Yes, I am the bozo who only discovered Morpheus 2 weeks back. Ever since then, I have been on a downloading streak and I have tried to download old movies and anime films that I have missed (e.g Fifth Element, Pi, High Fidelity etc)
Finally caught Spriggan last night, I had only managed to catch the last 1/3 of the show when Arts Central screened it half a year ago. I loved it. Been trying to download Princess Monoke right after I was done with Spriggan.
I got majorly pissed when my computer hung and everything that was in progress got wiped up (that means I have to download all over again!). That didn't happen the last few times my computer hung as Morpheus was able to continue to where the computer left off. *Sigh*
New thematic CD display! Logical Progression + Progression Sessions. It's really too bad that my colleagues/boss has to live with atomspheric drum 'n' bass for the next two weeks. Blissed out in all the music *Hazy smile*.
There is a big irony about downloading music online. With programs like Audiogalaxy, one can practically download almost everything, but I still end up buying CDs which I might just chuck aside after one or two listens. I could have checked out any album by downloading them for a listen first before shelling out my hard earned money for them, but CD buying is really an impulse purchase (that is how I managed to have 600 CDs *Sigh*) and I always end up buying without listening to them. I really can't explain the phenemenon of how I have in mind what to download while I am at work, on the train, in the washroom, playing bball but I just forget everything/don't know where to start when I sit in front of my computer and have the world's music at my disposal. Someone suggested sending emails/SMS to myself.
The music that I am playing now is getting me a high. Progression Sessions - Blame featuring DRS
Tuesday, October 30, 2001
Monday, October 29, 2001
I have this little deal with the VP of my ex-company. We will take turns to bring each other to a new dinner place every month (plus pay for it) and this month is her turn to do so. Part of the deal is that we will refrain from talking about business (my ex-company is my vendor now) and that we will not claim for what we spent on the dinners that we buy each other.
She bought me to this place at East Coast Road called Margarita's that serves authentic Mexican food. And believe it or not, this is the first time I am trying out Mexican food.
I tried the three items that were recommended by the lady there. Ceviche is this really interesting appetizer - a little bowl of small chunks of raw fish that has been marinated in lemon/lime juice for a long time. Kinda sour but really tasty. I forgot the name of the mushroom dish but it's huge button mushrooms that tasted really really good (the sauce was really good). Then I had the Fajitas, which is like Mexican poh-piah. Yummy! Had alot of fun just trying to do up your own Fajitas (they serve you the ingredients for you to do it yourself). For dessert, I finally learnt what a souflette is and god it really does melt my heart (and my tastebuds)! The lady that I was having dinner with even told me stories about how she had to sit for "Cooking" exams for her 'O' levels and that the souflette dish would be one of those practicals that she has to do.
For someone like me who has never been to Jack's Place until the age of 21, the places that I have been bought to ever since I started working are always eye-openers for me. However, I will somehow feel very conscious of myself at all these posh dining places. Somehow, I don't really like business lunches or dinners even though some of my other friends express envy at the places that I have been to. I guess they really don't know how uncomfortable I am especially when you can't have fun and monkey around like those instances when you are eating with your friends and I really could live without all those pretentious talk when you dine with your business associates.
And so next month is my turn. It's kinda like a challenge for me because I am really some food idiot. I guess I better check out with my colleague who spends $800 on food and fine dining every month, on where I should go next month.
She bought me to this place at East Coast Road called Margarita's that serves authentic Mexican food. And believe it or not, this is the first time I am trying out Mexican food.
I tried the three items that were recommended by the lady there. Ceviche is this really interesting appetizer - a little bowl of small chunks of raw fish that has been marinated in lemon/lime juice for a long time. Kinda sour but really tasty. I forgot the name of the mushroom dish but it's huge button mushrooms that tasted really really good (the sauce was really good). Then I had the Fajitas, which is like Mexican poh-piah. Yummy! Had alot of fun just trying to do up your own Fajitas (they serve you the ingredients for you to do it yourself). For dessert, I finally learnt what a souflette is and god it really does melt my heart (and my tastebuds)! The lady that I was having dinner with even told me stories about how she had to sit for "Cooking" exams for her 'O' levels and that the souflette dish would be one of those practicals that she has to do.
For someone like me who has never been to Jack's Place until the age of 21, the places that I have been bought to ever since I started working are always eye-openers for me. However, I will somehow feel very conscious of myself at all these posh dining places. Somehow, I don't really like business lunches or dinners even though some of my other friends express envy at the places that I have been to. I guess they really don't know how uncomfortable I am especially when you can't have fun and monkey around like those instances when you are eating with your friends and I really could live without all those pretentious talk when you dine with your business associates.
And so next month is my turn. It's kinda like a challenge for me because I am really some food idiot. I guess I better check out with my colleague who spends $800 on food and fine dining every month, on where I should go next month.
Sunday, October 28, 2001
Because I am pissed with how Blogger always screws up my archive links, I am switching for it to show 45 previous posts and a monthly archive for newbies who has just started visiting my blog. Personally I felt that the earlier posts had more flavour than what I have been blogging recently.
More of The Cure for a dreary afternoon.
More of The Cure for a dreary afternoon.
I didn't notice that the neighbours on my left were moving out until Friday night when I noticed that their house was pretty bare from moving. One of them came over on Saturday afternoon to bid us farewell and then he was gone. They had been our neighbours for the past 20 years even though I was never really close to them (however, we are very close with the neighbours on our right). Best of luck to the Wong family in their new place in Punggol. And I wonder who's gonna to be our next neighbours.
I was also oblivious to the fact that Saturday night was Halloween until a colleague of mine messaged me "Happy Halloween" through SMS. We had a ball of a time last year when me and my good mate borrowed a digital camera from his boss and we trooped down to Zouk to take pictures of people in fascinating make-up and costumes. Our intention was never to go inside Zouk but just to talk to people queuing up and go on to take shots of them in their fancy costumes. The irony is that I never saw the shots even though he was supposed to upload everything onto his website (we registered a domain together and I was supposed to do write-ups on music and events). So I guess the site is dead now?
Had The Cure's Show as breakfast listening.
I was also oblivious to the fact that Saturday night was Halloween until a colleague of mine messaged me "Happy Halloween" through SMS. We had a ball of a time last year when me and my good mate borrowed a digital camera from his boss and we trooped down to Zouk to take pictures of people in fascinating make-up and costumes. Our intention was never to go inside Zouk but just to talk to people queuing up and go on to take shots of them in their fancy costumes. The irony is that I never saw the shots even though he was supposed to upload everything onto his website (we registered a domain together and I was supposed to do write-ups on music and events). So I guess the site is dead now?
Had The Cure's Show as breakfast listening.
