Loveless Summer

June 20 is the happiest day of the year. =)

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 06:25:00 +0000

According to a math formula worked out by Cliff Arnall, June 20th is the happiest day of the year. I don't know about you, but it definitely wasn't my happiest day of the year.

You can read the full report here.

Let me know which day is your happiest day of the year. =)

I downloaded Firefox 3, but I still felt sad.

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:57:00 +0000

After hours of waiting, I finally downloaded Firefox 3 from here:
http://www.mozilla.com/products/download.html?product=firefox-3.0&os=win&lang=en-US

Nevertheless, I still felt very disappointed. Mozilla, sigh.....

And this post is written with Firefox 3. Call it a love-hate relationship, but I still prefer Firefox to IE, no matter what.

Firefox 3 download page is down =(

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:27:00 +0000

Firefox 3 is SUPPOSED to be released at 1pm EDT on 17th June, 2008, that translates into 1am on 18th June, 2008 at my side. That means I had to stay up all night just to download it. Stay up I did, because 1) I love Firefox. 2) I pledged. 3) I want to be part of the world record.

But when 1pm came, the official download page went down!!! What a ingenious way to explain to us the meaning of DOWNload! And what a great start to break a world record! I'm not complaining. But Mozilla does seem a bit unprepared for its own party. After creating all the buzz online, I can't believe Mozilla failed to fulfil its promise.

I have no doubt that Firefox 3 will still be able to set a world record (since there is no previous world record anyway), and I will still be able to download Firefox 3 within the next 24 hours (because I don't want to think otherwise), and Firefox 3 will push Firefox's market share even further (because I hate IE). But for all those faithful Firefox fans who waited all morning, or in my case all night, this delay is still a huge letdown.

I am disappointed. Very disappointed.

Check out TechCrucnch.

Update:
1:42pm EDT. Still no download page.

2:00pm EDT. One hour after the promised release time, the download page is still down.

At around 2:01pm EDT. I received this email from spreadfirefox.com

"Today you'll make history with Firefox
Are you ready to make history? Are you ready to set a World Record? Today is Download Day. To become part of the official Guinness World Record you must download Firefox 3 by 17:00 UTC on June 18, 2008, or roughly 24 hours from now."

That means the release time is indeed 17:00 UTC (13:00 EDT) June 17, 2008!

2:19 EDT. Mozilla blog posted an explanation-cum-apology.

"The outpouring of interest and enthusiasm around Firefox 3 has been overwhelming (literally!). Our servers are currently feeling the burn and should be back to normal shortly. Download day will officially commence once the site goes live. The 24 hours period will be clocked from that moment. Thanks for your continued support."

2:37 EDT. I am going to bed. Still no download available. Firefox, I am starting to hate you. =(

3:00pm EDT. I used this link download
http://www.mozilla.com/products/download.html?product=firefox-3.0&os=win&lang=en-US
It worked. But I still felt disappointed. Spreadfirefox is still down. Mozilla's homepage is still not updated. This just isn't how things are supposed to be.

If the world's population were reduced to 100, what would it be like?

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:59:00 +0000

(Transcribed from The Miniature Earth video. Click here to watch the entire video.)

If we could turn the population of the earth into a small community of 100 people, keeping the same proportions we have today, it would be something like this...

61 Asians, 12 Europeans, 8 North Americans, 5 South Americans and the Caribbean, 13 Africans, and 1 from Oceania

50 women and 50 men

47 live in an urban area

9 are disabled

33 are Christian, 18 are Muslims, 14 are Hindus, 16 are non-religious, 6 are Buddhists, 13 practice other religions

43 live without basic sanitation, 18 live without an improved water source

6 people own 59% of the entire wealth of the community

13 are hungry or malnourished

14 can't read

only 7 are educated at a secondary level

only 12 have a computer, only 3 have an Internet connection

1 adult aged 15-49 has HIV/AIDS

The village spend more the US$1.12 trillion on military expenditures and only US$100 billion on development aid

If you keep your food in a refrigerator, your clothes in a closet, if you have a bed to sleep in, and a roof over your head, you are richer than 75% of the entire world population.

If you have a bank account, you are one of the 30 wealthiest people in the world.

18 struggle to live on US$1.00 per day or less. 53 struggle to live on US$2.00 per day or less.

Appreciate what you have, and do your best for a better world.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
It may seem like a small contribution, but you can start doing your part by visiting the following websites:
http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/
http://www.millenniumcampaign.org/
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/

List of phobias - how many of these do you have? =)

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:54:00 +0000

Stumbleupon-ed this website just now. Some of the phobias listed are really really fun. I didn't even know people are capable of having these fears in the first place. Haha. But since there are actual words for these fears, there must be quite a number of people having them. =)

I don't know why I put a smiley face at the end of that sentence. -.-"

Take a look at the list and see how many of these phobias you have.

