Random Entry: What actually plagues the CTE (Central Expressway)?

Before I went to bed yesterday, I happened to come across this 2-page article in Lian He Zao Bao. They were discussing abt the daily heavy jams along the CTE in the morning despite the increasing ERP prices on the 2 main gantries. It seemed that ERP has somehow proven to be ineffective especially along this particular highway. What actually is the problem? Is it because there are too many vehicles on the roads? But isn’t COE supposed to curb the vehicle population? LTA still planning to increase the number of lanes to 5 or 6 just in AMK area. Also, the Kallang/ Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) is now in the process of construction and once completed, it could be the only way to “save” the CTE. The longest tunnel in Singapore will stretch from the East Coast Parkway (ECP) in the south of Singapore to the Tampines Expressway (TPE) in the northeast, providing an alternative route between the city and the north of Singapore. Time will tell if it actually works. From my point of view, apart from the growing population in AMK, yishun, hougang area, the CTE itself possesses some flaws. Too many entry and exit points that are too near to each other. AMK is a very good example. Big problem here, imagine AMK vehicles entering the CTE all at the same time from the various AMK entrances, jams are thus unavoidable. ERP starts operation at 7.30am during wkdays, so people are just rushing to get onto the CTE before this time. If everybody thinks the same way, the jams could start as early as 7am. I guess it is time that people stop relying on the expressway too much, yes I can understand how fast u can reach work or sch by using the highway, but with such heavy jams occurring on the CTE everyday, most people would be late. For me, I will never touch the CTE in the morning if I drive to sch, I would rather find other connecting routes. Despite the number of traffic lights along the way, I guess it couldn’t be worse than having to be stuck in heavy jams together.

Just a random entry, a bit boring I know…..lolxx…

Song Recommendation of The Week:
Rihanna – Shut Up And Drive

Okay, since I jus won her CD and crapped abt CTE and all that, might as well talk abt her new song. By the way, I am not going against drivers who love to talk while driving, though the song title explained itself. Personally, I view this number as one of the best summer songs ever. Begins with huge guitar power chords moving into a fun, summer singalong atmosphere. Aiyah, just bang your head to this amazing powerful rock song….time to step up to the beat!

Anyway, Rihanna is launching a range of her own umbrellas! No kidding….It is a clever marketing ploy which comes just days after it was revealed that "Umbrella" is the longest number one single in the UK in over ten years. I was just thinking, if her new song “Shut Up And Drive” can attain such success for her again, she can consider selling second hand cars right here in Singapore….in Ubi lor… just kidding….

Btw, I give this song 3.0 out of 5 星星s....

Rihanna CD hamper is finally mine!

Hooray! After sending 4 smses, I finally won the autographed Rihanna "Good Girl Gone Bad" CD hamper on radio today. Somemore today last day to win it, so I considered myself to be damn lucky sia.....and......just for today, the CD hamper comes with an umbrella, ya becos of her hit single "Umbrella".....I am so so happy!! It has been a while since I won something on radio........

Cycle continues....

So the bidding cycle continues as Round 1a commences today. Was expecting to see a few modules such as Hydraulics and Uncertainty Analysis, being pre-allocated. But what I only saw in cors was only biochemistry, point already deducted when I did not say anything abt taking this mod. How smart of them! Now when I dropped this mod, no point refunded. 1 2 = 0.5. Okay, they rounded it down. I wouldn’t say I was cheated la. Never mind, just treat it as charity. I wouldn’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill either coz I know I am just wasting my time. Now still thinking of timeslots to fit my CTW module, although I know there are 2 days which are obviously quite empty.

2 more weeks to a new school term, which means 13 weeks of hols have flown by. New books to buy, new notes to print, the cycle just continues. I hope I can cherish whatever is left of this hols. Some stuff are still undone leh. Okay, I am just lazy..

As usual, NTU will start its school term 1 week earlier. Officially, kailuen mei mei is now staying in Hall 6 from today onwards. Had already assisted her to move most of her stuff over last Fri, except her own clothes la which she forgot, as usual..haha..I hope she brought them over today. She must be honored to have so many helpers to clean up her second home. 6 people to tidy up 1 small room. The size of her room is abt the same as those in Raffles Hall. Not really that spacious for 2 person to stay but she would get used to it as the days pass by. A few insecurities here and there. Door is really old, hope she would install a new lock today. All the best to u and Sharon! Will visit you soon. Don’t worry abt the rumors okay….

Song Recommendation of The Week:

Plain White T’s – Hey There Delilah

Definitely a great acoustic number that stands up on repeated listens without getting cheesy. Plain White T's are a bunch of Chicago based punk-pop rockers. A perfect ballad with harmonious vocals and serene guitar strum. The sentimental nature of this song just expresses young love irresistibly. Seems like the only ballad on this album as most of the other tracks tend towards the louder pop punk realm. This song is now stuck in my head…so easy to sing along..

Btw, I give this song 3.5 out of 5 星星s....

