The 'Tao' of Teoism

2012-01-25T21:27:00.002+08:00

You really only understand your friends after that 1st argument. Problem is, some friendships don't survive pass it. It also means that getting too close to a person just means more hurt when things go sour. I wish that we can turn back the clock and see where things go wrong, but guess everything that happen is just karma. Its fated and fighting it just makes the feeling worse. Better to stonewall yourself up and let time wash the memories away.

SOPA - The beginning of the end?

2012-01-18T14:14:00.003+08:00

Recently, the Internet has been ablaze with news of SOPA and PIPA. While the acronyms sound cute, the reality is anything but. Both SOPA and PIPA are anti-piracy bills that is working its way through the US Congress and can potentially grant IP owners power to shut down a foreign site against whom they may have any copyright claims. Of course my explanation is just a quick summary of the whole bill but I'm sure even a 12 year old can see the potential for abuse if the Bills are passed in the US.

Proponents of SOPA, like Rupert Murdoch, claims that the bill can help stop piracy of movies and have attacked various entities from Obama to Google for their opposition to the bill. (Personally, after the phone hacking cases that Murdoch's companies were involved in, its like a case of the pot calling the kettle black). My knowledge of this bill come from RPS, a gaming website which had highlighted the effect SOPA may have on gamers. Now, I don't pirate games. I bought all my games legally (mostly via Steam). But with so many games requiring online activation and constant Internet connection nowadays, all it take is an overzealous IP owner to threaten to shut down the game publisher's host site or (heaven forbid) Steam itself to really ruin my day. As a legal paying customer of games, all I see from SOPA/PIPA is one more headache/obstacle that we gamers can do without. Furthermore, the idea of the Internet being control by a country and several large corporations who may only have their own profitability in mind leaves a bad taste in my mouth. So I really hope that the American public wake up and express their fullest opposition to these Bills towards their respective congressmen to see that the Bills are defeated.

Chen Show Mao - King of Social Media

2012-01-17T12:57:00.001+08:00

I've been constantly amazed by Chen Show Mao's popularity in the social media like twitter and Facebook. Not that I don't think he is a bad MP, in fact, that guy is my hero for giving up his high flyer life and settling for an Opposition MP spot. But everytime there is a Parliament debate, Mr Chen's name invariably trends in the Singapore twitterverse. Sure, he is articulate, genial and makes a hell of an argument whether in Mandarin or English. But perhaps it is more than that. With the greater political awareness among Singapore citizens, I suspect many people are wondering how far Mr Chen's star can shine in politics. After all, without meaning any disrespect to other WP stalwarts like Mr Low Thia Kiang, Show Mao is now the face of the Worker's Party, whether he realized it or not. Everyone loves the underdog, and supports the David when he is fighting against the Goliath. Mr Chen is showing all the political Davids in Singapore just how much he is willing to tackle Goliath. Win or lose, it is going to be a hell of a show and one that may change the political landscape come 2016

Edit: Re-read my posts and it seems I'm rambling somewhat without giving a clear account of my subject matter. My apologies for that but this was typed off the top of my head in 10 mins while eating my lunch so please forgive the somewhat incoherent musings.

Back, Sorta

2012-01-16T23:51:00.000+08:00

OK, I'm trying to restart my blog (again). Realised that I had a lot of stuff that I wanted to rant about but am always too lazy playing games/moping/being emo blah blah blah to come back here. So this is my new attempt to start over.

Just finished reading the entire Witchblade 'Artifacts' act today and it basically left me with a loud WTF. I love the world that Top Cow has created and it has this dark alluring appeal that Marvel and DC titles cannot match (The babes of Top Cow comics are hotter too but that's beside the point). But the entire Artifacts arcs feel too much like a 'Brand New Day' arc to me. Bad enough that my favourite web-slinger gets retconned, destroying decades worth of fond childhood memories, but now Top Cow had to put my favourite comic bitch Sara Pezinni through the retcon meat grinder? I had to physically restrain myself not to throw away my copy of Artifacts #13 is disgust after I read the last panel. Top Cow, please please set everything back to normal again?

Real Men of Genius Commercials

2011-08-08T21:02:00.001+08:00

I've just been introduced to the 'Real Men of Genius' series of commercials for Budwiser beer. They are hilarious and just what I needed to get my mind of recent events. Enjoy!

2011-08-04T10:27:00.001+08:00

Yes, I know that we shouldn't look back at our past and wish we had done things differently. After all, what's done is done. But sometimes, I can't help looking back with regret and wish things had turned out differently between us.

Pray for Norway

2011-07-23T22:34:00.002+08:00

Sometimes incidents happen in our world that are so horrific that the human mind struggles to understand the scope of the tragedy. 9/11, The Indonesian tsunami, the Fukushima earthquake are just some examples. And now, we add yet another event to this list. Yesterday, a lone gunman in Norway detonated a bomb in Oslo that killed 7 people. But this outrage was further magnified when he later impersonated a police officer and shot and killed a further 85 people (at the time of this post), mostly teenagers on the island of Utoeya. Why anyone will do anything like this and plunge than entire country into a nightmare is not something I want to speculate on. Instead, let us all all bow our heads and pray for the dead and the survivors of Norway. We all share their grief.

Hyang To Gol Korean BBQ

2011-07-20T11:22:00.002+08:00

Went to Hyang To Gol Resturant at Amara Hotel last week with a colleague for her farewell dinner. Wasn't sure what to expect but in the end, I fell in love with the place. While the service is all over the place (had a fantastic Chinese waitress who was unobtrusive in helping us cook our meat and very experienced, there was also another who burnt half of my veggies), the food is certainly top notch. I still salivate over that superb beef rib that we devoured. The samgyeopsal and kimchi soup that we ordered was also quite authentic and suitably spicy. And even the side dishes were excellent. The kimchi was crunchy and nicely chilled, the pancakes savory and hell, really couldn't find a bad thing to say about the food there. The total damage was not too bad too, around $120 for 2 people. Will definitely go back again when I have the chance.

NDP Fun Pack Song - aka Whoever wrote this should be shot

2011-07-06T13:39:00.002+08:00

Oh.My.God. When my friends first told me about the existence of this song, I had a vague feeling of unease. After all, any idiot can tell you that Lady Gaga music does not usually translate well into an NDP song. Then I actually watched/heard the song........and my reaction is basically a giant WTF. THAT is the song that we are going to hear on our National Day? On nation-wide TV? Whoever came out with this idea should be shot. Or at the very least fired from their jobs for making Singapore a worldwide laughing stock. There are many talented singers and songwriters in this country who can do a better job that the atrocity that I have just witnessed. Hell, I can swear in 6 languages and even that is not enough for me to describe this, this...monstrosity. And to cap off the humiliation, the organizers apparently neglected to obtain the licensing rights to play this song. Good riddance I say. Below is the link to the Youtube video of the song. I cannot bear to embed it in my blog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoExTn7PC2E&feature=player_embedded

2011-06-30T18:10:00.003+08:00

Irony: When during a job rotation, you were promised a more work life balanced job scope. In the end, the person taking over my old portfolio get to go home on time everyday and yet I'm doing more OTs than usual in my new area. FML.

Is it really so hard to allow maids a day off?

2011-06-27T21:07:00.002+08:00

At the time of this writing, I had just read a survey in which 46% of Singaporeans are not in favour of giving their maids 1 off day per week. I must admit that this issue had me feeling bemused and not a bit worried. Are my fellow citizens so insensitive towards the plight of their maids?

I must first highlight the fact that I've never had a maid. Not now, not previously and highly unlikely ever in the future. So I'm am left feeling genuinely puzzled by the fact that most employers don't allow their maids to have a weekly rest day. Are your household chores so demanding that your maid must do it immediately? Your own family members pick up some useful housekeeping skills if they wash the dishes once in a while. And more importantly, if you can afford to hire a maid, then chances are you have a reasonably well paying job that allows you to have the weekend off to spend time with your family. Why shouldn't your maid have this luxury as well?

I prowled some local forums and was truly taken aback by some the responses I see. "Because they are maids!" is one of them. So what if they are maids? Does being a maid automatically disqualify the person from a rest day? Are our hearts that hardened that we can ignore the plights of your own maids, who are living under the same roof yet working 24/7 for their employers? Now I have met people who treated their maids well, giving them day offs and even paying their airfares for them to visit their families overseas. But too many, far too many people are ignorant or uncaring of the plight of their domestic help. It is not for me to criticize, but perhaps the relevant authorities can make this part of a labour law to improve the quality of life of our domestic helpers.

X-Men First Class

2011-06-16T00:38:00.003+08:00

I went to this movie fully knowing that it was not canon as compared to the comics and hereby expecting it to suck, and left the show marvelling at its awesomeness. Yes, it may have deviated from comic canon but it also gave a humanizing outlook to Magneto, who is perhaps one of the most underrated comic book villains ever. And it made Charles Xavier look clueless and delusional on his vision of a peaceful human-mutant co-existence. The acting is first rate for a comic book film (surprise, surprise), with Michael Fassbender outstanding as Magneto and the action sequences are well choreographed without overwhelming the storyline. And the cameos by Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Romjin really made my day too. 5 stars.

Korea's Got Talent

2011-06-08T08:44:00.002+08:00

Yes, we have seen a lot of sob stories on these shows, and many people have become jaded at them and rolled their eyes at yet another sob story, this time from Korea's Got Talent. But I really dare you to watch this video and not shed a tear. (There are already people saying that the guy can't be real, that his story is too convenient. Please don't let this guy be a fraud, please, please, please. It will totally destroy my faith in humanity)

Kudos to my 2011 graduating batch

2011-05-28T15:04:00.002+08:00

So their lives in NP have come in the full circle and all of them have now graduated. This graduating batch was special because among them were the first group of Spartans I've managed from Red Camp and also perhaps the one batch of ambassadors that I am closest to. And I will like to use this post to thank them for all the wonderful memories that they have provided and wish them all the best on their future endeavours.

