TTO 2007

The troop recently held the 2007 Troop Takeover. First, the awards for the term 2006/2007.

Best PL
Chong Kam Zhern

Best PS
Chuan Teik Min

Best Scout
Cason Chong

Best Patrol
Beaver (PL Adrian Chuah)

Next, the new leaders for the term 2007/2008!

Probationary Assistant Troop Leader
Andrew Ng Wei Qin
Nicholas Ong

Congrats to all. To see other appointments, check the updated Troop Roll Call of Honour.

Memoirs of a Sea Scout: Entry 013

I've never missed my bed so much in my life. Not even when I went for a week long holiday with my family. Now I know how's it like to be physically and mentally drained. It feels like torture although it was just slightly more than 12 hours. I thought Leadership Training Camp was about harnessing your leadership qualities and how to be a better leader. I guess I couldn't be farther from the truth. But I did learn a lot of things from that experience.

I learned some scouting knowledge and leadership skills I won't get to learn anywhere else. I learned about the troop and patrol systems and the importance of each office bearers. I got to know more about the troop than I could by just attending troop meetings. I learned to use the boatswain. I'm just Form 1 and I get to use the boatswain!!! Woohoo! The exchanging of saliva was disgusting though. Blek!

I understand why LTC was organised before TTO now. It was quite appropriate to have it just before TTO. To give the new leaders a new sense of belonging to the troop. A renewed sense of responsibility. To keep the scouting flame burning inside and the troop flag flying higher. I couldn't be more proud to be a sea scout after that experience. It was really tough training but still I managed to go through it all. Maybe it's what separates the man from the boys. Maybe I'm special after all.

University Admissions Results Coming Up

Good luck on getting admitted!

Admission list for public universities out next week

PUTRAJAYA: Students will know by the middle of next week which public university (IPTAs) they will enter Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said.

This was because they have to register at their university for the 2007/2008 intake on July 1.

"We expect to offer about the same number of places as last year," he told reporters after flagging off a convoy of superbikers in conjunction with the 32nd sports championship for staff in public universities.

A total of 40,016 students were accepted for the academic year in 2006, a slight increase over the previous year's figure of 39,976.

Starting this year, the Education Ministry will be responsible for the calculation of points for those applying to IPTAs, based on a 90:10 ratio in terms of weightage given to academic results and co-curricular activities.

Currently, admission is based on examination results, with co-curricular performance being used as the tie-breaker in cases where two students have the same cumulative grade point average. [...]

All the best in taking your next step in life.

Memoirs of a Sea Scout: Entry 012

Wow! It definitely wasn't what I expected it to be. It was really an eye-opener. I'm so physically tired and mentally drained. Who thought so many things could happen in slightly over 12 hours. That was seriously one hardcore camp. Who knew a Leadership Training Camp would be something like that? I seriously don't feel like being special anymore. I wished I wasn't selected for the camp. But it was a good experience nonetheless.

I have to go rest now. Can hardly keep my eyes open. Ouch! My arms feel like falling apart. Will write more about the camp and TTO later.

ZZzzzzzz......

Bargains At Borders

I found some interesting books at bargain prices when I was at Borders the other day that may interest the current sea scouts and maybe old salts as well.



The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Knots & Ropework
by Geoffrey Budworth

I first saw this book in Singapore and again in Kuala Lumpur. They weren't exactly cheap then but the Borders outlet at Queensbay Mall is now offering it at a very special price (can't really recall how much but probably below RM30?) and also part of the "3 for 2" offer. Not sure if it's a mistake or not but that's pretty cheap for a hard cover book which retails for USD39. The book is very informative with pictures, descriptions, history, uses and of course how to tie each knot.



Fishing: Everything You Need to Catch the Big One
by Ronnie Garrison

This book is for fishing enthusiasts or those who are learning how to fish. The book does not have lots of pictures but contains a lot of information provided by the author who's an authority in fishing and other outdoor activities. The book is also very affordable at less than RM30.

Sorry, I can't remember exactly how much the books cost but I know they are very affordable for such books. So those interested may want to drop by at Borders these few days.

Memoirs of a Sea Scout: The Story So Far

We've published 11 entries so far from the journal of a sea scout that ran away from a camp. Before we proceed further with this series, let's recap the events that have transpired so far.

In Introduction, we were thrown straight into the life of a scout that was running away from a camp. An enthusiastic scout that loved camping. He loved camping so much, he even packed his bags one week before the camp. The very same scout that decided to jump into a chasm instead of facing his pursuers.

In Entry 001, we followed the scout take his first few steps in Penang Free School (PFS). We also learn why he joined 8th Georgetown (South) and how he managed to persuade his friends to tag along. In Entry 002, we learn about his experiences being in the troop for one week and how he prepared for the first camp of the year at our second home, Pantai Kerachut. The journey to Pantai Kerachut was also chronicled in this entry.

In Entry 003, they reached Pantai Kerachut to be greeted by two ex-scouts he called "Double-A batteries". Who are these ex-scouts whose names start with the letter A - one being tall and another being short? They are supposedly legendary sea scouts who like to boast about their achievements and are also known to give some serious lecturing. This conclusion comes from the very thought that taking only 20 minutes to reach Pantai Kerachut is a total exaggeration but seasoned scouts will tell you that 20 minutes is not impossible at all.

