The Quik Draw

One Step Closer

2006-07-17T00:21:00.000+08:00

I'm 'round the corner from anything that's real
I'm across the road from hope
I'm under a bridge in a rip tide
That's taken everything I call my own

I'm on an island at a busy intersection
I can't go forward, I can't turn back
Can't see the future
It's getting away from me
I just watch the tail lights glowing

Film Production is like a mirror that shows who endures under stress, who falls by the wayside, it separates the hanger-ons from the doers, it tests your mental resilience and physical fortitude and most importantly of all, it tells you who to have when the going gets tough. So when you look through the viewfinder next time, keep a lookout for more than just what's happening in front of the lens, for sometimes there are interesting details beyond the frame.

Confessions of a Rubberband

2006-07-11T23:22:00.000+08:00

Now that the world has spun long enough for this blog's ignominy, I shall attempt to start up the old stager again, though under much less positive circumstances it seems.

A rubberband is what I have become nowadays and stretched is what I feel in accompaniment. I am pulled in many directions and weighed down by expectations. I run within fences, am fed a diet of supposed free rein but ultimately ground to dust when the time comes for the cows to go home. Sometimes I wonder at all the negativity which seems to pervade the environment I'm in. Is it a wonder when people seem ever so willing to part with barbs but yet are so reserved with encouragement? And even when they do, it feels like applying a band-aid over a broken bone.

Maybe I'm not only stretched, I'm close to burning out. Pain is temporary, Glory is forever. So is hell and the highway that leads to it.

Prodigal Son

2005-09-24T00:42:00.000+08:00

Aloha! I'm not sure if anyone is still monitoring this blog since I havent posted in ages but I guess with the advent of the school break, I shall try to revive the dormant site and sweep off the dust. Speaking of advent, for those who are into FF7 and have not seen the FF7AC CG movie (out already!), plz go n do so! The visuals are amazing I tell you.

Havent done much since the hols started except I went for a chalet, played Maplestory like mad, slept like a mad pig, celebrated my bday, ate at Seoul Garden and generally bummed arnd.Will have to go attend the boring Poly Forum in KL next mth and I havent even renewed my passport yet. Haiz.

Anyway, someone very dear bought me the following as a present. Quite a nice change from constantly playing violent games. Meet Muah Chee and Poo Poo, my Roborovski hamsters!

Cats & Dogs

2005-07-18T23:29:00.000+08:00

Today i went to SPCA with 3 other group members as part of my IS project. Though it was raining cats and dogs (pun intended), our spirits were not dampened (pun yet again intended) and after a scary nauseous episode with a certain group member, the whole gang managed to arrive safely and punctually for our pow-wow with the SPCA liason Ms Selina/Selena/Salina/Celina/Cerlina. (after clarifying with the befuddled cab-driver that it's SPCA and not old SBC).

The meet-the-Selina session was rather friendly and nobody lost a limb or two. Ideas and expectations were exchanged and we came away with a better understanding of what we had gotten ourselves into. With a promise to follow up on our discussions today and confirm our places in hell, the whole gang chirpily trooped over to the SPCA pound where we met a lot of interesting feline and canine characters. There were Jason the Jack Russel, a rather energetic dog who could rival the Energizer bunny and the cute little fella whose picture u c above. Needless to say, her charming smile and dashing looks soon attracted the amorous attention of our previously nauseous group member which resulted in her proudly proclaiming "Eeeee so cute! I want to adopt her! $130 only! I checked already". Thankfully (mercifully?) that fella still remains at the SPCA now. Why? Because group member decided to think it over first.

Thank God for miracles.....

The Kodak Express

2005-07-16T00:28:00.000+08:00

Finally got around to developing and scanning some long overdue photos for a few people today. Can't believe I actually dragged the matter over 2 semesters already and even got hounded over MSN for it. Lol. I guess this is what happens when procrastination becomes too comfortable and in the end you never really get around to doing it.

Anyway like I said, the matter is finally resolved therefore I can breathe easy again on MSN. Lol. No more guilt pangs and panic attacks. Yay!

P.S: To Rydia, Miso and ermm I forgot her name....: Sorry again for the major delay!

Gibberish

2005-07-11T03:05:00.000+08:00

Real busy these few days. Doing school work - rushing reports, taking photos, printing and collecting photos, editing and watching other's editing. Last minute and not last minute. Saving the world - solving fuel crisis, escaping deadly assasins, preventing planeticide, beating up gangsters, swoop racing. Fun but time consuming. No time surf net. Havent checked mail. Antivirus outdated. Printer noisy, like not happy. Spits out papers. Havent watched movies. Didnt see Hitchhiker's Guide to Galaxy. Missed Batman Begins. War of the Worlds slipping away. Cant be bothered with Fantastic Four.

Real busy. And sleepy. Cant type well. Sentence structure failing. Lack of punctuation. No coherency.

Must go now.

The Red Or Blue Wire?

2005-06-30T23:21:00.000+08:00

The washing machine in my house apparently broke down today and refused to clean clothes as it was supposed to do. According to the Matriarch, the problem is due to "the water not staying in the holding area but rather leaking out through the outlet; therefore the clothes despite being put through the washing motions with the detergent and all will nevertheless still end up just wet and not clean." Before this, I always thought I was the only thing in the house sentient enough to construct sentences consisting of 5 or more words at a time but quite obviously, this episode has proven me wrong.

So anyway, if anyone's interested in watching two middle-aged women (the other woman being the Matriarch's trusty sidekick, aka my next-door neighbour) pretend to know how to fix washing machines and flood the kitchen in the process, please feel free to drop a line and I'll slot you in at the next available showtime. It's quite amusing really, just remember to bring your own refreshments and comfy stool.

Professional repairmen need not apply.

Totentaz

2005-06-24T16:54:00.000+08:00

Lately it seems like I'm blogging less than usual, no thanks to the bout of illness and the neverending onslaught of homework to be done. And it seems a few bloggers have or are considering closing down their little piece of cyber real-estate too. Though I'm sure they have their reasons for doing so, I think I'll stick around a little longer despite the recent low blogging rate. It's quite a waste to fall through on something that you have started. No perseverance or simply interest fading away? Perhaps. Or is it simply just a lack of audience and thus a general feeling of unappreciation setting in? Can be too. Whatever the cause may be, it's always nice to have a new beginning again after a period of closure.

