C says there was snow at Mammoth until June last year, so I'm going SKIING!!! Heheh, this is gonna be like the best thing in the longest time! Last time I hit the slopes was in 2004, and I think it was Donner ski ranch, not exactly the best place in the world!
So I've been training up by going skating. I'm skating today, and tomorrow also. As I was skating today there was this guy who was stroking and gliding BACKWARDS!! Basically he was skating backwards faster than most people can skate forward, and that's no joke man! And he looks behind too OMG! That's one trick I gotta learn man. Otherwise the weather was absolutely fantastic, and I wish I could stay another hour, but lunch beckoned and I had to head to the museum in the afternoon.
So what was I doing at the museum? I signed up for volunteering and they wanted to talk to me about what I wanna do. I was up for the History gallery guide position except I'm gonna be in California when the training starts (ouch). It turns out that the docents for the history gallery really got to know lotsa stuff man. Got to do own research and all too! Anyway, looks like I'm gonna do the architectural tours as well as the special exhibits which is pretty darn cool too!
Later in the evening I met up with some OAC alumni for chinese new year dinner. And they were all so young man! Most of them were 06/07, I'm 96/97 which is like 10 years ago man! But its good to hear they are still quite enthusiastic. It always worried me that kids today might regress in their enthusiasm of outdoor adventure. Especially after the unfortunate accident that happened to the RJ ODAC.... But anyway, all's good. And really brought back good memories of happy days. Here's some good 'ol OAC songs to reminisce (though I might have lost some lyrics):
A is for Akua, we love Akua, if you wanna be the best, come and join the OAC ah!
B is for Bak Kwa
C is for Chao Tah
D is for Dao Kua
E is for Eno
F is for Fried Fish
G is for Gu-Niang
H is for Hao Lian
I is for Idiot
J is for Ja-gong
K is for Kiasu
L is for Lao-sai
M is for Milo
N is for NJC
O is for OAC
P is for Pai Kia
Q is for QM
R is for Reccee
S is for Sam-pa or seniors
T is for Topo
U is for Ubin
V is for ???
W is for Water
X is for ???
Y is for Yao Kwee
Z is for Ziploc
(Perhaps someone can fill the blanks)
*************************************
Mmm Mmm went a little green frog one day
Mmm Mmm went a little green frog
Mmm Mmm went a little green frog one day
And a little green frog went mmm mmm
But we know frogs go: Clap! Shalalalala
Clap! Shalalalala
We know frogs go: Clap! Shalalalala
Frogs don't go mmm mmm
Choo choo went a little blue train one day
Choo choo went a little blue train
Choo choo went a little blue train one day
And a little blue train went choo choo
But we know trains go: Clap! Shalalalala
Clap! Shalalalala
We know trains go: Clap! Shalalalala
Trains don't go choo choo
Nag nag went a little sam-pa one day
Nag nag went a little sam-pa
Nag nag went a little sam-pa one day
And a little sam-pa went nag nag
But we know sam-pa's go: Waaaaaaa!
Waaaaaa! Waaaaaa!
We know sam-pa-s go: Waaaaa!
Sam-pa's don't go nag nag
**********************************
Chou nan ren, chou nan ren
Every morning we see you
Play carrom, ti soccer
We're not happy to see you!
**********************************
I ask my love
To take a walk
To take a walk
Down Orchard Road
Bypass Mandarin
To Centerpoint
We had our lunch
At McDonald
We had filet
And apple pie
We shared a cup
Of lemon lime
I hold her hand
Look into her eyes
I ask her to be
My valentine
There was one night
There was no light
There was no light
So we use torchlight
Under the clear blue sky
Under the bright moonlight
I ask her to be
My future wife
***************************
How long can we wait for our fighting to end?
How long can we wait for our love to begin?
Oh can't you see we can't wait for forever to start
Together, forever we are one
Together, together we are one
One body one army we are one
United we stand, divided we fall
Together forever, all for one and one for all!
