melancholic euphoria

2010-08-24T10:45:00.002+08:00

moving to

http://heartlandepic.tumblr.com/

2010-06-10T15:24:00.000+08:00

I have finally picked Google Chrome over Opera/Safari as my third internet browser on my PC, thanks to the lure of the ever attractive extensions (i.e. Apple's apps) they offer. Why have 3 browsers? Well if you do alot of online transactions and stuff, its safer to have one browser with the highest security settings on, so you don't have to worry that much (apart from Trojans and Keyloggers) whilst you type away your security digits and the like. Secondly, having multiple browsers act as a fail safe, and a faster way to browse the internet. Its more fun because some websites are optimized for a specific browser.

Google Chrome is picking up from Mozilla's Firefox for its customization and of course, addressed some flaws pertaining to the ever flawed Explorer. That said, Firefox is still the best but hey, what's wrong with having these two powerhouses in tandem? That said, Chrome has its flaws like its preloaded auto prompter of suggestions that rips personal info before you can agree to (although you can disable it). Moreover, you could choose not to save any cookies but find some still saved in your computer after you have finished your browsing. Well, no browser is perfect! I find Chrome great for casual surfing.

Anyway here are some extensions that are great, apart from the Adblocker and Dictionary one.

Feedly is extremely good for the information hungry ghost in me, it is now my daily fix, almost akin to a newspaper in the morning. The freaky thing about it is that it organized a few preloaded sources that the software thought I would be interested in, and the list wasn't that bad to begin with! I know that the most likely source would be your internet history and bookmarks, but having a philosophy tab is just awesome. Its a pity I couldn't find a feed for Singapore news and stuff.

The Gmail tool is pretty good as well, as is the Facebook tool because you don't have to live the website on to receive and see the latest updates. What I like most is the Zooming Photo tool though. Really innovative from the extension creators.

You don't have to click on the picture anymore and just swivel your mouse pointer over for a quick preview. Awesome for speedy stalking!

So Google, I am advertising you here, may I have a job at your awesome HQ ?

Google Chrome & related Extensions

Just be sure to read the comments, some extensions are quite sucky.

2010-06-07T13:57:00.003+08:00

Metal Gear Solid: Philanthropy from Hive Division on Vimeo.

Done by Italian Fans.

In my opinion, this fan movie warrants them a hell lot of respect and credit, even Hideo Kojima from Konami enjoyed it lah (Kojima commented on the movie through his Twitter!). For translations of his Tweet check the Philanthrophy website. This movie even has an IMDB page. Ignore the negative reviews about poor scripting or poor CGI, this thing blows ! Comparing to other video game adaptations like DOOM (YAWN) and Street Fighter (FAIL FAIL FAIL), this takes the cake and bakes another.

If you have the time, download the higher quality version at the main page.

This movie has caused quite a stir amongst fans (at Deviantart), they even created a DVD box set.

2010-06-05T18:54:00.016+08:00

The Game for the Holidays (to satisfy the age old video game geek + fan boy/girl in you)

Super Mario Brothers (?) Crossover
**edit: Click on the link to play the game, afraid it might get annoying and in the way of my future blogposts**

(Disclaimer: I didn't make this awesome game, and its free to play i.e. Freeware.)

Credits: Exploding Rabbit (Jay Pavlina)

To play: Use the Keyboard! But if you have a gamepad like me, download JoytoKey and map the keyboard controls to your gamepad for the Ultimate Nostalgic Nintendo Experience!

So in a nutshell, this guy (first time trying his hand on game creation)decides that Mario deserves more and fused different stock characters from other classic/epic Nintendo games to create the ultimate 8-bit crossover. This actually works and its so so nifty because its made entirely from Flash. He created all the levels from scratchy and albeit some alterations , the game plays like many of the other platformers we have all grown up with.

What amazes me more is that this guy does it for FREE. Passion x 100. I can't even get people to play soccer and get fit, and this guy churns out age old archaic video game legends and folklore like nobody business. KUDOS and RESPECT.

So who are the characters ? Here is the 101 (from the scholarly Wikipedia and Google).

#1 Mario

Mario is depicted as a short, pudgy, Italian plumber who lives in the Mushroom Kingdom. He repeatedly stops the turtle-like Bowser's numerous plans to kidnap Princess Peach and subjugate the Mushroom Kingdom. He also has other enemies and rivals, including Donkey Kong and Wario.

#2 Link

Link is depicted as a Hylian (Elf inspired race) boy from the fictional land of Hyrule. His age varies in each game, usually varying from pre-teen ages to a young adult. Link often travels through Hyrule, defeating creatures, evil forces and the series' primary antagonist, Ganon, while attempting to save Princess Zelda and her kingdom. To defeat him, Link usually requires the mystic Master Sword and Light Arrows, or a similar legendary weapon, obtained after many trials and battles gathering magical objects or using other items such as musical instruments and weaponry.

#3 Bill Rizer

The original Contra, and its initial sequels (Super Contra and Contra III: The Alien Wars) are set in the 27th century, and center around two commandos named Bill Rizer and Lance Bean, who were modeled after actors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, while named after four actors who appeared in the film Aliens (Bill Paxton and Paul Reiser for "Bill Rizer", and Lance Henriksen and Michael Biehn for "Lance Bean"), members of a special guerrilla task force codenamed "Contra", who are repeatedly sent to thwart an army of alien invaders seeking to destroy the Earth.

This game was the best, and FYI, the game that spawned the "left right up down A B Select Start" cheat code, most recently used in Facebook i think for some flashing bubble nonsense.

#4 Simon Belmont

Simon Belmont is one of the most prominent protagonists of the Castlevania series, with a wicked whip. He belongs to a family of famed Vampire hunters, and during his free time he likes to resurrect Dracula so he can put him to rest again. His next target is Edward Cullen, the emo vampire.

#5 Mega Man / Rock Man

In the story behind the original series, Rock is a robot created as a lab assistant by the scientist Dr. Thomas Light; following treachery by Dr. Wily, Rock was converted into a fighting robot to defend the world from Wily's violent robotic threats. Thus he becomes Mega Man (Rockman in the Japanese original).

#6 Samus Aran

Samus Aran is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Metroid video game series. Introduced in the 1986 video game Metroid, Samus is a female bounty hunter usually fitted with an armor suit with weapons that include beams and missiles. Throughout the series, she executes missions given to her by the Galactic Federation while hunting the antagonistic Space Pirates and their leader, Ridley, along with the energy-draining alien parasites called Metroids. Orphaned at a young age, Samus was brought up by the Chozo alien race, which trained her as a warrior. The Chozo also gave her the Power Suit, which features the ability to collapse Samus into a sphere to roll through tight areas such as tunnels. The Chozo also made her a Chiobu.

Okay, I think everyone pwnz Mario, no offence dude.

Right, back to the game. Remember, without 8-bit there wouldn't be High Definition even!

2010-05-19T01:32:00.003+08:00

Awesome Movie Villains

You know what makes a good movie ? An antagonist that just makes you laugh when you think how retardedly evil or cool he is. Was there a time when you wanted a baddie to win because the good guy was being so wimpy? Here's a small list I compiled haha!

#1 Iron Man 2 - Ivan Vanko/Whiplash

Dude, he made the Arc Reactor just like Stark, but also attached Whips to it! And he has a thing for parrots ("I WANT MY BIRD") and he never loses ("You lose.... you lose") and who needs all that armor when you have tattoos to protect you..

#2 Avatard - The Colonel (Quaritch)

He benchpresses for fun when he talks to soldiers. Holds his breath for 5 mins while looking pissed and shooting his pistol. And he puts out Flames with one hand. How cool is that? He almost beat the shit out of Jake Sullied too.

#3 The Matrix - Agent Smith

Yes he does.

And he never fails to crack me up when he raises his eyebrows and says "Mr Anderson". and he totally trashes Neo until Neo uses his godlike cheat to go inside your body. So not cool.

#4 Ipman 2 - TWISTER

Nothing beats Ipman of course, but when you have a hyperbolic angmoh that exagerrates everything to the max, you get Twister. Who else can pull off a pretentious laugh and say " HIT ME!" This guy is the man, period.

2010-05-15T21:56:00.001+08:00

2010-05-07T21:53:00.001+08:00

Hahahahaha what i felt like doing during my stupid chemistry paper.. but of course I don't have the guts to do stuff like that lah.

Well the examinations has ended, and to all that have been saying that "no more exams super sian" I say WHAT! I am extremely elated and grateful that everything has ended.. and looking forward to more brainless days ahead, finally gotten rid of the examination menace!

I say to hell with everything negative, give em a suplex right in the back hehe.

2010-04-29T00:23:00.002+08:00

so true. hahaha.

shucks, okay 2 exams down...

but the harder exams are coming out.

so heres a to do list.

- find Excalibur and use its power to do my Arthurian exam/find the Holy Grail, drink it and have the brain of a million Einsteins (without the hair and mustache)

- find George Washington's false teeth so I can speak words of wisdom for American lit, okay maybe not cos' its gross... see the declaration 500 times, twist my neck left and right, and maybe everything in the American Norton would come into my brain for a hotel stay.

- mix all the fruit juices together with Newater and pour it into a test tube, heat it and drink it for expert Chemistry knowledge.

Gosh I hate the University system for forcing Science Illiterate people like myself to take Modules that are outside, I mean WAY outside my curriculum... its supposedly to emulate the flexibility of the United Kingdom, and the specialization of the American universities.

BULLSHIT. haha. okay, back to gaming.

2010-04-15T17:49:00.000+08:00

2010-04-13T02:41:00.000+08:00

2010-04-12T01:21:00.001+08:00

Motivation check.
Exercise + Jog 3/4 times a week check.
2 essays, a presentation and a dramatized reading, not yet checked. Deadlines won't make you dead Deadlines won't make you dead.

2010-03-08T23:30:00.009+08:00

Arsenal Football Kits from 2000 till now

Its time to compare and see which is my favourite home kit!

from left to right, 2000-2002, 2002-2004, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2007-2008,2008-2010.

I would say I liked the 2004-2005 one, and also the present 2008-2010 one, as well as the 2007-2008 one. But my number one (for me at least) had to be 2005-2006. It was super unique and I couldn't find it cause' it was all snapped up in Singapore by the time I had the money to buy a jersey. Haha.

Okay now for the away jerseys. It's tricky because of the 3rd away kits, theres so many to choose from!

Okay lazy to post the dates for the jerseys, haha too many. But my current favourite has to be the blue striped emirates one. Although I like the SEGA days as well. A close tie for favourite would be white and brown v-neck emirates one, the stripey one has a peculiar feel to it as well haha. But the worse kit ever would have to be this:

If I ever had to pass a ball to a teammate wearing this confusing jersey, I would have been hypnotized and tackled him instead.

2010-02-27T01:36:00.003+08:00

Bo liao macadamia analysis post.

Okay the recess week is finally here, or as the Americans call it, Spring Break!
Speaking of Americans, ever since my trip to New York, I've felt this strange inclination towards my present module, Hl227. Its strange but fascinating, especially the way our chirpy Prof Owens chirps facts, figures and " You Guys are awfully Quiet today! hoho!". Her enthusiasm combined with my holiday-sparked interest makes me want to read in-depth for her lesson every week, not withstanding the fact that there are 3 more surprise quizzes to follow... everyone knows how much quintessential hate for quizzes. But wow, I am actually doing my readings for once.

Thinking about my present modules this semester, I certainly feel more encouraged (apart from my electives, which I would elaborate on alter) that I might actually do better this semester, or at least try to... But on foresight, last semester was quite a love/hate semester, especially for Modernism and Asian Film. I certainly did put in a little more effort than my previous semesters. And yet I did surprisingly well for last semester. Are my results inversely proportionate to my interest levels? Here's how I did for last semester..

HL209 SOUTHEAST ASIAN LITERATURE & CULTURE : A-
CS100 FUNDAMENTALS OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES : B+
HL211 REPRESENTATIONS OF ASIA: FILM AND FICTION : B+
HL310 EUROPEAN LITERATURE : B
HZ101 INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING : B+

Okay actually thinking about it now, I did enjoy HL209 and HZ101, as well as moments of CS100 and HL211. And, in semester 1 yr 1 I had the exact same examination grades.. So moral of the story? There's no moral of the story lol. I can't pinpoint a specific pattern related to my studies, apart from the fact I need massages now and then and of course, the presence of a guitar and a computer game (e.g. Soccer). Place me in a strict no nonsense studying environment and my grades would surely pummel, I need to alternate my attention span like an eager dog if not I'll sleep and lose interest. Okay last semester aside, here's what I'm taking this year and what I think about them.