The 157 bus passed through my old neighbourhood on the way home today and I was surprised at how much it has changed since I moved away. New buildings have sprung up where there once was grass and familiar landmarks have undergone changeovers . Some have simply vanished completely. Unrecognisable sights abound. When I was small, my parents used to bring me and my sis to their old neighbourhoods and reminiscence about the good old times spent catching spiders in the drain or those exhilarating games of police and thief in the alleys. Being the impudent SKN I probably was, I used to be amused at their sappy sentimentality but somehow during today's brief ride, I think I finally emphatise with their feeling of loss and alienation, of memories washed away with the advent of progress and change.

On a less serious note, Eugene and I are considering whether we should go join the Chinese Orchestra Club and learn to play the cello. Nope, we aren't kidding. Yes, you didnt read wrongly, I said Chinese Orchestra. Heck, we even went to their practice on Thursday night just to check out the scene. Mind you, it is to check out the instruments and not scope for chio-bus ok? Lol. Jiaxing can be our witness and kudos to her for being the enthusiastic guide and PR person. Hahaha. Anyway, nothing is confirmed so stay tuned for more news......

I'm Baaaack!! Anyone missed me?

2005-06-19T22:57:00.000+08:00

Ok, in case anyone's wondering why the blog was blank for so many days, well that's because a rather nasty virus managed to overcome my immune system and subsequently made a major ass of itself by raising my temperature to 39.8 degrees, making me feel groggy and cold even in direct sunlight. So you see, it's kinda hard to blog in that state.

Anyway, for a grand total of $13, I now have a brand new XBox in addition to my PS2. I even have a glowing Darth Vader controller to go with it. Muahaha. Dont ask me how it came about, it's just one of those great mysteries in life that no one understands and generally feel jealous when it happens to others and not them.

For the most part, my brain is still a litttle slow to start after that major virus attack and so therefore I usually meet most things in life with a blank mind nowadays. Perhaps it shall get better in a few days. Hopefully.

2005-06-13T21:05:00.000+08:00

Revenge of the Sick

2005-06-12T16:30:00.000+08:00

Being sick is no fun and so is waiting in queue for 40 mins with a 39.8 fever just to see the doc, only to discover one day later that the dispensed medicine isn't very helpful and therefore necessitating another trip on the 3rd day to a diff doc who thankfully appears to have the solution. Lol.

On the bright side, I now have 3 days of MC total. Sigh, if only I can afford the time to use them...

No Man Is An Island

2005-06-07T19:52:00.000+08:00

Gratitude, thanks and appreciation go out to the following people, without whom I would not be holding the 3 sheets of white paper now.

Olivia - for helping with my SAB spreadsheets and putting her ass on the line when my LocVid group ran into tape problems during the Final Proj.

Michael - for his unreserved assistance and tips during post-production. Probably the most helpful person in our cohort.

Bryan - for always lending me notes when I asked and being the jovial character that he is

Michelle and Joyce- for being some of the craziest people around with their insane laughter and antics, which never failed to prevent school from becoming a drag

The following list consists of people with whom I have slogged through LocVid - arguably the most harrowing and toughest module last semester. Not to mention surviving a rather infamous episode in recent FSV history, complete with its own Survivor-style tribal council meeting in the end. Lol.

Wendy -Final Proj Producer and Editing Queen. Though seriously stressed at times which results in low confidence and slight procrastination, I think she has come through quite well in the end, even managing to fend off a certain overly-protective parent after the production( as I learnt recently). Many thanks also to her generous parents who provided food and transport during production!

Isaac - Final Proj Casting Director / Dolly Grip / Slate / PR King. The title says it all. Though I know he wishes to be given more responsibility sometimes, his willingness to take a step back for the greater good when needed is certainly much appreciated. To some who question his absence on set during the 2nd day, I say this: It's not the amount of time you spend on set but what you do with that time that matters.

Eugene - Cinematographer / Stand-In Gaffer. Knows what he has to do and does it. No hassle no questions. Understands perfectly the value of "Work first talk later". May seem slacky and slow to start but Buddha's leg is always within his reach if he chooses to. Also my chief bitching partner and fellow sound crew on Proj 1 where we got too comfy with the cafe sofa.

Mich David - Storyboardist / Sound Crew. Quiet, efficient and does her job with minimal fuss. Good artist who managed to finish the storyboards and not complain much despite me taking my time with the shot list. Lol. Also a lifesaver by recommending her friend Favel who graciously offered to assist with getting her condo's permission when someone else's high-class condo unceremoniously rejected us.

Thus ends my Oscar-acceptance speech. No, this is not some suck-up attempt to appease hungry souls nor is this a cheapskate way of giving recognition. NP hasn't shown me the $$ yet leh! Lol. This entry is a bit long-winded and sappy I know but hey it wouldn't be nice to leave someone out of the accolades wouldnt it? Or have I? Ahahahaha.

I Want An Afro Too

2005-06-05T23:00:00.000+08:00

That Japanese comedy Waterboys is damn funny lah. And the trailer for it simply cracks me up too. Whoever thought of that hilarious montage paired with the classical music deserves a pat on the back. The funniest part of the trailer has to be the scene where that afro-ed hair guy runs slow-mo style across the screen with his hair on fire while the two adults stand wide-eyed, jaws agape in the background. All this while that music plays on. Damn funny k! Although it has been shown in the past, it sill always manages to amuse me whenever it comes on. Lol.

And that ending tune during the credits is still ringing in my head as I type this.....Heeey hey hey hey hey.....

Damn funny stuff I tell you

Afternoon Madness

2005-06-03T17:13:00.000+08:00

As mentioned by Olivia and Mich David after our C&L lesson today, I shall now blog about how it is both such a joy and headache at the same time since I have no classes after 3pm while the two of them have to drag themselves to ProdPlan straightafter. I shall gloat about how I am a free man after 3pm and can happily skip out of school and do basically what I want. Hmmm.....shall I go buy a $1.50 bacon stick from Cold Storage and pamper myself? Or go rent a DVD from Video EZY? Hmmm.....such a pain to have school end sooooo fast.....

To end off, I shall now add 2 or more lines of nothing but Ahahaha. Here goes: Ahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahaahahahahaahahahahaahah*cough*ahahahahahaahahah

*cough*ahahahahaha*pui*ahahahahahah

Thank goodness it's Friday!

Omens

2005-06-02T21:20:00.000+08:00

Today was the 4th NLE lesson and once again I did not have the correct answer to the question thrown at me. Not a good thing at all. It's making me feel like, to quote some classmates of mine, a "bimbo" sometimes. Either I miss the question completely, come near but not quite correct or just generally end up with a blank look like a deer in the spotlight. Frankly, I do not relish this sense of helplessness at all. Whether the situation will improve in time still remains an uncertainty however.