To my Xinmin Princesses, Sabby, Sherlyn, Peggie and Audrey: You girls are the best! I still remember the first time we met like it was yesterday and the 3 years have really passed too fast for me. Thank you for everything and please do continue to keep in touch!

To Ning: My long haired, Mandarin awkward friend, who the hell is going to converse in Mandarin with me now that you are gone?! But I'm really happy for you, especially now that you have gotten that scholarship and will be able to pursue your dreams overseas.

To Chun Hui: Yes, I still can't tell you and your sister apart :P Even after 3 years!

To Lizzy: Who struck to her guns and proved me wrong ;)

To all the rest of my friends who have graduated this year: The past 3 years was and perhaps will always be the most fun I had in NP. And it is because of all of you. Thank you all for the memories and best of luck in whatever you do in the future.

19th

2011-05-14T21:47:00.001+08:00

I don't care how it is won, all that matters is we've won it. Title number 19, and we sit atop the perch alone ;)

The Day After

2011-05-08T16:26:00.003+08:00

So the elections is over and history has been made. Aljuined has been taken by the Worker's Party, the first time a GRC has ever been won by an opposition party. With that in mind, here are some of my thoughts regarding the last day of the elections.

Channel Newsasia's coverage sucks: Anybody who is connected to the Internet probably knew most of the results of the polls by 11pm, but CNA persistently refused to announce those results cos they are 'not confirmed' yet. I don't now if it is the PAP's fault for not releasing the results earlier but for goodness sake, don't start the reporting so early if the results are only being announced at 1am.

George Yeo is a sacrificial lamb: The word on the street is that George Yeo is just plain unlucky that he is contesting against the strongest opposition lineup in this election. He is probably one of the more popular ministers and personally I feel that other ministers like Dr Vivian or Mah Bow Tan are more reviled. So I guess the sacrificial lamb tag is right. The people wanted change, and Aljunied complied. To all the people lamenting the fact that Singapore has lost a good servant, working life has taught me that no one is irreplaceable. What happened to Mr Yeo is unfortunate, but it is not the end of the world. Companies don't fall over and expire when a key person resigns and neither will Singapore. Don't make it sound like Armageddon has arrived.

On the Worker's Party win in Hougang and Aljunied: I was expecting the WP to retain Hougang but a 64% win? Nope, that was a surprise. Especially compared to Potong Pasir where the PAP finally wore down the resistance of the residents there. Highly doubt the PAP will make any inroads in Hougang in 2016 unless the WP screws up royally there. You just don't wipe out a 14% lead that easily. As for Aljunied, what else can I say. History has been made and a blow stuck against the seemingly impenetrable fortress that is the GRC. Where the opposition parties will go from here is now fully in the hands of the WP. Rise to the occasion and manage Aljunied properly and we may see a new dawn in Singapore politics come 2016. Screw up, and all the hard work done will go down the drain in an instance.

On the fallacy of GRCs: Let me get this straight, the PAP gained Tin Pei Ling but lost 2 ministers and a senior minister of state? If you cannot see what is wrong with this scenario, then you need your head examined. But on the other hand, I see the appeal of the GRC system for the PAP. Having only won 60% of the overall vote, they yet make up 93% of the new Parliament. Based on this, maybe losing Aljunied doesn't seem so bad compared to what the PAP will stand to lose if the GRC system is abolished.

Chiam See Tong: And so this is how his legendary career ends. A salute to a brave man with an unbreakable spirit.

Cooling Day

2011-05-06T18:00:00.000+08:00

Today is the designated 'cooling day' of the GE, where us citizens are supposed to sit back and reflect on the past few days, free of the distraction of rallies and other means of electoral advertising. So after a week of devouring of news and attending rallies (and also being woken up early on a weekend by that damn PAP loudspeaker), here are some of my thoughts before Polling Day tomorrow.

The sentiment on the ground: This is perhaps the most polarising election ever. Never have I seen such heated debates among ordinary Singaporeans. In the bus, in the MRT and in the coffeeshops, all you hear is the latest news on the election/Aljunied/Nicole Seah/(Insert your favorite election tidbit here). Perhaps it is because there are some genuinely outstanding opposition candidates that will give the PAP a run for its money, or perhaps people are just sick and tired of the existing government. Whatever the reason, it is heartening to see that Singaporeans are actually keeping themselves up to date on election reports and debating over them.

The Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr. This year's election is one that have truly embraced the use of social media. You have netizens updating their rally experiences on fb, many of which are retweeted by popular bloggers like Mr Brown and Mr Miyagi. It also seems to have forced the Straits Times to report more objectively on the opposition (although this has still not stopped them from failing to provide wide angle photos of PAP rallies). Social media also have the additional benefit of making younger Singaporeans interested in the election. A truly powerful tool that is sure to be utilized more forcefully in future elections.

Worker's Party: If you can attract an average of 30,000 people to attend your rallies, then you are obviously doing something right. However, I feel that poor infrastructure had diluted some of their rallies e,g faulty sound systems. Not that the crowd seem to mind though. But the big question is whether they can turn popular support into actual votes on Polling Day.

Nicole Seah: I'm beginning to see her appeal. Young, pretty and seemingly carrying her entire party on her own (no disrespect to her other party members intended, but that's the general feeling at the ground level). And considering that she is up against a heavyweight like Goh Chok Tong, it is a minor miracle that she has held up so well under the pressure. It will be a big surprise if she wins, but if she decides to continue her political career, who knows how far she will rise?

The conflicting messages from the PAP: On one hand, we have Lee Kuan Yew himself saying that Aljunied voters will 'repent' if they voted for the opposition. On the other hand, his own son, the PM Lee Hsien Loong actually apologies for some of the ruling party's actions and behavior. So what gives? Who should I believe? Yes, LHL is the Prime Minister, but LKY is still a powerful figure in Singapore politics. Is this a sign of internal conflict in the PAP? Or is the PM just performing a damange limitation exercise?

The giant facepalm moment: This video of Teo Ser Luck says it all. I wince just watching it. Can't imagine how the people watching it live must imagine.

PM Lee's 'safety net' fallacy

2011-04-27T21:30:00.002+08:00

I read with some interest a newspaper article in which PM Lee said that voters for the upcoming General Election should vote wisely, as there 'are no safety nets in real life. So it is best not to take the risk'. A few hours later, I read that the Worker's Party Low Thia Kiang has quit his 'safe haven', Hougang, to contest in Aljunied GRC. And I cannot help but contrast the 2 leaders attitude towards risk taking. As a working adult, I find that I cannot agree with PM Lee's statement. Risk taking is a part of our everyday life and in is only through risk taking that we can push ourselves to the limits of our abilities and explore new boundaries. After all, the PM's own father, MM Lee, took a risk by splitting Singapore from Malaysia. He did this without the knowledge of what the future will hold but he had the confidence to believe that the decision is the right one. Similarly, Mr Low had taken a risk by leaving his 'sure thing' ward (anybody who seriously think the PAP can take Hougang if Mr Low is contesting it is deluding themselves), and went for broke by contesting in a GRC. And its not as if Aljunied has a weak PAP presence. George Yeo and his PAP team are battle hardened veterans who will be a tough foe no matter what the media is saying about the WP's A Team. Yet, Mr Low forged ahead anyway. In his own words to the media, Mr Low said that "There is a tiger in the mountain and we are taking it head on'. Contrast this with PM Lee's safety first attitude, and my respect for Mr Low has increased tenfold. I wish him all the best in the upcoming elections, may the best team win.

Key Points for the Upcoming Elections (GE 2011)

2011-04-22T21:49:00.003+08:00

Here are some of the key issues that I will be following closely for the upcoming 2011 General Elections. These issues are something that concerns me and will have a significant impact on how I will vote.

Rising cost of HDB Flats: Mah Bow Tan had stated recently that he expects the value of flats to appreciate. This is not what I wanted to hear. While his words may be good news for current homeowners, it spells big trouble for those of us planning to purchase a flat. What can the government offer to the people looking to purchase their own homes?Currently available subsidies and loans are a joke with the rising prices, and I've seen prices skyrocket so much that I've despaired of ever getting my own home. Surely measures are needed to stabilise the housing market.

Rising cost of living: From coffeshop meals, basic necessities and transport fares, everything has been going up, up, up. The government keeps blaming inflation but what is the main reason for the inflation in the first place? And don't give me that bullshit about the fluctuating world economy. Sure, that may play a part, but blaming everything on the global economy is irresponsible and avoids the micro issues that our city faces. What about the influx of foreign labour? The losses incurred by our investments? How can our GST and transport expenses keep rising when our pay remains stagnant? And how do those Ministers make those decisions when they hardly eat at coffeeshops, or take public transport? I'll like to see more coverage and accountability on these issues.

The high MP salaries: Yes, I do believe that you have to pay to get top talent for a job. But $4m a year for our Prime Minister? And an additional 8 month bonus to boot? That is just bloody ridiculous. We have often heard from the government that the high pay dissuades our politicians from becoming corrupt. Then I ask this. According to the 2010 Corruption Index from Transparency International, Denmark and New Zealand were ranked ahead of Singapore as the least corrupt countries, yet the Prime Minister of Denmark earns around 4 times lesser that that of Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong. I'm pretty certain the PMs of New Zealand, Finland and Sweden (both of which are ranked just below Singapore) draws a lesser salary as well. So that 'high salary is a buffer against corruption' argument does not hold water with me at all.

Accountability of our MP's: Without a strong opposition in place, who holds the PAP government accountable for their actions? We have often heard that the PAP have strong checks and balances in place, but I have yet to see these described in more detail. Why is no blame assigned when Mas Selamat escaped? Why is no action taken when the Orchard Road floods occurred? Why is there not even a dissenting voice raised when the President's salary was increased? The government is supposed to serve us, the people, but what say do the people have in the governments rulings and regulations?

The upcoming election may be a watershed event in Singapore political history. We have a strong core of opposition candidates and the use of social media had broken down boundaries and allowed for unfettered exchange of information. The onus is now on the PAP to show that it is the people's champion and fight for our rights (and not just humour us and look the other way once the elections are over). Otherwise, the final electoral boundaries may suddenly display another colour other than the white of the PAP.

