the next leg

Moving Homes

2007-05-08T20:02:00.000+10:00

I have moved my blog to http://balhaza.wordpress.com so remember to link that place now :). There is not much reason for the move, just that I want to. Hah~!

Review: 幕末機関説いろはにほへと

2007-05-03T23:47:00.001+10:00

Review: 幕末機関説ーいろはにほへと

I have been wanting to do a review on this anime for some time, now I never seemed to go about doing it (read: procrastination). Nonetheless, now that I am here, facing a blank notepad page and feeling the words flow through these silicon padded keys, I shall now formally introduce you to this anime series.

For one, this series is not for the comedy-seekers or those whose visions anime encompasses blue skies, puppy shaped clouds, big-eyed girls whose skirts always flap the wrong way, big-eyed boys who always love to pose and yell some mumbo jumbo before a big ass robot comes down and kick some alien butt. For those, skip to my other reviews. I repeat: this series is not for you.

Now, if you are still reading, before you embark on watching this anime, do yourself a favour and polish up your understanding of Japanese history. I am serious. This anime is as serious as that. No quarter is spared. As the title suggest, you should be pretty fluent in the events and the main players during the fall of the Shogunate - the infamous 幕末 . If you are considered a Japanese history buff, congratulations, you will be able to fully appreciate the depth and nuances embedded within this anime. If not, well, it is not that you cannot watch it, but the significance of quite of a lot of stuff will slip by you, just like it did for me the first time round.

That said, the story portrayed in the anime is but a sensationalisation of the actual events. Some things happened and some didn't; they are quite obvious. But nonetheless, the story flows in the same vein as that in real life. Again, you will appreciate that better if you have a good grasp of the Japanese history.

Framed in the light of the Boshin War, the anime is about the endless struggle of a young man sworn to destiny that takes him farther than he imagines. Akidzuki Youjirou. In order not to spoil the series, all I can say is that his mission in Japan is to seal an accursed head that is known to bring war and disaster on wherever it visits.

The anime begins in Yokohama, then a confused region with peace balancing on the tip of a knife. Western and Japanese cultures clashed on the streets daily and often broke into gunfight/sword fights. His wanderings soon lead him to the door of a particular Kakunojou Yuuyama Kabuki Troupe. The Troupe is out for blood and somehow, Akidzuki seems to sense that his mission is inevitably tied to them. And so the story goes.

On that note, Kabukis are traditionally done by males therefore having Kakunojou Yuuyama - a lady - star in a Kabuki is a little violation of the norm. However, it can be argued that perhaps hers was one of the few exceptions that existed in Shogunate Japan.

I give this series very high marks for the execution, the depth and the story. However, I will not really recommend this to everyone - for criteria, see second paragraph. Other than that, here goes the scores:

(All Scores Upon 5)

Title: 幕末機関説ーいろはにほへと
Genre: Action, Historical-Fiction, Shounen, Swords, Military
Graphics: 4 (Considering it is an internet release)
Story: 4.5
Action: 4
Relevance: 4
Overall: Awesome, if you can handle the weight.

OP: 荒野流転 (kouya ruten) - FictionJuction feat Yuuka

:Reading: Across the Face of the World - Russell Kirkpatrick
:Listening: abingdon boys school - Howling

Geek is the colour of Fall

2007-04-20T21:24:00.000+10:00

Emptiness

2007-01-18T03:10:00.000+11:00

Just this Tuesday, Blizzard had opened the Dark Portal into the expansion pack to World of Warcraft, ushering a new wave of online gaming fanaticism into the stellar MMORPG. Just this Tuesday, I received a note from a dear friend of mine on Deviantart asking if I would continue to discharge my duties as an administrator to a writing guild. Just this Tuesday, I was sitting in front of the computer, twiddling my fingers in hopes of something to do.

Now that I think of it, my actions in the past year were rather baffling, if not stupid. I was given a free hand over the writing guild which I had supported, helped and directed for almost a year, conducting some 5 - 8 writing competitions and setting up a number of projects, published its second magazine, organised and re-organised the structure and flow of the daily journals - which acted as weekly bulletins - and I was happy. No. Not just happy. Damn happy. People were enjoying themselves, we were all writing to our hearts' content, holding online chat sessions, putting forth projects and building so-called alliances between writing clubs. In short, it was a great time to me. Aye, it is a virtual reality, where the only tangible thing is the electrons flowing through millions of miles of cables to flash on your screen, but for writing, there is something else: the words on the paper.

Come June, when I was enjoying my winter holidays in good o' Sydney, I stumbled into an EB Games stores screaming out for blood at a half price sale storewide. And right in the front of the store was a giant World of Warcraft poster. To others, the computer graphics that made up the poster was just that, pretty pictures. To gamers like me, it is seduction.

And so began my skirmish into the wilderness of Azeroth, and I thought I was armed to the teeth with the experience needed to moderate my gaming time. An hour became four. Four hours became eight. Before I knew it, what began as a trial at 11am saw me stumbling to bed at 7 am the next morning. I failed utterly at trying to stop myself from being sucked into the game. Aye, it is my weak will I admit, but then, now that I have spoken to so many others, only one had not been drawn deeply into the game as the rest had; it is that addictive.

Now before I go on, I have to tell you that being an administrator of that writing guild isn't all that time-consuming, but it is needless to say that you have to dedicate a couple of hours a week to upkeep things. With the introduction of WoW into my life, I couldn't bear to even part a few hours to do just that. Even worse, WoW ate into my academic priorities. School wasn't all that important; leveling and questing were. Walks out of my room became routines to rest my eyeballs before another intense session of gaming. It was extreme, and I know I can be intense.

What pulled me out of the game was mainly that my subscription to the game ended and receiving a failed grade was like having a smarting slap on the face. More so that the subject was English, a subject that I can tell everyone I am pretty darn adept with. Still, it was too late in the semester and by the time I left the game, I was on my way to fail yet another subject in the second semester. Great.

By the time I got out of the game, it was late September and I have neglected the guild for almost half a year. Dust and cobwebs have crept up on the guild's homepage and the members that were buzzing before now quietly left the guild to its final moments. There were the occasionally squeaks about what happened and were there going to be anymore competitions, but me being in that state that I was, I couldn't bear to answer them. And the reality stings me as hard as the fail grade: I've abandoned something precious for a temporal illusion. It is like making it big with the lottery and the blowing every dollar and dime on booze and alcohol only to end up on the street penniless and vomit-stained. Okay, that is an exaggeration but it is a pretty good analogy. Now that the note has arrived, I cannot help but agree to retire to the backgrounds and watch someone else try to pick up the great amount of slack I left behind. It does not feel good at all. I know what I can do, but I just somehow ain't able to do it. Pride perhaps, or maybe it is just the denial that I can start anew.

And then there is The Burning Crusade - or what we gamers call affectionately, TBC/BC - which is pretty darn tantalising. An article in The Straits Times this Wednesday highlighted the increasing cases of game addiction with particular emphasis on online games. Ladies, game addiction did not start with the internet, nor will addiction end with just games. As long as humans are around and there is technology and the means to keep someone supported without doing an actual work, situations like game addictions, alcoholism, gambling addiction, drug dependence, the Japanese-turned-global-phenomena of hikikomori (Shut ins) will continue to persist in variations and in style. So as much as this expansion pack itches my fingers and tickles my imagination, I have a deep inherent fear of what might happen if I let the wave ride me instead of me riding the wave. MMORPGs smothered me for three long years during my JC days. Five years later, they are back to haunt me. But all in all, I know what it will make me feel at the end.

Empty.

:Reading: Tales from Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin
:Listening: 五月天 - 忘詞

A Trip down Memory Lane (I)

2007-01-08T15:23:00.000+11:00

Warning: Long post. Old memories. Lame-ness.

