Porcelain.

My addiction just went up one notch after watching them live. No pictures.

Anyway, Anberlin was great. Me, Yi Wen, Mel, Lizzie, My brother and Ben A bussed down to the Esplanade from church at about 5.30pm. We met Aiken, Char and Chloe at the Arena. I’m not exactly an avid local music supporter so I’ll skip the rest of the bands haha. At about 7pm-7.30pm, Anberlin came on at the Arena, where they did an acoustic set. If I remember correctly, they did:

• A Day Late
• The Unwinding Cable Car
• Breaking
• Inevitable
• Paperthin Hymn
• Feel Good Drag

The acoustic set was quite all right, except for the fact that they actually did ‘Paperthin Hymn’. I don’t like that song, haha. (... over and over…) X927352538 (in the ‘extended lower jaw’ voice) (I don’t blame you if you don’t understand) Haha I can already sense that Aiken & Sean are going to stone me. Anyway, after the set, Gaius joined us and we went for dinner at Marina Square’s (OH NO I JUST CRACKED MY WRIST ONCE AND NOW I CAN KEEP ON CRACKING IT NON-STOP. AHHHH!!! WHAT’S HAPPENING!)food court.

We checked out some other bands and people, and at about 10.45pm, Anberlin came on. The emcee who introduced them was like shouting vulgarities. “Baybeats 2009, are you guys f-ing ready?” “You want Anberlin, I’ll give you f-ing Anberlin” Haha, so all of us shouted vulgarities back at him. I’m kidding. We’re all Christians so we were appalled, but we were shouting at him, censoring the vulgarities, haha. So finally, they came up, but for the first song, the microphone was quite screwed up. They did:

• The Resistance
• A Day Late
• A Whisper And A Clamor
• Adelaide
• Disappear
• Paperthin Hymn
• Feel Good Drag
• Godspeed

Bear With Me. Social Studies Prelims are on Wednesday, O levels are 5 weeks after Prelims.

Just skip to the end of the post, will you.

1) Capable Leadership - Capable Leadership led to the rise of Venice through wise policies. For example,

• Doge Pietro Orseolo felt that peace in the region would boost trade. Thus, he reconciled feuding cities, made treaties with major powers and subdued the pirates of Dalmatia.
• Doge Enrico Dandolo joined in the 4th Crusade to overthrow the Byzantine Empire. Venice successfully conquered the Byzantine capital, the city of Constantinople. As a result, Venice gained recognition from the other states and also gained control of Byzantine territories which were important for trade
• Doge Pietro Ziani successfully carried out his strategy of the expansion of trade through conquest. As Venice gained more military outposts, it gained control of important trade routes in the Mediterranean Sea.

2) Reforms in the Government

• Venice’s government system changed from a simple 3-tiered system, which lasted till the 10th century, to a complex 5-tiered system. This allowed for specialization of duties. For example, the Council of 40 could focus on areas such as Law, Finance and Coinage. It could then carry out vital government functions effectively. This facilitated the growth of the city-state.
• Effective checks and balances were also established with the 5-tiered government. The Council of 10 monitored the activities of the various levels of government, and ensured that no one, including the Doge, was above the law. Thus, the government functioned appropriately to serve the city-state.
• The prevention of concentration of power was done by the setting up of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee prevented ambitious nobles from obtaining too much power. Also, appointed nobles were not allowed to reject the appointment.
• In the 12th Century, the Great Council was formed. It elected capable members to the different councils and settled  disputes between councils. Later, the membership of the council increased. Thus, the formation of the council led to the orderly growth of the government.

3) Trade Development & Expansion

• Venetians had a positive attitude towards trade as it boosted the economy. Through skillful diplomacy, Venetian traders were able to obtain more favourable trading terms, as compared to their rivals, such as lower tax rates. Venetians also had an enterprising spirit which allowed them to take calculated risks to travel to unknown lands. They were also able to obtain highly prized spices from the East.
• Innovations on Maritime Technology also helped Venice in its trade. For example, the invention of the mariner’s compass and nautical chart meant that trading and travelling in winter was possible. Also, they designed superior vessels such as galleys which were propelled by oars, along with sails, unlike the usual sail ships that solely relied on wind. The Great Galley was a combination of a warship and a merchant vessel. This gave Venetian traders a superior edge over their rivals. As a result of being able to travel and trade throughout the year, Venice’s trade expanded.
• The Senate also efficiently managed voyages. It monitored and managed trade voyages. Venetian ships were also ordered to travel in convoys for protection as well as the increased profit of bulk trading. Thus, the efficiently managed trade voyages increase Venice’s trade.
• Venice overcame its trade rivals. For example, Genoa was its main trade rival, especially in the Black and Mediterranean Sea. In a series of wars, Genoa was defeated by Venice in the late 14th Century. Its demise gave Venice control over the Mediterranean Sea. Thus, trade was increased.
• Venice’s trade monopoly also played a part in expanding trade. Venice was located at the tip of the Adriatic Sea. Thus, after the defeat of Genoa, Central and South Europe had to go to Venice to obtain valuable goods such as sugar, spices and even diamonds from the East. The European powers had no choice but to pay Venice high prices for these items. Thus, Venice’s trade further increased.