The KNS must-take electives (well rounded student policy which is RETARDED)

CBC801 IMPACT OF CHEMISTRY ON SOCIETY
Boring with a capital Y for Yawn inducing..The lecher's name is Zhong Guo Fu which is like China Fool or something. Reads DIRECTLY from the slides, speaks in a coolio tiong accent and frankly, there ain't no chemistry going on here dude... I'll just to study enough to pass for this, I hope.

MB103 PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING
If you have a tutor's email that is named toughwayne you know your prof is either a tough nut or a nut case. In this case, he is both. Asks questions and answers them himself. He is funny and entertaining sometimes (like when he asks a China guy whether China's milk nice to drink) but can get annoying when he bangs his hands sometimes on the table and says "This is MARKETING". The classmates in my class are suckers for attention and participation points, which annoys me to the max as well, like thinking of wonderful group names like Kaleidoscope and speaking in a Julius Cesar+Cheenapork voice. Coupled with the mad tendencies of my professor such as shouting loudly suddenly and speaking like a crazed preacher sometimes, I think I would have to S/U this as well, especially since my business knowledge is greatly limited to like purchasing movie tickets online.

okay, Lit Modules (thank goodness)

HZ204 CREATIVE WRITING: PLAYWRITING
This course is a such a breath of fresh air. Okay so far that is... Pretty slack and also funny as me and my homies laugh at over-enthusiastic actors/playwrights (such as doing his own effects and background noises whilst speaking his lines) and can't-be-bothered graveyard shift students (sleeping shiokly :O in front of the teacher). I'm enjoying this right now.

HL329 ARTHURIAN LITERATURE
Prof Wadiak is a nice chap, with his slightly kooky hyper-happy demeanor and yet super helpful attitude. It's interesting to read about knights and princesses sleeping around, cockster knights getting drunk whilst killing dragons with their feather pens, and it's even more interesting to know the legends and myths pertaining to King Arthur. The only thing which irks me is the heavy readings every week. Epic lengths of hundreds of pages; people those days were so dramatic!

HL227 EARLY AMERICAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE
Okay this course is simply racism and injustice personified in Puritan light, which is interesting to me. When your analyzing how ugly Pocahontas really was and also reading cleverly construed freedom/religious speeches like the pursuit of heppiness, you know your going to like the subject (okay for me anyway). Apart from the unearthly morning timings I'm quite happy to say this course is quite down to earth.

HL226 Jernigan's belly; APPROACHES TO DRAMA
Nothing much to say about this, just taking it to clear categorical obligations. Quite the Yawn Factor for this module, apart from some plays. But gets overtly moral sometimes, which can get irritating.

Okay, Recess Week, here a to do list.

- read more
- smile more
- be nicer
- play more soccer
- improve guitar
- complete Mass Effect
- download Mass Effect 2
- Continue marathon training regime
- Prepare for presentations and essays (/vomit blood)

okay la it isn't that bad because stress is self induced.

Chao for Now.

2010-02-14T23:33:00.005+08:00

Happy CNY!

Pre-Reunion was chillaxing at Prive @ Keppel Bay, where I only can pretend I'm uber rich and make believe I own a yacht. Food was quite nice as well.

and then it was Reunion, which was a sumptuous affair.

Okay, more updates soon!

2010-02-10T22:00:00.000+08:00

lol !

honestly didn't know anything about this , despite being a jepun fanatic!

2010-01-23T21:41:00.012+08:00

Okay so here's my top 10 favourite movies of all time, up till now. I can't really remember everything that went on in each and every movie I'm about to post, but the listing is based on how long it has lingered and played with my fancies haha.

In short, everything's IMHO, Merci beau coup.

10. The Matrix (1999)

The reason why this is only no.10 is because the other 2 films were a let down to me, although the storylines (like Reloaded's The Architect's explaination of a cyclical universe of balance and Revolution's Agent Smith as a killer virus in reality and cyberspace) were really good and original. Nothing beats the first film of a trilogy because it's fresh.

This show (IMHO) propelled slow-mo action sequences to mainstream "must-haves" for any high budgeted action films. Spoofs aside, the acting was decent and despite overt dramatizing of the line " You are The One " it was an enjoyable experience and a thrilling ride. You can't argue that the notion of a simulated reality is pretty creepy... and the most cool thing from the movie is that you could download information into your head in just 5 seconds, dodge dog poo in slow motion, jump over aunties to get into MRTs all with that gelled up hair..... Dodge this.

9. Infernal Affairs (2002)

I always have a soft spot for Hong Kong films, maybe it's because I love the desserts and the milk tea there, or the cheap Esprit jeans I bought there. But the show's just awesome, thrilling and smart, the two veterans (arguably most popular as well) of Hong Kong cinema swap places constantly, the movie kept me guessing and choosing sides. Cantonese or in Mandarin, the show's dialogue is witty and engaging.

This is show is exemplary of how Asian films can match Hollywood with mere scripts, storylines and directing. None of that James Cameroon Hocus Pocus is needed sometimes (keyword: Sometimes), and Infernal Affairs 1 delivers an edge that will leave you wanting more, although the sequels 2 & 3 were not as good, but was a good watch nonetheless, for the right reasons of cause.

8. 300 (2006)

Yes yes, the pinnacle of Male stupidity and muscle brained brawn, in absolute goriness; all summed up into Zack Synder's poetic justification. Spoofs aside, the show is immense in its entertainment and eye candy moments, with gorgeous colours and well crafted action sequences. While the critic sings a chorus of racism, fascism, xenophobia and insensitivity to the current political climate, the Spartans deliver inspiration and satisfaction for action fans as well as CG enthusiasts. Cheesy lines and dramatization seem like flaws for this film, but hey, its from a comic book. You're meant to sit back and relax dude for this show. Anyway if the Athenians and Greeks and Spartans didn't push back the Persians in reality, our lives would be much much more different, that's for sure.

THIS ... IS .. SPARTA!

7. Memento (2000)

Few have heard of this Christopher Nolan (BATMAN) show, even few have heard of retrograde amnesia. While not exactly the medical show, Memento for me did it in terms of directing, and I can't tell you much on this one if you haven't watched it. Guy Pierce delivers a convincing and thrilling performance and this show has innovation written all over it. Moral of this story: Memory can be treacherous.

6. JinRoh: The Wolf Brigade (1998)

Animes don't get this real and depressing, as well as abstract with constant gruesome reiterations of the original tale of Red Riding Hood. Set in an alternative universe where Japan won the World War, its essentially a tragedy encased in political drama. Good watch and memorable, although a tad sad I feel.

The musical scores are chilling and the artwork is superb, the colours for me are just nice in all its semi-noir feel. Realistic characters and adult overtures ring from time to time. The animation is realistic, so fans of cutesy anime won't really feel welcome here. Well some moments boarder on poseur philosophical high artsy-themes, this anime movie is most definitely a masterclass in its own right.

5. Braveheart (1995)

Mel Gibson's stellar inspirational roles, the best and most well remembered line would be " They may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!". This show might appeal largely to action fans once again, yes I am quite the sucker for good war shows. Set in a hostile English monarchy, it shows the spirit of the Scottish people lead by William Wallace, whom is quite the legendary historical figure, although the film strays a lot from history. With the usual themes of never ending brotherhood, sacrifice, noble chivalry and medieval ho ha, definitely my pick if shown again on cable.

4. The Blind Swordsman: Zaitochi (2003)

And here's a Japanese pick from the Hollywood bunch. A recreation/retelling of a Japanese classic, this tale is about a blind swordsman/ronin that well, is pretty much unstoppable. The imagery and cinematography is awesome, every scene feels well crafted, with the traditional orchestral overtures leading us on. I can't pinpoint this show into any category because action doesn't seem to cut it for this movie, there's a little romance and awesomeness intertwined. A must watch, especially if you love samurais... which leads to another of my favourite movies.

3. Kakushi ken oni no tsume [The Hidden Blade] (2004)

Yes another Japanese film, you gotta love Japanese era films. This is set in 1860s of the Tokugawa administration, where samurais are a dying caste. While we can catch glimpses of the social and political changes going on at that time in Japan, this show isn't really about action. There's alot of tragedy and romance issues, as well as ideals between warriors and man vs. woman. Engaging, albeit slightly depressing show, but worth a watch. This show is truly the real Last Samurai show, which does away with flamboyance and in doing that, preserves a rustic, mellow and lasting charm. Great show.

2. Fight Club (1999)

Nuff said about this show. I feel my words can't do justice to this masterpiece. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, arguably one of the better actors in Hollywood, drives this movie into overtures with themes on reality, consumerism and is downright visually intriguing. The ending is surely the highlight of the show, and I won't want to spoil it for those whom haven't caught this. Go read up on the novel too!

1.Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Okay this takes the cake. 3hrs+ EPIC journey. Homosexual tendencies. All out action. Self Sacrifice. Love&Romance. Elves. Rings. Must be the best... This show still lingers in my memory..."YOU SHALL NOT PASSSSSSS!"

Well, this is list is always bound to change, but I think I'll rewatch these films anyday.

Whew, pretty exhaustive post. There you have it!

2010-01-07T22:57:00.002+08:00

Alright I'm back!

The New York Expedition that passed too fast. This is just a quarter of photos by the way.

Despite grueling temperatures most of the time [read: max -12°C with 30kph winds], it was very much a warm, enriching fun enjoyable (okay the list can go on and on).

My first White Christmas and New Year abroad, managed to catch the new year countdown and see 1/4 of the Times square Fireworks in its explosive glory.

Highlights of the trip has to be the Food, lack of Sweat and big, extensive and quaint Museums. Shopping bordered on hysteria and craziness at times, but the deals for the Christmas and New Year sales were worth the mayhem to a certain degree. Walking and Subway-ing were made interesting many times due to being shut out by speedy train doors and multiple exits.

People wise, besides the unsettling fact that I am continuously mistaken for an ah tiong (or a Japanese which is Great) via penetrating stares or foreign greetings, tend to be schizophrenic. One moment I get racist treatment, and another a friendly soul would light the way. But judging just via Tourist Lenses, it ain't all that friendly dude.

So new year, New Beginnings. A new semester ahead, and many more days of sweatiness to endure ugh.

Have a good 2010 everyone!

2009-12-20T23:22:00.005+08:00

From Changi to Tokyo Transit at Narita

From Hotel Entrances to Cold Walkways

From Cosy hearty restaurants to Pizza Joints

From Wonder Food to Bagels in a Snowy Morning...

Welcome to New York!

Its my first day and first time here, and its been awesome, in all its -8degrees goodness.

More to come later, after course registration first ughh. haha. chao.

2009-12-08T17:25:00.002+08:00

Holiday Work Outs!

But 42.195km has to be the most tiring but satisfying physical experience.

2009-12-05T22:40:00.000+08:00

My first Marathon tomorrow, in all its 42km goodness.
Did train a little, but not enough I feel.
But it'll be an experience nonetheless! Looking forward to it, despite needing to wake up uuber early. ugh.

ok, chao!

2009-12-02T14:01:00.003+08:00

and finally the exams have come to an end!
it was a torrid time yesterday sitting on the chair, facing my wonderful professor and trying to decode the questions for European Literature. It was the most painful experience I've had for any English paper, it almost felt like a maths paper minus the permutations. Okay actually add the permutations in, because with the vagueness of the question, the possibilities are endless to the way you want to answer it; but you know the prof's gonna mark it one way, the only way he thinks.
I was glad for a general question for Asian feminism, but I'm even glad that I'm free from the rigors for 3-4 weeks at least!

Now it's time to stock up, pack and enjoy my time in Singapore before flying off! Woo!
Finally...

2009-11-26T03:57:00.000+08:00

2009-11-20T01:01:00.001+08:00

Tomorrow's the examinations, but I'm not stressed...
In fact I'm looking forward to it, because it's like one step closer to the holidays.
cheers for examinations.

2009-11-19T00:10:00.001+08:00

2009-11-08T03:55:00.002+08:00

“ kthxbye” is the pinnacle of English’s advancement, shortening “All correct, Thank you, God be with you” into seven lowercase letters. Humanity is doomed." From the Urban Dictionary.

funny fun stuff aside...

essays and essays have filled my weeks, thankfully I'm almost done with the last hurdles of the assignments, before the examinations beckons.

i am actually eagerly anticipating the exams because that means the holidays are also round the corner.

ny^{2 !!!}

2009-10-29T01:17:00.001+08:00

2009-10-05T02:28:00.006+08:00

Travis in the F1 event.

ok soo..

okay! the 4th game in my all time favourite list shall have to wait because I want to show everyone that I went to the F1, and the thing was, Travis made nicer sounds than Hamilton's engine. A New experience, but 61 laps of this new experience surely will guarantee you boredom, in full circuits. zoom zoom cars were fast, and nice to see em and hear em, but it got old, to me anyway.
still, thanks to poor mark webber I managed to see a faint semblance of an F1 crash, albeit a rather tame one. It still brought out the acclaim of the crowd though and the whole mass of internationals and locals embraced kaypohness with flashing camera lights. Exorbitant food prices, humidity and many an-angmoh and expat. - something to remember, but not to re-enact,unless more performers come down hahaha.

here are some more pictures!

yes beckham went to the f1 also.

apeks-best brand name ever.

good job singapore.

yes after 61 laps of Hamiltonic sometimes it does happen.