IS Community looks to be no better too. I seriously have no idea just what the module requires us to do. The lecturer, though enthusiastic and doing a generally good job of motivating us on a sleepy Monday morning, is of precious little help. I sense he is deliberately holding back concise instructions or advice simply because we "are not to be spoon-fed but rather to exercise innovation and enterprise in coming up with solutions and ideas...". Images of more deers caught in the spotlight come to mind. And whats with making me the poster boy for FSV in the class?......

At least all these insecurities will hopefully make me look more human to some people I guess. Look how the mighty has fallen! Lol

The Art of Egg Boiling

2005-05-29T15:27:00.000+08:00

I'm a total flop at making half-boiled eggs. It is an art that has always eluded my comprehension. They either end up hard-boiled or under-cooked and my sister has never failed to use this as ammunition for her verbal barbs, her favorite being "my brain is too advanced until cannot do simple stuff like boil eggs" - followed by maniacal laughter and head tossing.

I wonder how long it takes to half-boil her. Hmmm.....

Today was no different. 6 eggs later and still no success. I think I must have gotten the timing wrong or the sequence out of order. Sought help on MSN and Mich David was kind enough to offer some advice which I shall try after my stomach digests the 6 eggs. Do not worry for my heart is fully capable of tolerating the chlolesterol attack.

May The Force Be With Me.

The Force Is With Me

2005-05-28T10:15:00.000+08:00

Checked my mail this morning and look what arrived in my inbox!

Dear Wei Kang Royston Chan

Congratulations! You are one of our lucky winners of the limited edition "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith" Clone Trooper Poster! Just come down to our booth at the World Book Fair, from 28th May - 5th June, 11am to 10pm daily, and collect your prize! Just print and bring along this email - and that's all!

Hope to see you there!

Regards,
Reader's Digest

Now I have another one to add to those already on the wall. Yes yes I know I am SUCH a big SW geek. Haha.

Back To School

2005-05-24T22:57:00.000+08:00

It's back to school! Here's to a semester of fun and joy, peace and harmony, prosperity and fortune. May The Force Be With You.

Sleeping Beauty

2005-05-22T20:06:00.000+08:00

Today has reaffirmed once again that disappointment in life is as certain as the shadows that fall with every sunset, and that no matter how well-intentioned the person is or how hard you try, it always manages to come around and bite you when you least expect it, like a prowling predator in the dark - always lurking, never seen or heard but you can be sure it is always there. Waiting.

Such is the fact of life that is disappointment.

Mindless Drivel

2005-05-21T13:53:00.000+08:00

Strange things are happening in my family. The sister, traditionally not a very active person, claims to be starting salsa and gym classes soon; The Matriarch is (horrifically) reading a Qiong Yao novel instead of 'horizontal-swimming'; my Dad is becoming less interested in football nowadays and I am waking earlier with each passing day. Sometimes, I even manage to catch the sunset. Not exactly Addams Family-amazing all these stuff are (gasp! I sounded like Yoda) but still, these have never happened before.

Stranger still, lately my sister has become utterly besotted with this Taiwan idol drama called 'Dolphin Bay Love". Or "Love at Dolphin Bay". Or "Dolphin Loves Bay". Whatever the name is. After last Friday's episode, she has been ranting like an overcharged auntie over the phone to her equally besotted friends and frankly, their conversation amazes me. They can talk for hours about the characters - why this guy doesn't like that girl, why this girl is such a bitch to the other and why the mother is like this while the father is like that. Sometimes her friends even come over to watch the show, which results in somewhat unlady-like shouting and other assorted behaviour. She never forgets to tape it when she's outside too. The logic behind all this, if any, simply eludes me.

(P.S: I simply love my SW Ep III OST. I can't seem to stop listening to it. And did you know Microsoft decided on the name Xbox 360 instead of Xbox 2 because they were afraid consumers would subconsciously associate PS 3's "3" as being superior to Xbox 2's "2"? As in 3 is better than 2, if you know what I mean.)

XBox360 n the new Batmobile!

2005-05-20T01:00:00.000+08:00

Console n wireless controller

Controller close-up

Console flat-placement

Changeable face-plates for LED power button

The new Batmobile featured in the upcoming Batman Begins movie

PS3 pics fresh from the E3' 05

2005-05-19T17:35:00.000+08:00

Something's In My Brain

2005-05-16T00:36:00.000+08:00

When I was just a small rugrat in primary school, The Matriarch did not like the idea of her son running around and getting into trouble with the local 'pai kias' outside. As a result I was imprisoned indoors most of the time and spent endless hours in solitude, which in retrospect probably contributed to my present introverted nature. Furniture is not a good conversation partner and talking to myself would have caused me to become a permanent resident at Woodbridge.

I did not just spend all those hours sitting around staring at blank walls though. On the contrary, my small world was filled with a lot of stuff which, to a small rugrat like myself, always seemed to provide ample distractions. For instance, I had a full set of encyclopedia called Childcraft which covered almost every topic under the sun. Filled with interesting pictures and diagrams, the heavy books were a regular fixture. In fact, they became mandatory reading later on. Reading about far away places and people, amazing scientific gadgetry and thought-provoking philosophies was mind-blowing for a small kid who seldom even ventured from his neighbourhood and showed him that there was a larger world out there that existed far beyond his eyes could see.

Not every hour was spent with the books though. I had many other treasured stuff too. Wonderful stuff like the Sega Genesis which my dad brought home one day. Within its world, I could be a brave knight rescuing my kingdom from monsters today and a dashing space hero battlling invading aliens the next. It was another form of escape. An escape to worlds without school, endless homework and tuition, boring violin/computer lessons and other harsh responsibilites of life that plague a young mind. For a few hours I had control. Control over where to go, what to do and how to do it. There was no guiding hand. The decisions I made and their consequences were mine to bear alone.

Apart from my beloved Genesis, I shared my tiny world with a bunch of cool toys too. Zoids, GI Joe, Gundam, Robotech, Patlabor, Lego, Mechwarrior, Star Trek and Star Wars were the favorites. There was a small collection of model aircraft, race cars, tanks, battleships, movie replicas and military figurines too. While other kids my age were having fun kicking ball on the courts outside, I was in my room assembling motors, wiring battery compartments and LEDs and joining assorted parts with superglue and modeling cement. Certainly not the idea of fun to some but I like to think that fun is what you make of it. I may be trapped physically in my room but my mind was not and with these toys, I could manifest my imaginations.

Till this day, those toys, books and the music that I have come to collect later on have all served as comfort zones that I retreat to in times of stress and depression. You can call me a dreamer maybe. Or an escapist even. But in this harsh reality where a lot of things aren't really within our control and you feel lost sometimes, having something that you can always count on to prep you up isn't such a bad idea at all.