Ablutophobia Fear of washing or bathing. Ewww!! I definitely fear those people who have this phobia!
Acarophobia Fear of itching or of the insects that cause itching.
Acerophobia Fear of sourness.
Achluophobia Fear of darkness.
Acousticophobia Fear of noise.
Acrophobia Fear of heights.
Aeroacrophobia Fear of open high places.
Aeronausiphobia Fear of vomiting secondary to airsickness.
Aerophobia Fear of drafts, air swallowing, or airbourne noxious substances.
Agateophobia Fear of insanity.
Agliophobia Fear of pain.
Agoraphobia Fear of open spaces or of being in crowded, public places like markets. Fear of leaving a safe place.
Agraphobia Fear of sexual abuse.Who is NOT agraphobic?
Agrizoophobia Fear of wild animals.
Agyrophobia Fear of streets or crossing the street. Gosh! I finally found the word!! I am! I am! I am agyrophobic!!
Aichmophobia Fear of needles or pointed objects.
Ailurophobia Fear of cats.
Albuminurophobia Fear of kidney disease.
Alektorophobia Fear of chickens.
Algophobia Fear of pain.
Alliumphobia Fear of garlic.
Allodoxaphobia Fear of opinions.
Altophobia Fear of heights.
Amathophobia Fear of dust.
Amaxophobia Fear of riding in a car.
Ambulophobia Fear of walking. Haha. Me again. lol.
Amnesiphobia Fear of amnesia.
Amychophobia Fear of scratches or being scratched.
Anablephobia Fear of looking up.
Ancraophobia or Anemophobia Fear of wind.
Androphobia Fear of men. lol. Somebody actually fears me. Haha. Don't laught! I AM a man!
Anemophobia Fear of air drafts or wind.
Anginophobia Fear of angina, choking or narrowness.
Anglophobia Fear of England, English culture, etc.
Angrophobia Fear of anger or of becoming angry.
Ankylophobia Fear of immobility of a joint.
Anthrophobia or Fear of flowers.
Anthophobia
Anthropophobia Fear of people or society.
Antlophobia Fear of floods.
Anuptaphobia Fear of staying single. I definitely do NOT have this phobia.
Apeirophobia Fear of infinity.
Aphenphosmphobia Fear of being touched. How sad. Well, I am not scared of being touched. But I do hate being touched. And I do enjoy touching other people. -.-" What a weird creature I am!
Apiphobia Fear of bees.
Apotemnophobia Fear of persons with amputations.
Arachibutyrophobia Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth. Huh? There is such a word?
Arachnephobia or Arachnophobia Fear of spiders.
Arithmophobia Fear of numbers.
Arrhenphobia Fear of men.
Arsonphobia Fear of fire.
Asthenophobia Fear of fainting or weakness.
Astraphobia or Astrapophobia Fear of thunder and lightning.
Astrophobia Fear of stars and celestial space.
Asymmetriphobia Fear of asymmetrical things.
Ataxiophobia Fear of ataxia (muscular incoordination)
Ataxophobia Fear of disorder or untidiness.
Atelophobia Fear of imperfection.
Atephobia Fear of ruin or ruins.
Athazagoraphobia Fear of being forgotton or ignored or forgetting.
Atomosophobia Fear of atomic explosions. Again, who is NOT?
Atychiphobia Fear of failure.
Aulophobia Fear of flutes.
Aurophobia Fear of gold.
Auroraphobia Fear of Northern lights.
Autodysomophobia Fear of one that has a vile odor.
Automatonophobia Fear of ventriloquist's dummies, animatronic creatures, wax statues Erm...what is ventriloquist? And what is animatronic?
Automysophobia Fear of being dirty.
Autophobia Fear of being alone or of oneself.
Aviophobia or Aviatophobia Fear of flying.
Bacillophobia Fear of microbes. OMG! I am only at B. -.-" What a long list!
Bacteriophobia Fear of bacteria.
Ballistophobia Fear of missiles or bullets.
Barophobia Fear of gravity.
Basophobia or Basiphobia Inability to stand. Fear of walking or falling.
Bathmophobia Fear of stairs or steep slopes.
Bathophobia Fear of depth.
Batophobia Fear of heights or being close to high buildings.
Batrachophobia Fear of amphibians, such as frogs, newts, salamanders, etc.
Belonephobia Fear of pins and needles.
Bibliophobia Fear of books. Erm..may I use this an excuse for not completing my homework? Haha.
Blennophobia Fear of slime.
Bogyphobia Fear of bogies or the bogeyman.
Bolshephobia Fear of Bolsheviks.
Botanophobia Fear of plants.
Bromidrosiphobia or Bromidrophobia Fear of body smells.
Brontophobia Fear of thunder and lightning.
Bufonophobia Fear of toads.
Cacophobia Fear of ugliness.
Cainophobia or Cainotophobia Fear of newness, novelty.
Caligynephobia Fear of beautiful women. huh? Serious?
Cancerophobia Fear of cancer.
Carcinophobia Fear of cancer.
Cardiophobia Fear of the heart.
Carnophobia Fear of meat.
Catagelophobia Fear of being ridiculed.
Catapedaphobia Fear of jumping from high and low places.
Cathisophobia Fear of sitting.huh huh? serious serious?
Catoptrophobia Fear of mirrors.
Cenophobia or Centophobia Fear of new things or ideas.
Ceraunophobia Fear of thunder.
Chaetophobia Fear of hair.
Cheimaphobia or Cheimatophobia Fear of cold.
Chemophobia Fear of chemicals or working with chemicals.
Cherophobia Fear of gaiety.
Chionophobia Fear of snow.
Chiraptophobia Fear of being touched.
Chirophobia Fear of hands.
Cholerophobia Fear of anger or the fear of cholera.
Chorophobia Fear of dancing.
Chrometophobia or Chrematophobia Fear of money.
Chromophobia or Chromatophobia Fear of colors.
Chronomentrophobia Fear of clocks.
Chronophobia Fear of time. So lame. -.-"
Cibophobia or Sitophobia or Sitiophobia Fear of food.
Claustrophobia Fear of confined spaces.
Cleithrophobia or Cleisiophobia Fear of being locked in an enclosed place.
Cleptophobia Fear of stealing.
Climacophobia Fear of stairs, climbing or of falling downstairs.
Clinophobia Fear of going to bed.
Clithrophobia or Cleithrophobia Fear of being enclosed.
Cnidophobia Fear of stings.
Coimetrophobia Fear of cemeteries.
Coitophobia Fear of coitus.
Cometophobia Fear of comets.
Contreltophobia Fear of sexual abuse.
Coprastasophobia Fear of constipation. Hahahahah! Lmao.
Coprophobia Fear of feces.
Coulrophobia Fear of clowns.
Counterphobia The preference by a phobic for fearful situations.
Cremnophobia Fear of precipices.
Cryophobia Fear of extreme cold, ice or frost.
Crystallophobia Fear of crystals or glass.
Cyberphobia Fear of computers or working on a computer. I definitely do NOT have this phobia. Haha.
Cyclophobia Fear of bicycles.
Cymophobia Fear of waves or wave like motions.
Cynophobia Fear of dogs or rabies. Me me me!! I am super scared of dogs!!!
Cypridophobia, Cypriphobia, Cyprianophobia, or Cyprinophobia Fear of prostitutes or venereal disease.
Decidophobia Fear of making decisions.
Defecaloesiophobia Fear of painful bowels movements. Hahahahahahaha!
Deipnophobia Fear of dining or dinner conversations. I love the former and dread the latter. So do I have this phobia?
Dementophobia Fear of insanity.
Demonophobia or Daemonophobia Fear of demons.
Demophobia Fear of crowds.
Dendrophobia Fear of trees. NO!!!!!!!!! My name means "trees" in Chinese!!! OK. Strictly speaking, it means "forest". But if someone is very very dendrophobic, he or she will be fearful of me! I don't want people to be fearful of me. =(
Dentophobia Fear of dentists.
Dermatophobia Fear of skin lesions.
Dermatosiophobia or Dermatophobia or Dermatopathophobia Fear of skin disease.
Dextrophobia Fear of objects at the right side of the body.
Diabetophobia Fear of diabetes.
Didaskaleinophobia Fear of going to school. What a common phobia!
Dikephobia Fear of justice.
Dinophobia Fear of dizziness or whirlpools.
Diplophobia Fear of double vision.
Dipsophobia Fear of drinking.Me me me again!
Dishabiliophobia Fear of undressing in front of someone.
Domatophobia or Oikophobia Fear of houses or being in a house.Then where to sleep?
Doraphobia Fear of fur or skins of animals.
Doxophobia Fear of expressing opinions or of receiving praise.
Dromophobia Fear of crossing streets.
Dutchphobia Fear of the Dutch.
Dysmorphophobia Fear of deformity.
Dystychiphobia Fear of accidents.
Ecclesiophobia Fear of church.
Ecophobia Fear of home.
Eicophobia or Oikophobia Fear of home surroundings.
Eisoptrophobia Fear of mirrors or of seeing oneself in a mirror.
Electrophobia Fear of electricity.
Eleutherophobia Fear of freedom. ah? What kind of fear is this?
Elurophobia Fear of cats.
Emetophobia Fear of vomiting.
Enetophobia Fear of pins.
Enochlophobia Fear of crowds.
Enosiophobia or Enissophobia Fear of having committed an unpardonable sin or of criticism.
Entomophobia Fear of insects.
Eosophobia Fear of dawn or daylight.
Ephebiphobia Fear of teenagers.
Epistaxiophobia Fear of nosebleeds.
Epistemophobia Fear of knowledge.Another excuse for not going to school.
Equinophobia Fear of horses.
Eremophobia Fear of being oneself or of lonliness.
Ereuthrophobia Fear of blushing.OMG!! I blush sooooooooo much!! Luckily I don't have this phobia. =)
Ergasiophobia 1) Fear of work or functioning. 2) Surgeon's fear of operating.
Ergophobia Fear of work.
Erotophobia Fear of sexual love or sexual questions.
Erythrophobia, Erytophobia or Ereuthophobia 1) Fear of redlights. 2) Blushing. 3) Red.
Euphobia Fear of hearing good news. -.-"
Eurotophobia Fear of female genitalia.
Febriphobia, Fibriphobia or Fibriophobia Fear of fever.
Felinophobia Fear of cats. (
Francophobia Fear of France, French culture.
Frigophobia Fear of cold, cold things.
Galeophobia or Gatophobia Fear of cats.
Gallophobia or Galiophobia Fear France, French culture.
Gamophobia Fear of marriage.
Geliophobia Fear of laughter.
Geniophobia Fear of chins.
Genophobia Fear of sex.
Genuphobia Fear of knees.
Gephyrophobia, Gephydrophobia, or Gephysrophobia Fear of crossing bridges.
Gerascophobia Fear of growing old. Me me me me me!!!
Germanophobia Fear of Germany, German culture, etc.
Gerontophobia Fear of old people or of growing old.
Geumaphobia or Geumophobia Fear of taste.
Glossophobia Fear of speaking in public or of trying to speak.
Gnosiophobia Fear of knowledge.
Graphophobia Fear of writing or handwriting.
Gymnophobia Fear of nudity.
Gynephobia or Gynophobia Fear of women.
Hadephobia Fear of hell.
Hagiophobia Fear of saints or holy things.
Hamartophobia Fear of sinning.
Haphephobia or Haptephobia Fear of being touched.
Harpaxophobia Fear of being robbed.
Hedonophobia Fear of feeling pleasure.
Heliophobia Fear of the sun. The last time I checked we were still talking about the fears of human beings who live on the earth in the solar system.
Hellenologophobia Fear of Greek terms or complex scientific terminology. no fraternity or sorority for these people.
Helminthophobia Fear of being infested with worms.
Hemophobia or Hemaphobia or Hematophobia Fear of blood.
Heresyphobia or Hereiophobia Fear of challenges to official doctrine or of radical deviation.
Herpetophobia Fear of reptiles or creepy, crawly things.
Heterophobia Fear of the opposite sex.
Hierophobia Fear of priests or sacred things.
Hippophobia Fear of horses.
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia Fear of long words. This is soooooo funny! Look at the word and then look at the definition. Classic!
Hobophobia Fear of bums or beggars.
Hodophobia Fear of road travel.
Homichlophobia Fear of fog.
Homilophobia Fear of sermons.
Hominophobia Fear of men.
Homophobia Fear of sameness, monotony or of homosexuality or of becoming homosexual.
Hoplophobia Fear of firearms.
Hormephobia Fear of shock.
Hydrargyophobia Fear of mercurial medicines.
Hydrophobia Fear of water or of rabies.
Hydrophobophobia Fear of rabies.
Hyelophobia or Hyalophobia Fear of glass.
Hygrophobia Fear of liquids, dampness, or moisture.
Hylephobia Fear of materialism OR the fear of epilepsy.
Hylophobia Fear of forests. OH NO!!!!!!! There ARE people who are fearful of me!!!
Hypengyophobia or Hypegiaphobia Fear of responsibility.
Hypnophobia Fear of sleep or of being hypnotized.
Hypsiphobia Fear of height.
Iatrophobia Fear of going to the doctor or of doctors.
