As I type this, I am trying to get over a certain anger that is building up in me. The kind of anger where you feel like punching slow walking people at the back of the head, or throwing things just to see it break.
Fortunately, I did not unleash my great powers (just let me exaggerate okay. Hahah) as I saved myself by having some "Me time". I sang aloud to songs, skipped around the house, boogied to music videos, cuddled my dog, threw pillows around, and even waved to the pedestrians at the MRT station outside my window. Unfortunately, my dad was at home, so I couldn't do anything extreme. But he didn't bother about me anyways.
Now the reason as to why I am angry is not important. What's more important is how to deal with anger.
Often, anger pushes us to the brim, where we feel like ripping our shirts like the Incredible Hulk.
Now why is it so hard to get over Anger? Well, it's basically because it is associated with "Forgive and Forget".
Often, it is said that if you can forgive, then you can forget about it. One can't forget the issue without forgiving the person. And so, your anger will subside once you're done with the forgiving and forgetting.
In most religions, like the Christians, they believe that one should always forgive the person who triggered their "anger button".
There were quotes like this: (and no, I am not a Christian, but it wouldn't hurt to read about it, would it?)
But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven for he maketh his Sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain in the just and the unjust. (Matthew 5:44,45)
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say unto thee, until seven times: but seventy seven times(Mathew 1:21,22)
And then there a quotes by famous people:
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong (Mahatma Gandhi)
There is no revenge so complete as Forgiveness. ( Josh Billings)
To err is human, to forgive is divine (Alexander Pope)
Or if you really can't do all that, screw it. Just punch your brother or something!
I was disturbed from my sleep at 6 plus by an SMS sent by the MOE. Yes, it was about the posting of the JAE results. I must say, I wasn't really pleased about where I was being posted to, because I had pinned alot of hope into getting Child Psychology.
But then again, I will accept it with open arms. If things aren't meant to be mine, then I shall work on other important things, and stop drooling about it, isn't it?
The course that I'm taking has somewhat something to do with kids, so I will definitely build my way up into achieving the dream of being a teacher in the special needs school.
Well, I thought I'd be alone in this battle, but hey, I found out that Ash is in the same course and school as me! So yeah, that's a good start.
Sometimes, I just feel like running to my extended family with arms open, exclaiming "Let's leave Singapore behind!". Singapore seems to be a stressed up place. Even now, we are judged by our intelligence more than personality and capabilities. Gone were the days where experience won the game, not Certificates.
It really sucks sometimes to so limited. Are they saying that only people who score well can become psychologists, while people who don't do so well, become something else that isn't popular anymore?
They always say that they don't judge by intelligence and aggregate, then how come we're limited to courses because of our aggregate? Isn't the past not equivalent to the future? Shouldn't we be given the right to prove our worth?
Hopes, dreams are dashed just because of a stupid cert that states our intelligence. I'm not full of regret, but full of disgust at how the society manages the old and "Un-intelligent".
They ask us to extend our retirement age, yet terminate those who are old. They take in intelligent scholars who know nilch about experience. Is our world becoming a place for educate fools?
I wonder.
And no, I'm not bitter because I got my 7th choice instead of the 1st. Because everything's okay. For now.
I'm addicted to Beyonce's Sweet Dream. But I only like the "turn the lights on" part. Hahah
This year's Chinese New Year celebration had been an awesome one, as always. But instead of the usual Steamboat reunion dinner on the Eve of Chinese New Year, my family decided to have "hot plate" dishes! It was really good.
The first day of visiting was to all the eldest place. Dinner was then followed after at my Aunt Jessie's place. We had the traditional "Yu Sheng" but it was funny because none of us had any idea of what to say when the sauce was poured around it. So we giggled as we "anyhow hantam" well wishes in.
The food was really different. This time round, we had Japanese cuisine done by Aunt Jessie and Uncle AZ (He used to be a sailor!). Anyway, there were unique dishes everywhere, but what I liked the most was the baby Octopus(no, not squid but OCTOPUS! The head, tentacles, all could be seen clearly, seriously!) that were served cold, in some reddish sauce. It was really crunchy and sweet.
I'm going to hunt the place down to buy those baby octopus!!
There were rounds of bak gua and chicken? gua (it was bak gua but chicken) served. And who could forget the rounds of shots and wine.
Time was well spent by watching random shows like Hancock, or simply just sitting around, talking crap.
There were more visiting to do the next day, so all of us left early, at 12.
The nezxt day, we then headed to my Aunt MiMi's(she's the one who has a koren son, yup my cousin is half koren.) place. You see, the thing about my family, is that, we don't really follow the tradition of visiting the olders followed by the youngest. We just see who's home is "open" for us to "make noise". Afterall, the more the merrier right?
Well, the people from day 1 (Aunt Jessie's place) , all came for Day 2. So it was the same people. But this time, the food was different. The menu was Italian. We had home made pizza, spaghetti, loads of tar tar sauce, shrimps neatly arranged for dipping, onion soup (as followed from Delifrance) , special marinated chicken and many more, which I can't remember.