Is it too much to ask for a civilized General Election?

2011-04-20T12:53:00.002+08:00

So Nomination Day and Polling Day have been announced and now I wonder what kind of 'dirty tricks' the ruling PAP will have in store for the opposition this time. I am too young to remember the Francis Seow or Tan Liang Hong incidents, but the defamation suits against Chee Soon Juan and the accusations of dishonesty against James Gomez is still pretty fresh in my mind. And now WP's Chen Show Mao is likely to be the next target of their propaganda machine. But here is my plea to the ruling party.

Just once, ONCE, I will like to see an election where there is no mudslinging of candidates (that goes for the opposition too) and threats of defamation suits. Where all opposition candidates can go about their campaigning without fear of reprisals after the election is over (remember, James Gomez was arrested after the 2006 GE). In this day and age, where information is readily available at the tip of our fingers, voters can easily reach their own decisions on what is fair or foul without a 'nudge' from the ruling party. All I want is a fair and open election, covered by a fair press where the candidates strengths and weaknesses are judged by us, the people. Is that too much to ask for?

Saint Seiya: Hades Surplice

2011-04-09T22:09:00.002+08:00

Even since I started collecting the Saint Seiya Myth Cloth series, this is the one figure that I wanted the most. The Holy Grail of Saint Seiya figurines. And now I finally have my hands on it. Beautifully crafted (although the small and easily broken off parts almost made me tear my hair out) and faithful to the manga, it is probably the only SS piece that I want to get another piece of, just so that I can display both Hades and the surplice side by side. It is that good.

The NS Man, His Fullpack and a Maid

2011-03-31T11:58:00.001+08:00

If you do not find anything wrong with the above picture, there is seriously something wrong with you. An army boy, dressed in uniform, walking and apparently playing with his handphone while his maid trudged behind carrying his fullpack. WHERE.IS.HIS.PRIDE. Is this what the current generation of Singaporeans have been reduced to? A maid-dependent society? Let's get one thing straight, I hated every minute of my NS life. But even I am aware that when one wears the uniform, there is a unspoken code of conduct that one must adhere to. And asking your maid to carry your fullpack is definitely not in that code. Gods! You are in the Army! You are supposed to be a man! So start acting like one by carrying your own stuff! Are you afraid you will sprain your shoulders from the strain? For all those who says he may be carrying a shoulder injury, does the guy in the picture even look injured to you? And unless both of his shoulders are injured (a highly unlikely occurrence under any circumstances), you can still sling your bag over the uninjured shoulder and carry on. Sure it may hurt a bit, but I bet it hurts much less than all the online venom that this idiot is getting now.

You know its election time when your MP starts comparing themselves to Jesus

2011-03-30T08:24:00.000+08:00

Pic taken from mrbrown's site

I did a double take when I saw the said article. There are a lot of ways one can comment on the thankless nature of your job, but using the New Testament and Jesus Christ's healing of the 10 lepers is probably NOT on the list. I'm not a Christian so this isn't just the religious fervor in me speaking, but comparing your million dollar job to a deity is hardly going to endear yourself to the masses. What is surprising is that this comment is made by Lim Boon Heng, who with his years of experience should have known better. Sure, it may be a bad use of analogy and many people will justify it as such. But personally, I find it appalling that an experienced (and very well paid) MP can make a statement like this and get away with it.

2011-03-15T11:12:00.001+08:00

Pray for the people of Japan....

Japan Quake: Too Little too Late for Mediacorp

2011-03-14T12:21:00.003+08:00

"We apologize unreservedly if we had been seen to be insensitive to the gravity of the situation. The staff concerned has been counseled to be more circumspect; we hope the public will be forgiving and we can focus our attention and efforts on the affected victims of this most unfortunate tragedy."

This is Mediacorp's reply after that fiasco where the company send out an email to its advertisers informing them to book their ads on their news slots since the Japan quake/tsunami coverage will attract a lot of viewers. It is a sad, opportunistic and demeaning email that was send over the approval of their marketing team, and THIS IS THE BEST APOLOGY THEY CAN COME OUT WITH? You probably hanged a junior staff member out to dry, while conveniently ignoring the fact that such emails have to go out with the approval of the senior management? I can't believe that an email like this was not vetted by management before release. Shouldn't their management be held accountable too? In other countries, the manager in charge of this will probably have been demoted or sacked but cos this this high and mighty Mediacorp, the only action taken is "counseling for the staff concerned?" WTF is this???

Perhaps the staff did send it out without prior management approval, in which case I apologize for the above. But right now, coming from our national broadcaster, this sorry episode is making be ashamed to be called a Singaporean.

Saint Seiya - Aries Mu Gold Saint

2011-02-27T21:17:00.002+08:00

Bought this Aries Mu re-issue from TFH. Yeap, after completing the God Cloth Collection and the soon to be completed Hades Collection, I'm now trying to collect the entire Gold Saints line. Its a bit tough since I'll probably have to pay over the odds or wait for re-issues but oh well, such is the life of a toy collector.

Saint Seiya - Grand Pope Sion

2011-02-21T00:01:00.000+08:00

I've always liked Grand Pope Sion. To me, he was one of the most enigmatic and tragic character in the Saint Seiya universe. While his figurine isn't much to look at, I really like how the 'feel' of how Sion has been captured by Tamashii, with the black, shadow shrouded face and his imperious black robe. Love this one.

Saint Seiya - Phoenix Ikki God Cloth

2011-02-20T14:36:00.003+08:00

Been damn long since I've updated my toy collection. This is the Phoenix Ikki God Cloth I purchased a few weeks ago. My reaction? Meh! The colour is horrible and the design utterly disappointing. It seems like Tamashii really cut a lot of corners for this one. I mean, I expected Ikki's cloth to be golden, not fucking ORANGE! If not for the fact that I need this one to complete my God Cloth collection, I would never have bought it. Maybe I should have waited till the OCE is released for this cloth.........

Black Swan

2011-02-12T22:36:00.003+08:00

I couldn't recommend Black Swan enough. While I've heard good things about it in reviews, I've never expected it to so completely blow me out of the water. Natalie Portman's portrayal of the tortured ballerina Nina is so convincing and so heart-wrenching that it drove me to tears at the end. I have to compared the movie against Inception, in that even after I watched both shows, I do not know which part of the show is real and which part the imagination of the actors. And I was absolutely enthralled at the ending of the movie with Portman's disturbing transformation from the virginal White Swan to the titular Black Swan. A truly heartfelt yet highly disturbing movie by one of my favorite actresses. 5 stars all the way.

CNY Blues

2011-02-06T10:59:00.002+08:00

No, I do not like Chinese New Year. No, not because my relatives nags me to quickly find a girlfriend and get married. They hardly do that nowadays and even if they do, deep down I know that they actually cares a lot (or else my mother put them up to it). No, what I'm annoyed is that we have to plaster on fake smiles and endure relatives and friends(for lack of a better term) who I will rather not have any dealings with. And let me stay that I adore a lot of my relatives, especially my wonderful nieces. However, there are also those whom I don't care two hoots for and it irks me that due to tradition, I need to suppress whatever ambivalence I have and act as a dutiful son so I will not embarrass my family. The only reason why I still put up with this is mainly due to tradition, in that I believe that some traditions need to be respected. And while some people simply cannot be bothered, I shall endeavour to practise the values that CNY is suppose to teach and enjoy the company of those whom I really care about.

I long for the days

2011-01-23T21:44:00.002+08:00

I long for the days when

- Soft drinks comes in bottles and not cans.

- Where kaya toast was charcoal toasted and cost 20 cents each.

- I step out of my flat and the jungle is within walking distance from where I am.

- Where we went to church not to pray but to play with the fire extinguisher.

- Where I can go to my grandma's shophouse and pretend that the attic is haunted.

- Where the actors in the wuxia films really know martial arts and do not use special effects.

And yes, I realized this post makes me sound damn bloody old

Of horrible adverts in our MRTs

2010-09-27T22:26:00.002+08:00

I swear, if I hear another sing-song tune of Dim-Sum Dollies singing 'The train is coming, the train is coming, the train is cominnggggggg!!!!" in the MRT, I'm gonna take a hammer and not stop till I've smashed every TV set and speaker in my immediate vicinity. Sure, it may be amusing when u hear it the first few times, but I was at the MRT for 1/2 hour waiting for my friend and I must have heard that annoying jingle at least 50 times. And just what does Dim Sum Dollies have in common with our public transport anyway? I've questioned a few of my friends and they're as much in the dark about it as I am, although we all agree that it is seriously annoying.

Seriously, SMRT's record for weird adverts takes the cake. Forget about the Dim Sum Dollies. How about the time where Singaporeans were put through the unimaginable torture of listening to Phua Chu Kang rapping everytime we walk into a train station? I've never forget the time I was at Orchard MRT and this ang moh was watching Phua Chu Kang spewing Singlish and turned to me asking me what was it that he had just witnessed. I mumbled that it was some sort of courtesy campaign after which the ang moh gave a sharp guffaw and shakes his head in bemusement. Maybe the reason why Singaporeans are pushing their way into trains is cos we're being driven nuts by those damnable tunes and can't wait to get away from it. Have you ever thought of that SMRT?

iPad

2010-09-08T16:07:00.002+08:00

Yes, I got the damn thing. And I love it. Now I'm wishing I got the 32BG version. And I'm trying to flip the screen of the notebook in my office and wondering why it doesn't move an inch. An iPad does strange things to you.

To iPad or not to iPad

2010-09-01T00:17:00.001+08:00

Oh who am I kidding, probably getting the damn thing soon. Me and my easily swayed mind!

Saint Seiya Sagittarius Aiolos

2010-08-29T00:49:00.003+08:00

Make no mistake, this is probably one the most gorgeous Saint Seiya figure ever. I mean look at the Sagittarius Cloth. I must admit that it outshines even the Hades Judges surplices. Why did I take so long to get this again?