Ichthyophobia Fear of fish.
Ideophobia Fear of ideas.
Illyngophobia Fear of vertigo or feeling dizzy when looking down.
Insectophobia Fear of insects.
Iophobia Fear of poison.
Isolophobia Fear of solitude, being alone.
Isopterophobia Fear of termites, insects that eat wood.
Ithyphallophobia Fear of seeing, thinking about or having an erect penis.
Japanophobia Fear of Japanese.
Judeophobia Fear of Jews.
Kainolophobia Fear of novelty.
Kainophobia Fear of anything new, novelty.
Kakorrhaphiophobia Fear of failure or defeat.
Katagelophobia Fear of ridicule.
Kathisophobia Fear of sitting down.
Kenophobia Fear of voids or empty spaces.
Keraunophobia Fear of thunder and lightning.
Kinetophobia or Kinesophobia Fear of movement or motion.
Kleptophobia Fear of stealing.
Koinoniphobia Fear of rooms.
Kolpophobia Fear of genitals, particularly female.
Koniophobia Fear of dust.
Kopophobia Fear of fatigue.
Kosmikophobia Fear of cosmic phenomenon.
Kymophobia Fear of waves.
Kynophobia Fear of rabies.
Kyphophobia Fear of stooping.
Lachanophobia Fear of vegetables. I know a bunch of people who have this phobia.
Laliophobia or Lalophobia Fear of speaking.
Leprophobia or Lepraphobia Fear of leprosy.
Leukophobia Fear of the color white. Whoever has this phobia is probably not reading this, given how white the background is.
Levophobia Fear of things to the left side of the body. WHAT KIND OF PHOBIA IS THIS?!?!?!
Ligyrophobia Fear of loud noises.
Lilapsophobia Fear of tornadoes and hurricanes.
Limnophobia Fear of lakes.
Linonophobia Fear of string.
Liticaphobia Fear of lawsuits.
Lockiophobia Fear of childbirth.
Logizomechanophobia Fear of computers.
Logophobia Fear of words.
Luiphobia Fear of lues, syphillis.
Lutraphobia Fear of otters.
Lygophobia Fear of darkness.
Lyssophobia Fear of rabies or of becoming mad.
Macrophobia Fear of long waits.
Mageirocophobia Fear of cooking.
Maieusiophobia Fear of childbirth.
Malaxophobia Fear of love play.
Maniaphobia Fear of insanity.
Mastigophobia Fear of punishment.
Mechanophobia Fear of machines.
Medomalacuphobia Fear of losing an erection.
Medorthophobia Fear of an erect penis.EWWWWW!!!
Megalophobia Fear of large things.
Melanophobia Fear of the color black.
Melissophobia Fear of bees.
Melophobia Fear or hatred of music.I can't imagine a life without music.
Meningitophobia Fear of brain disease.
Menophobia Fear of menstruation.
Merinthophobia Fear of being bound or tied up.
Metallophobia Fear of metal.
Metathesiophobia Fear of changes.
Meteorophobia Fear of meteors.
Methyphobia Fear of alcohol.
Metrophobia Fear or hatred of poetry.
Microbiophobia Fear of microbes.
Microphobia Fear of small things.
Misophobia Fear of being contaminated with dirt of germs.
Mnemophobia Fear of memories.
Molysmophobia or Molysomophobia Fear of dirt or contamination.
Monopathophobia Fear of definite disease.
Monophobia Fear of solitude or being alone.
Motorphobia Fear of automobiles.
Mottephobia Fear of moths.
Musophobia or Murophobia Fear of mice.
Mycophobia Fear or aversion to mushrooms.
Mycrophobia Fear of small things.
Myctophobia Fear of darkness.
Myrmecophobia Fear of ants.
Mysophobia Fear of germs or contamination or dirt.
Mythophobia Fear of myths or stories or false statements.
Myxophobia Fear of slime.
Nebulaphobia Fear of fog.
Necrophobia Fear of death or dead things.
Nelophobia Fear of glass.
Neopharmaphobia Fear of new drugs.
Neophobia Fear of anything new.
Nephophobia Fear of clouds.
Noctiphobia Fear of the night.
Nomatophobia Fear of names.
Nosocomephobia Fear of hospitals.
Nosophobia or Nosemaphobia Fear of becoming ill.
Nostophobia Fear of returning home.
Novercaphobia Fear of your step
Nucleomituphobia Fear of nuclear weapons.
Nudophobia Fear of nudity.
Numerophobia Fear of numbers.
Nyctohylophobia Fear of dark wooded areas, of forests at night
Nyctophobia Fear of the dark or of night.
Obesophobia Fear of gaining weight. Ermm..am I?
Ochlophobia Fear of crowds or mobs.
Ochophobia Fear of vehicles.
Octophobia Fear of the figure 8.
Odontophobia Fear of teeth or dental surgery.
Odynophobia or Odynephobia Fear of pain.
Oenophobia Fear of wines.
Oikophobia Fear of home surroundings, house.
Olfactophobia Fear of smells.
Ombrophobia Fear of rain or of being rained on.
Ommetaphobia or Ommatophobia Fear of eyes.
Oneirogmophobia Fear of wet dreams.
Oneirophobia Fear of dreams.
Onomatophobia Fear of hearing a certain word or of names.
Ophidiophobia Fear of snakes.
Ophthalmophobia Fear of being stared at.
Opiophobia Fear medical doctors experience of prescribing needed pain medications for patients.
Optophobia Fear of opening one's eyes.
Ornithophobia Fear of birds.
Orthophobia Fear of property.
Osmophobia or Osphresiophobia Fear of smells or odors.
Ostraconophobia Fear of shellfish.
Ouranophobia Fear of heaven.
Pagophobia Fear of ice or frost.
Panophobia or Pantophobia Fear of everything. lol. This is the ultimate phobia! Haha.
Panthophobia Fear of suffering and disease.
Papaphobia Fear of the Pope. I thought it was fear of papa. -.-"
Papyrophobia Fear of paper.
Paralipophobia Fear of neglecting duty or responsibility.
Paraphobia Fear of sexual perversion.
Parasitophobia Fear of parasites.
Paraskavedekatriaphobia Fear of Friday the 13th. It is Colgate Day!
Parthenophobia Fear of virgins or young girls.
Parturiphobia Fear of childbirth.
Pathophobia Fear of disease.
Patroiophobia Fear of heredity.
Peccatophobia Fear of sinning.
Pediculophobia Fear of lice.
Pediophobia Fear of dolls.
Pedophobia Fear of children.
Peladophobia Fear of bald people.
Pellagrophobia Fear of pellagra.
Peniaphobia Fear of poverty.
Pentheraphobia Fear of mother
Phagophobia Fear of swallowing or of eating or of being eaten. This is a bit horror-movie-like.
Phalacrophobia Fear of becoming bald. Hahahahaha.
Phallophobia Fear of a penis, esp erect.
Pharmacophobia Fear of taking medicine.
Pharmacophobia Fear of drugs.
Phasmophobia Fear of ghosts.
Phengophobia Fear of daylight or sunshine.
Philemaphobia or Philematophobia Fear of kissing.
Philophobia Fear of falling in love or being in love.
Philosophobia Fear of philosophy.
Phobophobia Fear of phobias.This is...erm...weird.
Phonophobia Fear of noises or voices or one's own voice; of telephones.
Photoaugliaphobia Fear of glaring lights.
Photophobia Fear of light.
Phronemophobia Fear of thinking. Lazy...
Phthiriophobia Fear of lice.
Phthisiophobia Fear of tuberculosis.
Placophobia Fear of tombstones.
Plutophobia Fear of wealth.
Pluviophobia Fear of rain or of being rained on.
Pneumatiphobia Fear of spirits.
Pnigophobia or Pnigerophobia Fear of choking of being smothered.
Pocrescophobia Fear of gaining weight.
Pogonophobia Fear of beards.
Poinephobia Fear of punishment.
Poliosophobia Fear of contracting poliomyelitis.
Politicophobia Fear or abnormal dislike of politicians.
Polyphobia Fear of many things.
Ponophobia Fear of overworking or of pain.
Porphyrophobia Fear of the color purple.
Potamophobia Fear of rivers or running water.
Potophobia Fear of alcohol.
Proctophobia Fear of rectum.
Prosophobia Fear of progress.
Psellismophobia Fear of stuttering.
Psychophobia Fear of mind.
Psychrophobia Fear of cold.
Pteromerhanophobia Fear of flying.
Pteronophobia Fear of being tickled by feathers.
Pupaphobia fear of puppets.
Pyrexiophobia Fear of Fever.
Pyrophobia Fear of fire.
Radiophobia Fear of radiation and x-rays
Ranidaphobia Fear of frogs.
Rectophobia Fear of rectum or rectal diseases.
Rhabdophobia Fear of being severely punished or beaten by a rod, or of being severely criticized. Also fear of magic (wand).
Rhypophobia Fear of defecation.
Rhytiphobia Fear of getting wrinkles.
Rupophobia Fear of dirt.
Russophobia Fear of Russians.
Samhainophobia Fear of Halloween.
Sarmassophobia Fear of love play.
Satanophobia Fear of Satan.
Scabiophobia Fear of scabies.
Scatophobia Fear of fecal matter.
Scelerophibia Fear of bad men, burglars.
Sciophobia Sciaphobia Fear of shadows.
Scoleciphobia Fear of worms.
Scolionophobia Fear of school.
Scopophobia or Scoptophobia Fear of being seen or stared at.
Scotomaphobia Fear of blindness in visual field.
Scotophobia Fear of darkness.
Scriptophobia Fear of writing in public.
Selachophobia Fear of sharks.
Selaphobia Fear of light flashes.
Selenophobia Fear of the moon.
Seplophobia Fear of decaying matter.
Sesquipedalophobia Fear of long words.
Sexophobia Fear of the opposite sex.
Siderodromophobia Fear of trains, railroads or train travel.
Siderophobia Fear of stars.
Sinistrophobia Fear of things to the left, left
Sinophobia Fear of Chinese, Chinese culture. OK. Confirmed. There ARE people who fear me. =(
Sitophobia or Sitiophobia Fear of food or eating.
Snakephobia Fear of snakes.
Soceraphobia Fear of parents
Social Phobia Fear of being evaluated negatively in social situations.
Sociophobia Fear of society or people in general.
Somniphobia Fear of sleep.
Sophophobia Fear of learning.
Soteriophobia Fear of dependence on others.
Spacephobia Fear of outer space.
Spectrophobia Fear of specters or ghosts.
Spermatophobia or Spermophobia Fear of germs.
Spheksophobia Fear of wasps.
Stasibasiphobia or Stasiphobia Fear of standing or walking.
Staurophobia Fear of crosses or the crucifix.
Stenophobia Fear of narrow things or places.
Stygiophobia or Stigiophobia Fear of hell.
Suriphobia Fear of mice.
Symbolophobia Fear of symbolism.
Symmetrophobia Fear of symmetry.
Syngenesophobia Fear of relatives.
Syphilophobia Fear of syphilis.
Tachophobia Fear of speed.
Taeniophobia or Teniophobia Fear of tapeworms.
Taphephobia Taphophobia Fear of being buried alive or of cemeteries. Who enjoys being buried alive?
Tapinophobia Fear of being contagious.
Taurophobia Fear of bulls.
Technophobia Fear of technology.
Teleophobia 1) Fear of definite plans. 2) Religious ceremony.
Telephonophobia Fear of telephones.
Teratophobia Fear of bearing a deformed child or fear of monsters or deformed people.
Testophobia Fear of taking tests.
Tetanophobia Fear of lockjaw, tetanus.
Teutophobia Fear of German or German things.
Textophobia Fear of certain fabrics.
Thaasophobia Fear of sitting.
Thalassophobia Fear of the sea.
Thanatophobia or Thantophobia Fear of death or dying.
Theatrophobia Fear of theatres. WHY WHY WHY? Theatre is so cool!!
Theologicophobia Fear of theology.
Theophobia Fear of gods or religion.
Thermophobia Fear of heat.
Tocophobia Fear of pregnancy or childbirth.
Tomophobia Fear of surgical operations.
Tonitrophobia Fear of thunder.
Topophobia Fear of certain places or situations, such as stage fright.
Toxiphobia or Toxophobia or Toxicophobia Fear of poison or of being accidently poisoned.
Traumatophobia Fear of injury.
Tremophobia Fear of trembling.
Trichinophobia Fear of trichinosis.
Trichopathophobia or Trichophobia or Hypertrichophobia Fear of hair.
Triskaidekaphobia Fear of the number 13. Not Colgate people. =)
Tropophobia Fear of moving or making changes.
Trypanophobia Fear of injections.
Tuberculophobia Fear of tuberculosis.
Tyrannophobia Fear of tyrants.
Uranophobia Fear of heaven.
Urophobia Fear of urine or urinating. huh? How to pee then?
Vaccinophobia Fear of vaccination.
Venustraphobia Fear of beautiful women.
Verbophobia Fear of words.
Verminophobia Fear of germs.
Vestiphobia Fear of clothing.
Virginitiphobia Fear of rape.
Vitricophobia Fear of stepfathers
Walloonphobia Fear of the Walloons.
Wiccaphobia Fear of witches and witchcraft.
Xanthophobia Fear of the color yellow or the word yellow.
Xenoglossophobia Fear of foreign languages.
Xenophobia Fear of strangers or foreigners.
Xerophobia Fear of dryness.
Xylophobia 1) Fear of wooden objects. 2) Forests.
Xyrophobia Fear of razors.
Zemmiphobia Fear of the great mole rat.
Zeusophobia Fear of God or gods.
Zoophobia Fear of animals.