I had a good time there because it was really funny as how my mum and her siblings hassled about the house, putting up decorations (on the second day, can you believe it! Aunt MiMi said that she wasn't tall enough to hang the items). It was really nice seeing the "young at heart" talk about their time together when they were kids; the crazy things that they did back in the Kampong days.
The second day sort of ended in a bittersweet kind of way. It was embarressing to see how a kin of mine behaved "rather idiotically" as he was drunk.
Once an alchoholic, always an alchoholic. Oh well.
The day ended when we all headed for home around 2, because some of them had work the next day.
And well, after two days of hardcore stuffing of goodies into my face, I guess I have to pay the price, and that is, to sacrifice my voice! Yeah, I kinda' lost my voice. I wouldn't say I'm really happy about the scratchy throat thing, but no way am I giving up on the goodies even if it'll make me gain weight!
Well, no pictures, because as you know me, I'm still trying to kick the habit of not taking photos. Well, I'm trying....
And well, today's a rest day for me, mainly because I slept at 5 last night. Or rather, this morning. Oh, and I've given up my ugly hair colour already. I've made it Chestnut. So it's reddish, brownish, whateverish now! Hahah
Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is one of the most important traditional Chinese holidays. It is sometimes called the Lunar New Year, especially by people outside China. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month (Chinese: 正月; pinyin: zhēng yuè) in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival. Chinese New Year's Eve is known as Chúxī. It literally means "Year-pass Eve".
Celebrated in areas with large populations of ethnic Chinese, Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbours, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction.[citation needed] These include Aboriginal Taiwanese people, Koreans, Mongolians, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Vietnamese, and formerly the Japanese before 1873. In Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and other countries or regions with significant Han Chinese populations, Chinese New Year is also celebrated, and has, to varying degrees, become part of the traditional culture of these countries. In Canada, although Chinese New Year is not an official holiday, many ethnic Chinese hold large celebrations and Canada Post issues New Year's themed stamps in domestic and international rates.
Although the Chinese calendar traditionally does not use continuously numbered years, its years are often numbered from the reign of Huangdi outside China. But at least three different years numbered 1 are now used by various scholars, making the year 2008 "Chinese Year" 4706, 4705, or 4645.[2]
This is the season to be jolly... Falalala lalalala. Okay, I do know that it's Chinese New Year. And that phrase was supposed to be for Christmas. So why sing it during Chinese New Year?
Well, the days of rats have long passed us, and now we shall welcome the days of bullshit! Okay, no, it's OX.
Well, Chinese New Year to my family is just like any gathering; there's loads of food. We get to enjoy mixture of Peranakan dishes, western dishes, Malay dishes, Chinese dishes and even the chocolate fondue!
My Uncle's place would be bustling with the young and the young at heart. There will be loads of laughter, and the day shall not be over till over belly is bloated with food!
But just like every Chinese family, we do eat the Yu Sheng.
We also have loads and loads of tidbits.
And who can ever forget the famous Bak Gua?
And for those who are looking forward to buying that hot dress, cool shoes or game, this is the time to go all dreamy over money!
As for me, all I need is a carton of oranges.
For what? To eat lah!
As I watch my all time favourite activity, the Lion Dances! (My aunt knows that I love watching and would buy some CDs for me to watch them).
When I went for the interview at TP, I was asked "What inspires you to be a teacher?"
My answer was, "My mother. Believe it or not, my mother is the most versatile person that I know. When I was little, I would tag along as she taught in her child care class. I would see that for hours and hours as I watched her in admiration. She taught phonics, art, music and movement, and about anything you needed her to do. She pushed a van that had broken down when she was having me in her tummy. She fixed pipes, climbed rooftops, and with her creativity, built or made things that were useful as tools around the house. She showed me that one had to be very patient when dealing with children. And I loved how the kids felt so comfortable around her. Adding the fact that my mum would talk about games, and ask them about themselves. Can you imagine how the kids felt, eyes all sparkly when they told their tales in excitement. My mum built a firm foundation for the kids, and that was not only through education, but by also making them into responsible and well mannered kids. Through her, I learned to love kids, and through her, I want to be there for the kids, and guide them through their journey in life. You don't have to be a mother to teach, but to teach, you have to be like a mother to the kids. And I want to be just that, just like my mum, to aid kids towards their success in the future".
I of course, exceeded the 1 minute limit that was given. But I guess, I made it a point to them that I did not look up to someone who was distances away, but someone who is just a few steps away, someone I love, and who loves me back.
Well, when I was younger, I never understood why my mother would always stand by the window to watch us as we make our way to the MRT or Bus. When we were away in camps or when my brother was in NS, she would check her phone every five minutes to wait for our calls. She always stayed up late to wait for us to return home, and there were many times where we came home and found her snoozing on the chair.
And sometimes, even though she was unwell, she would wake up early just to make breakfast for us. She would sit with us as we ate, and only go back to sleep after she saw us off.
Even when she was in Thailand or Malacca, she would call back every now and then to check in on us.
But all that, would of course be accompanied by nags. She would nag at us if we did things last minute. Sometimes she scolded us for not being independent enough, but when we did do things on our own, she would come in and do it for us. Then she would scold us again for doing things too slowly, or last minute. She always busied herself with out things, even when we could do fine on our own.