Taurus Aldebaran Gold Saint

2010-08-22T21:49:00.003+08:00

Bought this figure from Takashimaya yesterday while in the throes of my misery. Comfort shopping? I dunno. But this has got to be the easiest Saint Seiya figurine I've ever assembled, given that everything comes in nice big blocks. The final figure is quite imposing.

2010-08-21T21:47:00.000+08:00

Yes, it did left me in a daze when I saw what I saw, and I blamed myself then. After all, it has always been that way with me, so what good will moaning do now? But I can't pretend it didn't hurt, cos it really does hurt.

Mafia 2 Banned in Singapore - Go Fuck yourself MDA

2010-08-19T21:15:00.000+08:00

I've waited for years, YEARS to get Mafia II. Now that it's release date is finally upon us, the limpdicks at MDA decided to ban it for 'pornographic content'??!! And all because there are some collectible Playboy centrefolds in the game? God help me, but I'm fast running out of swear words here. Dumbfucks in the MDA can just go and die. Period.

I do not have a problem if MDA imposes a age limit to buy Mafia II. After all, I am in the firm belief that this game should not be accessible to minors. But to place a blanket ban on the entire game and denying legitimate users a chance a the game is irresponsible and frivolous.

edit: Well, I'll be damned, the ban has been over-turned. Wonders never cease.

I dream of Zerg

2010-08-16T09:19:00.002+08:00

Been playing the hell out of Starcraft II since I bought it a few days back. Yeah, I was pretty late jumping into the bandwagon but I figured I'll wait for the usual Battlenet teething problems to be sorted out first before diving in. So after finally completing the game at 2am this morning, my right hand is seemingly permanently fused into a claw while my left isn't that much better. But give it a few days of rest and I'll try going about trying to improve my 1vs 1 ranking.

Saint Seiya Cynus Hyoga God Cloth

2010-08-07T19:32:00.003+08:00

Finally collected by Saint Seiya Cynus Hyoga yesterday. Had to lug it around the Bugis area when I decided to visit Jessi at her school over at Lasalle after the collection. Anyway, really love the subtle blue tones of the figurine and this is one of the few Saint Seiya figures that didn't give me any problems during assembly. And I have to say that the swan model looks absolutely stunning! Can't wait for December 10 when they finally release Phoenix Ikki God Cloth and I can complete my God Cloth collection.

Inception - Best Movie of the Year so far

2010-07-27T16:22:00.004+08:00

Watched Inception yesterday and damn, it was good. I know some people are a bit confused about the plot but it wasn't that bad for me. And it's been a while since a movie made me think so much. Peter Nolan has really directed up some brilliant stuff here. 5 stars!

BULLS: What would Michael do? Not this!

2010-07-09T09:17:00.001+08:00

BULLS: What would Michael do? Not this!

Read the article and yes, I'm pretty grossed out by LBJ's antics leading up to his free agency decision. I miss the glory days where the real NBA stars like Jordan, Magic, Bird and all conduct themselves with dignity and pride. What LeBron James has done is that he has turned the NBA into his personal circus and it left a bad taste in my mouth. There is no doubt he's a great player and will be a great addition to any team, but until he actually wins a ring, he's nothing compared to past greats like Jordan.

Now on Tumblr

2010-07-05T12:08:00.003+08:00

Well, I've finally jumped on the Tumblr bandwagon. But I think I'll still be keeping this blog active though. Tumblr seems a little bit confusing to me. But we shall see :)

Tumblr site http://teoism.tumblr.com/

2010-07-05T01:00:00.000+08:00

Great, I've caught some drug resistant virus where 8 days of antibiotics only seem to make it madder

T&B 2010 Np Ambassador's Dance Performance

2010-06-27T13:54:00.000+08:00

May the angels sing to you everyday

2010-06-19T23:25:00.002+08:00

I do not know you very well. Actually I didn't think I ever said more than a 'Hi' to you. But in the past few days, I've seen the people who cried for you, who told me about how you have touched their lives. I've heard them sharing fond memories of you and talk about what a wonderful person you were. You have been a light in their lives and even now, that light still burns within them. May you watch over your friends from where you are and bless them. Grant them the hope and courage to carry on with their lives and carry the memories of you in their hearts. To Cherry Foo, may you rest in peace....

World Cup thoughts

2010-06-16T09:27:00.002+08:00

Have been watching some World Cup matches via uhhhh, other sources and I must say it has been pretty disappointing so far, justifying my stance of boycotting Singtel/Starhub's World Cup package. While there are some credible matches, most have been a snoozefest with yesterday's Portugal vs Ivory Coast taking the cake. Maybe its the match ball, the high attitude or those annoying vuvuzelas. Whatever the reason, for the time being, this World Cup is more hype than action. Hope that changes as the tournament progresses.

2AM - I Did Wrong (잘못했어)

2010-06-11T14:25:00.002+08:00

Absolutely love this song and the MV. Actually heard it some time back put didn't know there was a Part 2 for the MV. Now that I saw Part 2, arrh, almost make me tear up even though the story is a bit cliche.

Part 1

Part 2

We Got Married - Ga-In and Jo Kwon

2010-05-28T15:56:00.002+08:00

Seriously, I do not like reality shows. And so I wasn't expecting much when I watched WGM, a make believe wedding show featuring Korean celebrities. I mostly watched the Adam couple episodes, featuring BEG's Ga-In and 2AM's Jo Kwon, since I absolutely love Ga-In and I think Jo Kwon is a great singer. But now, I'm hooked.

I have no idea how much the show of the show is scripted and how much is spontaneous, and I probably never want to know. But the chemistry between the two leads is amazing and their many antics hilarious. I was hooked since I saw Jo Kwon wooing Ga-In in that Nodame Catabile mongoose costume in the first episode. Cuteness TTM! But I guess what draws me is the real sense of love and care that simply oozes between the two leads. Yes, it may be scripted but I don't really care. Watching the show, I can be reminded that two people can fall in love and have a wonderful time together as highlighted in the show. It just draws out the basic feelings of love in us and makes the audience root for the 2 leads to really fall in love in real life despite all the TV cameras and publicity. The producers have really done a brillant job in this regard.

My favourite moments in the show

- Ga-In meeting Jo Kwon (in mongoose costume) for the first time

- The JYP concert where Jo Kwon sang a proposal song to Ga-In

- The episode where the 2AM members tried to trick Ga-In into kissing JK

- The Ski Resort episode

- The episode where Ga-in coated her lips with chocolate lollipop and kissed JK in the cheek cos JK said he wanted chocolate!

Man, I know I seem like some teenage girl but the show has really drawn me in. And of course I couldn't end this without talking about the song, 'We fell in Love', recorded by JK and Ga-In for WGM. I really really love it and hers a fan made video of teh song that really highlights all I love about WGM and the Adam couple.

The End of Comics Mart :(

2010-05-18T14:46:00.004+08:00

It is with great sadness that I read about the closing of the venerable Comics Mart at Serene Centre in the news today. I had been a regular customer of the place for almost 12 years now. However, as I was between comic issues, I did not manage to patronize the store before the closing and wasn't even aware of this until the news appeared in the papers today. Comics Mart was a pioneer in the Singapore comics industry and I have many fond memories of that place. From my old BattleTech Technical Readouts to Witchblade comics, Comics Mart was the to-go place for my comics fix. And more recently, I was buying the Star Wars Legacy series from them. Its a sad sad day indeed when a shop with decades of history has to close down like this. RIP Comics Mart. You will be much missed.

PS: And I HATE those people who, when hearing that the shop has closed down, the first question they asked was 'When's the clearance sale?' Godammit, CM was an institution and the fact that they're closing down is not a good sign for independent comic shops in Singapore and all these selfish people can think of is the 'clearance sale'??? WTF!

After School vs SNSD

2010-05-09T14:00:00.001+08:00

Wow. Probably my 2 favourite Korean girl groups goes head to head in this Dance Battle. And Park Gahee of After School is HOT!!!

World Cup telecast - My Boycott

2010-05-08T16:05:00.002+08:00

Singtel & Starhub has announced the pricing for the 2010 edition of the World Cup. A freaking $71 just to watch 64 matches. I know that most Singaporeans will just curse and swear but still purchase the packages anyway, but not me. I know it doesn't affect the overall scheme of things but I'll be damned if I give FIFA or the telcos any money for this daylight robbery. It a matter of principle and I for one am taking a stand on this. The last straw was Singtel claiming that their exorbitant EPL bid has nothing to do with the price increase. Do they that me for a fool? Its basic economics. Singtel overbid for the EPL and FIFA saw the demand for football in Singapore, hence increasing the price of the package. Singtel/Starhub can't afford not to bid cos it will result in a lot of pissed-off consumers. So they bid and passed off the price increase to us, the customers. Well, not this customer. Sure, its the World Cup, but I refuse to give those money grubbers a single cent more of my money and that's that!

2010-04-30T16:47:00.003+08:00

So it happened again. They say that setbacks makes you stronger but I really don't know why I even bother anymore. Not matter how much I try to rein in my hopes, inevitably, some cause for optimism always arises and just as inevitably, something will send my dreams crashing back down again. I don't know how much more of this I can take......

2010-04-22T12:17:00.002+08:00

Can't wait for the week to end. This has not been a good week, not at all. Oh no.

Of Dragons, Napoleon and fainting livestock

2010-04-12T13:00:00.001+08:00

I've recently just finished the first 5 books of Naomi Novik's Temeraire series, and I must say, I have never regretted spending my money on it. All thanks to the guys over at Penny Arcade for recommending this series, because reading it has simply be a magical experience.

The Temeraire series delves into a world of fantasy and alternative history. Basically, it takes place during the Napoleonic Wars where the British troops are fighting against Napoleon's French army. The twist is that both sides has a force of aviators. And they are not riding planes, but dragons. Yes, dragons. And no, this are not wild, stupid, fire breathing types (although they exist in the series too), but creatures that can argue philosophy (yes, they talk!), ponder over mathematics and sit for China's Imperial exams. Oh yes, they fight too.