The usual routine of waking up just before Slam Dunk is aired on TV. Woke up at 9.00am in fear thinking that it was a weekday but when straight back to sleep when my mind realised that it was Saturday.
Went out with my "predecessor" (i.e. the person in my current job before I took over). I wouldn't have gotten this job if not for her. The people that I am working for now were actually some of the clients that were under my charge when I was working for my previous company. I suppose my current boss had the belief then that I could fill my "predecessor's" shoes and thus he hired me without any interviews or additional external search at his end. I guess it's the rapport that I have built with her and my current boss. I really felt that it was this huge lucky break for me.
I have read at least three people's blogs talking about Battle Royale. Honestly, I wanted to watch the show because Kitano was in it. I fell in love with Kitano's antics when I caught Kikujiro in last year's Singapore International Film Festival (for those who felt that Kitano's face seems kind of familiar after watching BR - he's one of the two deadpan hosts on the Japanese gameshow Takeshi Castle that TCS screened a few years back where the contestants had to cross obstacles and try to conquer a castle). Takeshi Kitano has just finished shooting a new film called Brother and there was a full write-up on him (plus front cover and interview) on East magazine just two months ago. He also featured in Merry X'mas Mr Lawrence (I once wrote about the OST tune on 19/10/2001) starring David Bowie and Ryuichi Sakamoto (he wrote that wonderful tune), directed by another cult Japanese director Nagisa Oshima.
Went for dinner (at my favourite dinner place - Pivdorf, Liang Seah Street) and did lots of catching up. There's alot to say because I haven't seen her for half a year. I was glad she liked the show.
By midnight, I was at a friend's house having a "all night long Big2 session". I will dismiss it as fun rather than gambling because the stakes were just like $0.10 per card. To me, Big2 is like this really interesting game that involves memory, intelligence, probability, psychology and raw nerves. Usually our monetary returns doesn't justify the time and sleep that we lost in the process but it's alot of fun when you crack jokes and talk crap over the game.
I lost about $15.00 anyway.
Went out with my "predecessor" (i.e. the person in my current job before I took over). I wouldn't have gotten this job if not for her. The people that I am working for now were actually some of the clients that were under my charge when I was working for my previous company. I suppose my current boss had the belief then that I could fill my "predecessor's" shoes and thus he hired me without any interviews or additional external search at his end. I guess it's the rapport that I have built with her and my current boss. I really felt that it was this huge lucky break for me.
I have read at least three people's blogs talking about Battle Royale. Honestly, I wanted to watch the show because Kitano was in it. I fell in love with Kitano's antics when I caught Kikujiro in last year's Singapore International Film Festival (for those who felt that Kitano's face seems kind of familiar after watching BR - he's one of the two deadpan hosts on the Japanese gameshow Takeshi Castle that TCS screened a few years back where the contestants had to cross obstacles and try to conquer a castle). Takeshi Kitano has just finished shooting a new film called Brother and there was a full write-up on him (plus front cover and interview) on East magazine just two months ago. He also featured in Merry X'mas Mr Lawrence (I once wrote about the OST tune on 19/10/2001) starring David Bowie and Ryuichi Sakamoto (he wrote that wonderful tune), directed by another cult Japanese director Nagisa Oshima.
Went for dinner (at my favourite dinner place - Pivdorf, Liang Seah Street) and did lots of catching up. There's alot to say because I haven't seen her for half a year. I was glad she liked the show.
By midnight, I was at a friend's house having a "all night long Big2 session". I will dismiss it as fun rather than gambling because the stakes were just like $0.10 per card. To me, Big2 is like this really interesting game that involves memory, intelligence, probability, psychology and raw nerves. Usually our monetary returns doesn't justify the time and sleep that we lost in the process but it's alot of fun when you crack jokes and talk crap over the game.
I lost about $15.00 anyway.
Friday, October 26, 2001
Introspection mode
Actually I feel alot better now than before my birthday.
I have made a truce with myself to be kinder to myself. To not be so bitter, to not terrorise myself, to not escape by asking more questions that I have no answers for. I understand that my intensity as a person affects both my well-being and those around me (family members, friends, colleagues etc). I am sorry for the fact that sometimes I just pack myself into the books, films and music and shut myself out from everyone and all those sordid thoughts that I shared.
I am tainted. I have broken wings. I am selfish.
I had actually really been kinder to myself. I have picked up active reading again. I have learnt to take things alot easier. But I cannot ignore things around me and the feelings that I have for them. I cannot pretend to be insensitive and ignorant to the things around me. I live to feel, to sense, to touch, to hold; not just to verk (read: work), eat, sleep, play, look at girls. I don't want to live a blank life where I cease to feel, think for myself, conclude, get things wrong (read: learn). I am not a plant.
But I am jaded.
How do I thank everyone? How do I acknowledge that I am not taking everything around me for granted, while I continue to breathe?
Thanks everyone?
Actually I feel alot better now than before my birthday.
I have made a truce with myself to be kinder to myself. To not be so bitter, to not terrorise myself, to not escape by asking more questions that I have no answers for. I understand that my intensity as a person affects both my well-being and those around me (family members, friends, colleagues etc). I am sorry for the fact that sometimes I just pack myself into the books, films and music and shut myself out from everyone and all those sordid thoughts that I shared.
I am tainted. I have broken wings. I am selfish.
I had actually really been kinder to myself. I have picked up active reading again. I have learnt to take things alot easier. But I cannot ignore things around me and the feelings that I have for them. I cannot pretend to be insensitive and ignorant to the things around me. I live to feel, to sense, to touch, to hold; not just to verk (read: work), eat, sleep, play, look at girls. I don't want to live a blank life where I cease to feel, think for myself, conclude, get things wrong (read: learn). I am not a plant.
But I am jaded.
How do I thank everyone? How do I acknowledge that I am not taking everything around me for granted, while I continue to breathe?
Thanks everyone?
Thursday, October 25, 2001
Just bumped into a good friend of mine at the MRT station and he told me that there's a new Goldie album out. Am I am laggard or what?
I went out to visit all my competitors today, collect their marketing materials, talk to their sales people (by pretending to be one of their potential customers) and look around. In the industry I am in, all my competitors are situated in the heart of town and all of them are within walking distance of each other (except for the market leader, who is situated slightly further). Using the infamous Baking Analogy, we are trying to see if we can also bake some new varieties of cakes that other people are already baking. We are good at baking the type of cakes that we have always been baking but too many bakers have been trying to bake easy cakes like those that we have been baking and it's getting a lil too crowded.
One thing that I noticed about the people that they employ that work at the front lines of their head office - it's all the gorgeous girls with an hour glass figure. Perhaps the strangest thing is that I can't really tell one from another. They all seemed to look the same to me. I don't think I can ever get hired to be a front line person because I am definitely not your "pretty people" type.
My CDs are home, time to reshelf them (Argh!).
