The Future of Energy is Nuclear.......get used to it....

All anti-nuclear campaigners and protesters much be lined up and shot.

The future looks bleak my friends, make no bones about it. We are more heavily dependent on oil than you can possible imagine. What used to be a clean, abudant energy source, is now expensive, dirty, and getting progressively more difficult to find.

The Oil Age is ending, and its high time the Nuclear Age started. Just how humans weaned themselves off coal dependance and onto petroleum, it is possible to still depend on the ground to provide us with fuel.

I live in Singapore, a nation heavily dependent on oil import to sustain its power needs. Naturally, as oil prices rise, this small country with hardly any large industries to speak of experiences high electricity tariff hikes.

We are currently ranked second behind London for the world's largest electricity tariff hikes. And its only a matter of time before we are ranked first.

Singapore is expensive. Expensive housing, expensive transportation (the MRT isn't exactly cheap), very expensive cars and fuel, and its not going to improve. What do you expect from a country so heavily plugged into the world market so much so it cannot rely on anything internal to keep prices down.

Heck, even Australia is cheaper! Cheaper good food, groceries, housing, transportation, AND the country's economy is still growing.

The point of the above is this :

WE HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO START INVESTING IN NUCLEAR POWER

Yes, i mean everyone. And please do some research before opening your mouth to start feeding me rubbish about nuclear energy being unsafe, dirty, and will make mutants of us all, and that a terrorist attack on a nuclear power plant will result in a big boom.

Rubbish.....

Nuclear energy is only technology intensive. Once you get the complicated science and construction right, its cheaper than petroleum and hydrogen fuel sources. Nuclear waste is recycled and reused in many modern plants. All those stories you hear about spent fuel rods lying buried is true........for plants built 50 years ago. Not for the new generation plants.

A nuclear fuel source goes through a cycle where once it is used, it is sent for reprocessing and then for reuse, making it a very efficient and potentially cheap future power source. Its enviromentally friendly too, nuclear plants produce zero emissions, waste and even zero radiation outside the reactor.

They are built like bunkers, able to withstand missile strikes and airplanes flying into them. The initial cost is expensive, but hydroelectric dams are even more so and more enviromentally damaging too.

With regards to nuclear weapons manufacturing, making nuclear fuel is not the same as making weapons grade uranium. And you need missile tech to really make the weapons useful.

The only option now is to start getting tough on hippies and anti-nuke nutjobs who NEVER do their homework and study a bit of nuclear science to learn a bit more about what they're fighitng against :

A clean, safe, sustainable and cheap energy source, waiting to be used. Uranium deposits are plenty, and hardly explored too.

I for one stand by the nuclear industry and I want it to grow. To learn more about nuclear power, read this website:

World Nuclear Associsation

And please, before making some snide anti-nuke remarks in the comment section, do your homework to avoid coming across as a complete idiot.

Other than that, see you in the nuclear future!

Cheers from the,

Matrix

Chatroom...

I'm home for a month for the holidays. The last time i was home for this long was more than a year ago and its because i get bored easily at home. There really isn't much to do. On campus on the other hand, I could be working on my research project on microbubble pumps, cycling, and of course move about more easily since it had very good public transport.

This time however, things are a little different.

Since i'm going to be interning next semester at Emerson Singapore, and won't be able to come back for another 6 months, i just decided to bring my bicycle back to keep me occupied and healthy for a month. And its working surprisingly. My evenings are spent cycling and playing football, and strangely, that's enough.

And now, i found something new to do online besides the blog reading, online gaming addiction, news and facebook.

Chatting with random strangers online.....

I know, it sounds distasteful, but lets look past the many weirdos and sexual fantasy addicts out there and just concentrate on one fact. You meet new people very easily and rather safely. You get fresh perspectives, new ideas, insights into a place you've never been to, all from the comfort of a laptop chair.

I am painfully aware that many people, my friends included, are incredible uncomfortable with this idea, obviously having heard and possibly experienced horror stories regarding internet chatrooms.

Ignoring the remarks i've got from mates when i tell them about this, i do find this annonymous chat thing rather interesting. Truth be told, i'm a bit tired of talking to the same old friends everyday. Its not that i don't value them as friends and all that rubbish. Its just, i like meeting new people. Not for the sake of fulfilling some deep yearning for more companionship and other psycho-babble, but rather because it is very interesting.

I have, within the span of 3 day of using this website :

1) Met a chap in Sao Paulo, Brazil who introduced me to life for the common man i Brazil, and that its not the party town filled with hot women and men and cheap yet good beer that we have all come to associate Brazil with.

2) Met a 17 year old who's writing a final high school year history paper on Singapore, and had an interesting conversation about the lack of civil liberties and controversies regarding how the ruling party is maintaining control in Singapore, to add to the many good things she has already researched. It did amaze me, the depth of thinking, regarding potential economic and political consequences an asian city she has never visited, that she had, something i wished more Singaporen youths had. Heck, even I wasn't thinking on such a matured level at that age about my country!

3) Talked to a girl from Massachusetts who was doing a Bachelor in Fine Arts, and was a stage manager. Its great to talk to someone about a field i have never even considered. She's now a pen-pal. I did have one previously though. A girl from Australia during the snail mail era, but the i got tired of writing letters.....

4) A 23 year old woman from Shanghai, China who was fed up with trying to live upto to her parents expectations of marrying and settling down and is on the verge of migrating to the US after secretly securing a job as an analyst for a financial institution.

5) A guy called Dieber from Amsterdam who think the city's reputation as a "fun town" doesn't make it very conducive for raising children and had some whacky ideas on what would happen if weed was oulawed in the Netherlands.

Of, course, i did have exceedingly brief conversations with sex starved men and women, and one chap who wanted to know what color were my underpants =.="

Well, you have no choice but to filter these weirdos out and find the really interesting people out there who genuinely want to share their life stories, experiences, local cultures and lifestyles and then you start gaining new perspectives.

All said and done, all that's left is to try it out here , IF you dare.....

Cheers from the,

Matrix

Its THAT time of the year again....

I'm a HUGE fan of the Grinch. You see, he symbolises what i think is sanity in this time of the year. A time of insane guilt free retail therapy , a holiday that a i feel has been grossly over commercialized and exploited by the retail industry to satisfy our misguided perceptions that a time of giving translates into senseless extravagant shopping and not true giving. Things like love, true generosity (not flexing of financial muscles) and sincerity.

