Beyond The Noise

How to remove your recycle bin off your desktop in Windows 7

2009-11-13T02:11:00.001+08:00

How to remove recycle bin off Windows 7 for a clean desktop.

1. Right click your desktop
2. Click Personalize
3. Click Desktop Icons
4. Uncheck the Recycle Bin option
5. Click okay

Voila! Clean Desktop!

Overthinking

2009-11-09T18:42:00.002+08:00

Honestly, I haven't been as happy as I used to be since that Friday.

Before whoever is reading this goes into a frenzy, and comes up to ask me whether I'm okay, let me tell you this: I am fine, I am still happy. I still see sunshine.

It's just that a few clouds are blocking the view. But still, I am thankful for the few who love me with everything they've got :)

Because I am too cool, I get betas.

2009-11-06T01:17:00.002+08:00

Got a Google Wave invite from Will the sunshine not too long ago, and I have to say, Wave is pretty fun, but it will be even more so if I get to Wave with more people.

I love getting my hands on betas and limited previews. When Gmail came out, I hunted the Internet till I got my hands on an invite from a kind soul - God bless his generous heart. At that time, Gmail was in a phase where people could only give out 5 invites each. Upon receiving this very rare, and prized possession, I couldn't help but let out a loud "WHOOHOOO!" How dramatic. Okay, I think you get my point.

Got my hands down and dirty when Yahoo Answers Beta was in its infancy, right before the sex-crazed desperados (read: horny guys who wanted non-personal virtual relationships) started asking silly questions. Back then, Yahoo Answers attracted a different breed - a breed of intelligent thinkers that questioned the workings of the world, and the axes the world turned on.

Then there was Joost. Gerard Vlemmings of the Presurfer kindly extended an invitation to beta. Online television that's doing pretty well now, pity my mediocre download speeds didn't do it justice.

The most happening thing this year was receiving Window.s 7 Professional from a friend, who got it way before the release date of October 2009. I think I got Win.dows 7 R.TM in September. For free. ($500 saved, ka-ching!) The best part is that it was legal because M.soft has a partnership program with various organisations. Friend, thank you very much :)

I'm a Mozilla Firefox beta-tester now. Which is actually pretty pointless and I do nothing.

Cut to the chase, having betas makes me feel special, because I get to see what the rest of the world doesn't. I'd share betas with you too :)

Batman Begins

2009-11-01T15:58:00.002+08:00

Batman Begins was one of the last movies I watched with you. Way back in 2005. I remember coming out of the cinema and going, whoa, that was good, and the mother and the sister couldn't even comprehend what went on during the movie.

Today I lived, but everyday so do you :)

The Lake House

2009-11-01T12:58:00.003+08:00

These days, I've been on movie sprees from my Hard Drive. I've watched Final Destination 3, Batman Begins, Idiocracy, Deja Vu, The Devil Wears Prada..

Today I watched The Lake House, for about the millionth time. And I have to admit that nowadays, I'm turning into a hopelessly romantic and sappy person. Which is both a good and a bad thing. Strange how my thoughts can oscillate between so many different things at once. Anyway, I love that movie, but The Dark Knight still is my favourite.

On the other hand, I had many meaningful conversations on Saturday night, taking the train home, the bus, and even the walk home with Evelyn that managed to dig up beautiful and memorable threads of the past. (Mission Trips, haha.)

Tired

2009-10-28T22:17:00.000+08:00

I am so tired of disappointing everyone I know.

Twinkle, Twinkle

2009-10-27T02:13:00.001+08:00

Twinkle, Twinkle

As I put the laundry out onto the balcony to dry, I tilted my head up and gazed at the night sky. With the light of the stars millions of years away twinkling in the distance, I could not help but feel that my problems are small. There’s a great universe out there, and my Creator holds it in His hands. At the moment, I felt infinite, because even though the darkness filled the night sky, the twinkling of the stars formed an unforced rhythm of hope, and a timely reminder that I live to be that little spark in this crooked and depraved world.

Balloons

2009-10-26T00:07:00.000+08:00

Look how someone made my day by buying me two lovely balloons :)

When a parent's love is conditional

2009-10-24T21:02:00.002+08:00

I was supposed to have a good night last night, with the blue and white helium balloons I took home from the party, and the cute little memo pad and baby Eeyore stuffed toy that I received.

But the balloons ran out of air even before I could play with them. Funny, because I was looking forward to letting them bob around in my room. They are some of my favourite things.

Things don't turn out the way they are supposed to, and I am so disappointed when it becomes crystal clear to me that your love for me is conditional. I don't know what part of me isn't good enough for you. I'm not a bad kid. I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't party or club. Still, I don't know what drives you to make irrational and upsetting decisions. It's not as if I don't try hard enough to live up to your expectations.

Do you notice my effort? Even at all? You've crossed the line, you've passed the breaking point. The end.

Out of the storm

2009-10-18T00:42:00.003+08:00

Had a rough day on Friday, where everything just seemed to go wrong, harsh words were spoken, feelings hurt.

When I stepped into the Worship Centre, honestly, I was feeling terrible, but I still gave God my best in worship, because worship is all about forgetting what is wrong with you, and remembering what is right with God.

