update

Got back my India short papers: mediocrity established.

Got back my Lit essay: Confidence restored.

I need the confidence. I have two papers due and I've barely started.

SEP prep is raping my brain and the scariest thing is that: this is only the backup plan.

Getting the DDP is a do-or-die thing. A 1 in 2 chance.

I need to be that One.

LOL I NEED TO BE THE ONE.

Other interesting news? Nerney has lived in Japan for 2.5 years back in the.. well, way back, and HE LIKES ANIME. ON ARTS CENTRAL. (Which means Cowboy Bebop included!!!!) NO WONDER HE'S INCOMPREHNSIBLE! He's like ME! Hahaaahahahahahaha.

EDIT:

I suddenly had this thought: should I postpone my SEP application til next year? :\ Oh well. Whatever.

HOWHOWHOWHOWHOWHOW

Dear Alicia

At this point of time the answer is yes, but in the event, should there
be any students spend 2 full years in NUS likely she will be selected
compare to those on SEP.

Regards
XXX

-----Original Message-----
From: Tan Min Qi Alicia
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 2:47 AM
To: XXX
Subject: NUS-Waseda DDP and SEP


Hi Ms XXX,

Although the outcome of the application for the Waseda DDP has not been
released, is it alright for me to apply for the 08/09 SEP?

Thanks and regards,
Alicia Tan

SO OMG WAIT. THIS MEANS THAT I SHOULD JUST HOLD OFF THE SEP RIGHT? (Because if I get accepted to any of my SEP choices, I'll be away in semester 3 and 4. Final selection for the DDP is during semester 3. SO.

I REALLY SHOULD WAIT RIGHT.

DDP > SEP. Afterall, I still can apply for the SEP next year? O:

HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW HOW?!?!?!? (I swear, one person by his or her self CANNOT make decisions like this without seeking some advice first).

EDIT:
After much deliberation, I guess I think I suppose (LOL), I'll hold off applying for the SEP until the 09/10 application. Of course, that just means a lot more paperwork.

But I should get used to paperwork.

DOLPHINS 2

Referring to my on the whole dolphin fiasco, Japan Probe has lastest news about Hayden Panettiere's involvement against the Japanese fishermen.

Kudos to Japan Probe for probing (oh pun-nish me please) into whether the hunted dolphins are actually not "in any significant danger". And I love the comparison between Panettiere's statement vs the Japanese Fishemen's statement. Hurrah.

A quick check revealed that none of the species targeted in the Taiji hunt (bottlenose dolphins, striped dolphins, Pantropical spotted dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins, false killer whales, and pilot whales) are in any significant danger of going extinct, and it would be almost laughable to suggest that the small scale hunts conducted by the Taiji fishermen are threatening these animals with “annihilation.” It’s one thing to argue against the Taijin hunt on grounds of cruelty or a belief that intelligent animals should not be killed, but to claim Taiji’s fishermen are driving dolphins towards extinction could be considered “condemnation without investigation.”

Teddy-bears in the water? So pretty? .................... okay.

(Note, I really love dolphins but er, descriptions of "teddy bears" and stuff.)

Frankly, I'd be an angry fisherman too. I'm sure that the fishermen don't hate dolphins (well, they might since the dolphins might be threatening their livelihood) but if a bunch of people suddenly rush out and try to do something like that, I'd be fuming.

Why is it cruel? Because it's the killing of dolphins? What about foie gras, what about veal?

Is it not cruel or barbaric simply because they're ducks and cows? Is it because they're domesticated? I mean, what? WHAT? Look at it this way, if it was 'over-hunting' and 'overboard', wouldn't the Japanese fishermen - who depend on it for their livelihood - suffer? If they 'recklessly kill' or 'annihilate' the dolphin/small whale population, where the fuck are they going to get their high-paying paycheques? (For one, dolphin/small whale meat fetches more) My take is that yes, they do kill, but come on, this has been going on for hundreds of years.

The Chinese and Koreans have been killing dogs to eat for hundreds of years (maybe even thousands) and I think we still have a sizable population.

I can't stand it. It's too illogical for me to understand. Or am I the insane one here?

EDIT:
From here:

A 1994 statement [www.furcommission.com/resource/perspect3.htm] by Taiji Mayor S. Hamanaka directly addressed environmentalists in making the case for tradition and the legitimacy of the whale hunt:

We believe we know more about our own sea in Taiji than anyone who lives hundreds or thousands of miles away from us. We also believe we are more concerned with its protection and assume more responsibilities than anybody else in the world. We are sure that the same view is shared by Alaskan Eskimos, Faroese, Greenlanders, Icelanders, Norwegians, and Russians in Chukotka as well. We hope many environmentally concerned people in the industrialized nations will understand our views and trust us as rational and humane people, and stop making whaling a "scape goat" of the environmental crusade and making inhumane attacks on whaling people.”

Found this -

I lived in Taiji for one year as part of the JET program. I'm not for or against the hunting of dolphins. But what I did learn about is the long history of whaling in Taiji and how the whale was the most important resource to this small town for hundreds of years, especially for food. American whalers came in the 1800's and decimated the whale population, only taking oil. Perry opened Japanese trading ports so that American whaling ships could re-supply. I would say that Taiji's cultural history is as close to the whale as Native Americans are to bison. It's just that today, they make a lot of money doing it. The town government is very aware of the environmental concern of hunting too many dolphins, so they are limited by staying within Japan's coastal territory and a self-imposed limit on the number of the catch. But they hate protesters. Some people are trying to convert the industry from hunting to whale tourism. The town is shrinking -- by now the population must be less than 1,000. And all the young people leave for jobs in the city. In another generation or so, they won't be hunting so many dolphins.

HMMM. WHAT SAY YOU HAYDEN?