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My new hobby - the beginnings of paper craft!

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A view from a restaurant above a lake

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Inter Faculty Games 2014

That's it. I did it. On impulse, I signed up for my faculty's team to play a sport for the 2014 inter-faculty games. I saw the email, and immediately decided that I should join the faculty's team. 

Actually, this was not such an impulsive choice as my opening statement might have lead one to believe. For the past few weeks of my vacation, I had been wondering and planning how to make the last two years of my university time more colourful. Last year, I had decided to focus on my academic grades, because my grades in the first year were precarious. Finally, after putting in a lot of hardcore effort but managing to improve my grades only slightly, I thought it became necessary for me to work on my extra curricular activities now. The elusive A+ will always be difficult to achieve, but it seems that hard core mugging will not make the cut. I therefore decided that I should also enjoy university life as well, while trying to climb the grade ladder.

I believe that if I had taken such a course in the first year, I might have indeed bitten off more than I could chew. However, having spent 2 semesters studying at home and self studying, I now have a feel of what the general thrust of the nature of articles and textbook chapters are like, and understand how it feels to be mugging all day long. With this academic bottomline  added to my cap, I can now stride forth and try to participate in more activities, and gain more insightful and interesting experiences.

On this premise, I had decided to take a module during the vacation, to finish off 5 out of the 20 credits required per semester, so that I would have a lighter workload during the semester itself. The freed up time will be used to participate in university extra curricular activities, so that in the very least, my CV would have some added value in addition to my acadeic work.

Against this backdrop, my sudden decision to sign up for the Inter Faculty Games should not be seen as completely impulsive. 

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WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT ON YOUR PLANET?

With infinite time and infinite resources, I'd like to visit everywhere.

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Here is my first painting of SIS BV, done some time in 2008, and in all likelihood, completed and given to Ms Bagyam in 2009. Though it looks rather amateurish, and the edges are rough, I am proud to put it here for record purposes, and as a benchmark for further improvements.

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A little sketch I did someone last vacation. Though not completely alike, I thought it brings back fond memories of my add math class.

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An insightful 2 weeks spent interning in a law firm, where I had the opportunity to see real contracts, review them, do due diligence, and even a little bit of translation.

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Modelling paste is a real fun material to work with. I used it in my canvas painting, and was finally able to work up 3D textures on the artwork. However, one point to note is that when it is dried, the texture of the paste was rough and porous, rather than smooth like acrylic.

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Progress in the painting of the school. My mars black acrylic ran out, but I have taken to mixing my Chinese writing ink with modeling paste to get the grey colour.

The walls have to be repainted, the water fountain needs to be filled in, and basically all the other features of the front entrance needs to be done. But at least I slapped some colour on to the roof, and fixed the basketball court.

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Another attempt in drawing the school. The first completed picture went to my secondary 3 additional maths teacher. This is another drawing in the sis series, but it will be mine to keep!

The first painting was a view from the front entrance of the school. This second painting is a side view. Already it contains several points of difference from the earlier picture. Even as this second painting is made, new changes are observed in the school front entrance, however, due to laziness and a desire to preserve or complete the drawing as when the idea was first hatched, I will not be incorporating these changes in this painting.

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Poking and jabbing at the Computer every weekend

Weekends are a lovely treat for many. To me, it means more study (with the occasional treat, of course).

To me, it means frantically reading a new set of three to four articles, twenty pages each (sometimes it reaches fifty, and once, even seventy) and making my notes either by hand, or more recently on the keyboard. 

There is no way out of this. I just have to do it. Weekend after weekend, I precipitated myself into this ongoing cycle of reading and summarizing. I am glad to say, that this week is the last! (for this subject only, of course...there is no saying what the next modules would demand)

For now, my Comparative Law module is nearly done. All those articles that I have read, have taken me through an interesting (occasionally begrudging) journey through page loads of history, and theory.

One(or two) phrase(s) for myself as a consolation:

DON'T COMPLAIN LAH! JUST READ IT LAH!

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PP V Dorgan Tan Ram See

The new sensational Trial Advo problem. This leads me to the same dilemma I encountered earlier. I won't KNOW how strong my case is unless I know what the objective circumstances are.

I am constantly reminded of what Sir ACD said, (through the character of SH) "I follow docilely wherever the facts lead me".

Yes, I still have the irresistable impulse to take the objective view. Im not yet afraid to explore all the channels that may probably lose the case for my side. I am not afraid to convince myself that the fictional character whom i am supposed to represent, is indeed morally culpable, or that my sole prosecution witness is a liar.

But there, the difference lies, between H and an advocate. SH investigates the truth. An advocate is obliged to put the case to the test. Subject it to immense pressure, to ensure that the prosecution is based on rock solid foundations.

SH can afford to make inferences, but the court cannot. That is what aquittals are for. They dont prove the person innocent. They just call them "not guilty".

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Microsoft word spell checker is beginning to correct a lot of my words. I'm starting to feel locked out from what is normally understood as "spelling". These words are simple enough to understand...do you really regard them as misspelt?

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From the episode "the penguin that loved me", that saw dr blowhole's return. Done on my samsung note

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"Constitution"

What does "Constitution" mean?

Certainly, there exists "constitutional articles" which are filed up somewhere as some statutory documents in the library. The articles of the constitution are somewhat related to guaranteeing fundamental rights, etc. But if we take a look at this little phrase below:

"even his iron constitution cannot withstand the strain which he is putting upon it" (or something to that effect. It is a little snippet that I recall from Sherlock Holmes)

I think the word 'constitution' appears to have multiple meanings.

Perhaps I may be wrong though...this is just a passing thought

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An awesome companion when studying. I rediscovered this delicious candy when I went to the bookshop a few days ago.