James is very much better. He can move around more easily now, and his head is off the floor now. I feel so relieved. But I'm still putting him under quarantine, away from Bobby just in case.

James seems slightly better. But he's still pretty weak, and not his usual frisky self. Hope he gets even better tomorrow.

I've been thinking to myself lately, whether I rather go blind, or go deaf. If I go deaf, I will be missing out on all the music that I love, whereas if I go blind, I will miss out on all the reading, art, internet, soccer, and girls. Of course, there are some things that I will miss if I'm either blind or deaf, such as movies and TV. I can't decide which is worse. So I guess I'd rather lose my voice. Then people will know me as the strong, silent type. I can open my mouth to curse and swear at anyone and everyone without them knowing. No, I'm not dissing the handicapped. But I'm serious about the choice between losing sight or hearing. If you had to lose one of them, which would you rather lose? I would dread living in either a silent or shapeless, colourless world...

Poor James is still sick. Took him to the vet this morning. She couldn't find anything wrong with him physically, except that his tummy seems too bloated. So she suspected that it might be an infection in the gastro-intestinal tract. James still isn't much better right now. He barely has the strength to move, and isn't eating nor drinking on his own. He just lies around all day with his head on the floor. My dad and I have been syringing him water and hand-feeding him. I hope he feels better soon... Poor guy...

While waiting at the vet, this guy came in with a sick frog. Unfortunately, the vet doesn't deal with seafood, so the nurse recommended him to go to the vet at Jalan Kayu, the one that saved Max the pug. They actually specialise in fishes. I hope Kermit is ok.

While on the topic of pigs, I just finished reading Animal Farm a few days bad. I think Orwell was brilliant. Many of the events happening in the novel were actually satires of events of the Russian Revolution, and the rise of communism in Russia then. He was able to bring forth his criticisms in a sharp and witty manner, yet at the same time, maintain a certain air of light-heartedness throughout. I did see several parallels with 1984 in terms of certain themes and imageries though. While 1984 carried a dark and pessimistic prediction, Animal Farm was ruthless in making parodies of the political climate and events of his time. So yes, 2 hooves up for Animal Farm.

You may wonder why I know that it's a satire on the events of the Russian Revolution and communism in Russia. That's because I read the Longman Study Text version which I found in my brother's cabinet. Bleah...

Poor James seems to be sick. He seems listless and have no strength. Usually, he'll run away when we approach him, but today, he just stay put to be picked up. I'm getting worried. He's going to the doctor first thing tomorrow morning.

Hmm... I had quite an eventful weekend, but I'll talk about it another day. Instead, I wanna discuss this article.

This "Focus on Family" seems to be too narrow-minded and moralistic to me. Instead of holding their Purity March next year, they should call it Puritan's March.

Quote from the group's vice-president: "Our message is this: If I have pre-marital sex, I am not a person of good character. In fact, any sex outside of marriage is immoral whatever the age of the person."

Apparently, more than 6000 teens have taken a pledge with them to abstain from pre-marital sex.

Well, I rather be immoral than a liar.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against people who believe in saving themselves for marriage. But if the message that the group is putting through is as quoted above, I'm worried for the teens who took the pledge. What next? Are the teens gonna be trained as suicide bombers to raid Geylang? I shudder at that thought.

Yes, they may be promoting the right "values", but is it necessarily the right "morals". What are morals anyway? It is nothing more than a reflection of social acceptance. Bikinis used to be "immoral" just a few years back. Nowadays, finding a girl at the beach in a one-piece swimsuit is like striking 4-D. (Incidentally, I have never struck.)

Do I think I am not a person of good character simply if I have had pre-marital sex? Of course not. I guess the sad thing is, criminals get a second chance at life after they get out of prison. Virgins don't get second chances.

The article also mentioned the group's views on homosexuality. Likewise, it is taking a rather extreme view on it. "Homosexuality is sinful", the group claims. Good. I hope the suicide bombers take out the Ministry of Community Development and Sports. Because firstly, the government has openly stated their tolerance towards homosexuals, and secondly, MCDS deserves it coz there is no way Singapore will achieve Goal 2010.

Singapore wants to be a more gracious society? Then let people have their own choices with regards to such matters. Educate and share your point of view, but do not go around calling others immoral or sinners just because they don't make the same choices in life as you. I hope "Focus on Family" doesn't become like the JI. Coz I'm sure there's a hell lot of immoral characters out there today.

I say again, I have nothing against people who believe in celibacy before marriage. I believe in personal choice. I also believe society has evolved with regards to its morals.

Frankly, I think nowadays, it's a sin for a guy to turn down a lady who is willing to have sex with him. It doesn't work the other way though, coz guys only have 1 thing on their minds...

We'll run, we'll run, we'll fly
We'll never stop, we'll try
We'll meet in a place where all is bright
We'll meet in a place where all is right

We'll run from this dreary life
We'll leave our tears behind
When we're finally there
You'll see me smile
A smile without a care...