2009-10-04T02:39:00.005+08:00

top 5 games I always think about now and then because I am a gamer-horlick.

Games are part and parcel of my life. I play games before i sleep, after i sleep, when i eat, shit and even doing essays is like a game to me, only thing its abt 5000times more frustrating and less interactive. okay duh.

5) Half Life 2

The first Half Life that was released early 1999 was easily the first person shooter that revolutionized PC shooters all around; it's scripted events with a well themed and extremely deep sci-fi plot was as immersive as it was interactive. The action was well paced with the high tempo moments infused with low key tutorials and mouse-clenching horror moments. A few epic musical scores here and there with a dose of monster weirdness made it even more unique. The other sequels/"alternate viewpoint" games like Opposing Force and Blue Shift were just as enjoyable, letting you play as other characters of the game.

The second installments (along with the other 2 episodes) were even better because the graphics were top notch (especially water and the atmosphere) and the story was gripping and just as enjoyable, if not brain teasing at times. Twists and turns are always a welcome, and the game does a good job of that.

Gameplay as always was spot on, with level designs intelligent because it encourages creativity, rewards patience and doesn't feel too hard. Puzzles well placed and not too frustrating (with the balancing bridge puzzle one of my favourites). Although Gordon Freeman (the central protagonist) is a silent character, you don't feel detached at all from the story. The weapons in game are enjoyable, shotguns and machine guns feel like the real life counterparts. Unique weapons like the gravity gun, which allows you to fling or lift objects and even people at one stage, stand out as well. Enemy A.I outflank you and for most parts bare some intelligence, with some scripted moments able to jolt you outta your seat, although the aliens tend to be more brash and less tactical at times.

Long story short: Gordon Freeman is a scientist turned hero, powered by his hazard suit which essentially protects you from damage to a certain extent. Your return from suspended stasis in the first game brings you to a decade forward from the first game, with the entire human race enslaved by a totalitarian alien government called the Combine, headed by a human puppet and ran by brainwashed human slaves and technothings. Slow start but eventually pans out nicely. Very post-apocalyptic and gruel settings places you at the task of saving mankind (but first finding out what happened to you, your people and escaping enemies), ultimately leading you to another cliffhanger. Episode 3 promises to wrap up, can't wait for it to be out!

Definitely a game to replay over time and to have fond memories of.

okay game number 4# post coming tmr, ciao!

2009-09-09T01:34:00.005+08:00

Here is a totally random post of food I've eaten and er other things.

first up.....

no money for MIO and champions league football?

no problemo, just put a webcam in front of any one television that has a MIO box and subscription. hahahah. budget, but effective.

taken last month at Clarke Quay. We were laughing at the Gmax bungie people, pondering if the strings or steel wires holding them did snap, where would they land.. hopefully not on us too.

taken two months ago, Al-Azhar at chun tin. Gosong Prata and fish Curry were not bad. Nasi goreng was tasty, although the chicken could have been more savoury. Mango spin was refreshing. yum.

National Education..

Have you seen these (embarrassing) ads plastered all over Singapore ? It's kinda useless I think.. Kiasu/Kiasee/Selfish aunties are the strongest people on Earth in my opinion. And to boot, no one follows the yellow boundaries around the tracks.. perhaps a Fine approach could prevent these hasty travellers from being a pain in your ass (literally).

okay more food now..

Foodcourt at Bugis was quite good i think. pepper lunch express is value for money compared to the real pepper lunch (though serving size is always disputable) and this western meal cooked by a zesty chef was nice. The pasta was quite okay considering its cheap. Chicken cutlet with cheese was tasty for the value as well.

Okay now for more Atas food...

Me and Meine family went to Plaulaner near Millenia Walk for their lunch brunch buffet. 35+ per person. German food, with free flow soft drinks and free flow beer. Worthwhile for beer guzzlers, though some might not be comfortable with alcoholic consumption, let alone in the afternoon hahaha. For the record I had ice lemon tea and it was nice, old fashioned lemon tea with the sugar syrup served separately.

it was a definite yum i can say, if your a fan of angmoh food. Pasta, Mash potato, Movenpick icecream, Fish, Chicken, Beef and sausages of all kinds fits my bill anytime. (but I'm not gay)

New malls = Updated Technology?

massive screen error on orchard central screen.

must be too much porn that's why kena.

okay random pic #314159

saw cheryl fox and fann wong talking with the hip swinging beads ah-pek for some telly show they were filming, both of them were quite.... average looking in real life. (maybe on screen too for cheryl fox). and I'm really sorry fannwong but your dressing that day was not flattering for you (imho). not saying mine is great anyway.

to top it off, a brownie with chunky monkey ice cream from Ben and Jerry's at Dempsey. sometimes sweet things satisfy my itchy mouth and lust for food. haha.

on a side note, school has been fine.. a steady flow of readings I never read, spoon feeding lecturers and cold sem rooms fit my bill. the free day on Tuesday is always a great day to catch up, unwind, sleep and play games.. but then everyday is a fun + meaningful + positive day if you want it to be, and I'm glad we always do.

till the next post, ciao!

2009-08-27T02:21:00.004+08:00

My Life is alive.

alrighty after the battle of STARS since erm, 2 wks ago..

My timetable has finally been set for the year 09. this year has been especially pain in the arse coz there wasn't enough slots, but thankfully they allowed appeals/direct entry via email. soo, with this done i can now concentrate on slacking in class and absorbing knowledge through diffusion/osmosis.

how has the academic year of 09' been so far?

great i would say, new things to learn and as always , looking forward to the recess week already. hahaha.

HL209 - Feminist readings, ok slightly boring lecturer and lecture style, but okay i can do. she is young and willing, talks and kinda spoon feeds sometimes. which is GOOD for diffusion. reading some nyonya book made me think of Little Nyonya, which essentially made things more humorous, therefore kind on the intellectual side of things.

HL211 - Musicals and asian film stuff, interesting but lecturer is kimchi-ing my brain sometimes. seeing her read her gmail in korean totally made my day.. and some of the drama things we did were funny too, not a bad module i must say.

HL 310 - year 3 mod (yes, action bedeh) dealing with fantasy magic realism european literature, combined with an extra sarcastic tea drinking old man. can be slightly dry but its quite funny sometimes. the readings till now are short stories, and are quite interesting too. The Sandman sounds nicee. soo far.

HZ101 - creative writing. ultimate slackbombz class without exams, just writing and writing. (read: journal) okay i might curse and swear about this soon later in the year.. but the teacher is ultra nice and the things we do in class like stone for example, really enjambs my life.

CS100 - after a very well-informed pleaa got me to appeal to the course appeals section, i got into this exclusive Communication module.. teaching us how to talk and walk the walk. no tutorials, and the lecturer is an angmoh accent tiong, whats not to like? hahahaha.

okayy, this sums up my take on the modules so far this sem, nothing to complain.. I know no matter how hard life in uni is, I will definitely miss these days, as the days with As and Os and PSLE. schooling should always been cherished haha. okay and maybe some army memories.

I would love to upload pictures but unfortunately but not so new E63 didn't come with a data cable.. soo food pictures and the like will come soon again i promise! haha.

yes i like this phone alot, thanks to tripod recommendation and Greek expert consultation.

waiting for the soccer match between arsenal and celtic to start.. (yes i have MIO, my dad insisted.. its not too bad, yes except for the price uah)

i really hope this is the season arsenal wins something, either the bpl, fa cup, carling cup, champs league or whatever.. so there will be one more thing to celebrate in my life.

oh the new away kits are nice! finally a nice kit to admire on the pitch.

the strips and collars are a fine touch. and the blue is nice too.

and the season has started off well with two wins thus far (below is the 4th goal scored in 6-1 win over the Toffees).

next up, champs league qualification tonight. hoho.

but alas, without any silverware is fine though, soccer isn't everything and also...

i know my life is worth celebrating with now, no disregard or ignorance to that.

whenever we feel things are going bad, You always showed me otherwise.

till the next post, cheerios m8.

2009-08-17T03:39:00.001+08:00

but to know whats right, look at whats left.

2009-08-13T03:03:00.003+08:00

been re-listening to their songs and really they do deserve to be the hit sensation then and of all time.

simple music has never been that complicated and well thought out. talented and always a hallmark of inspiration.

2009-08-12T01:59:00.005+08:00

UP by Pixar

tickliing of laughing buds is always welcome, and this film does just that.

wholesome, meaningful, random, colourful, eccentric, easygoing.

it was a great animation, a feast for the eyes and a great movie as well.

makes you wanna jUmP for joy.

2009-08-10T13:39:00.005+08:00

A Fitting End to another Beginning.

The Air Conditioned Recession : A Singapore Survey (a partner programme of Singapore Art Show) at ARTSPACE@Helutrans, 39 Keppel Rd, Tg Pagar Distripark 02-04, S(089065)

The Exhibition was quite Awesome, as was my apple pie as usual.

was quite impressed actually, but not so by the immense crowd more intent in socialising and eating free food.. though much is debatable in this line of work; socialising ensures continuity and marketable virtuosity.

to note, a wellrounded day with a gay belly and definitely not smelly.

memories to be kept and shared with exclusively, i would say this 3 months break was refreshing, new and the best; a favourite.

is it just me or does rosti/Marche = gastroNOMical pwnage.

food-gushing aside..

The Holidays will officially end today, with the bout of academia and frenzied ah tiongs/coursemates alike once again greeting my mornings, afternoons, evenings and most disturbingly, my dreams.

nxt sem as a Year 2 heralds unknown boundaries and dangerous portholes, with the cloud of unknowing threatening to distort whatever's left of happy merry feelings.

however with the onset of a brighter mindset and future ahead, life's a holiday, work is just play, gloomy days made gay.

forever and always,

danke.

22nd Birday, Prequel and Actual

2009-08-05T02:24:00.004+08:00

Sunday Lunch at Haato Cafe at Ridgewood , with Nice Compressor Noised.

Night Time Sunday Dinner at Italiano Restroom at The Reagent

Thank you Mama and Dada!

Tripod and Apple Pie

Best Surprise on a Monday Afternoon (ever)

Evening Homecooked Dinner with Loved Onesssss

and Wonderful Present(s).

Thank you for everything, its a 22nd to remember.

I think this totally kills my 21st celebrations, its the mostest bestest i ever hadest.

Danke!!

2009-07-28T01:43:00.001+08:00

from my window, i see old trees renewed, fresh with rain.

they grow still,
grateful,
present.

they learn to receive.
and every tree has its past.

life goes on...

we hold your journey safe with us.

2009-07-12T01:47:00.003+08:00

Often I have tried the frightening way of 'reality',
where the things that count are profession, law, fashion, finance.
But disillusioned and freed I fled away,
alone to the other side, the place of dreams and blessed folly.
hermann hessse

2009-07-10T00:34:00.002+08:00

some old pictures of stuff I did during e hols.

Steve Mccurry's Galleries at the ACM was good. Kangxi's one was not too bad as well.

ate pepperlunch aft a super long long time.

tried Ashtons for e first time, erm Normal+2 only ?

and sorry to all students from this school, but your logo is kinda... phallic.

2009-07-09T02:10:00.003+08:00

"You tell me, my love; It's not love if it's not forever. But let me
tell you; A Scene could be much more to remember than the play itself."

if moments could be captured and stretched to fit any size, request, time span, then it wouldn't be beautiful anymore.

2009-07-05T01:25:00.000+08:00

2009-07-04T01:58:00.001+08:00

2009-07-02T01:15:00.001+08:00

2009-06-27T02:25:00.004+08:00

yes the house thus far, with cleaning and packing and shifting.

abt 1/3 done over the few days, considering that my big sis is overseas, still got a long way to go for her stuff, plus kitchen, misc furniture, and summore cleaning. ahhhh.

alright gotta go rest now, tmr another long day.

consolations however are that tmr my new bed will becoming in, and we're officially going to sleep in our actual house tmr. and yes, there will be aircon finally.

till then, back to the chopper.

2009-06-16T01:53:00.006+08:00

i just went to the StudentLink to check my Gradinks (again).

i know its quite slow and late but just call me slow and late.

my GPA has dropped this sem, due to the killing blow of two elective modules, namely the beasts known as Malay Language Level One and Sociology 101.

Being a Literature Major I always knew Zilch about electives.

if every sem was a True Literature Sem my GPA would be 4.2 and Above..

but now the Average GPA combined for year 1 is 3.78.

So.

Now everyone knows my grades, please spread the word arounddddd I'm no top student or Alister or Dean's List. I'm just erm, a dull tint in that mint.

