had a pretty normal chinese new year week with the usual ang baos, family fights and an awesome time playing chinese chess with my grandpa and mahjong with my grandma. when i really count, i really haven't had many proper chinese new years, having spent most of my life in australia so the idea of a week off so close after christmas and new years takes some getting used to but i think i can cope with the extra slacking time.
my mum and sis came over, seeing them again kind of gave me mixed feelings. on one hand , they're family and i do love them so but on the other hand i forgot how frustrating it is sometimes to live with them.

i truly realised the phenomenon of blogging when i was chatting to a teacher friend of mine, who has recently started a blog with the sole purpose of revising his geography lessons with his students. he was sharing how awkward it is for students to learn off a medium usually used to express an individual's dislike of this messed up world. what really had me smiling was how his students would still write on the tagboard but their messages would be the likes of "sir, i cannot believe i'm tagging on a school blog..." or "sir, this feels wrong ..."
maybe part of educating the next generation would or should include proactive communication channels such as blogs and instant chat programs. imagine how studious kids will become once you include subliminal forms of learning in games and social programs. an idea that springs up are bonus stats or items for correct grammar used in world of warcraft (maybe a grammar +1 bonus)

Sometimes i wonder why we all build our towers and altars when in the end the world will pass.
A story is told about the richest man who lives in a world where the sun is hidden by clouds of smoke from industry, industry that the man built up. In his prime the man decided build his greatest tower, a tower that would pierce the clouds of smoke and reach the sunlight. Assigning his greatest machines and builders he constructed a mighty foundation that covered the area of an entire city, from there he used the strongest stones from his finest quarries to build the tower that would eventually reach the sky.
After fifteen years, the tower was still being built, the man realised that his entire workforce, the largest in the world might not be able to complete the tower in this lifetime. Digging deep into his fortunes, he hired thousands of additional builders and stone cutters and doubled the speed at which the tower is built up.
After thirty years, the tower was still being built, the man realised that he must devote himself entirely on its construction so he will able to see above the clouds in this lifetime. Leaving his empire to his son, the man poured all his time and money onto the tower, inventing new machines to speed up its construction. Day by day he would be at the top of the unfinished tower, supervising and watching each stone being laid. Sometimes his grandson would climb up and play among the birds that would sometimes settle on the stones.
After 50 years, the clouds were getting whiter and thinner as was the man. Having almost spent his entire fortune, the man couldn't afford all his workers and machines anymore and spent his days laying stones himself, though his grandson would often help.
60 years after the man started building his greatest tower, the last stone was laid. By this stage, the man was bedridden and his grandson carried him to the uppermost point of the tower, where the top of the cloud is just pierced and the light poured through. Several plants started growing in the cracks between the stones. On a bed the grandson built out of the last remaining stones, the man spent the rest of his days in the warmth of the sunlight.

My goals for this year:
- Pray more
- Read and write more
- Focus more on the "why" than the "how" and "what"
- Compassion
- Find a balance
- Persevere and have patience

Life is committed to being overthrown

Just found out that Further Seems Forever, one of my favourite bands just broke up. Much respect to these guys who have gone over more obstacles than most "bands" out there and have still made some awesome music. Really shows that passion for your art and your beliefs can carry you through the rough times.
All the best to them...