Price of pride can be deathly costly.

Here's a lesson to everyone: Please don't think you're invincible over the net, email, forum or otherwise. It's not just your own toe you might stomp on.

Let me explain.

Recently, a friend came across this finance question whereby the answer scheme (as always, we university students have a system of circling full answers to textbook questions around the school) was a little dubious, and when she asked me I didn't understand what was going on either (my finance isn't exactly splendid... quite the opposite).

So I told her that it was best she emailed our prof. So she did, cc-ed to me, and the prof gave the same answer in the answer scheme. With a little clarification as to the dubious bit, the prof eventually gave us the correct answer with his apologies. And for a chinese, that's already plugging out a lot of your pride, especially if you're the authority.

And like all little chinese "indignants", my friend just HAD to go a gloat about it with (or to be exact, "gloat about it to", since I had no part in the gloating, and to be honest I quite like this prof) me via email.

And guess what? She accidentally sent it to the Prof too.


First and foremost, it is suicide to even send a gloat about a professor using the school email. It stays in the school system and is easily trackable, even if it wasn't sent to the prof in question.

Secondly, don't EVER think that a prof is stupid enough to believe that your email had been beyond your control. You think a person scores a Phd by luck? Of course not.

Thirdly and most importantly, don't EVER bitch about somebody who took the time during his off-work hours on a bloody Sunday to answer your question, complete with highlights in important points, and who did it TWICE with apologies on the 2nd round.


So despite the fact that I did not share her sentiments in the first place, I'm now pulled into the water. I'm really starting to wish that I didn't check the email before going to bed; I can't begin to think about how these thoughts are going to affect me in tomorrow's exam. I just hope Prof will agree to my request to meet him for an apology in person after the exams. It's not likely though.

They're called, "timeless" because they just won't die.

Two days away from my examinations (well, one, to be brutally honest... it's 0206 in the morn), I have come here to wax lyrical about my favourite entity of all time.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen... I am still a fan of the Phantom... The Phantom of the Opera, whether the version by Leroux or by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The Leroux version, because still haunts me even though I've read it but once, and the Webber version because, well, of that whole music-runs-in-the-family thing.

Recently, there was a three-day period whereby I listened to absolutely nothing but the entire Phantom of the Opera score on my mp3. Because I was stressed. In school. I can almost memorise the opera now. Almost. I guess I should get stressed more often. Though I think I know the phantom's part better than christine's.



Just now I discovered that the current Phantom of the Opera website has a Phantom's blog.

Talk about ruining the magic. Can you imagine a Phantom, so deeply disturbing, so gifted a genius, so obsessive a composer, teacher and hypotist ---- posting a blog?



At least detach the blog from the website itself... jeez...



I can still remember the time I saw the musical. Mind, it wasn't the one on tour this year; didn't have the money to fight for the seats. Nope, it was the one that was here about 10 years ago. Actually, I watched it twice: once with my mother, and the second time I wrest the place from my mum to watch it with my grandmother.


Song aside, the part I loved best was the part where many Phantoms were appearing all over the place - among the audience, in the galleries, behind the seats - all saying, "I'm here..." whilst one of the fools on stage with a rifle kept shooting air. Not sure if they still do it.


Oh yeah... the song.

Best bits I like about the song? Beginning and ending (let's not go into the literature of the lyrics... you'll find that everywhere, and I'll likely be talking about the same thing). Ending because of that final whistle note (and just before that, the Phantom's powerfully obsessive proclamation: "Sing for me!"). Beginning... well, you guess.













Come on.



















Take a wild guess.
















I'm waiting.















... You're not going to try, are you?





















... Fine.

There's a drumming sequence in the opening that's unmistakable. It adds a real kickstart to the music, as if that's not powderful enough by itself. In the first few seconds of intro, you're already gearing up for this prime piece of music, when suddenly there's this momentary but furious round of electronic drumming that really pushes you over the edge and gets the swing going. It appears again towards the end of the piece, but it's in the intro where it really makes an entrance.


C'est exquisite.



I remember waxing lyrical about the book previously, on my previous blog, where I also made comparisens to the musical. Since blogger has so kindly returned my old blog to me (despite my having deleted it, not that I'm complaining), lemme see if I can dig it up again for those who are interested (okay, so for now that only includes me, but really, that was one of the posts I could really be proud of, so lemme have my pride, okay?)


Right. I know I should sleep. I doubt I will anytime soon though.

Are there any lines between Stubbornness, Strong-will and Determination?

YESH!!! At long last, ladies and gentlemen, my business is up and running!!

... Well, it's up... not running per say... in order to accommodate my studies, I've got this never heard-of-before policy termed the Inactivity Period...

Whatever. If you wanna see it, ask me for it. Don't intend to post up the url on my own blog (even though the inactivity policy already gives me up). Call me over cautious, but I seem to recall a certain chemistry teacher who was quietly reading all our blogs while we all thought we were invincible over the net and no one would ever find us and blah blah blah... oh, and some younger cousins too (GASP stop reading I know I angst but the last thing I need is for you to learn angst from me).

In any case, strange as it may sound, I hope not too many people order during this period, coz I don't have ready stock. Planning to chiong straight after exams. Plus I'd have to sacrifice 15% of potential revenue, thanks to my policy.

Oh, and if you do view my website, please don't comment too harshly on the model(s). Didn't exactly have money and time to go sourcing...