Forgive me.

Christmas makes me cynical. I think its hugely over rated. It is a holiday which symbolises the start of an entire month of discount "xmas" sales, "cheap" shopping, streets being decked out in chirstmas colors and bangs and whistles, fake santas holding little kids in shopping malls and the worst of them all.......

....the abomination called a turkey.....

I mean wtf?? Turkey is dry, bland and needs lots of gravy to make it taste good. And during christmas, this poor excuse for poultry is charged like RM100-300 for an entire bird, depending on what sort you want. Imported, grilled, pre baked, raw, whatever.

Christmas, to me, is nothing but coordinated retail therapy on a gargantuan, global scale. No one bothers with tradition nowadays. Kids like christmas because its that time of the year where they get loads of presents. Food is an extra bonus, and so is snow. Adults like it , well, cause its a reason to party, let your hair down for a while, have a holiday.

And i've run out of grouchy things to say.. =.="

All i can say is, cheers to this month of a festival that has lost its true meaning in a materialistic world.

Merry Christmas from the cynical,

Matrix

Are Singaporeans patrotic beyond following the law?

I've been living in Singapore for 2 years and 6 months now. I came here with expectations of a society that safer, more civil, and more free than the one i left (Kuala Lumpur).

My expectations have not been fulfilled.

You see, Singapore being a trading and commercial hub in Asia, a society largely influenced by Western culture with a good blend in of the east as well has set itself standards which come naturally with a country claiming to be a first world nation. One of them being freedom of expression.

Lets not go there shall we for the moment? Suffice to say you would probably agree with me that Singapore's reputation in that is similar to Malaysia's, only difference being, get on the wrong side of the powers-that be in Malaysia, and you'll end up in a lockup, and probably dead the next day.

In Singapore, its going to be a defamation suit, cause yes, if you go by the law, what you do say is slander and yes, you will get prosecuted.

There have been accusations that the Singapore Law Society and the Judicial system is heavily influenced by the government. A lot of accusations actually, by individuals officially deemed not credible by the ruling party such as the...... well....... opposition.

That being said, one does wonder. There can't be smoke without fire.

I find all my singaporean friends to be politically impotent. They have no critical arguments against the ruling party, nor do they have much opinion at all about government policies or the way the country is run.

I get this aura of fear whenever i talk critically about a government policy, as if one wrong word from me, and everyone around me gets arrested on the spot and charged with sedition. In Malaysia? I do not.

Yes, at home things are horrible compared to Singapore. Singapore is a dream city. Its safe, its civil, you can run a business here without the political bullshit.

But, in Malaysia, the youth are not afraid of speaking up and voicing strong opinions about the government. We do not get listened to, what we say falls on deaf ears , BUT we have opinions. Opinions beyond complaining about lack of parking spaces to the local MP, or complaining about ERP price hikes and then doing nothing about it, its all pathetic.

Noone is questioning their government's popularity with Amnesty International, The International Herald Tribune and The Committe to Protect Journalists.

Noone questions the non-renewal of employment visas for international journalists.

The government may or may not have solid reasons for doing this (i honestly don't know), but i wonder why the youth don't really care, but rather want to get on with their lives and try to make it big in financial terms.

I wish my friends would be a bit more patriotic and really, genuinely voice their opinions about government/economic/social policies, because that shows you're not here to just make a living. You're here because you are Singaporeans, people who have invested their lives here and want the best for their nation's future.

If this carries on, the future of Singapore is going to be decided by individuals without passion for their nation , people without a history of having critical views on policy, a history beneficial to creating new policies that will help keep Singapore competitive in the world market and keep her friends in the western,eastern world.

And FYI, i am getting tired of the line:

"You are here getting educated with Singaporean taxpayer dollars in your MOE grant. so don't complain".

Please, Singapore got me in, cause i'm talented, and my country's gone to the dogs. I came here wanting a better life. It is only reasonable i feel concerned about a country i am considering calling home. And being critical does not mean i am spitting in the face of the taxpayer. Get your facts right.

Cheers from,

The Matrix

Exams and more ......

Apologies for not MIA in this blog and stooping low to posting random stuff from youtube to compensate.

I have been busy. This semester is , though not a killer , it is by far the most challenging of the lot. Juggling between 3 major projects, tons of work and reading and impromptu mechatronics lab self programming sessions in a bid to become better at programming a Motorola 68HC11 microcontroller , and the hours spent in front of the QNX Realtime Operating System workstations trying to figure out how to spawnl( ) a process , use threads and set up communication between 2 simultaneous programs is mega draining.

I'm so thankful for the exam period. The madness can stop and i can finally have time to sleep more, cycle more, run more, and catch up on the lectures i barely fully appreciated. I like what i'm doing, i really do.

I had some really good company for my runs and a bike ride last night.

I FINALLY CRACKED THE 400KM MARK ON TREKKIE =))).

I'm flying home on the 8th of December with my road bike to help mom out with some stuff, and I plan to tackle the Kenny Hills area on trekkie for the whole duration of the semester, catch up with my old friends from high school, and gorge on good old malaysian food, and then burn off all that extra blubber by burning rubber on the road =P.

I'be become fitter btw. Hahas. Came into this semester with a slight tummy and flabby thigs, and now its all tightened up and i'm getting slight hint of wings (the muscled side of the torso). Feeling good.

Oh, and for only the second time this sem, i finally had my lazy 10 hour sleep =P.

On an entirely different note, this sem seems like one prone for breakups. I know its non of my business nor should be a concern of mine (judging from my single status which btw i'm actually enjoying thank you very much).

G mentioned his friend breaking up after like a 7-8 year relationship. Wow. That's pretty major. Another friend is going through a pretty bad period now after falling for someone and then having to endure reality after a very short period of time. I do feel sorry for him/her. Undergoing emotional trauma (wonder if there is such a thing) is certainly not the best way to start off one of the toughest semesters.

And i shall end here.

Cheers from the

Matrix

If Everyone Cared by Nickelback with Lyrics

Nickleback addiction. Cheers and good luck for the finals ppl =)

Dating is Confusing **HD**

what....... =.="

Meet trekkie =)

Trekkie and me on our 250km anniversary....