In an obvious way, my brothers and I are really pampered by her.
Sometimes, it annoys(it's not that we don't want her around, but she's a busy woman, and needs her rest!) us that she would rather stay up just to make sure that we have had our meals, rather than have an early sleep. And she would peep to check on whether we were doing fine, and would jump at the chance when we needed help. And how she always eat last so that there's enough food for us all. And how she'll eat the "not so nice" food, and let us have the nice ones. I guess that's what mothers are like, huh.
And the countless times she defended us against our dad (he's not the bad guy. It's just that having Commando parents is pretty tough sometimes. But it's a miracle my mum is brain washed at all.) And the times when she felt eh urge to slap someone else for bragging about their kids. She always treated us as the best of the lot. And she too, is the best of the lot.
She may nag alot, but then again, it's funny to see her kalang kabut around the house. And then when she realizes that we're laughing at her, she'll scold us and then have her revenge! Well, we treat her pretty much like our friend rather than mom. We'll tumble on top of her, hit her (jokingly), do things to make her ter pranjat, or just make fun of her. She too has her moments where she makes fun or imitates us.
Her "in" word right now? 'So gross', 'so lame', 'duh', 'whatever'. Hahaha, it's funny when she does it because she practically imitates me or my brother Vernon when we say it.
Anyway, a while back, more like many years ago, my brother and I bought a book for my mother, for her birthday.
You must be thinking "wah lao.. birthday leh. Treat her go spa or buy something she wants lah. Buy book, somemore both of you share... Damn gonndu man".
What can I say! I was only 8! And before you stomp to my home to smack me on the head, let me say that the book that we bought was actually SPECIAL.
Yes, that is the book.
It's about the size of your palm, and well, that's not the only special part.
What's the most special is the content inside. This mini book is actually a book of 43 quotes for mothers, be it quotes with heartwarming effect, or cheeky ones. And to those who still don't understand and love your moms enough, read, understand, then read these quotes to your mom. I'm sure it'll make a difference.
When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. - Sophia Loren
Mothers are the most incisive philosophers. - Harriet Beecher Stowe
Instant availability without continuous presence is probably the best role a mother can play. - Lotte Bailyn
A mother's role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after. - Peter De Vries
Children are the anchors that hold a mother to life. - Sophocles
Moter is the name for God in the lips and hearts for children. - William Makepeace Thackarey
There's no such thing as a non-working mother. - Hester Mundis
Now, as always, the most automated appliance in the house is the Mother. - Beverly Jones
If dreams were born where gardens grow, and mums were flowers, I'd pick you.
Whatever you would have your children become, strive to exhibit in your own lives and conversation. - Lydia H Sigourney
The quickest way for a mother to get her children's attention is to sit down and loo comfortable. (This is so true! I guess, it's become a habit (I'm sure for you guys too) for my brothers and I to disturb her whenever she's comfy. But we do know when to draw the line.)
A mother's love is a garden where the Sun always shines and the season is always spring.
No matter how old a mother is, she watches her middle-aged children for signs of improvement. - Florida Scott-Maxwell
A mother's love and tender care, makes happiness bloom everywhere.
Who ran to help me when I fell, and would some pretty story tell, or make it well? My Mother. - Ann & Jane Taylor
Who takes the children by the hand, takes the mother by the heart. - German Proverb
The more people study different methods of bringing up children, the more they have come to the conclusion that what good mothers and fathers instinctively feel like doing for their babies is the best after all. - Dr. Benjamin Spock
It's a wise child that knows its own father, but its one child in a million who knows its mother.
This would be a better world for children if parents had to eat the spinach. - Groucho Marx 'Animal Crackers'
I have reached the age when a woman starts to percieve that she is growing into the person she least plans to resemble: her mother. - Anita Brookner
Motherhood is the most emotional experience of one's life. One joins a kind of women's mafia. - Janet Suzman 'Observer'
To become a mother is not hard, to be a mother is.
Children aren't happy with nothing to ignore. And that's what parents are created for. - Ogden Nash
The are of being a parent consist of sleeping when the baby isn't looking. - American Proverb
A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary. - Dorothy Canfield Fisher
A mother's patience is like a tube of toothpaste - it's never quite all gone.
The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents and the second half, by our children. - Clarence S Darrow
Sweet little old lady wishes to correspond with six-foot student with brown eyes and answering the initials J.D.B - His mother (Advert in a student magazine)
A mother's first gift is Life, the second is Love and the third is understanding.
We never know the love of our parents for us until we have become parents. - Henry Ward Beecher
There never was a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him alseep. - Emmerson 'Journals' 1836
A mother knows all about children. She knows abour dentist appointments and footbal games and romances and best friends and favourite foods and secret fears and hopes and dreams. A father is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
For the hand that rocks the cradle id the hand that rules the world. - William Ros Wallace 'What Rules The World'
Parents are sometimes a bit of a disappointment to their children. They don't fulfill the promise of their early years. -Anthony Powell.