I can't believe I finished reading through the entire list. -.-" Did you?

God bless China

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:41:00 +0000

I heard the men sing their songs. I saw the women dance around. Children clapped their hands. The elderly grinned all day long.

I knew it was a special year for you, for the firecrackers made the sky so bright, even the first ray of sunlight had to hide away; and your sons and daughters cheered so loud, even the land was resonating with your joy.

It was the first day of 2008, and we thought the year of China finally came.

We thought it would come with flowers and smiles. We thought it would come with millions of visitors around the world.

But the snowstorm killed the flowers in spring, and the fire in Tibet burned downed the five rings. Visitors hasn't come, but millions of reporters had flooded in. They waved their pens and waggled their cameras. They shouted, "Let's slaughter the dragon and tell the truth!"

But truth didn't flow from their pens and the pictures they showed were not the ones they took.

You welcomed them with bread and wine, but they gave you back bullets and lies.

You knew it would be a hard year for you, didn't you? But you didn't expect it to be so hard, did you?

And now half of your land were shaken by the dreadful earthquake. Millions of your children were suddenly homeless and alone. You heard the entire world asking, "Can you do it, China?"

Can you do it, China?

Can you do it, my motherland?

I remember when the snowstorm struck in February, snowflakes were not the only thing falling from the sky. There were also clothes, food, water and money coming from all around the country. Even though thousands of your sons and daughters were stranded at the train stations, millions of their brothers and sisters still told them to stay. "Stay. Stay. Stay in this city. We have firecrackers. We have dumplings. You can celebrate the Chinese New Year here with us. Here is also you home. We are also your family."

I remember when the Olympic torch was passing around the globe, millions of your children suddenly stood up. They said, "Mom, we have been away from you for too long. Now it's time for us to do something for you." My colleague even asked me to go to Malaysia with him. "Come, let's go to Malaysia! Let's protect the flame! Let's protect China!"

You may not be able to do it alone. But you know you are never alone. 1.4 billions of your children stand here and proclaim, "We did before, and together we can do it again!"

You are the world's oldest mom. 5000 thousand years of joy and tears, blood and sweat gave birth to billions of children around the globe. You were beaten. You were raped. But you never cried, and you never lied down. 5000 years you have been doing the same thing - raising up your children with love, and blessing them with all you have.

So Happy Mothers' Day, China. Even though the earthquake struck one day after Mothers' Day, it shall not take away your life and your joy. Your children will dry your tears , and they say sorrow shall never come your way.

I know you are not like Israel, a land chosen by God. I know you are not like South Korea, where great revival is taking place. But I know God still loves you. Always have. Always will. "For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard."

I heard the men sing their songs. I saw the women dance around. Children clapped their hands. The elderly grinned all day long.

God bless China.

2008 A Level Results will be released on......(my speculation)

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 08:43:00 +0000

Well, many of my friends have been asking me about the date of this year's release of A Level results, especially my fellow Chinese friends, since it (at least partially) determines their date of return to Singapore. And apparently, this year's situation is a bit tricky, given the extremely early release of O Level results this year. (This year, O Level results were released on 24th Jan, compared to 10th Feb in 2006 and 9th Feb in 2007). *Gasp!!

However, I, being who I am (i.e. ~~nosy and busybody~~ helpful and caring), decided to do a bit research on the Net, to put the minds of my friends at east, and more importantly, to put my own mind at ease.

First of all, I think it is extremely important for us to first find out the release dates in the past few years. And I was a bit surprised to realize there seemed to be no such compilation on the Net! (Or maybe my research wasn't very thorough.) But no worries, my beloved friends! I have taken the pain, time and effort to compile such a list from the various press releases issued by the Ministry of Education in the past decade.

Ta dah! Here is the list:

1996: 6th March Wednesday

1997: 6th March Thursday

1998: 6th March Friday

1999: 6th March Saturday

2000: 4th March Saturday

2001: 3rd March Saturday

2002: 6th March Wednesday

2003: 6th March Thursday

2004: 5th March Friday

2005: 4th March Friday

2006: 1st March Wednesday

2007: 2nd March Friday

Well, well, well, so what does this list say? Hmm. Let me see. Apparently, there are a few obvious conclusions we can draw from the list.