For those wondering, no, I am not about to set up a facebook profile for my new bike, and then link that profile with mine using the "Yuva is married to Trekkie" update on your fb news feeds....

As you would have guessed, i have officially made the transition from trail riding to road racing. For safety reasons mostly.

I broke my arm in March, and despite me thinking its alright, it is not. I cannot sustain a game of badminton for more than 4 matches, i cannot do chin ups anymore, and it hurts when i jump my old bike over obstacles on the trail.

That and the fact that if i were to fall on my right arm on the trails, the bone will shatter again, has made me decide to give up the sport until i graduate at least.

Road biking is different. Its more punishing. To be decent, and to ride with groups, an expected speed of 30-35 km/h is expected out of a rider, constantly for 60km plus. The bikes being mostly less than 10kilos, running on super slim tires and really big cranksets (gears) should be pushed at those speeds.

In case you're wondering how safe doing 35-40km/h is, its not. A fall on a road bike results in bad burns (you land on the freaking road at 30km/h plus for god's sake). But it sure beats falling on rocks and having your balls rammed hard everytime you go over an unexpected pit on the trails.

Plus, it allow me to ride more often and with more people in large groups. Mountain biking is impossible during semester, difficult to find kakis and the trails are far.

Oh, i'm on the brink of clocking 300km on trekkie since getting her 3 weeks ago. Been 300km of pain, but its so worth it. I feel healthier, happier, more motivated and focused on my work.

And now, back to my tutorials.

Cheers from the,

Matrix

Ambition

You gotta have ambition to have purpose in life.

This is what i believe in. A person without ambition, or drive, is like a feather drifting in the wind. Ambition need not necessarily translate into big earth shaking ideas or achievements. Simple short term goals would do. Something to give us hope and something for us to look forward to and to work towards.

I get bored easily during the holidays, which is why i hardly bother going home for long periods and instead prefer staying on campus, working on my research, which btw, is on hiatus indefinitely until i can find the time to pick it up again.

Makes me feel bad sometimes to make claims for hours spent in the lab in front of the microscope, testing pump designs that end up failing and being frustrated when something Suky and I designed which we were sure would work, ends up failing. Or gets clogged up with particles rendering 4 hours effort in making it going to waste. Gah.

Am so looking forward to my internship next semester.

Applied to Mazda in Hiroshima, Japan. Never been to Japan before. Dad is of opinion its a plastic society, with its Hello Kitties and cute-sy stuff and quirky vending machines which seem to have no purpose other than putting small sundry shops out of business.

If i do get it, I will be part of a team working on a new mazda prototype. I don't expect to have an active role in designing components for it, honestly do not think a major car company is going to let an intern handle stuff like that. According to a senior who's been on this trip, its pretty fun, with free trips to parts of Japan like Tokyo.

Its a good deal though, I don't get paid, but everything is covered from flight tickets to phone bills and apartment rental and food allowance. Whee, i can take my road bike then and need not worry about extra cost in transporting it =)

Got shortlisted by NTU last week and my name's on some list that's been sent to Japan for consideration. *crosses fingers*

I really want this. Singapore is fine, but have absolutely no intention of living here for the rest of my life. Not a really good place to raise a family in my opinion. Australia is the most ideal. I really want to live in Melbourne or Sydney. Perth's fine too.

Guess its something about the liberal state of affairs in Australia. Singapore has an absymal history of social and political freedom. You can't say what you want freely and i think this will be the downfall of this country in the long run. The singapore model works currently, as this nation is still developing and needs a firm guide and LKY has done wonders with his iron fisted rule of law. I respect that. But there has to come a time for him to just let go. Frankly i don't see that happening anytime soon.

Anyway, am going to bed. Been a long day =))

Cheers from the:

Matrix

Punishing Thursday

Just got "initiated" by the NTU road team. And i was unfortunate enough to be caught in a ride with the sickest bunch of riders NTU has to offer barring one psycho who happily did not turn up.

Was amused to see my machine being prod and looked at from all angles as comments about the retro bars and cranks were made. And then they grinned at each other and insructed me to draft The Machine, a sick psycho individual with the ability to keep pedalling away at over 35kmh non stop and never lets up.

Let me clarify a few terms here for the benefits of non cyclists. To go fast easily, road riders draft each other in a pack. The group forms into a line or in a v shape, with the apex or front being taken up by a strong rider. This chap cuts the air in front, shielding the riders behind him from air resistance and allowing them to follow in his slipstream enabling everyone to ride fast.

In the even the lead rider tires down, he drops to the rear and the one directly behind him takes over.

We pushed at over 30km/h for 60km, at least i did. The 3 sickest fellas just pushed on and left me in the care of a willing roadie, and at this point i felt weak and useless. No matter, pushed on we did past the cold lonely backroads at Newtie past Sembawang and into the torturous gradients of Mandai and into Upper Thomson, and I ended up getting lost near Newtie.

Entirely my fault actually for giving up and slacking , totally unaware that my the main 3 riders were still pushing hard and so was my company and then i found myself all alone at 9.30pm on the dual carriageway famous flanked by dense bush and darkness, the lonely backroads of Singapore famous for contributing a lot towards the large collection of Russel Lee stories of the supernatural.

Cycled slowly, just trying to survive and keep going, and then it hit me. A section of road where mist rolled , blurring the yellow street lights, where a sudden cold blast of air hit me from the front, quickly enveloping me. Broke out in cold sweat, and then as if possesed, geared my ultegras all the way up, and started pedalling furiously.

Came across a taxi in front, and simply overtook aqnd flew past him. Heard a loud angry honk, and looked down at my speedo:

53.3km/h

Let up and caem across a lone rider waiting in the darkness, Nearly flipped out thinking supernatural thoughts and heard the familiar call of "YUVA!".

And so we pushed on into NTU, and then these sick idiots made an unexpected turn up the SBS slope, for all intents and purposes, to burn up their remaining energy and mental strength before getting food and drinks.

Died again, got off my bike and walked up, cursing and swearing loudly with every step.

Damn, I am so weak......

Cheers from a not so feeling strong,

Matrix

Right, we all know Malaysia's Judicial System is corrupted, so what about Singapore's?

Being Malaysian, and totally fed up with the dismal state of political affairs at home, i have officially given up on commenting/writing about/discussing about how deep corruptions runs in the very fibre of Malaysian politics and how despite claims that Malaysia is "racially harmonious and fair" the truth is very much the opposite.