Heard a friend's sad story on Sunday, about how he lost his girlfriend to a car accident. It actually happened some time back, but I only heard it from him over coffee on Sunday. I felt sorry, but didn't really know what to say. That's part of life, I guess.

It's mum's birthday today, but we celebrated over dinner on Sunday, at a zhi cha store a few blocks down. There was barbeque stingray, "XO" ribs, and other stuff. The food was pretty good.

Renee got mum a bouquet of lilies. Got them from Junction 8 and I must say the florist wrapped them up very nicely. Before that, we went to the stretch of flora shops at Thomson Road. We walked a few of them and found that they did mostly wholesale, meaning you can get a whole bunch of flowers at really cheap prices, but they don't do individual stalks sale. It was only after we got on the bus to go to J8, that we saw that if we had walked a bit further, there were actually florists that looked like they sell by bouquets. Bah...

Oh, and I made my virgin trip to Double O on Saturday night. Drinks are dirt cheap. No wonder that place is always so packed, and the queue to get in is always so long.

Apparently, Bobby and James don't like durians. My mum brought some back the other day, and offered some to the 2 of them. They both shook their heads and ran away.

On another note (pardon the pun), my trusty Toshiba Notebook, which has served me faithfully for the good part of the past 4-5 years, has finally been retired. Actually, it's only a faulty keyboard, but to replace it at Toshiba will cost about $260 including servicing, excluding GST. No way I'm gonna pay that much to bring it back to life. So down I went to SIm Lim Square, salvaged the hard disk which contained my FYP data, and sold the remainder of the notebook for $100. Well it was better than nothing.

I've recently got hooked to the Naruto anime series. It's originally a manga about a kid who is trying to be the top ninja in his country. It's a pretty intense yet funny series. I've finished watching up to episode 57. Waiting for the rest to come out. Omoshiroi desu ne!

Forgot to mention this in the previous entry. Celebrated Shen-lin and Gillian's wedding on Saturday. The engineer finally got his doktor gigi bride. They've been through a long time together, since JC, and they've finally tied the knot. Wow. All the best to them, and hopefully we'll see little Shens and little Gills running around soon... hehehe

Anyway, the wedding was once again at The Fullerton. It's the 3rd wedding dinner I've attended there this year, and at least one more coming up soon early next year. Kevin says they have a low cost to prestige ratio. Hmm...

I just got back from the Matrix Revolution. The action was great, but somehow, the ending was quite a let down. The plot was too straight-forward. The first Martrix promised so much. The last 2 didn't deliver. Disappointing. It became a run-of-the-mill action flick. Well, at least the action was still top-notch.

Waiting for Matrix: Episode One...

Recently read George Orwell's 1984. Wow. It's mind-blowing. Now I truly understand why it is so highly-regarded. Although the political message is not as subtle as in Animal Farm, the picture he paints of the "reverse Utopia" of the future seems so possible and so scary. 1984 is one intelligent novel.

I better not say too much. Big Brother is watching you.

Handsome, intelligent guy, Zejun, wanted me to put "handsome, intelligent guy" besides his name. I hope you are satisfied now, "handsome, intelligent guy" Zejun.

Thanks to Zejun, I've finally found my life's calling. I want to represent Singapore and be a world champion in this. Mixed doubles only though. Anyone wanna be my partner?

Yeah, good things will happen to me. I'm sick again.

Met up with Joey for dinner. While on the way to Esplanade, she read to me that according to my horoscope in today's Streats, good things will happen to me.

Well, before I left the house in the afternoon, I looked out of my window and the weather seemed fine. So I took my umbrella out of my bag. And whaddya know? It started pouring on my way to school.

Thankfully, the rain became a light drizzle when I reached school. And while walking from the bus-stop to Renee's room, one of the screws in my glasses decided to pop out, and so my lense left lens popped out, and my glasses feel to the ground. I thought "Oh fuck!" How am I gonna find the screw man! Thank goodness I can see well enough without my glasses. Somehow managed to find the screw and fixed my glasses back in Renee's room.

Yeah, good things did happen to me today.

And as I left the room to meet Joey, it started to pour again...

What was to be an afternoon of sun and blading at East Coast yesterday, turned out to be an afternoon of ordeal for Maximus, Elaine's slightly-overweight pug. he had an allergic reaction to the vaccination he had in the morning. He was wheezing and panting and even had fits. The vet said his life was in danger at one point, and he had to take a few jabs, and was even given oxygen to help him breathe... A real life animal emergency, like those you see on Animal Planet.

Thanks to the excellent doctor, he's fine now. The intern was rather weak though.

After Max was rescued from the brink, he was so unsteady that he was staggerring on his feet like a drunk, a bit like the drunken master's zui quan.

He's fine now though. Should be happily eating and going about his daily doggy routine. I'm just glad I didn't have to give him mouth-to-mouth. He has doggy-breath.