November 2011
2 posts
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being thankful
A long time since I’ve posted: the 365 Day Challenge has OBVIOUSLY gone to shits. Anyway.
It’s Thanksgiving Day today and it’s my first time celebrating this uniquely American holiday. Amidst all the turkey, cranberry sauce and talk of Black Friday shopping however, I think it’s a good time to think about the things that I should be thankful for.
First of all, I...
October 2011
2 posts
1 tag
mit: a summary
It’s been a long time since I’ve done a solid post here. And for that I blame the extreme lack of time. It’s really karmic because just under 2 months ago, I was in Kuching complaining about how I wasn’t using my brain at all and how I had absolutely nothing to do. And now, I’m in Cambridge, trying desperately to drink from the MIT fire hose without choking to...
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“… And we get this nasty integral; but it turns out it’s not so...”
– Martin Z. Bazant, in “10.34: Analysis of Transport Phenomena” at MIT
September 2011
7 posts
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365 Day Challenge, Day 67
Day 67: How you found out about Tumblr, and why you made one
Again with the hiatus. I blame the fire hose that is the MIT education.
To answer the question, I can’t exactly remember, I think I stumbled across Tumblr when randomly surfing the web. I made one coz Tumblr seemed to look so much better than Blogspot. I was right.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 66
Day 66: If you could switch lives with someone for a day, who would it be?
No one. OK, maybe the manager of one of my favorite bands. But only for a chance to meet them. Otherwise, no one.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 65
Day 65: One random fact about yourself
My favorite cheese is a toss-up between Brie, Danish blue and Pecorino Romano. For now anyway. There are too many new cheeses to try here in the US of A.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 64
Day 64: Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before, what do you do?
Rush to help him/her of course. I’m not that petty. Plus, if I don’t go I might live to regret it.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 63
Again, the MIT fire hose is to blame for me not honoring this challenge.
Day 63: Your views on gay marriage
I support it. Everyone should have the same rights. Homophobia is the new racism.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 62
Way behind due to the monster that is starting out school in MIT.
Day 62: Describe your best friend completely
I don’t have a best friend. I have multiple good friends.
August 2011
29 posts
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365 Day Challenge, Day 61
Day 61: One of your most prized possessions
This is kind of sad but I think it would have to be my Vampire Weekend shirt signed by Rostam Batmanglij (keyboardist of Vampire Weekend). Not only did I have to wait in the cold outside Metros for close to 2 hours for the band to exit, I had to pay 70 bucks to get my car out of the parking garage because it was locked in (this was at 2am in the morning...
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365 Day Challenge, Day 60
Day 60: A Youtube video you absolutely love and describe why
A slight blank spot of a few days because I was busy ‘enduring’ Hurricane Irene and settling down in Cambridge, amongst other things.
This is my favourite video, for no other reason than it makes me laugh so damn hard. I remember when I first watched it, I couldn’t stop laughing for 10 straight minutes.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 59
Day 59: One person you can tell everything to
Yuhan Goh.
There are a few more.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 58
Day 58: Places you want to visit, and why
As of today, the list stands as follows, in no particular order:
Madagascar - To see the Tsingy de Bemaraha.
Cairo, Egypt - For its culture and ancient history.
Alexandria, Egypt - Same as above.
Siem Reap, Cambodia - The gateway into Angkor Wat.
Tehran, Iran - For its culture and ancient history. And to see whether or not the Iranian Navid...
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365 Day Challenge, Day 57
Day 57: What is your definition of happiness?
Happiness is doing what you truly enjoy and being at peace with yourself; it is also less of an ends and more of a ‘work in progress’.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 56
Day 56: Something you did as a child that other people remember you for
Drawing chickens.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 55
Day 55: A passage from a book that has touched you
Atticus Finch’s speech from ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’. It starts off like this:
To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. The State has not produced one iota of medical evidence that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place. It has relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses whose...
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365 Day Challenge, Day 54
Day 54: Your definition of love
It is a strange thing.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 53
Day 53: Your day, in great detail
Well this challenge is kinda screwed up due to the 36 hour day I had yesterday due to crossing a bajillion time zones. My day basically involved travelling and a lot of it.
Woke up in Singapore at 4am, took a shower; then headed out to Changi Terminal 3 for my first flight to Tokyo. Boarded at 7.10am and it took just under 7 hours to arrive in the Land of the...
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365 Day Challenge, Day 52
For some reason, there are 2 Day 52s. Doesn’t matter I guess.
Day 52: If you didn’t have an age, how old would you think you were?
I would say 16 or 17 :P.
Although I apparently look 26 sigh.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 52
Day 52: What is the most inspirational thing you’ve ever heard?
Esse quam videri.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 51
Day 51: Describe your future wedding
I’m not a girl so this will not go on for 20 pages. I would ideally like a small personal wedding. Not too many people. Just those that matter: perhaps 30 at most. We would have a nice dinner out somewhere (not a fan of those huge Chinese banquets). And spend some quality time to celebrate the occasion. I am not averse to the idea of an outdoor...
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365 Day Challenge, Day 50
Day 50: Why you are doing this challenge
To keep my blog active and to be introspective.
Also because I’m bored.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 49
Day 49: Are you a lover or a fighter?
I’m a lover because I tend to avoid confrontation.
But I think this might just a trait of most Asians. We tend not to be aggressive and confrontational.
But I’m no pushover though!