I have always been curious about politics. Not the good stuff, the good politics that work and do benefit the people. But more of the bad stuff. The hidden away dirty crimes beneath the facade of skyscrapers and claims of a first world status.

Yes, Singapore. For all intents and purposes, it is very much my home. I have been solidly based here, and never do i crave for home apart from the food and my family.

That being said, it is only natural for one who is seriously considering becoming Singaporean to find out as much as he can about the politics of this tiny red dot that could. And what better place than to start off with its Judicial System?

In a true democracy and first world nation, the Judicial body is an independent entity. The judge is above even the leaders of the nation, and it is unthinkable for a judge to be the crony of the ruling party.

The Judicial system must answer to standards set by the International bar Association to before it can claim itself to be one of the best in the world. And fyi, Singapore's system is not popular with them, nor with Reporters without Borders .

Allow me to be clear here. No system is perfect. There is corruption everywhere (do correct me if i am wrong). But in a nation claiming to be a democracy, a nation that holds itself to the highest standards of law and order and living standards, this should be minimal.

Moreover, government interference in the judicial proceedings should be absolutely 100% zero, which in Singapore's case, is very much in doubt.

I have to choose my words carefully here to avoid some form of backlash in case some high ranking government offical stumbles across this blog and decides to take me out or something.

SEE!

The very fact that i fear persection from writing a harmless blog post voising my thoughts is testimonial to the lack of freedom of expression and speech in Singapore. Small wonder many of today's Singaporean youth have absolutely no interest in government as long as they are not harassed by it. Small wonder the number of young people wanting to enter politics is minimal.

Singaporeans just want to earn a buck. National pride that goes beyond complying to laws and singing the singapore pledge is hard to find. This saddens me. I expected so much more from a tiny island that has put 2 world class universities on the top 80 of the times list within the span of 20 years.

I have said enough, read this blog for a different take on Singapore. It may not be 100% accurate, but do open up your mind and read something of a different flavour than the regular Straits Times and New Paper.

Read here

Cheers from the,

Matrix

must......have.....it.......

I have seen the light. The intoxicating sensation of easy speed. The sexy curves. The drop down or bull bars. The blissful rapid clicks of rolling bearings. The silent whoosh and sudden acceleration from a hard push. The trendiness of it all.

Sorry mtb-ers, i've fallen in love with the enemy. The ones who wear clothes that no sane man should wear that reveals every minute detail of the anatomy. The group of people who care for nothing other than speed and distance and candence. The group that can never be as technical as us or as tough and hardy as us out in the wilderness.

I officially admit. I LOVE ROAD BIKES.

Was dead set on buying one today, a low end one to play with. Ended up trying both the low end and a 1200SGD bike. Its true what they say. Buy a good road bike and use it for life. Buy a crap one and end up spending more upgrading.

It shall have to wait then, but i will get one. Must have it........

Cheers from the,

Matrix

Women are tiresome....

I finally sat down at watched "Twilight" at 2 am after finishing off my day's quota for hitting the books. Yeah, its the one week study break and i want to score well this semester.

On another note, i am snappy and easily irritable of late. Its one of those moods where anyone apart from my really close friends can tick me off when they act dumb and irrational and just end up wasting my time.

Women to be more specific.

I like helping people. I don't do it to feel good about myself, i really want to help when someone asks me for it. I think its utter selfishness when you're in a position to make someone's life just that little bit easier and you don't, simply cause it happens to be a tad bit inconvenient for yourself.

Selfish idiots piss me off, but that's another story....

I understand women bitch and often they just want a listening ear. I totally understand this, and i oblige as is the normal protocol. To read this (especially if you are a woman) might cause you to think of me as a rather mechanical, emotionally dead person , who follows a set norm that makes up what one might call "a normal behavioural pattern"

You see, i know how to be nice. Its knowledge i gained through my years as a bad tempered person, and the nice person you see now is nothing more than an uber hot tempered individual exercising a heavy amount of self control rather easily to avoid hurting someone's feelings.

I can explode when i want to, and trust me , when i do, its because you jolly well deserve it. I know when i am right. And when i know i am right, i will defend that fiercely.

Back to bitching women....

So, a friend of mine finds me online, and she asks if i have time to talk to about her boyfriend. I oblige, being free at that moment, a kind of lull period in my normal study routine.

She tells me her problems, I listen, and i do the next natural thing. I dispense solutions based on what i know of men. I do know a lot, me being one and all.....

I suggest she talks over her issues with her boyfriend, and its got to be a serious mature talk, not one overflowing with emotion. She says this which pisses me off:

"Why should i try to solve this? He's the guy, he should know how i feel, sense it and come after me"

And that made me snap.

Don't get me wrong. She is usually a very nice person. Just a bitch sometimes.

I ignored her, not wanting to hurt her with my ready arsenal of sharp retorts. She nudges me, keep nudging me, and i snapped:

"I'm not your bloody boyfriend. You don't want to take my advice and you have the audacity to still bug me when obviously this conversation is over. If you want your bf to take hints about your emotional state, why don't you start with trying to sense how i feel? I took time , one bloody hour talking to you despite being busy, i put in 100% effort and devoted all my attention to solving your bf problems, and you blow me off in the end and you don't even value my advice. People like you make me thank the heavens i am spared the nonsense that is a relationship and the heartache and emotional cost. Screw this, i'm going back to my books. You are so not worth my time."

I have no regrets. Someone has to tell her that she can hurt people if she continues doing what she is doing. And if she does not change, that relationship of hers is going to end. She can hate me for what i said. I don't care. I have closer friends who truly understand how i operate, people i can talk to rationally and know me.

Sometimes, chivalry and gentlemanliness goes out the window and you just have to be practical. Ladies, please leave your notions of a patient, gentle , kind Yuva at the door. I am not always nice and I do have a breaking point. Please understand this.

When i give advice, LISTEN. If you think i am wrong, correct me! But don't ignore it as if all i said was a waste of time. And please don't give me the line, "You just don't understand women."

I do. And don't underestimate me. People like me are nice because we know how to treat a lady. We do tend to go a bit overboard sometimes with too many jokes, but generally we are not jerks. But we do snap, and when we do, you will hate us, because it will hurt more when i lose it with you.

I'm going to bed. Its been a long day and I have to look forward to more emo-ing women tmr...

