jeudi, mars 30, 2006 Miss Tan Hwee Koon is getting married to Mr Aaron (dunno his surname) next year, 21 July 2007 at Church of the Truelight. Proposal occurred this year Valentine's Day, which she SNEAKILY KEPT FROM HER DG MATES! This just shows: never trust people who work in Suntec City...That's all. I have no more information. Everything else, go ask her. [Public Announcement!] |
 Kaleb [Andy Anthropomorphized (v2.2)] |
mercredi, mars 29, 2006  UNDERWORLD EVOLUTIONLikes: *) Movie picked up almost immediately where Underworld I left off, even with that stupid dead lycan lying in the middle of the grand tomb-room in the vampire manor. *) I just realised that Bill Nighy, whom I just saw in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and whom I remember from Love, Actually, is Viktor the Vampire! I wanted him to start singing "Christmas is All Around" while prancing around like a giant bat. *) Lots of fighting and killing. *) Kate Beckinsale is still hot. *) There's a nice huge tanker/ship that features in the movie. In France. Nice. *) We see Selene (not Kate B) fighting like a vampire - not just guns, but actual fistfight. *) There actually WAS a storyline, and it actually DID make a passable attempt at explaining the backstory. *) Character continuity exists! It does! We see Amelia, who had DIED in the previous film, appear in flashbacks. We see Kraven have vampire justice meted out to him. We see Viktor again! Excellent stuff there. Dislikes: -) Not enough good fighting and killing. Violence mostly came from camera angles. -) Weird Lycan-Vampire hybrid - what is up with that? I thought we'd get more information after we were teased with a slimy Ben... I mean, Scott Speedman in Underworld I. -) Kate B and Scott S have no chemistry. None. NONE. -) Which makes the gratituous sex scene even more ridiculous than it actually had to be. They went for 'tender moment between fighting for their lives', and 'cheesy scene lit with soft orange glow-lamps to show off Kate B's body'. Comparable to the random crazy orgy that occurred in Matrix Revolutions, which was passed off as "an affirmation of life amidst the uncertainty that surrounded Zion at the time". Utter bollocks. -) Where were the UV bullets? We talked about them, we saw them, Kate B even touched them, but did we see them in action? No. What a complete waste. -) Lame attempt to lead off with another sequel at the end. Verdict: Can-watch. (Although you should have already watched this one by now, I'm slow in catching this one.) 2 hrs. ICE AGE 2: The Meltdown  Sneak preview available at Clementi, plus it was raining cats and dogs and donkeys when I came out from watching Underworld Evolution. Scenario: Despite the fact that it already took an age for them to produce this movie, the ice is still melting. Our heroes, having earned a reprieve from their travails in the last movie, find themselves in the middle of an idyllic paradise - until they realise they're kind of in the middle of an ice bowl - and the bowl is starting to melt. Of course, they run. Toward a ship that a vulture told them about (although quite honestly, why they actually trusted the word of a vulture in those circumstances I'll never understand.) I thought they'd be interesting enough to put Noah inside the movie, but I suppose that would have stepped on too many toes. Meanwhile, two creatures that look like the prehistoric version of the crocodile in Peter Pan chase them through the rising waters. Problems come up as they run of course. They overcome them, of course. Scrat is still running after his acorn, of course. Nothing really new about anything actually. It's not worse than the first movie (but it's not better either.) I can't accuse it of rehashing the same plot devices as the first movie either (but they didn't come up with anything particularly original anyway.) Verdict: Okay lah. Can watch on weekends without feeling too ripped off. But warning: it's only about 1 hr 20 mins. [Notes from the Underworld] |
mardi, mars 28, 2006 This is me, circa yesterday: ISTP (MBTI) [Profile: ISTP | Revision: 3.0 | Date of Revision: 26 Feb 2005] Like their fellow SPs, ISTPs are fundamentally Performers (note the capital 'P' :-)), but as Ts their areas of interest tend to be mechanical rather than artistic like those of ISFPs, and unlike most ESPs they do not present an impression of constant activity. On the contrary, they lie dormant, saving their energy until a project or an adventure worthy of their time comes along--and then they launch themselves at it. The apparently frenzied state that inevitably ensues is actually much more controlled than it appears--ISTPs always seem to know what they're doing when it comes to physical or mechanical obstacles--but the whole chain of events presents a confusing and paradoxical picture to an outsider. ISTPs are equally difficult to understand in their need for personal space, which in turn has an impact on their relationships with others. They need to be