out, for it's really not what you leave behind, but what you bring back. I Entered Army with uncertainty and fear but in a short span of time have graduated with a certain degree of confidence and conviction. As my Journey in Tekong and the war against myself to keep pushing beyond my limit continues, I will carry the Motto of Falcon with me, “discipline above everything, death before dishonour”. In that I pride myself, and hope to make every day the best day of my life.
REC BRIAN LEE ZHAN RUI
F4415
7TH MARCH 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
the great flood.
dreamt of her again. this is occuring more frequently! am i having a relapse??? anyway, glad to be posting here once more. unfortunately, the title of today's post reflects the series of calamities my life is undergoing at the moment. firstly because i booked out late today, on a saturday! followed by the knowledge that i will be confined in camp for live firing next week, not to even mention field camp and river crossing... the only thing i'm looking forward to is the outing with my section tmr, section 3 platoon 2 foxtrot company 55th bslc/10. though that is probably outshadowed by the fact that i've just been rejected by ntu and nus for sports science and management, and mechanical engineering respectively. completing the bout is the fact that i come home only to find that the comfort of the bed in SCS is more appealing than the soaked and dirtied one in my room, accompanied by a dampened smell due to yesterday's torrential outpour which caused the rain to seep through the second floor ceiling of my house and of course, not forgetting, giving me a dip in the muddy baby pool of water in lane 7 of chamber 2 of the 300m range. oh yes. and it is strange that i am still having dreams of her. one this week, one the last week? seems to be consistent with the fact that i miss her because she's gone overseas to study in the states miles away. wow. i'm already starting to use american lingo. miles instead of kilometres. if you, my beloved reader, happen to understand how bad a fall i'm taking, please do refer me to a counseling service other than the SAF hotline. meanwhile it is great to know that spain has qualified because they are the team i'm supporting this year. and i hope to see england overcome their world cup blues and walk past the quarter finals this time round... though that would have to mean a good team like Germany knocked out. speaking of blues, for money's sake i do want the blue samurais(Japan) to win the world cup because i foresee japanese cake and biscuits on the dining table. however, the odds appear to be 200 to 1 of that happening but if my sister's $5 dollar bet does pull through, she will be potentially 1k richer courtesy of singapore pools. anything is possible, including my parents consent for my overseas education(right,...).
i will abrubtly end this post because i am tired, "sshhhhhaaaacked"-1sg teo, and have no more time to waste. the lastest chapters of naruto and bleach are waiting for me! btw my new callsign is Bbrian. (BE BRIAN!) though my life sucks, i will take this crocodile dung from an optimistic point of view, this great flood is a wakeup call to me to start working harder. goodnight!
fun fact: the greeks used crocodile dung and inserted it into a woman's vagina as they thought it would make them infertile. haha. they should promote that as mainstream contraceptive so that people would stop birth control.
i will abrubtly end this post because i am tired, "sshhhhhaaaacked"-1sg teo, and have no more time to waste. the lastest chapters of naruto and bleach are waiting for me! btw my new callsign is Bbrian. (BE BRIAN!) though my life sucks, i will take this crocodile dung from an optimistic point of view, this great flood is a wakeup call to me to start working harder. goodnight!
fun fact: the greeks used crocodile dung and inserted it into a woman's vagina as they thought it would make them infertile. haha. they should promote that as mainstream contraceptive so that people would stop birth control.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
greatest pickup line ever.
hmm. i have to get this patented one day.
start with...
hey wanna try something cool? see if you can guess what number i'm thinking between 1 and 10
she says:
4 (statistics show that 70% of the time the person will choose 7 if you rush for an answer)
Ehehe
carry on from here...
not bad. how bout an alphabet between A to Z
she says:
I guessed it?!
Uhm w
and finish with...
nope. i was thinking of u.
start with...
hey wanna try something cool? see if you can guess what number i'm thinking between 1 and 10
she says:
4 (statistics show that 70% of the time the person will choose 7 if you rush for an answer)
Ehehe
carry on from here...
not bad. how bout an alphabet between A to Z
she says:
I guessed it?!
Uhm w
and finish with...
nope. i was thinking of u.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
what goes up must come down
yes she's waiting at the end. i can see her from 10 metres below. and all that must seperate us is an esculator. so i take it. and as it climbs me higher, i am rewarded by the sight of her smile, brilliant and pure, the hidden gleam in those eyes, emitting like a glorious ray of sunlight escaping from dark clouds in the sky. but seeing her arms open for an embrace takes me aback, for it was no closed secret that we had no relationship. i must be dreaming(i really was). i return an awkward smile... expecting some sort of reaction from the goddess in front of me. but it was as though she would not acknowledge. so i wave instead. and... suddenly i'm cut off by a gentle nudge on the arm from behind. "excuse me.", he says before overtaking. and the ring of love and elation only found in a person's voice when they have found what they have searched for their whole life only confirmed my deepest and tempest fears- and as you have probably guessed, he was the one she was waiting for.
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