1. 6th March used to be a favorite release date for the MOE officers (especially those in the 90s - I mean the dates in the 1990s, not those MOE officers who are in their 90s.)

2. Conclusion 1 is a bit useless, unless we look at from another perspective. Not only is 6th March the favorite date, it is also the the latest date in the list. In other words, this year, results should also be released before 7th March.

3. All the dates are in March.

4. Conclusion 3 is the most obvious conclusion, but is also one that worries everyone the most. O Level results used to be released in February, but this year, they are released in January! Well, well, well. Calm down, boys and girls. I am just as worried as every one of you. However, I still think the probability of this year's A Level results being released in March is above 90%. Why could I ~~confidently~~ say that?

Firstly, O Level candidates are decreasing in number due to the ~~useless~~ Integrated Program. The drop in the number of candidates definitely contributed to the early release of O Level results. However, such a case does NOT apply to A Level. I do not have the exact statistics, but I don't think this year's A Level candidates are fewer than last year's.

Secondly, and more importantly, check out what I have found on the admission website of National University of Singapore. (Gosh. I sounds like a professional detective!! Argh!!)

"Admission exercise for AY2008-2009 will open three working days after the release of 2007 Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘A’ Level results in March 2008."

Did everyone see the last few words? Yup. March 2008. Well, I am not saying that NUS is 100% trustworthy in this matter. Maybe the university is just speculating like what I am doing right now. But, this piece of information does ensure us that we are not the only one who think A Level results will be released in March. In other words, if A Level results are released earlier than March this year, we as students will not be the only one caught off guard and thrown into a messy busy life.

As a result, we can now safely say that A Level results will be released between 1st March and 6th March. Given that the results have never been released on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, we can further narrow the date range to 1st March, 5th March and 6th March. Once again, considering the relatively early release of A Level results in the past few years, I think 1st March and 5th March are more likely dates than 6th March.

So after this long and crappy analysis, what is my final conclusion?

Well, here is my conclusion:
February 5%
1st March 35%
2nd March 0%
3rd March 5%
4th March 5%
5th March 30%
6th March 15%
After 6th March 5%

The percentage represents the probability of getting our results on that date or range of dates. I hope they do add up to 100%.

Once again, I need to warn everybody that this is just my own SPECULATION, i.e. guess, i.e. agaration. (Gosh! I still remember Singlish!) So do NOT write me threat letters or stalk me or spam my facebook if my speculation turns out to be wrong. But please DO give me roses or chocolates or kisses or hugs or phone numbers if you think my speculation is reasonable. Haha. I was just kidding. I am the helpful and caring Zhao Lin, remember? lol.

Have fun waiting for your results, everybody!

I feel stupid today

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 07:50:00 +0000

Here is why:

1. I went out today. I took the correct bus. I alighted at the wrong stop.

2. So I took another bus. I alighted at the wrong stop. Again.

3. I reached my destination. I took the elevator. There were only two people in the elevator - me and another guy. We tried not to look at each other because we both realized we were wearing the same coat. EXACTLY the same. We looked at the ceiling. We tapped our feet. We pretended we didn't see each other's coat. We were both going to the SEVENTEENTH floor. A long journey. Embarrassingly long.

4. I came back home. I took the correct bus. I alighted at the wrong stop. Again.

5. I bought a top-up card for my mobile phone on my way home. I scratched off the foil. I dialed the top-up number. I realized I had bought the wrong card.

I feel stupid today. And now you know why.

UPDATE: 6. I asked my dad to buy a new top-up card for me on his way home. He came back. He gave me the card. I realized the one I bought earlier was actually the correct one. It didn't work previously not because it was the wrong type of card, but because I dialed the wrong number.

Deferred by Yale and Falling in Love with Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 00:59:00 +0000

The past week has been one of the most gruesome days, not least because Yale is supposed to release its Early Action decisions today. I waited nervously during the day, and lost my sleep at night. And the fact that I am most of the times freaking bored at home, totally having nothing to do, did not help at all.

So I stayed up until 3am this morning, just in case Yale decides to make the decision available hours earlier. Luckily, it didn't.

And I woke up this morning at 8am, because apparently I couldn't sleep any more. And ta-dah! There it was! The decision was finally available!

And as written in the title of the post, I was deferred.

Sorry, I mean I am deferred.

I actually dreamed about many things. I thought I would calmly make a phone call to my parents and start to act sad, before telling them nonchalantly that I am accepted by Yale. I thought I would throw away all my other Uni applications and tell Yale immediately that "I Do! I Do!". I thought I would finally blog about the whole drama and write a post titled "Yeah! Yale!".

But you see, dreams seldom come true.

Instead, this is where I am now: I still do not have the guts to call my parents. I have decided to work on other Uni applications today. I am writing a post with a strange title.

And am I feeling sad?

I don't know.

Seriously.

I don't think I have fully waken up yet, after merely 5 hours of sleep.

And I guess even after I have waken up, it will still take a very long time before I start to live in the reality.

That's why I love Facebook.

All I need to do is to update my status with the words "deferred by Yale. =(" And I am done with telling the whole world about my failure.

It's so simple, yet effective. Thanks to Facebook, I don't need to answer queries from good-hearted people about how I did. Everything is condensed into three words "deferred by Yale" and one lovely emoticon "=(".

And for now, I think I will just have to go back to sleep. I am tired.

But before I do that, I really want to congratulate all the people, especially those PRC scholars in Hwa Chong, who have succeeded in their Early Admission. I really mean it. To me, seeing my dreams come true is definitely the best thing in life. But the second best thing is to see them come true in my friends' life.

Good night.

My A Level Experience: Day 8 - The Most Silly Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:01:00 +0000

16th Nov Chemistry Paper 1 (The Most Silly Paper)

Ok. The paper itself was not THAT silly. It was those invigilators who are really silly. At first, two of them barred me from entering the exam hall because I was not wearing the school collar pin! It was totally absolutely completely silly!

Firstly, some of my fans outside the hall were upset by the invigilators' unreasonable and unnecessary decision. (Ok. I made that up.)

Secondly, it caused a small turmoil outside the hall. I was not the only one not wearing a collar pin and everyone who was not wearing one started to panic when they saw what happened to me. It was just stupid to make students panic 10 minutes before the exam. Even though that is what teachers do best, I still have to say it sucks.

Thirdly, if a collar pin is so important, you should have told the candidates on the FIRST day, not when the exam is almost over! It's like finding out there is not toilet paper when you have already unbuttoned your pants, sat on the bowl and were half-way through your business. Totally irritating.

Fourthly, I WAS wearing my school collar pin, technically speaking, at least half of it. The top half of my collar pin was indeed gone, but the bottom half was still attached to my collar! It is like discriminating a gay who is a bottom against a gay who is a top! (Ok. That was a bit random. Anyway, "gay", "top", "bottom" are nouns, aren't they?)

Luckily, one of my friends brought an extra collar pin and lent it to me. Don't ask me why he has brought an extra collar pin on the exam day. I guess it's the same reason as why I brought ten pencils. It's called JUST IN CASE.

There was also this invigilator who wore a shirt with the word "expelled" written on it. How silly! Please lah, I am Chinese, Ok? I am very superstitious de, Ok? Words like "expelled", "terminated", "failure", "doomed" should NEVER appear in front of me when I am taking probably the most important exam in my life! And you are definitely not allowed to send me an SMS containing the phrase "I luv U." Spell it out! I don't want to get Us on my certificate. I am not even going to watch The Bee Movies until my exams are over, because I want As, not Bs!!

My A Level Experience: Day 7 - The Most Unexpected Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:45:00 +0000

16th Nov H1 Economics (The Most Unexpected Paper)

Let me just say this is probably the hardest econs paper I have ever taken in my 2 years' study in JC. And after the paper, I have decided to make it the last econs paper in my entire life!!

My A Level Experience: Day 6 - The Most Environment-Friendly Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:39:00 +0000

13th Nov Chemistry Paper 2 (The Most Environment-Friendly Paper)

I thought I was taking Geography exam. One question asked the candidate to calculate how much carbon dioxide is emitted when the the papers are sent by air to Cambridge for marking. One question (actually it's the same question) asked whether it's OK to transport bicycle in the luggage hold without deflating the tyre first (It's spelled as "tyre", not "tire", just to remind the candidates that they can eat McDonald, they can listen to Timberlake, they can watch The American Idol, but at the end of the day, they still have to take the BRITISH A Level Examinations.). One question talked about how a chemical compound can fight against malaria (So G8. So African.).

Anyway, I just noticed today that the people who set and mark the A Level papers are from some institution called University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate. UCLES in short. Our teachers used to tell us that the markers of our papers will be old British UNCLES. I guess they are absolutely right.