They're a mysterious mob, mothers. - Robert Davies 'What's Bred In The Bone' 1986
A baby is an alimentary canal with a loud voice at one end and no responsibility at the other. - E Adamson
Even when freshly washed and relieved od all obvious infections, children tend to be sticky. - Fran Lebowitz
A mother's love trancends time and circumstances and endures forever.
Mother is another word for love.
The most difficult thing for a mother to remember is that other people have perfect children too.
Parents are the bone on which children cut their teeth. - Peter Ustinov
Parenthood remains the greatest single preserve of the amateur. - Alvin Toffler.
The joys are never fully experienced until all the children are in bed.
Which quote do you like? Mine are : 6, 9, 11, 22, 25, 26, 29 and 33.
I hope this had made a difference, because it sure has to me.
Okay, I have heard of the "Temple Of Life" in modern days, sung by Avril Lavigne. I am sure most of you heard the song too.
But, have you heard of the "Museum of Life"?No, it's not another song done by Avril Lavigne. In fact, it is not a song at all!
What I am talking about is Thailand's Life Museum.
Now what is so interesting about this museum is that, unlike the other museums that we go to, that has photos and antiques of the past, this museum actually has corpses of humans displayed there!
These are not normal humans, but actually of those who suffer from Aids. Working alongside this museum, is a temple called "Aids Temple". This temple was initially a Buddhist Temple, but was later converted "into a small hospice to care for fully blown AIDS patients".
If you want to read more about the temple, and would like to lend a helping hand, Click Here!
You can also watch a video of a documentary done with a few patients living in the temple.
Do read the website as it has many interesting facts about the reason as to why "Thailand is ranked as the Fourth in terms of most AIDS patients per head of population".
Simplified version:
Rural area, education level is low, thus farmers have no idea as to how to protect themselves against Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
"It has long been in the Thai culture for men to sleep with prostitutes". The females are mainly the wives who contracted the diseases from their husbands. In turn, the kids are affected.
"Thailand is a society where conservative appearances are deceiving. Drug use is rampant and there is virtually no education towards the use of needles".
"The support for AIDS patients is negligible". Families are basically afraid of catching AIDS by being around the AIDS infected ones.
* The ones that are placed "like this" are quotes lifted off of the site.
Anyway, as we all know, AIDS is not a joking matter. And to end this post, I would like to "enlighten" you by displaying photographs of the life in the museum and temple. The bodies were donated to the Life Museum by AIDS patients that have passed away.
Here goes.
These are cremation ovens.
And these are the thousands and thousands of bags of ashes. These are the ashes of the HIV patients.
"9 Thais die from AIDS every hour. 500 Thais contract HIV every day. It is estimated that there are one million HIV positive people in Thailand", as said by Dr. AlongkotDikkapanyo.
Speaking of innocent children who die, this is PanidaKumrat. She was one year, three months and 21 days old when she passed away. Her mother had infected her with the deadly virus.
This is also another child, James, who died at the age of five.
This is the corpse of MirapornChindatong. "She died of AIDS at the age of 24. She was infected by "providing sex" as it says on her vitreous coffin. Miraporn's last will had been to donate her body to science, for "educational means" to help others".
Now if you think that contracting AIDS is a joke, then see how this man suffer(ed) as he spend his last few days in struggle. There is in fact, 10 000 people who are on the waiting list to get care and a bed in the hospice.
Now on more photos. I'll let them to the talking, or at least the frightening.
If ghosts can pass through doors and walls, then how come they can't sink through the floor?
(From Wikipedia.org)
A ghost is the apparition of a deceased person, frequently similar in appearance to that person, and usually encountered in places he or she frequented, the place of his or her death, or in association with the person's former belongings. The word ghost may also refer to the spirit or soul of a deceased person, or to any spirit or demon.[1][2][3] A place in which ghosts are claimed to appear is described as haunted. A related phenomenon is the poltergeist, literally a 'noisy spirit' that manifests itself by moving and influencing objects, though a widespread view today is that these occurrences are either fraudulent or manifestations of the psychic energy of, particularly, adolescent girls.[4] Phantom armies, ghost-animals, ghost trains and phantom ships have also been reported.[5][6]
The reality of ghosts is a controversial subject which divides believers and skeptics.[7] The study of ghosts is both the subject of folklore and also, since the nineteenth century, of the investigations of parapsychologists, who have attempted to refine the vocabulary used in describing ghostly phenomena. Summoning or exorcising the shades of the departed is an item of belief and religious practice for spiritualists and practitioners of ritual magic. Though some claims of ghostly phenomena are proven frauds others remain unexplained or are subject to conflicting explanations. So far no one explanation has gained universal acceptance.[8] According to a poll conducted in 2005 by the Gallup Organization about 32% of Americans believe in the existence of ghosts.[9]
There are definitely many forms of ghosts or spirits out there. Do you believe in them?
Well, if you don't, then you should watch this. Watch it even if you do believe in ghosts.
You have to go real close to the screen to spot the ghost in the video, because the video recorded has a small screen resolution.
If you know more about ghosts, do share a tale or two with me okay?
And yes, I was shocked too when I saw the ghost in the video. It was definitely an "eye-opener".
One word to describe the interview: Nerve-wrecking.