able to "spread out"--both physically and psychologically--which generally implies encroaching to some degree on others, especially if they decide that something of someone else's is going to become their next project. (They are generally quite comfortable, however, with being treated the same way they treat others--at least in this respect.) But because they need such a lot of flexibility to be as spontaneous as they feel they must be, they tend to become as inflexible as the most rigid J when someone seems to be threatening their lifestyle (although they usually respond with a classic SP rage which is yet another vivid contrast to their "dormant," impassive, detached mode). These territorial considerations are usually critical in relationships with ISTPs; communication also tends to be a key issue, since they generally express themselves non-verbally. When they do actually verbalize, ISTPs are masters of the one-liner, often showing flashes of humor in the most tense situations; this can result in their being seen as thick-skinned or tasteless. Like most SPs, ISTPs may have trouble with rote and abstract classroom learning, which tend not to be good measures of their actual intelligence. They tend, sometimes with good reason, to be highly skeptical of its practical value, and often gravitate towards classes in industrial arts; part-time vocational/ technical programs can be useful to even the college-bound ISTP. In terms of careers, mechanics and any of the skilled trades are traditional choices, and those ISTPs with strong numerical as well mechanical gifts tend to do extremely well in most areas of engineering. Working as paramedics or firefighters can fulfill the ISTP need to live on the edge; they are at their best in a crisis, where their natural disregard for rules and authority structures allows them to focus on and tackle the emergency at hand in the most effective way. ISTPs with more sedate careers usually take on high-risk avocations like racing, skydiving, and motorcycling. While aware of the dangers involved, they are so in touch with the physical world that they know they can get away with much smaller safety margins than other types.  Functional Analysis: - by Joe Butt Introverted ThinkingThinking, the dominant function, generally keeps its opinions to itself. The inner world of introverted thinkers resembles Plato's rec room, where every untried idea runs the gauntlet of Truth. The personal or political source of the alleged fact matters little to Thinking; each tenet must stand on its own premises. Introverted thinkers focus their directives in on themselves, and would like nothing better than for others to do the same. One ISTP friend displays a poster of an orangutan with the caption, "If I want your opinion, I'll beat it out of you." Suffice it to say that ISTPs are by nature free spirits. Extraverted Sensing Auxiliary Sensing provides Thinking with all manner of information about the physical world. ISTPs possess heightened sensory awareness. And as other SPs, ISTPs are energized by responding to their impulses. Sports appeal to many ISTPs for the sheer sensory experience (uh... mentally yes, actual physical action no?). This combination of dominant introverted thinking and auxiliary extraverted sensing results in no-nonsense realism. The uncanny troubleshooting ability which predisposes many ISTPs to hands-on diagnostics (especially with machinery and computers) or detective work is most probably rooted in this pairing. Introverted iNtuition Tertiary iNtuition maintains a low profile. ISTPs are prone to consult "gut feelings" that most probably arise from this function unconsciously. As with other SP types, ISTPs generally lack enthusiasm for theoretical and philosophical issues, and less for the endless discussions in which the Intuitive (especially NP) types so frequently engage. (YES. *nods vigorously) Extraverted Feeling The inferior (least) feeling function is extraverted and, when operative, quite visible. As with all types, the inferior function is relatively simplistic and often operates unconsciously in an all-or-nothing manner. When operative, Feeling's sensitivity and loyalty has the potential for great benefit and utter peril. It would seem that ISTPs would do well to nourish and cherish Feeling judgement, but to vigilantly supervise and protect it from predators and other catastrophes. [This is me, circa yesterday: ISTP (MBTI)] |
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Potter XVII: Two songs that I can no longer sing with a straight face after Harry Potter 1. The Potter's Hand2. Within the Veil Libellés : harry potter [Potter XVII: Two songs that I can no longer sing with a straight face after Harry Potter] |
dimanche, mars 26, 2006  My toilet wall.Finally found a glue that would make those Narnia characters stick to the balsam wood. [My toilet companions] |
vendredi, mars 24, 2006 When you want to post, but nothing's really moving in your life - take an online test.