I went out to visit all my competitors today, collect their marketing materials, talk to their sales people (by pretending to be one of their potential customers) and look around. In the industry I am in, all my competitors are situated in the heart of town and all of them are within walking distance of each other (except for the market leader, who is situated slightly further). Using the infamous Baking Analogy, we are trying to see if we can also bake some new varieties of cakes that other people are already baking. We are good at baking the type of cakes that we have always been baking but too many bakers have been trying to bake easy cakes like those that we have been baking and it's getting a lil too crowded.
One thing that I noticed about the people that they employ that work at the front lines of their head office - it's all the gorgeous girls with an hour glass figure. Perhaps the strangest thing is that I can't really tell one from another. They all seemed to look the same to me. I don't think I can ever get hired to be a front line person because I am definitely not your "pretty people" type.
My CDs are home, time to reshelf them (Argh!).
Wednesday, October 24, 2001
More about buses. I realised after the blogging how much I really adored buses.
I was a fanatic. At the age of 11, I collected bus tickets, bus guides, learnt about all the different bus models they had then (Mercedes, British Leyland, Volvo etc.). It was mad. A few years after, I read in the supplement that came with the chinese papers that there was someone who was even more "fanatical" than me. He has even gone to the extent of bringing home the bus poles, bus stop seats etc. And I thought I was weird.
Going to bring my CDs home tonight. Here's the playlist for my very own "DJ Kicks Megamix" :
- (Shoalin Satelite) Thievery Corporation, (Que Dolor) Sapien, (Tropicando) Les Baxter, (Rebirth) A Forest Mighty Black, (Free Your Mind) Piece, (69) Desire, (Psycodelico) Reminiscence Quartet, (Puzi) Gescom, (In a Bottle) C.O.D, (Please Stand By) BFC, (Ladies & Gentlemen) 69 Jazzfunkclassics, (Tell The World) Sci Fi Select, (Gettin' Down Again) Tek 9, (G String Remix - Andrea Parker) G-File, (Om Namah Shivaya) The Bill Wells Octet vs. Future Pilot A.k.a, (Quite Frankly) DJ Lynx, (Culture Customers) Tongue, (Theme From Control Centre - Reprise) The Herbaliser, (Tounge Of Labyrinth) Divine Styler, (Roller Rinks And Chicks) Freddy Fresh, (From The Ground Up) The Associates, (Latazz) The Funky Lowlives, (At The Helm) Hieroglyphics, (Rhino Part III) Stereo MC's, (Tried by 12) The East Flatbrush Project, (Zero G) Minus 8, (Emerald Alley) Up, Bustle & Out, (It's a Latin Thing) Freddy Fresh, (Break It Down) DJ Paul Nice, (Alphabet Aerobics) Blacklicious, (Shake Up - Jaddle Remix) Grand Unified, (Overooped) Smokers Blend, (Rwanda) Smith & Mighty, (Ponteio - Bonus Beats) Da Lata, (Ease Jimi) Nightmares On Wax, (The 13th Sign) Rainbow, (Success - Thievery Corporation Remix) DJ Cam, (Burning) DJ Krust, (Sole Sentiment) Ratman, (Exploration) The Karminsky Experience Inc, (Amid The Ether) Blue & Red feat. Shandi I, (The Phantom - It's In There) Renegade Soundwave, (Renegades Chant) Afrika Bambaata & The Soulsonic Force, (Mother Africa Feeding Sista India/2001) Fun-da-mental/Thievery Corporation, (Walk On) Smith & Mighty, (Five Days) Howie B, (Anyone) Smith & Mighty, (Lash The 90ties) Alec Empire, (Original Nuttah) UK Apache & Shy FX, (Sound Boy) More Rockers, (Higher Dub) Smith & Mighty, (Show Love) More Rockers, (Never Not - Blackdog Remix) Nav Katze, (Suicide) Alec Empire, (Java Bass) Shut Up And Dance, (Pound Your Ironing Board) The Mike Flowers Pops vs. Slang, (Sweat) Shizuo, (Road To The Riches) Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, (Sex, Sluts & Heaven - Bordello Mix) Depth Charge, (Milan) Tommy Hools, (Dark Jazz - DJ Cam Remix), Daphreephunkateerz, (Dieu Reconnaitra Les Siens) DJ Cam *fingers tired from typing*
I hope that anyone would just go download any of these tracks and "surprise" themselves. Especially those artists whose names don't sound famaliar to anyone. Since I think no one would have the patience to download everything, it's one's luck if someone decides to download anything and I hope they like what I like too. That much I can offer *Weak grin* If I was a DJ, this would be my vinyl wish list.
Note : The list contains a mix of drum 'n' bass, dub, reggae, down-tempo, lounge, indian, south american, hip-hop, old skool, IDM, elevator music, cacophony, drone music etc.
I was a fanatic. At the age of 11, I collected bus tickets, bus guides, learnt about all the different bus models they had then (Mercedes, British Leyland, Volvo etc.). It was mad. A few years after, I read in the supplement that came with the chinese papers that there was someone who was even more "fanatical" than me. He has even gone to the extent of bringing home the bus poles, bus stop seats etc. And I thought I was weird.
