News: 23/9/10

Blarghardargh.

Homework has an increasing propensity to come back and bite you in the nards. Especially since its now exactly 12 days to our first exam. Its seriously more rush this sem, and I don't know why. Teachers are still chasing us for homework and I haven't even finished the Tioman reports.

As they say: "No rest for the wicked." And wicked am I.

Reading Olde English texts recently. They are the cornerstones of literature and the bedrock of a cultured mind. And to everyone else, its *raspberry*. But seriously though, I wonder if everyone back then spoke like that. It would be so cool to live in a time where people speak like that. You'll go out in the morning and people would be like "

A: Forswain this fair visaged morrow! (Good morning)

B: Thou'st come to use thy tongue; thy story quickly (If you got something to say, say it)

A: There are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy (You're a retard)

B:If thou speak'st false, upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive. (No way!)

A: A plague o'er your house! (Screw you)

I would love to live in Ye Olde England.

Philosophy: 18/9/10

Phew, haven't done one of these in a while.

I've been doing nothing as usual. Reading manga. Gantz specifically.

Gantz is an awesome manga, and I think its like the 5th most popular non shonen manga in japan. And its deep. Very deep. The character development is solid, the setting is intriguing. I strongly recommend it, also it has some gore and nudity, and by some I mean a lot. A lot a lot.

I think Daryl told me about it in year 2, he called it "Zombies Vs Aliens"

Basically, its about people who are given a second chance after death to return to the living in return for bounty hunter services. The authority figure is a mysterious black ball that possesses almost godlike abilities with an air of non nonchalance regarding the lives of the bounty hunters. The ball's "game" is played as such: You receive high tech weapons and armor and are sent forth to kill aliens living on Earth. The aliens are usually extremely deadly, and its a kill or be killed mentality. You get to watch the main characters exercise their morality over the game, like one main character refuses to kill aliens because he refuses to kill. Expectedly, he is killed first. Another usually has no respect for life, but when he is given the opportunity, he freezes and is unable to do it. He's killed too. You watch as they bend and twist themselves in order to survive. And you're left with a question.

What would you do?

Imagine someone holds your way of life hostage, and asks you to kill another person, that person, understandably, is hostile, and you have to kill or be killed.

Would you freeze up? Would you try to reason? Personally, I think I would be the second person. Killing seems so easy in your head, but when it comes down to the split second trigger pull, I would probably hesitate. And die.

The other philosophy encountered is when you win the game. Each alien is assigned a set number of points. When you get a 100 points, you are presented with a choice.

1. You are set free from bounty hunting, cheating death and your memories of the black ball erased, and everyone associated with it.

2. You trade all your points for a more powerful weapon to wield, increasing your chances of survival.

3. You trade in all your points to bring 1 person who died in combat back to life. But he is still enslaved to the ball until he reaches his own 100 points.

For 1, you go back to your ordinary life, forgetting all the pain and friendships you made while enslaved to the ball. Going from the rush of battle to the mindless tedium of everyday life, some people go crazy.

For 2, you voluntarily risk your life to become more powerful, a deal with the devil. Characters who chose this become addicted to killing and to the rush of battle, and are seen scorning the lives of their own teammates, choosing points over life. They measure your worth by your points.

For 3, while risking your lives together against the very real threat of death, some of your hard fought comrades will die. Long friendships of watching each other's back instantly gone. Would you risk your life again just to bring them back?

I think the choice between 1 and 3 is the hardest. You are guaranteed another chance at life, but would you give that up to see your best friend again? Both of you are not even guaranteed to make it out. You may condemn the both of you to pain and death, when you should have taken the exit. Can you move on and accept a friend's death, when you have the power to bring them back?

I wouldn't know what to do. Would you?

Anyway, Gantz is an awesome manga, and if you can stomach the gore and nudity, its a really great read. I'll put a link here: http://view.thespectrum.net/series/gantz-volume-01.html

News: 16/9/10 Procrastination

Procrastination is like a drug. The higher you go, the harder you fall. I have so much to do now. Especially research plan. I have no plan, i just go in every other day to do stuff. And my mentor is really hands off. But you didn't come here to hear me bitch about my problems, you go to other blogs for that.