[Snuffy's got the dope] |
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jeudi, mars 23, 2006 Rob Lowe's coming back to The West Wing for an ep or two before the whole series goes off the air for good. Yay![Highs and Lowes] |
mardi, mars 21, 2006 The omniscient title-writer is multilingual:  Presenting: I Know What You Did Last Raya.[The Omniscient] |
[Pastor's Punks] |
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Carpe Diem: Do it, do it, do it do it doit doitdoit!!! I thought I was mad enough to line up for 6 hours just to meet Neil Gaiman, but Eunice has bested me with her INSANE, 15-hour queue for Singapore Idol auditions.Fifteen. Hours. Waiting. Just waiting. At Cineleisure. TO BRITNEY SPEARS. That being said, I think it's great - who cares? Just do what you want to do, live now rather than through proxy. Stupid clichés come to mind: you only live once, carpe diem, just do it, living out loud etc: but clichés are clichés only because they're part of that collective wisdom that human beings seem to like amassing (see, for example, the Book of Proverbs, or "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People".) I'll not be queuing up 6 hours again though. [Carpe Diem: Do it, do it, do it do it doit doitdoit!!!] |
dimanche, mars 19, 2006  Ralph McQuarrie is my new art hero. After seeing the stuff which he drew and PAINTED (!!!) for the Star Wars films, I am NOT WORTHY.The detail on the Death Star pictures and the lights around the interior of the weird place where Luke duels with Vader must have been coloured with acrylic paint applied with a brush that was approximately TWO HAIRS WIDE - they were THAT detailed. Ad and I loved the amazing way that he created the shading between light and dark (see the background for C3PO on the left) - seamless, soft, perfect. And the lightsabers! Softly aglow with paint: when asked, I hazarded a guess that it was done with a very, very small spray paint nozzle, but even then I can't be sure. The Art of Star Wars exhibition isn't really for everyone - it's really all about the concept art: models, costumes, vehicles, etc - no magic shows or fun rides that you can go on. However, there is a Foley Studio (you know, the sound studio where they record your amateur efforts to 'sound' a film?) - that was fun. Also "The Making Of Star Wars" screening (for Sith, of course), and a dress- up- and- take- pictures booth which I *so* did. I told myself I'd do it if they offered it :), and at $12 for three pictures (one costume, three poses), I thought it was a relatively alright price. It was either be Leia, or Amidala, and I picked the latter since it was visually more fun than all-while-no-buns Leia. ("The buns don't fit la," said the guy manning the camera.) No, I'm not posting pictures. $18 for the whole exhibition, including entry to the Science Centre, running till end of March or thereabouts. If you're a Star Wars fan, just go la. It's fun, just don't expect rides. [The Art of Star Wars] |
samedi, mars 18, 2006 "If you do write political content praising or criticising a politician outside an election period, it's not violating the PEA. But if it is during the election period, then you are subject to the laws," said Mr Siew Kum Hong, the director of Keystone Law Corporation, a law firm. "Weblogs are a democratic, timely as traditional news sources, and have a potential distribution much greater than print media." (Yang, Y. (2001, 15 Oct 2001). New Media - Blogdex ranks weblog links. The Edge.) ... at least, to Singaporeans during the general elections. No campaigning for your "favourite politician" (Today, 18 Mar 06), even if its done online, from your own pocket. You can't say anything about anyone. Actually, you can't say anything about anything. The OB markers have GOT to expand as fast as Singaporean minds have expanded. National Computerisation Plan (1980s) - National IT Plan (1990s) - Singapore One (2000s) - Singapore 2015 (forgot the name) : it's like giving a child a really fun, useful toy, and telling him that he can't play with it because daddy says no. [The Internet Is Useless...] |
vendredi, mars 17, 2006 Finally, we get some measure of payoff...  ... and only after [Finally, we get some measure of payoff...] |