But Friday's over, and it ended well, thankfully :) Thank God for friends, Thank God for forgiveness and thank God for the joy and hope that He gives.

He's my safe refuge in the storm.

2009-10-12T22:34:00.001+08:00

I woke up today and the first thing that I did was check my phone
No message equals no love

So onto my laptop with facebook and email
I’m searching for some sort of connection
though I’m not sure if I found it

My email tells me that Sweet Susan can help me last longer
Facebook wants me to know that Mike is still drunk from last night
at seven in the evening

I scan through all of my friends pages
I know everything that’s going on
but really, I know nothing

Do I actually need to care about your throbbing head or your favourite lyrics?
I don’t want to join a group for people who ‘will slightly alter their course to step on a crunchy leaf”

I am sick of being surrounded yet alone

But this is the problem you see?

We have so much information, so many facts that get pound-ed in-to our HEADS!
WE KNOW EVERYTHING
Yet we do nothing

Save the whales
Support Fair-trade
Use renewable energy sources
Stop genocide
End the war
Support the war

We are being diluted to such an extent that no longer are we empowered to make a difference
We are being NUMBED to the needs of the world
our experience of being alone is convincing us that THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO

We are oblivious to the unique power of the individual
Blind to the inner fire that burns with a passion for change, for life

At the heart of it all
I ask myself the question

What can I do?

-Mark Anderson

Life starts again

2009-10-11T23:50:00.002+08:00

I am grateful that the exams are over, and that I get to spend good, quality time with friends. Headed to Indoor Stadium after cell today and caught the Singapore Slingers VS Brunei Barracudas playing basketball. It was pretty amusing. Not NBA standard, but much better than Inter-Schools.

Will be going to Doulos tomorrow.

A letter to myself

2009-10-11T23:38:00.001+08:00

Dearest self,

Make the most of your life. I know you have great dreams which you sometimes think are too lofty. But I urge you to pursue them. You can change the world.

Take life’s challenges in your stride and always keep your face to the Son. Because He saves, He changes, He loves and redeems. Never let the darkness get at you.

Treasure your friends. Spend quality time with them. Be there for them when they need you, not for any other selfish reason, but just simply because you care.

Keep pressing on in school, keep persevering. Even though it may seem like a hellhole to you, because of the tremendous amount of stress and expectations placed on you, go into school knowing that you can do it. You can make the experience better, if you don’t let it drag you down, and choose to stay positive.

Continue encouraging and inspiring others in the tiny things that you do. Don’t give up hope because the world doesn’t seem to care. Always believe in the power of one.

Create things. Do art. Run in the rain. Travel the world. Speak to different people. Be bold. Take risks. Relish challenges.

You can be the change in the fallen and depraved world you live in. Go, you! I believe in you. And I believe in others.

I believe in God and His everlasting love, and I hope that you will love Him as much, and even more as you grow older.

Love,

Self.

No school for the past two days

2009-09-15T16:34:00.002+08:00

Didn't go to school so that I could:

Be socially responsible
Rest so that I could get well

The mother found out and went ballistic.

Hey, it’s not my fault. I’m the one with no voice, no sense of smell/taste, hot forehead. It doesn’t make sense to go and spread these pesky germs to others, and let the virus swarm the epithelial linings of schoolmates’ throats and lungs.

Dear The Mother. Sometimes I do things because I’m terrified of you. Also, because you don’t really give two hoots about me. I’m sad to say this, but I think you care more about my academics than my health.

Do you seriously think I like being sick? And not able to taste anything at all? Heck, you could make me drink urine and I wouldn't know. I hate Green Tea but yesterday I drank some and it was bearable. Why? Because I can't taste. The past few days I've been eating nothing but Chicken Porridge. Not your choice, but my own, so that I can recover quickly. Don't you think I'm making an effort?

Tell me, is this fun? Is this fun? Is this fun? NO IT ISN'T. Stop making me find reasons not to like you. I'm so near there.

Patient

2009-09-01T22:36:00.000+08:00

Finally I came around to getting my nose checked, it's been giving me trouble. All the pesky sneezes and runny nose episodes.

Part One: Shoving an metal contraption up my nose
The Caucasian looking and sounding doctor with a Chinese last name (David Lau) sprayed local anasthetic into my nostrils, and proceded to put a endoscope to have a view inside my gross nostrils. It was really uncomfortable. Ick.

Part Two: Pricking me with allergens
I went to another room. Hola, nurse! She was pretty friendly, she explained the procedure to me, then pricked me with serrated plastic bits which had ends dipped in allergens to find out which ones I was allergic to. So, 24 allergens ranging from pollen, mold to dustmites and cat fur were pricked into my arms. As well as a positive and negative test. I had to wait for 20 minutes, while I watched a corny 1980s video on "how to allergy-proof your home".

Diagnosis: I'm allergic to dust mites, cockroaches and dogs. Not telling my mum about the dogs bit though. I love dogs to bits, and besides, I'm only mildly allergic to them.