Found this nifty little list down by Ivan's blog. Decided to steal it and use it here. Basically it is things that my generation most remembers when we were still kids - primary school and earlier. Most of the things we did back in those days would probably warrant a 'lame' label by kids these days, but nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed my childhood and youth and cherished every memory I have of it.

1. You grew up watching He-man, MASK, Transformers, Silver Hawk, and Mickey Mouse. Not to forget, Ninja turtles, My Little Pony and Smurfs too.

MASK, Ninja Turtles, Ghost Busters, Mighty Max and Vigil and all those compact dungeons. Imagine an entire compact set of cosmetics but for boys, and toys instead of powder and foundations. Not forgetting Gummy Bears and Care Bears, Smurfs, Jetsons, Yogi Bear, Scooby Doo... Plenty more.

2. You grew up brushing your teeth with a mug in Primary school during recess time. You will squat by a drain with all your classmates beside you, and brush your teeth with a coloured mug. The teachers said you must brush each side 10 times too.

Not much memories on this I have to admit. But yes, the each side 10 times was often misunderstood as each tooth 10 times.

3.You know what SBC stands for.

Either Singapore Broadcasting Company or Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. The logo was fondly called the Old Granny, simply because it looks like one. And that colour test screen whenever there is nothing on. That circle with random spots of white and grey and a whole colourful row right at the bottom. I used to stare at that for hours at a time. Ok, I am a queer kid.

4. You pay 40 cents for Chocolate or Strawberry MILK every week in class.

40 cents? Was it that expensive? I know that I was forced to drink two packs a day because I was, well, hideously underweight.

5. You watch a very popular Malay dubbed Japanese drama on RTM1 about schoolgirls who possess powerful skills in volleyball called Meoro Attack.

My Japanese craze started late in my secondary school days and then into the Army days. So nope. No recollection.

6. You find your friends with pagers and handphone cool in Secondary school.

Handphones were a rarity. My dad got a area specific handphone where there were spots where you can use - i.e. Bishan Park - and others where there is no reception. Needless to say, they were expensive and definitely out of the kids' budget. I didn't have a pager until late secondary school and even then I did not use it much. People would jostle for the public payphones to page their friends and there were all kinds of models and colours for it. All I got was a hand-me-down from my sister.

7. SBS buses used to be non-air conditioned. The bus seats are made of wood and the cushion is red. The big red bell gives a loud BEEP! when pressed. There are colourful tickets for TIBS buses. The conductor will check for tickets by using a machine, which punches a hole in the ticket.

Aye. The buttons were enormous as well, not the petite ones squared into the black/dark grey plastic or yellow these days. Those in the past were big red buttons surrounded by a ring of stainless steel and it was always thrilling to beep it because the beep was just so jarring. Double deckers were a rarity - as were Volkswagon Beetles - and I remembered ooo-ing and ah-ing at it when I was about primary 2 to 4.

The tickets craze began in secondary school. Each ticket has a specific number from the roll and there was this popular urban legend going around that if you add up all 4 digits of the serial number and get 21, it is a lucky ticket and you are granted a wish. As such, my friend managed to hoard a big pile of such tickets and gave it to his then girlfriend in heart shapes. Was a rather sweet thought.

I still have some recollection of bus conductors issuing the tickets but that was rather rare when I started using the public transport. It was the days of coins and the filmy magnetic cards.

8. Envelopes given to us to donate to Sharity Elephant every Children's Day.

Charity Elephant and Courtesy Lion. How can one forget them? One is pink and fat the other looks ridiculous. Of course, then, they were adorable and funny. Now, just ridiculous.

9. You've probably read Young Generation magazine. You know who 'Vinny' the little vampire and Acai the constable.

I didn't care much for Vinny the little vampire but I was totally absorbed in the Bookworm gang and Mr. Kiasu who was very popular back in those days. The person who got the latest issue of the comic was bestowed a temporary hero status until the next issue comes out. And we would often read it in the school hall when there was some reading to be done or something like that. I think.

10. You were there when they first introduced MRT here. You went the first ride with your parents and you would kneel on the seat to see the scenery.

My uncle brought me on my first ride on the MRT from Ang Mo Kio to some place which I have forgotten because I fell asleep. But yes, kneeling on the seat and wowing as the blocks slide by. Similiarly for the buses. But the buses then had low floors and high windows, so being a short kid, I had to stand on the seat, which inevitably elicits a cry of dismay from my mother.

11. Movie tickets used to cost only $3.50.

No idea how much movie tickets cost. I wasn't in charge of paying then. But movies always had to go with kacang putah and that old Indian uncle with the push cart.

12. Strawberry ShortCake and Barbie Dolls fascinate Gals.

Barbie and Ken were my mutilation subjects whenever I was bored. The were subjected to my sadistic Batman's nefarious schemes and often found a limb torn out or the hair squished between some lego blocks. Ah...those wonderful days.

13. You learn to laugh like The Count in Sesame Street.

Not really but his laugh is infectious I'll tell you. So is Cookie Monster's cookie escapades. My favourite is still Kermit the Frog and a year ago when I was watching a documentary on the puppeteer for Kermit, I cried when I heard him sing the 'Rainbow Connection'. For your information, the puppeteer has past away.

14. You longed to buy titbits called Kaka (20cents per pack), and Ding Dang (50 cents per box), that had a toy init and it changes every week not forgetting the 15 cents animal crackers and the ring pop, where the lollipop is the diamond on the ring.

Yup those lollipops were fun to wear and great to show off but a mess to eat as you slobber and slaver over it and it drips onto your finger. Of course, not many actually eat it from their finger. Animal crackers were great but my favorite was visiting the temples and always getting a packet of those colourful frosted sugar biscuits that was meant to be urm... altar offerings. Urm.. LoL.

15. You watched TV2 (also known as Channel10) cartoons because Channel 5 never had enough cartoons for you.

Nope. I was in my Uncle's place so everyday of my primary school life was either sleep or watch the China production of Journey to the West, which is the best television rendition of the epic tale.

16. Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, The Three Investigators, Famous Five and Secret Seven are probably the thickest storybooks you ever thought you have read. Even Sweet Valley High and Malory Towers.

Ah ha! Speaking of books, there was this craze back in my primary school days where we would become libraries unto ourselves. Somehow someone thought it to be cool lending books to other friends and that craze caught on so we were borrowing and lending books, writing our names on the books we borrowed and on our checklists etc. But it was for a short while. But I remembered that probably sparked my interest in books. My sister already had a tonne of Enid Blyton so those books, plus Three Investigators, R.L. Stine - Fear Street anyone? - and a couple of other odds and ends. My thickest book then - if you can even consider it story reading - was my encyclopedia volume H. I remember reading from Harem to Hypnos and fascinated with the colourful transparency of the human body and organs and muscles - nothing perverted alright. But then again, that was not a story book albeit I read it for leisure purposes.

17. KFC used to be a high-class restaurant that serve food in plates and let you use metal forks and knives.

Nup. The high-class fast food joint was A&W with all the American themes and the tall mugs of root beer floats and knives and forks. Not to mention the hotdogs and onion rings which are pretty much more expensive then the other franchises. KFC was my staple for mashed potatoes, and to this day, I can never finish a meal from there without the mashed potatoes.

18. Catching was the IN thing and twist as the magic word.

Twist is the magic word if you wanna escape the catcher although how that came about beats me, though it sounded more like 'Tweeze' to me. In primary school, we ran around everything we can find: scaffoldings (Sonic the Hedgehog was a phenomenal success then and we imagine we were Sonic running through the rings) hedges (verdant portals running the length of our school field), under the stair cases and the disused or little used part of the school. I still remember playing near the school dump where there was this nice little hideaway facing a field outside the school (yes... parents of these days would be screaming and shouting "What???! DUMP!?? The rubbish dump!!???!" but kids those days don't care.)