4) Industrial Development

• Venice’s trade related industry benefited greatly from the expansion of trade. In 1100, the ship-building industry was centralised in the Arsenal. This allowed for the industry’s rapid growth in the 13th Century when the demand for galleys rose sharply. As a result, Venice’s industry expanded.
• Venice’s manufacturing industry also expanded. As Venetians got rich, the demand for goods increased. Glassware, candle and scented soap manufacturing industries expanded. Also, new industries sprouted, such as the printing industry which was formed to cater to the large reading public of Venice. Thus, as these manufacturing industries grew, Venice’s economy prospered.

5) Innovative Practices

• Venetians came up with innovative trading practices. For example, the created the double entry book-keeping system for accurate managing of their businesses. Giro-banking, credit-banking and insurance also led to an increase in their trade and business. Thus, Venice’s economy grew due to the introduction of innovative trading practices.

I’ve memorised all these already. I rock.

Now, for the Fall of Venice.

*pukes on SS textbook*

Sometimes, when I get bored, I’ll go on the internet and search for some of my old friends’ blogs or facebook pages. And every time I do, it kinda reminds me lost and how messed up we all are.

Counting backwards, just counting backwards.

I love rain. Rain as in the weather, not the Korean artiste. Just had to get that clear. I hope that my MacBook’s weather forecast thing isn’t lying to me and that there’ll be lightning and it’ll rain tomorrow.

Guess what I did for Chinese class today? I had to freaking do a Chinese Exam paper, even though I’m not taking Chinese anymore, because the school requires a score for term 3. Or so my Chinese teacher (who hates me) claims. Apparently students, who weren’t retaking, in other classes didn’t have to take the paper. Must be my Chinese teacher.

School sucks and has been really retarded especially with all the homework and the prelims that are coming up next week. Oh and have I mentioned that I haven’t even started studying yet? I really hate it that I haven’t started revising and the O’ Level exams are about 5 weeks after the prelims. I have so much time.

I think I am going to force myself to study tomorrow. But then again, I’ve tried forcing myself to study, like 836294 times before, and I’ve failed. I would so rather do church stuff than freaking study.

Education is from satan, I swear.

Since I suck at time management, I shall plan my schedule for tomorrow, and stick to it.

• 2:30pm - Xpm      Prepare for Cell Bible Study/Do QT
• X - 6.00pm           Sleep
• 6.00pm - 7.30pm Dinner + Shower + Waste time on internet
• 7.30pm - Ypm      Do homework
• Ypm - Zpm           Waste time on internet
• Zpm - 6.20am      Sleep

Let’s hope this works. Nood Gight.

It did not work out.

The perfect words never crossed my mind,
‘cause there was nothing in there but You.
I felt every ounce of me screaming out,
but the sound was trapped deep in me.

All I wanted, just sped right past me,
but I was rooted fast to the earth.
I could be stuck here for a thousand years,
without Your arms to drag me out.

In the confusion, and the aftermath,
You are my Signal Fire.

My life is for the taking 
Break down is awaking me 
I’m ending all this pain 
When you find me in the morning 
Hanging on a warning
The Joke is on you
You said you were pretending 
Here’s to unhappy endings

The Joke is on you

My great escape 
Is my biggest mistake 
I think you better turn around 
Don’t throw it away 
Today… Today…

Because The Joke is on you.

It was meant to be
But all along it never meant a thing
Never stopped to ask you why
You didn’t pass me by
Did you see me in your life?
Flash before your eyes
Was it just that I wasn’t hard enough
Hard enough for you

Stop using my
Confusion
Wait, wait
There’s a world out there
Don’t you deny me
Give me one last wish
There’s a world out there

Elementary
I solved them all
All your mysteries
Settle down and in good time
We can solve all mine
Tell me lies or tell me when
Tell me off again
I will let you know
When I’ve had enough

Had enough of you

Decided not to retake my Chinese ‘O’ levels today. All my friends are telling me, “You’re gonna regret this decision.”, “Next time when you need a higher grade, you’re gonna look back and regret ticking the ‘NO’ column.” Well guess what, you freaks, I’m not going to regret it. YOU GUYS ARE GONNA REGRET WHEN YOU ALL FREAKING DO CHINESE COMPOSITIONS IN CLASS. AND YOU ALL ARE STILL GONNA FAIL! FAIL! Ok I was just kidding. I feel really guilty now. You all are not going to fail. I hope you get a better grade or something. Freaks.

Anyway, I didn’t want to retake Chinese mainly because of a few reasons:

• Chinese sucks.
• I don’t think I can get an A2 and above if I retake it.
• It’s freaking $25 for the paper.
• Taking my chances is kinda like gambling, which is a sin.
• My Chinese teacher told me not to retake if I’m not going to really study Chinese.
• Chinese sucks.

The real reasons:

• Chinese sucks.
• Chinese sucks.

I really really hate studying Chinese. I can’t freaking imagine myself going through hell once more, sitting in the exam hall, trying to comprehend foreign words and writing down stuff to convince myself that my mother tongue is Chinese. But it really sucks that almost everyone who didn’t get an A1 is retaking. But still, what’s done is done, no point regretting. I remember Joseph saying this before: “When you make a decision, don’t regret it”, so I’m not going to regret this. I promise to use the time to study hard for my other subjects. Someone please save the previous sentence and use it to emotionally blackmail me when you see me not studying.

Dear Chinese, 
I am really sorry that I decided not to retake the exam and give it another shot. I am sorry for all the lessons where I neglected you and for all your tests I failed. For all the times where I made fun of you, insulted you, and used English in place of you. You just suck too much.

Yours Sincerely,
Colin