The Matrix

When i look back, i wonder if guardian angels really are true....

I ride a bicycle and yes, i am one of those rare Malaysian youths without a driver's license. Now my family, more specifically my mom, has the idea that bicycles on roads are suicide. Which is probably why she's constantly nagging me not to ride on the roads.

"Do you want to fall and break an arm?"

Yeah ....... fast forward a month after she uttered those words after reluctantly granting me permission to get my first proper non-rusting aluminium hardtail mountain bicycle (my previous one was an Aleoca my aunt bought for me to share with my cousins, which btw rusted to bits in her house. Loved that bike) , i had landed myself in hospital with the constant disapproving looks from my elder brother to keep me company on a daily basis.

What followed was a tongue lashing from my mom and a "toughen up, athletes go through this" from my dad and a blanket ban on anything with 2 wheels.

Now i am utterly stubborn. While my arm was still in a sling, i felt ready to oblige my mother's order to me to sell my Jamis. I even posted an ad online offering to let it go for SGD450 , a 150 dollar knockdown price from its true value. Yes, its a good bicycle, albeit a bit heavy.

This decision took a U-turn as i got fitter and my legs itched to feel the familiar burn from pedalling at the utmost limit and i sneakily started riding again.

My mom, being the telepathic wonder-woman she was, found out, and what followed was a 2 month silent disapproval mood until she finally relented seeing that this was one aspect of my life she really had no say in.

I took my hobby a little further and jumped on circulating rumors that a NTU cycling team was being set up. Found the chap who was doing it, and hopped on the bandwagon and smack into a new clique of like minded people, some nutters, but fun nevertheless.

All was going jolly, i had even forgotten that short stint in hospital.

And then i had a nasty reminder of how negligent i had become, which got me into NUH in the first place.

Its recess week on campus at the moment. One week of freedom to catch up on lectures and to prepare for tests after the break. And after figuring out Dynamics and Control, Machine Component Design and touching a bit on Advanced C programming, that familiar itch came back, and despite me knowing i really should not be cycling alone, i decided anyway to ride a few laps around Lim Chu Kang, an wide open road outside the university, with 8km of glorious painful road per lap.

Completed 3 laps, and then decided to push up into campus and up the same hill where i had my accident. Pushed all the way up, feeling good about myself, and then proceeded to ride down the otherside as fast as i can.

And as i was zooming towards the same sharp turn at the beginning of the South Academic Complex, a pedestrian crossed the road, and i checked my speed and came to a hurried stop. Let his pass, and tried to push off again. And lo behold, the same brakes that had jammed the first time , cauing me to flip my bike and crash into the road at 30kmh had jammed yet again. Took one look, freaked out, dislodged the brakes and wheeled the bicycle down the hill back to hall.

Had that pedestrian not crossed at that exact time, had i not braked when i was not at my maximum speed before the turn, I would have flipped again, and this time, i would not have been so lucky.

Yes, lucky.

Cause back in March, i was riding at 11.30pm, the roads were wet, my tyres were not as good as the WTB Motoraptors i'm currently using, I had no phone to call for help, nor had I water for dehydration.

Had I landed on my head and not on my arm, I would not be here today. Had campus security not happened to chance by 5 minutes later, i would have gone into shock and suffered from blood loss. If a car was coming up that slope just as i crashed, i would have been run over. Had Garen, Raj and Ain not been in the South Spine studying at that moment, campus security would have no idea who i was. Had i not been operated on in a hurry, my arm could have been infected from by the tar and grit that was coating the end of the bone happily poking its way through the flesh.

So many things could have gone horrible wrong. And it all only hit me as i was wheeling my bicycle back to hall.

Yes, i admit now, my arm is not fully back to normal. Every now and then it hurts a little when i stay for long in an air-conditioned room as the metals contract. But i gotta thank my lucky stars that not only is it in one piece, but retains the same strength as before.

Cheers from a feeling lucky,

Matrix

Something new.....

This semester has a lot of "new" for me.

Emerged from the wreckage of last semester, grittier and less of a "lay down and accept a situation" kind of person. And i got to hand it to the hospitalisation and medical insurance shenanigans for this.

I have learnt:

a - Always wear a freaking helmet when you ride. Luckily my skull emerged intact from hospital

b - Always check your bike's braks before pushing off

c - The minute someone from an insurance company tries to blow you off, give it to them.

d - Its possible to have a showdown with the Hall Office and win.

You see, i leave my bicycle outside my room in the hallway as such:



And the hall office does not like this since we are not allowed to leave personal items outside in the hallway. I argued in return that it is unfair for the hall office to force us to leave expensive bicycles at the bicycle shed and NOT be held liable for any damage done to the bicycle or loss of the bicycle from the shed. And then i argued, i can park the bicycle flush against the room wall , on the same side as the dustbin and it would not obstruct the hallway more than what a dustbin already does.

They never replied, and so my bicycle and me are left alone =]


Oh, something new, I finally joined a team i can commit to and want to commit to:

The team

The training is punishing for the mountain bikers. Cause our bikes are heavy and we need to push them for about Fifty clicks at around thirty km/h average , just so we can keep within reasonable distance of the much faster and lighter road bikes.

Its good though. Am with a bunch of like minded nutters, absolutely passionate about a sport and committed as well. I finally spilt the beans to mom about me riding again, and being part of a team. She kind of frowned and then gave in.

Moms are easily swayed.

And so, yes. We mountain bikers are well on the way to becoming ultra fast riders, and will easily beat any other mtb rider on the road. Though i do admit, out offroad riding is pretty minimal so far, need to go on the trails more....

and so,


Cheers from the,


Matrix

Musings and Thoughts in the dark

"And together, we roamed as one, her love undying, faithful to the end"

I was never really serious about anything to be frank except work. The female specie has baffled me, and i suspect they are as baffled as the male specie, but that's another story.

I have never been in a relationship, except with my brother and sister and my folks....and that's kind of mandatory if u come to think of it.

Not that it has affected me. Really. Was cycling with my newfound maniac mates from the NTU Cycling team a couple of nights ago and at the pitstop near Sembawang the topic shifted from hardcore training for possible races to girlfriends. And boy were the chaps surprised at my evergreen status. I wonder why. Is it not normal to not have a gf at twenty one?