I also heard today that last year some A Level paper was postponed because George Bush's arrival caused a small turmoil at the Singapore airport and the papers couldn't be sent to the exam venues on time. This got to be the second lamest thing I have ever heard Cambridge doing. The lamest thing, of course, was misspelling their own name on our A Level Certificates. Yes! When some of my friends received their A Level Certificates, the word Cambridge was spelled as Cambrigde. That's why I am not applying to any UK university.

My A Level Experience: Day 5 - The Most Cheena Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:35:00 +0000

9th Nov H3 Mathematics (The Most Cheena Paper)

It didn't feel like an exam. It felt more like...like...China's National Day Celebration. Out of all the 30 plus people taking this subject, 90% of them are Chinese Nationals (I'm one of them and proud to be so. =P). Well, after all, it's Mathematics! And out of the 90% who are Chinese Nationals, one quarter of them are applying to Oxford/Cambridge, one quarter are applying to Harvard/Princeton/Yale/Stanford, one quarter are already accepted by Oxford or Cambridge or Harvard or Princeton or Yale or Stanford and one quarter are already accepted by Oxford AND Cambridge AND Harvard AND Princeton AND Yale AND Stanford. Ok. Ok. I am exaggerating here. But you know what I mean. It's like the World Mathematics Genius Summit. And I am just feel honored to be taking the exam with them. The aura around their body. The aroma flowing in the room. Trust me, it is a totally enlightening experience.

My A Level Experience: Day 4 - The Blurrest Paper + The Most Racially Harmonious Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:34:00 +0000

6th Nov Biology Paper 2 + Mathematics Paper 2 (The Blurrest Paper + The Most Racially Harmonious Paper)

This is the longest exam day during my A Levels. 5 hours of exam!! Sian... Luckily, it was also one of the most interesting days.

Well, before the biology paper, the invigilator asked us to put our cover page under the table. So I took the cover page, bent down and put it on the floor under my table. To my horror and amazement, no one else was bending down and nowhere else did I see paper on the floor! That was when I realized "under the table" means "inside the table", not literally "under the table". -.-" Everyone around me was looking at me as if I was an idiot. Well, maybe I am an idiot.

Mathematics paper was super funny! Question One was about four friends buying fruits from the market. The name of the four friends are Suresh, Fandi, Cindy and Lee Lian. Hahahahahahaha. How racially harmonious!! Such a typical Singapore exam paper. Interestingly but unsurprisingly, Cindy spent the most, followed by Suresh and Lee Lian. Fandi spent the least.

My A Level Experience: Day 3 - The Scariest Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:33:00 +0000

5th Nov Chemistry Paper 3 (The Scariest Paper)

I was supposed to finish 4 questions within 2 hours. But at 8.30 (half an hour after the paper started), I found myself only half-way through question 1! Of course, I started to panic and could feel changes happening to my body like I was entering my second puberty. Some part of my body was getting bigger, like my eyes. Some part was getting longer, like my breath. Some part was getting messier, like my handwriting. Bigger, longer, messier - so actually I was entering my second puberty! And puberty is definitely good, because I finished my paper at 9.50, 10 minutes before the paper ended! Hooray!

My A Level Experience: Day 2 - The Easiest Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:31:00 +0000

2nd Nov Mathematics Paper 1 (The Easiest Paper)

I thought it was an easy paper - so easy that I couldn't stop laughing when I finished the paper. It is really weird when you realize the most relaxing moment of your JC life is during the A Levels.

My A Level Experience: Day 1 - The Funniest Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:29:00 +0000

30th Oct General Paper (The Funniest Paper)

First day. GP paper. I was pretty nervous, since A Levels is the first national examination I have ever taken. Just before I entered the hall for my comprehension paper, I saw a pink sheet of paper on top of everybody's desk. Upon seeing it, I panicked immediately. I thought they were going to ask everyone to sign a repeal/retain 377A petition before we could start our paper. Luckily it was not a petition letter. It turned out to be an erratum notice. Well, an erratum is basically like a bank calling you after you found 1 million dollars in your account just to tell you that the money was transferred wrongly.

Anyway, this was what was written on the erratum notice:

"There are errors in the instructions on the cover paper. Please use the following instructions in place of the instructions given on the cover page. The changes are in the underlined sentences."

Horror! Horror! Errors in A Level papers! It's like listening to George Bush speaking Chinese or seeing Chairman Mao pole-dancing.

What is even funnier is the error itself.

This was what was originally written on the cover paper:

Write you Center number, index number and name on all the work you hand in.

This is the corrected version on the erratum notice:

Write your Center number, index number and name on all the work you hand in.

Can you imagine?! A grammatic error on GP cover page!! This got to be one of the funniest moment of my life! (OK, that statement kinda makes my life super boring. Sigh...)

Singaporeans are scared sh*tless by gay people

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:52:00 +0000

As you all should have known by now, Section 377A is going to be retained. Forget about all the rubbish talks on family values, Singapore's tradition, social stability blah blah blah, I think the main reason why Section 377A is still in the Penal Code is because Singaporeans are scared.

PM Lee is scared. MPs are scared. You and I and everyone else are scared.

PM Lee said "the tone of the overall society remains conventional, it remains straight and we want it to remain so". What I think he was actually trying to say is this: if Singapore decriminalizes gay sex, the tone of the overall society will become unconventional, it will become bent and we don't want that to happen. You see, this is the main problem with the gay issue: heterosexual people think they are the majority, yet they are not confident about their majority status. They are scared that if the minority are empowered, the majority are going to be threatened and destroyed.

But, if you are indeed the majority, and rightfully so, why the hell are you scared? If what you believe in is indeed the right thing, or at lease you think and hope so, why the hell are you scared?

WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SCARED?

You are scared because you believe there is some secret gay cult group out there whose members wear rainbow-colored underwear and whose motto is "Love those who are bent, Bend those who are not". You are scared because you believe if gay marriage were to become legal, your husband who has not had sex with you for the past six months would finally realize who he truly is and leave you. You are scared because you believe HIV actually stands for Homosexual Infectious Virus which is going to kill everybody if it is not kept under control.

You are scared of the people who you think are in the minority and who you think are going to become the majority if they are not suppressed.

You are scared sh*tless, my dear Singaporeans.

You are so scared that you even cited rising divorce rate as one of the reasons why you cannot decriminalize gay sex now. Has it ever occurred to you the reason why so many people are going through divorce is probably because they no longer love each other? And the reason why they no longer love each other is probably because the husband is actually a gay and/or the wife is actually a lesbian? Don't roll your eyes. Don't shake your head. And don't close this page. My girl friends keep telling me that all the hot guys are either gay or married, which is obviously not true. There are hot guys who are neither gay nor married (such as yours truly =P). But more importantly, there are hot guys who are both gay and married. What a big surprise! If there are straight guys who pay to have sex with other guys, why can't gay guys get married and have babies? No one wants to eat Cha Kuay Teow every day.

And we all know why those gay guys got married in the first place - parents' expectation, peer pressure, social stigma and Section 377A. And we shout: "Hooray! We have straightened them up! We have successfully converted them! WE HAVE WON THE BATTLE!"

Yes, we have won the battle by having so many husbands who are actually gay or so many wifes who are actually lesbians. But we have lost the war, haven't we? We want to have families where the husband loves the wife, not families where the husband loves the wife's ex-husband.

And let's just face it: divorce rate is NOT going to drop if people cannot marry the people they truly love.

Neither is the birth rate going to rise.

PM Lee also said we cannot treat gay people like how we treat other minority groups like Malays and Indians (which means there would not be Sexual Harmony Day.) I understand his point. O.K., actually I don't. What is his point anyway? Is he trying to say that Malays and Indians have unique cultures and languages blah blah blah. That's why we should protect them and preserve their uniqueness? But don't gays have their unique cultures as well? Many great artists are gay. Brokeback Mountain is a gay movie. A new gay couple has just moved to Wisteria Lane (you probably don't understand what I am talking about if you don't watch Desperate Housewives.) Not to mention how gay people around the globe are transforming the fashion industry. Aren't these enough excuses for you to at least show some respect to their uniqueness?

There was also some guy in the newspaper who said homosexuality is not inborn. After seeing his photo, I just want to say to that guy: bad skin is also not inborn. If you were gay, your skin wouldn't have looked so bad. O.K. O.K.. That was some nasty personal attack. Forgive me. I am going to strike that two sentences off. Like this: ~~I just want to say to that guy: bad skin is also not inborn. If you were gay, your skin wouldn't have looked so bad.~~

Why are we focusing so much on whether gays are the product of nature or nurture? So what if there is really a gay gene? So what? So what! So what?! Are you telling me that those toilets for the disabled are only for people who are born disabled, but not for people who have become disabled? Of course not! I know what you are going to say - "But we are trying to make our society safer so that fewer people become disabled. Similarly, we are trying to make our society straighter so that fewer people become gay." Wow! What a convincing argument! I didn't think about that at all! If homosexuality is not inborn, we should definitely reduce the probability of people becoming gay later in life. You got me. You win.

