A little whisper in the dark: 12/01/2002

Tuesday, December 31, 2002

Choices, choices

Over the weekend, I rode with two guys who are a fair bit older than me. We ended up bushbashing in Sentosa's quieter parts with our bikes trying to find our way around. In the discussions that ensued it became rather clear I was the one who was taking the girls' blouse prudent options on where to ride. Now, with a scant 4 hours of sleep the previous night, and having had to ride 13 kms to Sentosa, I am pretty chuffed that I stuck it out on the killer climb of the day. Where there's a climb, there is always a downhill, and what a downhill it was. One of my esteemed companions ended up endo, that is, going OTB - Over The (handle)Bars and breaking a spoke on his front wheel. I didn't even want to attempt it. Granted the pair are better protected than I am, but it is usually the younger ones in the bunch who are all gung-ho about trying something dangerous.

I am left wondering whether I was just sleepy and smart enough to recognize it, or whether I've moved on in mindset. The prudent, safe-route-is-best-route mentality. Live to ride another day. Oh well, I will have to ride the loop again this coming weekend. We'll see.

Thursday, December 26, 2002

Private moment

I like this shot of a couple enjoying a private moment in town, even if it was just for a moment, waiting for the traffic lights.

Tuesday, December 24, 2002

I get to cool my heels off work for one whole week (and then some), which is much more than what my classmates can claim. Times like these, I really count myself very lucky. Better to count your blessings than curses anyway.

Sunday, December 22, 2002

Dual identity

I participate in online forums on a daily basis, committment level served by the current activity of interest. Variously, I'm part of biking, radio control car, vintage toys, photography forums, among other things.

On one of these forums, I hold a fairly public role, as a reviewer of bikes, equipment, and writer of articles, with my handle (also known as nickname) being associated both with my person, and the site's management.

However like everyone else, I too have my own opinions, but I feel compelled not to express them via my regular nickname, lest it be misconstrued as the organization's opinion. You know how it is: despite any and every possible disclaimer that the views expressed are the writer's own, and in no way reflect the organization's stand, someone will find some way to drag the whole organization through the mud.

The solution? A separate identity.

I suppose its a common thing to have more than one identity in forums. You too might participate in various forums, and even if you didn't have more than one ID, at one point or other you might've saw or suspected someone who might.

They use it to create mischief, to spam and every other thing that is deemed in violation of the rules. Basically they are hiding, not only behind their computer screens, but behind a separate nickname. Kind of like doing the crime but not doing the time.

I've got a separate identity. It isn't one which is used to create chaos. Conversely I use it to speak from a third person point of view. By informing the site's webmaster beforehand, I ensure both his implicit approval and alibi, as well as preventing myself from abusing that identity.

My alter-ego doesn't appear often, only when necessary. Almost like a superhero that jumps into a phone booth to shed his civvies and appear in the time of need, so does this nickname. Except that he is not all-powerful; in fact he has no power other than his opinion and voice.

I would like to think that Mr Alter-Ego is able to however do things that I can't do based on my affliation. To speak out on behalf of one party to defend him (whether right or wrong - it is a personal view) without making it look like he's got the whole wieght of the organization behind him is one of them. Sometimes that single opinion is all that is needed to make others see the alternative view. To remind them of the conversation topic. To prevent a snowball "me-too" effect from developing from controversial topics.

When I end my affliation with this website, maybe I will use this nickname full-time.

Friday, December 20, 2002

Needs and Wants

I bought a memory card for my digital camera today. I hope I won't have to spend too much more on this camera (will probably need a lens adapter and filter but that's it I promise!).

I set out with the intention to buy just about the best available, either a 1 gigabyte microdrive or a 512 megabyte Compactflash card. Without going into much detail let's just say that both items cost in the $400 region. Desirable, for sure, and though I had the money or WILL have the money for it, I eventually settled for *just* a 256mb card at $150. For my current photo habits, it affords me at least a whole full day of careless clicking at full resolutions. I didn't really consider buying just one 256mb card, but the bank balance shoved its way into the forefront of my purchase decision and demanded some respect. And so I bought what I needed only. RAM prices drop all the time, and all that unused capacity is plainly going to waste if I can't use all of it.

Thanks to a link from Jasmine's friend, Reb Ling's blog, I've found Photosig.

Here is my first submission. Comments are welcome either by that little Shout Out clickable you see below, or sign up on that site and give me some thumbs up.