Going to bring my CDs home tonight. Here's the playlist for my very own "DJ Kicks Megamix" :
- (Shoalin Satelite) Thievery Corporation, (Que Dolor) Sapien, (Tropicando) Les Baxter, (Rebirth) A Forest Mighty Black, (Free Your Mind) Piece, (69) Desire, (Psycodelico) Reminiscence Quartet, (Puzi) Gescom, (In a Bottle) C.O.D, (Please Stand By) BFC, (Ladies & Gentlemen) 69 Jazzfunkclassics, (Tell The World) Sci Fi Select, (Gettin' Down Again) Tek 9, (G String Remix - Andrea Parker) G-File, (Om Namah Shivaya) The Bill Wells Octet vs. Future Pilot A.k.a, (Quite Frankly) DJ Lynx, (Culture Customers) Tongue, (Theme From Control Centre - Reprise) The Herbaliser, (Tounge Of Labyrinth) Divine Styler, (Roller Rinks And Chicks) Freddy Fresh, (From The Ground Up) The Associates, (Latazz) The Funky Lowlives, (At The Helm) Hieroglyphics, (Rhino Part III) Stereo MC's, (Tried by 12) The East Flatbrush Project, (Zero G) Minus 8, (Emerald Alley) Up, Bustle & Out, (It's a Latin Thing) Freddy Fresh, (Break It Down) DJ Paul Nice, (Alphabet Aerobics) Blacklicious, (Shake Up - Jaddle Remix) Grand Unified, (Overooped) Smokers Blend, (Rwanda) Smith & Mighty, (Ponteio - Bonus Beats) Da Lata, (Ease Jimi) Nightmares On Wax, (The 13th Sign) Rainbow, (Success - Thievery Corporation Remix) DJ Cam, (Burning) DJ Krust, (Sole Sentiment) Ratman, (Exploration) The Karminsky Experience Inc, (Amid The Ether) Blue & Red feat. Shandi I, (The Phantom - It's In There) Renegade Soundwave, (Renegades Chant) Afrika Bambaata & The Soulsonic Force, (Mother Africa Feeding Sista India/2001) Fun-da-mental/Thievery Corporation, (Walk On) Smith & Mighty, (Five Days) Howie B, (Anyone) Smith & Mighty, (Lash The 90ties) Alec Empire, (Original Nuttah) UK Apache & Shy FX, (Sound Boy) More Rockers, (Higher Dub) Smith & Mighty, (Show Love) More Rockers, (Never Not - Blackdog Remix) Nav Katze, (Suicide) Alec Empire, (Java Bass) Shut Up And Dance, (Pound Your Ironing Board) The Mike Flowers Pops vs. Slang, (Sweat) Shizuo, (Road To The Riches) Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, (Sex, Sluts & Heaven - Bordello Mix) Depth Charge, (Milan) Tommy Hools, (Dark Jazz - DJ Cam Remix), Daphreephunkateerz, (Dieu Reconnaitra Les Siens) DJ Cam *fingers tired from typing*
I hope that anyone would just go download any of these tracks and "surprise" themselves. Especially those artists whose names don't sound famaliar to anyone. Since I think no one would have the patience to download everything, it's one's luck if someone decides to download anything and I hope they like what I like too. That much I can offer *Weak grin* If I was a DJ, this would be my vinyl wish list.
Note : The list contains a mix of drum 'n' bass, dub, reggae, down-tempo, lounge, indian, south american, hip-hop, old skool, IDM, elevator music, cacophony, drone music etc.
Bball is fun! Had my liberating run into the darkness again. It's such an embarrassment to my fitness when 400m is all it takes to knock me out. *Breathless* Thank god I never have to do IPPT in my life again or I will be a permanent RT (Note : RT or Remedial Training is conducted by the SAF for those who cannot pass their IPPT) candidate.
There's not many experiences in this world that can beat that feeling. That feeling of having the wind brush past your face so hard that you have to squint as you look out of a speeding double-decker bus plying the PIE. How I miss bus rides on non-airconditioned double decker buses.
I love bus rides. A huge part of my fondest memories come from my "round island bus hikes" in my childhood. My uncle (a 30 year SBS employee who just retired last year) used to bring me and my three other cousins on free bus rides from one end of the island to another. From Macpherson (usually the starting point because that was where they stayed), we would ride to places like Jurong and ride from Jurong to another place etc etc. My "bus hikes" has taken me to the old Punggol Terminal, NTU (when I was 11 years old, 15 years back i.e.), Labrador Park (nice Char Kway Teow I remember), old Tanjong Rhu (was like a fishing village then) and many other places.
It's such a pity that there ain't much non-airconditioned double decker buses now and a bus ride is alot less romantic now with those grating TVMobile sets that broadcast distasteful slapstick crap.
That was my fun as a kid growing up in a lower social class family. Nonetheless, it's crystalised into a memory which no me can take away from me.
There's not many experiences in this world that can beat that feeling. That feeling of having the wind brush past your face so hard that you have to squint as you look out of a speeding double-decker bus plying the PIE. How I miss bus rides on non-airconditioned double decker buses.
I love bus rides. A huge part of my fondest memories come from my "round island bus hikes" in my childhood. My uncle (a 30 year SBS employee who just retired last year) used to bring me and my three other cousins on free bus rides from one end of the island to another. From Macpherson (usually the starting point because that was where they stayed), we would ride to places like Jurong and ride from Jurong to another place etc etc. My "bus hikes" has taken me to the old Punggol Terminal, NTU (when I was 11 years old, 15 years back i.e.), Labrador Park (nice Char Kway Teow I remember), old Tanjong Rhu (was like a fishing village then) and many other places.
It's such a pity that there ain't much non-airconditioned double decker buses now and a bus ride is alot less romantic now with those grating TVMobile sets that broadcast distasteful slapstick crap.
That was my fun as a kid growing up in a lower social class family. Nonetheless, it's crystalised into a memory which no me can take away from me.
Tuesday, October 23, 2001
Going to take the CDs home tommorrow, so I am going to do a "DJ Kicks Megamix" very soon. I haven't suffered from caffeine withdrawal symptoms yet but I am relying on (Sex, Sluts & Heaven - Bordello Mix) by Depth Charge to keep me awake. For some reason, I always roll my pupil upwards when I hear this song.
Sudden "hunger" for Alec Empire after lunch, it must be all the anger over one nasty customer which I had to deal with right before lunch. Maybe I should bring my Atari Teenage Riot CD to work and irritate the hell out of everyone with that lovely cacophony. It's just great to be able to "head nod" over Doc Scott and Alec Empire's drum 'n' bass beats right after lunch so that you wouldn't fall asleep.
If I had been in a better mood, I would have written about all the good drum 'n' bass nights that I have had.
Was told again last night that I have "inspired" another person to start blogging, hey it's not my fault isn't it? *Weak smile* - Keep smiling? Keep blogging? *Hehz*
I felt really good yesterday when I bought down all the unclaimed lucky draw prizes to National Council of Social Services to donate them to Community Chest. It was about $10,000 worth in value and I really hope that the needy benefits from it in some way or other. Most of them were unclaimed vouchers. One would never have thought that all a place like National Council of Social Services would be housed in a place like Ulu Pandan Community Centre.
I am looking forward to bball tonight. Good clean fun.
Sudden "hunger" for Alec Empire after lunch, it must be all the anger over one nasty customer which I had to deal with right before lunch. Maybe I should bring my Atari Teenage Riot CD to work and irritate the hell out of everyone with that lovely cacophony. It's just great to be able to "head nod" over Doc Scott and Alec Empire's drum 'n' bass beats right after lunch so that you wouldn't fall asleep.
If I had been in a better mood, I would have written about all the good drum 'n' bass nights that I have had.
Was told again last night that I have "inspired" another person to start blogging, hey it's not my fault isn't it? *Weak smile* - Keep smiling? Keep blogging? *Hehz*
I felt really good yesterday when I bought down all the unclaimed lucky draw prizes to National Council of Social Services to donate them to Community Chest. It was about $10,000 worth in value and I really hope that the needy benefits from it in some way or other. Most of them were unclaimed vouchers. One would never have thought that all a place like National Council of Social Services would be housed in a place like Ulu Pandan Community Centre.
I am looking forward to bball tonight. Good clean fun.
Monday, October 22, 2001
I am getting bored with my CD display at my desk. I shall change it next Monday but I have got to think of what CDs to hoard to work.