What I love about Novik's series, which tells the tales of Captain William Laurence and his dragon Temerarie, is the intense relationship between man and dragon. Laurence is a honor bound, British gentlemen forced to adopt to the crude mannerism of the Aerial Corps, while his dragon Temeraire is is precocious creature, highly intelligent but ignorant on the ways of the world and most of all to the ways of man. The banter between man and dragon is both funny and heartwarming and in the later part of the series, filled with a melancholic tinge of innocence lost. Novik has also researched in depth into the history of the world during that period, as it is filled with real life persons including Napoleon, Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and even the cultures of China and Africa. Of course, she has to take some creative licenses with the characters given that it is a fantasy title, but I dare say that it has become even more interesting as a result, with historical African chiefs Moshwesshwe and Mokhachane being retconned as reincarnated dragons. I also admired how Novik explores the growth of each character, from the loosening of Laurence's stiff formality and disdain for the Aerial Corps, to Temerarie's coming of age as a highly intelligent and naturally inquisitiveness that often lands him into trouble more often than not.

I could go on and on raving about this series, but I won't. Suffice to to say that it told a well worn genre (there must be hundreds if not thousands of books on dragon-riders), and turned it on its head with some brilliant writing. Read it if you can. You won't regret it.

PS. I love how the author writes about the livestock 'fainting' with terror when they are about to be eaten. No, I don't know why I like it either :)

Reading again! :D

2010-04-09T11:34:00.002+08:00

After applying for and receiving my POSB Everyday credit card, I can finally purchase from the Sony ebookstore using my VPost address. And I went absolutely nuts with it. Firstly I bought Star Wars: Backlash and finished the book in a day. Then the guys over at Penny Arcade had to recommend the Temeraire series in their site and I so I hopped on the web to sift through some reviews of the series, found that it was ranked favourably by readers and thus bought the whole series together with Neil Gaiman's Coraline. Total cost? Around USD$55 for all the books. My god, I'm so screwed now that book buying is now so convenient with my PRS-300 reader and access to the Sony Store. I won't be able to stop my ravenous need to read now.

Saint Seiya Dragon Shiryu God Cloth

2010-04-02T17:07:00.005+08:00

I love Bandai's Saint Seiya figurines, I really do. Their attention to detail is wonderful and really brings to life the characters from the manga series. But that accuracy comes at a price, namely overly complicated and loose parts. Assembling this figure was a nightmare as some shoddy workmanship (for my figurine at least) means that Shiryu's dragon tail was unable to be fitted in place for both Dragon and Armour versions. Worse was to happen when the tail broke apart at my clumsy handling and dropped under my display cupboard, and it took some heavy lifting to finally recover all the scattered parts. Suffice to say, setting up this figurine was not the most enjoyable of experiences. But I digress. Here is Dragon Shiryu, after his cloth has evolved in a God Cloth with the blood of Athena. For all my complaints previously, it looks magnificent.

Why I (we) game

2010-04-01T14:18:00.010+08:00

Amon Cousland-Ferelden worships the ground he walks on

I've hear it countless times. 'PC, you how old already still game so much, grow up can!' But in asking me to give up gaming, you might as well ask me to stop sleeping or eating, as it simply cannot be done.

Before I say anything else, let me say I'm not addicted. Not yet anyway. Yes, I game almost everyday and some of these are marathon sessions of 5-6 hours each. But I still know where my priorities lie. I have never, and will never sacrifice time with friends for gaming. My friends are an important part of my life and the day I place my gaming needs over that of my friends is the day I check myself into IMH for gaming addiction.

So why do we, or more specifically, I game? Several reasons actually. For me, sometimes its just stress relief. I remember coming home after a particularly stressful work day and just firing up Unreal Tournament and go mano-a-mano with other players. It was therapeutic bloodletting at its finest. Then came games like Modern Warfare (the 1st one) and of course Left 4 Dead. Somehow, for me at least, these games allow me to engage in my more primal and baser instinct.

Unreal Tournament-Stress Relieve Shooter

Also, games are an excellent form of escapism for me. In real life, I'm a slim built Asian guy, working in the finance line, have a stable income blah blah blah. In the world of Ferelden in Dragon Age, I'm Amon Cousland, Slayer of Darkspawn, Killer of Archdemons, Unifier of Kingdoms and.....well, you get the idea. Games allows us to transcend our physical selves and bring us to a place where our fantasies become reality. I don't know about you, but real life can be such a deary existence sometimes. Gaming transport the player into another place, a place where your actions can and will make a difference. A place where you feel important. A place were you are, or soon will become over the course of the game, the goddamn most powerful person to walk the earth. A blow from your sword can cleave heads from shoulders, a shot can vaporize a fleeing enemy. The power of the elements are at your fingertips. Yes, I'm talking about power. Games makes one feel so powerful, its like a freaking drug.

Games allow me to do things I don't dare to do in real life. Remember those awesome car chases in Need For Speed: Most Wanted, where you can have dozens of cop cars chasing you when your wanted status was high enough? Or the free roaming nature of the Grand Theft Auto series, where I hijack cars for fun, run over pedestrians and generally just shoot anybody I don't like? Or how about Just Cause 2, a game where u have so many creative ways to blow stuff up/kill people that it borders on the insane? Me, I'm waiting for the release of Mafia II. Tommy guns and car chases in 1940s automobiles for the win!

Need for Speed-Most Wanted - Police & Thieves at its finest

And finally, underneath all that, there's often a pretty good storyline. OK, the storyline in games won't win the Nobel Prize for Literature. In fact, most of the stories are pretty cookie cutter stuff, like the evil lord wants to take over the world, and you just happened to be the only one who can stop him, while helping a lot of other people do stuff while going about it at your own sweet time story. But sometimes, there are genuinely good stories hidden underneath all the loot collecting and monster slaying. Psychonauts has a genuinely funny storyline that sometimes makes me wonder what Tim Schafer was smoking when he developed it. The Path left me feeling quite disturbed with its child abuse metaphors. Knights of the Old Republic was Bioware's pièce de résistance entry into the Star Wars universe. Then there are games like Grim Fandango, Baldur's Gate and hordes more. Not all games tell good stories, but the really good ones, those stay in your mind forever.

Pet Peeves: The Boss

2010-03-23T20:15:00.000+08:00

Hello, I don't mind coming back to work on a weekend or even a public holiday. Its my job and if required, I'll just grin and bear with it. It's not as if we haven't done this before either. BUT IT MUST BE JUSTIFIABLE. Just because we do it the past few years doesn't mean we have to carry on with the practice this year if there is no need to. I'm not going to come back just so you can boast to your boss about how hardworking your team is to come back to work on a public holiday. Clear backlog? What backlog? I have work backlog every day. Does that mean I have to come back on all the other public holidays and weekends too, just to clear my backlog? Fucking ridiculous. I have half a mind to strangle you and fuck the consequences too. For once in your life, stop being so task oriented and start thinking about the welfare of your staff.

Telephone by Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce

2010-03-12T14:02:00.003+08:00

Oh my god. This is awesome stuff. Its crazy, hot, funny and strangely alluring at the same time. Lady Gaga has really outdid herself this time with this MV. The jail scene is HOT!

The Jack Neo Saga

2010-03-09T09:11:00.004+08:00

Well, since everybody is talking about our version of Tiger Woods nowadays. But I think my friend Shyue says it best with his Facebook post. "

"You know the world is screwed up when a Singapore Minister asks the public to rally behind an adulterer, no matter how famous that person is."

Ironic for a country that prides itself on family values isn't it.

Macross Frontier VF-27 Lucifer Valkyrie Brera Sterne Custom

2010-03-07T21:34:00.003+08:00

Finally! I bought a toy! Actually I pre-order this VF-27 almost 7 months ago and it finally arrived at TFH last week. But I only have time to play with it today due to my schedule. The Lucifer is probably the one Frontier Valkyrie that I most look forward to and although it cost a pretty penny, it sure look wonderful. But this is the last Macross mech that I'll ever buy again, unless something amazing comes up. They are just too damn expensive and everytime I get a new model, I have to readjust my displays to make way for it. Too troublesome.

Fighter mode

Gerwalk mode

Battroid Mode

So we expect kids to decide on their career at 12 years old now?

2010-02-28T21:50:00.000+08:00

Recently, some friends and I were having an animated discussion over Facebook regarding an article we saw on Channel Newsasia (link below). Basically, it is about the Ministry of Education launching an interactive web-based Education and Career Guidance (ECG) portal for primary schools students. In the article, an 11 year old was quoted saying "I'm able to find out the working environment and people I'll be working with and also the salary that I will get if I get into this career." My friend was flabbergasted at this and pointed out the fact that an 11 year old should be enjoying his childhood and not worrying about his career opportunity that is still 10 years away. Her FB friend chimed in and commented that the portal "should be looked upon as an informational tool available for youngsters who would like to find out more about the possible career paths". Pretty soon, comments were flying thick and fast as a few of us weighted in on the issue and basically neglecting our work :P.