In Entry 004, we discover that our scout is in some serious trouble for having dozed off on the job. He experienced his first taste of the EXCO Kopitiam. The two excos that operated the coffee session were who he called A&W - one being tall, fair and skinny while the other was fat and lawak. Apparently, former ATL Phuah Wen Hoong knows W very well, as we can see from the comments in that particular entry. So who are they, this A&W?

Entry 005 gives us a taste of a Court of Honour (COH) in progress and the revelation that the scouting movement was facing problems and some brainstorming was done to alleviate the situation. In this entry, we also get the first indication that his passion for sea scouting was fading. The scout seemed to have some suggestions but was not sure if the excos would be open to suggestions from a newbie scout. In Entry 006, we discovered that excos are not the man-eating monsters we perceive them to be and they are more than willing to hear you out. Moral of the story? Talk to your leaders. They are human too.

Entry 007 revealed to us some hard decisions our scout had to make - to choose between his long-time friends or his new found passion in scouting. In Entry 008, we discover that he chose to stay with the troop and the reasons behind his decision to remain a sea scout.

We learn from Entry 009 that it was gathering season. The scout related about an embarrassing incident during a past gathering involving some of the troop's leaders and how the passing down of experiences from former scouts are helpful in guiding the present scouts. Of course, we know this is no longer happening.

In Entry 010, we learn a bit more about some important ceremonies in the troop such as Troop Takeover (TTO) and the Annual General Meeting (AGM). These two events determine the succession in the troop and is pivotal for the continued existence of the troop.

In the latest entry, we discovered that the scout was preparing to attend a surprise camp and he was among the few selected. The camp he mentioned was Leadership Training Camp (LTC), a camp that was announced at the very last minute to be held just before TTO. Will this be the camp that he eventually runs away from?

It would seem unlikely. In Introduction, the scout named the camp he was running away from and he mentioned it a few times. The camp he pointed to was the Annual Training Camp (ATC) or Annual Torture Camp, a name he coined while running away. Another indication that LTC would not be the camp he runs away from is that it was announced at the very last minute, thus not giving him enough time to pack his bags one week before the camp. So it seems our scout is still in high spirits after LTC since he was so looking forward to ATC.

So the question remains as to why would such a passionate scout make a 180 degrees transformation and decide to run away from something he loved so much? Will ATC be the camp he runs away from or did he make a wrong reference to the name of the camp? Are we going to hear more about his friends who abandoned him and the troop? What is the significance of the new word he learned on his very first day at PFS? Is this purely a work of fiction or did all of this actually happen? Are the "Double A batteries" and A&W characters real? Who are they exactly? Is there really a journal containing all these entries? What does this scout have in store for us in future entries?

I guess the most important question that's keeping us at the edge of our seats is if the scout is still alive after jumping into the chasm. I guess we'll just have to wait and continue reading to find out.

Kinta Scouts' 5-Storeys High Tower

Tower of bamboo, firewood and rope

IMAGINE a tower five storeys high built out of nothing but bamboo, firewood and rope.

Forty members of the 219th Kinta Scout Shiang Yang Open Troop took five days to create the 21.3-metre high structure at SMK Bercham in Ipoh.

Its scoutmaster Leong Siew Chuan, 25, said they used 300 pieces of wood, 100 bamboo poles and 50kg of rope.

With nine platforms and 13 sets of stairs, the structure is solid enough to hold up to 70 Scouts at one time. Two people could squeeze onto the top of the tower, he said.

Read more about it here.

Say What?!? Part 003

With the recent revelation that our former webmaster Daniel Phoon is the most stalked after 8gts celebrity on 08online, it is only appropriate to honour him with his very own Say What?!? In this third installment of the caption-making-just-for-fun-only what-you-call-it-thingy, put the words into these two fella's mouths.

Some Weird And Interesting Search Queries

Here's a list of some weird and interesting search queries that found its way to 08online...

"ship began to roll" song [Titanic?]
penang free school gay [!!!]
convent green lane motto [huh?]
pak-chiu-cheng blog [WTF]
how can i get waves in my hair [?!?]

Even teachers get searched online...

"lim ah seng"
ruby+mangalam+janet
goh teng keang
"khoo poh kheng"

Of course, our troop's very own celebrities would also make the list...

chng+geam+liang
"boo+soon+yew"
lee kuan shern
tai khing khoon
alvin tang malaysia
simon+loh
yew xing hun
aric oon friendster
lee jiajian
wei sern

Some are so popular, they get multiple hits for various searches...

gajendheran (3)
gajen (2)
gajen refugee (1)

[Gajen...a refugee?!?]

kelvin lim (3)
kelvin lim wei kheng (1)
wei+kheng (1)
you are my all kelvin lim (1)
penang free school sea scout 2006 kelvin lim wei kheng (1)

[Someone must have a serious crush on ATL Kelvin Lim! You are my all?!? Eww!!!]

daniel phoon (21)
"daniel phoon" (2)
+"daniel+phoon" (1)
daniel phoon blog (1)
daniel.lawbreaker (1)

[Even TL of the Millennium Andy Tai who features prominently on the banner of 08online is no match for him. It's either there's another Daniel Phoon out there or the Daniel Phoon we know is very much sought after! A case of stalkers, perhaps?]

Yes, there are some seriously strange and disturbing searches that ends up at 08online and this list is just the tip of the iceberg!