Just a question out of curiosity: why are you building an IR/many IRs when you know gambling is bad and is definitely NOT inborn?

I just feel sad for all the gay people in Singapore. I thank God for not making me one of them. Life is already not easy for me. I could only imagine how much harder life must have been for those gay people.

Singaporeans are scared sh*tless by gay people, even though those gay people are not scary. Am I making any sense? Hmm. I think I am not. Is Section 377A making any sense? Hmm. I think it definitely is, because PM Lee says it is.

Singapore Gays' Open Letter to PM Lee. More than 1500 people have signed. Have you?

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 09:25:00 +0000

I found this really amusing letter online. It's an open letter written by some gay guy(s) in Singapore, asking PM Lee for the abolition of Section 377A, and the address of the website is, unsurprising, www.repeal377a.com.

If you are interested, you can go and sign the letter. The deadline is October 19, 2007. (Yes, they have a deadline!!) So far, they have gathered more than 1500 signatures. Pretty impressive, huh?

Anyway, below is the letter, with my own comments.

The Prime Minister
Mr. Lee Hsien Loong
Prime Minister's Office
Orchard Road
Istana
Singapore 238823

Subject: Abolition OF Section 377A, Penal Code

Dear Prime Minister,

As a citizen of Singapore [It's interesting to note how the letter is started off. "As a CITIZEN of Singapore". Yet, many of the signatories are Singapore PRs or non-Singaporeans. ], I write to appeal to your sense of fairness and equality, to take the lead to move Parliament and your party on issues related to s377A, Penal Code. I strongly believe that it should be repealed, not just for the benefit of the gay community, but also for the good of all Singaporeans. I also firmly believe that the time to repeal s377A, Penal Code is now, not later.

The reasons why this repeal is so important are manifold.

1. Singapore’s Founding Principles.
2. Constitutional and Legal Rights.
3. International Social Mores and Trends.
4. Domestic Social Mores and Trends.
5. Damage to the Gay Community.
6. Pragmatism, Leadership and the Future.

1. Singapore’s Founding Principles

Singapore was founded on the basis of justice and equality. This is reflected in our pledge. From the start, Singapore as a nation has staunchly upheld multiculturalism, with diverse groups living together in harmony by respecting each other's differences. This has been the cornerstone of our country’s success. Since then, these principles have been further strengthened. For example:

- In 1966, a Constitutional Commission was formed to study how the rights of minorities can be safeguarded.
- The implementation of the GRC in our electoral system ensures that racial minorities are adequately represented.
- The Women’s Charter was amended to safeguard women’s rights.

Legislating that certain sexual acts are legal for heterosexuals but illegal for gay men is tantamount to our country taking an active step (for the first time) to discriminate against a minority group. That goes against everything we, as Singaporeans, have been taught to believe in and hold dear.

2. Constitutional and Legal Rights

Section 377A contravenes Singapore’s Constitution which grants equal rights to treatment and protection for everyone. This law is unequivocally discriminatory. We believe a gay man should have exactly the same rights as a straight man or woman.

We understand that there are elements of our society that do not see being gay in a positive light. They are entitled to their opinion. But their opinion should not infringe upon the rights of this – or any – group of Singaporeans. This holds true even if those who disapprove of gay people outnumber those who support them. In fact, it is the responsibility of any democratically elected government [when I read this sentence, I just couldn't stop laughing. We are talking about Singapore, aren't we? "Democratically elected government"? Sorry. I know I am being rude. But this is really funny.] to protect minorities from the “tyranny of the majority”.

Section 377A violates an individuals's right to privacy. Especially since what we are talking about is a choice between consenting adults and hurts no one. [Err... Anal sex definitely hurts, doesn't it?]

Furthermore, the government's self-avowed compromise of having s377A on the books but not enforcing it will bring Singapore’s justice system into disrepute. The Council of the Law Society states in its report to the Ministry Of Home Affairs dated March 30, 2007, that the law as it stands “cannot be justified”. The Council goes further to argue that the proper function of criminal law “is to protect others from harm by punishing harmful conduct. Private consensual homosexual conduct between adults does not cause harm recognisable by the criminal law. Thus, regardless of one's personal view of the morality or otherwise of such conduct, it should not be made a criminal offence”.

Singapore has always taken pride in being a country where the rule of law is transparent, fair and clear cut. This reputation has served us well and contributed in no small way to our country’s success and should not be eroded by this aberration.

3. International Trends

The courts of many major countries have held the equivalent of s377A to be discriminatory, an invasion of privacy and unconstitutional. This is not only in Europe and America. It includes the UN Human Rights Committee, S, Africa and most recently Hong Kong. The legislatures in UK, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia and even China have also passed laws decriminalising such acts.

Singapore will be woefully out-of-step with the rest of the world should it move to retain this Victorian legislation only weeks after Newsweek magazine’s cover story proclaimed that “the battle for gay rights is gaining ground across the globe” and hailed the repeal of laws similar to s377A across the globe as “a global civil-rights revolution”. [I am not sure how good it is for gay people that there is so much hype and attention given to the gay community right now. It reminds me of the feminism movement in the last century. Decades later, the word "feminism" has become such a demeaning and derogatory term. One of the many reasons why those early feminists failed was because they have focused their energy on the wrong thing. They centered much of their campaign on burning bras and underwears, when many females living in less developed countries didn't even have bras and underwears at that time. Aren't gay people in Singapore (and other developed countries) doing the same thing now? They want to get married and have babies just like heterosexuals, when many gay people in other parts of the world don't even get to enjoy the most basic rights. They want to have anal sex as and when they like it, when gay people in some African tribes have spears sticking up their asses as a punishment for their sexual orientation. Have gay people gotten everything they need? Definitely not. But come on, who has ever gotten everything he or she needs?]

4. Domestic Trends

The attitude of Singaporeans have become much more accepting of alternative sexuality. Between 2000 and 2005, the level of acceptance has changed from 10% to more than 30%. The latest figure is taken from Mark Cenite and B. Detenber's article in the International Journal of Public Opinion Research. Furthermore, the Straits Times online census in July 2007 indicated a tolerance [tolerance=acceptance? Is this how racial harmony is defined in Singapore? So long as we don't express hatred overtly, we are a harmonious society?] level of 55%.

Admittedly, different public polls can often illustrate contrasting views and the sum of all these statistics makes it difficult to get a clear view of popular sentiment. However we believe that the law of our land does not exist to be popular [Ya. You are right. The law of Singapore does not exist to be popular. They exist merely to make PAP popular.], but to be fair and just for all people. This is a belief we know is shared by many.

5. Damage to the Gay Community

If the current amendment bill succeeds, the resulting law will become a bitter symbol to many gay Singaporean men, young and old. It will hinder greater understanding and integration of these people, who are often responsible, invaluable and highly respected contributing members of society. The only thing that makes these people different from the majority of Singaporeans is that they are biologically-pre-disposed [Nah nah. Big question mark. If I am not wrong, whether homosexuality has a genetic basis is still not proved yet.]to love differently. It will be a slap in the face to their significant contributions and encourage many more to leave our shores for more open-minded societies. Singapore’s most valuable resource is its citizens. We cannot afford to lose them.

S377A will also affect the status and moral citizenship of gay men in society. The government has openly welcomed gays and lesbians into the civil service. But this law will only discourage equal-treatment for gay employees everywhere and diminish the moral standing these men and have rightfully earned. We fear it will be a seed for further acts of discrimination.

Criminalising gay sex also impedes effective safer-sex messages being disseminated effectively to gay men and other men at risk of contracting HIV. There are numerous studies which have concluded that HIV prevention programs in environments where gay sex is criminalised are resoundingly ineffective. The fight against HIV/AIDS is an important issue which affects all Singaporeans. There should be no impediment to getting this life saving information out. [I don't know how you feel. But when I read this paragraph, the only thing I am convinced of is that gay people are indeed (partially) responsible for the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS.]

Branding gays as outlaws will be destructive to the self-worth of those individuals and could lead to an increased incidence of self-harm. [Like more SM among gay people?] Thought should also be given to gay youth who struggle deeply with this issue. This law would only add more trauma to what is already a very difficult period in their lives.

6. Pragmatism, Leadership and the Future
You and our government have always shown a willingness to make tough pragmatic decisions for the best interests of our country. Decisions made with conviction, despite opposition from various interest groups, religious organisations and minorities.

In a recent address at NUS, you talked about this issue and said that “we will not reach consensus however much we discuss it. The views are passionately held on both sides. The more you discuss it, the angrier they become. The subject will not go away.” Having admitted that we are at an impasse, it seems only logical that the way to move forward is for the government to take a lead with the same conviction and leadership it has always shown.

We keep hearing that Singapore society is ‘too conservative’ for this law to be repealed. This is not a strong enough reason to deny a group of Singaporeans equal rights. Far more conservative countries have done away with laws like these and are none the worse for it. We are a modern, democratic and secular state. While there will always be a place for conservative mores, we also need to protect and nurture space for tolerance and open-mindedness to flourish.

