My Second Life

This week's Newsweek reported how the Second Life (an Internet based virtual world launched in 2003) bug has bitten millions of netizens worldwide. In Second Life, netizens create their own characters, deal with real estate and investments, date other characters, set up buisnesses, send their characters to school etc. Considering its mass popularity, Second Life might as well be the next MSN or blog or any other revolutionary tool that keeps people addicted to the World Wide Web.

For many, including myself, the Internet is a hell lot more than a place to go to when we need to gather research materials for school. It's an escape outlet. An alternative universe. One where we are free to roam to our hearts' content and where there is always something for everyone.

I don't need a Second Life account to make an online home for myself in this virtual world. Home sweet home is here: Zephy. Zephy reflects who I am and my life, and is designed by my own hands. That's why I feel attached enough to give it a name. Zephy has many doors which lead to the sites I love to visit. Those are the links. If I feel up to going on an adventure, I'd hop on my mouse and surf the Net. Should I get bored and need someone to talk to, there's always MSN to turn to. When I want to go on an anime and manga downloading spree, I Google my requests. And Youtube and Veoh make my day by providing anime episodes.

The Internet is like the real world in some ways. There are informative, educational and other good sites and there are those for pure entertainment. It also has an underbelly; paedophiles lurking behind cutesy avatars and porn sites and other dirty dealings. Caution, even in the virtual world, has to be excercised. But unlike the real world, no one is around to stop you.

Is it any wonder that millions are migrating to the online world, and taking up the Netizen citizenship? Once, it was thought that only geeks hung around computers. Now, if you have never so much touched a keyboard in your life, you're a techno dodo. Hey, this IS the age of technology.

And now, I have to leave. I shall steer my mouse to that start button on the bottom left hand corner of my computer and request to shut down, Then I'll be transported out of the virtual world which will then disappear before my face, leaving me to stare at the black computer screen and reality.

Some updates

Ok, ok, I officially end this week long unnanounced hiatus. My fault for being such a lazy bum. Now for some updates on my school life.



Finally, the oral and listening components of the 'A' level Chinese exams have been cleared. *heaves a sigh of relief* Both turned out quite okay. For the oral exam, I managed to read the passage more smoothly,albeit rather monotonously. Oh well, I'm just glad there weren't many difficult words. Conversation was fine too, because the topic the examiners asked me about was similar to the one my Mum and I were discussing the night before:) As for the listening comprehension paper, it turned out easier than expected! All of the short passages were fiction; no news reports or commentaries at all! For once in my life, I actually understood every single passage they read out. Yeah manz! Now,if only the remaining Chinese papers would be as easy...



I've gotten back all my Mid-Year exam results already. Some subjects were pretty good, some pretty crap. Luckily, I failed only one subject. But for that one subject, I made a leap from the usual 'U' to an 'S'. It doesn't bother me very much that I failed this subject, rather, I'm quite pleased I improved by a grade. Even my teacher commented that judging by my essay, the hard work I put in paid off:) This means I'm on the right track to getting better grades. I just have to put in more effort.

All right people, GTG now. But rest assured, I'LL BE BACK. SOON ENOUGH. Cuz I love Zephy!

07/07/07!!!!!!!!!

I just HAVE to post something today, before 07/07/07 becomes history. On this special day, 'I do' echoed from many corners of the globe. Yep, becuase 7 is such a lucky number in most cultures, there was a sharp spike in the number of marriages today. There were 7 times as many marriages on 07/07/07 than on a regular day in Singapore. Wedded couples will now have no reason to forget their anniversary date!

To mark this special day, I shall flood it with photos galore! The Pre-u-sem photos are finally here (thanks Clarence, for sending them over) so it's time to upload them! Enjoy!

The NYJC Pre-u-sem gals + Benjamin the extra

The NYJC Pre-u-sem gals + Daniel the extra

SG23!!!!!!

The fruit punch that packed a punch!

Si Ting(left) and Annabelle:)

Priscilla and Yang Yi, 2 of our SLOs:)




Our 3rd SLO, Khalilah!:)

Geetha the enthu:)

Zul the cool:)

Our SG leader, Rachel:)

Mass forfeit. You really don't want to know the jingle we shook our bums to...

Eric Khoo 'fesses up

Happy people:D

Ah, I still miss those days. We still keep in touch via MSN. Every now and then I get pulled into a group conversation that has almost everyone in it. We talk about school, exams and upcoming meet-ups. Pre-u-sem, I tell you, is one of the best times of my life:D

Pissed with PETA

How far, really, can one get? PETA has always used extreme tactics to uphold its cause of promoting animal rights, often trampling upon the feelings and sensitivities of others in the progress. This time, the organization has gone one step further,into the realm of bullying.

According to My Paper, PETA called Michael Moore an elephant. Yes, you saw right. They sent a letter to Moore that pointed out his being on the heavier side reminded them of an elephant. As a solution, they recommend Moore turn vegetarian for 30 days and do domething about the extra poundage.

I can now be sure that Michael Moore isn't on PETA's list of celebrity supporters henceforth. That letter clearly shows how callous these people can get. It brings to mind those school days in which children use mean words to mock peers who were plump. Only, this time, it's a bunch of adults using euphemisms to sugar- coat their scorn. They can go on and on and on about their good intentions of raising Moore's awareness of himself but the fact remains that they were being downright mean. And so much for being pro-animals! By using 'elephant' to imply that Moore is flabby, aren't they looking down upon the very animals they were so intent on protecting?

There's so much to rave and rant about that PETA, whose insensitive campaigns have done little to contribute to it's popularity. Well,not like it was very popular in the first place. And not like I have to care about that attitude of theirs...