And yes, those days, I call myself the ball magnet, because no matter where I am on the field - be it on the edge or right in the centre, the soccer ball would always find a way to strike my head. Once I was guarding a striker in a soccer game and he just rammed the ball - unintentionally - into my face. It was so hard that my face was imprinted with the relief of the ball's company's logo for a few hours. No blood but a tonne of pain. No doubt the teacher was fussing and fumbling over me for a couple of minutes there.

19. Your English workbooks were made of some damn poor quality paper that was smooth and yellow.

No recollection, but we had a chinese subject called Hao Gong Ming - Good Citizen. That was hilarious.

20. CDIS were your best friend.

What's CDIS?

21. The only computer lessons in school involved funny pixellised characters in 16 colours walking about trying to teach you maths.

Mmmm... can't really remember using computer when I was in primary school but in Sec school, St Gab's was the pilot school for the Student Teacher Workbench and we watched videos of exploding Caecium and Frucium I think. Those elements below Sodium.

22. Water bottles were slinged around your neck and a must everywhere you go.

Hmmm I didn't like the water bottles then. Too bulky. The only use I had for it was to ward off stray dogs by swinging it around like a nanchuck. Haha!

23. Boys loved to play soccer with small plastic balls in the basketball court.

Balls? Hell we would kick anything that is kick-able. I remember a bunch of folks using someone's shoe as a soccer ball. The goals were all variable as well. One could have it as wide as the length of a car the other as small as the shoulder length of the goalkeeper. And kids would mob each other for the ball so you will know where the ball is.

24. Teng-teng, five stones, chapteh, hentambola and zero point were all the rage with the girls and boys too...

Five stones and hentambola, those were the games that my sister and mom played. We played catch and something crocodile.

25. Science was fun with the balsam and the angsana being the most important plants of our lives, guppies and swordtail being the most important fish.

Hmmm Angsana yes and the rain tree. Then it was frogs and toads. LOL! Oh and Hibiscus as well. Because there was a row of hibiscus near the field.

26. Who can forget Ahmad, Bala, Sumei and John, eternalized in our minds from the textbooks. Even Mr Wally & Mr. Yakki. What about Miss Lala??? And Zaki and Tini in Malay Textbooks?

Hmmm when I read this I thought of the soccer players Abbas Saad and Fandi Ahmad. Wonder how are those two doing. They were called the Dynamic Duo and feared by most players in the Kadah and the Malaysian states. My sister shook hands with Abbas once and refused to wash her hands for a week after that.

27. We carry out experiments of our own to get ourself badges for being a Young Zoologist/Botanist etc.

Aye. You were given a list of 20 or 25 tasks and after each task you were given a stamp and once all done you get the badge. I managed to get only 15 stamps. :(

28. Every Children's day and National day you either get pins or pens with 'Happy Children's Day 1993' or dumb files with 'Happy National Day 1994'.

Somehow they all got lost before I get home. LOL!

29. In Primary six you had to play buddy for the younger kids like big sister and brother.

Was there such a program? No recollection. Perhaps I was too talkative and my form teacher didn't exactly took a liking to me.

30. We wear BM2000, BATA, or Pallas shoes.

BM2000 and Bata. BM2000 was the 'higher class school shoe'. Those with a red stripe. The branded one. Bata was just Buy-and-throw-away. And every weekend you were armed with a stick with a bit of sponge at the end and a bottle of shoe whitener. If it rains, you are screwed because those things are hard to dry.

31. Your form teacher taught you Maths, Science and English.

It varies. Some taught Maths and Technical, some taught English, Science and Maths, but it was all the same.

32. The worksheets were made of brown rough paper of poor quality.

Aye. But I do miss those poor quality paper. I don't know why. I prefer it to the white sheets we are issued now. That was why when I was given Japanese notes in that poor quality paper, I was elated. LoL.

33. You went to school in slippers and raincoat when it rained, and you find a dry spot in the school to sit down, dry your feet, and wear your dry and warm socks and shoes.

Nada. I took the school bus and even so, if the shoes got wet, they got wet. There is nothing you can do. But I think in Primary 1 we get to take off our schools before we entered the classroom. Hmmm... Can't remember.

34. School dismissal time was normally around1 pm.

For morning sessions but it was sleepy time and when we assembled to go home, we were sit on the floor and play hand games. Ji Ko Pa and the others which I don't think have a proper name like the game where need to kill off your opponent by making the number on their hands more than 5. We had tournaments for that. Ji Ko Pa as well.

35. There would be spelling tests and mental sums to do almost everyday.

Mental sums baffled me. I was told to do mental sums but come exam time, we were told not to do mental sums. So it was all so confusing.

36. Your friends considered you lucky and rich if your parents gave you $3 or more for pocket money everyday.

Hmmm.... in primary school I remembered giving 50 cents for a braised chicken wing - a delicacy of the tuckshop. In secondary school I remember drinking fishball soup with assorted ingredients everyday with a couple of friends. Can't remember how much it was though, but definitely less than $2.

37. You see Wee Kim Wee's face in the school hall.

I attended St Gab's for primary and secondary so all I saw was St Gabriel the Angel.

38. You freak out when the teacher tells you to line up according to height and hold hands with the corresponding boy or girl.

Was in a boys school so no freaking out. But the fingers to your lips was annoying. Very annoying. Once we went out of line in secondary school and had to stand on our chairs. LOL! Ms LIZZZZ CHAN!!!

39. Boys like to catch fighting spiders.

My dad used to bring me and my sister to desolated areas in Singapore just to catch fighting spiders. And my mom would be off collecting Saga seeds - which are actually red palm seeds.

40. Collecting and battling erasers was a pastime for boys.

Aye. Country erasers was treasures to us kids and everyday there would be a sizable crowd before the stationary shop (we call it the bookshop) 'perusing' the available countries there. LoL. That gave way to the pencil battles where we would draw some form of dungeon and have a couple of dots at the bottom and hold the pencil by the top with a finger. To play, you have to strike the opponent's base with your strokes. It is a little hard to explain though.

41. Autograph books were loaded with "Best Wishes", "Forget Me Not", and small poems like "Bird fly high, hard to catch. Friend like you, hard to forget".

It was a craze but guys don't bother to be this romantic.

42. Class monitors and prefects loved to say, "You talk some more, I write your name ah!"

LOL! My name was written and I had to spend 2 weeks staying back and writing some repetitive nonsense in two exercise books.

43. There were at least 40 people in one class.

And small clans within each class.

44. Large, colourful schoolbags were carried.

Mine was a dark blue Sierra Lonne (I think it is spelt this way) bag that lasted me till late Secondary school.

45. You brought every single book to school, even though there was one thing called the timetable.

Yes. My mother was afraid that being the forgettable kid I am, I would forget to bring something to school. Which I did often despite having most books in my bag.

Other than that, I remember gallivanting with Kok Leng down by a stream in Lower Pierce Reservoir. We used to cycle there and catch prawns/guppies/whatever we can find. Then we will be following the stream as it opens into a wider and faster flowing creek and just absorbed in the nature there. It was so quiet and tranquil there. Ah... I just miss it.

That was before the age of Playstation. When the PS came, such things were gone by the names of Final Fantasy and the likes. LoL! I remember turning down a number of outing requests just to play games. Aye, I was then rather bias to my PS. :p

:Reading: Tales from Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin
:Listening: Mr. Children - 口笛

New Year's Greetings and A whole bunch of Ramblings

2007-01-07T21:51:00.000+11:00

First up, albeit a little late - like a week - happy new year and season's greetings to all. As for some of my friends, あけましておめどう。今年もよろしくお願いします。

That out of the way, be prepared for a long post as yes, I have not been updating this thing for a long time. Instead of writing about my daily livelihood - which includes eating, sleeping, wash, rinse and repeat - I decided to write about some of the things I've seen or heard for the past few weeks.