A world of our own maybe?

One Mad Fanatic

2005-05-15T01:58:00.000+08:00

The Bat is very happy right now because he has finally gotten his hands on the SW Ep III OST. Not only does he think the music has never sounded better, he is also absolutely elated that the OST includes a bonus DVD of all the 6 films' musical scores arranged in a music video montage chronologically. For the uninitiated, this is kind of like watching yourself grow up through the years accompanied by all your favourite music each important year of your life. Nostalgia and raw satisfaction overcomes The Bat as he watches the DVD, every scene and note washing over him like the tides of Poseidon.

With the final procurement of the EP III OST, the circle of 6 is complete and he is glad he has not strayed from the mission all these years. Although it has been a substantial investment, The Bat is still without remorse and even if there are ten more SW OST collections out tomorrow, he will still go out and get each and every single one of them. Yes, buying OSTs unashamedly is one of his few and major vices that he is not slow to admit.

And as if things couldnt get any better, 20th Century Fox gave away a free DARTH VADER poster with every OST purchase. That was enough to send The Bat into pure heaven as those who understand him well know that there is only ONE true villain. You can sneer at the asthma, dodgy costume and shiny helmet all you want but Darth Vader rules. One villain to rule them all. His poster shall be displayed on The Bat's wall where it will be revered as one of the most endearing screen characters ever conceived.

There are some born to light
And then there are those born to endless night
Arise Lord Vader, your time has come.
Now we shall reveal ourselves
Now we shall have our revenge

4 more days to SW Ep III......

Siao

2005-05-14T01:50:00.000+08:00

I think it would be quite nice to have a personal Gundam MS that I can pilot around town on errands, to school and generally just go for a spin whenever I feel like it. Although it sounds insane and definitely unachievable at this point in time, it still makes for quite an interesting thought. I can think of a few advantages right now......

1) Since most Gundams are over 20m in height, I can now enjoy a panoramic view and breathe fresh air instead of staring at somebody's armpit on the bus or facing other ppl awkwardly on the MRT.

2) Advanced Gundams use self-renewable power packs which spares me the trouble of queueing at petrol stations and risk getting yelled at by impatient Mercedes-driving uncles shouting "Lim peh jiao ni kuai yi dian leh!!!".

3) The Gundam is armed with a multitude of weapons which now actually enables me to incinerate and threaten my enemies instead of just foolishly wishing a random thunderbolt will strike them dead some day. Not many people can argue with a gun as big as a double-decker bus. Muahahahaha. (Wendy-like laughter...)

4) I can now walk past the cable car stations and wave to them like some freaky animated version of the Statue of Liberty. Which is better: taking photos with a giant cool robot or some water-puking stone Merlion? On National Day, I can do the flag flypast too. In fact, I can hover and then wave the flag too. How cool is that lah?

5) Did I mention chicks will now flock to me instead of those Ah-Bengs and their garishly decorated WRXs? And please dont challenge me to a race when my Gundam's foot alone is as big as your car......Muahaha

6) Lastly, with the Gundam I can finally save the world which means more chicks, less homework, insane amounts of money, exemption from household chores, product endorsements (ever see a giant robot in a SK jewellery commercial? That's novelty for you!) and most important of all.......

I can say I told you so. Haha.

5 more days to SW Ep III!!!

(P.S: Happy Bday Charis! There, happy now? haiz......women)

19-12=7

2005-05-12T23:54:00.000+08:00

Is it just me or does the villian Hinet in the previous episode of Inuyasha resemble Ner Zha? After all, the fire wheels, spear and Chinese-lookalike manner does bear some resemblance to the mythical Chinese deity. And that shark dude looks like the mascot of some surf wear brand. Boiling chio bus to make a hair paste is definitely funny and novel though. Beijing 101 are you watching? Pretty ladies of the world beware!!!! The bald horde is out to get you! Now if only I can recall Mr Wong's number....

And yes, Inuyasha does dress funny. Bright red is not a good way to maintain a low profile, which probably explains why they get chased, stalked, ambushed and attacked every week.

7 more days to SW Ep III......

Doing the Write Stuff

2005-05-10T02:50:00.000+08:00

I knew report writing was not an enjoyable experience yet here I was helping a long-time pal with his 2000-word essay today. At 2000 words it sounded more like a thesis. The topic? Examine the Singapore Journalist Code of Professional Conduct and expolate on whether the local industry has adhered to it or otherwise. Sounds deep? Well actually the Code itself is a mere half-page long and rather layman-worded so it was easy to comprehend. The tough part was trying to determine whether the local journos are swinging with it or not. And as we all know from WritComm, what good is a statement if you can't back it up?

So, 'backing it up' meant trawling through 6 months worth of archives, be it electronic or plain old paper mediums. Thumbing through dusty, musky piles of newspapers wasn't something I had anticipated for the holidays so naturally my hibernating brain took a while to start up. The fact that we started at 9am which totally went against my upside-down body clock was not very helpful either. But having convinced ourselves that it was all for the greater good we soon sat down and begun in earnest like the good troopers that we wished we were.

Slow progress was to be expected. After all, it ain't exactly an easy topic to yak about. Certainly not enough for a 2000-word essay. Things improved after Acoustica and chicken rice washed down with cold coke and the machinery kicked in to finally produce 1.3 k words finally. Well, only on my part. Which means we are going to overshoot the limit. Great, now we got too much material.

At the time I'm blogging this, the pile of archived newspapers is still lying around, my part has just been emailed off and I think there's a need for a sequel tomorrow. Well ok, technically not tomorrow since now is today and yesterday is uh un-tomorrow.

I think I'm just a sucker for punishment. Lol.

All Hail Her Royal Highness

2005-05-09T07:16:00.000+08:00

Ok I admit it. I 've been a bad son. Mother's Day totally eluded me and it passed into oblivion yesterday. Or was it the day before? Like I said, I did not realise it had come and gone. Despite my sister's persistent nagging a week before, I had procrastinated and put it off. My dear and ever filial sister, on the other hand, managed to scramble a last-minute makeshift gift of a cardigan and chocolate cake last evening. Quite interestingly, she commented that everyone had also seemed to be rushing last-minute M Day gifts too, judging from the onslaught of shoppers at confectionaries and novelty shops. That said, I felt a little exonerated. Perhaps not enough for a full acquittal but hey at least it prevented me from hurling myself out the window......

