The Little Gun that Could

I happened to be looking through my pics and noticed this particular one which brought back some memories:

This pic was taken many months ago when me and two other buddies went down to a LAN shop to have a game of Company of Heroes, a World War II strategy game. What makes this pic worth mentioning is that it shows an artillery gun (a M2A1 105mm Howitzer Artillery to be exact) manned by 3 crew members, located in the middle of a very open and barren plot of grassless land. Cute. But that's not all...

In the game, when your soldiers, tanks, artillery guns and other stuff take out enemy forces, they gain experience points. Upon reaching a certain amount of points, they gain a veterency level (i.e. 1 chevron stripe for the first level, 3 stripes for the maximum) meaning that they are now more 'experienced' and hence, for example, able to survive better, hit enemies more accurately or move faster. Although it isn't clear in the pic, there are actually 3 chevron stripes above the artillery gun meaning that it has obtained maximum veterency level. Or simply in Hokkien, si bei lao jiao.

When I took this pic, it dawned on me that while we were all struggling to push our forces north to the enemy's base - coupled with the numerous tank and vehicle losses, infantry squads getting annihilited and the constant tug-of-war battle for that damn hill in the middle of the map - my friend's sole artillery gun was firing away all the time, helping the war effort either by clearing some road or pounding a concentration of enemy troops or shelling a defensive position. And it did it so well that it ended up earning 3 stripes. All by itself.

Lifesaving at Da Beach

Today, as part of a Beach Introduction Course by the NUS Lifeguard Corps, I was at Sentosa for an eye-opening, sun-scorching, action-packed day. To those who aren't aware, there are two areas of lifesaving - the tame side in the pool, and the wild side at DA BEACH! 

Pool lifesaving involves skills and techniques which include simple line throws, rescue and recovery of different types of victims in the pool, various types of tows (which sometimes involve manikins which are orange-coloured humanoid deadweights that simulate victims), first aid treatment and Emergency Air Resuscitation and its brother, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation. All this is done in pool conditions, meaning that as long as the swim team isn't in the neighbouring lanes creating an aquatic ruckus, you'll almost always get calm waters. 

Beach - or Surf - lifesaving on the other hand, has its own share of skills and techniques of which many are, simply put, fun. They include activities such as board racing, beach flags (a.k.a. dog and bone in the sand), beach sprints and rescue techniques involving fins, torpedo rescue tubes and the above-mentioned boards. The major difference from pool lifesaving? The Sun, Sea and Sand. While pool conditions are mostly 'calm', sea conditions are not. Waves, current, seaweed, poor underwater visibility, the salty sea, the blistering sun and that shark following you provide for a different experience. I was kidding about the shark. Not being able to see underwater will mean that you'll have to take a peek in front once in a while to prevent yourself from ending up at that other island across the sea. Wearing fins in the pool will make you a Michael Phelps but in the sea, you'll need them to aid you against the waves and current which are there to hinder and drain you out. Also, the occasional cold undercurrents provide cooling respite when swimming under those sunny warm conditions.

Other than being a real eye-opener,  the Beach Introduction Course, as mentioned by my seniors, showed that lifesaving wasn't just limited to the pool. Our coach, Mr Sim, also added, "I don't want you all to know how to rescue in the pool and then on the beach, you tell me you don't know how to rescue..." The real deal is really out there in the deep blue sea (watch The Guardian and you'll know what I mean). Today was a great day, and the beginning of possible future trainings at Sentosa. I just need to remember one thing: IF YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE A GEISHA, YOU HAVEN'T PUT ON ENOUGH SUNBLOCK.

Joe Hisaishi - Tunnel of Wind and A Chinese Tall Story

Here are two concert videos featuring one of my favourite composers, Joe Hisaishi, the guy responsible for the music from animations such as My Neighbour Totoro and the Oscar-winning Spirited Away. Really beautiful music. Enjoy. (Joe is the pianist in both videos)

Tunnel of Wind

A Chinese Tall Story