It's been a while...

I've been busy with school the last little while so I haven't had much of a chance to blog... Man is it ever hot in Singapore. Someone please buy me an airconditioner for my room, or one of those fans that shoot out cool mist. Before my Singapore update, let me write about some interesting things I've come across lately.

I've been watching the Hour of Power every week and I highly recommend tuning into the webcasts. It's so inspirational, and the Dr. Schuller is an amazing speaker. Anyhow in his message this week he talked about the guinness book of records strongest man. Do you know who it is? It is some guy named Paul Anderson. He set the guinness record for lifting 6,270 pounds in the backlift. This is the most weight ever lifted by any human being. A Toyota Echo weighs in at 2,035 pounds. This guy can back lift 3 of them!!! What is a backlift anyways? Someone please tell me. Among some of his other records: He can squat 1206 pounds and bench press 627 pounds.

Speaking of world records there were a few of them broken here in Singapore recently. There's this organization called "Record Breakers Singapore" and they offered up a $10,000SGD prize for a world record breaking competition. Among the records broken on October 10th, 2004 include:
- Fastest time for eating three cream crackers (New record 14.45secs, old record 49.15secs)
- Fastest time to down a 397gram (14oz) bottle of ketchup with a straw
- Eating the most number of Smarties with a pair of chopsticks in three minutes
- Speaking the most number of words backwards in one minute
Those crazy Singaporeans... If you are bored, click here for more records. ooo One of these days I'm gonna stay in the Imperial Suite, Persident Wilson Hotel.

Anyhow... Now for today's health lesson...
Lets learn about Cholesterol and fat. Before you order fries with that you better read this. I mean you can be thin and athletic but have clogged arteries and an unhealthy heart. Here's some info I grabbed of a health article i read recently...
So what is Cholestrol? It's a wax-like substance that the liver produces that plays essential roles in the formation of membranes, some hormones and vitamin D. We all know that too much is bad for you, etc.. etc.. So here's two things you need to know... HDL and LDL, both of which work in opposite directions, good and evil...
LDL is the bodies cholestrol delivery service. It carries "packages" of cholestrol to the blood vessels and deposits them there for processing. If you have too much cholesterol, it does't get processed. It just piles up in the blood vessels. Meanwhile, HDL acts as a garbage truck in the blood vessels. It picks up the unprocessed cholesterol packages and takes them to the liver to be disposed of. If there's too little HDL and too much LDL, there will be a lot of "garbage" cholesterol. The more HDL there is the more cholesterol can be cleared away. Basically stay away from deep fried fatty foods (saturated/trans-fats) and eat more fish, nuts, soybean, and avocados (mono/poly-unsaturated fats)... If you want to read the legnthy article click here...

Anyhow... so more on Singapore. When I first arrived here the homesickness didn't really kick in. Including me, most of the exchange students were busy meeting people and site seeing. The fact that we're here for school didn't really kick in. Plus... most exchange students arrived two weeks before the start of the year for orientation. So the first two weeks was basically exploring Singapore, complaining about all the little negative aspects, making fun of the local Singaporeans, and standing out. Standing out?!?!
Before I came to Singapore I must say I thought that Americans were really obnoxious... This trip has taught me that it's the Canadians who are loud and obnoxious. (not all of them of course...) Its us that thinks that we're the best in the world, better than everyone (esp americans), loud, and likes to stick out. The Americans I met here, on the other hand liked to lay it low... They tried to blend in, didn't talk so loud, were polite, friendly and didn't do stupid things. The Canadians were the complete opposite in most cases... We have to come to realize that we're not better than Americans... nor anyone else in the world... My advice for Canadians travelling abroad or going on exchange.... just chill out... don't make a comotion, try to blend in, be quiet and don't complain!! Of course things will be different...!
Anyhow... I've finally posted some photos... for some of the week 1 action click here... There's so many so I'll upload more later.
More on Singapore in my next post...

btw... its my birthday coming up... please buy me a Braun PowerMax MX2050... I've been in the market for a blender for quite a while... This blender rated the highest in consumers reports.
Braun PowerMax MX2050


"Clockwork for Oracles" by Ugo Rondinone

Ok I better leave it at that... I have so much homework to do!!

I know everyone's going through a lot of stress of exams and all... Don't give up and keep at it...
Zachariah 4:6
"Not by might, not by power. But by My spirit says the Lord"