It seems like my archive links are not working properly, so I hope those new visitors here would re-visit my archive when I manage to get them up and running again (And it's punishment for me being an internet bozo).
Just found out that I have influenced someone to blog too.
Some nice person has just listed my blog as "HP" on his site. I think I owe an explanation on "Hiroaki Protagonist".
"Hiroaki Protagonist" is a character inside a Neal Stephenson book called Snow Crash and he is some samurai/hacker/pizza delivery man in that cyberpunk novel. Stephenson also wrote a very interesting read entitled Cryptonomicon. Seems like he has overtaken William Gibson at the cyberpunk helm?
Maybe I should change the description because I am really some internet bozo in real life who is totally unfit to tag myself as "Hiroaki Protagonist". But I am lazy and since it was the first name that came to my mind I guess I would just leave it as it is.
I am done with Veronika Decides to Die. I guess the book made me ponder more about life, insanity, sex and hope. I usually don't go into detail on how I feel about most books because each and every book I read is a deeply personal experience for me. Unless the book is so great I had to scream and shout about it. I tend to be more dramatic with music.
The book reinforced that idea that I always had - only the mad are truly free.
Lunchtime.
It seems like my archive links are not working properly, so I hope those new visitors here would re-visit my archive when I manage to get them up and running again (And it's punishment for me being an internet bozo).
Just found out that I have influenced someone to blog too.
Some nice person has just listed my blog as "HP" on his site. I think I owe an explanation on "Hiroaki Protagonist".
"Hiroaki Protagonist" is a character inside a Neal Stephenson book called Snow Crash and he is some samurai/hacker/pizza delivery man in that cyberpunk novel. Stephenson also wrote a very interesting read entitled Cryptonomicon. Seems like he has overtaken William Gibson at the cyberpunk helm?
Maybe I should change the description because I am really some internet bozo in real life who is totally unfit to tag myself as "Hiroaki Protagonist". But I am lazy and since it was the first name that came to my mind I guess I would just leave it as it is.
I am done with Veronika Decides to Die. I guess the book made me ponder more about life, insanity, sex and hope. I usually don't go into detail on how I feel about most books because each and every book I read is a deeply personal experience for me. Unless the book is so great I had to scream and shout about it. I tend to be more dramatic with music.
The book reinforced that idea that I always had - only the mad are truly free.
Lunchtime.
It must be contagious. I have read two blogs that had Kylie's (Can't get you out of my head) mentioned, heard the song someone's voice-mail message, seen snippets of the video when I was coming home last night. Man.
The only things I remember about Kylie is her having a sister called Dannii (or was it Danii?), singing a duet with Jason Donovan (you must be really old like me to remember this one, it's a nice song even though it's cheesy - Especially For You) and most "impressive" of all is being Michael Hutchence's one-time girlfriend.
Thus this train of thought leads me to INXS. I miss the music of INXS. I guess they were one of the few people who put Australians on the world's music map together with people like Nick Cave, Violent Femmes etc. I have some of the older INXS stuff lying around my CD rack and I brought them out for a listen just a few months back when I was reminded of the tragic death of the lover Hutchence left behind and she's none other than Paula Yates.
INXS was a special band with a certain charm. They might not have been as big as U2 or R.E.M but they will not be forgotten. The very flamboyant Hutchence was very much the soul of the band. It's a pity that so much controversy surrounded his death and people didn't choose to pay more attention to the music that he left behind. There are alot of songs which I will always remember...
- Not Enough Time (really nice bass and drum, if I was a drum 'n' bass DJ I would have remixed this)
- Disappear
- Beautiful Girl (that piano tune is unmistakenable)
- Need You Tonight
- The Gift (lovely electrics)
- Heaven Sent (lovely electrics part 2.)
- Suicide Blonde (it's really just about Hair Colour according to Hutchence, but this is vintage INXS)
- Freedom Deep (The most inspiring INXS song that I really love, gives me chills everytime I listen to it)
"Show me the way, give away."
"The truth, I'm looking for."
"I need a new way, out of here."
"The door, Is opening."
"Freedom take me deeper."
"Freedom take me deeper."
"All the blue days, gone astray."
The clouds, are giving in."
"Freedom take me deeper."
"Freedom take me deeper."
"Losing my fear, suddenly."
The way, has come to me."
"Freedom take me deeper."
"Freedom take me deeper."
"FREEDOM..."
I was reading Adrian Mole (The Cappucino Years) last year and it mentioned something that's not so nice about Paula Yates (and her ex-husband Bob Geldof, before she got together with Hutchence) and it was just 2 weeks after she passed away. The eerie coincidence. Both their deaths are really tragic and now Sir Bob Geldof is looking after the orphaned girl that Hutchence and Paula left behind.
INXS's last album was called Elegantly Wasted. And that was how I felt about Michael Hutchence. Go download some INXS now.
And I hope that Mike and Paula would rest in peace too.
The only things I remember about Kylie is her having a sister called Dannii (or was it Danii?), singing a duet with Jason Donovan (you must be really old like me to remember this one, it's a nice song even though it's cheesy - Especially For You) and most "impressive" of all is being Michael Hutchence's one-time girlfriend.
Thus this train of thought leads me to INXS. I miss the music of INXS. I guess they were one of the few people who put Australians on the world's music map together with people like Nick Cave, Violent Femmes etc. I have some of the older INXS stuff lying around my CD rack and I brought them out for a listen just a few months back when I was reminded of the tragic death of the lover Hutchence left behind and she's none other than Paula Yates.
INXS was a special band with a certain charm. They might not have been as big as U2 or R.E.M but they will not be forgotten. The very flamboyant Hutchence was very much the soul of the band. It's a pity that so much controversy surrounded his death and people didn't choose to pay more attention to the music that he left behind. There are alot of songs which I will always remember...
- Not Enough Time (really nice bass and drum, if I was a drum 'n' bass DJ I would have remixed this)
- Disappear
- Beautiful Girl (that piano tune is unmistakenable)
- Need You Tonight
- The Gift (lovely electrics)
- Heaven Sent (lovely electrics part 2.)
- Suicide Blonde (it's really just about Hair Colour according to Hutchence, but this is vintage INXS)
- Freedom Deep (The most inspiring INXS song that I really love, gives me chills everytime I listen to it)
"Show me the way, give away."
"The truth, I'm looking for."
"I need a new way, out of here."
"The door, Is opening."
"Freedom take me deeper."
"Freedom take me deeper."
"All the blue days, gone astray."
The clouds, are giving in."
"Freedom take me deeper."
"Freedom take me deeper."
"Losing my fear, suddenly."
The way, has come to me."
"Freedom take me deeper."
"Freedom take me deeper."
"FREEDOM..."