Eminence Online comes to Singapore

Since they came over to Melbourne in 2004, I have keeping an eye on this rather alternate symphony orchestra. Alternate in the sense that their repertoire does not dwell solely in classical music but the also includes choice pieces from video games and anime. I say choice here because this inevitably caters to a very selected few - i.e. anime fans and gamers who are very often quite synonymous. Selected because not all video gamers are hardcore about the soundtracks, and not all anime lovers are fans of soundtracks as well. And for the past two years, I have been treating myself to their renditions of video game music and have pretty much enjoyed myself immensely. Agreed, their performances sometimes leaves one wanting, but still it is thrilling to see and to experience those pieces performed live.

This time, Eminence stretches out to the anime/gaming community in Singapore, bringing the folks here in Singapore a reason to visit the concert halls long associated with labels like 'class', 'sophistication', 'style' etc. Not that I now personally consider them appropriate but in the past, that was my view of concert-goers. And with the small band of five, hailing from Japan is my favourite video game music composer - Yasunori Mitsuda. Now being a fan of his since Xenogears, that simply gives me more reasons I should not miss this concert. So I managed to coax Ivan, my sister and her friend in attending this show and pray that they will not be disappointed. And much to my relief, they enjoyed it thoroughly.

The first thing that hits me when I arrived on location was the throng of people filling the concert hall. Honestly I did not expect so many people to turn up for the concert. Perhaps it was the name Yasunori Mitsuda that drew the crowds, or perhaps it was the first of its kind to make a mark in Singapore, either way, the turnout was pretty incredible. And not only was there a crowd, they were responsive and accepting of the performers. I have to say that in Melbourne, the audiences were rather lukewarm compared to the reaction of the Singaporean audience. And then again, it might be because Mitsuda sensei is there. In a mail magazine published by Procyon Studios - Mitsuda's own company - the production manager (who tagged along with Mitsuda to Singapore) wrote a great section about Singapore even though the tour brought them from Melbourne to Sydney and then Singapore. There was the standard Japanese excitement about finally seeing the rumoured Merlion in person, and the comments about the humidity and heat that smothers Singapore, but most of all, it was the reception that Mitsuda sensei received at the end of the concert. A line - with me and Ivan in it - snaked through the grand stairs from the doors of the concert hall and out of my sight. Being Singaporeans - no this is not bad but sometime characteristic already - people were politely jostling to get Procyon merchandise and after the concert, docilely in line to get an autograph from the composer himself.

On a side note as each person was permitted to only one autograph, Ivan, being the gallant person as he is, got another autograph for me on the album that I bought that day. As for me, I got him to autograph my copy of the guitar score for Chrono Cross.

Seeing this great response from the Singaporean community, I am pretty confident that that won't be Eminence's last concert in Singapore.

前へ進もう

2006-12-22T02:07:00.000+11:00

Tonight, the moon rises upon a new leg of my journey. Aye, I know that I have yet to finish my degree but still, to me, it is a new leg - I've just received an offer letter to do Honours in Biological Sciences. I am elated, excited and ecstatic. But when I read the instructions, a warning bell sounds in my head.

Don't you feel that the world at times conspire to prevent your next grand step into the future that is of your own making? I do. Take this honours thing for instance. The letter was sent on the 13th of December, arriving at my doorstep just this evening, the 21st of December. 8 days in the postal system. And it was by air (by sea it would take 3 months. Been there done there. Painfully) It does raises an eyebrow or two, but it is expected of the Australian postal system. Now, I am supposed to send in my reply so that the faculty office gets my signature within a week of me getting the letter. Fair enough, it does not say a week after the letter was sent but a week after I get the letter. Cool. But it having spent 8 days getting to me would automatically imply that it will take 8 days from me to them. Perfect. Switch to plan B. DHL delivery express. You can always count on the guys in Yellow. DHL has a wonderful service that sees the document/parcel/palette/goods delivered to the recipient by mid-day the very next day. Awesome. Thing is that, they work 9 - 5, so me calling them up at 10pm here will not see my document going to the faculty office by mid-day tomorrow. Situation still looks a little dull. Let's spice things up. Let's close the university tomorrow and let it re-open on the 2nd of January, 2007. So now, the trusty men in yellow can deliver the document but there will be no one to receive them until January. Wonderful! 2 weeks have pass since our dear man has received his offer letter and still it has not reached the office. I wonder what they will say hmmm? Enough of that. Just thinking it throbs my head.

Many don't even bat an eye when I say I intend to do honours. Perhaps it is a commonplace nowadays for affluent folk like Singaporeans to aim for more than just a 'common' degree. But after chatting with my course mates back in Australia, I realised that not everyone thinks so. Some are denied the chances for it; they want it, but financially and academically, the degree is stretching them too tight. To others, the honours is not a mean to an end, that is to say, it does not serve their purpose to do it. I have a couple of friends who would love to do honours but in the end, decline to do it simply because of job commitments or just that it simply would not be practical to do so - the former is a teacher, the latter aspires to be a park ranger. As the former Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro was reputed saying, "人生いろいろ". Life is diverse; Humans are diverse.

I began the year thinking that it is only natural that everyone continues into Honours, but after going through all that paperwork and interviews and chats with the various people I met, supervisors, course mates, coordinators etc, I began to cherish the degree even more than I ever thought I would. Things as such do not come easy and if you were on the opposite side of the table victimised by my sudden respect and hunger for the Honours, I hereby apologise though I have to say, it is not really out of my character to do just that. It might be only now that I am thankful for the chance and the opportunity opened to me. Perhaps later in the next year when you ask me of my feelings, I might be cursing and swearing at my folly to so eagerly drown myself in an abyss of self mutilation. But now, I am just thankful and I am happy. That's all there needs to be.

Ok, it is time for this long-winded bastard to shut up. Just take it that I am running practices for my Honours Year Thesis. :p

::Reading:: Chronicle of Narnia by C.S.Lewis
::Listening:: 千綿偉功 - カサブタ

Farewell

2006-12-11T16:39:00.000+11:00

As promised - albeit a little behind schedule - here is my first review. After reading so many 'fanboy' ravings about Mr. Children from me, I decided to give those who at least give this page a glance-over something different. I present to you Van Tomiko (伴都美子), the vocalist from the now defunct J-rock band, Do As Infinity.

I won't delve much into the renowned D.A.I, but after it disbanded peacefully in August 2005, Van decided to go solo. After all, she has been in the music scene since late 1998 and she had grown to love it. And now, in 2006, she gifts to the waiting world her first solo debut, "Farewell".

tracklist
1. farewell
2.morning glory
3. うらら
4.Essence
5.horoscope
6.complacence
7.鵺の鳴くよる
8.HOLY PLANET
9. Before Sunset
10. Hold Me...
11. A Dream is A Wish Your Heart Makes (Bonus Track)

I for one, think that the title of the album is a direct tribute to D.A.I; there are some fondly reminiscent of D.A.I.'s numbers. The album's namesake, "farewell", weaves an eastern tapestry much like its predecessor, 真実の詩 (Shinjitsu no Uta), whereas tracks like "鵺の鳴く夜" (Nue no naku yoru) and "complacence" incorporates the playful and yet developed tunes of D.A.I. Yet, the album has more to offer. Van strides across the crags from Rock into Blues and Jazz, offering us lounge tracks like "Hold Me...."and "horoscope", breaking out the wine and cocktails. Compared to her previous works with D.A.I., this slow and mellow album might rub fans the wrong way round but on the contrary, I find this a delightful deviation from what D.A.I. had to offer. In a single disc, she has defined herself - at least artistically - and has stated that she is different from D.A.I. Indeed, Van is independent now; she is flying solo.