Birthday on the dance floor

Hoohoo....Happy Birthday to Shu Ling!!! 21 year old le! still younger than me lar...Went to her Birthday party yesterday evening at Windy Hts. First time attending a party in a condominium's function room. Was suffering from gastric yesterday afternoon, but still manage to attend. A bit excited also la. Really enjoyed myself. lol, got disco dance also, very happening lor....One thing for sure, Shuling can dance well....dance queen liao la....Of course, her birthday party wat....Thanks gal for inviting...Btw, Minghui and I specially chose something for her, hope she likes it. What I can say is the present is wrapped in a very environmental way.

We did not use any wrapping paper.......

Brand New 987FM

Gave A. Maths tuition to a new student last Sat, his name is Jeremy. Personally I feel he is a very nice and quiet boy, just that he is very very careless la. Tend to make mistakes in simple multiplication problems. He actually scored 20 plus marks in his mid year exam and his prelims are just 2 mths away. OMG! He really needs to do some serious catching up. Really hope to help him to at least get a pass for his prelims maybe. Not much time left, 3 mths left to his ‘O’ Levels…But I enjoyed teaching him, he can even laugh at his own careless mistakes. Lesson not that boring after all…

Today marks the start of a brand new 987FM coz all the DJs are changing their shifts. Dan and Young are now doing morning show (5-10am), Desiree from 10-1pm, new jock Raven hosting from 1-4pm, Shan and former Power98 DJ Ros teaming up for the drive time (4-8pm) followed by “Say It With Music” hosted by Su. Of course, not forgetting the Muttons at Midnight (10pm – 2am). Didn’t really catch the morning show today coz I only managed to wake up at 9.30am, yup, lazy me….The Muttons are still the best, my favourites, very funny duo with their lame jokes…..highly recommended….

Song Recommendation of The Week:
Natasha Bedingfield – Soulmate

If you don’t know, she is actually the sister of Daniel Bedingfield, the guy who sang the ballot “If You’re Not The One”. This is probably the best track taken off her latest album “N.B”. Her first album was more about independence and opportunism while this new one is a bit more reflective of her current relationship and how different stages can actually be written into songs. Meaningful lyrics too…

Chorus

Who doesn't long for someone to hold
Who knows how to love you without being told
Somebody tell me why I'm on my own
If there's a soulmate for everyone

Btw, I give this song 3.5 out of 5 星星s....

Biochem?

After much preparation, decided to retake my IPPT today and really glad that I achieved a pretty good pass. Managed to improve on my jump and 2.4km run, that’s a relief to me. The attendance today was astonishing. Separated into 2 different groups for the 2.4 km run. Weather was so gloomy dis morning at Yishun, luckily it rained after I ended my run. Anyway, cleared IPPT this workyear, guess its time to go back to the books.

I have been telling some of my friends that I would be choosing biochemistry for the next Semester. Guess I have to take back what I said. I would love to choose biochem, but not at the expense of losing my other module about Infrastructure and The Environment. Because of lecture clashes between the two, I can only allowed to pick one of them. On top of that, I have to take Structural Analysis too which I didn’t intended to do so. (I hate Statics…..) Also just realized that biochem has 4 hr lectures per week, and 3 labs 4 hrs each, accompanied by a long essay assignment. Havn’t really made up my mind also….Not much of a choice for me, either I go with 2 civil mod or 1 civil 1 bio sci.

EVE timetable is out, quite a lot of stuff on Mondays, esp having to spend 4-6hrs in LT2…Hmm, hope that I can find a seat in this small LT.

Poor Angsana Tree

Recently changed my hp theme, really beautiful kite animation cum wallpaper along with my fav ringtone which goes “Look back and watch me smack that, all on the floor, smack that, give me some more….” Lol…I can’t imagine my phone going off with such a ringtone during lecture. But it rarely happens to me la, unless I am that forgetful, but most the time I am very very considerate one…okay, enuf braggin, time to move on…

Lin Zuan checking into his “hotel room” on 30 July. If I am not wrong, it shd be King Edwards, just beside PGP residence. Going to meet up with him very soon for a movie or coffee, planning to drag quanfu along but he is always that busy ever since he went to NS. He is currently serving the nation at Yio Chu Kang Police Station. Good life for him, slacking everyday…haha….Oops!

Joel has gone for reservice, back to that “shit hole”, as u all liked to describe. Mu Qin going in soon, haha, good luck guys. Your favourite “Joy” is still there, so I guess life is going to be the same as before. But I won’t be there for the next 3 years, so u all must tak care okay…lolx…My advice to u all: Do What You Need To Do. Just Remember To Enjoy. U guys know what I mean. Anyway, it’s been a while since we ORDed and we have not even met up once. Can someone go organize something and let me know okay? Ask Hui Juan along also….