And So, the academic year of year 1. it has been an arduous but fulfilling one, although everyone says Sem 1 was better, I felt everything was the same, maybe better even.

of awkward hilarious presentations.

Professional Presentations

Spock-moments.

camera shy study sessions

not so camera shy studying moments

soccer study sessions

unglamorous lunch pictures

Intellectual Bantering

Intellectual Camwhoring

Sleepless Gaming Nights

Matching Outfits

the highlight of every lecture.

cockanaden faces

Jepun Feasting

Cool Photos

Masculine Soccer Pride

Awesome Times.

Thanks for the memories I'd impart to my children 500 years from now.

Poetry without Fluency is Fart without Art.

2009-06-09T03:48:00.010+08:00

Poetry without Fluency is Fart without Art :

when in serious doubt on which plate is bigger and better,

or in nostalgic awe at the times that have always been,

know only that hotels have soup (in) cups served on a white platter

and taking pictures of the "evolution of sleeping" isn't mean.

When the old embraces the new,

and creative advertising takes a protest-ing tinge,

awesome museum visits should not be limited to just a few,

as Black Angus Steaks are worth an exorbitant binge.

When Yakult aids digestion as Vitagen aids (Felicia's) Bust Growth,

pondering about life and hot weather is what I shouldn't boast.

If Action speaks louder than wordS, disregard that pretentious ' Hi '.

but to me Words are actionS, like appreciating my aweful green apple pie.

Thank yous for the Brotzeit.

2009-05-30T03:21:00.001+08:00

2009-05-15T19:17:00.002+08:00

Moved out of my old house for Renovations, don't worry folks I've just moved to my neighbour's house since we have the fortune of coincidence in our cards. Not too shabby, but the eccentric house has its quirks, but whats perfection without quirks.

time during holiday time is poignantly fast, days whiz by like butterfly kisses.

but there can't be any Complaints because these two weeks have been the most Exuburent of late.

Before it's too late, I'll stop groping at the sands of Fate.

and say Thanks Mate (my nose looks like an atomic bomb).

2009-05-11T03:10:00.001+08:00

obviously Lucy, since she can grab things.

2009-04-30T23:23:00.001+08:00

rudimentary languish

transcending adriotly, the troughs of emotion once felt
when enthrallment first struck fittingly sticks, forever
in debt to a comfortable, believable persona from the past.

mistakened, forsakened in stark, barren truth,
many try to conform to acceptable disbelief and unshackle
themselves from the familiar ties that bind,
policing a social veneer of forwardness and openess, with times
leading new sheep, with the promise of green pastures.

granted and defintely proven, the test of time and its elements prove
that a bad man's lovely worth and fervored impressions fade with attrition
as easily as Sisyphus's obligations.

often times it is the demons that unwittingly bind us, rather than
good ones, as with a sinkhole that threatens to be an eternal damnation, belies a presumed self-divulged love treasurewaiting to be embraced...
if ever.

2009-04-25T03:59:00.002+08:00

Detachment does not mean not loving; it means loving well. We love if we learn, little by little, not to use another as an instrument for getting-my-own-way. I love the natural world by relating to it with reverence and courtesy. I love both people and things by leaving about them an area of peace and space in which they can be themselves, without forcing and cutting them into my own shape and size.

Miriam Pollard

2009-04-21T03:43:00.003+08:00

Time past and time future

Allow but a little consciousness.

To be conscious is not to be in time

But only in time can the moment in the rose-garden,

The moment in the arbour where the rain beat,

The moment in the draughty church at smokefall

Be remembered; involved with past and future.

Only through time time is conquered.

T.S Eliot, Four Quartets, Burnt Norton.

2009-04-13T04:12:00.002+08:00

Sitting in the car with the radio

Turned to static

Feeling quite tragic

And with one strategic blow

And you find yourself back in the hole

That you used to sit so comfortably, comfortably in..

2009-04-10T13:26:00.004+08:00

it's been awhile since i blogged in a coherent, coherent and explanatory fashion, probably because I felt it was sufficient to let poems and wandering soliloquies do the bantering instead.

it's been an hour over and none of them are here to join me in the pursuit of academic excellence, i guess its my turn now to experience what's sweet solitude in the HSS Lounge. or what's left of that perceived solace, if it was there in the first place, because toilet bowls are made to be flushed unless used by an ill-mannered individual.

exams are round the corner but it doesn't seem to affect me in anyway, not that it did the past 10+ years of my life anyway. but i guess deep inside me i know I'm expecting more to this life then just grades, or familial happiness or money's worth. somehow or rather everyday just presents itself as another normal day to me; is this equanimity or emotional indifference ? i cant tell the difference nowadays, as much as it aches for some semblance of gratification.

anyway it must be my incessant late comings that has brought this solitary 'retribution' of sorts, i was one to always believe in the laws of balance and cycles, but don't get me wrong, I'm a Christian in every right, although i despise the corporate and the commercial means of promotion nowadays. Whoever said being overtly charismatic was a virtue ? Speaking of charismatism, when emotion is spewed from an honest response i feel it is wholly acceptable, but if affection is lent at the expense of hollowing yourself, even if it's based on familiarity and past memories, why waste it ? why stare at the sun? unfortunately, these decisions aren't made entirely by us, but rather by the external factors that make us. it makes us more vulnerable and porous in every, and i mean every aspect... but i guess it's a vulnerability we all choose to accept because that's just what defines us: being a fucking human.

2009-04-07T04:01:00.001+08:00

Perhaps we cannot hear that harmony now. Perhaps we even hear it as a vast and empty silence. But we should not be deceived. That vastness is not empty, it is a presence. Even in the greatest places silence has a sound.

2009-03-29T03:58:00.001+08:00

LET SOMETHING ESSENTIAL HAPPEN TO ME

O God,
Let something essential happen to me,
something more than interesting
or entertaining,
or thoughtful.

O God,
Let something essential happen to me,
something awesome,
something real.
Speak to my condition Lord,
and change me somewhere inside where it matters,
a change that will burn and tremble and heal
and explode me into tears
or laughter
or love that throbs or screams
or keeps a terrible, cleansing silence
and dares the dangerous deeds...

Let something happen in me
which is my real self.
O God,
let something essential and passionate happen in me now.
Strip me of my illusions of self-sufficiency,
of my proud sophistications,
of my inflated assumptions of knowledge
and leave me shivering as Adam or Eve before the miracle of the natural -
the miracle of this earth
that nurtures me as a mother
and delights me as a lover;

the miracle of my body
that breathes and moves,
hungers and digests,
sees and hears,
that is creased and wrinkled and sexual,
shrinks in hurt,

and swells in pleasure;
that works by the most amazing messages
of what and when and how,
coded and curled in every
cell and that dares to speak the confronting
word.
O God,
Let something essential and joyful happen in me now.

Something like the blooming of hope and faith,
like a grateful heart,
like a surge of awareness
of how precious each moment is,
that now, not next time,
now is the occasion
to take off my shoes,
to see every bush fire,
to leap and whirl with neighbour,
to gulp the air as sweet as
wine
until I've drunk enough
to dare to speak the tender word:

"Thank you"
"I love you"
"You're beautiful";
"Let's live forever beginning now";
and "I'm a fool for Christ's
sake."

- Ted Loder

2009-03-24T19:47:00.002+08:00

Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky,
We fell them down and turn them into paper,
That we may record our emptiness.

Kahlil Gibran

2009-03-19T02:30:00.001+08:00

Remember:

when you remember me, it means you have carried something of who i am with you, that i must have left some mark of who i am on who you are. It means that you can summon me back to your mind even though countless years and miles may stand between us. It means that if we ever meet again, you will know me. It means that even after i die, you can still see my face and hear my voice and speak to me in your heart.

For as long as you remember me, i am never entirely lost. When i am feeling most ghost-like, it's your remembering me that helps remind me that i actually exist. When i'm feeling sad, it's my consolation. When i'm feeling happy, it's part of the way i feel.

If you forget me, one of the ways i remember who i am will be gone. If you forget me, part of who i am will be gone.

2009-03-17T01:05:00.000+08:00

Home is where one starts from. As we grow older
The world becomes stranger, the pattern more complicated
Of dead and living. Not the intense moment
Isolated, with no before and after,
But a lifetime burning in every moment
And not the lifetime of one man only
But of old stones that cannot be deciphered.
There is a time for the evening under starlight,
A time for the evening under lamplight
(The evening with the photograph album).
Love is most nearly itself
When here and now cease to matter.
Old men ought to be explorers
Here or there does not matter
We must be still and still moving
Into another intensity
For a further union, a deeper communion
Through the dark cold and the empty desolation,
The wave cry, the wind cry, the vast waters
Of the petrel and the porpoise. In my end is my beginning.

from
ts eliot: east coker.

2009-03-14T04:55:00.002+08:00

sometimes the only thing you would hope for is failure
because you'll truly savour that happiness success could have brought,
but no we expect too much for a victory, awaiting for its warmth
only to be thrown down and drowned harshly by the icy embrace of rejection and compromise.

2009-03-07T03:10:00.001+08:00

Disappeared by boey kim cheng

It happens that friends drop out of your life;
each year a face, a voice, lost, quietly gone
into a far country, each finding a way to survive.

You wonder about the few, whether they are alive,
the ones who matter, the maimed, the forlorn.
It happens that the angels slip unnoticed out of your life.

You dig up the letters and cards to revive
the smile, the touch of a hand, the lone
moment together, finding a way that will survive

the distance. Then you count the years, five,
ten, the absences, tes the defunct number, the wrong
address, the silence of the ones who drop out of your life.

You replay the scenes of love and strife,
remember the shared books, the loved song,
the souvenirs of friendship that will survive

the vanishing. You know that memory can thrive
on loss, and give them the lives you long to share,
the news of the dear ones who have dropped out of your life.
Yet you wonder, wonder, whether any of these will survive.

2009-02-24T03:21:00.002+08:00

thanks to stella the scholar.

2009-02-15T04:32:00.002+08:00

the linens in the breeze just can't dry
the chickens chuckling in the pantry won't understand why
deep down inside a chasm a candle cries.

2009-02-08T04:01:00.004+08:00

SONG : LOVE

Though you send me away
to think my self free
to take what you give
without thought, without terror,
I learn that to be near you
is to understand our error
in thinking freedom comes through
breaking ties while we live.

Teach me to be free
as earth, sky and sea,
let them make me a place
to come back to your care.
Death will not turn
me away if i learn
to look into the human face
to find you there.

lee tzu pheng

2009-02-04T02:31:00.003+08:00

Revisioning

Five years, my friend, since I overheard

your tears because the universe was silent.

I never went as far as you, not pushed

to desolation’s reaches, but the nights

were almost as cold. From the past

a memory of beginnings made me watchful;

taking strange paths under indifferent skies

I longed to recognize the rare, distinctive

kindling in bone—its warmth was human.

If this was what I sought, affirmation,

of life so very nearly lost, it made

the terror of your anguish beautiful;

the chill of a silent God a heavenly fire.

Suffering burns us clean. This baptism we share,

though what in us is deepest seems the hardest

to surrender. And see now here, despite time’s

ruthlessness, love reduced to ash may feed new roots.

I live by faith now, as you do, discerning

in solitary spaces the freeing of the soul.

We listen still for voices, pay them heed,

but fashion from their words our own responses.

Revisioning is more than finding trails;

it is to move through dead ends to horizons.

it is to see new signs within old lands,

the ancient furrows break like children’s smiles.

Lee Tzu Pheng

2009-01-25T01:06:00.001+08:00

Pull another knife out
Stick it with rest of them
When my back is full
Turn me around to face it

2009-01-23T02:39:00.001+08:00

A tribuite to the "nice guys" of the world.

This is a tribute to the nice guys. The nice guys that finish last, that never become more than friends, that endure hours of whining and bitching about what assholes guys are, while disproving the very point. This is dedicated to those guys who always provide a shoulder to lean on but restrain themselves to tentative hugs, those guys who hold open doors and give reassuring pats on the back and sit patiently outside the changing room at department stores. This is in honor of the guys that obligingly reiterate how cute/beautiful/smart/funny/sexy their female friends are at the appropriate moment, because they know most girls need that litany of support. This is in honor of the guys with open minds, with laid-back attitudes, with honest concern. This is in honor of the guys who respect a girl’s every facet, from her privacy to her theology to her clothing style.

This is for the guys who escort their drunk, bewildered female friends back from parties and never take advantage once they’re at her door, for the guys who accompany girls to bars as buffers against the rest of the creepy male population, for the guys who know a girl is fishing for compliments but give them out anyway, for the guys who always play by the rules in a game where the rules favor cheaters, for the guys who are accredited as boyfriend material but somehow don’t end up being boyfriends, for all the nice guys who are overlooked, underestimated, and unappreciated, for all the nice guys who are manipulated, misled, and unjustly abandoned, this is for you.