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Just read this interesting article
Under Dr Lee's microscope
Letter from Associate Professor Lee Wei Ling
Director, National Neuroscience Institute
THE official stance by the Government is that there is nothing wrong with its biomedical research strategy. It justifies that it is on the right track by the fact that the biomedical sector now makes up a quarter of Singapore's Gross Domestic Product generated by manufacturing.
Output by Singapore's drug factories jumped by over a third last year, pushing overall biomedical production up by 30.2 per cent. This robust growth puts biomedical output at a record $23 billion, almost four times the production in 2000. More than 90 per cent comes from pharmaceuticals, with the rest from the medical technology sector.
To attribute the investment by biomedical companies in Singapore to our multibillion dollar research drive is inaccurate. Numerous news agencies and newspapers have reported the reasons why these biomedical companies decided to set up in Singapore. The generous help from the Singapore Government, the strict enforcement of intellectual-property (IP) laws, proximity to new major markets in Asia, Singapore's efficiency, educated workforce and English-speaking environment are the incentives for investing in Singapore.
Singapore's own huge biomedical research initiative is not an important consideration, except in the few cases where the pharmaceutical companies have joint research ventures with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) or the Biopolis. This is not surprising. Research groups doing similar research are all competing with each other to make breakthroughs — only then do they get the IP rights. So, how would having competing groups in Singapore be an incentive for biomedical companies to come and set up shop here?
Mr Philip Yeo described me as "a voice in the wilderness", noting that I have not been in the Biopolis. But I have received more fanmail than I can remember from Singapore doctors and researchers, thanking me for pointing out the obvious mistake in the way the biomedical drive has been carried out.
I would challenge that, having never practised as a doctor, Mr Yeo is strategising about biomedical research directions in an ivory tower. He has been very successful in selling Singapore in the past, but biomedical research is a different ball game. The fact that he dismisses the importance of Hepatitis B and head injury shows how out of touch he is with reality.
Yes, Singapore is immunising its children against Hepatitis B, but immunisation does not help someone who is already a carrier for the Hepatitis B virus. What is more significant is that 5 per cent of all ethnic Chinese are Hepatitis B carriers.
Head injury is the major cause of disability in children and economically-productive adults. The cost to the patients' families and to society equals, if not exceeds, that of cancer. Head injury is not particular to Singapore, but it is an area where not many research centres have chosen to concentrate on. At the National Neuroscience Institute, we have a good research track record and will continue to pursue this area of research.
Lieutenant-General (NS) Lim Chuan Poh said "you have to give it time to show success. Some of these things cannot be done in a matter of three or five years; we are going to stay the course".
If A*Star believes this, why did it sign an agreement with Johns Hopkins that had a five year timeline?
In fact, Professor William Brody from The Johns Hopkins University alluded to this when he was asked about biomedical research in Singapore. Prof Brody also pointed out the fact "that research is not linear, or predictable — it's unpredictable".
Can Singapore afford to continue to pour in huge sums of money for 10 or 20 years in the hope of eventually yielding results, yet knowing that there is no certainty of success?
Lt-Gen Lim goes on to ask: "Why must it be that Singaporeans cannot be world-beaters?" My answer to that is: Singaporeans can be world-beaters — if Singapore has the appropriate research strategy and concentrates effort and resources on the areas where we have a competitive advantage. The Singapore Olympic Council seems to understand this simple concept which escapes the highly intellectual officials determining the direction of Singapore's research strategy.
A*Star dismissed any suggestion that the Government might be rethinking its strategy to develop the biomedical research sector. However, Dr Tony Tan seems more open-minded about this issue. Dr Tan, who is the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council's deputy chairman, said he was sure the biomedical science executive committee will consider all input: "If there is any change in direction or emphasis necessary, I'm confident they will take the appropriate action."
In the same article where he was featured opening the new National University of Singapore Centre for Life Sciences, it was reported that "several cancers, the ones more common in Singapore and the region, will be put under the microscope". This is in line with the concept of niche areas that I have been advocating.
