Bad Astronomy [Year]

Posted by HELiX

This year doesn’t look good for astronomy. For me.

My family’s having sketchy plans to travel to Europe this year to visit my brother, who will be there for a couple of months at University of Munich for attachment.

And conveniently, June.

Fun fact time! For the past 2 or 3 years, I’ve decided not to go overseas with my family during the June holidays because of one reason –  NUS-NTU AstroChallenge. So I left myself at home, while my family’s happily away overseas, for the sake of an astronomy competition.

I didn’t really regret, because they mainly visited Hong Kong which I’m so sick of.

But… Europe?

The last time I went was way back in 1998, because it was World Cup 2008 in France :D I could probably join them after AstroChallenge, but that would mean I’ll be left with 2 weeks in Europe, which my Dad says, doesn’t justify the cost of the air ticket.

Seems like my last National astronomy competition might be AstroChallenge… last year.

And that also means that I won’t get a chance to equalise with Rong’en’s record of 12 Golds in astronomy competitions. I’m at a miserable 10.

And on top of all these, I will feel extremely guilty leaving my AC team. Not that they can’t do without me, but somehow the team isn’t ‘complete’ without one of us.  The team which has gone undefeated in all science competitions’ finals.

DAMN ):

Adding to the misery, is IOAA. Which like my family’s plans, conveniently falls on a restricted period… my Prelims. August. Ugh.

The vice-principal has already made it clear that I won’t be able to skip or have any special arrangements made to be allowed to attend IOAA 2008, so I don’t really have a choice for this.

Other Astronomy olympiads would be fine too, but IAO is likely to be late October or early November, and with A Levels, it’s a no go. And that leaves me with APAO, which is the most expensive and least prestigious of the three.

Definitely not a good year. At least 2009’s the international year of Astronomy. Which I’ll be in NS enjoying.

Comments(0) 12:55 AM 1 January 2008

HELLOOOOOO

Posted by HELiX

This blog isn’t dead yet, I swear!

Look. JC2 life is as tiring as life can get. Add in the upcoming sports season with Bowling trainings 3 times a week, trying to launch the Astronomy Club into a full-fledged and self-sustainable CCA this year, extension of NUS research attachment, and lots of other excuses such as my inability in managing time…

Ah, I sound just like the angsty me a year ago.

…

Let’s about about… uh, SPAM.

I think it’s reasonable to put it this way.

I don’t mind receiving Astrology spam Dong Wei signed me up over 2 years ago during Astronomy training… (oh yes! they’re still sending me their newsletters everyday after unsubscribing for countless times. way to go bro.)

And neither do I mind the spambots advertising illegal softwares, imitation products, telling me I have inherited sixteen million dollars from a random dead guy daily (oh hell, so many rich guys die each day?), or offering help to be more manly…

But this is ridiculous.

Throw sheeps at me, blow bubbles at me, pop a balloon with me, subpoena me, slamdunk me, taser me. All in the name of friendship.

Facebook is evidence that the world is coming to an end.

Comments(0) 5:47 PM 1 January 2008

Two Videos

Posted by HELiX

I suddenly noticed that I haven’t started using my 10GB of server space.

So here goes, two videos, just don’t attempt to eat up my bandwidth because you can’t. 

First, the latest Simpsons episode. Episode 10 of Season 19! Download here.

And the high-resolution video which I finally remembered. Here!

Right click, and Save Target As. 

Comments(0) 12:34 AM 1 January 2008

I’d like to have one, please

Posted by HELiX

This is self-explanatory.

Link here.

For more WTF’s, kindly scroll down to “Customers Who Viewed This Item Also Viewed”.

Comments(0) 11:40 PM 1 January 2008

We had it easy

Posted by HELiX

From, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080108/ap_on_fe_st/mexico_hand_glued

“Diego’s hand was fine, and paramedics managed to unstick him in time for class.”

God, that SUCKS.

Comments(0) 5:45 PM 1 January 2008

Motivational (or Demotivational) Poster

Posted by HELiX

We all saw this coming.

Comments(0) 11:01 PM 1 January 2008

IOAA 2007 Video

Posted by HELiX

…

Received this from Thailand. Thank you Suwan! I’ll upload a higher-res version soon enough.

Just a short video done by the organisers for the closing ceremony. It’s good stuff!

5:58 is simply priceless.

Seriously.

Comments(0) 10:37 PM 1 January 2008