This is for that time she left 40 urgent messages on your cell phone, and when you called her back, she spent three hours painstakingly dissecting two sentences her boyfriend said to her over dinner. And even though you thought her boyfriend was a chump and a jerk, you assured her that it was all ok and she shouldn’t worry about it. This is for that time she interrupted the best killing spree you’d ever orchestrated in GTA3 to rant about a rumor that romantically linked her and the guy she thinks is the most repulsive person in the world. And even though you thought it was immature and you had nothing against the guy, you paused the game for two hours and helped her concoct a counter-rumor to spread around the floor. This is also for that time she didn’t have a date, so after numerous vows that there was nothing “serious” between the two of you, she dragged you to a party where you knew nobody, the beer was awful, and she flirted shamelessly with you, justifying each fit of reckless teasing by announcing to everyone: “oh, but we’re just friends!” And even though you were invited purely as a symbolic warm body for her ego, you went anyways. Because you’re nice like that.

The nice guys don’t often get credit where credit is due. And perhaps more disturbing, the nice guys don’t seem to get laid as often as they should. And I wish I could logically explain this trend, but I can’t. From what I have observed on campus and what I have learned from talking to friends at other schools and in the workplace, the only conclusion I can form is that many girls are just illogical, manipulative bitches. Many of them claim they just want to date a nice guy, but when presented with such a specimen, they say irrational, confusing things such as “oh, he’s too nice to date” or “he would be a good boyfriend but he’s not for me” or “he already puts up with so much from me, I couldn’t possibly ask him out!” or the most frustrating of all: “no, it would ruin our friendship.” Yet, they continue to lament the lack of datable men in the world, and they expect their too-nice-to-date male friends to sympathize and apologize for the men that are jerks. Sorry, guys, girls like that are beyond my ability to fathom. I can’t figure out why the connection breaks down between what they say (I want a nice guy!) and what they do (I’m going to sleep with this complete ass now!). But one thing I can do, is say that the nice-guy-finishes-last phenomenon doesn’t last forever. There are definitely many girls who grow out of that train of thought and realize they should be dating the nice guys, not taking them for granted. The tricky part is finding those girls, and even trickier, finding the ones that are single.

So, until those girls are found, I propose a toast to all the nice guys. You know who you are, and I know you’re sick of hearing yourself described as ubiquitously nice. But the truth of the matter is, the world needs your patience in the department store, your holding open of doors, your party escorting services, your propensity to be a sucker for a pretty smile. For all the crazy, insane, absurd things you tolerate, for all the situations where you are the faceless, nameless hero, my accolades, my acknowledgement, and my gratitude go out to you. You do have credibility in this society, and your well deserved vindication is coming.

author : anon.

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sfo/84130625.html

2009-01-20T00:50:00.002+08:00

Water water on the seeds
To my left they rose and leaf
To my right cross Seven Seas

Maybe maybe they'll stay true
My seeds will cross and then take root
And leave you to an empty room
Lonely lonely that is you

Paper paper obsolete
How will you reach out to me
I thought you'd ask me not to leave
Lonely lonely that is me

Distance makes the heart grow weak
So that the mouth can barely speak
Except to those who hide their needs
And I have read the golden seal
That tell of how the seedlings feel
Reminds my heart what love can yield

"By my only things are clear
Baby boy I'm staying here
Lonely lonely that was you
Lonely and so untrue"

feist has such a terrific ability to deliver her vocals along side the carefully plucked guitar melodies. remarkable song.

2009-01-19T03:05:00.002+08:00

lunch with the family at atas one fullertown coffee house called town.

school has been okay, finally starting to get some rhythm and acknowledge the fact that school has really started. assignments and all are starting to set it, and its going to be full blown pretty soon im sure. till tmr, ciao.

2009-01-15T23:37:00.000+08:00

Sometimes these eyes
Forget the face they're peering from
When the face they peer upon
Well, you know
That face as I do

And how in the return of the gaze
She can return you the face
That you are staring from

2009-01-14T01:01:00.002+08:00

People* (and sometimes, pets* or animals*) come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person (or creature).

When someone* is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person* will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they fade and die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people* come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh or cry. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person* and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you entered as part of a reason, a season or a lifetime....

anon (adapted).

2009-01-10T22:46:00.003+08:00

"Love, like fire, can only reveal its brightness

On the failure and beauty of burnt wood."

Philippe Jaccottet

2009-01-06T02:19:00.006+08:00

first day of school was alright, shortlived i must add. lecture lasted for abt 30 mins odd, but yeah i expected it. first wk lectures are always introductions and course outlines, mundane stuff to many. but i guess it helps to turn up for first wks cos it helps u get into the mood for school, if not i'd be in holiday mode forever or something haha.

anyway i would be blogging abt a game i recently completed, that stood out from red alert 3, call of duty and left 4 dead (which is almost as good, but not from a singleplayer perspective.) those that are turned off by dark slightly bloody images turn away now haha, okay it isnt that bad.

the game is called dead space, its a sci-fi horror themed 3rd person over-the-shoulder- shooter, almost like resident evil, just with high tech gadgets. for xbox 360, ps3 and pc.

the unique feature of this game is that the menu's and all are real time,and this adds to the experience of it all, like when your choosing weapons or items, looking through your inventory or the map for routes to your objectives, an enemy could sneak up anytime and it's really cool too.

another thing i like is the absence of any heads up display whatsoever, everything's displayed on your character, ammo is displayed on your gun. it adds to the immersion, and i love the realism of it all.

since your character is an engineer (with some military training a.k.a NS lol), the weapons he uses are sorta of wielding tools or slicing tools, and it really adds to the gritty desperate nature of a survival horror game, although im not refuting how satisfying it can be using some bazooka to kill monsters, though realistically you wont find it anywhere except in certain army camps lol.

the way to kill them doesn't lie in head shotting them either (i can hear the cs junkies complaining now). the trick lies in dismembering their arms or shooting their legs or whatever other things. blasting away at the body or head makes thing worse, they crawl faster, or do erratic things that make it harder for them to be hit. and since ammo is scarce in the harder difficulties, i would say this is really a superb feature. and most of the time its not good to just leave their bodies there intact but rather dismember the dead bodies around completely, if not they'll just get infected again and you'll be wasting precious ammo. dont think i have to tell you this game is immensly gory.

anyways the story cut short would be your an engineer sent to repair this ship (that mines planets for raw materials) that has sent out a distress call. pretty cliche as it should be, most horror genres are fairly predictable anyway. and hey no surprises, your girlfriend is supposedly on board as well. cynics and critics would say that why send one guy with a few others to a ship so vast and stuff. but hey thats movies for you.

and add plot twists, character betrayals and a supernatural element into a sci-fi environment and you get a great recipe of thrills and enjoyment. the baddies are actually humans reanimated and transformed into "necromorphs". the only thing is that their mostly silent as hell, and there are different types as well. when i say silent anyway it's because the whole game is leaking with their groans and crawling sounds, since they travel around through ventilation shafts. the thing is, most of the time they won't appear. you'd see them, hear them, but most of the time they won't come. but of course it's always like that, and when they do, it's pretty close quarters stuff. given the fact that your attacks are ranged and your melee won't really work, it can get quite frantic at times, though the camera angles could have been better.

the music is appropriate and really adds to the dark ambience. there are many scripted shocking times where it would go to a crescendo and you'd be left smiling cos what you eventually see is just something hanging or just a dead body.

the last thing is the atmosphere and the sound, with the zero gravity environments that turn your world topsy turvy like it is in space, and the muted sounds when your out in the ship's open. everything gets muted outside and you can only hear your own grunts and suit noises, a very causthrophobic experience indeed.

though this game certainly steals elements from bioshock, system shock, resident evil 4, it really combines everything and gives you the best mix. the way the story is told is through creepy survivor's audio,video and text logs you find along your way, and it adds to the suspense and defintely would intrigue you. its the kind of game that you hate cos of all its intensity and shocking moments, but you just want to play more and satisfy your

bloodlust and some boss battles are shocking, but definitely epic, borrowing hugely from god of war. still, its really a great fun filled experience.

graphics are top notch, sound is fantastic, plot is alright though there are some loopholes. but overall, i think every gamer should take a look at this game if you have the chance, definitely one of the more underrated games of 2008, its a pity it didn't get game of the year for many of the game reviewing companies.

final score : 9.5/10.

quick be a geek and play it!

Peep the style and the kids checking for it

2009-01-01T05:22:00.003+08:00

Peep the style and the kids checking for it

1. Put your iTunes/Napster/Zune Player/WinAmp/etc on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. Write down the phrase you hear
4. Tag 10 or more friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got it from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?

Bury your head, bury your head. ( Saosin - Bury Your Head )

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?

I think I just forgot to pick up the shells from a recent discharge and you took the blame ( Dark Tranquility - Focus Shift ) [ okay im not violent in anyway whatsoever haha ]

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?

Help me out, I need it ! ( The Killers - All The Pretty Faces ) [ hahaha sound so deprived ]

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

Crazy, but thats how it goes, millions of people living as foes ( Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train )

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?

Oh, life is bigger, it's bigger than you, and you are not me. ( R.E.M - Losing My Religion )

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

Cold. ( Sigur Ros - Cold ) [ shit haha ]

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?

We're wasting precious time, the clock is ticking, can you hear the countdown? ( Bullet For My Valentine - End Of Days ) [ yes i agree, we should always cherish our parents ]

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

The night, the day, the dawn of dead, rising from the ground. ( Fightstar - One Day Son ) [ no i'm not a necromancer, but we all think about times of day anyway ]

WHAT IS 2+2?

Without giving anything away I can say it's by the sea ( Kings Of Convenience - Gold In The Air of Summer ) [ i think it really is, thats why i always failed maths ]

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?

So close no matter how far, couldn't be much more from the heart, forever trust in who we are, and nothing else matters. ( Metallica - Nothing Else Matters ) [ couldn't agree more, thats whats best friends are for, how apt lol ]

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

Although my lover lives in a place that I can't live, I kinda find I like a life this lonely. ( Franz Ferdinand - Come On Home ) [sigh]

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

I paid my last respects this mornin' on an early grave, already said goodbye, nothin left to say. ( Nickelback - Woke Up This Morning ) [sound like some gunslinger]

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Once again the same things on your mind ( Bullet For My Valentine - Disappear ) [ thats a question i always think about HAHA ]

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

It's not a silly little moment, it's not the storm before the calm. ( John Mayer - Slow Dancing In A Burning Room ) [ haha just like in the movies ]

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

Well, I saw fireworks from the freeway ( Jason Mraz - The Remedy ) [ haha okay so i was the highlight ]

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?

There once was a woman, a strange kind of woman, the kind that gets written down in history. ( Deep Purple - Strange Kind Of Woman ) [ hahahaha ]

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

Yeah people come upYeah, we better turn tha bass up on this one ( Rage Against The Machine - People Of The Sun ) [ damn upbeat funeral man ]

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

live in my head for just one day i see myself and look away. ( Staind - Blow Away ) [yeah i love thinking about things ]

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

I broke into your house last night and left a note at your bedside ( Snow Patrol - Spitting Games ) [ yeah i guess their all that caring ]

WHAT´S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?

She says it helps with the lights out,her rabid glow is like braille to the night. ( Interpol - Leif Erikson ) [ oh damn ]

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?

Ooh look at me i'm a Cadillac,i'm a brand new convertible child ( Foo Fighters - Drive Me Wild ) [ haha yeah i haven't taken my license yet ]

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?

Telling me to go, but hands beg me to stay. ( Linkin Park - In Pieces ) [ im not that sadistic but soap opera cheesy stuff cracks me up ]

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?

Hey mama it's all fair in love and war. ( Ronin - Crazy Son ) [sadly it is but to the opportunist it's the best thing]

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?

Just as you take my hand, just as you write my number down .( Radiohead- Jigsaw Falling Into Place ) [ haha i guess so ? ]

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?

I never, said I'd lie and wait forever. ( My Chemical Romance - The Ghost of You ) [ sigh ]

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?

When she walks down the street she knows there’s people watching. ( Interpol - Stella was a diver and she’s always down )

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?

Where is my boy? I saw you come out of a scene.
( Faultline ft. Chris Martin - Where is my boy ? )

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?

And I'd give up forever to touch you cause I know that you feel me somehow. ( Goo Goo Dolls - Iris ) [ seriously this playlist isnt random ]

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?