You have often said that your goal is to create a tolerant and progressive society for all Singaporeans. We urge you to now demonstrate your commitment to achieve this goal. Repealing this biased law will be a symbolic milestone to signal to fellow Singaporeans and the world that this is the vision of Singapore that we all share.

Yours faithfully,

Such a long letter...... a long and boring letter. If you really want to read some great pro-gay articles, check this one out: What is the gay agenda? It is funny and enlightening at the same time.

I am not pro-gay. But that is not the only reason why I didn't sign on that letter. I just feel that whoever penned the letter has been deluded into thinking that Singapore is a democratic society and their "democratically elected government" always give the people what they want. Well, dude, you are wrong. What you have asked for is somewhat reasonable. But it is just so sad that Singapore is not even democratic enough for that somewhat-reasonable-ness. Neither is she gay enough.

Move on, guys, girls and guy-girls. If you can't move on, just move out.

Happy 4th Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 01:46:00 +0000

Happy 4th Anniversary, my dear friends.
Thank you for being with me for the past 4 years.
Thank you for making the past 4 years the most memorable experience in my life.
Thank you for everything.
Love U.

Stop being so mean to Paris Hilton! Americans are perverts!!

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 08:52:00 +0000

Watch the video below. It's an interview David Letterman had with Paris Hilton on 28 Sept, 2007. He is a total asshole!!

Mr. Letterman, why must you be so mean to Paris Hilton? How can you treat a fellow human being like a joke? What makes you think you are a better person?! She may not be a likable person, but she definitely does NOT deserve all the sarcasm, mistreatment and verbal abuse. Yes, ABUSE! I think from today onwards, you should be called David Fourletterman because you deserve nothing more than those four-letter words.

Don't Americans have something better to do? Are they really so traumatized by 911 that they have to find joy in a such a disgusting way? Must they make others suffer so that they can feel superior and satisfied?! That surely explains the mess they have created in Iraq and all around the world.

And aren't most Americans Christians? What have they learned about the Ten Commandments? You mean Bibles published in America don't have the sentence "love thy neighbor"?

Maybe we should not have been so surprised about the situation in Iraq. After all, Paris Hilton is an American. If Americans can't even treat another American with the most basic respect, why should we expect them to treat other human beings any better?

The Best of This Week's Secrets

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:46:00 +0000

To me, the following are the best of this week's Sunday secrets from PostSecret.

Again....

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 06:37:00 +0000

Again, my post is the second most popular on Ping.sg. -.-"
I am truly honored.
I just want to thank everybody who bothers to read the whining of a teenage boy. Hahaz. Thanks a lot!

Ok. I admit. I am 20.

Wow.Wow.Wow.

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:03:00 +0000

After watching this video, I need to rethink about my decision to go to the U.S. to study.

HATE ME!! I am a Chinese National!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Loveless) — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:14:00 +0000

I was, as usual, surfing online and reading other people's blogs when I came upon this post.

Chinese Nationals - People We Love to Hate

Well, I have to say that this is really an amazing and inspiring post. I always believe that some of my Singaporean friends love me crazily. At the same time, I am also aware that many other Singaporeans just hate people like me to death.

Yes, people like me. In case you do not know, I am a Chinese National, one of those people you love to hate.

First of all, let me express my gratitude towards Singapore. I came to Singapore four years ago. I came as a scholar, which effectively means that I have been using the money given by MOE to study here. Where did MOE get those money? Hmm. Let me see. Oh, tax payers! I will never forget the reason why I can have the chance to study in such a wonderful country is because of all the kind-hearted Singaporeans. Come on, how can I possibly forget who my benefectors are when people around me keep telling me, "Oh, you are using my parents' money to study here!"

That is what I have been hearing for the past four years. And, you have no idea how hard it has been.

I came to Singapore as a 16-year old boy. Ever since then, I have to bear the burden of knowing I am forever in debt to someone I have never met. Isn't that too much for a 16-year old boy? Isn't that too much for a 16-year old boy studying in a foreign country? Isn't that too much for a 16-year old boy whose parents live thousands of miles away?

You see, the truth is: I really loved Singapore when I first came here. I was really thankful. I wanted to stay here for the rest of my life. I wanted to serve Singapore to repay my debts. But now, it has just become so difficult for me to say "help me thank your parents". And it is absolutely impossible for me to say "you are right", after reading an article with a title like "Chinese Nationals - People We Love to Hate".

I am not a beggar. You don't even tell a beggar "this is my parents' money" when you toss the coin into the bowl.

And just for your information, I didn't go to MOE, telling them "please, please, let me be a scholar". Instead, MOE sent school principals to China to recruit scholars. In fact, MOE has been doing this for years. If we, Chinese Nationals, are truly horrible creatures, why does MOE still want young monsters like us to come here? Aren't we just useless vampires?

Why? Why? Why?

Well, it can't be because we also spend OUR parents' money here, which in turn boosts Singapore's consumption level.

It can't be because we (whom The Straits Times called China Whiz Kids) make Singapore schools more competitive, which in turn boosts local students' academic performance.

It can't be because having some Chinese Nationals here will attract more Chinese tourists to come to Singapore.

It can't be because Singapore's birth rate is dwindling.

It can't be because we are good.

We are definitely not good. Otherwise, why whould you love to hate us?

Ok. Ok. I really need to relax. I am being too emotional here. But not unreasonable. I will just try to calm down.

Let me see. I have made some truly wonderful friends here. My church friends - they are always so kind. My classmates - they are always so supportive. My teachers - they are the people I REALLY owe. Some of the people I met online - they are truly nice when they don't ask me for sex.

And did I tell you how much I love Singapore food, even though some of them are too spicy for me? Did I tell you how much I enjoy those racist jokes even though most of them are not funny? Did I tell you how entertaining it is when people tell a joke in Singlish and all I can do is to
force a smile and pretend I understand? Did I tell you how inspiring it is when my classmate calls my fellow China friends "peasants"? Did I tell you how comforting it is when everytime I open the newspaper, China study mums are always equated to prostitutes and all I can do is to
thank God that my mum didn't come here with me, not because she would become a prostitute, but because she would be deemed as a prostitute?

Oh, even when I go out with my female China friends, uncles look at them with lust and aunties look at them with hatred. Many of those girls are not even 18 years old. Can't you just spare them the prejudice?

Undoubtedly, I have grown up a lot in Singapore. I no longer cry when I call my parents. I lie to them that I am O.K. even when I am not. How can I be?

As for the accusations raised in that hate-Chinese-Nationals post, I would like to answer at least some of them.

1. I don't know what happened between your mum and her colleague. You see, the truth is even you do not know what happened. Even your mum does not know what happened. Everyboby is just guessing based on their own assumptions and stereotypes. Keeping quiet does not always solve the problem.

2. Why are our "incomprehensible accents" despisable? Why are they incomprehensible in the first place? We have been speaking like that since we were young and it seems like those 1.4 billion Chinese people around us had no problem understanding it. I am sure Singaporeans' accents are perfectly comprehensible in China or UK or the U.S. or other parts of the world. Ok. I shall not make this into a personal attack. I just want to say: there are many ways to do the same thing. Many right ways.

3. Thank you so much for giving me the chance to express my opinions on the recent hoo-hah about China exports. I have been eating food made in China for twenty years. (Yes, I still have to eat food made in China even when I am in Singapore.) And my tortoise has been living on food made in China for two years. (Ok. I admit. I purposely fed it with poisonous food made in China because I wanted it to become a TMNT.) And I have been playing with toys made in China ever since I was a kid. (Oh, no! That 1.5-meter Teddy Bear on my bed is made in China too!) AND I AM STILL ALIVE. What a surprise! What a surprise that many China women can live more than 100 years even though they have been eating, drinking, using and wearing China products for their entire life!

4. I don't think it is fair to blame Chinese Nationals if Singaporeans lose their jobs. You can't blame your competitors just because you lose out in the competition. This is not how today's world works. And let's face it. Many Singaporeans are not willing to take up those low-end jobs. And many Singaporeans are not willing to get married and give birth. Supply does not meet demand? How? Singapore government has to import foreign talents. It's a win-win situation for both parties.

5. "There is certainly a thing or two we can teach the world out there." I agree. Really. Really! I am not being sarcastic. But I just feel that there are also some things that you can learn from the world out there.

Ok. This is a really long entry. I shall summarize my main points.

i) I loved Singapore whole-heartedly.
ii) Now I don't.
iii) But I am still thankful for all the things Singapore has given me.
iv) You don't need to love us. You also don't need to hate us.
v)I was really biased in the first half of this entry. I am sorry. I was just upset when I read that post. I hope I have become more neutral towards the end.
vi) I still have exams tomorrow. So I am ending this entry here.

P.S.: This is not a personal attack. The writer of that article just gave me the chance to express how I feel as a Chinese National in Singapore. I thank him for that.