I was reading Adrian Mole (The Cappucino Years) last year and it mentioned something that's not so nice about Paula Yates (and her ex-husband Bob Geldof, before she got together with Hutchence) and it was just 2 weeks after she passed away. The eerie coincidence. Both their deaths are really tragic and now Sir Bob Geldof is looking after the orphaned girl that Hutchence and Paula left behind.
INXS's last album was called Elegantly Wasted. And that was how I felt about Michael Hutchence. Go download some INXS now.
And I hope that Mike and Paula would rest in peace too.
Sunday, October 21, 2001
Bad Boys Batucada was a blast! So much energy, soul and vibe in their performance. They even performed music meant for grupo capoeira! How I wished there was a grupo capoeira being performed also!
Grupo capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that has kicks, somersaults, flips and it's regulated by a brand of lively music and percussion. I have once caught it in a movie about a Green Beret teaching juvenile deliquents the art of capoeira (I think the title was called Only The Brave). I was also lucky enough to catch a live performance where I got to catch the artists doing somersaults and flips to beaty Brazilian music.
Prior to getting to the stage where Bad Boys Batucada were performing, I had already fallen in love with The Botanical Gardens during the walk that I had to take to reach the performance grounds. The pond, the lush greeneries, the slopes. Man, I have been missing out on all that for the past 12 years that I have not visited the place!
Danish Jazz Radio performing on the same stage next week. Let's see if I have the time to go back there again.
This is how life is supposed to be like as compared to my depression the morning prior to the performance. After the performance we gorged ourselves with so much food at Spaggedies. Heavy fat rain fell 5 minutes after I got home and it's nice to snuggle in your bed all nice and cool after a warm shower.
In 8 hours time, I am a bank employee all over again.
Grupo capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that has kicks, somersaults, flips and it's regulated by a brand of lively music and percussion. I have once caught it in a movie about a Green Beret teaching juvenile deliquents the art of capoeira (I think the title was called Only The Brave). I was also lucky enough to catch a live performance where I got to catch the artists doing somersaults and flips to beaty Brazilian music.
Prior to getting to the stage where Bad Boys Batucada were performing, I had already fallen in love with The Botanical Gardens during the walk that I had to take to reach the performance grounds. The pond, the lush greeneries, the slopes. Man, I have been missing out on all that for the past 12 years that I have not visited the place!
Danish Jazz Radio performing on the same stage next week. Let's see if I have the time to go back there again.
This is how life is supposed to be like as compared to my depression the morning prior to the performance. After the performance we gorged ourselves with so much food at Spaggedies. Heavy fat rain fell 5 minutes after I got home and it's nice to snuggle in your bed all nice and cool after a warm shower.
In 8 hours time, I am a bank employee all over again.
Saturday, October 20, 2001
I almost wanted to cry.
Just read about some of the pain which people are going through in their blogs. It kinda made me reflect on my own. The anger, the pain, the sorrows.
I shouldn't be feeling this way. I wouldn't want to write about it because it's just too intense and it wasn't what I wanted this blog for (although my blog is ironically entitled "spurts of intensity).
It hurts deeply.
I was listening to (Funny Break [One is Enough]) on repeat at 12.00am on the bus ride home. Something dawned upon me. "What if one day I have got nothing left to say, what if one day I have got nothing left to write?" Instantly I thought about Nick Drake and the film that I saw about him called A Skin Too Few. Someone that was being interviewed in the show mentioned that he said,"I have got no more songs" and perhaps that was why he killed himself(?). I was the embarassed one who walked out of the cinema with mucus and tears. I just felt too much for Nick.
The pain is still there, while I hope the angels watch over the rest of us.
And may Nick rest in peace. *Mist*
Just read about some of the pain which people are going through in their blogs. It kinda made me reflect on my own. The anger, the pain, the sorrows.
I shouldn't be feeling this way. I wouldn't want to write about it because it's just too intense and it wasn't what I wanted this blog for (although my blog is ironically entitled "spurts of intensity).
It hurts deeply.
I was listening to (Funny Break [One is Enough]) on repeat at 12.00am on the bus ride home. Something dawned upon me. "What if one day I have got nothing left to say, what if one day I have got nothing left to write?" Instantly I thought about Nick Drake and the film that I saw about him called A Skin Too Few. Someone that was being interviewed in the show mentioned that he said,"I have got no more songs" and perhaps that was why he killed himself(?). I was the embarassed one who walked out of the cinema with mucus and tears. I just felt too much for Nick.
The pain is still there, while I hope the angels watch over the rest of us.
And may Nick rest in peace. *Mist*
Friday, October 19, 2001
I am a very happy Orbital fan tonight!
I guess it pays to be patience. For 3 months I have resisted to buy the UK/local pressing of the new Orbital album The Altogether. I have also resisted the temptation to download any MP3s of the new Orbital album because I wanted to hear it fresh and straight from the CD.
Last night I was rewarded. The US pressing that finally arrived had a special cover and it's the limited edition with an additional full length disc containing b-sides and unreleased tracks! Being the purist that I am, I always make sure that the CDs I buy are pressed in US and I always resisted buying UK/local presses unless I have really no choice (like if there is a huge discount, no US release or if the US release has substantially lesser tracks than the UK/local pressings). US pressed CDs usually have a white sticker label on the top of the CD (which can be irritating to get off when you wanna open the CD and it might leave glue stains on the jewel case of the CD). I live with my own deluded perception that US pressed CDs have a better sound quality, it might be true though (because some of the local pressed CDs I have really suck).
And until now I haven't gotten past Track 2. (Funny Break [One is Enough]). It really touched me dear. The vocal samples of Naomi Bedford. The track has been on repeat since I first heard it. Especially the way you sings out the word "The stars..." Typical mastery of Orbital in layering the vocal samples, instruments and the breakbeats (sampled too). My heart softens everytime I listen to that song.
I guess one of the good things about blogging is that you can blog anywhere as long as there is a computer that is connected to the internet. I am now blogging from friend's computer while watching Slamdunk.
I guess it pays to be patience. For 3 months I have resisted to buy the UK/local pressing of the new Orbital album The Altogether. I have also resisted the temptation to download any MP3s of the new Orbital album because I wanted to hear it fresh and straight from the CD.
Last night I was rewarded. The US pressing that finally arrived had a special cover and it's the limited edition with an additional full length disc containing b-sides and unreleased tracks! Being the purist that I am, I always make sure that the CDs I buy are pressed in US and I always resisted buying UK/local presses unless I have really no choice (like if there is a huge discount, no US release or if the US release has substantially lesser tracks than the UK/local pressings). US pressed CDs usually have a white sticker label on the top of the CD (which can be irritating to get off when you wanna open the CD and it might leave glue stains on the jewel case of the CD). I live with my own deluded perception that US pressed CDs have a better sound quality, it might be true though (because some of the local pressed CDs I have really suck).
