Med/Sci Library Closing Time

The demolition of the old Medical Library is well under way, and the week’s Evidence-Based Nursing and Medicine Conference has ensured that people are flocking to the Med-Sci Library to study for the upcoming examinations.
It’s very peculiar, really. With two libraries’ librarians in one library, you’d think the workload should be decreased and library hours [...]

How Many Times Can I Fail in YLL SoM?

J. was rummaging through his stuff, packing things into nice little cardboard boxes to move to his new place. He chanced upon a set of paper that he received on admission (over 4 years have passed… that’s pretty quick).
Anyway, given that some people have been retaining multiple times, J. thought he’d read through it with [...]

The Last Stretch to MBBS

My Dermatology end-of-posting test was held today.
Our clinical rotations have come to an end. No more will we stalk the wards dressed in our white coats [that spread dysentery! weee!]. No more will we introduce ourselves as “final year students preparing for exams”. No more end-of-posting tests. Just the real deal.
Well, not officially, at least. [...]

Medsoc Exam Packs

In a day filled with not-so-good news and alright news, it was a pleasure to end with a spot of good news: the Medical Society Exam Packs (a.k.a. the morale-boosters), distributed in bags sponsored by SingTel (“Win FREE Unlimited SMS. a SingTel Mobile Student Plan lets u text till da cows come home”).
So what’s inside? [...]

Singaporean PRs, Uni Fees, and Prejudiced Writers [long]

In the Voices section (Page 26) of weekendToday on February 16-17, 2008, there are two letter responses to “Different varsity fees unfair” (Feb 15).
The article can be found here: National Service, national varsities, obligations and privileges
The Feb 15 letter was by the mother of 3 Singaporean PR sons, who was concerned about the PRs having [...]

Quick Comment: Song Censorship

On the way home at 10.30pm the night before, J. heard the song “Unfaithful” by Rihanna on the radio.
It went:
I might as well take [SILENCE] and put it to his head
The censored words are, of course, “a gun”.
Um. What’s the point? Are we afraid that children will hear these terrible words and be scarred or [...]

Chinese New Year 2008

In Singapore, having a Chinese majority population (75.2% of 3.58 million residents as of 2007, see Statistics Singapore), the single most important holiday to most people is not Christmas, Deepavali, Hari Rayan Puasa/Haji (though these holidays are the most important to the respective races), New Year, or even National Day. Its… well, the title gave [...]

Film: Sweeney Todd

Just prior to Chinese New Year, J. went to watch Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street with a couple of friends.
There was lots of murder… very prettily illustrated by the use of a thick, bright-red blood the consistency of paint.
The place depicted is a dark, joyless world viewed through the cynical eyes of [...]

White Coats in Canteen – Why so sensationalised?

Recently in Stomp, the online portal of The Straits Times, was a concerned reader who sent in pictures of some medical students who wore their white coats to eat at the science canteen. The link is here, note the innocuous-sounding title that disguises the pure stupid that follows:
Can doctors’ coats and lab coats spread infection [...]

Charging GST for Release of Wheel Clamp

There are signs all around the National University of Singapore campus that warn of the dangers of illegal parking. Beware! Illegally parked cars will be wheel-clamped! Release fee: $100 $107.
That’s right. The people in charge actually spent money pasting a 7 over a 0 for every sign on campus so that they can charge GST [...]