I was on the way home from camp today and saw a bunch of TJC ODAC/OAC running around my neighbourhood. I was like SMLJ, CCB, KNNB, WTF. 3 groups altogether, total of approximately 70 people.

If they started from TJC, they probably completed about 3km and were about halfway back to TJC. Steady! So 6km so what? How about some were carrying haversacks and those really looked heavy. Best thing is, they are so proud of themselves, carrying their flag, holding their heads up high and determination clearly visible in their faces even though some were dog-tired.

Where has the glory and fame SRJC ODAC, once had, had gone to? Sad. People can barely survive 2.4km. Some discomfort and they complain welfare. Hello? Its OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES CLUB! Not your SPA treatment club, Hair saloon or manicure shop! If the ladies complain, I can close one eye. Freaking hell, even the guys are moaning! Maybe I should use small boys instead. And don’t complain its Army style. The rigours of training is nothing compared to that in army. Even without going through the full BMT, I can see evidence from the faces of those who went through it and their experiences.

Many batches ago, SRJC ODAC was at least 60 to 80 in strength. Regulars - 30 plus. Huge numbers of freshmen often put ODAC as their first choice for CCA. The old batches did all sort of outdoor stuff like drain crawl, mountaineering, hiking, night cycling, kayak expedition. ODACians planned and fought for their activities. Where has the spirit gone? Has Singaporean kids become too soft? Or is it because we have played too many games with a restart button such that they think one can “restart” their live that easily and shrug off their problems?

Even only a few batches ago, despite a smaller strength of 25-30+ ODACians, they were at least able to complete at least half of what the seniors did and with a higher percentage of regulars.

Now? The recent few batches has caused the standard of SRJC ODAC to drop to the bottom of the pit. I can’t believe that SRJC ODAC would be more or less ranked at the bottom of the ODAC ranking list if there was such a list. Even TPJC ODAC, who’s teacher is also a soccer teacher and goes more to soccer then to ODAC, has at least 2 overseas trips and many local expeditions and activities.

If smart asses in TJC can sacrifice so much time to dedicate themselves to training and building up their fitness instead of mugging against students in HCI, RJC, VJC. I don’t see why SRJC ODACians can’t. In addition, being fitter makes the brain work better. If you glance at schools that are ranked high up, majority of the population are fit and not obese types. This is my general observation, unless those fat muggers are hiding somewhere. I feel that dead mugging (Si Du) is not effective and being fitter and mugging better is actually more productive in the long run. What’s a little sacrifice that can go a long way?

The general public were also awed by the TJC ODACians jogging through my neighbourhood. Some were just amazed at the capabilities of those students. Others were just speechless. Even a fellow TJCian who was on her way home, stopped and observed those ODACians with great pride and a smile on her face.

It is of much sadness to write such a post. This post is not meant to point fingers or flame anyone/group of people but rather to highlight some of the problems faced and the degradation of a once great and popular CCA in SRJC that should be restored to its former glory.

Two quotes to end my post:

i)Knowledge is essential to conquest; only according to our ignorance are we helpless. Thought creates character. Character can dominate conditions. Will creates circumstances and environment.
Anne Besant (1847 - 1933)

ii)People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.
George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

I just got a Sandisk reader for CF, SD and MS memory sticks as the previous 3rd party multi-reader was damaged and created huge problems for me.

Its a Sandisk Extreme III Usb 2.0 and I got it from John 3:16. There’s actually a Firewire version which supposedly performs faster but I have not tested it. Its too expensive at SGD$100++ compared to the USB2 version @ SGD$45. For that extra performance, I feel its not worth that extra SGD$50++.

My review? Well, I don’t have any software recording statistics, but based on general observations, its performing faster than those 3rd party multi-readers. The reader has a solid feel to it, feels like its well constructed with good materials. In addition, the slots are perfectly sized for the specific memory sticks unlike those 3rd party ones where I had problems slotting in my SD card and the card was a goner and the pictures lost forever. So one shouldn’t have such a problem occurring anymore with the Sandisk reader.

Value wise, I guess forking out and additional $20 instead of getting a 3rd party readers is worth the money. Pictures are priceless, what’s that compared to the relatively measly $20. At most, just cut down on food for a week or so! Gives one an excuse to slim down too!