Go ahead, take a sip of what she serve and you just might find it soothing your tastebuds.

And to those of you wondering what is my recent obsession about Mr. Children, here is yet another of my favourites from them - Paddle, a playful number crafted by the genius that is Sakurai.

Cheers and till next time.

::Reading:: Iron Council by China Mieville
::Listening:: 五月天 - 盛夏光年

The Downfall

2006-12-05T16:32:00.000+11:00

Coming back to Singapore includes a veritable assault on the wallet. For indeed, after being away for most part of the year, shut away with books and notes and unreasonably expensive goods in Melbourne, returning to Singapore liberates the half-crazed consumer within me. Let's have a review of what thus drained - and soon to suffocate - my wallet of its life-sustenance.

First and foremost, let me introduce my new clanging and twanging partner, an Ibanez AEL40. I know my initial plans were to get me a Yamaha FG720, but well, things changed when I was in Swee Lee. Sure, I don't think I will be able to use the full functionality of the Equalizers and the electronics featured in this guitar, but with its balanced notes, clear and crisp singing, how can one resist it's serenade?

Then there is the bunch of games that I swept off the shelf the moment I came back to Singapore. In alphabetical order: Gensou Suikoden V (幻想水滸伝V), Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria, and last but not least, Xenosaga III.

I wouldn't go into the details of the games, but I have to say that Xenosaga III made sufficient reparations to the disaster that was Xenosaga II. Sure, there are still things that leave the players wanting, but I have learnt to not anticipate anything for doing so would surely undermine the satisfaction of experiencing anything.

And yes, after my rather unfortunate encounters with countless of imitation Playstation games, I only buy original ones now. No I am not rich, and thus, this practice has rendered me of my holiday funds and comfort living. Sometimes, I wonder if I am economically suicidal.

On top of that, browsing through the newspaper can be a dangerous activity for me too. I am no aficionado for classical pieces, but I am still interested and piqued by the Guitar Fest that is ongoing this week. With the internet as my trusty psychic link to my friends, I managed to band together a meagre band of three people to attend a flamenco giant's recital. Juan Martin is the man's name and his profile is somewhat exciting to read. I can't wait till I hear his guitar. But that is more money out of my wallet.

The next is an event that I would kill to go. My favourite composer, Yasunori Mitsuda (光田康典）is making an appearance in Singapore with a Sydney ensemble that I have been supporting ever since they organised a chamber orchestra in Melbourne. Eminence Online is the name of the group and they specialise in game music, thus the involvement of Yasunori sensei. On top of that tantalising collaboration and new arrangement of favourites from games like Chrono Cross, Xenogears and Chrono Trigger, Yasunori is going to perform some of my personal favourites from my favourite album from him - KiRite. Beautiful compositions one and all, coupled by descriptive prose and awe-inspiring photographs. Aye, I did not take really good care of the booklet that came along with the album - I had to order it from Amazon.co.jp, but it was worth the trouble - but still, this is quite an impressive collaboration between three artists. It was so popular in Japan that KiRite was transformed into a 3 -day play, an event that I would kill to go, but alas, that was severely out of my limits. However, by the generous grace of lady Luck, Yasunori is coming over to Singapore along with the Eminence Online band, there is no reason for me to hold back. The problems that continue to nip at the back of my mind are these:

i) I am broke
ii) I am doing my NS, which requires me to be on the look out for insidious sabotages by superiors.
iii) It is on the eve of the eve of Christmas, and my friends might decided to do something crazy....

Anyway, for those of you interested, the official poster is here. Trust me, KiRite is an album worth getting.

::Reading:: Iron Council by China Mieville
::Listening:: Mr. Children - ALIVE

And then comes the rain

2006-11-24T15:09:00.000+11:00

I have been back here in Singapore for about 10 days, and everyday, there was rain. My mom jokingly said that I brought back the rain although it is quite clear that the monsoon season is upon us. In the past, I used to think of the rain as some what of a nuisance, something that occurs naturally and does not affect me much other than wetting my clothes and my hair as I dash from shelter to shelter. Now, I see it in a different light.

Perhaps it is due to my unhealthy obsession with the Anime "Honey & Clover" but I can still quite clearly remember what the author's view on the rain is. She sees the rain as a nurturing phenomenon, something that heals and nourishes. Yes, it is indeed, quite a stereotypical perception of rain, the cliche that the rain is healing and washing away the stains of anthropomorphic industries. But after being in Australia for so long, I can't agree more with the cliche.

Rain in Melbourne can't exactly be considered rain in Singapore's standards. Those tiny spatterings cannot even truly wet the floor, much less induce torrents of white waters within the drainage systems. The continent being one of the driest in the world - second to Antartica - I often find myself watching the needle-like silver threads streaking the sky only to hit the concrete floor with an inaudible pop. And those times, I find myself wishing that it would rain a little longer, and a little more.

Unlike Singapore, whenever it rains in Melbourne, the temperatures are bound to plummet, from a nice warm day of 20 to chilly night of 9 or 10. I am not that partial to the cold nights - considering my room does not boost an effective heater - but I still like it to rain. Perhaps it is my course working an effect on me, since one of the major influence on Australian flora and fauna is the unpredictable weather, but because of it, I have began to like the rain. Or perhaps it is just that I miss home, and only in Singapore could you experience such torrential rain.

That is why these days, I smile as I watch it rain. For it is indeed, soothing and calming, and it does indeed, heal and nourishes the earth. I like the rain.

::Reading:: Iron Council by China Mieville
::Listening:: Mr. Children - PADDLE

ただいま！！　我の故郷！

2006-11-14T15:03:00.000+11:00

There were a few things that struck me when I got myself onto the travellator toward the arrival hall:

1) The humidity. It never fails to smack me in the face.
2) The fact that I am home.
3) The fact that people everywhere speaks Singlish.
4) The fact that I am happy to be home

Everywhere I go, there is a wet smell lingering in the air. It penetrates everything, my shirts, my towels, my bed, my table, the water running out of the shower, the food I eat. It is not quite that easy to describe it for although it carries a hint of rot and stagnation, it also has the hint of renewal and growth. You might think that I must have hit my head somewhere or have taken some bad food to screw my brains this badly, but seriously, that's the best I can describe the smell. Perhaps it is just me thinking too much. But anyway, it is a nostalgic smell, a smell that constantly reminds me I am home. I've not realised how much I missed this confused element in my surroundings until now.

Anyway, that's it for the homecoming. As a way to vent her excitement at me coming home, my mom brought me to buy stuff. And that was when I went to try out the guitar I have been researching on. It is not the best, but I don't deserve the best.

It is the Yamaha FG 720. I know that the guitars from Yamaha aren't exactly the best and there are probably better deals out there, but for now, my eyes are on this beauty. As it is, with my skills now, I am unable to let it sing to its heart's content, but I just like the harmony of the sounds. The current I have now at home is an abnormal thing that is much smaller than the standard ones and to complicate things, it insists on twangy accents; the notes are not as harmonised as the one I have back in Australia. When I entered the store yesterday, there was a lady trying out this guitar, and she and I fell in love with it. She has the skill to explore the depth and potential of the guitar, I didn't. I seriously wonder when will it be when I stop disappointing my guitars.. hmmm...

Other than loitering around in the music shop, I stopped by HMV and picked up two things that reduced my friend into a screaming fanboy. Mr. Children Albums, the best collections 1996 - 2000 and another album that Ryo recommended me two years back, but being the ignorant ass I was, I did not take up the recommendation until now, シフクノオト.