To further complicate matters, Jessica my next-door neighbour came over with her own mother and flashing a megawatt smile as bright as a Kino Flo, passed the Matriarch a red rose "because all good mothers deserve something on this special day". Oh great, now even the serfs have come to pay homage to the Empress Dowager. In case any one's wondering, Jessica is not pretentious nor is she a suck-up. Quite a bubbly and sweet-natured girl actually, which is why I think the Matriarch has spared her life till today. She and her mother have been long time allies with the Matriarch, having moved to our present location together from the old 'hood. Her brothers Roger and Robin (coincidentally they have another brother named Ronald, all real-life names no kidding!) also happens to be my soccer budds, so all in all we are kind of freakily connected here and there like some Friendster thingy.

To make up for my transgression and also partly to ensure that the Matriarch does not impose an embargo on my allowance, I have decided to divert resources into a slush fund and use it to procure a suitable and sizeable offering for her coming birthday. Which is two months from now. Or is it one? I vaguely remember the month starts with J......hmmm.....

Bad son indeed. Haha.

Psychology 101

2005-05-07T23:54:00.000+08:00

It is quite an astonishment to hear about how the quest for academic glory has resulted in some unsavoury behaviour among certain individuals in the community. Whether the incident is true or not is unimportant now. Cause and Effect. There is an 'effect' only because there was a cause before it. Once you give people the 'cause', no matter how small it is, then be prepared for the 'effect'. After all, everybody notices that small black dot in a sea of white. Nothing is the same any more once the chain of events is started. Regardless of the explanations or the theories thereafter, the suspicion and second-guessing will always be there.

So if you are not prepared for any after-'effect' then dont give others any chance of a 'cause'. Take a leaf from our MM LKY.

Kingdom of Heaven

2005-05-06T17:35:00.000+08:00

Went to Eng Wah at Suntec to catch the movie after the kite-flying at Marina didnt go so well (but hey at least those weird Chinese statues were interesting and it's the company tat counts right?). Plot-wise, considering that it had to do with religion and the conflict that arose because of it, I gotta say it was handled rather deftly without swaying too much to one side. Some of the dialogue was lost to me due to the bad accent and yes, parts of it were a tad too profound.

Cinematography was, in my view, the best part of the film. Not since LOTR have I seen humongous armies lined up against each other on this scale. On hindsight, I think KoH beats LOTR in the 'armies line-up-before-eventually-fight" part. I could tell those hordes in LOTR were computer generated because they looked a bit too neatly lined-up and composed. KoH's armies, on the other hand, looked simply awe-inspiring. The scene where the Christian army slowly rode out from over the hill and emerge from the swirling desert heat was impressive. They actually filled up the screen from left to right and then when the camera sweeped over for a high-angle shot, they seemed to stretch on forever. Same went for the Saracen armies. As I mentioned above, KoH's armies looked like they actually consisted of thousands of people because each horse, camel and everyone was moving independently and not in some neat rectangle with uncanny precision. The myriad of colours and costumes further reinforced the imagery. Yes, not everyone was dressed in a standard uniform and moved together like some National Day parade.

To sum up, KoH shone in the cinematography/effects department more than the rest. If the story is lost on you, then just sit back and take in the amazing visuals and spendour of battle.

Confessions of an Insomniac

2005-05-05T06:19:00.000+08:00

I think I'm suffering from insomnia. That is why I am blogging at this time when most of Singapore's unemployed population is still in dreamland. My body clock is totally screwed and it is now resembling more and more like a vampire's. Although the eye bags have not manifested themselves yet (due in part to sleeping like a corpse in the daytime), it has nonetheless come to my attention that this is rather unhealthy and not contributing to my world domination plans at all.

It is a vicious cycle. I can't sleep at night therefore I crash during the day. Because I crashed during the day therefore I can't sleep at night. Since I can't sleep at night I stay up till dawn breaks. Then I finally crash till night. Usually. Like I said, it is a bad cycle that just loops endlessly like a broken record.

Attempts to rectify this unfortunate situation have so far resulted in abject failure. Warm milk: failed. Watching Mediacorp's boring after-midnite TV programming: failed. Reading textbooks: failed (I actually memorised all the editing techniques! Gasp!). Counting sheep: Boring yes but not sufficiently sleep-inducing.

As a last resort, I have decided to check myself into the nearest Insomniac Anonymous clinic where (suitably clothed in trenchcoat and big ugly sunglasses) I shall eagerly await relief to this sobering problem.

Edit: (Anyway I'm off to fly kite and hopefully catch Kingdom of Heaven later. Considering the hefty ticket price and rave review, it had damn better be good!)

Early Morning Forca Madness

2005-05-04T04:57:00.000+08:00

The time is 4.45am and I am damn happy. I am happy because Chelsea lost and did not make it further to the Champions League finals. Normally I am not a Liverpool fan but I certainly was rooting for them. Actually I will root for any team that's playing against Chelsea.

I am happy that Chelsea, with its arrogant manager and filthy-rich owner who apparently bought success for the team with oil money siphoned from his country, have finally tasted bitter medicine. The whoops coming from the block across seem to confirm my views too. Justice has finally been done.

Too bad Chelsea, the buck stops here. Ahahahaha...I am too happy to go zzz now. But what a wonderful feeling. Utter satisfaction.

For those offended by Ah-Beng language, plz stop reading here.

To my soccer buddies: Oi Tirs! Got watch the match anot? Roger, ur Liverpool won leh! Super happy right? Wah lau si beh solid man. Damn Chelsea. Ahahahaha. Too bad Liverpool never score more. Confirm nice to watch them whack Chelsea. Shit man, almost puked when Chelsea tai ko nearly scored. Ahhahahahaha. Omg I'm going mad. Ok now muz gather n watch AC Milan finish off Liverpool liao! Time to round up the gang ppl! Guys' nite time! Wheres our F&B manager Roger ah? Roger! Roger!

Balance the Equation

2005-05-03T16:11:00.000+08:00

Ok apparently 2.2 only needs 1 IS module, therefore no need to choose another 2 and therefore my previous post is irrelevant. Then again, NP could have made it a bit clearer and save us the headache.

Interestingly, I took a look at the progress report page in NPal and it seems 2.2 has 3 core modules while 2.1 has got 5. So 3 core + 1 stream + 1 IS = 5 modules total. On the other hand, since 2.1 has got 5 core and they r also supposed to choose 2 IS, that works out to: 5 core + 1 stream + 2 IS modules = 8 modules total. Hmm 8 modules vs 5 modules. Sounds imbalanced.

In case ur wondering whether they might add more modules to 2.2, well the progress report lists ALL the modules, whether u took b4 or not, pass or fail, frm lvl 1-3......so if its not there then I tink its not there. And 2.2 only has 3 cores listed. Interesting.