And until now I haven't gotten past Track 2. (Funny Break [One is Enough]). It really touched me dear. The vocal samples of Naomi Bedford. The track has been on repeat since I first heard it. Especially the way you sings out the word "The stars..." Typical mastery of Orbital in layering the vocal samples, instruments and the breakbeats (sampled too). My heart softens everytime I listen to that song.
I guess one of the good things about blogging is that you can blog anywhere as long as there is a computer that is connected to the internet. I am now blogging from friend's computer while watching Slamdunk.
When I need to have (Merry X'mas, Mr Lawrence) played to me every night when the lights are out. It pretty sums up very much abouth how I feel late into the evenings.
However, I absolutely abhor hate the "beng" techno versions of that song. Totally disgraceful/distasteful. I think Ryuichi Sakamoto would have died after having an instant fit if he heard it.
The weekend is finally here. I am really excited this weekend because I am going for a picnic this Sunday. The good ole appeal of picnics! Actually the bigger thing is Bad Boys Batucada performing at Botanic Gardens. My and my colleague are going to be there a little earlier, chill out and then catch the performance of this Australian outfit. I missed them when they came here for Womad 3 years back (they did Zouk also in that same trip). 5.30pm Sunday.
Trying to "climatise" myself back to work mode by chilling out to Rockers Hi-Fi's spliffed out, laid back selections.
I already have the next book in mind since I am already like 50% through the current book that I am reading (it's a good one though, Veronika Decides To Die i.e.). It's Dream Catcher by J D Salinger's daughter - essentially it's a memoir about growing up around Salinger and sheding light about the "notorious reclusiveness" of Salinger. Strangely enough, although The Catcher In The Rye has been held in critical acclaim, it's didn't strike me as hard as other works like Brave New World. Personally, I felt that Salinger was toying a lil too much with the Seymour family with Raise the High Beam and Franny and Zooey.
"Who wrote Holden Caulfield?" This is actually the title a song off one of the very old (but really good) Green Day albums (Kerplunk), before all the (Basket Case) crap.
However, I absolutely abhor hate the "beng" techno versions of that song. Totally disgraceful/distasteful. I think Ryuichi Sakamoto would have died after having an instant fit if he heard it.
The weekend is finally here. I am really excited this weekend because I am going for a picnic this Sunday. The good ole appeal of picnics! Actually the bigger thing is Bad Boys Batucada performing at Botanic Gardens. My and my colleague are going to be there a little earlier, chill out and then catch the performance of this Australian outfit. I missed them when they came here for Womad 3 years back (they did Zouk also in that same trip). 5.30pm Sunday.
Trying to "climatise" myself back to work mode by chilling out to Rockers Hi-Fi's spliffed out, laid back selections.
I already have the next book in mind since I am already like 50% through the current book that I am reading (it's a good one though, Veronika Decides To Die i.e.). It's Dream Catcher by J D Salinger's daughter - essentially it's a memoir about growing up around Salinger and sheding light about the "notorious reclusiveness" of Salinger. Strangely enough, although The Catcher In The Rye has been held in critical acclaim, it's didn't strike me as hard as other works like Brave New World. Personally, I felt that Salinger was toying a lil too much with the Seymour family with Raise the High Beam and Franny and Zooey.
"Who wrote Holden Caulfield?" This is actually the title a song off one of the very old (but really good) Green Day albums (Kerplunk), before all the (Basket Case) crap.
Wednesday, October 17, 2001
Last night I was "invited" to join my colleague in his church's Sports Club activities. I am not a Christian but heck it's only for sports right?
It's the second time I am there and the last time I was there was 3 weeks ago. That time I played soccer but what I really wanted to do was to shoot some hoops.
And I managed this time.
The feeling is incredible, it's akin to falling in love all over again. I fell in love with basketball at 13. It's my first love (before girls came into the picture). The immense gratification of sinking a hoop was just like getting touch with your first love. That was how I felt last night. I haven't played the game for 5 years (since I injured my spine and ended up with a prolapsed disc) and all my basketball kakis have all grown into busy working adults. It used to be a weekly thing that I would do everyday Saturday and Sunday from 13 to 18.
I have aged and my body is not like before. I used to be able to "hold" my jump alot better, jump alot higher and run alot faster. My accuracy for shooting hoops is more or less there still. But the feeling is the same. I am looking forward to next Wednesday. Felt really lousy when you play with teenagers who are alot better than you so I will have to try to improve. *Weak smile*
After the game, I took a run around the track. I liked the idea of running into the darkness (one side of the tracks is not lit). Feels liberating.
I have decided to stay off coffee for good and it's going to be gold ole plain water from now onwards. I guess I will need to rely more on the CDs that I have at my workstation to keep me alert/awake. It's Nightmares on Wax that's been keeping me focused while I meddle with data on Excel. He's the guy behind the absolutely delicious Carboot Soul and Smoker's Delight. I have ever gotten someone really perked up in the middle of the night by just playing the tracks to that person.
I was reading about how someone had really cute "logos" on their mobile phone on someone's blog. I am not a big mobile phone user ($14.00 phone bill last month?) and I never had one until April this year. It's interesting that one of the things that I really wanted on my mobile phone was Orbital's logo. I have searched everywhere on the net and it seems like there isn't any ready one that I could download. Solution? Draw one of my own from scratch!
It took me 4 hours of "pixel allocation" before I could get it right. Yes, I am proud of having my very own Orbital logo on my mobile phone after that. If there is anyone who wants to have Orbital's logo on their handphone, please email me and I will try to find a way for you to own it too.
It's the second time I am there and the last time I was there was 3 weeks ago. That time I played soccer but what I really wanted to do was to shoot some hoops.
And I managed this time.
The feeling is incredible, it's akin to falling in love all over again. I fell in love with basketball at 13. It's my first love (before girls came into the picture). The immense gratification of sinking a hoop was just like getting touch with your first love. That was how I felt last night. I haven't played the game for 5 years (since I injured my spine and ended up with a prolapsed disc) and all my basketball kakis have all grown into busy working adults. It used to be a weekly thing that I would do everyday Saturday and Sunday from 13 to 18.
I have aged and my body is not like before. I used to be able to "hold" my jump alot better, jump alot higher and run alot faster. My accuracy for shooting hoops is more or less there still. But the feeling is the same. I am looking forward to next Wednesday. Felt really lousy when you play with teenagers who are alot better than you so I will have to try to improve. *Weak smile*
After the game, I took a run around the track. I liked the idea of running into the darkness (one side of the tracks is not lit). Feels liberating.