Anyone read the news recently? LTA going to cut down the Angsana tree that stands in the middle of Braddell Road. Why?? Why can’t they just continue to conserve the tree? LTA says motorists might go “lang ga” the tree, so to protect drivers, the beautiful Angsana Tree, after spending so much money to conserve it, must be removed. Personally, I have driven past the tree numerous times and I know it is quite difficult to keep within the lanes. But I know some Singaporean drivers just refuse to slow down, although signs have been placed around the area, cautioning drivers to be careful abt the bends ahead and go within 40km/H. Hmm, lets see if accidents would occur more frequently after the tree is removed. I guess the danger is just overly exaggerated. Poor tree....

Finally, EVE timetable is uploaded. At last….

Song Recommendation of The Week:
Gwen Stefani – 4 In The Morning

The Hollaback girl is coming to town. Yes, former lead singer of No Doubt, the music and fashion icon, is currently on her “The Sweet Escape Tour”. Will be making her appearance 14 Aug, 8pm at Singapore Indoor Stadium. “4 in the Morning” is just one of her softer tracks on her album, a track that Gwen actually inserts what seems to be her genuine self into the music. She will probably be an artist who projects style over substance. Really loved the rhythm. This song just touches me right in the heart.

Btw, I give this song 3.5 out of 5 星星s....

Where is Lady Luck?

Feeling frustrated and sad these few days. Partly because of IPPT which I didnt manage to clear. I guess luck plays an impt part in whatever we do everyday. Imagine u failed the exam by 1 mark and u can't get promoted to the next higher level. Imagine u can't pass the driving test because you accumulated 19 demerit points. That kind of feeling sucks badly. When you know u can do it, sometimes u just can't perform as expected. Anyway, my hp is back. Went to collect it last Sat at Causeway Nokia, only to realise when I got home that my memory card was locked. What the!...Checked everything there except memory card. No choice but to go back there on Sun to reformat the memory card. Hate the waiting time. I have gone there for 3 days, wasted approximately 2.5 hrs waiting for my queue number. Nokia shd just open another carecenter branch at AMK Hub. But come to think abt it, I manage to "save" my hp just a few days before the 1 year warranty expires. Didnt have to pay anything at all for the service. Guess I was lucky after all....
Time to listen to happy songs...

Song Recommendation of The Week:
Mika – Love Today

One look at him, u know he is a joker. In fact, the whole album is hilarious. This song, together with his previous hit “Grace Kelly” are the funniest and happiest tracks on his debut album “Life In Cartoon Motion”. Extremely catchy. Lovely edgy guitar and incredible vocal-performance. The song is full of catchy twists and turns and the word 'love' is mentioned all over the place! You'll find yourselves head banging to this track, especially when the chorus kicks in - "Everybody's gonna love today, gonna love today"……No more Monday blues….

Btw, I give this song 4.0 out of 5 星星s....

My Handphone is on MC ....2 days...

Bad news, yup, I am now deprived of a camera phone for 2 days. Went all the way to Nokia Carecentre at Causeway (Well, that was the nearest) to send my N6280 for servicing. Something is wrong wit the backlight and screen doesnt light up. Still able to call and sms, but have to strain my eyes to see what I am typing. Its first birthday is just days away, 9 July, so the 1-year warranty still works.....but I still have to pay a certain amount.....

But I am still contactable, that's good news, isnt it?

5 days more....

Counting down, 5 more days, to wat? Something that some people hate, some people love it while others are trying their best to get rid of it asap......IPPT. Not for girls la, not for u Jessica aka kailuen mei mei, haha...since u call me Uncle Lyon, I not that old hor....Anywae, Went for a 2.4km run at punggol park today, 2.4km means run one big round, U-turn and run back again to starting point. Bad timing, coz I havnt been running lately.......I need 12:20 mins to pass....means 3.24m per second. Must be faster than that of course....Haiz, y must I bother so much on 1 station, I still very afraid of SBJ...216cm, hmm....me not very consistent la, sometimes can sometimes cannot. Maybe tmr go for frog-leg porridge...lolxx...

These few days trying to contact my pen-pal Qing Xi, somehow her email got some problems. Hope I can reach her soon, a lot of things to tell u leh..6 mths missing liao.....Where u?

Song Recommendation of The Week:
Timbaland Featuring Keri Hilson – The Way I Are

“The Way I Are”, Ya…bad grammar I know, but who cares, Timbaland doesn’t, why should I? He is one of those rappers who stirs quite of bit of controversy over his music. Listen to the melody and beat of this song, which are infectious and light-hearted. A good tune to rock out to especially when u are driving and caught in jams. Not really an original song though as it samples Salt N Pepa’s Push It. Abt Keri Hilson, well, she is an American R & B singer, wrote music for several people. From wat I know, “Wait A Minute” by Pussycat Dolls was written by her. Never really heard a lot of her own songs though, she isn’t that famous too….Btw, Timbaland sounds like a robot in this song...lolxx....This robot must lose weight la...

Btw, I give this song 3.5 out of 5 星星s....

http://www.myspace.com/timbaland