Updates

Just and update on whats been cooking on level 8 during reading week. While everyone's pretending to study for their exams, the old men of here have pretty much succumbed to fighting fate and seem rather relaxed about taking exams for the seventh time yet.

Wednesday night saw us watching the England-Croatia game at Potato's room and what a rollercoaster of a game that turned out to be. As the game kicked off, Potato and Lawrence took their seats around the screen while I was still doing my own stuff, not expecting anything exciting to happen so early on in the game. But surely enough, potato soon shouted GG! on seeing Scott Carson's blunder which caused me to rush into the room by the time the instant replay was on, which was followed by a colorful series of expletives being doled out by the three of us, so loud that it woke Ian up from behind his closed door where he was stocking up on shuteye for his morning paper. Ian would then be voluntarily woken up several times on from that point, as our agony turned to ecstasy after half time, and then back to utter disgust once Croatia's third goal went in. I think enough people have said plenty about Carson and Maclaren so I think we'll spare you that bit. But our heart does go out to our fellow level 8 resident David Beckham who should've been brought into the game so much earlier, and when he eventually was put onto the pitch, his effect on the game was instant, what with that excellent ball in to Peter Crouch. But alas, owing to atrocious managing by Steve-o, David may not have a chance, after winning his 99th cap that day, to become the first 8-shorter to win 100 caps for his country. We feel for you bro...

David after coming back to level8 and realizing he might not win his 100th cap!

Soccer aside, the 8-shorters only get to see each other at breakfast over the weekdays, which each of us finding our own unique 'study' spots. Pon and Potato each in their own rooms with their new loves (Grace and Call-of-Duty respectively), Lawrence in the Library, JK in self-imposed exile, Jun Ming in engine, and me in the E-shack. But its really quite shiok studying in the E-shack with the TV on in the background, especially at odd hours when channel 5 reruns old tv shows and sitcoms like Alf, Picket Fences, Wonder Years etc. This is the stuff I was weaned on and it feels really good to be seeing them after all these years from a completely different perspective that too after having grown up (a little).

Today was our Forensic Science paper with atleast a dozen shearites taking this module. Lawrence challenged me to finish the paper in time such that I'd be able to buy Subway and come back to the MPSH before he and the rest managed to get out. And surely enough, I left the exam venue at 1030 with Joey Gan and was happily waiting for them outside the door (subway in tow) as they emerged from the hall at 11 plus. That said, another thing i'm going to miss is slacking around NUS when its broad daylight, whether its while walking from one faculty to another handing in term papers on a lazy afternoon during reading week when there's not a soul around campus, or perhaps like today, after a Saturday morning exam buzzing around the YIH area buying food from various outlets and strolling from point to point while shouting out to other Shearites one might spot across from the bus stop to subway. These little simple experiences are really hard to put to words because their very nature is so trivial, yet when you're living in that very moment its just so peaceful and free from interest in its triviality that you just want that sublime instance to last forever.

If spotting Shearites left-right-center during lunch wasn't bad (good) enough, this evening was even more obscene. Probably the entire present population of blocks C,D and E decided to descend to level one and make their way to Ginza for dinner at the SAME time. I'm not kidding but I think there were at least 30-odd (maybe even 42) people at the bus stop by the time the bus arrived, so many such that block D actually had to take the next bus. Other people in the bus were thoroughly amused though with the fact that Ian, Myself, Jun Leong and Robin had to spend the entire journey with our neck tilted at 45° angle due to the height (or lack thereof) of the ceiling of the bus. But again, the cluster$^!% at Ginza was fun too as 8-short managed to catch up over dinner after quite the hiatus.


In other news, a certain block C female kindergartener commented to me that the level8 guys are rather un-'sexy' and unkempt. Scalding to the ego as that statement might have been, the optimist is us likes to believe that that probably means that we aren't superficial but true-to-ourselves, less concerned with outwardly artifice and more about substance and virtue. But if the rest of you think my BS is only speaking for myself, then I suggest its high time we do something for our image. I also learned that these very same girls have a list that ranks the guys in order of unsexiness, and I do have some information pertaining to this list, however I shall refrain from disclosing any of these facts based on what I also learned from a recent episode of South Park whose moral suggested that probing lists can be highly injurious to not only one's health, but to the very notion of what we believe the female species to be.. and we also wouldn't want things to end ugly with someone throwing up on.. someone... (inside joke)

Finally, if you're bored and there's nothing to read on 8short, pop over to the Acers blog where Bona and Sean post almost a daily fix of hilarious videos to provide you with adequate reasons for procrastination. Below are my top picks from their last few posts. More of such can be found if you follow the link above. Cheers.