Part Three: True Blood. Kidding. The Blood Test
I may sound crazy, but since this is the first time in my conscious life that I've seen my blood being drawn from my arms, I think it's really exciting. I'm the type to watch. I'm not afraid of needles at all. The sight of red blood rushing into a vial is pretty amazing. I want to donate blood soon :)

Seeing the doc again after exams for a final diagnosis. But for now, it's just allergic rhinitis.

Maybe I should allergy-proof my room.

2009-08-30T22:13:00.001+08:00

Children

2009-08-27T17:08:00.001+08:00

“I’m jealous of children. I envy them.”
You said.

I asked you why.

“Because their pockets are empty. They don’t need to carry anything. No cell phones, wallets, car keys, cigarettes, lighters, iPods… you know what I mean? They’re free. As we get older, we give ourselves more and more things to worry about. To lose. Reasons to pat our pockets in a panic in case we’re missing something. A list to run through in our head before we walk out the front door. That’s why I envy children.”

I nodded and finished my drink, wondering if I had my wallet with me.

- Pleasefindthis.blogspot.com

The Message

2009-08-13T22:43:00.000+08:00

I borrowed The Message and it looks like I'm going to have a lot of fun reading it. Not used to reading the Bible in such modernised language, with verses like " vault of my heart" and such, but this is going to be cool.

And! I missed the meteor shower last night. Anyway, Shawn, if you ever read this, Happy Birthday :)

2009-07-31T00:30:00.001+08:00

On August 7th 2009 at 34 minutes and 56 seconds past 12...the time and date will read... 12:34:56 07/08/09 123456789 This won't happen again for another thousand years.

Under the ewather

2009-07-28T23:21:00.001+08:00

Apparently I have tons of work to do but I'm feeling so sick and tired that I can't process anything at all. It's like my body refuses to cooperate or something. It doesn't help that mum keeps screaming at me.

2009-07-23T23:29:00.000+08:00

Calm down calm down

AJUhgisdughIGFuhwifhaufjag GHjsbvsdhgbaghjasbfajkfafkjahfoaiukh ghjnsbvhbfnqoifhgjniwkjgneugjik DBhdjaVFAHJvbBVUJDF

I just had to do that.

2009-07-22T14:16:00.000+08:00

“Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” - Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message)

Rain Down

2009-07-20T21:36:00.001+08:00

Am I at the point of no improvement?
What of the death I still dwell in?
I try to excel, but I feel no movement.
Can I be free of this unreleasable sin?

Never underestimate my Jesus.
You're telling me that there's no hope.
I'm telling you you're wrong.

Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong, He will be strong

I throw up my hands
"Oh, the impossibilities"
Frustrated and tired
Where do I go from here?
Now I'm searching for the confidence I've lost so willingly
Overcoming these obstacles is overcoming my fear

I think I can't, I think I can't
But I think you can, I think you can
I think I can't, I think I can't
But I think you can, I think you can
Gather my insufficiencies and
place them in your hands, place them in your hands, place them in your hands

- For The Moments I Feel Faint by Relient K.

I did badly for Mid-Years. I need you, God.

But otherwise, I love the work you're doing in our church, in our cell. <3

Bookssss

2009-07-19T16:01:00.001+08:00

To Buy:

Wired For Worship by Louie Gigolo
In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson

2009-07-12T00:48:00.000+08:00

An Excerpt from Louie Giglio’s book, “Wired: For a Life of Worship.”

"Drop in on a concert at the local arena or go to a sporting event at a nearby stadium and you will see amazing worship. People are going for it, lifting their hands, shouting like crazy, staking their claim, standing in awe, declaring their allegiance. Interestingly, these venues are filled with the same forms of worship mentioned in God’s Word - the same expressions of worship that God desires and deserves.

A while back, watching an interview Oprah was doing with Michael Jackson in the prime of his career, I was stunned with the reality of this truth. What I witnessed as she showed a video clip of people responding to him in concert settings around the world absolutely floored me. Talk about amazing worship!

In multiple cultures, mobs of people numbering into the hundreds of thousands were glued as one to his every move. On every continent they gathered like an army, waving their hands in the air. Some fell to their knees. Others strained with out-stretched hands, hoping for a brief touch from his. Seared in my mind is the image of one young girl with a look on her face of total awe.
I couldn’t believe it. What I was watching was some of the most intense worship I’d ever seen…anywhere. Far more “full-on” than much of what I’d experienced inside the church.

And for what? Granted, Michael Jackson was a living legend when it came to entertainment, but he’s not a great god. Not even close. Yet the worship was phenomenal, demonstrating the God-given capacity for adoration that is rooted in the soul of every man.”

The question comes up, why does every person pour out their adoration onto anything but the God who gave them that passion? My thoughts are simple…I feel there are two reasons. We seek tangibility…something to place high that we can see, comprehend, feel, etc. Also, by putting such adoration into something earthly we don’t really have to work. Say a celebrity…to worship them, you don’t have to give them anything other than your praise and they will return the favor by perhaps releasing more songs or movies. When it comes to God, man often feels guilty when “worshiping” without having put in the work He requests of us.

Remember, Adoration is rooted in the soul of every man, so ask yourself…Where are you placing yours?