Just came back from cycling cum mini class gathering. I was actually about to go cycle and sms-ed Rui Peng whether he was in school doing PT and maybe can meet up. Little did I know, got last minute gathering. So biked down to Hougang area and cycled around there before proceeding on to CHOMP CHOMP!

I was too early… Reached at 1845. Joanne came at around 1900. Jasmine - 1910, Rui Peng - 1920, Kai Qing - 1940….. Others couldn’t come, either just booked out or got work/lessons…

Had a $3 sugar cane drink. I was sceptical about drinking that much for fear of vomiting halfway on my ride home later. We ordered satay, stingray, carrot cake, hokkien mee and beancard! Beancard tasted weird, like vanilla flavoured ice-cream or filled with lots of milk/cream. I still prefer the plain beancard with sugar syrup!!! Sinful… Rest of the food was great. All of us had fun time reliving the JC time… Too bad the other classmates weren’t there, if not Chomp Chomp would have an earthquake like what happened recently in other parts of the world….

I was pretty filled up to the brim and yet Jasmine wanted to go to Ice Cube for ice-cream… Place was nice, I like the environment, though a little too noisy. A few had problems keeping their asses glued to the tall bar seats… Deserts? Fabulous, though ice-cream was slightly too sweet. I somehow still prefer my Ice Cream Gallery’s home-made ice-cream and their special cones (the cones don’t go soft even placing it in open air…) We also did some redesigning of the shop furniture… Using chocolate fondue to draw smiley faces! Hahahas.

After that, waited for the rest for their buses to arrive before zooming off back in the direction of home. Reached home pretty fast even with some light detouring. Took me about 40minutes to cover about 18km. Traffic lights were somewhat against me, so lots of waiting but my median speed on flat roads was approximately 32km/h with light traffic. Max speed on flat roads - 43km/h.

I think all the food has been burned by my excessive cycling. Supper? Lols… Bad bad bad.

Now cooling down before taking a bath soon.

Ka-chng and Joan, if you are reading this, I want the pictures!!!

I think I should get a portable digicam to complement my DSLR…

The peekitores or pictures of the the recent 19th SRJC College day cum Musical is up. Here’s the link. Feel free to browse the other albums at the same time. If you didn’t know, scroll down the album page to view more albums as I placed the major events higher up in the page and made it more visible.

I got to say, after analysing my pictures deeper, I noticed the noise control on D200, ISO 1600 is still not as good, slightly worse or on par with my D50, ISO 800. Pictures seems softer also, maybe because my develop setting on my camera is fixed on Portrait. D3?

Anyway, I was watching an episode of Numb3rs season 4 while taking a break from editing my pictures. In this episode, Chinese Box, Charlie Epps, the mathematician talked about Chaos theory and stated that the outcome is sensitive to initial conditions and if a 3rd party interfered, things would gone out of hand. This got me pondering, if this is true, then America need not invade Iraq, Afghanistan and liberated Kuwait. This would imply the problem would sort out itself? And the statement does have its stand, Iraq is still in a mess, this goes with Afghanistan and maybe Kuwait.

The environment? Well, I guess we Humans are the 3rd party.

Also, another food for thought, the Chinese Box/Room, complex and pretty darn cool idea. Wikipedia’s page on this idea. But by far, I think I still prefer the Chaos Theory. I would recommend you read these two stuff with an open and clear mind, if not, you would be reading and going like: “HUH? “

If you watched Numb3rs, some spoilers: Charlie “learned” FBI tactics such as car chase, CQB and M4 weapon handling. Quite funny seeing him do those stuff especially when he has a small build like Asians compared to other Americans. I expect in future episodes, Charlie might get involved in a shoot out somehow where he has to defend himself.

Would upload more pictures over the weekends.

For now, Enjoy =)

If anyone out there doing the JC syllabus and want some extra revision or notes, do check out this page.

I am trying to get rid of my JC notes and books. Do note that all of the proceeds will be donated to FuKiE’s photographic fund =D It will be a good cause so please buy!

Can meet up at major MRT stations, preferably in the east. I might be going down to SRJC soon so do let me know and I can make the arrangements.

Now processing the Musical pictures, do check back soon for the pictures.