Peep the style and the kids checking for it ( Linkin Park - Nobody's Listening ) [ lol? ]

----

quite interesting actually. really.

my december

2008-12-30T01:10:00.006+08:00

considering how the new years going to come, here's some defining and exciting moments i've had through out december, apart from all the home slacking, eating, sleeping, gaming, farting i've done

it all started after the bloody exams ended, with a makan celebration and watching madagascar 2, which was very nice coonsidering how brainless it was compared to the films we had to study.

another gathering with the elit gang, celebrating amreet's bday.

it was inter school games after that, played midfield for the hss soccer team. lost 1 drew 1 and didnt qualify for the semis, but it was fun while it lasted. hope next year would be much better!

amal's 19th at fish and co. first time kena sabo-ed by the crew, please avoid if its your birthday.

budi's long awaited christmas party at marina mandarin suite, the food was good, music was cheesily warm and the company was hilarious. present exchange was the bomb when one person recieved toilet paper haha. thanks dude for having us.

yearly christmas gathering with the relatives. once again lotsa laughs, and great pigging out as well. played the wii and all its retarded games, making a fool outta myself many times. i think theres a few videos lurking out there in my cousins com, and its bloody embarassing. apart from that, we played the new taboo game, where we had to describe things with a puppet, fun stuff.

had to call then when the cinema attendant came u had to put it down as fast as possible haha.

well that sums up december.

apart from that i havent jammed or gigged since may. im so aching to but everyones so busy when it comes to band commitments.. oh well you win some you lose some.

alright thats it for now.

2008-12-20T02:12:00.002+08:00

Ghost of Perdition

In time the hissing of her sanity,
faded out her voice and soiled her name.
And like marked pages in a diary,
everything seemed clean that is unstained.
The incoherent talk of ordinary days.

Why would we really need to live?
Decide what is clear and what's within a haze,
What you should take and what to give.

If one cut the source of the flow,
And everything would change.
Would conviction fall
In the shadow of the righteous ?
The phantasm of your mind
Might be calling you to go,
Defying the forgotten morals
Where the victim is the prey.

2008-12-19T17:11:00.000+08:00

Weakness sweet weakness

2008-12-18T01:43:00.002+08:00

its been awhile since i posted out my own personal words on this blog.

i've been letting songs describe what i've been going through ever since the holidays started, and i'd say its been doing a fine job in description, but like all good songs nothing changes, cause its just music and lyrics, no where near a motivational, divine reformation or a landmark epiphany or rising force, much to my dismay or rather, everyones (whom relates to the song) dismay.

the odd thing about music and all its charm, its depth and intricate compositions, at the end of the day it doesnt break barriers as much as we like. certainly the odd lyric or two might twang your emotional pangs and fit into that jigsaw you piece you miss, but at the end of the song you'd be stuck in square one. awe inspiring frantic fluid movements give you the sudden drive to try and compose and train to play like they play it, but at the end of the day theres just a limit, a cap to how much you can emulate and replicate and create. that happy piece might motivate you one day, but something called reality would kick you in the nuts after your smile emerges. that sad, moving piece might give you a shoulder to cry on, but thats that.

and yet music is the only place where i can find temporal solace and respite from daily rigours.

everyone is born with their limitations and everything in life, i mean everything, has laws and ceilings for you to bump your head into.

its just the way things work, its just how the wind blows and how the cookie crumbles.

sure you can wait, wait for that wall between to break, but its just a matter of time, of when.

when is such a big word, it always shoves its ugly rear at my face in all its taunting, melancholic and humbling glory.

2008-12-16T02:51:00.001+08:00

And now I don't know why
She wouldn't say goodbye
But then it seems that I
Had seen it in her eyes.

And it might not be wise
I'd still have to try
With all the love I have inside
I can't deny

I just can't let it die
Cause her heart's just like mine
And she holds her pain inside

So if you ask me why
She wouldn't say goodbye
I know somewhere inside

There is a special light
Still shining bright
And even on the darkest night
She can't deny

So if she's somewhere near me
I hope to God she hears me
There's no one else
Could ever make me feel
I'm so alive

I hoped she'd never leave me
Please God you must believe me
I've searched the universe
And found myself
Within' her eyes

No matter how I try
They say it's all a lie
So what's the use of my
Confessions to a crime
Of passions that won't die
In my heart

So if she's somewhere near me
I hope to God she hears me
There's no one else
Could ever make me feel
I'm so alive
I hoped she'd never leave me

Please God you must believe me
I've searched the universe
And found myself
Within' her eyes

So if she's somewhere near me
I hope to God she hears me
There's no one else
Could ever make me feel
I'm so alive

I hoped she'd never leave me
Please God you must believe me
I've searched the universe
And found myself
Within' her eyes

And now I don't know why
She wouldn't say goodbye
It just might be that I
Had seen it in her eyes
And now it seems that I
Gave up my ghost of pride
I'll never say goodbye.

2008-12-14T06:41:00.000+08:00

in pitch dark i go walking in your landscape.

broken branches trip me as i speak.

just 'cause you feel it doesnt mean its there.

There's always a siren

Singing you to shipwreck

Steer away from these rocks

We'd be a walking disaster

just 'cause you feel it doesn't mean its there.

There there!

why so green and lonely?

heaven sent you to me

we are accidents waiting waiting to happen.

2008-12-09T03:30:00.001+08:00

While you make pretty speeches
I'm being cut to shreds
You feed me to the lions
A delicate balance

And this just feels like spinning plates
I'm living in cloud cuckoo land
And this just feels like spinning plates
Our bodies floating down the muddy river

2008-12-09T01:48:00.002+08:00

...and it's hard to hold a candle

in the cold november rain

2008-12-06T04:35:00.001+08:00

Make your move, obvious humor, desperate and respiratory plight.
Always on, dressed to impress,
I'll be the last one to find out why.

Time takes its toll on us (this changes everything).
I'd be a liar if I denied you at all.
Oh, now that I know,

I've been trading ideas with intriguing men, and I...I
perceive an honest solution to all your plight.

Time takes its toll on us (this changes everything).
I'd be a liar if I denied you at all.

And the amplifier screams out loud for the last time.
Wave your hands at the audience as you sink on in.

First chance to hide, you need desperately so, find me, so.

Motion gives up on you in the end.
I'll try my best to be home by then.
You'll see the grace we had,
She'll never have,You'll never have.

I'm going home but by my own way. I'm going home by my own...

I would really love if you'd sit him down. I would really love if you'd pull this thread.

2008-12-05T03:09:00.002+08:00

rudimentary languish

transcending adroitly, the troughs of emotion once felt

when enthrallment first struck fittingly sticks, forever

in debt to a comfortable, believable persona from the past.

mistaken and forsaken in stark, bar(r)e(n) truth,

many try to conform to acceptable disbelief and unshackle

themselves from the familiar ties that bind,

policing a social veneer of forwardness and openness,

with times leading new sheep, with the promise of green pastures.

granted and definitely proven, the test of time and its elements prove

that a bad man's lovely worth and fevered impressions fade with attrition

as easily as Sisyphus's obligations.

often times it is the demons that unwittingly bind us, rather than

willing good souls, as with a sinkhole that threatens to be an eternal damnation,

belies a presumed self-divulged love treasure

waiting to be embraced...

if ever.

2008-11-29T04:14:00.000+08:00

is it possible to love, a person that you've never met, never talked to before, but yet once you see their face , talk for just a blissful 5 minutes, you know you've seen someone special, someone unique. you dote, or at least try your best to get to know her as a good friend. sometimes monetary laws you once strictly upheld are shown the door as you spread your wings of selflessness and benevolent. even if u barely know the person, you'll try to talk, trying to grapple onto each passing minute, for you know time is short. okay even if you've known that person for many years, you'd think you've forged some special bond. is all this crap possible?

yes.

but is it possible that the person, is not interested, or maybe just regards you as an acquaintance (sometimes even after a long period of time), more often than not associating that very conversation, that moment (you treasure so much) as mere chit-chat or an ordinary meeting ?

for the record, the latter doesn't know, or (in worst case scenarios) give a damn, that your just trying to be nice. and yet being the blind fool you stumble upon each roadblock with glee, dismissing it for you think you would get what you want in the end. only a fool would do such a thing, no?

yes.

its painful and very unsurprisingly agonising to watch such a scene, less so experiencing one yourself. an unfortunate victim of circumstance? or just terrible EQ. or maybe your bad haircut. or just that maybe you'll never get to meet her, you'll never fit into her social life, you'll never ever cross her mind. disheartening, but as they say, the truth fucking hurts.

but sometimes maybe you wonder whether its your fault.you blame the insecurities, that indecisiveness, your impulsive behaviour, your bad fashion sense, your physical shortcomings, or the lack of some intelligence and wit in your small bloody head.

a dilemma? you could rightly say so. you struggle to face the facts, and off goes your mood.you slump into a bog of depression. vertigo and limbo all drawn together in symphonic cacophony.

needless to say this is the problem with unrequited love. agape love. or perhaps a selfless heart. or maybe too much arrogance on my part. even so, there are so many heartaches, but no aspirin thus far, so I'm stuck.

2008-11-27T04:04:00.001+08:00

Remissions

Minds intertwined together
Shaking, moving in oh-so lovely vibrancy
Swaying along a disconcerted symphony we all enjoy very much.
Exuberant jubilant convivial moods erupt
Right to the very last drop.

Sneak a chance, steal the show
Remember your still very much in control.

Bobbing, gyrating in a beautiful frenzy
They, like you, enjoy the cacophony of the mess,
Right to the very last grasp
and touch.
Bodies moving with wondrous energy
The wonderfulness of it all.
Just like a spiritually cleansing courtship
Married with a touch of infidelity.

Start to binge, take a spin,Don’t forget to watch your chin.

Now now, is what everyone is witnessing sheer artistry?
Definitely a prodigy,as beautiful as fire against the darkening sky.

2008-11-25T03:40:00.001+08:00

Scars

as the unforgiving knives drive in deeper,

the human heart takes an awful

plunge, one that deeps down into solititude

and bends towards

an unforgiving bane of nostalgic hate.

the mind takes a step back into a lonely path

on a

winding road with stormy windsand sunshine paths

-laced with memories of sweetnothings

and bliss;crumpled and foldedneatly with vengeful crises.

fists clenched,eyes closed,the desire to forget becomes one with

the passion once cherished...and the ambivalence of it all thrives

in agony and sweet delight.

She walks with head down on the winding road,pauses, looks in chagrin at a lone tree..

he sits at a bar, wonders and indulgesin the purloined echoeslocated in every bottom of a glass.

after all, a raging fire so bright,a frustrating pother so thickcan never find an end to its existence

till it gets smothered..

the rain had never been so comforting.

2008-11-05T01:02:00.003+08:00

"I jumped in the river and what did I see?

Black-eyed angels swam with me

A moon full of stars and astral cars

All the things I used to see

All my lovers were there with me

All my past and futures

And we all went to heaven in a little row boat

There was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt"

must there always be dualities to issues ? the flip side of the coin they say, or just another neutral perspective, a fair and unbiased approach from the fench, untainted and unmediated. why couldn't the world be filled with absolute truth, a negative without a positive, without the reason to shun dark for light ? there is true solace with the knowledge of a grounded, unmoving truth, but in every case this perception becomes a weak assumption because there are always two banks at the end of a mighty sea. the numerous oppositional forces always drives people bewildered and out of their comfort zones, deriding our composure, leaving us essentially destabalized. granted, the omniscient view on multiple perspective is especially useful for academia related theory and propagation, this appeals to the intellectual narcissitc self absorbed mortal mind because it exemplfies meta-awareness and percieved divinity on the physical plane. fanning of ego aside, this avaliability of dualities just complicates everyday arguments and heated disputes; if we all know there is always a greener side, why do we incessantly advocate our percieved truth and viewpoints, refusing to collapse in and resign to anothers will?

there is no true answer because again, the complication of dualities come to foray. perhaps the only way out is a complete cessation, which i would readily accept if my time has come.

moving on to lighter things, today we had some of our last lects and tuts for this sem's modules. its been fast definitely, and how time fries.

HL104, T2 one of E-lit's finest (perversed) minds

HS103, T7 - the bane of my existence in uni thus far, but hey we all love banes!

2008-10-28T00:20:00.014+08:00

my new desktop wallpaper and theme!

canteen madness!

hello friends, ive been rather bogged down by work and stuff, and its kinda expected as the semester's drawing to a close.

crazy camwhoring aside..whats has been going on ?

well i could sum it up in 3 basic words, it has been

essays essays essays

no kidding. theres another essay due nxt week on tuesday, so i really am grateful for this long weekend (that has passed too quickly) to sorta chill; not that i've stopped chilling whenever i can to begin with anyway hahaha

so here are some of the pictures of the things i did over a months worth of absence.

there was night study with my lit peeps, which was quite successful in getting some essays done.

as you can see i was the last one standing, or rather, sitting muahahahaha.

then there was budi's 23 bday at rice table, it was a feast for the obese i tell you, good stuff anyways

one of the best gifts he has ever recieved ever, it made everyone turn green in envy at its awesomeness.

then was some formal day for the E-lit people, which was quite a failure cos everyone just ran off without taking pictures, cept for the few of us. and it was damn hot to boot. i stepped into soci class all sweaty and people were like eh shawn you went swimming issit? hahaha

alright, next up was cousins dinner at modestos , followed by desert at shakeyourbonbon or whatever that place is called.

the ice cream was plentiful i tell you, damn big scoops

AND next up was our little cousin's 2nd bday celebration at singapore swimming club, which the cousins gathered to eat and play bowling in the mean time haha.

the power all the throwing styles. can fight with remy ong okay hahaha.

alright, promise more updates regularly, till then, i can't wait to get my hands on red alert 3! chao!