Life is good. Save for the little annoying things in life, which in perspective isn't that annoying in the first place. But then, you didn't come here to hear me rambling about vague metaphysical concepts.
Instead, I shall tell you a story. A story of great happiness and sadness, comedy and tragedy. It is the tale of the forlorn musician.

Twas once a musician, talented was he,
he received a guitar of which, he paid a heavy fee.

But smiles did it bring, to him while he stroked,
as each moment brought melodious notes.

Fame and fortune did it bring, pervaded all his mind,

Like a drug he couldn't wean, greater happiness he could not find.

Year after year his muse wound down, leaving him high and dry,

But fame's sweet milk did he sup, and for it, he'd be damned if he didn't try.

But alas, fate is no friend, and his mind did he lose,

as he succumbed to a life, of sex, drugs and booze.

Tis a sad tale, so full of woe and devoid of glee,

The woeful life, of the musician Dylan Lee.

News: 14/9/10 Back to school

I'm back in school :OOOOO

Back in the sack with 505, and its pretty sweet so far. Class, lunch, being late for class, except we all do it together now. Hell, I'm even considering helping to plan 505 chalet now. Cards in class, row of iPhones, playing with ice in the bio lab. This is the life. I wish it wouldn't have to end, but it seems that time is really determined to make fools of us all. It took us 9 months to get to this stage, and in another 15 months it'll all be over.

Super cool class today for math. Mr Chong walked into the class, and I yelled, "What? No math class today?" and everyone started clapping. Yay! Turns out we have night class, and that was awesome. Night class with Mr Chong is cool, suaning Danielle like crazy. And ironically, I'm more awake for night class than class in the morning. School should be like 10am to 4pm. Wake up at 9am, and take a nap till 6 until dinner, and do what you like till 1 am and sleep. (Y)

Our little JERK was missing its J today, as he has a fever so bad, that
"Turn my head.
Black out.
Wake up.
I'm falling..
Oww."

So good luck on that! And chem quiz tmr if you don't already know.

OMGOMGOMG iPHONE 4

I feel like a little excited schoolgirl.

It is sooooo awesomeeee. In fact, its, wait for it, and I hope you're not allergic to strained word juxtapositions....

AWEMAZSTOUNDING

yeaaaa..... I can't wait to see Bernard's disappointed face on Monday! And our group will have 3/4 iPhones. I just read somewhere that we're nicknamed JERK. Jing, Ernest, Ronald, and Kiang Teng. JERK. Damn. I had wanted to get the android, but I really love the iPhone more. The music system is a lot better, and apps are cool. Plus a 12 Gb monthly cap. Seriously 12Gb. Its not so much of CAP than a GOAL haha.

Oooo and pictures, lots more of those coming here. Like this:



Fo Sho, my sis got game.

Obligatory blog post to show that I'm still here.

*reading a book in a comfy armchair by the fire smoking a pipe and sipping whiskey*

Huh?

Oh I'm sorry, did you expect a post?

Its just that there's really nothing interesting today, seriously.

Sorry to disappoint, well then, cheerio.

Still here are you?

Fine, I went to my grandmothers house today, my cousin brought a 360, there was gaming, and I knocked back a few cans.

What? What games? Just Halo 3, not much.

And I watched Kickass for the first time tonight, damn that girl is so screwed up, yet so awesome. I wish my father shot me in the chest with a semiautomatic when I was young.

Oh and iPhone 4 tomorrow, thats a big one. Pretty psyched about that.

Righto then, off you go.

*leans back sips whiskey*

The Lighter side of things

On the lighter side of things,

I'm watching Friends and Blackadder now. Damn blackadder is cool. Rowan Atkinson is awesome. That and Hugh Laurie. I'm putting off doing work for today.

Oh and awesome news: I'm getting my iPhone 4 on Saturday! XDXD

News: 8/9/10

Heh. 8-9-10. Man thats a lame joke.