My take? While the website is undoubtedly useful, I have to wonder if a 11 year old really knows what what he wants in his future. Such information may only be leading them down a rigid path over the next decade without much flexibility in terms of study options or career choices. After all, how many of us relay knew what we want at 11 years of age? I remembered wanting to be a lawyer, or join the army (in my defence, I was young then), or become a pop star (!!!). Or as someone commented, "When I was that age, my ambition was to be Miss Universe, or a princess. Is that option in the portal?" Fact is, we may be creating unnecessary pressure on our kids to excel in a particular career path at too young an age. Or provide parents with another 'weapon' to pressure the kids into more and more curriculum just so that their sons and daughters can enter that dream career. After all, which parent doesn't want their children to grow up to be a doctor or lawyer? But reality sucks, and the reality is that most of the kids won't be able to pursue a career they (if they can even decide at that age anyway) or their parents wants. So even if at 11 years old you know what you want for a future career, what then? With this portal, You work tirelessly and endlessly towards a goal 10 years away and then after graduating from medical school, realise that being a doctor isn't like those guys on Grey's Anatomy (no disrespect to the profession though, I have a lot of doctor friends and they are awesome peeps). If everything goes fine, great. But what if you failed your exams? Or didn't get into a good school? Or fell at the final hurdle by not qualifying for medical school? What then? What I'm worried is the portal giving kids a tunnel vision in their career choices that prevents them from seeking other options. Or for importantly, preventing them from enjoying their childhood. That will be a tragedy.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1039650/1/.html

2010-02-23T14:07:00.003+08:00

I have really been neglecting this blog haven't I. But really have been so busy nowadays that the last thing on my mind is blogging after a hard day's work. Also, I think my writing juices have stopped flowing D:

How a single video brightened up my lousy week

2010-02-12T15:03:00.003+08:00

So I just reached home on Wednesday night after overtime and with a brain fried by too much number crunching. Then I saw this. OMGEEE guys, that is the most disturbing thing I ever saw, but you fellas sure brightened up my week ;)

L4D2, the mother of all destressors

2010-02-08T22:06:00.005+08:00

In a few more days, my life will go to hell as I know it so with today being an off day for me after the MOB briefing, me and Ray decided to drop by the SAFRA town club for a spot of L4D2. And oh boy, killing zombies have never been so therapeutic. First we played the Carnival map and I basically went crazy with the weapons, running ahead and spraying bullets into anything that moves within my line of sight. I whooped with joy when I got my katana and immediately proceed to run forward and attacked a charger with it. And yes, I died but it was spectacular :D And right at the end of the mission, just when I was boarding the helicopter to escape the map, a charger threw a huge slab of concrete that hit me dead on and killed me. After which the ending credits rolled 'IN MEMORY OF TEOISM'. I laughed. Loudly.

And next up is the Pariah map. And that's when I got a very nice taste of the chainsaw. Grabbing it, I basically ignored Ray and ran right into the mob with chainsaw held high and mowed through them like a scythe through wheat. It was liberating but unfortunately the fuel ran out and I had to switch back to guns again. Spoilsport. And Ray was attacked by a Charger that took out half his life and cornered him. Rushing forward to help result in a backhand punch that left me on the ground between the Charger's leg's busy emptying clips of ammunition into the damn brute's groin area. Hilarious. Anyway that map ended with me leading in infected kills and melee kills so I ain't complaining too much.

Well, going back to work tomorrow. Hell may start soon but at least for today, I managed to keep it at bay for just a little while longer.

Hell

2010-02-04T10:40:00.003+08:00

I think I died and went to hell. Can things get any worst.............All the workplace and personal issues are just piling up and I don't really have the mood and time to tackle them all......

2010-01-24T20:11:00.002+08:00

There were quite a few subjects that I wanted to talk about, but in the end, I'll just mentioned something that has me really riled up closer to home, or more accurately, across the causeway.

Former Malaysia Premier Dr Mahathir recently made a crazy/incredulous/insensitive claim that if America has the technology to make a film like Avatar, then it is very likely that the US had planned and carried out the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre themselves!

Wow. I mean, the first thought when I read this is that the old man must have lost his marbles. I mean, how does one link a film like Avatar to the 9/11 attacks? My initial reaction soon turned to concern however. Not only were his comments uncalled for, they were disrespectful to the thousands who died in that tragic attack and hurtful to the survivors and brave rescuers. Millions of TV viewers (myself included), watched the 2nd plane ram into the WTO with horrified silence and to this day, I still replay that devastating scene in my head. Having a firebrand like Dr. M right at our doorstep stoking up controversy is something that we could do without. I mean, he has already say that Americans are the one that planned and executed 9/11, and that not killing off the Jews during the Holocaust was a 'mistake'. So what else is he going to say next? That Malaysia should invade Singapore? That they should try to enforce Islamic law across the whole ASEAN region? The fact is that I wouldn't be surprised at what will come froth from that man's mouth anymore. However, I have no doubt that his next speech will also leave a very bad taste in my mouth. And leave me wondering (again) how he managed Malaysia during all his years as a Prime Minister.

2010-01-17T20:14:00.003+08:00

Was damn busy over the last few weeks, with Open House and JAE scheduled back to back. Normally, it would have been none of my business but with me being a voluntary course counsellor, it gets a bit hectic. Not to mention the number of Red Campers that contacted me to ask about the courses, and after their 'O' level result, contacting me for advice on their JAE.

Often I wish I could do more for those campers. It always hurts for me to tell some of them that they are unable to get into their dream course just because they missed the COP by 3-4 points. Worst is when I am confronted with those who failed their Maths. They approach me thinking I could offer them some shred of hope but all I can do is advise them on their realistic targets (which obviously isn't what they want to hear). Seeing their teary expressions is heart-rending and I always wonder if I could have softened the blow somewhat. I've heard some cynics laugh and said that the students deserve their poor results because they didn't study hard enough but who are we to judge? Everybody makes mistakes in their lives and rubbing it in when they are at their most venerable is not going to help anyone. That's what years of counselling have taught me and that is why I told the kids never to give up on themselves. There are always second chances. They just have to believe in themselves. And sometimes, they just need a little help.

And so 3 years have come and gone.....

2010-01-10T19:32:00.003+08:00

9 Jan 2010. The last day of Open House. And also the final duty of the year 3 ambassadors. Seriously, I wanted to cry during the final day debriefing. I've worked with this graduating batch of ambassadors since they were Year 1s. I still remember Violet and Siti running up to me and introducing themselves for the first time. Chai Hong's silly yet funny antics over 3 years. Davis's Adam Khoo's impersonation. Miranda's ah lian attitude :P, even though we all know she doesn't mean it. Thomasina's antics. Chery Choy's optimism and drive. And so many other memories that it will take me forever to record them all down. 3 years. I've seen them grown up, guided them (hopefully) as best as I could and became close with so many of them. And while I know the future of the ambassadors are in good hands, I still can't get over the fact that in a few more months, they'll be graduating and I'll probably never see some of them ever again. I know that this isn't enough for all that you people have done. But from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you all.

NYE Siloso Beach Molest Video

2010-01-06T12:55:00.002+08:00

Netizens have been up in arms over a video taken during the New Year's Eve Countdown at Siloso Beach, which shows 4 Indian men openly molesting a bikini-clad woman on a dance stage, in full view of thousands of partygoers. (The video has since been removed from Youtube, so don't bother searching for it).

And yet no one raised a finger to help the woman.

I've seen the netizens comments on this matter. 'The girl deserves it for dressing so skimpily', 'She's drunk', 'Where are her friends who were supposed to help her?' and so on. I mean, give the lady a break. No matter how she's dressed or her level of intoxication, no one deserves to go through what she had to go through that night. What if the lady was your girlfriend or daughter? Will you be so dismissive of the incident then? I'm not trying to pass judgement on anybody, but the people who were snapping away at the incident with their cameras and videocams should be disgusted with themselves. I do not know how they can stand there and actually film the scene happening right in front of their eyes. Not helping the victim is one thing, but actually filming the incident? Man, that takes some cold-heartedness. What is our society coming to?

Happy 2010!

2010-01-01T01:51:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year everyone! :)

2009 is over soon, hope 2010 is better

2009-12-31T23:12:00.002+08:00

Well, I can't really say 2009 has been a fantastic year for me. There were too many cases of self-doubt and unhappy incidents that have plagued me to enable to look back on the year with much fondness. But that may just be the pessimist in me speaking. But I really really hope that 2010 will be a breakthrough year for me in all the various aspects of my life. Here's to a new and hopefully new start for the new year ahead. Wish me luck!

Spartan's Outing on 19th Dec!

2009-12-27T17:49:00.006+08:00

A bit late in posting this but oh well. I think I probably like going out with the SLs and my Spartans rather than with my normal friends. After all, with them, I can do all sorts of crazy stuff and activities that will have my older friends tsking at me and calling me 'unrefined'. And everytime I have to explain to them that's the beauty of being with young people, but they just don't understand anymore. I wish I'll never get to the stage where I become so jaded that I can't find any joy in hanging out with the students anymore.

Anyway, the outing didn't exactly start on a good note since the rain threaten to wash all our plan awry, but it just feels good to be able to catch up with the SLs and campers again. And once the rain cleared, it was great fun attempt kite flying (epic fail!), playing captain's ball and just general camwhoring. And there was that wonderful purple sky which had all of us oohhing and arhhing at the Padang during evening time. And then dinner at the Esplanade rooftop was so awesome, where everyone was gathering in a more intimate setting and we could talk and crack jokes like we were all old friends. And of course there is that little sub plot with Lynn. Too bad it didn't work out but hey, kudos to the girl for trying. You never know what you may have accomplish until you try it (I need to keep telling myself that) and I'm sure she had no regrets at how it turned out. I wish OH will come quickly so I can see all of them again :)

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T22:50:00.004+08:00

Well, I'm still not really in the Christmas mood. Maybe I'm jaded but Christmas doesn't seem to have the same allure that it once had. Going to town gives me a headache cos I can't stand the crowds and even the decorations seem somehow muted to me.But I got something for myself to help ease my boredom.

Walked past the M1 shop @ Plaza Singapura and was 'persuaded' by Kenny and the rest to queue up and get finally buy an iPhone. Cost a bomb but I love it! All I want for Christmas is a new iPhone :D

The things that I can't say

2009-12-13T21:56:00.002+08:00

Sometimes you see and hear things that make you look back at the past, that makes you wonder how things will be different if only you took another road. Sometimes seeing all my friends so happy only makes me look back at what I have lost and makes me wonder what I can look forward to in the future. Everybody is now going their own way, and I can't blame any of them. Its just that things used to be so much simpler then, so much more carefree. Sometimes I don't know what to think anymore........

With parents like these.....

2009-12-06T22:30:00.004+08:00

An article in today's New Paper http://www.tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,223064,00.html?