Mr. Children, Best Collections 1996 - 2000. The second album of their best collections. I didn't see the first album, 1992 -1996 although I would think that was the better of the two. Regardless, they are two good albums.

Mr. Children シフクノオト album. This is the one that I wanted to get. With songs like くるみ (Kurumi), Any and Hero , how can one miss this excellent album?

That's probably it. If any of you guys are interested in the albums tracklist, go google it yourself. :p

And my summer vacation is just warming up. ;)

On another note, I might be writing a review soon on the book I devoured on the flight from Melbourne to Singapore.

As an additional justification on me buying シフクノオト - you've heard くるみ (Kurumi) and Any - I present to you, Mr. Children, Hero.

::Reading:: Iron Council by China Mieville
::Listening:: Mr. Children - 花言葉

Metal Slug

2006-11-07T21:44:00.000+11:00

This is an entry about invertebrates. You have been warned.

What do you first think of when you see the word, 'Gastropods'? A stomach? A garden snail? Or a platter of half a dozen of baked escargots dripping with garlic butter? For me, it was usually snails, until I met one member of the subclass called the Opisthobranchs: the faithful nudibranch.

Yes, it is all jargon to you, but the nudibranchs - as we all so lovingly call them- are also known as the sea slugs. They are also known as the gems of the oceans. And from the beautiful pictures that many have taken of these beautiful creatures, I present to you my personal favourite - Glaucus atlanticus - the Blue Sea Slug.

Glaucus atlanticus, the blue sea slug. Pictures taken from http://www.nudibranch.com.au.

It looks like something that is derived from science fictions or pluck out of fantasy stories, but indeed, fact is often stranger that fiction. These nudibranchs hang out in clumps of seaweeds known as Sargasssum, and unlike most other nudibranchs, the members of the genus Glaucus do not need to stick to a substrate to move. As you can see, they float above the substrate and basically just let the currents take them wherever it fancies. At the beginning of this year during my Marine Bio camp, I came across a book on nudibranchs and while browsing through the myriad of sea slugs, I came across a beautiful picture of this little dude.

If I would have a tattoo, I would stylise a picture of this dude and use it. Yes I know, I am a complete nerd. Point and laugh at me now.

Glaucus atlanticus (left) and Glaucus marginatus. The latter is a smaller species but no less ornate and beautiful. Pictures from http://www.nudibranch.com.au

Also as a justification of me setting up a blog (if there was ever such a thing or a need to do so), I set up this blog with the idea of recording my research progress next year. Although whether or not I might get into honours is still hanging in the air, but I am going to fight tooth and nail to get into the program. Firstly, because it is a step I need to reach my goals as an academic. Secondly, how can one resist not to work with leeches??? Well, even though that is still unconfirmed as well, but well, I have done the best I can and now the powers of decision is out of my hands.

So this is a little teaser on the little things I hope I will be working on next year, the snail-eating leech, Helobdella papillornata (Euhirudinea: Glossiphoniidae). The Glossiphonids are renowned for their parental care - yes, leeches have parental care too. Chew on that. I will write more about this dudes once I get my confirmation. Fingers crossed.

A brooding leech. These leeches laid typically 20 - 60 eggs which they tend and when the young hatch, they stick to the parent leech for up to 4 weeks. The young leeches will then feed on snails captured and digested by the parent during that time. The parent on the other hand, does not feed during that brooding period (Govedich and Davies, 1998). Photo from http://www.invertebrate.us

Reference (I heard groans and moans)

Govedrich F.R., Davies R.W., 1998, 'The first record of the genus Helobdella (Hiruninoidea: Glossiphoniidae) from Australia, with a description of a new species, Helobdella papillornata,' Hydrobiologia, 389, 45-49

For your entertainment reward, just scroll down and enjoy songs from Bonnie Pink and Hajime Chitose. :p Ta.

Macedonian Macadamias

2006-11-07T12:45:00.000+11:00

No, Macedon did not produce Macadamias - it's an Australian tree - but who cares. History will be over this coming Thursday and that's the end of another semester for me. Oddly enough, I am pretty much looking forward to go back home this week - not that I wasn't for the last few years, probably because I have made plans for myself. NS is not exactly the cheery side of things, but well, considering that I will be meeting her after a long long time, it's got to be good right?

So here, you go, two MTVs by female singers that I like pretty much. The first is Bonnie Pink, doing a cover of the 1988 band, Fairground Attraction's Perfect. Lovely rendition.

The next is Hajime Chitose ( 元ちとせ) and a song reflecting her islander heritage. Indeed, not many people are taken by her singing style for it has a rustic quality. However, that to me, is beautiful. And by the way, her style of singing is called ShimaUta (島唄), or Island Singing. It is not the traditional Japanese style of singing. That is Enka (演歌), which is different. This song is called Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi (いつか風になる日). I am still trying to discover the cultural connotations of that popular phrase so pardon me while I go bug my friends.

If any of you have seen Utada Hikaru (宇多田光/宇多田ヒカル) PV for 'Deep River', I believe you would be thinking of that song whilst watching this PV too.

::Reading:: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
::Listening:: スガシカオ- ココニイルコト

Reticence

2006-11-05T12:59:00.000+11:00

After watching a video posted by a friend's friend, I realised how erroneous I was by writing 'Reticence'. Indeed, I did not know the full story, but perhaps the point about writing Reticence was not to retell his story, but as a medium to recover from my shock. I was going through a rough patch in life at that time, and after receiving that fateful email... well... do I have to say anymore?

Therefore, I hereby resign my grief and loss of a friend to the depths of 'Reticence', whilst I remember him by the good times we spent together.

::Reading:: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
::Listening:: Matchbox 20 - Unwell

Closure

2006-11-03T18:14:00.000+11:00

With the announcement 'Pens down please,' I have officially concluded the Science segment of my Double degree today. It feels somewhat refreshing and liberating yet at the same time, infused with uncertainty. I have done what I am supposed to do. Now what makes or breaks my career and my immediate plans are in the hands of my lecturers. And I can say, today's paper was not a pleasant one.

That aside, I've just received something interesting from a good pal of mine. All I can say is I applaud the kid's - I hereby assume it's a primary school boy - dedication to his assignment to the point of drawing out a Chinese talisman. I do know a few of my friends who could do that but that is the first time I've see it on a composition piece. Ah... the wondrous things animes and games do to people.*grin*

::Reading:: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
::Listening:: Bump of Chicken - sailing day

弱音

2006-11-02T10:41:00.000+11:00

急に思い出し、二年前あの特別な時間。あの時、僕はリョウとクオスメートの二人が石川県と福井県のロードツリプをやった。そこで福井県のとうじんぼうという有名な観光地の近いで，名前を忘れた島があった。あの時，僕らがその長い橋を渡って歩いていた時、波の音しか聞こえなかった。その音は強くて優しかった、すべてが飲み込みそうなきがした。突然，リョウは海に向かって，大きな声で叫んだ。気付いたら、僕もあのちょっとしょっぱいな空気を深く吸い込んで、精一杯で叫んだ。泣きたいほど気が楽になったの僕は何度も海に向かって叫んだ、声がすこしかすれたほど叫んだ。あれは一体どういうことのだろう、ずっと今までわからなかった。でも今朝はやっと分かってきた。