Tioman was awesome. But i realise that the word awesome is tossed around too lightly, like step up 3 was awesome, this outing was awesome, that sashimi was awesome. So I shall define this new word "awemazstounding" as a sort of grasping to how awemazstounding it was at tioman. It was basically a school sponsored island getaway with a report at the end. A report which I'm now reluctant to do, because doing it will end the illusion of happiness of the holidays, realizing that the next thing to look forward to is exams. So I'm compensating by tagging every single facebook photo of tioman with the 505 people.

Speaking of 505, damn we connected. You can't hike through jungles, snorkel among some of the most beautiful fish, and laze on a perfect beach without becoming the best of friends. And although if I had done it with 403, I would have to find a better word than awemazstounding, 505 is becoming family to me too. And therein lays the greatest dilemma, who owns my heart?

To be honest, 403 wasn't a class to me, it was a dynamic, an ecosystem of sorts, different groups, connecting on such basic levels that friends became family. Even when the dynamic splits apart, I still have the group, and although we will never be whole again, its good to hang on to people like Bernard, Rachel, Ming Yan, Gerlynn, Dylan, Yan Ling, Stuart, Wen Xiang, Jing Man. We were mostly the soul of the group, and I'm thankful to still have them now. This is why 403 Chalet is needs a better word than awemazstounding, cos its kick starting the dynamic again.

Now I have 505, which really, isn't so much of a dynamic than a group itself. Jing Min, Ronald, Kiang Teng, Debra, Fabia, Jean and Xinyi, and to some point, Danielle and Belinda. This is the group, and during the tioman trip, friends became family. I probably sound really clingy now, but seriously, I value my friends over any games, girls or electronics. And if the point ever comes when I have to choose over one of them, I'll be pulled apart. There was a time where 403 was the really clear choice. Now I'm not so sure.

Heh, like Bernard says,

"Whatever floats your boat"

Now I have two groups floating my boat.

I am flying :D

News: 3/9/10 Off to tioman

Right.

This is the last post for the next few days, unless Tioman has internet, which I very strongly doubt. All packed and ready to go. And this is actually my first time in Malaysia. No seriously. Really. I'm not going to sleep on the bus ride there, gonna soak in all the sights of Malaysia. Ramly burgers, ice kachang and perhaps durian. It actually sounds like a school sponsored island holiday.

Finally finished The Lost Symbol. And I'm not really sure what to think. On the surface, all the facts check out, and most of what is written is true. But does the inferences of true facts make them to be true? That means that we are all Creators and all Gods unto ourselves, and separate religions are obsolete. Meh, its all religion and metaphysics. Although JM says its satanic o.O

Anyway, moving on to more exciting news:

HUTCH HAS PLAYED BLACKOPS MULTIPLAYER.

(Those not really clued in to games can skip this part)

/start

I was afraid that Treyarch would just do a MW2 reskin, but they have actually put in a lot of work into this one, although I can see most of the new game types descending into endless camping, since you're betting money and all. They also toned down the weapon damage. Looks like 5 hits to the chest to kill now.

/end

In other news, 505 went out for lunch today and ate the wanton noodles that 403 had the other day at West Coast hawker center. After that we all went to starbucks and drank coffee and sat around talking about random stuff. Like how drunk we got, England and other stuff. Really feels like Central Perk from Friends :D Except that starbucks charges 6.50 for a cup of joe. Seriously a rip off. You might as well be drinking the tears of a Colombian peasant farmer. Although Belinda's chai latte thing was pretty good. And Danielle gets very very high off espresso. Not "hahahahah" high, but "Woah, look at my hands, how weird are my hands" high, slowly progressing to "Double rainbows... All the way across the sky...." High. Apparently, the apex of scandal between me and Danielle seems to be the super glue holding the class together. They cannot stop talking about it. Seriously guys? Find another scandal. There has to be one slightly more fresh than this. Although I feel that 505 is becoming more and more bonded. Getting the two girls away from the gaystack is certainly a step in the right direction. Who knows, I may even consider going for 505 chalet if it comes up.

Righto then. To my readers, if I oversleep tomorrow, call my handphone until I wake up.

I'll leave you with this. Its everyone's favorite astrophysicist in a robot wheelchair!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/7978898/Stephen-Hawking-ten-pearls-of-wisdom.html

And that was my day.