jeudi, mars 16, 2006  I love love the shirt. Sometimes also phrased as "normal service will be resumed shortly", or something similar. It's one of those inside jokes thing, sort of like the all your base phenomenon. [from Lucifer.]I used to think that $20-30 was ridiculous to pay for a graphic novel, but I rationalised it as paying for 50-odd pages of colour printing. I now know better: it's hard enough to tell a story, much less draw and lay it out on a storyboard representation! For $30, the art is CHEAP. DIRT CHEAP. But I wouldn't be lobbying for higher prices anytime soon, of course. :) I still don't really get the whole manga comic narrative though. Why spend a two-page spread showing me that the character has heard something important (cue the large "!!!" above his head) and turns around (the next 10 panels, with lots of shwishy lines to indicate movement), and finally, in the last panel, an additional drop of sweat appearing above his left eyebrow? My cousin tried to explain it to me before (he's mad about manga); something about the Japanese comic narrative being predicated on movement, rather than on dialogue, which is what the anglo-comic tradition leans upon. I understood it, but I don't think I'll be picking up any Japanese manga anytime soon. I tried reading some once in Sec 4 (I remember RX lending me a four-book collection), and what I remember most from the book were: (1) the pictures were really plain (mostly b/w line art), (2) there was sex in it (no, it was decidedly NOT hentai), and (3) I did a lot of page flipping, because there was quite a lot of "useless" character movement. [The T-Shirt] |
mardi, mars 14, 2006  Sheryl's.[The Ring] |
jeudi, mars 09, 2006 Photostitch - Singapore Harbour  Been wanting to post this up for a while now - the Singapore Harbour, 28 Feb 2006. Lovely day, was helping out with interviews in the CBD, and was treated to dim sum at some place... connected to the CBD bridge mall? On the 7th floor or something. The day went so fast. [Photostitch - Singapore Harbour] |
mercredi, mars 08, 2006 The mind boggles at the bytes involves This place gives a new meaning to "got the whole wide world (web) in his hands."They want to archive the web. Good luck. [The mind boggles at the bytes involves] |
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Oh, George Clooney. *happy sigh* [Doctor Ross] |
mardi, mars 07, 2006 I'm so sorry that I am not important enough for you to bother with, that my earning potential is so low that you couldn't be bothered whether I live or die. I'm sorry that you think I'll never be able to amount for much, and that I probably won't become influential enough to connect you to people in high places, or improve your social status with people in power. I'm trying not to let it bother me too much, and I'm not as naïve to assume that people don't attribute some sense of "value" to everyone whom they meet, but really, this is not just insulting, it's demoralising. If you don't want to be a person who builds and nurtures, then for fuck's sake, DON'T EVEN START, because that's tantamount to destruction.[Frustrated Vent] |
lundi, mars 06, 2006  And really - I am Snape? Hur. I liked doing this test; easier to choose when you've only got two options to choose from. Libellés : harry potter [Really. INTJ?] |
dimanche, mars 05, 2006 Standing by: I Will (try) Not (to be) Silent “Thou shalt not be a victim. Engraved on the Holocaust Memorial, [Standing by: I Will (try) Not (to be) Silent] |
samedi, mars 04, 2006 Genesis 32:24-26I've always been fascinated by Jacob's audacity - this guy stole his brother's blessing from his blind father, wrestled with God, and had the balls to say "I will not let you go until you bless me"?! I've also thought it was poetic justice that Laban tricked him into 14 years of slave labour for Leah and Rachel - who says God doesn't have a sense of humour? While frantically writing my report (due on Monday - stupid, stupid me for procrastinating!), this passage somehow came to mind, and thanks to the wonderful thing called the Internet, I could read it between fits of panic and prayer. I'm wondering what sort of relationship Jacob had with God, that he could actually say such a thing to His face. While it's true that we're all children of God and beloved by Him, shouldn't most of our supplications run along the general lines of "we are not worthy, so if You have the time, and if it isn't too much trouble, could You please grant us this or that"? I cannot imagine demanding something from God, like it was my right to have something of Him. God's relationship with us has always been described as something like from a Father to a child - family. There are certain things that I expect of my parents that I do not, or do not need to articulate; "invisible privileges", if you would. That's not what Jacob is asking here - he's asking for a carte blanche blessing - almost like saying "God, I will not let you go until you give me an ang pow." The analogy is imperfect, of course, since ang pows bring to mind money, but you get the gist of the idea - what rude manners he has! And yet, God blesses Jacob - a strange blessing, but a blessing nonetheless. God changes Jacob's name to Israel, or "he struggles with God". Perhaps it's self-explanatory - if Jacob had such a strong, wilful personality, to be subject to God's ruling must have chafed quite a bit on his person. Perhaps I see this as permission from God to wrestle - to discuss, think, dialogue, toss around, struggle, "work out (my) salvation" - it's not forbidden, and it's been done before, the story chronicled and legitimised in canonical scripture. Yay. [Wrestling with God] |
  Did anyone know that you can take a picture of the Eiffel Tower during the day and sell it legally, but when the tower lights are on, you can't, because any and all pictures of the Eiffel Tower at night are copyrighted? Apparently, the same goes for Sydney Opera House as well.I did some searching, and turns out that the lighting of the Eiffel Tower and Sydney Opera House are copyrighted, hence the weird policy. There was some mention of the designs being copyrighted as well, but that would be kind of pointless... [Copyright law is confusing] |
vendredi, mars 03, 2006 Today, seen beside my fac's vice-dean's car at NTU:"My money and my daughter go to Cornell."That, my friends, is lateral thinking, marketing genius, and wry self-reflexivity all rolled into one white piece of paper and stuck onto a car. And they wonder why Singaporeans aren't creative. [Nice irony there] |
 There will be time, there will be timeTo prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet; There will be time to murder and create, And time for all the works and days of hands That lift and drop a question on your plate; Time for you and time for me, And time yet for a hundred indecisions, And for a hundred visions and revisions, Before the taking of a toast and tea. (from The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock, by T.S. Eliot) [There will be a time...] |
jeudi, mars 02, 2006  Felicity's diary (Sally's too busy to bother)Dear Diary, I saw Julie at the bus stop the other day. I almost tore Sean's shirt sleeve off after she left, she was so curt to me! And there I was, actually going over to talk to her. Huh. Just shows you that Pink Power Rangers are actually eebill in nature. This is also a lesson in Anger Management. It just goes to show that one should not Act In Anger Or Pique, because it might Dreadfully Damage shirts which I actually like, such as the abovementioned Sean's shirt, which is white with black and red stripes, from Topman. (Sean mostly wears fruity colours, which makes him look almost like a muppet, but he's not fruity in the way that Javier is, so the Topman shirt is actually quite cool... and I think I'd better get out of these parentheses right now; they're getting a little clunky...) Elena actually asked me and Sally out tomorrow for drinks and dinner, but Sally's doing some madz writingz right now, and I got booked by some other friends, so we can't make it. Oh diary, whatever shall I do? My problem still isn't solved, and did you know (how could you, you're just a diary) that Noel actually knows Famous People? I could have been connected to Famous People! But I suppose it's for the best... I'm meeting Hannah (Noel's ex) for drinks in a couple of days - she's three months preggers, can you believe that? (I wonder why I wrote "preggers"? Must be channelling Harry Potter...) I don't think Noel knows though, and I don't know how he's going to take it. It's so weird to be good friends with your ex's ex. X's X. XXX. Heh. (Pardon the juvenile behaviour, dearest diary, but you are mine anyway, and nobody but me is going to read this.) I'm going to stop writing here before I get even more self-referential and shut people out. (Diary: what people?!) I'm still looking for that hawt cute art student, but alas! No prospects so far... maybe I should hang out more at NAFA. Or not - they're probably all too young for me. tata! [Felicity IRL: Episode 3] |