I was left dumbfounded and angry when I read this article. A 15 year old H1N1 sufferer was left to fend for herself after her parents moved out of their flat for fear of catching the virus. According to the report, the parents were afraid that at their age, they may suffer complications if they are infected with H1N1. I do not care what their reasoning is. In my opinion, they are not fit to be parents. In a time where their daughter needs their care and support, they abandoned her to her own fate. I accept that at their age, it is harder to recover from a serious illness, but at the very least, they should have send regular meals to the daughter. But no! The poor girl had to fend for herself by preparing her own instant noodles and porridge. Some readers may feel that I am too harsh, but I feel that as a parent, you have a responsibility to take care of and protect your children. Seeing that such cases can happen in cosmopolitan Singapore really makes my blood boil.

Amazing Sand Drawing - Very Touching.....

2009-11-30T18:14:00.003+08:00

This performance.... no words can describe it. I have never seen anything like it and it simply took my breath away. From Kseniya Simonova, a Ukrainian artist who just won Ukraine's version of "America's Got Talent." She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting" skills to interpret Germany's invasion and occupation of Ukraine during WWII. Its.....just amazing.

Amazing Sand Drawing @ Yahoo! Video

RED Camp 6 - In pictures!

2009-11-22T23:11:00.007+08:00

We are the Spartans and Yes, we are so HOT!

My Spartan Babies :D

The only sub tribe that will talk to me haha

Mannan become a cleaner for the evening

Valerie, Cris and Khalisah

@ Adventure Park

CCH demonstrating the awesomeness of the Loft's fridge

My crazy SLs

We broke not one but TWO Guinness Records

And I just wanted to say, Spartans, you guys are awesome!

Red Camp 6! I love my Spartans!

2009-11-20T19:00:00.003+08:00

Haha, what more else can I say. Yes, it was damn tiring and as of now, I can't really feel my feet, my voice is gone, and my hearing is shot. But it was all worth it seeing the Red Campers, especially my Spartans so happy. Sure, there were things I could have done better (especially when I went into panic mode last night, should have done much, much better! Angry with myself), but I believe that everyone has done their best to make the event a success. So thanks everybody for all the hard work and dedication that you guys have put in.

And my special thanks goes to:

Shar and Shanya: My wonderful CSLs. I couldn't have asked for better leaders :)

Cheng Chai Hong! : haha, really glad you came back to help.

Miranda and all the rest of my Year 3s: Thanks for 3 years of fun. Guess its our last Red Camp liao.

Thoma and Cheryl: Awesome job you 2 ladies did. Well done!

And of course, CM, Zaid, Adrian, Liana and all the rest of the organizers! Thanks for wanting me back this year!

Is this even newsworthy?

2009-11-15T12:24:00.003+08:00

It was with some amusement that I read the article 'Too hot for comfort' in the Sunday Times today. Basically, the article queries whether the wearing of hot pants by women in Singapore is considered 'too short for decency'. My first reaction was 'duh, an article like this in this day and age? Our reporters must be really short of ideas to come out with something like this.' I mean, the topic may still be relevant in the 80s when Singaporeans were more conservative but with our more cosmopolitan outlook today, the topic has became a moot point. Adding to the hilarity is that the one person they interviewed who is against the use of hot pants is a 53 year old housewife who called it 'sluttish'. Umm, no disrespect meant to the lady, but your opinion is hardly the norm, since we can see thousand of girls wearing them in Orchard Road on any given day. My point on this matter is I find it incredulous that the Sunday Times will even consider releasing an article like this, criticising a fashion statement that has been the norm of our young ladies for many years now and is so prevalent that one can find it even in our libraries and universities. No one is going to take this news piece seriously and to me it only serves to reinforce how behind times the editors of our major newspaper are.

Red Camp 6!

2009-11-10T11:17:00.001+08:00

One more week to Red Camp 6! And I'm still too busy playing Dragon Age to blog :P

DRAGON AGE ROCKS!

2009-11-05T14:50:00.001+08:00

I am playing Dragon Age: Origins now and omgf, it is an awesome game. Welcome back Bioware!

Electronic Arts 1 - Activision 0

2009-10-24T12:39:00.006+08:00

In the lead up to perhaps the 2 most anticipated games of 2009, we're greeted with the strange sensation of heaping praise on Electronic Arts (EA) and Bioware for the build up to Dragon Age Origins, while dumping scorn on Activision and Infinity Ward for the PR disaster that is COD: Modern Warfare 2 (well, for PC gamers anyway, console gamers are probably laughing their socks off at us). And to think that a few months back, the situations were reversed for the two publishing giants.

Back then, EA was ravaged by the PC community for the delay in Dragon Age. Many believed that the move was to allow for a simultaneous release across all the gaming platforms and also to prevent online piracy from affecting sales. PC gamers were up in arms, questioning why they have to wait an additional 7 months for a game that has already been completed. Meanwhile, Activision was showing off awesome footage of Modern Warfare 2 and generally wowing everyone that came into contact with the game.

Then we fast forward to Oct 2009 and suddenly the tables have turned. EA continued running a smart marketing campaign for Dragon Age, with cool CG trailers, an early release of the character creation kit, and an awesome Flash based game called Dragon Age Journeys. All this served to build up excitement for the game and as one fellow forumer claimed on the GameAxis forums, he had 'never seen a game thread go so many pages long when the game has not even been released yet!'.

And what did Activision and Infinity Ward do? They announced, 2 weeks before Modern Warfare is scheduled to be released, that the game will not support dedicated servers and mods. Now, I will not go into details what this all means to the non-gamers and console fanboys, suffice to say that a petition condemning this idiocy has garnered almost 130,000 signatures. That's potentially USD $7.8 million in lost sales. There has been many reasons put forward to explain this unprecedented outrage by PC gamers, but I think the main reason is that we all feel betrayed. PC gamers and modders helped made the Call of Duty brand famous, and this popularity helped launched the game to consoles. And with their success assured, Activison/Infinity Ward then turned around and showed us the middle finger. To say we're pissed is an understatement.

So there, come Nov 2009. I'll be getting Dragon Age: Origins for the PC. Modern Warfare 2 can go kiss my ass.

Dragon Age Origins

2009-10-21T21:20:00.003+08:00

I have never wanted a game so bad in my entire life. The wait is excruciating.

EPL: A good night for Man Utd

2009-10-17T23:59:00.002+08:00

Well, it was a good night for the red half of Manchester when both Chelsea and Liverpool lost, 1-2 to Aston Villa and 0-1 to Sunderlund respectively. But United almost made a mess of it when they allowed Bolton to come back from 2 goals down before finally holding out for a 2-1 win. And they had the back from injury Van De Sar to thank when he saved a Cahill shot at the last minute of stoppage time. It look all so promising earlier when they totally dominated an overmatched Bolton team, with a Bolton own goal and a 1st United for Antonio Valencia. Passing with aplomb and running the Bolton team ragged, United was looking to stroll through the match till the Bolton goal. After which the Bolton team looked rejuvenated and pressed United relentlessly for an equalizer. Thank heavens than United were able to hold on for the win. Liverpool is next and here's hoping Lady Luck fortunes us for that match!

Sick

2009-10-11T00:04:00.002+08:00

Have been pretty sick lately. Was down with the flu for the past week and it just doesn't seem to clear up. First it was sore throat and then now a hacking cough has developed. And my nose is practically a fountain of mucus now. Wish that I can get well soon. (=.=)

Pet Peeves: The beginning of the end for Starhub?

2009-10-02T21:38:00.004+08:00

The big news of the week for sports fans is of course the news that Singtel has acquired the rights to screen the English Premier League (EPL) 2010-2013 seasons, beating incumbent Starhub in the process. It is not pleasant news for a lot of us, as me and my friends were swearing and cursing when the news was announced. Why? Simply because I have to sign up for Singtel's Mio TV next year if I want to watch the EPL, incurring extra setup cost and additional clutter with Singtel's setup boxes. And what about my current Starhub cable TV plan? While I hardly watch anything other than the sports channels, my parents do watch the other programs and it doesn't seem right for me to just cancel my subscription just to cater to my football whims. But I can't afford having two cable channels, so what the hell am I to do now? I thought competition is supposed to benefit us consumers, but this fiasco has given us football fans nothing but headaches. I'm seriously pissed off at Starhub, Singtel and also the MDA in this matter, and for the following reasons

- Why must Singtel be so greedy as to jump into the cable TV pie? Is it really that lucrative? It doesn't seems like it since all reports I've seen have shown that Singtel is bleeding money in this endeavour.

- Why did'nt MDA step in a few years back and force Starhub to share the EPL content with Singtel? They should have anticipated something like this happening. Now it is us consumers who have to suffer for their ignorance.

- And why is Starhub so cheapskate that they can actually lose the EPL bid. And to top it off, lose the ESPN Star Sports channel as well. That means no EPL, FA Cup, F1 Racing and more. They should have known the consequences of losing the bid and the mass defections that will invariably occur. It is wishful thinking on Starhub's part to expect us sports fans to stay loyal after having the heart of its sports package torn out.

- And finally, I HATE being held hostage over my love for football. I remember a time when football was free-to-air and anyone can enjoy it in the comfort of their homes. Now, capitalism has raised its ugly head and us fans are just powerless pawns in the power struggles between 2 media Goliaths. Way to go Singtel and Starhub. Just drop dead already.

Very Unlucky Day

2009-09-25T23:17:00.002+08:00

An incredibly unlucky day it was for me today. First, my credit card company called me this morning with information that someone is authorising fraudulent transactions using MY credit card. Luckily the bank sensed something fishy about the whole matter (don't ask me how they knew), and blocked the credit card transactions before it got out of hand. That still leaves me with almost a thousand dollars worth of unauthorized online transactions. It took me a whole morning of talking to various bank officers and going through my account statements before I finally (hopefully) resolved this matter. I'm now praying that I'm not liable for those transactions. Hopefully, the bank can complete their investigations soon and get back to me on how my account was compromised. It has not been a pleasant experience and I'm not keen to have something like that happening again.

And then I was bitten on the hand by a dog later in the afternoon. Wow, when bad things happen to me, they sure come in spades.