Wednesday, December 18, 2002

I'm busy right now; check back later! ;)

Monday, December 16, 2002

For certain good things in life, they are something that you can hope but not demand to get. In army they call it a privilege as opposed to entitlement. I had the opportunity to get reminded of that the evening some of my friends got together for a cruise around Singapore in the dead of the night. To demand to be given a ride home, especially if you aren't helping to pay for the petrol, nor be invited in the first place, is just plain wrong. And then to put a damper on the whole outing by wanting to go home when it suited one's schedules and needs without prior knowlege of the outing plans is pretty inconsiderate.

Its not so much the petrol in my case; its company-paid. Its the attitude that's shown. I don't owe you a ride home (you know who you are, but you'll never read this blog), so attitude like that doesn't wash. I'd gladly give rides home even without being asked. Its part and parcel of having a good thing and being able to share it out? And being nice to friends.

Am I being petty? To certain people, maybe it would seem to be the case. But I feel its more of protocol and manners. Don't ever, ever, stamp your feet around to get what you want, especially if people don't owe it to you. You're in the real world now, not at a toy store with your parents.

Thursday, December 12, 2002

After work, I went to the Esplanade to learn more about my camera. Still getting to grips with the variables to play with. I need a bigger memory card. So many things to shoot, so many options, and so little storage.

Wednesday, December 11, 2002

A chance meeting with an acquaintance from a few years back, and occasionally in school, was met by my sister-in-law and brother. They're full of recommendation and good comments about how nice this girl is compared to my ex and all that, and that leaves me wondering if I had missed a diamond in the rough? In honesty, the fact they see us as being compatible intrigues me, for my sister-in-law has had a good record of pairing people up. In any case let's see where this one leads. I'm not hoping for anything, but neither am I writing anything off.

The four of us did have a great evening together though.

Monday, December 09, 2002

Finally got that camera I've wanted. Nothing much to say about it, except that I hope I can make full use of its capabilities. Pictures say a thousand words? Let's see if it holds true.

Interestingly enough, went the salesman placed the camera in my hands I felt a sense of awe, akin to being issued your own rifle during National Service. Here was something that belonged to you (at least for the time being). It was a tool, and the fact that the G3 is not a point-and-shoot camera, it has all these manual functions, makes it as much of a tool for shooting frames as an M16 is for shooting 5.56mm bullets.

You regard the object in your hands with more than a little apprehension. You might have read about it from books, magazines, and online articles, but it isn't something you got to hold before that very moment. The heft in your hands, the tactile sensations as your fingers run over the cool surfaces of the object, all make the experience an interesting one, to say the least.

How do I explain my intense interest in mechanical things? I'm probably not the only guy who is; many guys are. When I was young, I'd take a screwdriver to my toys, taking them apart and putting back together successfully (most of the time at least). As I grew older, I got into plastic scale modelling. It was fun, but then there wasn't anything below the exterior that made the machine become alive. Radio control cars became as much a study of scale miniature models as it is for mechanical workings, as well as basic physics. A natural progression was the bike, and this was even more of a blend of man and machine, in the way that human muscular output becomes converted into mechanical energy. Being a bike mechanic for three quarters of a year was one of the happier times of my working life, because I was doing something I liked. The unfortunate part was that there was a condescending boss, and further studies.

I never did go back to the bike shop again to work, though. When I didn't ride my bike for the entire time I worked as a bike mechanic, I knew I could never mix hobby and work.

Friday, December 06, 2002

Been long time since I've posted here. Been working on "that other blog". ;)

I guess I see it fit to put in an entry today because a few major things are happening lately. Not much on the BGR front though (though I wonder if something might happen soon. Fingers crossed, then).

Chris and I are probably each going to buy a camera. I might be able to get instalment payments on the camera. Its time to put that Finance I've been taught last semester to good use calculating whether I should use my New Singapore Shares to pay in a lump sum, or pay a higher price via instalments. The upcoming January 5% GST might be a deciding factor too. Anyway I've more or less zero-ed in on the Canon G3, its one heck of a camera. Hope I get it soon and put up some nice shots here.

You always want what you haven't got. Once again the term rings true with the release of my exam results. Those subjects which I'd hope to get a distinction fell short and/or far short of my expectations. Some are due to my own lack of effort so I cannot complain. Some are better than expected results which I can't even explain myself. Anyway, for better or worse, the academic part of my polytechnic days are over. Not a bad way to end it, though it could've been better. I might be a competitive person, but I could never resolve the relationship between hard work and rising above one's peers.

Next week, Chris and Helena are going to Thailand. I get to use the car again. But I have to send them during working hours to the airport. Now, to think of a big fat convincing fib to get that half day off! Suggestions welcomed, leave it in the Shout Out box you see below.

A little whisper in the dark