I actually intended, since the Pre-A-Levels period, to take my private pilot’s licence in these months before NS enlistment.

So I did my research, got the relevant information and found the jobs and the money for me to pursue such an ambition. All was good until I realised that it’d be unrealistic to dedicate myself to such a course.

Even if I were free every single week, it’d take me easily at least 9 months to obtain my licence. So it’d eat well into NS. I thought that was still okay, until I figured that it’s impossible to do it if I happen to enter something like OCS. Not that there’s a high chance or anything, but it won’t be good if I were to put down a few thousand dollars for a course I can’t complete.

I was itching to learn something new, so one day it hit me… if there’s driver’s licence for land, pilot’s licence for air, so how about sea? And so I decided on a boating licence.

It just takes a few weeks, a mere fraction compared to the months it’d take even for a car driver’s licence.

In Singapore, you can do canoeing, kayaking and sailing without a licence. It’s only required for powered boats. Sounds fun anyway, and only idiots these days use paddles and wind energy to power their boats. Yes I’m talking about you lousy sailors.

So over the weekend, I’ve just been through the 20-plus hour course, and awaiting my theory test on 31st March. After which, if I pass, I’ll have to take the practical test. Pretty much like driving.

Here’s something you can do!

NASA wants our opinion in naming the International Space Station’s Node 3 – a connecting module and its cupola – before the two segments travel to space and are installed on the orbiting laboratory.

The name should reflect the spirit of exploration and cooperation embodied by the space station, and follow in the tradition set by Node 1- Unity- and Node 2- Harmony.

Join the Internet in giving it a name like ‘Battletoad’!

1) Visit http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/name_ISS/index.html

2) Manually enter vote for ‘Battletoad’!

3) ???

4) Profit!

So… well, maybe.

My experiments may turn quite lame for a bit because the higher-ups prefer less dangerous, more simple, yet elegant experiments. I have little clue what that means, but we’ll see.

Today’s shooting wasn’t exactly perfect. We had only one attempt since it was pretty costly. So… well… here goes!

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5WuodOgvvY