I received a call last night at around 10pm. ( I really need to freakin' kick the habit of being "selective" to the calls that I pick! Hey, at least I admit that I "avoid some people's calls, especially numbers that aren't registered in my phone. I'm trying hard to kick the habit, but if you need to call me, and want me to pick up, register your number in my phone, or at least text me and say it's you. Can't blame me, blame the KFC guys, right Syuh?) Okay, it was more like a miss call.
Well, I didn't call them back. And you would've thought "so how did you make it for the interview?". Well, my friends, there's something called the internet, and I was lucky enough to check it last night.
They did leave their numbers behind and hey! They matched my missed calls. Okay, so it was too late to call them back, and so I waited for the next day, which was today.
Anyway, I actually set my alarm to call them at 10am (hey, it was early already, having that I slept at 4am) but I freakin' missed another call from them at 9.24am! Damn, when I woke up at 10, I made sure I called them back, and I did!
Okay, putting all that aside, you might be thinking "say what course you take lah! Type so much!"
Well, I applied for Psychology Studies and Early Childhood (cut off point is 9 leh! How can? I've only 13 points!) through JPSAE (Jeanice, I asked you to apply hor!) and that explains the interview. I was lucky enough to be one of the shortlisted few and it felt awesome to actually step in Temasek Poly.
Anyway, I almost got myself lost while finding the building, but fortunately, I made it on time. There were some ice-breaker games(it was a much gentler version of Wacko!) before we began the interview. I had no idea as to why I was placed as the last one to be interviewed, but it was awesome anyways, having to chill with people I didn't know.
Before I left home, I told my mum that I was worried that people might think of me as a freak, from the way I dressed, to my hair, to the way I spoke. But when I reached TP, I realized that the interviewees there were just as fun.
I did make some good friends, like Mabel, Grace Song, Li Min, Hanna, Elsa and Jia Qi. Li Min was the wackiest one there, while Mabel was the lamest one. She even said, with qoute, that she could kill someone with her own lameness.
Now how awesome is that.
Well, having to wait from 5.30 to 7.15pm wasn't as fun as I expected when everyone left, leaving me behind. And when it was my turn for the interview, I could only say one thing "I'm hungry."
The interview questions were very much related to the course that I chose, the dual diploma. Apparently, I was selected for my efforts in volunteer work and leadership. I tried to refrain from uttering pure rubbish, but I couldn't help it, they were asking too many questions, so much that they too were confused at each other's questions.
But it was fun though, because I made use of every cert. I had, from the Adam Khoo workshop, to the CSSP and Ne Ambassador Certs. I talked so much till the lecturers had to raise their hand to stop me from talking. Wah Lao... I felt pretty much like an American Idol contestant that was about to be booted off the stage.
Oh well, whether I make it or not, it's up to them to decide. But I'm happy that I got to experience being interviewed by professional Psychologists! It was nerve-wrecking as they were analyzing my every move. Hahah. But it also means that I may be a step closer to my dream job!
All the best everyone, for your choices! It'll be out on 30th January!
Have you guys watched "Storm Chasers" on Discovery Channel?
Man, I love that show. I love it when these teams set off to do what others would think dumb of, to chase after storms, and capture them on video. The team(above) is actually trying to be IN a tornado, and capture footage of it. And after watching this show, I realized that, even though tornadoes cause huge destruction, they are actually pretty beautiful to look at.
To tell you the truth, I myself am a chaser. No, not a Storm chaser, but a 'Cicak Chaser'.
Just like the storm chasers, I have a radar (Junior, my dog. He sniffs around and when there's one, he'll wag his tail excitedly, and try to pry open the drawers or cabinets that the cicak is hiding in.) that tells me where the nearest Cicak is. And instead of setting up pods to capture the "storm", I throw mothballs in, and then attack it head on with my handy-dandy Sheildtox.
I can't help it, Cicaks love me. And as beautiful as some of them are, the household cicaks are a big No-No.
So far, I have killed millions with my partner in crime, Junior. I killed one with a slipper. I threw one out of the window, and even chopped one of by slamming my window against it. I even microwaved one. Man, the explosion was like POW!
I hate cicaks, especially after one of them slept with me!
Now don't get it wrong, Cicak Man is not my son.
What I mean, is that I woke up with a cicak staring straight back at me, and it was on my covers!
And so, I started cicak-chasing ever since. You can join if you want. Hahaha.
I know you must be thinking "Wah lao, first dead people, then cicak story, then now toothpaste?!? Si bei bo liao lah. "
Well, my friend, toothpaste is actually a very interesting topic. And I bet you'll learn something after reading this post.
But before I begin, let me ask you a question.. Do you know how the tubes of the toothpaste produces this (Below) when you squeeze the tube? I mean is there any mechanism that causes the toothpaste to not be mixed up?
Okay, here was what happened. As always, I woke up in the afternoon and headed to the toilet. My mum bought us a new toothpaste, and I was the first one to use it! Nevermind..
Sidetrack: I love toothpaste. Especially Kodomo's Grape flavour because it tastes like Bubble Gum.
