Quiet is the New Loud
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Sunday, August 31, 2008
After...
After 4 months, my civil servant job at the Ontario Ministry of the Environment has come to an end. I had a good time there - met nice people, my sups and my peers of summer students, gained new knowledge and learnt inside workings of a governmental sector. All in all, a great place to begin my Co-op experience. Next year, Toronto Zoo?!
After 1 week of the curtains coming down on the Beijing Olympics, I'm finally posting this (as you can already tell, my blogging streak has slowly but surely diminished). I'd been following some sports really closely as I would tune in to catch the live broadcasts on CBC's website when I first arrive at work. Not exactly the right time or place to do so, and I feel really bad about it even though I got my work done. Towards the end, I only caught snippets of the Closing Ceremony.
After 45 years, Singapore finally gets her second Olympic medal - silver in Team Women's Table Tennis, with the gold going to China. On the side, Li Jiawei winds up 4th, the very familiar position four years ago in Athens, in the singles event, as usual the medals swept by the sea of red and yellow. It's a curse, I tell you - three Olympics in a row at fourth. Malaysia scored one silver in Badminton, while Canada bested its previous Olympic outing after going through half of this year's games with squat and causing Canadians to be on edge.
After 1 whole season of summer, fall is soon to make its reentry. It sort of has, seeing how this sunny season wasn't so sunny/hot, more gloomy/rainy. Regardless, school starts in 2 weeks and I'm greatly looking forward to it after working so much in the past couple of months.
After 1 week of the curtains coming down on the Beijing Olympics, I'm finally posting this (as you can already tell, my blogging streak has slowly but surely diminished). I'd been following some sports really closely as I would tune in to catch the live broadcasts on CBC's website when I first arrive at work. Not exactly the right time or place to do so, and I feel really bad about it even though I got my work done. Towards the end, I only caught snippets of the Closing Ceremony.
After 45 years, Singapore finally gets her second Olympic medal - silver in Team Women's Table Tennis, with the gold going to China. On the side, Li Jiawei winds up 4th, the very familiar position four years ago in Athens, in the singles event, as usual the medals swept by the sea of red and yellow. It's a curse, I tell you - three Olympics in a row at fourth. Malaysia scored one silver in Badminton, while Canada bested its previous Olympic outing after going through half of this year's games with squat and causing Canadians to be on edge.
After 1 whole season of summer, fall is soon to make its reentry. It sort of has, seeing how this sunny season wasn't so sunny/hot, more gloomy/rainy. Regardless, school starts in 2 weeks and I'm greatly looking forward to it after working so much in the past couple of months.
Friday, August 08, 2008
080808
Watch out world, China had her coming out party. The 29th Olympiad Games erupted to a splendid start of firework displays, cultural performances and a colourful show of precision, enthusiasm and power on the auspicious (or superstitious, your choice) day of 08/08/08.
More awesome photos at: The Big Picture
I had to watch the repeat broadcast as I had to work. Vancouver's sweat glands must be overworked now - this year's Opening Ceremony is going to be a tough act to follow in 2010. Hopefully, this Games stays incident-free till the end. Cut China, or rather the Chinese people, some slack. Sure, more needs to be done in regards to its persistent "human rights" and environmental record, but change does not happen overnight. Forcefully pushing for it will just infuriate China, just like a host embarrassed by its kid in front of guests - what do you do but stay stubborn and rebuke. Besides, onlookers have to understand the historical or cultural background that has led to the current situation before championing democracy for other deemed "suppressive" nations.
Live sporting events are now on CBC. I wonder if I'm ever going to get some sleep if my favourite sports come one after another.. Overnight sports marathon? Possibly, seeing how the qualifying rounds for gymnastics and swimming are coming up. So go Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, and yes, China, the motherland of everything Chinese.
More awesome photos at: The Big Picture
I had to watch the repeat broadcast as I had to work. Vancouver's sweat glands must be overworked now - this year's Opening Ceremony is going to be a tough act to follow in 2010. Hopefully, this Games stays incident-free till the end. Cut China, or rather the Chinese people, some slack. Sure, more needs to be done in regards to its persistent "human rights" and environmental record, but change does not happen overnight. Forcefully pushing for it will just infuriate China, just like a host embarrassed by its kid in front of guests - what do you do but stay stubborn and rebuke. Besides, onlookers have to understand the historical or cultural background that has led to the current situation before championing democracy for other deemed "suppressive" nations.
Live sporting events are now on CBC. I wonder if I'm ever going to get some sleep if my favourite sports come one after another.. Overnight sports marathon? Possibly, seeing how the qualifying rounds for gymnastics and swimming are coming up. So go Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, and yes, China, the motherland of everything Chinese.