2008-09-27T04:45:00.002+08:00

still night

words can never replace the human condition
and yet, im drawn to the allures of a solace
that can never be.
the light underneath a beautiful lampshade flutters rapidly.
the moth, small and simple, knocks about listlessly; enthralled, enlightened.
slowly, its wings just burn.

2008-09-23T11:18:00.001+08:00

just for laughs and nothing more.

lessons my mother taught me....

my mother taught me:

1) about ANTICIPATION -
'you wait! just wait till your father comes back!'

2) about RECEIVING -
'you are going to get it when you reach home!'

3) about HEALTHY COMPETITION -
'aunty mary's son scored 100 marks in math! why can't you be like him??'

4) to MEET A CHALLENGE -
'look at me when im talking to you!'

5) about FINANCIAL PLANNING -
'make sure you marry a rich man/woman in furure...'

6) about HISTORY -
'many many years ago, when i was your age,i used to..........'

7) to be HOUSE-PROUD -
' chalet??? stay what chalet?? you got no house issit???'

8) about GENETICS -
' you ar.....you're just like your father.'

9) about WISDOM OF AGE -
' when you get to my age you'll understand.'

10) about JUSTICE -
' one day you'll have kids, and i hope they turn out just like YOU,
then you'll know what its like.....'

and finally..........

11) about POWER -
' i am YOUR mother you better listen to ME!!'

2008-09-19T23:59:00.008+08:00

hey guys! im here with yet another food post hahaha.

first up a real tai tai place, called royal copenhagen, up in the 2nd floor in takashimya.

i was with my parents, so i dont really recommend this place for people on a tight budget.

anyway went at lunch time and ordered the lunch set, costs about 23+ for one soup, main, dessert and coffee. the coffee is superb, really fresh and nice smelling.

mushrooom soup

seabass or

meatballs (can fight with the old ikea's meatballs)

next up would be the canteen at lido or shaw house. its at the ground level area

the hamberg steak wasnt that bad, but the bak gu teh and the noodles were not as good, it felt it had something left to be desired for. the curry chicken was ok, but not the best too. main price ranges from 15-20 odd ?

this goreng pisang with icecream was quite good, representations aside.

supposedly they hired some yakun aunties to make coffee, and since its harder to make kopi peng cos you have to add ice and still make it thick and tasty, i ordered it. and i think i make better ice coffeee.

so in conclusion, if you want a true taste of singapore, you just have to head to the real s11s and the real coffee shops and kopitiams. but if your an addict of aircon like me, this is the safer but ex bet haha.

2008-09-19T02:30:00.001+08:00

Past Worries

Up high down a slope

The feelings pummel through

A sandbox,
thick as hope.

You may be built up like a borough,

But one look in the mirror and

the misdeeds done too long ago

surface with too much ease. When

You do offer your soul,

take a step back and think

would you be plugging a hole ?

or dumping more refuse

into
your
sink.

2008-09-06T13:18:00.008+08:00

Just on wednesday, my HW101 Craft Of Writing tutorial had quite a lengthy (and humourous) discussion on singlish and its application. In the class, there were a few foreign students that didn't know wtf we were ranting about. To my surprise(dismay) the teacher didn't know some terms as well. I think singlish is more uniquely singapore than the merlion and sentosa. So, for the benefit of you kangtangs and bananas out there, I've compiled some information (!) on this.

You guys wanted a long informative entry right ? so go on, a deep abyss of lucrative knowledge is awaiting your curious mind!

Singlish 101 - just so you know

Singlish is a pidgin interlanguage native to Malaysia and Singapore. It is the first language of many younger uneducated Singaporeans, especially those whose parents do not share a native language or dialect, and is the second language of nearly all the rest of the country's residents due to the "Speak no dialect" campaign.

The Singaporean government currently discourages the use of Singlish in favour of Singapore Standard English as it believes in the need for Singaporeans to be able to effectively communicate with the other English users in the world. The government runs the Speak Good English Movement to emphasise the point.

Singlish is strongly discouraged in Singaporean schools at a governmental level as it is believed to hinder the proper learning of standard English, and so faces a situation of diglossia. The use of Singlish when speaking in classes or to teachers, however officially frowned upon, is rather inevitable given that many teachers themselves are comfortable with the variety. For many students, using Singlish is also inevitable when interacting with their peers, siblings, parents and elders. In polytechnics, students feel the greater need to socialise with their peers in a learning environment less rigid than primary or secondary school, and as a result Singlish is popular. The government continues to wage an uphill battle in discouraging students from developing a Singlish-speaking habit.

Singaporean men find speaking Singlish necessary during their time in the military, or national service (NS), as Singlish has replaced Hokkien as the standard vernacular in the Singapore Armed Forces. The informality of Singlish fits well in stressful training situations, and are used among soldiers regardless of ethnic groups and level of education. Many phrases originating in the military have filtered into the lexicon over the years and they have become a method of distinguishing those who have undergone NS (National Service). One such phrase is 'kena arrow'.

In most workplaces, Singlish is avoided in formal settings, especially at job interviews, meetings with clients, presentations or meetings.Nonetheless, select Singlish phrases are sometimes injected into discussions to build rapport or for a humorous effect, especially when the audience consists mainly of locals.

In other informal settings, such as during conversation with friends, or transactions in kopi tiams (coffee shops) and shopping malls, Singlish is used without restriction. The only exception is that that it may be considered impolite to speak Singlish when a foreigner is present, as it is likely that he or she will have difficulty comprehending what is being said.

It should also be noted that Singlish itself consists of a diverse continuum ranging from an acrolect that is very similar to British or American English, to a mesolect that is more divergent, to a basilect that is nearly incomprehensible to the average native speaker of English. In a formal situation, the acrolect may be acceptable, while the basilect would be unacceptable; in an informal situation, the situation may be reversed with the acrolect being too stiff and the basilect more acceptable.

YAWN. ok here is what that chunk means

Basilect ("Singlish") "Dis guy Singrish si behpowderful sia. "

Mesolect "Dis guy Singlishdamn powerful one leh."

Acrolect ("Standard")"This person's Singlish is very good."

Examples - Use and Application

Topic prominence

Dis country weather very hot one. – In this country, the weather is very warm.
Dat person there cannot trust. – That person over there is not trustworthy.
Tomorrow dun need bring camera. – You don't need to bring a camera tomorrow.
He play soccer also very good one leh. – He's very good at playing soccer too.

To be

The copula, which is the verb "to be" in most varieties of English, is treated somewhat differently in Singlish:

When occurring with an adjective or adjective phrase, the verb "to be" tends to be omitted:

I damn naughty.

Sometimes, an adverb such as "very" occurs, and this is reminiscent of Chinese usage of the word 'hen' (很）:

Dis house very nice.

It is also common for the verb "to be" to be omitted before passives:

She punished.

and before the "-ing" form of the verb.

I still finding.
How come you so late you still playing music, ah?
You looking for trouble, izzit?

Slightly less common is the dropping out of "to be" when used as an equative between two nouns, or as a locative:

Dat one de wife lah. ("That lady is his wife.")
Dis boy the class monitor. (class president)
His house in Ang Mo Kio.

In general, "to be" drops out more after nouns and pronouns (except "I", "he", and "she"), and much less after a clause(what I think is...) or a demonstrative (this is...).

Change of state

Instead of the past tense, a change of state can be expressed by adding already or liao (/liɑ̂u/) to the end of the sentence, analogous to Chinese 了 (le). This is not the same as the past tense, but more of an aspect, as it does not cover past habitual or continuous occurrences, and it can refer to a real or hypothetical change of state in the past, present or future.

The frequent use of already in Singapore English is probably a direct influence of the Hokkien liao particle. For example:

Aiyah, cannot wait any more, must go oreddy. (Oh dear, I cannot wait any longer. I must leave immediately.)
Yesterday, dey go there oreddy. (They made a trip to that place yesterday.)
Ah Song kena sai oreddy, then how? (If Ah Song were to get in serious trouble, what would you do?)

Some examples of the direct use of the Hokkien particle are:

He throw it liao. (He has already thrown it away.)
I eat liao. (I ate or I have eaten.)
This new game, you play liao or not? (As for this new game, have you played it yet?)

Interrogative

In addition to the usual way of forming yes-no questions, Singlish uses two more constructions:
In a construction similar (but not identical) to Chinese, or not is appended to the end of sentences to form yes/no questions.

Or not (HOT FAVOURITE) cannot be used with sentences already in the negative:

This book you want or not? – Do you want this book?
Can or not? – Is this possible / permissible?
The phrase is it is also appended to the end of sentences to form yes-no questions. It is generic like the French n'est-ce pas? (isn't it so?), regardless of the actual verb in the sentence.

Is it (VERY USEFUL TO NOTE) implies that the speaker is simply confirming something he/she has already inferred:

They never study, is it? (No wonder they failed their tests!)
You don't like that, is it? (No wonder you had that face!)
Alamak, you guys never read newspaper is it? – " What, don't you guys ever read a newspaper? No wonder you aren't up to date! "

Reduplication

Another feature strongly reminiscent of Chinese and Malay, verbs are often repeated (e.g., TV personality Phua Chu Kang's "don't pray-pray!" pray = play).

In general verbs are repeated twice to indicate the delimitative aspect (that the action goes on for a short period), and three times to indicate greater length and continuity.

-You go ting ting a little bit, maybe den you will get answer. (Go and think over it for a while, and then you might understand.)
-So what I do was, I sit down and I ting ting ting, until I get answer lor. (So I sat down, thought, thought and thought, until I understood the issue.)

The use of verb repetition also serves to provide a more vivid description of an activity:

-Want to go Orcher walk walk see see or not? (Let's go shopping/sightseeing at Orchard Road.)
-Dun anyhow touch here touch there leh. (Please don't mess with my things.)

In another usage reminiscent of Chinese, nouns referring to people can be repeated for intimacy.

Most commonly, monosyllabic nouns are repeated:

-My boy-boy is going to Primary One oreddy. (My son is about to enter Year/Grade/Standard One.)
-We two fren-fren one. (We are close friends.)

However, occasionally reduplication is also found with bisyllabic nouns:

-We buddy-buddy. You don't play me out, OK?
-I'm the kind who is buddy-buddy person.

Adjectives of one or two syllables can also be repeated for intensification:

-You go take the small-small one ah. (Retrieve the smaller item, please.)

Kena (v.important to know)

Kena is used as an auxiliary to mark the passive voice, in addition to "to be" and "to get". It is derived from a Malay word that means "to encounter or to come into physical contact", and is only used with objects that have a negative effect or connotation. It is interesting to note that verbs after kena may appear in the infinitive form (i.e. without tense) or as a past participle.

It is similar in meaning to passive markers in Chinese, such as Hokkien tio or Mandarin 被 bèi:

He was scolded. = He got scolded. = He kena scold/scolded.

If you don't listen to me, you will get punished, after which you will know that you were wrong = If u dun listen, later you get punished, and then you know = dun listen, later you kena punish/punished then you know.

Note that kena is not used with positive things:
*He kena praised.
*He kena lottery.
*He kena jackpot. (huge winnings from playing the slot machine)

Usage of kena as in the above examples will not be understood, and may even be greeted with a confused reply: But strike lottery good wat! (But it's a good thing to strike the lottery!).

However, when used in sarcasm, kena can be used, for example:

- He kena jackpot, come back to school after so long den got so much homework! (He received a lot of homework upon returning to school after a long absence.)

When the context is given, Kena may be used without a verb:

Better clean the room, otherwise you kena. (You will be punished if you don't tidy the room.)
Dun listen to me, later you kena. (My advice isn't trustworthy, you might be in trouble.)

Using another auxiliary verb with kena is perfectly acceptable as well:

Better clean the room, otherwise you will kena.
Dun listen to me, later you will kena.

Some examples of Singlish phrases with Kena:

-kena arrow: be assigned an undesirable task. (derives from National Service/military practice of placing arrows on a name list to denote those responsible for a task)
-kena bully: get bullied
-kena fine: get 'fined', or charged by the police
-kena hantam: be hit by something, such as a ball, or to be beaten up
-kena sabo: become a victim of sabotage or a practical joke
-kena sai: literally "hit by shit"; be harmed by an unpleasant event or object
-kena tekan: tekan means "press", as in "pressure", in Malay; the phrase means to be physically tortured or punished. Often used in the army, which all male citizens must serve in.
-kena whack: be beaten badly, in games or in physical fights
-kena ban/silence: one of the newer uses of kena, it means to be banned/silenced in a computer game. Please note the "silence" is only used when silenced from talking in chat by GMs (Game Masters), not having the "silence" effect that stops you from doing spells.