News: 2/9/10 From an undisclosed location

Hey guys, today is special because I'm posting on another person's com in an undisclosed location. Its a super secret base underneath the 11th floor of hostel. Shhhhh....

Anyway, nothing much today, mondays suck, and I literally have nothing to wear cos everything is in the tioman bag.

Ponning study time today for chatting with JM and Dylan. Discussing life, the universe and everything, talking amano vis amano.

Bryce just walked in as I'm typing this. He said YMCA and tapped a Jamacian drum beat on the table. Hoping that he would give a quick chorus but he left. Aww...

Dylan is sleeping next to me, bernard is gone from his room, muse playing softly in the background and I don't want to do homework.

Its amazing what chances we take and what we don't, and how that opens and closes so many doors in the process. And what we're left with is the creeping residue of regret. Regret that we didn't take that chance with that girl, regret that we picked the wrong girl, regret that we blew it with that one girl. Of course if I said the names, that wouldn't be fun.

That and pranking Yan Ling. At one point we convinced her that you needed a permit to wear a hat in Malaysia.

I'll leave this now,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4pBfH5AAls

And that was my day.

Philosophy: 1/9/10

We got into an argument on whether Dylan could convert paper into water after receiving red and blue 3D glasses on the MRT. If you weren't there, don't bother trying to understand the last sentence. But I postulated you'd need Godlike powers for that, so we came up with a level chart.

Level 1: Paper into water

Converts paper items into their weight in water

Level 2: Red/blue cellophane from flimsy 3D glasses into water

Converts Red/blue cellophane from flimsy 3D glasses into its weight in water

Level 3: Water into Wine

Converts water into its volume in wine.

Level 4: Paper to Wine

Saves time and mana on casting two god powers.

Level 5: Delayed respawn

Wait 3 days to respawn if killed.

Level 6: Instant respawn

No time delay in respawning.

Level 7: Create Everything

6 day casting time. 1 day cooldown period.

Level 8: Free slurpee

Get the 7-eleven clerk to misstamp your card in order to get 2 free slurpees.

News: 1/9/10 AWESOMENESS^2

Today was an awesome day.

Went for 403 Kbox outing today :D It was awesome. We sang all the usual songs, made complete fools of ourselves (me at least). And here's a pro tip for kbox. NEVER pick 20 songs in a row that only you know how to sing. Seriously. You end up not singing the song cos your voice has overheated and you miss nice songs. Also, no mood killers like the New York Mining Disaster of 1941. Thats a long depressing name for a song..

Then we watched STEP UP 3D. If I could the title there would be 3D for emphasis, but i can't, so just pretend. Ready?

*STEP UP 3D*

Yup. It was soooo awesome. It kinda gave up on plot, basically being

"Guy dances, girl dances, guy likes girl, girl has complex emotional breakdown and has to search her soul for the meaning of life, girl says screw it and dances again and they both hook up."

But the dance sequences were AWESOME. Head spinning, pop and lock, boneless, robot awesome. Now imagine "awesome" in large blinking magnetic LED lights. Ready?

*AWESOME*

And they literally wore that on their chests and ripped the whole place up. Kinda makes me wish I was doing the breakdancing thing with bernard again. My life feels so empty after seeing these guys spin around on their bloody heads. I mean, even 6 year olds could do it on stage and diss black people. And you do not want to diss black people. They scare me.

Train ride back was weird. Tried to read chinese jokes on Qu Zhi's phone but failed. Failed so hard. I should stop trying to read chinese in public. Or do it for a living. I bet people would pay good money to hear my chinese. Bleh, the jokes were so crude anyway, I'd prefer Atkinson, Fry or Laurie over that any day.

Super tired now. I bathed and realised that I packed all my clothes in my tioman bag and had to spend 10 sweaty minutes digging them out. I CAN'T BELIEVE TOMORROW IS MONDAY. WHYYYY MONDAY OF ALLL DAYS. Now imagine "MONDAY" in 50 foot high flaming letters of PAIN AND SADNESS AND REGRET. Ready?

*MONDAY.*

And that was my day.