{Nature is calling. I must respond.}


Ever since Ms Chan showed us the colon cancer video, I've had sudden urges to stuff superhuman amounts of green, leafy vegetables down my throat like never before. Thus, the call of nature resounds.

There's a story somewhere out there on how a bundle of many chopsticks would never yield to external impact regardless of how dauntingly powerful it is. And as people working for the same cause, I think it's of essential importance that we support each other, not badmouth each other. Has the rat race really gotten into you guys? We're supposed to work as a team, and the very first thing we should do is to trust each other. If the chopsticks suffer from internal fractures, how is the bundle going to sustain itself? And in that bunch of chopsticks, there is no particular diamond chopstick; every single one is equally important. Our ultimate aim should be towards becoming the most bonded team ever, not towards personal glory by beating down others. How will one chopstick work without the other?


I find the things you said in front of me terribly irksome. Moreover, that guy you tried to verbally beat up was my friend, ok? The things you do to him got to me too. And I don't like it.

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Benson blogged at 4/26/2008 09:22:00 PM.
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{Two Pictures}




This is from a book I read very very long ago. Lol.

I enjoyed doing today's EL Paper 1. Especially since all my knowledge on size-zero models from debating was applicable for the topic "Celebrities have far too much influence over the young people of today".

During Paper 1, Mr Chia wrote this on our whiteboard:



MR CHIA IS SO CARING CAN.

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Benson blogged at 4/25/2008 05:05:00 PM.
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{Small, small update}


I've a new skin now. Ever since I bought my Presario V3000, I've been very busy, and have never had the time to install Photoshop into my new lappy. Or maybe I'm just being lazy, lol. Anyway, this explains the lack of a theme in my new skin. Hope you like it, anyway.

CONGRATS, CAT BRO.

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Benson blogged at 4/19/2008 03:03:00 PM.
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{Boredom Inspires}


Somehow, vibrant sparks of inspiration are set off in the dark recesses of my mind whenever I'm bored.

Ever since our cheering trip to Bedok Town Secondary on Sunday (we were rooting for the tunnel ball people, by the way), I've realised just how artificial everything in the entertainment industry is. I've always known that everything shown on television is premade, but on Sunday, I was made to realise just how lifeless everything on television is.

On television, we'd seem a vibrant and lively bunch, screaming enthusiastically once Guo Liang asks "Are you ready?" The audience would see us cheering at the top of our voices, ever ready to begin rooting for our friends, but what they'd miss out seeing is how we were made to repeat that cheer, how they told us to do everything beforehand so it'd look perfect on camera, and how everything was vetted through so that only what the media people wanted to air could be shown. Contrary to what the people see through the view tube, we're not as spontaneous as we look.

I'm not sure if I'm just being overly sensitive, but I really felt infuriated on Tedmond's behalf. He must have felt guilty enough for dropping the ball. Did the media people really have to make him appear in front of the camera and grill him with questions like "Why did you drop the ball?" "How do you feel now?" It hurts badly enough to have slowed the entire team down by dropping the ball; was injuring his pride further really necessary?

There are two scenes, which to the viewers, would look like this;


TV Hosts (to Tedmond): Don't feel to guilty. After all, your teammates don't blame you. Do you?
Teammates: No!




TV Hosts: You guys dropped the ball, and failed to break the record. (or something to that effect)
Teammates: We're sorry, teacher!



How'd you feel if we, as the observers of the actual filming, told you that the responses that the teammates gave were pre-packaged? We were feeded the responses that the media people wanted us to give; in other words, everything that occured there save the competition was just a drama, but with student actors putting on masks of smiles.

This experience has confirmed one of the points I contended with regularly in debating, of how devious the entertainment industry is. I've been shown how they twist facts and warp truths, in order to sensationalise stories and feed the masses with what they want to see, and not the truth.

Extrapolating this train of thought further down the tracks of my psyche, I come to a point where I begin to wonder; are humans really just creatures of shadows? Do we really enjoy hearing lies that please us more than the truths that might not be as candy sweet as as the made-up stories? Why do we, in an attempt to delude ourselves into thinking that the world is not really what it is, convince ourselves that lies are facts and that facts are lies? Human nature is naturally selfish; we always desire what we want, and not what's good for us. That's but a simple answer that I can give to my distressing dilemma.

Well, when caught between a sinfully rich devil's food cake and a bowl of salad, which would you choose?

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Benson blogged at 4/15/2008 08:43:00 PM.
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{Inspirational Things}




I took this picture at City Hall MRT a long time ago. Staircases are inspirational, don't you think? (Ignore the fact that it's an escalator, okay?) It makes me think about life; when you get down in life, get the bloody hell up again, because you've got an eternity of steps to climb.