Choices

2005-05-02T21:35:00.000+08:00

I seriously have no idea what to choose for IS next semester. It seems some of the possible candidates are apparently not going to be offered for AY 05/06. Appreciating Film - gone....Small Group Communication - gone.....

As for the rest, some look appealing but on further evaluation are simply unfeasible. Exploring Photography - must have digital camera, so if mine is a lousy consumer model then how to compete with all those pro and expensive SLRs? There goes the level playing ground.

All things considered, I 'll probably choose from Communication and Life Skills. Entrepreneurship is definitely out. Lol. Enough of crazy number-crunching and myopic spreadsheets.

Some of you might already have the link, but here it is anyway. The Sch of Interdisp Studies page. Go there to choose your fate.

Mayday Mayday!

2005-05-02T00:26:00.000+08:00

Finally, May has arrived and I'm counting down the days. Nope, not counting down to the new semester but rather to a more appealing subject. I'm holding my breath for the final instalment of Star Wars. May 19th. Yes yes, I'm a Star Wars-loving geek. Like Mr Tan H.H. I'm gonna watch it in the cinema then get the collectibles and then get the DVD. And then if I still have dough left, those replica lightsabers look real tempting. Looking at them, I can almost feel the Force. Lol.

Disseminated

2005-05-01T03:34:00.000+08:00

Oh well, i guess all good things must come to an end. I hope we all had the time of our lives. Come to think of it, I feel like one of those party members in a RPG. Now that the adventure is over, the fellowship is disbanded and the heroes all head separate ways. Each to pursue their own destiny and ideals. All of them sharing a collective memory. A mutual experience. Some treasured, some met with disdain.

But as the saying goes, "All roads lead to Rome." Perhaps the paths will cross yet again for one more hurrah, one more stab at glory and fame.

You Are Hereby Judged

2005-04-28T22:06:00.000+08:00

I took the quiz on Mich David's blog and I must say I wasn't really surprised by the end result. I suppose you live your life the way you were brought up. I think I might make a good dictator in some small country somewhere. Or quit school now and join Legal Studies then graduate, become a legislator and make software piracy legal. Lol.

On hindsight, maybe this explains the recent sch proj episode. Hahaha. A philosophical excuse. Hows that?

You scored as Justice (Fairness).
Your life is guided by the concept of Fair Justice: Everyone, yourself included, should be rewarded and punished according to the help or harm they cause.

"He who does not punish evil commands it to be done."
--Leonardo da Vinci

“Though force can protect in emergency, only justice, fairness, consideration and cooperation can finally lead men to the dawn of eternal peace.”
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

Many thanks to Mich for providing the link again.

Wah Lau Eh! Lame Lah!

2005-04-27T07:50:00.000+08:00

I have a funny bunch of soccer buddies with whom I have a nice game of street soccer every now and then. Yes, every now and then....or whenever they threaten to headbutt my door down using my poor neighbour Robin and make an installation art piece out of my underwear. Why Robin you might ask? Well, apart from the obvious reason that bashing stuff with your own head is generally a bad and ultimately unwise idea, they proudly exclaim that "his hairgel is so oily that even if your door doesnt break then we can still set fire to the gel and burn it down". And then they usually break into mad Ah-Beng laughter which always seemed to remind me of horny hyenas at a Triumph fashion show.

Because we are only human (or "hy-men": a clever combo of hyena and human according to the ever-cheeky-and-even-aunties-can-be-chio-ok Jian), we usually take short 15 min breaks in between sessions. Or whenever the hyenas spot a passing prey in which case the 15 mins get extended to an additional 10 mins of 'prey assessment', an evaluative method similar to that used by aunties (chio and un-chio) when choosing pork, fish or meat at the market. Except we dont prod and poke.

During these breaks, apart from the usual neanderthal tradition of scratching our itchy bits and throwing our smelly jerseys around, the gang usually engages in utterly pointless and sometimes chauvinistic chatter. Sometimes it can be mildly intellectual - the economic merits of monogamy; sometimes totally anal - how aircon makes gelled-up hair go down. Other times, we actually learn a useful tip or two. Like this particular topic of pick-up lines which cropped up in yet another boh-liao chat. Now being the hot-blooded hyenas that they are, most of them are not alien to using pick-up lines, sometimes with disastrous body-harming results. Thus, after much hyena-laughing and head smacking, listed below is a short list of lines (field-tested and in no order of preference) that we complied. Use at own risk!

1. Do you sleep on your stomach? No. Can I? (Roger, who used this, got told to "go sleep with the fishes instead". Ouch)

2. If I said you had a great body, would you hold it against me? (According to Jian, the Ah-Lian did not get the 'hold it against me' pun...Lol)

3. Hi, I make more money than you can spend. (Useful only if u got a credit card or something that remotely looks like one under the dim lights!)

4. Screw me if I am wrong, but you want to screw me, don't you? (If she says no, then you get screwed, if she says yes then well you still get screwed. You just cant lose. Jian's favourite)

5. If I pet you, would you follow me home? (Note:Ah-Lians usually wont understand. "Hah? Pet? Suo ser mo?")

6. Hey I'm looking for treasure, Can I look around your chest? (Sundi:Prepare to move fast if u see Thousand Buddha Palm heading your way.)

Disclaimer: Above lines were not thought of by us, just field-tested. Yes, we risk life and limb to do stupid stuff like this. Yes, we deserve to get slapped, smacked, kicked, punched, spat at etc. But hey, why do people keep buying lottery again and again?

Because you never know....

Pah Chiu

2005-04-24T22:52:00.000+08:00

While I was sitting at my keyboard attempting to hammer out yet another entry today, a strange thought entered my mind as mysteriously as the way my wallet empties itself every now and then. No, it wasn't another world domination plan or kinky fantasy. Neither was it about the physics-defying pile of clothes stacked up in the corner that threatened to achieve a Guiness World Record on its own.

No, it was a simple thought. One that did not require much posturing beforehand. One of those things that just pop up when you least expect it, at the most unlikely time. Kinda like when you are taking a poop in the loo and you suddenly become struck by the intricate textures of the well..."end product". You marvel at how nature has suitably structured the elongated shape to allow an easy exit, how it manages to navigate the labyrinth of a digestinal system without any map or GPS. Maybe, just maybe... it reads road maps along the way. "Slide left at the next vein to exit at the lower rectum". But I digress.

"If I were to rob a bank one day, who among my friends would I take with me?"