***There are many examples and definitions, I'd leave that out and go on to, something erm, more important.***

Discourse particles

Particles in Singlish are highly comparable to Chinese. In general, discourse particles occur at the end of a sentence. Their presence changes the meaning or the tone of the sentence, but not its grammaticality.

Particles are noted for keeping their tones regardless of the remainder of the sentence. Most of the particles are directly borrowed from southern Chinese varieties, with the tones intact.

Lah

The ubiquitous word lah, rarely spelled as larh or luh, is used at the end of a sentence.

'Lah' also occurs frequently with "Yah" and "No" (hence "Yah lah!" and "No lah!..."). This can, with the appropriate tone, result in a less-brusque declaration and facilitate the flow of conversation. (On the other hand, 'lah' with a low tone might indicate impatience.)

Lah is often used with brusque, short, negative responses:

I dun have lah! – I just don't have any of that (which you were requesting)!
Dun know oreddy lah! – Argh, I don't know anymore than what I told you! or I give up trying to understand this!

Lah is also used for reassurance:

Dun worry, he can one lah. – Don't worry, he definitely can do it.
Okay lah. – It's all right. Don't worry about it.

Lah can also be used to emphasise items in a spoken list, appearing after each item in the list.
Although lah can appear nearly anywhere, it cannot appear with a yes-no question.

Other particles should be used instead:

He do that ar?
Later free or not?
Don't tell me he punch her ar?

Wat

The particle wat, also spelled what, is used to remind or contradict the listener,especially when strengthening another assertion that follows from the current one:

But he very good at sports wat. – But he is very good at sports(Shouldn't you know this already, having known him for years?).
You never give me wat! – You were the one who didn't give it to me(Or else I would have gotten it, right?)!

It can also be used to strengthen any assertion:

The food there not bad what. Can try la.

**** ok now to my favourite few pieces. ****

Siah

also spelled sia, is used to express envy and for emphasis. The term "siah" is derived from Hokkien which consists of two words 'si' (literally means die) and 'ah' (a form of exclamation).

He very solid siah. – He's more than capable.
Wahlau, heng siah. – Goodness me (Wahlau)! That was a close shave (heng)!

Nia

Nia is originated from Hokkien which means 'only', mostly used to play down something that has been overestimated.

Mary: "I not so old lah, I am 18 years old nia."

"No lah, my house only got one computer nia"

Then You Know

"Then you know" is a phrase often used at the end of a sentence or after a warning of the possible negative consequences of an action. Can be directly translate as "and you will regret not heeding my advice".

Mother: "Ah boy, don't run here run there, wait you fall down then you know ar."

" You never study for exams, later fail then you know. "

Got

"There is"/"there are" and "has"/"have" are both expressed using got, so that sentences can be translated in either way back into British / American / Australasian English. This is equivalent to the Chinese 有 yǒu (to have):

-Got question? Any questions? / Is there a question? / Do you have a question?
-Yesterday ar, East Coast Park got so many people one! There were so many people at East Coast Park yesterday. / East Coast Park had so many people [there] yesterday.
-This bus got air-con or not? Is there air-conditioning on this bus? / Does this bus have air-conditioning?
-Where got!?Where is this basis of accusation?, or less politely, There isn't/aren't any! also more loosely,-What are you talking about?; it is normally a generic response to any accusation.

(!) all information taken from Wikipedia

in essence, i feel singlish is really the economy of words and to add a more laidback vibe to conversation. we have to know when to use it, and when not to. SO boys and girls, if you ever use singlish in your examinations/assignments, or if your work presentations aren't presented in the proper queen's english, you ought to be shot (many many times).

2008-09-02T02:53:00.000+08:00

Teachers Day @ PJC

2008-08-30T00:23:00.007+08:00

me huiying and sky went back today to visit the teachers and sample canteen food after 3 years. nostalgia flooded me when i entered the premises.. and it was great talking to the teachers again, i definitely miss those old days.

2008-08-26T02:33:00.000+08:00

"Get up cheerfully on days you have to work, if you can. And if you can't what keeps you from doing so? Is there something heavy that blocks the way? What do you have against the heaviness and difficulty? That it can kill you?

So it is powerful and strong. This much you know about it. And what do you know about things that are light and easy? Nothing. We have no memory whatsoever of that which was easy and light. So even if you could choose, ought you not actually choose what is difficult? Don't you feel how it is related to you? And are you not in agreement when you make this choice? Don't you think a little sapling would have an easier time by staying in the soil? Things that are light and things that are heavy don't actually exist. Life itself is heavy and difficult. And you don't actually want to live? Then you are mistaken in calling it your duty to take on difficulties. It's your survival instinct that pushes you to do it. So, what is duty then? It is duty to love what is difficult...You have to be there when it needs you."

rainer maria rilke

2008-08-18T00:56:00.018+08:00

after a looong time....................

haha some other pics from our day out with the rented car i forgot to post the other time! how i wish i could slack like then now! but wait actually I'm quite slack still.

yeah ok i know i always start blogging the same way so i shall change it. this sentence ought to be enough change right cheryl. hahaha.

anyway, what have i been up to ? okay i know the birthday pictures aren't up and it would be soon after some gibberish from me!

so hows uni for me?

so far its been not as easy as my jc teachers used to claim but I'm picking up, or at least I'm trying to pick up hahaha. if any of you noseyy poks out there want to see what i'm up to, go here http://shawnang.wordpress.com/. its part of this soci mod I'm doing, which is more time consuming than my core lit mods la wth. anyway it was really demoralising because the tutor "marked" our first blog posts with ticks la. so when i went into class, i saw one tick on my assignment. so i was thinking "okay,this means she has seen my work." so i sit down, and shes scribbling some stuff on the board. so i see shes drawing a tick and equating it to "good". so the idiot in me thinks "wow not bad for a first assignment" and then she goes on to put 2 ticks and 3 ticks, each representing "v.good" and "excellent" respectively. so i got a little sad but at least its good you know ?

and so i take a peek at some other peoples papers and they had 3 ticks and 2 ticks.

$#@!$!%

this is the last sem I'm going to take a sociology mod.

so what am i doing for my lit then?

i can tell in that it has alot of boooks involved, and yeah if you really wanna know,ask me personally cos i get abit sick mentioning them haha!

frankly poems of old times don't really excite me, nor does books that showcase how intellectuals think too much really intrigue me. maybe I'd grow to love em. but for now, i hate them.

so here is the long awaited post about my 21st birthday !

after attending countless 21st celebrations this year, i noticed many of them were chalets and stuff.. but i hated how the birthday guy/gal had to run all over the shop everytime (especially if the place is littered with your entire extended family and friends from everywhere else) and how you can't spent any quality time with your mates! so i decided to have small gatherings with different group of friends on different days!

here was the first celebration, with some of the jc mates that turned up. it was good fun! thanks for the presents! (the pics are up on facebook anyhow)

you always gotta post pictures of the food first

because its the main highlight. haha just kidding!!

this card plays a cheesy tone of happy birthday that cracked me up when i pressed push. haha!

thanks guys for the stationary kit and back to school accessories! just to let your know im using most of the stuff you guys gave me! haha. and for the, over sized shirt! its nice alsoo but im a size M or L haha if any kind people wants to buy me shirts next time.

next would be another grup of jc peeps, from a different class.

there weren't any pictures of melvin, cynthia and dd (the photographer) but nevermind there is always another cam whoring session hahaha! anyway thanks for the well wishes, and good company, the damn good cake and the selegie beancurd afterwards!

on to army friends whom i met yesterday (just so you know i realised i wore the same shirt. haha, yes i bathe and i dont have many stripe shirts, only 1! there was a really big gap inbetween both meetings haha)

the card.

ok my failed attempts at being a model.

thanks budi and yan for coming down to my house area at such a late time as well ! i really like it man.. will use it as soon as I can!!

last but not least, my family celebration on the day itself. ate at a really fancy restaurant in Sentosa il Lido. anyway the stuff there is over the moon. really. but still an experience to remember.

the food pics don't really look that appetizing here, so i won't post them, maybe not yet anyway! haha. so yeah that sorts of sums it all up, at least for now, until some other kind souls decide to celebrate it for me again!

anyway here are the other presents i recieved and they are in no order of "better-ness". i like them all!

ps3 from parents. i completed metal gear solid 4 already. its solid stuff, no pun intended. looking forward to final fantasy 13 and many more titles in the future!

ipod 80g classic from my uncle. i already uploaded some movies and anime in it!

really nice porter bag from my sisters which im using now

and gaming keyboard from desmond and melvin!

now with the thousand macro buttons this keyboard has i can open many programmes with a simple push, and i can control itunes really fast here! its really nifty. i love all my presents haha.

ok I'm sorry if this post is veryvery long winded and exhausting to read. but hey, its a 21st birthday celebration(s) right. i guess it should atone for the no.1 unwritten rule of blogs which is not blogging.

any kind people can give me presents still if they want hahahahaha! (:

till the next time ciao.

2008-08-04T23:54:00.001+08:00

hey guys apologise from a long long absence from blogging.

as many of you know, my birthday has already passed, and im 21 yrs old as of yesterday. but, i dont feel even a hint of change, which is good i guess..

today marked another chapter of my life, the next phase of life as an undergraduate.

first lecture was surprisingly slack, so i guess its good, because the transition is gradual, at least for now.

okay promise a proper post soon, full of pictures, birthday thanks and many more soon!

2008-07-24T01:06:00.005+08:00

sorry for an absence of blogging, but here i am again with another food entry hahaha!

last sunday i went with my parents to this damn high class TAITAI place at paragon.

quoted from http://www.hungrygowhere.com/

"Anyways, to those in the know, Caffé Cova from the original Cova Pasticceria-Confetteria, Milan has opened its doors at the comfort of swanky Paragon. Brought in by the Wing Tai group, the fashion company is now edging into the premium lifestyle segment by moving into branded food and lifestyle. Outside of Italy, Cova can only be found in Japan and Hong Kong and on some luxury American cruise ships. What you can expect to get here will be exactly what you would eat in Cova Milan, so you will not see any acclimatization to suit the local palates. "

the taste of the food is not too bad la, quite nice in fact.

but the experience of dining there really made me feel rich and like a taitai hahaha. here are some pictures.

i just realised i didnt rotate some pictures, but im abit lazy to repost hahaha. sorry you gotta slant your head for abit.

the petite size desserts. haha, i recommend only dining here if your feeling generous with your cash. or if someone wants to give you a treat.

2008-07-11T22:42:00.004+08:00

my ps3 has finally arrived!

my dad decided to help me order because he is good friends with this sony shop guy haha.. 1 year free warranty to boot.

thanks to him i've managed to lay my hands on the special mgs4 game package as well.

points to note when you are buying a ps3

- note the HDMI cable does not come with the bundle, you have to purchase it seperately. sony gives you an AV composite cable (the same as the one in your ps2)

for those interested in buying, don't be conned by sales people (especially sls uncles) about the differences between a cheap and expensive HDMI cable, because graphics wise, they are all the same. It depends on your tv/monitor (whether it being true 1080i/p or like mine only 720p, i.e your expensive Sony Bravia set would give you the best top notch graphics unlike my monitor, which has only the "nice on the eye but good enough" graphics) and whether your using a HDMI cable or an AV composite (your standard red yellow white wires).

here's a link to justify/clarify -> http://www.theps3faq.com/?q=node/10

another thing to take note is the issue about regions pertaining to Blu-Rays.

Games are Region Free ( so an asian set can play a uk game vice versa )

Movie Blu Rays are not Region Free

sls uncles will ask you for an upgrade in order to convince you to make your set region free. (unlike the old ps2 upgrade where you can play pirated games, as of now there are no pirated ps3 games)

if you want to watch movies, go to a theater! or just purchase a similar region blu ray. easy and simple ?

bloody uncles at sls were trying to cheat my arse off..

now for the pictures !

how the "master" stands up to the "disciple"

the 2 buttons are touch sensitive so don't let itchy fingers touch it!

charging the wireless controller via the two usb hubs. the green light shows the wi-fi internet connection is on (means more online gaming and demo downloads for your machine!)

The sixaxis. unfortunately this version doesn't have the vibration function because sony cleverly decided to release the dual shock 3 like ten thousand years after they packaged this with all the ps3s. the middle button connects your wireless controller (like the xbox360) and acts like your "home" button on your psp.

the main menu (reminds me of the psp main screen) and the installation screen for mgs4

i can't wait for final fantasy 13 to come out. till then i'll have to be satisfied with metal gear 4 haha.