In addition to the above-mentioned cliche, stairs also give me another thought; don't stop moving. Don't ever settle down, happy being where you are, and just sit down halfway up the stairs because you think the scenery outside the glass-stained window is nice. This just traps you in your own personal ivory tower; you'll always only be able to see what's around you. Think from other angles and continue walking; don't give up! After all, if the view from halfway up the stairs is already drop-dead gorgeous, what do you think it'd look like from the top?

However, even if one is deadly determined to get to the top of the world, you just can't run too quickly; if you lose your bearings, what'd happen to you if you fell off the stairs and tumbled back to square one? One shouldn't get overly involved and speed up the stairs, pushing beyond one's limits; take your time. Walk, don't run.

Sometimes in life, one just has to take a breather. Just sit down and relax, and when you've summed up enough energy, get up and cracking again. Just don't push yourself too hard.

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Benson blogged at 4/12/2008 12:13:00 PM.
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{The Altar and the Door}




In today's music industry, where many songs are mass-produced just for public consumption, not many songs have as much depth and meaning as the songs in "The Altar and the Door" by Casting Crowns.

The entire album, from its very beginning to the end, deals with aspects of life that every Christian goes through in his or her life as a believer. The Holy Spirit definitely speaks to you when you listen to these songs. As I listened to these songs, I felt the Holy Spirit strike chords in my heart that I had never strummed before. I really began to reflect on myself; how much do I really love God?

The energetic starter track, "What This World Needs", sets the tone for the rest of the album; every song has a deeper meaning to it than what you perceive on the surface. I actually adore the audacity of Casting Crown's songs, and their blatant honesty- the entire song can be summarised into just one line from the spoken part of the song, "Jesus is going to save the world, but maybe the best thing we can do, is just get out of the way".

Two other songs that really reached out to me are "East To West" and "Somewhere In The Middle". The former is a heart-wrenching number; the piano introduction is saddening enough on its own. The song is a reminder of how Jesus has separated our sin from us, as far as the east is from the west. It's a warm testimony of His love for us.

However, the song that provoked my thoughts even more is the latter "Somewhere In The Middle". It deals with one aspect of life that every Christian will face eventually, and have to conquer- "Just how close can I get Lord, to my surrender, without losing all control?" Are we willing to whole-heartedly give our hearts completely and entirely to Jesus? "Will we trade our dreams for His, or are we caught in the middle?" The ugly truth is, our human nature is a selfish nature, and we unconsciously only want to do what we want and not what God wants. This song melted my hardened heart when I listened to it. It made me realise just how much God wants me to give my heart to Him, and how I'm still holding on to my earthly desires. God knows that it's impossible for us to die to sin on our own. That's why he wants us to turn to Him; He wants to help us. Only by God's grace can we let go of our past, and move into a bright future with Him. God wants us to not be in the middle, not be lukewarm anymore. He wants us to be burning hot for him!

The last few songs are happy and joyful reminders of God's everlasting love for us. "I Know You're There" shows us how God will always be there with us, to walk with us, and live in our hearts and let His love shine into our lives and illuminate our spirits with His blessings and let us stand strong in the storm and declare that He is Lord. The singer's joyful declaration of "I know You're there, I know You see me" shows just how God is willing to always be by your side, and offer you His support and a place of refuge in Him. "All Because of Jesus" brings the album to a lively stop, declaring that "It's because of the blood of Jesus I'm alive"! Indeed, it's because of the holy blood of the Lamb that I'm alive, that I can live again in the light of God.

The album tells us one thing; "This is where we all live as believers – somewhere between the altar and the door". It just depends on whether or not we want to embrace God's love with every fibre of our being and step into the light of life.

4.5 stars

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Benson blogged at 4/07/2008 10:48:00 PM.
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{Ms Joanna Chan, The Funniest Biology Teacher Ever}


I think my entire class agrees that Ms Joanna Chan is the funniest and most entertaining teacher to ever grace our lessons. Biology with her is never dull, and she makes everything seem so interesting and captivating. Ms Chan is the bestest teacher ever!


Ms Chan: Now, I will show you how the turgor pressure within the guard cells work with a balloon! *takes out balloon*
For those who do not know, 'Turgor pressure' or turgidity is the main pressure of the cell contents against the cell wall in plant cells, determined by the water content of the vacuole, resulting from osmotic pressure. (Wikipedia.org)
Our class: That balloon looks suspicious...
(We're implying that it's actually a condom!!
Ms Chan: *stands up and waves the balloon frantically in the air as if trying to hide a secret conspiracy* This is a balloon, and nothing else but a balloon! Ok?


This is why everybody adores biology. HA.



^^ I was unintentionally colour-coordinated today. LOL.

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Benson blogged at 4/06/2008 06:19:00 PM.
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In Your freedom I will live;
All I am is Yours!