That, my friend, was the time-stopping question that silently assaulted my brain processes and gradually took control like I do when I realise there isn't enough toilet paper. Who would make a good bank robber? A partner in crime. Like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Jack Neo and Mark Lee. An interesting question indeed.

Would I choose......

Someone naggy and whiny - so that I would be constantly reminded about how long the bank manager was taking with the vault key and that even Yoda would have died and reincarnated by the time he was done?

Someone no-nonsense and serious - so that we wouldn't waste time at meetings trying to decide which designer brand to use as our gang uniform? Btw, if you think bank robbers need not look good, well try wearing a curtain to your next robbery dude. Which is why, Hollywood robbers ALWAYS look dressed-to-kill. Literally.

Someone voluptuous with zero gravity assets - so that the guards would be distracted not only by how we managed to wear Bathing Ape all over and yet still have to rob a bank but also by the bombshell with mammaries that threaten to erupt and spill out of the suit. Like a thousand-year- old volcano which suddenly sneezes because some fat Americano tourist used too much pepper on his hotdog.

Someone quiet and non-intrusive - so that finally, somebody is listening to what is actually going on and not whine about how Yoda looks better in CG now or defend the fact that mammaries can unbelievably defy Newton's theory.

Someone who can lead by example - so that only he/she gets stuck in the air-con vent and not all of us? "No lah, can squeeze through one. Come I show you all....".

So there, something to think about for all you bored souls out there. No manga? No problem. No cartoons? No problem. Work stress getting you down? No problem. Cant find that CD? No problem.

Catch up with your pals and go rob a bank. Now where's my toilet paper?

Channel Surf

2005-04-24T22:41:00.000+08:00

No more Star Trek. Sundays are going to be boring again.

101 Ways To A Satisfying Holiday

2005-04-22T23:59:00.000+08:00

Holidays have been fun so far. Bashing heads in, ramming bodies into the wall and grounding them into dust. Cleaving bodies into two and lopping their heads off. Puncturing their lungs with a spiky club. Separating their limbs and head with a scimitar. And them use the parts to dish out more of the same. Or dropping huge 50kg boulders onto their craniums. On special occasions, I douse them in sticky oil and then light them up like a christmas tree. Or leave them with only one eye with a well-placed arrow. N then stand back and appreciate the crimson fountain.

On some days, things are more quiet. I sneak around in the shadows and creep up on unsuspecting people. I stalk them through long dark alleys and slither along dim corridors. Slowly I close the distance. And then put a noose around their necks. Or a knife to their throats. Sometimes I decide to stick the knife in. Sometimes I just strain their necks a little too hard. Either way brings a satisfying crack or gurgle. Yes, gurgle not giggle. Hard to giggle when you have cold steel jostling for space with your windpipe.

On a grander scale, I call in surgical strikes from satellite uplinks and deliver 12 tons of unfriendly stuff on them. Not much left after the mushroom cloud. A few barrages of hot iron raining from the sky usually achieves the same result too. Or drive a humvee with a ticking C4 on the hood and then watch it careen into the hapless crowd. One click later and we have a mess.

These are the games I play. Not a bad way to let off steam. Stress therapy. Happy holidays!

Pictorial

2005-04-21T19:58:00.000+08:00

More photos from the travelling camera phone:

Sunset on a building somewhere in SG

Intriguing tunnel to nowhere

The colors of life...

and death

The end of another day

On a sidenote, the released results were quite a surprise. On the whole, I feel a little lucky and very much blessed. I guess the Big Guy's really looking out for me...Now to see if the choice I made turns out for the best.

City of Blinding Lights

2005-04-18T02:19:00.000+08:00

When a photo opportunity presents itself, you just gotta take it. Even when you only got a makeshift camera phone.

I like weekends. I like weekends because I can hide out at home away from the maddening crowds at Orchard or the boring I-stare-at-u-and-u-pretend-not-to-stare-back games that we all play during MRT rides. Nobody stares at me when I'm walking from my room to the kitchen in my house. If I had a dog, it probably wouldn't even give a hoot. Unless I happen to be holding a bone or chewy beef jerky. Then that's a different story. But then again, since the house Matriarch does not exactly permit canine ambassadors in her country, the abovementioned scenario probably wouldnt happen anytime soon.

So there you have it. A peaceful and carefree time in the house on a lazy weekend. I walk from the bedroom to the toilet for a bombing run and there's no distraction. I creep from the living room to the kitchen for emergency food shipments and I know I'm safe from radars. Clear skies ahead, Captain.

Wonder if there are any kindred souls out there...

LoL

2005-04-15T12:34:00.000+08:00

Ok before the flaming sms-es and hate-mail start to pile up and I risk estranging myself from the fairer ones, let me provide a deeper insight to the previous 'chauvinist' entry...and why I'm proven right so far...lol

"The female of the species..."

Now note that I only said "The female of the species..." - with no obvious reference to any particular life form that can often be found at shopping malls and sales etc. So considering this (overlooked) point, it can thus be determined to be referring to any donkey, ape or pig. And not again necessarily refer to the abovementioned life forms who have a preference for mall-dwelling. Lol.

So see what I mean by "diverted concentration" and "lack of focus"? If only the affected would look closer (read:concentrate) at the wording, then all misunderstandings would be avoided. Lol.

Btw, don't tell me apes, donkeys and other whatnots can't play computer games. If IBM can make a chess-winning computer then why can't a pig be trained likewise? Just that maybe the females do not perform optimally that's all...Lol.

Warning: Chauvinist statement!

2005-04-14T00:51:00.000+08:00

The female of the species are generally not adept at computer gaming due to their lack of focus caused by the onset of the need to multi-task, resulting in diverted concentration and subsequent lead poisoning (read: shot full of holes).

Around The World

2005-04-11T23:30:00.000+08:00

Travelling around the world in an Osprey is fun. Well ok, maybe not the entire world but from Dili to Nice to Jerusalem to LAX and back to Palembang.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

2005-04-05T23:22:00.000+08:00

"How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" keeps looping in my head. I kept hearing and listening to it. Over and over again. Ad nauseum. Sounds quite good actually. Kinda grows on you. Not fully impressive at first but i suppose it's meant to be slowly appreciated, just like vintage wine...

Tough, you think you've got the stuff
You're telling me and anyone
You're hard enough

Local tv programming is bad. Monopoly clearly doesnt work. That's why Microsoft keeps hitting a stone wall. Cable is another alternative though that is another story altogether. You get what you pay for. Free-to-air tv is free so why complain? Well, when you are the National TV station then yes you have to at least offer some decent fare. Not hastily insert shows only after they start winning awards. Worst if they are already so many seasons ahead...

