21st century enlightenment

Watch this, dude. It's a whiteboard-illustrated lecture. Fascinating ideas, captivating images.



In other news, my sister's just flown back to the States. The cat is sad. :(

Chua Siew Nai (1923-2010)

She was my grandma. Even when the first of these photos was taken, she couldn't walk, talk or go to the toilet or eat by herself. Hadn't been able to for years. And even before that, we'd hardly been able to communicate because of language differences.






She passed away on Monday morning, just after midnight. The funeral ended last Saturday. Don't worry, I'm not actually torn up about it. And there's hardly anything for me to miss.

Speak Truth to Papa

(Scene: Car Interior)

YS: So mum wanted to have dinner on Saturday, and I told her I'd be happy to go if I could bring my boyfriend.

Father: Yuck! No!

YS: Yeah, well, that's more or less what she said.

Father: I've told you before. We are tolerant. But we don't embrace it.

YS: But don't you want to meet him? Aren't you glad I'm finally serious about somebody?

Father: Aiyah, I can't explain my reasons to you.

YS: Um, is that because they're not actually founded on logic?

(Yeah, this actually happened a few hours ago. Of course I love the fact that my dad brought us up to talk back to him)

Orlando pix!!!

A few more photographs from our incredibly consumerist summer family gradu-vacation:


3D ride, Disney's Magical Kingdom.


Lion King musical, Disney's Animal Kingdom.


Ride of Tomorrow, Epcot.


Converted trailer, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort



Munchkinland, Disney's Hollywood Studios.


Spectromagic show, Main Street USA.


Parents before taking roller coaster, Pioneer Land.



Parents after taking roller coaster, Disney's Animal Kingdom.



Asian-style ice cream stand, Disney's Animal Kingdom


"Chinese" dragon, Epcot.



Lobby, African Wilderness Lodge.


Sleeping Beauty wigs, Magic Kingdom.



Breakfast, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort


It's A Small World Ride, Magic Kingdom


German exposition, Epcot.


Haunted Mansion Ride, Magic Kingdom.


Awesome German toys, Epcot.



Euphemistic prostitute restroom, Main Street USA.


Dinner, African Wilderness Lodge.


Before the Parade, Magic Kingdom.


Teacup Ride, Magic Kingdom.



Backdrop, Disney Hollywood Studios.


Toddler bellydance workshop, Epcot

Washington DC pix!!!

More shots from what I'm affectionately calling our American family vacation on steroids...


Spacepod and inaudible guide, Smithsonian Air and Space Museum


Family eating, Chinatown.


Remarkably realist totem, African Art Museum


Brother bemused, Capitol


WW2 fighter plane, Air and Space Museum


Emanations, Library of Congress


Father fooling around, Capitol


Nigerian mask, Museum of African Arts


Aeroplane interior miniatures, Museum of Air and Space


Disney Dumbo ride car (decommissioned), American History Museum


White House


White House protestors


Mother at guacamole demonstration, Oyamel nouveau Mexican restaurant


"Black corn truffles", Oyamel nouveau Mexican restaurant


Astronaut fecal bag, Air and Space Museum



Indian tourists, FDR Memorial



Capitol Dome, Capitol


Brother's ex-roommate Brent, nearby suburbia


Surprising Chinese-American name, Vietnam War Memorial


Badly-lit family, Lincoln Memorial


Precolumbian Indian and African babies, Library of Congress


"Night at the Museum" props, the Castle


Star Spangled Banner re-enactment, American History Museum


Sleeping lady, Haupt Garden


Kermit the Frog muppet and imitator, American History Museum


Bucolic scene, the Castle