Letter from Associate Professor Lee Wei Ling
Director, National Neuroscience Institute
THE official stance by the Government is that there is nothing wrong with its biomedical research strategy. It justifies that it is on the right track by the fact that the biomedical sector now makes up a quarter of Singapore's Gross Domestic Product generated by manufacturing.
Output by Singapore's drug factories jumped by over a third last year, pushing overall biomedical production up by 30.2 per cent. This robust growth puts biomedical output at a record $23 billion, almost four times the production in 2000. More than 90 per cent comes from pharmaceuticals, with the rest from the medical technology sector.
To attribute the investment by biomedical companies in Singapore to our multibillion dollar research drive is inaccurate. Numerous news agencies and newspapers have reported the reasons why these biomedical companies decided to set up in Singapore. The generous help from the Singapore Government, the strict enforcement of intellectual-property (IP) laws, proximity to new major markets in Asia, Singapore's efficiency, educated workforce and English-speaking environment are the incentives for investing in Singapore.
Singapore's own huge biomedical research initiative is not an important consideration, except in the few cases where the pharmaceutical companies have joint research ventures with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) or the Biopolis. This is not surprising. Research groups doing similar research are all competing with each other to make breakthroughs — only then do they get the IP rights. So, how would having competing groups in Singapore be an incentive for biomedical companies to come and set up shop here?
Mr Philip Yeo described me as "a voice in the wilderness", noting that I have not been in the Biopolis. But I have received more fanmail than I can remember from Singapore doctors and researchers, thanking me for pointing out the obvious mistake in the way the biomedical drive has been carried out.
I would challenge that, having never practised as a doctor, Mr Yeo is strategising about biomedical research directions in an ivory tower. He has been very successful in selling Singapore in the past, but biomedical research is a different ball game. The fact that he dismisses the importance of Hepatitis B and head injury shows how out of touch he is with reality.
Yes, Singapore is immunising its children against Hepatitis B, but immunisation does not help someone who is already a carrier for the Hepatitis B virus. What is more significant is that 5 per cent of all ethnic Chinese are Hepatitis B carriers.
Head injury is the major cause of disability in children and economically-productive adults. The cost to the patients' families and to society equals, if not exceeds, that of cancer. Head injury is not particular to Singapore, but it is an area where not many research centres have chosen to concentrate on. At the National Neuroscience Institute, we have a good research track record and will continue to pursue this area of research.
Lieutenant-General (NS) Lim Chuan Poh said "you have to give it time to show success. Some of these things cannot be done in a matter of three or five years; we are going to stay the course".
If A*Star believes this, why did it sign an agreement with Johns Hopkins that had a five year timeline?
In fact, Professor William Brody from The Johns Hopkins University alluded to this when he was asked about biomedical research in Singapore. Prof Brody also pointed out the fact "that research is not linear, or predictable — it's unpredictable".
Can Singapore afford to continue to pour in huge sums of money for 10 or 20 years in the hope of eventually yielding results, yet knowing that there is no certainty of success?
Lt-Gen Lim goes on to ask: "Why must it be that Singaporeans cannot be world-beaters?" My answer to that is: Singaporeans can be world-beaters — if Singapore has the appropriate research strategy and concentrates effort and resources on the areas where we have a competitive advantage. The Singapore Olympic Council seems to understand this simple concept which escapes the highly intellectual officials determining the direction of Singapore's research strategy.
A*Star dismissed any suggestion that the Government might be rethinking its strategy to develop the biomedical research sector. However, Dr Tony Tan seems more open-minded about this issue. Dr Tan, who is the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council's deputy chairman, said he was sure the biomedical science executive committee will consider all input: "If there is any change in direction or emphasis necessary, I'm confident they will take the appropriate action."
In the same article where he was featured opening the new National University of Singapore Centre for Life Sciences, it was reported that "several cancers, the ones more common in Singapore and the region, will be put under the microscope". This is in line with the concept of niche areas that I have been advocating.
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