Its not that i have not tried. I have. And things have not worked out, so i keep moving. I'm not hurt by the past, not ruffled by the , "Lets just be friends" sentence i have received thrice. I might come across as cold and a chap totally devoid of love and a sense of romance, but really, i am not affected. All i do is bury myself in work and my passions and i feel normal again.

Perhaps i'm too happy-go-lucky. Perhaps those i fell for thought i was never serious, and just a pal, a close friend whose there in times of need, one to rely on, a "nice guy" they say, yet one deemed more of a "brother" which roughly translates to "undatable".

Yes, nice guys do finish last. Its because they can't take risks. They don't want to. All they ever do is be the one who's there, one who offers a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand in times of need, and at the same time, "preserve the friendship" cause of course, its complicated when the one they like just happens to be a close friend.

The thing is, they know they're playing the game incorrectly. They know they have to make the move. And yes, they know that they will eventually lose out if all they do is pretend to be the platonic friend and never make the move until its too late.

But the thing is, they can't be blamed. They are wired differently. The priority for them is that noone gets hurt and things do not get awkward. The risk factor in their decision is almost nil. They always play safe. Don't get me wrong, a person who's wired this way will never hurt the one he loves and yes, they make good bf material.

But on first impressions, on the X-Factor, they come up short with a big fat zero. They lack it, and unless the girl happens to notice, or is one familiar with this topic, she picks up on it, otherwise, they get overlooked and swept aside for the tall ribbed chap with a great smile and sense of excitement.

LOL...

No, I am not sitting her emoing. I am about to start working on my CA questions due next week. This is a break. The above applies to me , yet not. I do admit, i take effort and yet play safe, but i don't pine, and i certainly move on. But for the duration i see a chance, i take effort, and hope the other party is responsive. If otherwise, i don't waste my time in an exercise in futility.

Its cold, and its unromantic. But i can't afford to mope when there is work to be done. Perhaps i have got my ideas wrong about this whole business. Perhaps not.

One thing i know is, that tutorial's not going to solve itself.

Cheers from the,

Matrix

Metallica - Turn The Page

I think Metallica's version is better than the original by Bob Seger. Much darker and emo....

A ghostly whoosh and silent clicking of gears filled this night

And on and on we pushed,

Braving the dark and the pain,

Pushing past 35,

While trying to stay alive

Divided we were, but united we were,

When the need arises,

In a pack we roamed,

Holding out a hand,

For those that fell,

While on this quest.

Yet, egos are aboud,

We push against the boundaries,

They claimed we would fall,

But pushed we did,

Averaging 30,

We ended with fried rice....

Just trying my hand at awful poetry. LOL

Cheers from the,

Matrix

[MTB]freeride downhill

nice vid promoting the sport i have come to love =))

Jeremy Clarkson's Thriller: Aston Martin DBS

I shall own this one day.....

Racism in the Elevator **Official Video**

ROTFLOL!!!!!!!!

Linkin Park - "New Divide"

new fave song =))

Igor(s) behind the YOG chain reaction mechanism

Found this vid on youtube. We built this in one month, after 4 months of planning. Sleepless one month........

Its back......

Its back....

Meaner, new tyres by WTB, new deraillieur hanger, tuned gears and brakes, and it just covered another 30km. Fear it.....

PS: Don't let mom know i'm back on the saddle.......

Red Bull Metro Ride, Budapest

Craziness! Me like!

Perhaps i should have done this to avoid the smackings i got.....

A letter to Dad...

very touching
story...

A father passing by
his son's bedroom was astonished to see that his bed was
nicely made and everything was picked up. Then he saw an
envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow that was
addressed to 'Dad.'

With the worst premonition he opened the envelope with
trembling hands and read the letter.

Dear Dad: It is with great regret and sorrow that
I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend
because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you.

I have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so
nice.

But I knew you would not approve of her because of all her
piercing, tattoos, tight motorcycle clothes and the fact
that she is much older than I am.. But it' s not only
the passion....Dad, she's pregnant.

Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the
woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We
share a dream of having many more children.

Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana
doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll be growing
it for ourselves and trading it with the other people that
live nearby for cocaine and ecstasy..

In the meantime we will pray that science finds a cure for
AIDS so Stacy can get better. She deserves it.

Don't worry Dad. I'm 15 and I know how to take care
of myself. Someday I'm sure that we will be back
to visit so that you can get to know your
grandchildren.

Love, Your Son John

PS. Dad, none of the above is true.. I'm over at
Tommy's house.

I just wanted to remind you there are worse things in life
than the Report Card in my desk drawer.

I love you..

Call me when it's safe to come home.






Cheers from the,

Matrix

Do not freaking mess with me

I had broken my arm in March. Pretty badly if you think about the bone popping out, scooping tar from the road, and dicing a few nerves so badly than i can't fully move my right thumb and i never will.

No matter, i can live with it. I am now proud to say that i am truly back to form. 7 km running no probs, gone is the flabby tummy, and a friend whom had not seen me for a whole semester said i looked bigger in a good way. So, i've grown more muscular, have a metal infused arm, and am back to playing badminton and tennis and soon, football again.

And then there is the whole shenanigan with my insurance and the idiots over at the Finance Department in NTU.

You see, i had made an SGD1500 deposit payment to the hospital that operated on me, plus another SGD500++ on medical bills , doctor's visits , transportation when i was unfit to take the MRT, and on physiotheraphy which costs SGD52.90 for every visit, and i had gone 5 times already, and counting.....

So you see, i am pretty much flat broke.

My bank account currently reads : You have SGD63 remaining. Which is pretty frightening since i'm used to it saying : You have SGD3000+ remaining.

Now, the reason i was ultimately this flat broke was when our beloved Finance Department debited SGD600+ from my account a week ago as payment for my hostel bill over the hols and for next semester DESPITE me having written and sent numerous emails explaining my high medical expenses and getting a verbal agreement from them that I could settle payment with them in August.

And so i got pissed and called the Finance Department and i got this reply:

"You received an email detailing payment to be made on the 1st of July, and so we carried it out. There is no other proof that you wanted us to postpone payment"

I HATE corporate ass covering , and i marched to their office, demanded for the officer in charge, and blasted her about inconsideration, and trust, and ass covering , and shirking responsibility.

Must have been an experience to them, having a raging student tear them down verbally without a care in the world. I had every right to be pissed. And they had better freaking know it.