人間は普通の状態で、他人に弱音とか不満などを簡単に言えないので、そんな腐っている気持ちが心にいっぱい集めてきた。僕たちは何も言っても、人間だ。僕たちの心や体が皮肉なんだ、ダイヤじゃない。だから壊れやすいの心は、時々自分の無用か寂しさに崩れられてしまった。その時誰かがそばにいてくればよかったけれど，そうじゃない場合は，誰にいけばいいんだろう？誰が君の海だろうか？その「何でも受け取るので、弱音とか不満とか私に聞かせて」の優しい人は君の人生にも現れたか？その答えは「ハイ！」なら、おめでとう。君は僕に取って幸せな人だ。

僕は時々思うんだ。自分の夢を叶うために、僕自身知らなかった犠牲をしたんだ。日常暮らしの中で特に気付かなかったけれど、今朝のような寒くて，雨天気なときは、異国の寂しさは特に棘が入っている。なぜなら、ぼくには思いや気持ちが言葉にうまく通じない。本当言いたいことはなかなか言えなかった。で，心に集めることしかできない。また独りで海の前に、声が壊そうほど、泣きたいほど、言葉がない叫びで全部の気持ちを海様に放つときを待とう。

Memory Lane: St. Gabriel's I

2006-10-30T15:38:00.000+11:00

I keep remembering back to my secondary school. When the dreams faded into the cold morning air, somehow, I wasn't looking at that familiar ceiling - I was looking at the classrooms and the nostalgic stairways that we all used to run. I seldom have such vivid memory flashbacks, and each time, it is something special. I still find it rather amazing that I am able to recall almost the entire floorplan for the school. I initially wanted to create a kind of blueprint and post it up here, but well, why bother. Therefore, I decided to make do with a simple rundown.

Imagine the word 天. That's what St. Gabriel's Secondary School along Serangoon Ave 1 used to look like. Now that it's gone, the only place to find it is to dig deep into the pile of photographs within. Anyway, lets start with the left leg of the word.

(Ground Floor)

The end nearest to the gate contained the subterranean Rifle Range, the Canteen and just behind the canteen, the P.E. Store. Well, I've only been into the Rifle range a couple of times and all I know about it is that there is a rather heavily armoured armory, and a nondescript chute that never fails to catch my attention. Blame my overactive imagination, but I always thought that the chute would lead to some kind of sci-fic underground basement with metal walls and florescent lights. After all, this rifle range did serve as a Civil Defense refuge in case of air attacks.

Next is the canteen which kind of looks like an L from an aerial perspective. Not that we frequented here - we did, but it was not really during the recesses for somehow or rather, we would rather prefer to eat in class, which is of course, forbidden - but there were several 'hot spots' for the usual gang of us, 4S and 4T1 folks. Now that I think of it, perhaps our favourite table commanded the best position in the canteen : we were looking pass the pull-up bars into the field and ever so often there would be breezes coming in.

Then there is the P.E. Store, which is practically, filled with balls. Soccer balls, basketballs, volleyballs, tennis balls... you get the picture.

Past that end, we come to central line of the word, where the two legs meet. This is but an empty corridor with a staircase right where the legs meet and another where the central line meets the first horizontal line. Nothing special about this place, only that the NCC (Air) and NPCC folks used to march and practise their drills under the entire school echoes with the sound their boots stomping. We - the NCC (Land) - practised out in the sun, as prescribed by some kind of sadistic and masochistic will to burn our skins and suffered from dehydration.

Next, we come to the other leg of the word 天. Nearest to the central line is the principle's office, where well, dudes get punished and were made to stand out the office for a certain time. For the last year that I went to that school, it was occupied by the taxi driver - that will have to come another time. Behind the office is a semi-open space that is designated as a study area. Not that many folks used it, but we did utilise it in our last two years, especially when the exam period was approaching. It used to have wooden benches but I somehow have the feeling that that was changed to plastic "Mcdonald's" tables and chairs. *shrug*

And next to that is the technical workshop, where one could spy signs like 'Smoking is good for health' or ruptured condoms here and there. All thanks to the teacher who supervises the technical classes. Oddly enough, he is one of those kind who makes you fear him, yet like him at the same time. A man who demands and deserve respect.

Well, it would seem that writing about St. Gab's Sec School would be a long and lengthy endeavor, hence I will split it up into several sections. Aye. The verbose bastard strikes again. Fear the words.

---------------------------------------

That said, lets return to the present. My neighbour's flowers are in full bloom today and it being a beautiful day, I decided to snap a couple of shots. I have the inkling that they are peonies, but they could be carnations as well

Yes, and now for some good music too. :p Enjoy Mr Children's goodness again. :p

And yet another one. I promised my friend I would post something of pretty girls here, so yes, one from the now defunct band, Do as Infinity. Beautiful song.

Nanowrimo/くるみ/BoC

2006-10-27T14:41:00.000+10:00

Nanowrimo

The time has come for novelist-wannabes or those waiting to release that deluge of words within them. The aim: to spit out a 50,000 word manuscript come 30th November. This crazy verbal marathon starts on the 1st of November, at 00.00.01 sharp. Well of course, only the most fanatical Nanowrimo fans would be watching the clock this closely. But for the rest of the writing world, this month will be filled with much agony, grief, relief and pleasure. Having embark on this marathon once last year, I've realised how difficult it was to actually come up with a viable story that will stand on its own until the 50k mark. My first manuscript - a project started in 2003 or 2004 - casually crossed the 50k mark in the 6th chapter, and to my horror, that was not even half of the full story. Indeed, I had an odd goal in mind when I was writing that manuscript: 200 pages of pure words, 10 - 12 chapters, implying that each chapter to be at least 20 pages. That was before I knew about Nanowrimo and I was doing that during my free time. Come Nanowrimo 2005, I decided to rewrite the story, condense it, change some elements and squeeze it out by 30th November. Needless to say, I failed miserably. I was only halfway to the finish line when the candles burnt out and my story stopped talking to me. I guess I am not the kind of person to really stick a project to a dateline, particularly a personal project.

Well, I decided to shamelessly plug myself here by including a teaser from the first manuscript - that mammoth of a story - since I still quite like it.

'That Besas is a member of the Cabal is a fact; his family laid the foundations to the cult. They funded and sheltered those who lost the revolt twenty years back. The Haros own a facility south of Melopick that to this day, function as a refuge to the Light Bearers. The reports I hear about that particular property is grim.

I have also been keeping a close eye on Aurl ever since the last skirmish ten moons back. When Besas was installed in Dens Hold, all but two scouts reported nothing amiss.'

Crest frowned. 'Were they silenced?'

'Unlikely. It would only draw more suspicion. I have since sent in one of my best men to assess the situation. It looks bleak my friend.'

'What of the fort?'
'The scouts reported no anomaly. But there have been fresh graves dug.'
'The plague?'
'I can't say but many soldiers have since fallen. The yards are bursting at its seams, but Besas is still able to maintain a healthy turn out.'

Crest eyed Saal. Treachery was a matter, slander and accusation of treason was another. He trusted Besas, but there was no way for him to doubt Saal. Life indeed, loved to toy with his loyalties.

'Where is he recruiting the men from?'
'De'mocka. Harmless enough,' Saal said. The town of Cerylon slid into view as they climbed the last rise, its fired clay roofs welcoming the two men. Twin turrets rose form the centre of town, framing a large belfry atop the local temple. The bell was silent now, smothered with a flock of pigeons purchasing rest within its intricate shadows. Voices drifted upwind to them, laden with the smells of market and commerce.

'Crest, where is Besas' homeland?' Saal asked softly.
'De'mocka.'

Saal felt the wind's warm and gentle touch, thick with spring and the market. He then made his way down the dirt track, his moccassins lightly crunching the gravel beneath.

