Katrina

With New Orleans under evacuation orders, Katrina’s impact is now starting to hit home. Rising gas pump prices, and some Tulane students temporarily relocating to this campus.

It’s sad to see your home campus and city destroyed and under threat of becoming a new Atlantis. Let’s hope they can stop the leevee breaches and pump out the water fast enough.

Minsk (Carrier)

I am not a particular fan of the Red Navy, although I am fascinated with their arming of their capital ships with multiple heavy missiles.

Some side and rear views of the de-commissioned Minsk in Shenzhen.

Gorgeous, isn’t she?

If you prefer the US carriers, check out little cart noodles and first born egg’s photo sets of USS Nimitz (CVN-68).

睡懒觉

Note to self: In future, be aware of your target audience’s background. Certain words typed out using Hanyu Pinyin could be totally different from what you had wanted to mean.

Especially when saying lan jiao to a Singaporean girl well versed in Singlish.

The Sick Rose

This poem, and its de-construction by Gilbert Koh (in the comments section) reminds me of the angry pregnant girl.

O Rose, thou art sick.
The invisible worm,
That flies in the night
In the howling storm,

Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy;
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.

— William Blake, Songs of Experience

A fascinating read for someone like me who comes from a non-lit background.

Now digressing: for literature (at the O levels), my school had (has?) folks taking either E-Lit (English Lit)or C-lit (Chinese Lit). It only dawned on me a couple of weeks ago that e-lit sounds like elite and c-lit looks like clit. The innocence of youth, lost. Words have taken on a totally different meaning.

门当户对

In East Asian societies in general – When falling in love, one also has to make sure the partner is of a similar (or higher/acceptable) social standing. There will usually be heavy familial pressure if otherwise. In the case of Singapore, the class divide is already as complicated as it is already.

Basically, I think it boils down to two things: money and face.
Guitar of TJC forums brings this dimension to the scholarship debate – that being a (overseas) scholar gives one a leg up in the courtship game.