So she promised me a refund in 2 weeks. It wasn't good enough i told her, and got the period shortened to one week.

Satisfied, I left, and being still pissed, i hunted down the insurance company that was delaying payment to the hospital who were in return delaying my deposit refund of SGD1500.

The following is one of the emails i sent them and their immediate reply:

Good Morning Mr Zulkifli,

I am following up on this matter with you. I have received the SGD105.80 payment from AXA, but I believe AXA has yet to make the SGD5400++ payment to NUH for my medical bills and surgery. The payment was approved on the 2^nd of Jne , yet AXA has not made the payment. I am asking why it is taking so long. The reason I am pressing this matter is that I am a student at NTU, and I have made an SGD1500 deposit payment to NUH for my surgery IN CASH. And I have made payments of a further SGD500 + for follow up appointments. As a result, I am currently running low on funds and I need the hospital to refund me the SGD1500 they owe me. They will only do so once AXA has made the payment to NUH.

I urge AXA to make this payment as soon as possible. I am frankly very surprised why it is taking so long. I had filed claims almost 3 months ago, and the paperwork checks out fine, yet AXA is so inefficient that payment is taking so long. My confidence in your company as insurance providers has been severely shaken and i am disgusted with the way things are being run. Unnecessary financial difficulties have been burdening me as a result of your inefficiency and i shall be speaking to your department head about this matter very soon, if nothing is done to remedy this apalling and disgusting situation that i find myself in.

Forgive me if I sound rude ,but please understand my current situation. I am a foreign student studying here, and I am low on funds. I have no other choice than to press this matter. What if i need emergency funds next week and i don't have them. resulting in dire consequences for me? I will be following up on this email on Monday. I hope something has been done by then to help me or the next email will be one to your departmental head about your inefficiency, failing which i shall be going to the papers about this whole episode, highlighting AXA's inefficiency and lack of care for its customers.

Yours,

Yuvaraman Viswanathan,

NTU.

Their reply was such:

Dear Yuvaraman

Our apologies for the inconvenience caused.

Our cheque to the hospital had been sent on the first week of June. Below is a reference extracted from our system. We are not sure of the reason that the hospital did not clear the cheque, or it could have been lost in the mail.

Sel Payee Batch Bank Req Amount Doc No Cheque No

Name Req Code Type Advance Paid Pay Auth Date

6033578 B 32 A 5687.27 32307572 031440

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSP 02/06/2009

Please rest assured that we have taken action as soon as we became aware of the matter. We have stopped the cheque to the hospital and will instead re-issue the amount that is due to you directly. This amount will be credited into your account by Monday and should clear 2 to 3 days thereafter.

If we can assist further, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thanks.

Zulkifli Bin Bujang

Senior Executive - Accident & Health Claims

AXA Insurance Singapore Pte Ltd

143 Cecil Street #01-01 GB Building, Singapore 069542

zulkifli.binbujang@axa.com.sg

DID: (65) 6880 4658 Fax: (65) 6535 5911

Website: www.axa.com.sg

I hope they keep their word, If i see nothing in my account by next wednesday, i'm going to march down to their office and start blasting some ass covering corporate office worker.

Cheers from a "don't freaking mess with me",

Matrix

"Sell Out!" English Subtitled Official Trailer by Yeo Joon Han

woah, cool movie from the homeland !!!!!

RATM -Killing in the name - official video

Killing in the name of!
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Huh!

Killing in the name of!
Killing in the name of

And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
But now you do what they told ya
Well now you do what they told ya

Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites
You justify those that died by wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites
Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites
You justify those that died by wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites

Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses
Uggh!

Killing in the name of!
Killing in the name of

And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya
And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control (7 times)
And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control
And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control
And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control
And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control
And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control
And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control
And now you do what they told ya!

Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites
You justify those that died by wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites
Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites
You justify those that died by wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites
Come on!

Yeah! Come on!

Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Motherfucker!
Uggh!

The Shan + Rozz Show: EP7 - The Singaporean White Boy

*jaw drops*

ROTFLOL!!!

Found this on a friend's blog:

I'm going to be honest of what I'm going to say here. I'm 25 this year. I'm very pretty, have style and good taste. I wish to marry a guy with $500k annual salary or above. You might say that I'm greedy, but an annual salary of $1M is considered only as middle class in New York . My requirement is not high. Is there anyone in this forum who has an income of $500k annual salary? Are you all married? I wanted to ask: what should I do to marry rich persons like you?
Among those I've dated, the richest is $250k annual income, and it seems that this is my upper limit. If someone is going to move into high cost residential area on the west of New York City Garden , $250k annual income is not enough.

I'm here humbly to ask a few questions:

1) Where do most rich bachelors hang out? (Please list down the names and addresses of bars, restaurant, gym)

2) Which age group should I target?

3) Why most wives of the riches is only average-looking? I've met a few girls who doesn't have looks and are
not interesting, but they are able to marry rich guys

4) How do you decide who can be your wife, and who can only be your girlfriend? (my target now is to get married)

*************************Ms. Pretty*****************************************

Here's a reply from a Wall Street Financial guy:

Dear Ms. Pretty,

I have read your post with great interest. Guess there are lots of girls out there who have similar questions like yours. Please allow me to analyze your situation as a professional investor. My annual income is more than $500k, which meets your requirement, so I hope everyone believes that I'm not wasting time here.
From the standpoint of a business person, it is a bad decision to marry you. The answer is very simple, so let me explain. Put the details aside, what you're trying to do is an exchange of beauty and money: Person A provides beauty, and Person B pays for it, fair and square.
However, there's a deadly problem here, your beauty will fade, but my money will not be gone without any good reason. The fact is, my income might increase from year to year, but you can't be prettier year after year. Hence from the viewpoint of economics, I am an appreciation asset, and you are a depreciation asset. It's not just normal depreciation, but exponential depre ciation. If that is your only asset, your value will be much worried 10 years later.

By the terms we use in Wall Street, every trading has a position, dating with you is also a trading position. If the trade value dropped we will sell it and it is not a good idea to keep it for long term same goes with the marriage that you wanted. It might be cruel to say this, but in order to make a wiser decision any assets with great depreciation value will be sold or leased. Anyone with over $500k annual income is not a fool; we would only date you, but will not marry you. I would advice that you forget looking for any clues to marry a rich guy. And by the way, you could make yourself to become a rich person with $500k annual income. This has better chance than finding a rich fool.