But I've stopped using them since I was 7, after my mum realized that my brothers and I eating them more than we were using them to brush our teeth. We use the coloured ones now, because it looks more like candy than the normal Darlie toothpaste.
Anyway, back to my morning routine.
After squeezing the tube, the coloured toothpaste came out. And of all days, this was the day where this question striked me "How come the toothpaste isn't mixed up, and can come out of the tube in perfect design like this?"
Well, curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to try an experiment. No, I did not cut open the tube, even though I really wanted to. Instead, I squeezed the tube back and forth, and the toothpaste still came out in perfect design!
How can?!?!
So I decided to search it on the net, but instead of finding out how the tube works, I found these.
It's about half an hour long, and it is about kids who suffer from Fluorosis. It is a health condition caused by an overdose of fluoride. In its severe form it is characterized by black and brown stains, as well as cracking and pitting of the teeth.
If you want to know more about it, watch the video and read this!
Ah.. Now I'm in full regret of eating those Kodomo toothpaste.
So now you know, don't eat your toothpaste!
Oh, and before I leave, visit This Site. There are actually alot to know about toothpaste!
Not For The Faint-Hearted. Or at least, not for those who are afraid of seeing the DEAD.
If you know me well enough, you would know of my interest in the field of the paranormal phenomenon. I love sharing and exchanging tales of "experiences" with family and friends. I love watching "A Haunting" where the team of investigators would set up cameras around the haunted place to observe the paranormal activities. Some of them would then tour the area with devices to trace for unusual situations like a change in temperature. I am always at the edge of my seat whenever I see episodes whereby the ghost is furious and would make noises or toss items about.
I do support the local "Ghost Busters" (SPI) too, by visiting their website frequently to read the stories and follow up on the investigations. I don't know about you, but I would always place myself in the settings, as if I too, were involved in the paranormal investigations. I would then question (sometimes aloud) as to why the ghost is doing this, what am I supposed to do, what clues are there, how come their spirits are still around, how does it feel and so on. You get what I mean.
Anyway, last night, I watched a show on the National Geographic Channel called "Sleeping Beauties: The Incorruptibles." And a new question rose to the surface: Why do Saints leave their incorruptible bodies behind? I don't know if any of you caught the show. And if you didn't and have no clue as to what I am talking about, fear not! Wikipedia to the rescue!
Incorruptibility is the Catholic and Orthodox Christian belief that supernatural intervention allows some human bodies to not undergo the normal process of decomposition after death. Bodies that reportedly undergo little or no decomposition are sometimes referred to as incorrupt or incorruptible (adjective) or as an incorruptible (noun).
Incorruptibility is seen as distinct from the good preservation of a body, or mummification. Incorruptible bodies are often said to have the Odour of Sanctity, exuding a sweet aroma. However, despite numerous claims, there are no scientifically verified cases of genuine incorruptibility.
I was curios.. So more research!
From http://www.overcomeproblems.com/incorruptables.htm (It's an attack site, So I guess no one's going to click on it huh?)
Specimens of preserved human bodies or "mummies" have been discovered throughout the centuries, some even from before the Egyptian Pharaoh times when the art of embalming originated. Many of these preserved bodies have survived decomposition for as many as 3000 years. Of all preserved bodies that have been discovered over the centuries, each fall into one of three categories:
1. Accidentally preserved - These type of preserved bodies were determined to be naturally preserved due to accidental means such as having been buried in dry, hot sand, or lava, or having been placed in an area with high radioactivity. As long as air or moisture did not reach these bodies, they can many times be preserved from significant, but not total decay. However, when accidentally preserved bodies are discovered, they are typically discolored, wrinkled, distorted, are skeletal looking and have no elasticity. In addition they always have a bad odor and always decay rapidly once bandaging is removed for scientific examination.
2. Deliberately preserved - Deliberately preserved corpses are those that were purposely embalmed or otherwise treated before burial with the intention of trying to naturally prevent decomposition. As long as air or moisture did not reach these bodies, they can many times be preserved from significant, but not total decay. In most older cases of deliberately preserved human bodies discovered, the body cavities were filled with specific materials like resin or resin-soaked sawdust, or the entire body was submerged in specific materials such as honey, rum, or sand. In more modern methods of attempting to prevent corpse decomposition, the body was typically submerged or filled with resin, tar, salt, alcohol, or a combination of these. Again, when deliberately preserved bodies are discovered, like accidentally preserved bodies, they are typically discolored, wrinkled, distorted, are skeletal looking and have no elasticity. In addition they always have a bad odor and always decay rapidly once bandaging is removed for scientific examination.
3. Incorruptibles - These type of preserved bodies started being discovered back in the early centuries after Christ, though surprisingly, they do not fall into either the accidental or deliberate preservation categories above. The causes for "incorruptibles" remaining free of decomposition have baffled scientists to this day. These bodies are discovered in many different environments, including environments that would typically cause an accidental or deliberately preserved corpse to decompose rapidly. They remain free of decay regardless of manner of burial, delay in burial, temperature, moisture, rough handling, frequent transference, having been covered in quicklime (a decaying agent), or proximity to other decaying corpses. They cannot be explained by science or reason. Some common characteristics of an incorrupt body:
Incorruptibles are typically found lifelike, moist, flexible, and contain a sweet scent that many say smells like roses or other flowers, for years after death.