My Best Birthday Present Ever Man Utd (4) - Man City (3)

2009-09-21T00:45:00.002+08:00

And to think I thought that the game was going to end in a draw and I switched off the TV in disgust, only to have the roar from my neighbours leaving me scrambling for my remote. So I missed the last goal, but I don't really care because all that matters is that we won. I never though I will see the day a former Liverpool striker score the winner in a Manchester derby. Miracles do happen :).

My Sony PRS-300 E-reader

2009-09-18T21:35:00.005+08:00

My Sony E-Reader, the PRS-300 finally arrived via UPS today. Also known as the Sony Pocket Reader, it is something that I have been eying for quite some time. And with the recent Digital Times articles providing me with a wealth of information, I decided to take the plunge and purchase the e-reader from B&H in New York and have them ship it via UPS over to Singapore.

And the above is my brand new reader. I must admit that the silver is not really very striking and have a small feeling of regret at not getting the red version. However, the entire layout is quite clean and it is very light, so I can conceivably hold it with one hand for long periods of time. The 5-inch screen is also not much of an issue as I originally feared, as I found I could still easily read from the screen despite its relatively small size.

The problems came up when I attempted to install the firmware and Sony e-Library in my PC. The damn Sony Library simply refused to let me authorize my Reader to my PC and it took me almost 2 hours to figure out a workaround. I find it ironic that Sony, with its vast resources, couldn't even maintain their e-library properly while another e-book resource that I'm using, Calibre, an open-source software, updated and connected to my e-reader without a hitch.

Finally, I got my e-reader working and uploaded some books to it. But fate was not kind to me as it seems that one of my files was corrupted and it caused the entire reader to freeze when I tried to open it. I didn't know it was the cause at the time and panicked, thinking that the reader has broke down. After some time, I noticed the little 'reset' button on the reader and used it, and thank goodness, my reader managed to start up. I immediately deleted the offending file from my reader and it has worked smoothly after that (hope I don't jinx it).

* Will post my final thoughts of this reader in around a month's time, after I have made more extensive use of it.

Federer-The best point in US Open tennis history

2009-09-15T10:30:00.000+08:00

At 0:12 on the video. What the hell was that! An amazing shot by an amazing player. After being beaten by a shot like that, Djokovic has to put up his hand and say that the better man won. Good luck in the finals Roger!

*Edit: Roger Federer has lost the US Open Finals. Disappointing, but his opponent played a great game too. Wonder if we will see the start of a downward spiral for Federer, after all, he is playing against opponents 8 years younger than he is. Or will he take this as a challenge and aspire to greater heights? Time will tell..........

Manchester United (3) - Tottenham Hotspurs (1)

2009-09-13T02:22:00.004+08:00

Stayed up late to watch the Tottenham vs Man Utd match and man, did it start badly, with Defoe scoring within 2 minutes of kick-off. It was not the most auspicious start but United came charging back with an exquisite free kick by Ryan Giggs after a fake run-up by Rooney distracted the wall into giving Giggs the shooting space. And then the impossible happened, Anderson scored! I couldn't believe it myself but Anderson finally broke his scoring duck with a low shot from the edge of the area after the ball fell to him following a Giggs corner in the 41st min.

However in the 2nd half, a moment of madness by Scholes left United a man down. First, Scholes got a yellow card for an ill-timed tackle and then minutes later, a crazy challenge by him on Huddlestone saw the Tottenham player clutching his face and our ginger haired friend sent off. Paul Scholes, you are a great player and I love your loyalty to the club, but everybody know you can't tackle so why the hell did you do something so stupid? (Edit: OK, I watched the replay and it seems that perhaps I'm too harsh on Scholes. True, he was late in the tackle but he didn't actually hit Huddlestone on the face. Seems like there was some playacting on the part of the Spurs player) Luckily the sending off didn't seem to affect United despite Spurs valiantly trying to get something from the game. Rooney then made the game safe with a great effort, shrugging off 2 defenders before finishing with aplomb. So in the end Manchester United beat Tottenham Hotspurs 3-1. The Manchester derby is next and oh boy, after watching City slaughter Arsenal today, I can't really say I'm looking forward to that match. Prove me wrong boys!

Cats.....

2009-09-09T20:09:00.002+08:00

Recently, I came up with a way to relax myself after a hard day's work. Everyday after work, I will take a walk around my void deck area and pet the cats that are gathered there. Most of them run away when they see a human being approaching, but one or two will invariably stay and allow me to stroke, scratch and carry them around. There has been some 'incidents', for example when one of the cats playfully nipped me in the thumb when I wasn't looking, but by and by, it has been pretty therapeutic ;).

And today, I witness the most heartwarming scene. A group of 3 young children, who cannot be more than 10 years old, walking around the void deck and feeding the stray cats. Since of my experience with children and cats mostly involve the former chasing the latter, it is truly a wonderful sight to behold. I really must commend the parents of these children on allowing their kids to perform such duties. Most parents I know (mine included), will scream bloody murder at the though of their precious babies being near strays. Hopefully, from such small beginnings, these kids can set an example to their peers and provide the stray felines with a more friendly environment to prowl in.

Woman Beats Man (winces whenever I see this)

2009-09-06T23:22:00.004+08:00

Seriously, I wince whenever I see this clip. I have no idea what the guy did, but to stand passively while being beaten in the crotch by a woman in public? Where is the pride? And to top it off, the car number 'SCU148L' is clearly visible. Sure hope the car doesn't belong to you buddy, else you're going to have drivers speeding pass and grinning knowingly while you look for a paper bag to cover your face.

Manchester United vs Arsenal

2009-08-30T02:17:00.001+08:00

Whew! And there I was silently screaming "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, WTF, NOOOOOOOOO!" and then the linesman decided to spare me further agony by waving off the second Arsenal 'goal' as offside. So YES! We won 2-1!!!! :D

VF-25S Armoured Messiah Ozma Custom

2009-08-22T19:14:00.004+08:00

Latest piece in my Macross collection, Ozma Lee's Armoured Messiah from the Macross Frontier anime.

Fighter mode (w/o armour pieces)

Armoured Gerwalk mode

Armoured Battroid Mode

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

2009-08-21T23:17:00.003+08:00

Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei, Zhuge Liang. Household names all to anyone who have ever played a Dynasty Warrior game. But what about the story that spawned the games and made these legends household names?

I recently completed the English edition of the Chinese literary classic 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' and I must say I am quite astounded at the high level of writing that went into this classic. While I am already intimately familiar with the story (thanks to myriad exposure to China made TV series in my youth), the book helps to flesh out the characters even more and refresh my fond memories of this great piece of literature.

Now, people may say that I'm actually 'cheating' myself in reading the English versions of the novel, but in my defence, given that my Mandarin is so horrible, I wouldn't be able to do it justice if I read it in my mother's tongue. But the translator did a pretty good job and managed to capture the finer nuances of the book and the emotional attachments of the wide cast of characters, highly important given that emotions play a crucial role in explaining the characteristics of the main players. And even though it is a heavily fictionalised work on actual history, the depictions of its cast of characters have made them world famous and given them much renown. It also serves a a great example of tragic storytelling, from the fall of the Han Empire and especially the fall of the Shu Kingdom and its great ledaers, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhuge Liang et al. But it is precisely of this tragedy that makes such men famous. And while it is easy to wish that history had turned out differently and Liu Bei has unified China (and I believe that is the author's wish too, given the obvious bias towards Shu), will the future have been as kind to them? After all, after Guan Yu's death, he was deified as a god. Zhuge Liang is now universally renowned as the greatest scholar of his generation. And what about Zhao Yun (Zhao Zilong)? Arguably one of the most popular character, he become the epitome of the perfect man, being constantly described as tall, strong and handsome in looks while being of great loyalty and unbeatable skill in weaponmastery. Compare these to the popular portrayals of Cao Cao which has been less than complementary, even though he was a great leader in his own right.

That is the skill and magic of Lo Kuan Chung (the author) and the great classic he has written. Not only have the piece survived the test of time, it has made legends of men in a story that has been passed dowe through the generations. And they can be no higher praise than that.

Weekend in town

2009-08-17T00:06:00.002+08:00

Actually there are some stuff that I want to blog about but I can't seem to organize them into coherent words, so I'll leave them for next time. Went down to town with WZ over the weekend to check out Ion Orchard. First impression? It was noisy as hell and the crowd was too much for me. I just don't like to shop with so many people jostling for their own personal space. WZ was in the same frame of mind as me so we hopped over to Far East and wow, it was practically empty even though it was a Saturday. Guess Ion really put a dent in their business. Wonder how long those shops can survive if it continues. But the thin crowds sure makes for a more pleasant shopping experience. Went around some shops looking at some bags with WZ and then have a talk with her over my insurance policies. It was kind of awkward for me as I feel like I'm letting her down my not buying anything but I still really haven't gotten over what happened with Jeff yet. Just hope she understand and don't think that I'm being distrustful or rude....

3 days without a computer

2009-08-11T12:52:00.000+08:00

Well, 3 days have passed by without me getting my hands on a PC so it is with some sense of joy that I am able to type this using my workplace computer (No, I am not eating snake at work, it is now lunchtime so I can jolly well do my own stuff). For someone who has always been connected online, a terminated PC means that I have to rack my brains for something else to do, and its pretty hard ><.

Day 1

Basically spend the whole day at home being grumpy and having a serious case of itchy fingers. In the end, ended up watching MTV on the TV and playing with my PSP for the whole day.

Day 2

Decided to quit moping and went to the Borders Bookfair at the Singapore Expo. However, the selection wasn't what I expected, maybe because all the good books had already been sold? Anyway, bought the English translation of 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Vol II" (can't find Vol I) and a D&D 4th edition player handbook (no idea why I got it, but D&D has always fascinated me). Nice to see Jessi again too ;). Went home and read a bit then watched the Community Shield match (Manchester Utd lost! Dammit!), then read some more till around 2 am.

Day 3

Exercised, afternoon napping and reading day.

Yahhh, the Goo Goo guys called and said they'll be coming over tomorrow to replace my harddisk. Finally!