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According to Nielson/NetRatings, 49% of all searches conducted in December last year by Americans (and that's a whopping 5 BILLION) were done on google. It's a nice company and all, but you've really got to start wondering about whether that's good for everyone involved, monopoly and all. Other sites are trying to catch up, many offering seach-and-win programmes (really!), but you've gotta admit that early-mover advantage was lost when they kept giving us stupid responses to our queries. If you're really interested in Search Engine capabilities and limitations, you should check out the Introna and Nissenbaum paper on The Politics of Search Engines, which covers how engineers grapple with problems when they start building, and how systemic omissions are Bad For Everyone. [GeekSpeek: Goog-ed out] |
mercredi, mars 01, 2006 Daffodils - New, Fast, Automatic!  Daffodils - Adrian HenryI wandered lonely as the new, fast daffodil, fully automatic that floats on high, o-er vales and hills. The daffodil is generously dimensioned to accomodate four adult passengers 10,000 saw I at a glance Nodding their new anatomically shaped heads in sprightly dance Beside the lake, beneath the trees in three bright modern colours red, blue and pigskin The daffodil de luxe is equipped with a host of useful accessories including windscreen wiper and washer with joint control A daffodil doubles the enjoyment of touring at home or abroad In vacant or in pensive mood Specification: Overall width, 1.44m (57") Overall height, 1.38m (54.3") Max. speed, 105km/hr (65mph) (also cruising speed) Daffodil: Reliable - Economical Daffodil: The Bliss of Solitude Daffodil: The Variomatic Inward Eye Travelling by daffodil you can relax and enjoy every mile of the journey. (do compare this with the original by Wordsworth) While speaking to MooMoo on our mutual English Literature classes on Brit Comedy in NUS, I tried searching for this poem which Dr Bernard Turner read to us in class, and it was SO HARD trying to find it that I've decided to post it here for posterity. I'll never forget that particular class - Patke's own brand of brilliance plus Turner's (forgive me) excellent turn of the phrase, plus the insane poem readings made the class superb. I remember Turner singing "Those Were The Days My Friend, We'd Thought They'd Never End" when we were discussing the sentimentality derived FROM sentimentality/ nostalgia - the poem was Adrian Mitchell's Nostalgia - Now Threepence Off.  I remember the peevish tone that Turner read U.A. Fanthorpe's poem, written from THREE points of views from this particular painting: the dragon, who complained that he was being painted from a bad angle; the maiden, who actually kind of liked the dragon and didn't really want to be rescued, but excused herself, saying "the dragon got himself beaten by the boy, and a girl's got to think of her future"; and the knight, who boasts "diplomas in Dragon Management and Virgin Reclamation" (probably offered by SMU, since NUS and NTU don't seem to offer this diploma.)And Brian Patten's "Where are you now, Batman?", with Edwin Morgan's horny mummy in "The Mummy". Those were the days, my friends, we'd thought they'd never end... but they did. [Daffodils - New, Fast, Automatic!] |
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Schmoozing is tiring businezzzzz I'm exhausted after two days of watching someone really work his way around town. And when I mean 'around', I really do mean "around". We had eleven or so meetings in two days. I'm exhausted. Too many CEOs, too many handshakes, too many namecard-exchanges, and way, way, way too much schmulk all over my brain.Do I really want this life? This guy's a researcher. *tired* I still have minutes to transcribe. [Schmoozing is tiring businezzzzz] |
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