Well, for some of you, that is a whole chunk to digest, but well, I am not accused of being overly verbose for nothing. So the question now remains,' Am I to participate in this year's Nanowrimo.' I don't think so for I feel like I want to take it slow this time - it's been a while since I last wrote anything. But it does heartens me to know that SG's Art Council is endorsing the event and even sponsoring the Sg Nanowrimo folk with some laptops. So that's that. I might occasionally dump some of my old stuff or even new stuff here, so watch out for the big blocks of words. Most of my friends are visual artists, I consider myself a verbal artist, though I am still learning the ropes.

Mr. Children / Bump of Chicken

One must wonder with the strange names that Japanese bands come up with. But having immerse myself in them, they slide past me like mathematical equations to a maths Major student, or Jung and Freud to a psychoanalysis student. I think this is becoming somewhat of a habit, me plugging videos after a big block of writing. Something like a reward for reading eh? Perhaps. Anyway, enjoy. Attached is one of Mr. Children's latest songs, くるみ(Kurumi). Really tear jerking stuff. But great song. As someone wrote, 'The world had the Beatles. Japan has Mr. Children.'

The next is a song from my favourite band, BoC. Most of you would know them for 天体観測, a song that gained them popularity in both Japan and then later in Asia. Their history is really interesting and quite well, dramatic, considering that all 4 members attended the same kindergarten and high school together. This is a song called 車輪の歌 (Syarin no Uta) or the Wheel's Song. Simply awesome.

Enjoy

P.S: Decided to change the template of the blog cos the last one was too dim and well... depressing. ;)

::Reading:: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
::Listening:: Spitz - Je t'aime

CMs

2006-10-20T18:48:00.000+10:00

Yes, I have a soft spot for Japanese commercials. Watch it and tell me what you think. I think most of you would have seen the first one. :p But who cares. A good commercial is a good commercial.

The second one:

Captions read:
Please do not steal our children's imagination.
Let's start today, for tomorrow.

She A Male, He's A Male

2006-10-20T17:27:00.000+10:00

I was browsing through youtube.com last night - with my trusty cooper in tow- when I chanced upon this silliness of a commercial. (Unfortunately, the uploader of that video did not allow embedding of it so you need to click the link to watch it. By the way, the female narrator said "Strong and beautiful"). Not that it is not effective but trust the Japanese to really sell their products. Anyway, my friend commented on the violent woman and that got me thinking about hyenas. So yup, here you go, a little write-up on the quirkiness that is the hyena. ;)

The Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)

Photo by Steven Glickman, in Alcock 2001 'Animal Behaviour'

For your info, that's a female in the picture. Like several other animals, the spotted hyena females have a pseudo-penis which they happily flaunt to everyone in the vicinity. For a better idea of how they do so, go look at dogs next time they greet each other, especially the males. This so-called inspection of the genitals is a form of dominance assertion. Dogs, feral and domestic, often sniff the female's butt, not because they like the smell - there is a possibility but I will give you the liberty to exercise your imagination here - but to 'check' or inspect the genitals of the female so as to assess if she is a good mate for him. Similarly, such a system exists in hyena and it seems that the females have adopted a inspection of the pseudo-penis as a form of ritualised greeting.

At this juncture however, I would like to point out that the pseudo-penis is just that: it is fake. It serves no purpose at all to the female hyena, quite unlike the panda's thumb. On the contrary, the development of a pseudo-penis however can be fatal to the female when she gives birth. Most of you know how the womb and contractions function, so I will skip that. In the female hyena, the birth canal does not exit the normal path - through the rear of the body, near the anus. Rather, the birth canal runs through that pseudo-penis. Now let your imagination run again. Yes. It is often fatal.

Yet, evolution has favoured for the development of a pseudo-penis, despite the obvious disadvantage to her. If you frequent Animal Planet or NGC or Discovery Channel, you would have seen packs of hyenas in all their vicious glory, fighting and squabbling, growling and biting their way into meals captured by other predators on the savanna. The savannas are a harsh place to eke a living. Any advantage that the hyena might gain will put them ahead of the race to survive there.

The female spotted hyenas are loaded with a potent androgen cocktail (male hormones similiar to testosterones). This hormonal infusion boosts the level of aggressiveness in the female, as well as making her the toughest, the strongest and the most short-tempered of the lot. Come dinner time, she will be able to body her way into the centre of the feeding frenzy and gorge herself silly on the carcass. However, the hormonal boost endows her with masculine characteristics, maybe even more so than the males. She is bigger than most males, ranking higher in hyena hierarchy then them, and as we see in the picture, she develops a pseudo-penis. Therefore, despite the possibility that she might die giving birth, the androgens puts her at the top of the hierarchy. And in the wild, we all know that those are the survivors.

There are more quirky gender issues in the animal world, but I think I'll leave it as that now. Now for something else that I plucked from youtube.com. I just can't have enough of Japanese commercials. :grin:

::Reading:: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
::Listening:: Depapepe - ハチロク~

A Blog?

2006-10-15T10:14:00.000+10:00

As some of you might know, I was quite against personal blogging before. I was under the view that some people simply use blogs as means to milk others of sympathy and concern. Now, I have to admit that what I had was an erroneous perception of the blogging realm. Indeed, there are some people who do post their intimate private lives for scrutiny under the guise of 'reasons' - whatever they may be - but one's man's poison is another's meat. Therefore I agree to disagree.

What triggered this recent change was this little article by Nature, one of the leading publishing houses with respect to scientific journals: Bloggers rally for the liberation of the 'Tripoli Six'. I will not elaborate much on the plight of the Tripoli Six for of the many things I dislike, the most is politics. The Tripoli Six have unwittingly become victims of a political entrapment that finds fingers pointing everywhere. It is quite depressing to look at them right now for all I see is resignation. Afterall, having been shut away in a Libyan prison for six years now, and the case re-opened only to be concluded by a violent firing squad, one cannot help but feel the ache.

That reminds me of a story a friend once wrote, a twist on the age old Pandora Box story. His question in that story was simple: why did something like Hope laid in a box of ills? There exist many explanations for something like Hope to co-exist with the ills that the Greek gods inflicted on humanity, but then again, what is hope? He reckons that what she found there was not hope, but false-hope - the greatest of all evils. Needless to say, it was a grim and dark story indeed.

And if I am to affect you, dear reader, with my unhealthy broodings, I apologise. I am faced with a series of assignments and exams and here I am, taking my time to write a blog. I am driving myself into a wall and somehow, I am enjoying every moment of it.

Yes, you can guess it. I am a sort of psycho-masochist. So beware.

On a lighter note, I will be splitting this blog into several sections:

まずは日本語の部分を作る予定だ。まあ、来年の日本語のクラスがないので、ほとんどの練習はなさそうだ（アニメとかJ-Pop以外、だがあれは練習と言えないだろう？）。だから、時々こっちに日本語を使うんだ。私は日本語がまだうまく使えないので，日本人とか日本語ができる人に先にごめんなさいと言っとく。だから日本語が読める人に，よろしくお願いします。どうぞ，遠慮なく私の日本語を訂正してください。

Occasionally, I might find something that strikes my eye and perhaps summarise a scientific article or two. Don't worry, I will go light on the terminology and the jargons - those bastard children of technicalities. Granted, they will not be as interesting as those written in recognised journals like Science or Nature, and due to my standing as a zoology student and aspiring zoologist - possibly parasitologist, my articles will be bent towards biology and the biosciences. But I certainly hope that you will enjoy them. On that note, if you are really interested in Science as I am, subscribe to the Naked Scientist's podcast, an affiliation of the Royal Society of London.

And due to my habits of living like a hermit in my room for most parts of the month, I might review one or two anime series that I have a liking for, or a book or something. You get the idea. Thus, the Review section.

Well, that's probably all for the first post. Now back to Jung and Le Guin.

Cheers
Chris

::Reading:: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
::Listening:: 安典光田 - Radical Dreamers ~盗めない宝石~