You don't have to put up a fight
You don't have to always be right
Let me take some of the punches
For you tonight

Sound or CG? I'm still not quite sure of the choice I made. One is more popular than the another but the other is traditionally valued more. Pencils vs Microphones. Staedtler vs Sennheiser. Digital workstations vs half-normalled patch-bays. Wonder if I'll regret it later...

Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone...

"Unwanted sound is noise"...so when someone makes noise it means no one wants to hear it? What really constitutes noise? Is it thus a bad thing when people dont talk so much? For the quiet ones: Silence is golden...still waters run deep... For the 'outspoken': empty vessels make the most noise...talk is cheap...action speaks louder than words. So which is the better?

Sometimes you can't make it on your own...

Eve of Adha

2005-04-04T23:35:00.000+08:00

A man begins each day by trading with his soul
Either he wins it or he ruins it

Hadith

Those were the opening lines in Mr Leonard Yip's film 'Eve of Adha', shown on Arts Central tonight. Pretty thought-provoking isn't it? They certainly caught my attention. Classic way to start a film off. The haunting Arabic music in the background fitted perfectly too. Shot in pale, dark tones with low-key lighting n lots of shadows, the mood of the film was clearly sombre and gritty. Which suited my tastes just fine.

How the storyline ties in with the film's opening lines still eludes me a little. Is it trying to illustrate, through the protagonist and the choices that he made, that our actions each day will somehow inevitably determine whether the soul is one step closer to salvation or slipping ever deeper into damnation? Certainly, the film had a religious overtone to it so perhaps my theory of the exploration of the man grappling with his humanity each day isn't so far off.

On the whole, 'Eve of Adha' is a much darker film compared to the others (it being another of his VCA projects added to the contrast too). I wonder how the local audience will receive the actual message....

Le Slang

2005-04-03T00:30:00.000+08:00

More good stuff...

KENA
Malay term which denotes that something has happened. Closest English approximation is "to get".
1. "He kena scolded by the teacher." (He was scolded by the teacher.)
2. "He kena whack by Ah Beng." (He got hit by Ah Beng.)

KENA ... UPSIDE DOWN
Denotes having received especially harsh treatment. Fill in your own verb between 'kena' and 'upside down'.
1. "Wah lau, today I kena screwed upside down by my boss."
2. "Piang, yesterday our football team kena thrash upside down."

KENA JACK
A term originating with the Mats, it means to be trumped, tricked or taken advantage of by someone. Possibly derived from "hijack"
1."The score is 1-0... our team all kena jack siah!"

KENA QIE (pronounced chee-eh)
A hybrid Malay-Mandarin phrase, it is derived from the Malay word 'kena' (meaning 'to be afflicted with') and the Mandarin word 'qie' (meaning "slice"). It is used to describe undergoing something difficult or onerous, such as losing a game.
1."Wah lau! Yesterday's maths exam, kena qie!"
2."Yesterday, I kena qie by Ah Beng in snooker."

KENA SAI
A happy marriage of Malay and Chinese meaning to get into trouble. Literally, "got hit by shit."
1."He didn't do his homework, so kena sai from the teacher."

The Boh Liao Entry

2005-04-02T23:55:00.000+08:00

Reproduced from Talkingcock.com - Singapore's premier satirical site!

The Academy Awards are over and here are some categories that should be there, but kena chopped:

1. Greatest Disregard Shown to the Basic Laws of Physics

2. Most Heck Care Adaptation

3. Best Disguised Product Placement

4. Most Overpaid Actor or Actress

5. Best Performance by a Female Running Through the Rain in a Clingy, Almost Transparent Dress

6. Cheapest Special Effects

7. Best Tear-Jerking 'Handicapped' Performance by a Non-Handicapped Actor

8. Best Performance by a Body Double

9. Greatest Test of Bladder Control

10. Picture That is Liked Only By The Speccy Nerds In Your Class

11. Best Removal of Clothes For No Apparent Reason

12. Best Catch Phrase That You and Your Wu Liao Friends Will Keep Repeating to Each Other in the Coming Weeks

13. Best Breasts in a Supporting Role

14. Movie Most Likely To Turn Up at Your Bus Interchange Before Its Release Date

15. Best Movie That Sure Kena Censored in Singapore

16. Best Movie That Sure Won't Be Shown in Singapore In The First Place

One Down

2005-04-01T19:00:00.000+08:00

According to Mr Tan who announced the news on MeL, EVERYBODY passed LocSound n that "we should enjoy our holidays because second year will be a lot tougher". Personally, I feel relieved yet somehow the last part of that statement sounded a bit foreboding. Lol. Oh well, best of luck for all those who are going to be affected by that 'warning'.

Regarding the stuff about Gravatar in my earlier post, click on the haloscan comment link at the end of that post to see a sample of how it works. Note that u can specify the size of the image shown on your own blog haloscan. Dont worry, all images submitted to the gravatar site are subject to a rating system and yes, you the blog owner can choose the rating limit to show - whether R, G, PG etc. Just like the movies. In case anyone's wondering, NO i don't get a commission or any reward for plugging this stuff. Lol. Feel free to oppose or ignore.

Speaking of movies, Straits Times reported a ticket price hike starting frm May. WTH!? Going to the movies is like the ONLY useful Singaporean past-time and now they are going to make it more expensive. Oh well, I guess we really do need a casino after all. Why? So that we can all go there and try our luck to win some money just so we can go watch a movie. Sigh.

Happy April Fool's

2005-04-01T05:20:00.000+08:00

Romance of the Three Kingdoms juz ended and I'm already starting to suffer from withdrawal symptoms. Trust Mediacorp to schedule it to end just as the hols start. Great, what am I going to watch on Thurs n Fri nites now? To make things worse, they replaced it with some boring same-old-period-drama-comedy starring Jordan Chan. Haiz...if they had the moolah to suck in Mediaworks then why can't they have more entertaining stuff to show? So much for Channel 8, the "premiere Chinese channel in Singapore".

Anyway today is April Fool's Day. I bet the pranksters are having a field day. I wonder how many vulgarities have been/are going to be scolded by the victims. Lol.

Btw, for those with Haloscan on their blogs, have you all enabled Gravatar under the settings? Supposedly shows ppl's own avatar pic when they leave a comment, provided they signed up with Gravatar. If this is old news, then I apologise cos I just found out today. Haha. Besides, I haven't seen it in action on any of the other blogs with Haloscan....

A New Beginning

2005-03-31T22:10:00.000+08:00

Welcome one n all to the new site. Decided the old one was too dark so this time round, the color template is on the other side of the spectrum. New academic year, new template. Change is universal isn't it?