Incorruptibles are almost never embalmed or treated in any way due to the religious order's beliefs that the person came from.
Incorruptibles remain free of decay, some for centuries, despite circumstances which normally cause decay such as being exposed to air, moisture, other decaying bodies, or other variables such as quicklime, which is typically applied to a corpse to accelerate decomposition.
Incorruptibles many times contain clear, flowing oils, perspiration, and flowing blood for years after death, where accidental or deliberately preserved bodies have never been recorded to have such characteristics.
Other partial incorruptibles have been found throughout the centuries where certain parts of the body decay normally, while other parts such as the heart or tongue remain perfectly free of decomposition.
What is most astounding of all is the fact that for each incorrupt body discovered, after research has been done to determine who the person was, it has always been determined that the person was an extremely devout Catholic. This inevitably leads to the question, How can the process of decay, which has no intelligence, choose which bodies to devour and not to devour, and why do they happen to be devout Catholics? (For claims of incorrupt Orthodox Christians, please see our page on the subject here.) There is no other way to describe this phenomena than to state that it is supernatural rather than natural, and that it is simply miraculous.
In addition, many unexplainable miracles have occurred throughout history when people have come in contact with these incorrupt remains, and despite regular medical examinations, scientists have not determined why. These incorrupt bodies are on display all over the world to this day (mainly in Europe), and nearly all bodies who have been identified and whose background has been researched thoroughly, have been canonized by the Catholic Church as Saints due to their publicly devout Catholic life.
Note that some incorrupt bodies that have been discovered and placed on display have had make up or wax added to them to improve their appearance. This is due to the fact that some bodies, while incorrupt, may not appear as beautiful as others, or may only be partially incorrupt while others are fully incorrupt. To those non-believers reading this page, these minor touch-ups are irrelevant when it comes to the state of a body's incorruptibility; no amount of make up or wax could possibly prevent these bodies (some centuries old!) from decaying once placed on display. The majority of incorrupt bodies remain incorrupt after being put on display, regardless of whether they have been touched up or not.
If you still have no idea, then let me show you. There's actually a list of them. I'll try to find all the pictures.
It's going to be alittle freaky.
Here goes:
Jacinta Marto - Jacinta Marto was one of the three original visionaries at Fatima, Portugal in 1917. She was born in 1910 and died in 1920. In both 1935 and 1951 her body was exhumed and in each instance, her body was found to be incorrupt. The Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima was built on the site where the three children first saw "a lady brighter than the sun" and Jacinta's tomb has remained there since 1951.See picture below
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini - Also known as Mother Cabrini, she died in Chicago in 1917, and was entombed at that time in West Park, New York. In 1931 her remains were exhumed and found to be partially incorrupt. She was beatified in 1938 and in 1946 was the first US citizen to be canonized a Saint. Her partially incorrupt body covered in wax is now enshrined under the altar in the chapel at St. Francis Cabrini Shrine in New York City. See photo below.
Pope St. Pius X - Pope St. Pius X was the 257th Catholic Pope, reigning from 1903 to 1914. He passed away on August 20, 1914 and was buried in the crypt below St. Peter's Basilica. On May 19, 1944, Pope Pius X's coffin was exhumed and was taken to the Chapel of the Holy Crucifix in St. Peter's Basilica for the canonical examination. Upon opening the coffin, the examiners found the body of Pope Pius X preserved, despite the fact that he had died 30 years before and had made wishes not to be embalmed.See pictures below.
Following his beatification, on February 17, 1952, Pope Pius X's body was transferred from its tomb to the Vatican basilica and placed under the altar of the chapel of the Presentation. The pontiff's body lies within a glass and bronze-work sarcophagus for the faithful to see. On May 29, 1954, less than three years after his beatification, Pope St. Pius X was canonized. See photo below.
Saint Maria Mazzarello - Died in 1881 and was later discovered incorrupt. Her incorrupt body is venerated in the Basilica of Mary Our Help, in Turin, Italy. See photo below.
Saint Bernadette Soubirous (also pictured at the top of the page) - St. Bernadette was the original visionary at Lourdes, France and died in 1879 in Nevers, France. Her body was exhumed 30 years later in 1909 and was discovered completely incorrupt and free of odor. The body was again exhumed a second time ten years later in 1919 and was still incorrupt. Her body is still on display in the Chapel of St. Bernadette in Nevers, France to this day. See photos below.
Blessed Paula Frassinetti - Died in 1882 and her body was exhumed and found to be incorrupt in 1906. Her body is on display in the Chapel of the Convent of Santa Dorotea in Rome, Italy.
St. Catherine Laboure' - Died in 1876 and was exhumed and found incorrupt and completely flexible in 1933. Her body is on display under the side altar in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Sun in Paris. See photo below.
St. Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney (Cure' of Ars) - Died in 1859 and was exhumed and found incorrupt in 1904. His body is on display above the main altar in the Basilica at Ars in France. See photo below.