At least I don’t think so…
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365 Day Challenge, Day 48
Day 48: Your life story in three words
Dared to dream.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 47
Missed a day because I was busy heading out with friends!
Day 47: Is the truth always good to hear? Why or why not?
It depends.
Too many personal relationships have been ruined due to people not speaking their mind and instead choosing to murmur discontentedly in the background. But then it can be argued that just as many relationships have been ruined by the parties being too up-front and...
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365 Day Challenge, Day 46
Day 46: What makes you smile
Listening to my favourite music on a rainy day (or with Rainymood running in the background) whilst doing my work or reading an awesome book.
The feeling of relief and release after I manage to solve an extremely long and annoying mathematical problem.
Finally getting to see the amazing places I’ve read about when I’m out travelling. And realising how...
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365 Day Challenge, Day 45
Day 45: When was the last time you tried something new?
Today. Kiong Kong introduced me to an Irish band called Two Door Cinema Club - pretty good. I like trying new things. I like to believe it keeps me young and thirsty for life.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 44
Day 44: When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just do what you know is right?
It is time to do so when you realise that by doing the former you are jeopardising your chances of attaining true happiness.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 43
Day 43: Is it possible to lie without saying a word?
No.
Oh wait. I just did.
And from another perspective, I lie without saying a word every morning when I wake up in my bed.
Yes, very bad I know.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 42
Day 42: Your best friend just died, what is your reaction
I would probably be in denial first. And then I would start questioning anyone and everyone (including God) about why he/she died. And then I would start rationalising his/her death whilst under extreme depression. Which would last for several weeks or months. And then I would probably realise that he/she is in a better place and would...
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365 Day Challenge, Day 41
Day 41: Write a letter to yourself stating all the things you love about yourself
Dear Lionel,
There are many things I love about you (and to maintain neutrality, many things I hate).
But the thing I love most about you is that you find it so difficult - almost impossible - to write this letter.
Warmest regards, Lionel
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A typical Taylor Swift song goes like this
“shes a slut shes a slut im beautiful and perfect i am a virgin and better than you for it so why doesnt he love me?im a fucking snowflake fairy so chaste so pure im better than her sob sob sob nag nag nag just say yes bby its a fucking love story tear drops on my guitar why dont you love me i am a white middle class girl and entitled to whatever i want regardless of how you feel and shes a...
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365 Day Challenge, Day 40
Day 40: What are features you get complimented on a lot
Many people have said I have eyes full of life and fighting spirit. But I have this to say to them, “I think it may be situational lighting.”
Many people have said I’m intelligent. But I have this to say to them, “It’s effort. And a rather large pinch of luck.”
Many people have said I’m a good...
July 2011
35 posts
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365 Day Challenge, Day 39
Day 39: Why you think you’ve learned more from the good or the bad
Other people-wise, I’ve learned more from the good.
I guess it’s just my personality that I get spurred on and motivated by the achievements and good character of others than deterred by their mistakes and bad decisions. And I don’t think I’m alone in this. I think people on the whole tend to...
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365 Day Challenge, Day 38
Day 38: Thoughts on your generation
I feel that my generation may be a little spoilt. We never really had to struggle to make it big like our parents or grandparents did and as such, we (on the whole) expect things to be handed to us on a silver platter. And because we grew up with everything (relatively anyway), we tend not to appreciate the small stuff.
I also feel that my generation has...
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365 Day Challenge, Day 37
Day 37: Who are you
Lionel Lam.
I’ve lived in Kuching, Perth and Nanjing. And I’m about to spend the next 5-6 years of my life in Cambridge/Boston.
Completed kindergarten to high school in Kuching, my Bachelor’s in Chemical/Process Engineering at the University of Western Australia in Perth and will commence my PhD in Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of...
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365 Day Challenge, Day 36
Day 36: What you think about your friends
On the whole, I’ve got the some of the best friends anyone can have.
I’ve got high-achieving friends, who include an MIT MEng graduate and someone who’s currently completing a PhD program that spans 2 countries. I can also count many future medical doctors, engineers and lawyers amongst my friends.
I’ve got friends who are...
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365 Day Challenge, Day 35
Day 35: Words you live by, and why you like them
“What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?” - Robert H. Schuller
Inspirational and keeps me going in adversity.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 34
Day 34: Your horoscope for today and whether you think it’s accurate
Get up and get going today, Gemini. You have no time to lose. Your mind will be busy tackling many tasks, but this suits you just fine. You’re well equipped to deal with the many frantic situations that are likely to come up. There’s a great deal of strength to your emotions that you can use to connect with...
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365 Day Challenge, Day 33
Day 33: Someone who really hurt you
Well, the only people who have really hurt me are the people I love.
Because I couldn’t care less what other people say or do to me if they don’t mean anything to me.
But to be honest, no one has really hurt me yet.
Except maybe Simon Thai, coz he’s buff.
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How to get kicked out of grad school before you... →
What a douche. But megalols.
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365 Day Challenge, Day 32
Day 32: Whether you’d rather marry someone who’s rich but ugly, or poor but attractive
Poor but attractive obviously!
Why would I depend on my spouse for monies?!
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365 Day Challenge, Day 31
Day 31: A bit about your social life outside of Tumblr
I like bars and pubs much better than clubs, and I would frequent them much more if there were people willing to come with me. I dislike how the loud music in clubs prevents any meaningful conversations from developing.
I like exploring all the restaurants and cafes in the cities I live in (which to date have included Kuching, Nanjing and...