Hope this reply helps. If you are interested in leasing services, do contact me.

Signed, J.P. Morgan

Bragging Rights and a new direction!

Allow me to introduce H.E.M.S

I confess , i was lost ever since i broke my arm 12 weeks ago. Everyday was a bore, nothing much to look forward to, always on the lookout for that special something i can commit to and to ease my boredom and to keep me occupied. I think i just found it XD.

Now i love projects. Something to work on for a period of time with a goal, a purpose, an end to look forward to and to work for. And i have had the extreme pleasure of being part of 4 incredible teams that have romped their way to success of sorts....all in a row!

Yeah yeah, this is shameless bragging, but i think everyone is entitled to a certain quota of it once in a while and this is some cause for celebration. Cos all 4 teams i have been a part of pulled off victories within the span of less than a year, 3 of which within one semester. Its something i value waaay more than scoring in exams.


let me introduce you to the mega 4 i am honored to have been a part of:

Singapore Youth Olympics Launch Mechanism task Force

Yeaps, the machine you saw in the news and telly was built by an inexperienced 2nd year MAE and ADM combined team within a span of 5 months. And we pulled off a totally professional job. I do admit, i miss the leadership offered by Iris especially during EID.

EID 2009 Safety and Security category Champions. SGD1k in our pockets and glory :P. Plus extra (mates, you know what i mean ;P ). We built this wirelessly controlled brake light and indicators mounted on a motorcycle helmet within 3 weeks. When you brake, the brake lights light up and the same goes when indicating turning. It increases motorcyclist safety especially in poor visibility conditions where large vehicle drivers might miss seeing the motorcyclist until its too late. Judges likes the simplicity of it and probably cos our prototype was ready to wear and fuss free i guess. In truth , i thought this team with an awesome accident detection system had won. Nice surprise :P


M1 Mechatronics team. We built 2 simple combat robots, controlled using a modified keypad within 4 days. And we won! Another pleasant surprise. Too used to being an underdog i guess. Prize was we got to attack the buffet prof provided at the end of the 2 week course.




The first ever succesful project. MAE Rube Goldberg Challenge. A 30 step chain reaction machine designed to slip a piece of laminated paper into an envelope and seal it. Built within 2 weeks at no cost from 100% recycled materials. We were runners up :P. The champions were, i admit, miles ahead of us, was awesome to see their machine work.


Now, all these projects have some form of closure, after which they are not pursued anymore. The same does not quite apply to the last one. The helmet we built has potential money making prospects and that's something noone gives up easily on.

More later on this. Hope things go well *fingers crossed*

Watch this space.....




Cheers from the,

Matrix

Perhaps

Perhaps i ought to start a rock band, and then simply play covers of all things Metallica, Black Sabbath , Bon Jovi, Sum 41, Hinder ....... to name a few.

There is something sooo cool about strumming to your favourite song on a guitar and having a bunch of crazies jamming with you. I do admit, this is from that part of hidden character in me. The rock loving, head bashing , risk taking , want-to-screw-u-and tell-u-what-u-dun-wanna-hear Yuva that hardly anyone ....... no scratch that ...... that NOONE has yet encountered.

Except my mom on occasions when she bursts into my room and i happen to be in the midst of an imginary hardcore rendition of Metallica's "Some Kind of Monster" , or Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird" , lost in my own world of awesome and truly evergreen guitar rifts.

That being said, i do admit, i have never really been a fan of hip-hop / R n B blues stuff which plague the clubbing and pubbing scene. 

Gimme my classic rock and heavy metal and indie rock anyday. Nothing beats down on techno crap like the magical work on a Stradivarius by a talented rock guitarist.

Perhaps

I ought to travel as far as i can and leave everyone behind for like a year or so. Meet new people, get out of my comfort zone , go on an adventure into the unfamiliar. Mmmmm , South Africa sounds exotic enough.

Wish I had enough cash to do that. Never mind, will do that ONCE! or more if i happen to enjoy it =))

My roomie and I were thinking of taking a looong road trip with our bikes after graduation. After mine at least (he graduates a year earlier). I hope to have a new bike by then. Because of my brother ratting me out to THE MOM , i officially have a problem with her until i sell it off.

Perhaps.....

Cheers from the,

Matrix

3Focus Trailer

Just makes me want to go and RIDE!!!!!

Its officially the end of the road :(

My dear mother called me last night.

She calls me, and normally asks how i'm doing, do i need any cash , hows school life , when am i coming home , ...... well you get the picture...

And so she called me, and immediately asked me wether i had been cycling. To which i quite naturally answered yes. I can never lie to my mother. Yes, this seems very small kiddy of me, but when asked a direct question, i can either avoid it or tell the truth. Guess the lying part was whacked out of me by the numerous canings and slaps i got as a kid from my aunts, uncles and parents.

Anyway, after i answered yes, she gave my a motherly shelling along these lines:

Ma : Have you been cycling?

Me : Yes

Ma : What did i tell you? You just broke your hand and want to be a hero is it? Go sell your bike now i tell you

Me : But, its the only hobby i have! I'll be bored without it!

Ma : I don't care. Your studies are more important. Do you want to end up in hospital again? Promise me you'll sell your bike.

Me : WHAT? But....

Ma : PROMISE ME!

Me : *silence*............... ok ok ok.......

Ma : Good..... so when are you coming home?

Me : In june after my projects are over....

Ma : Ok, good. I'll put down the phone now. Bye

And so, as of now, my biking days are over until next year. To be quite honest, i feel lost. A hobby gives me some sort of stability, some form of release, something to let me take my mind of things for a bit.

Which is why as of now , i shall be dabbling in BEAM-botics. Building small, cheap , simple robots which run on solar power. It's fun, will give me experience in basic robotics and i can always gift my creations (if any, fingers crossed) to my besties.

And so, my dear Jamis, i bid adieu.  May you new owner be as loving as the one who tortured you heartless, for which i beg forgiveness.

PS: A dark blue 2009 Jamis Trail X2, orignial price SGD 550,  is now on sale for a mere SGD300. I'll throw in a saddle pouch and LED lights for free.

Contact me @ +65-97481107

Cheers from the,

Matrix