Dead link...

Hmmm...since the link to the Berita Harian article (from the post on 12 Sep 2007) is no longer active, I've decided to add this instead. BTW, it's Harsh and not Jarsh and Heru and not Herm!

Some sites...

Occasionally, I find sites that are worth sharing...The following are two which I came across while watching Click on BBC World...

1. Girl Solo in Arabia

This is a personal blog by Carolyn Mcintyre. It is really nicely written and well worth a look, especially if you are interested in arab culture or planning to travel to the region.

The opening page is a world map illustrating Carolyn's route through the Arab countries, starting from North Africa to the Middle East to the Arabian peninsula to Asia.

You can start exploring by clicking one of the dots on the map and jumping to the city you want to read about. Often the entries are complemented by photographs not only of famous landmarks but more specific things to reflect the culture of a country, like a wedding or traditional dressing gown.

Carolyn started her journey in 2006. Her mission is to do the same journey that the famous Islamic scholar Ibn Batuta did over 680 years ago. The journals are easy to read and full of information.

It is very easy to find your way around the site which is always good. One criticism though - I don't like the way the links on the left hand side go on and on, even though there is nothing left in the main section.

2. Readymech

If you like origami, the art of paper folding, this is a site you might enjoy.

Readymech is one the projects a group of designer from Denver are running. All you do is click on one of the very colourful robots that are on there in PDF format, print it out and fold on dotted lines. You can either use glue or doublesided tape to stick the sides together.

Of course the art of origami usually is more complicated than that, and doesn't come with the dotted lines for you to fold at.

The start of a new beginning...

My journey that is the 38th Command and Staff Course is over. It has been a hectic nine months of lectures, discussions, plenaries, presentations, burning the midnight oil and time away from loved ones...I have gained much and discovered insights about myself which I had not known before. From Clausewitz to Krulak, from the deserts of Iraq to the vast span of the Pacific Ocean, from case studies on the National Library to case studies on East Timor, I have certainly grown in knowledge and hopefully, wisdom. More than anything, it was a journey of discovery. A journey of pushing one's limits. I have gained many friends and have grown close to a few. I won't forget those who have helped me go the extra mile, helped me when the assignments started piling up, pushed me along when time was tight. Who could forget all the colourful characters that is the 38th CSC...

Here's an article from Berita Harian published today...

An Infantryman's Adieu

This poem is dedicated to my mates in Syndicate 3...

To friendships forged
To memories cherished
To sufferings endured
To dreams fulfilled

To those who were with me right from the start
It was an honour serving together
Side by side

To those who have helped me go the extra mile
I’ll treasure it forever
Most certainly with a smile!

To those who I did not have the privilege of knowing better
I’m sure our paths will cross again
Sooner or later

As I end another chapter of my life
And start a new beginning
I know that the fire of Syndicate 3
Will keep on burning
I know that the light of Syndicate 3
Will keep on shining

As I start a new journey
And bid farewell to everybody
I’ll remember that wherever I may be
I was once & will always be
A part of Syndicate 3 – of the 38th CSC!

Last presentation of the course

I'm sitting down entering this on my phone as i listen to the last presentation of the 38th Command and Staff College of which i was the first presenter! It's over... Tonight's our Graduation Ball... Next week is a whole lot activities for the end of course admin..

You are what you speaketh...

The latest edition of the English@Work newsletter is here. I especially like the 'Sounding Right' segment. For past issues, click here. Read on and you might find many nuggets of information.

Frustration...

Frustration is when you've spent more than 2 hours in the dead of the night looking for the 'perfect' soundtrack for a study visit video that you were asked to make and then when it was time to play it for an audience, the sound didn't come out right because the laptop playing it was not hooked up to the sound system...instead the laptop's puny speakers were magnified by using only the lectern microphone which, predictably, produced crappy sound! Aaaaaarrgghhhh!!!

Note to self: Next time, hook up the system YOURSELF instead of depending on the speaker, who's probably nervous like hell about the entire presentation...don't leave things to chance!

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

A staff from the Regional Delegation of the ICRC in Kuala Lumpur came down to give us a lecture on the ICRC. He shed a lot of light on what the ICRC does. Being a neutral, independent and humanitarian organisation, they work in situations of armed conflict. Their international mandate is to promote the Laws of Armed Conflict. They are a part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (But they are NOT the Red Cross / Red Crescent Societies. These guys operate in natural disaster situations). The ICRC has 3 roles mainly in the provision of assistance and protection of conflict victims, as the guardians of international humanitarian law and the official recognition of National Societies (i.e. Red Cross / Red Crescent). These guys are all over the world whenever there is armed conflict. Among other things that struck me was what he said about the Red Cross / Red Crescent. The purpose of the symbol of the Red Cross / Red Crescent is the protection of the military's medical services during armed conflict. The symbol is then adopted by each countries' Naitonal Societies for their medical services...

The Final Inspection

The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."

MAJ Harsh Vardhan Singh, Indian Army
38th Command and Staff Course
Singapore Command and Staff College