St. Vincent Pallotti - Died in 1850 and was exhumed and found incorrupt and sweetly scented in 1906 and again in 1950. His body is on display under the main altar in the Church of St. Salvatore in Onda, Italy. See picture below.
Bl. Anna Marie Taigi - Died in 1837 at the age of 64 and after 18 years her coffin was opened and body found to be incorrupt. On August 18, 1865 her body was transferred to the Church of San Crisogono in Trastevere (Rome) where it remains to the present day, still incorrupt.
St. Teresa Margaret - Died in 1770 and was exhumed and found incorrupt in 1783. Her body is on display in a glass case at the Monastery of St. Teresa in Florence, Italy. See photo below.
St. Veronica Giuliani - Died in 1727 and later found incorrupt. See photo below.
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque - Died in 1690 at the age of 43. Her tomb was canonically opened 140 years later in 1830 and body found to be incorrupt. Her body rests under the altar in the chapel at Paray in France. See picture below.
Ven. Mary of Agreda - Died in 1665 and was later discovered incorrupt. Her body has been examined again in later years, including in 1909 and 1989 with no degradation to the body. Her body has remained incorrupt for over 340 years and is kept in a convent in Spain. See photo below.
St. Andrew Bobola - He was severely tortured and intentionally killed in 1657, and was thereafter buried beneath a Jesuit church at Pinsk. After 40 years his body was discovered incorrupt, despite the body's proximity to other decaying corpses and the excessive wounds on his body that normally would have fostered corruption. His body is still as flexible as a live body and is on display under the main altar in the Church of St. Andrew Bobola in Warsaw, Poland.
St. Francis Xavier - Died 1552 and was discovered incorrupt, despite the fact that lime was placed in his casket to expedite decomposition. His body was also said to have bled normally one and a half years after death during an examination by a physician. The body is now in the in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, where it was placed in a glass container encased in a silver casket on December 2, 1637. See photo below.
St. Angela Merici - Died in 1540 and her body remained intact for centuries. She is buried in the Church of St. Afra at Brescia. See photo below.
Bl. Osanna of Manua' - Died in 1505. Her body is on display under the altar in Our Lady of the Rosary in the Cathedral of Manua, Italy. In 1965 the relic of her body was examined in depth and still found to be well preserved (460 years old!)
St. Catherine of Bologna - Died in 1463 and has been incorrupt and on display in an upright position for over 500 years. See photo below.
St. Rita of Cascia - Died in 1457. Her body kept a sweet fragrance all of these centuries and is on display in a glass case in the Basilica of St. Rita in Cascia, Italy. It is also publicly known that her body has been seen in different positions in the glass case, as well as eyes having opened and closed unaided. See photo below.
Blessed Imelda Lambertini - Known better as Blessed Imelda, she died as a young girl in 1333 and was later found incorrupt. She was beatified in 1826 and her incorrupt body is on display in the Church of San SigismondoBologna, Italy. See photo below.
Blessed Margaret of Metola (Castello) - Died in 1320 and was found incorrupt in 1558. Her body is on display under the high altar of the Church of St. Domenico at Citta-di-Castello, Italy. See photo below.
St. Agnes of Montepulciano - Died in Italy in 1317 and was later found incorrupt. She remained whole and incorrupt until the 16th century when, due to excessive humidity in her tomb, some of her body decomposed. Much of her body has still remained intact for 7 centuries now, including limbs and bones, which are now enclosed in a figure of the Saint on display at the Sanctuary of St. Agnes in Montepulciano, Italy. See photo below.
St. Clare of Montefalco - Died in 1308 and though her body was embalmed, her body has still remained perfectly incorrupt (beyond what embalming can provide in over 7 centuries). Her body is still normally flexible and displayed in the church of the Augustinian nuns of Montefalco, Italy. See photo below.
St. Zita - Died in 1278 and her body is on display in a glass reliquary in the Basilica of St. Frediano in Lucca, Italy. See photo below.
St. Sperandia - Died in 1276 her body is on display in the Benedictine convent church of Cingoli, Italy. Her body was exhumed eight different times, the last in 1952. It is still incorrupt to this day and exudes a sweet fragrance.
Saint Alphege - Was Archbishop of Canterbury and was captured, put in prison, and eventually murdered by his captors in 1012. Ten years later his perfectly incorrupt body was discovered.
Saint Withburga - Died in 743 and incorrupt body was discovered 55 years later. Her remains were on display for over 300 more years thereafter until destroyed during the Reformation.
Saint Etheldreda - Died in 679 and was later found incorrupt. Her remains were intact for nearly 800 years until the Reformation when, at the orders of Henry VIII, her relics were scattered and shrine destroyed.
Saint Agatha - Died in 251 and body was discovered incorrupt in the eleventh century. Parts of her incorrupt body are still in existence today.
Saint Cecilia - Died in 177 and her body was discovered incorrupt in 1599. St. Cecilia is known to be the first saint to be incorrupt. Below is a statue of St. Cecilia created during the exhumation of her incorrupt body in 1599. The position is the same as the actual body and is believed to be the position in which she died. The statue is located in the Basilica of St. Cecilia in Rome.
If you are interested, you can click here and here to find out more!