I have decided to stay off coffee for good and it's going to be gold ole plain water from now onwards. I guess I will need to rely more on the CDs that I have at my workstation to keep me alert/awake. It's Nightmares on Wax that's been keeping me focused while I meddle with data on Excel. He's the guy behind the absolutely delicious Carboot Soul and Smoker's Delight. I have ever gotten someone really perked up in the middle of the night by just playing the tracks to that person.
I was reading about how someone had really cute "logos" on their mobile phone on someone's blog. I am not a big mobile phone user ($14.00 phone bill last month?) and I never had one until April this year. It's interesting that one of the things that I really wanted on my mobile phone was Orbital's logo. I have searched everywhere on the net and it seems like there isn't any ready one that I could download. Solution? Draw one of my own from scratch!
It took me 4 hours of "pixel allocation" before I could get it right. Yes, I am proud of having my very own Orbital logo on my mobile phone after that. If there is anyone who wants to have Orbital's logo on their handphone, please email me and I will try to find a way for you to own it too.
Tuesday, October 16, 2001
Man I am so depressed that I don't even have the mood to have lunch. One of my "cash-rich" competitors just rolled out this "incredible" campaign that just going to kill all of us in the marketplace. Damn.
So here I am soothing myself with the swirl of ethnic sounds of jamaican dub, indian sitars and percussion, loungy stuff - a heady mix by Thievery Corporation on their DJ Kicks release. I have seen somewhere that a new DJ Kicks by Truby Trio has finally reached our shores. Must grab it someday when I have the time to drop by town.
Lunch is now reduced to blogging and staring blankly at the copy of The Little Prince that resides as a display at my cubicle. I was reminded to look at it because someone mentioned in their blog about trying to read the original French version of the book.
The book and the author has so much significance to me.
Someone gave me the book a few years back as a gift and I have only managed to read up to page 10. I am afraid of the book and the deeper meanings that lie beyond the words, the story and the drawings. It's a product of innocence and I know I can't handle it then and thus I stopped. I gave the book away because I wanted someone else to be able to experience that book. Only recently, I had went out to buy the book again after reading about it in Colin Cheong's The Stolen Child. I wanted to know if I was ready for the book but I guess I am not. Another ex-colleague of mine was agreeing with me on how I felt that the book would bring you different meanings at different times of your life despite how many times you go back to revisit that same book. I own a self-made Little Prince tee and at least 10 people has stopped to talk to me about my shirt at different places. I spotted someone wearing an original Little Prince shirt when I was in Hong Kong. I guess it should be Le Petit Prince in French?
Antoine De Saint-Exupery. One heartwarming book I read called Flight of Passage was about two teenage boys aged 15 and 17 accomplishing a feat of flying across the US in their Pipier Cub (a really small plane) without a radio in the 1960s. The book also remarked how those boy indulged in the flying memoirs of Antoine, and in his memoirs he points to his thoughts of wanting to die going down in a plane. With the fame that Antoine has achieved over The Little Prince, I guess not many people would remember him as a pilot who had also fought bravely in the war. If I didn't remember wrongly, he did die "going down into a watery grave" in his plane during the war.
Lunch's over.
So here I am soothing myself with the swirl of ethnic sounds of jamaican dub, indian sitars and percussion, loungy stuff - a heady mix by Thievery Corporation on their DJ Kicks release. I have seen somewhere that a new DJ Kicks by Truby Trio has finally reached our shores. Must grab it someday when I have the time to drop by town.
Lunch is now reduced to blogging and staring blankly at the copy of The Little Prince that resides as a display at my cubicle. I was reminded to look at it because someone mentioned in their blog about trying to read the original French version of the book.
The book and the author has so much significance to me.
Someone gave me the book a few years back as a gift and I have only managed to read up to page 10. I am afraid of the book and the deeper meanings that lie beyond the words, the story and the drawings. It's a product of innocence and I know I can't handle it then and thus I stopped. I gave the book away because I wanted someone else to be able to experience that book. Only recently, I had went out to buy the book again after reading about it in Colin Cheong's The Stolen Child. I wanted to know if I was ready for the book but I guess I am not. Another ex-colleague of mine was agreeing with me on how I felt that the book would bring you different meanings at different times of your life despite how many times you go back to revisit that same book. I own a self-made Little Prince tee and at least 10 people has stopped to talk to me about my shirt at different places. I spotted someone wearing an original Little Prince shirt when I was in Hong Kong. I guess it should be Le Petit Prince in French?
Antoine De Saint-Exupery. One heartwarming book I read called Flight of Passage was about two teenage boys aged 15 and 17 accomplishing a feat of flying across the US in their Pipier Cub (a really small plane) without a radio in the 1960s. The book also remarked how those boy indulged in the flying memoirs of Antoine, and in his memoirs he points to his thoughts of wanting to die going down in a plane. With the fame that Antoine has achieved over The Little Prince, I guess not many people would remember him as a pilot who had also fought bravely in the war. If I didn't remember wrongly, he did die "going down into a watery grave" in his plane during the war.
Lunch's over.
Many thanks to those of you who have read my blog or those who have written me email replies. I have had someone telling me that she would check out Colin Cheong, someone writing to me telling how he also gets touched by (Aurora) and some comments telling me that it's a pity there is not much to read in the archives. I am not about to give up blogging anytime soon so I suppose there would be more to come. I will continue to post my rants/tears/dreams/hopes/thoughts/whines/whatnot on my blog. Merci beaucoup.
Many thanks once again. I think all your blogs are lovely too.
I have settled on a selected list of blogs which I will read regularly. Like I have written to everyone "Keep writing and keep smiling".
The song that's playing in my head the whole afternoon is (Being Boring) covered by Merril Bainbridge (original done by Pet Shop Boys). It's one of those songs that has ever made me cry in the past. I love both versions. Merril Bainbridge's only moment of fame was her song (Mouth). She sings beatifully to an accoustic version of (Being Boring) with her lovely vocals. The original version had Johnny Marr (The Smiths! - another of my favourite bands) on guitars and the use of tubes as instruments.
I was talking to a friend about concerts (because The Ego has landed - Robbie Williams i.e.) and suddenly we realised that there were more concerts more than 5 years ago than now. I have seen (not in any chronological sequence)
- Pearl Jam (1995)
- Depeche Mode (1994)
- Pet Shop Boys (1995?)
- R.E.M (1995)
Pearl Jam
There was Mudhoney as the opening act but everyone was waiting for Pearl Jam to come on. Not much memories of the concert even though I still have the concert tee. When the lights went out, I just climbed the fences.
Depeche Mode
My groupie tendencies at it's extremes. I was supposed to take my Economics Test on the same morning but I woke up at 5.30am to rush down to the Airport to catch them in person! Silly me forgot to bring something for them to autograph and Dave Gahan ended up signing on my Economics notes (humphz!). I still have those notes with me now.
The night was magical. I cried so much. It was the first concert that I have gone to and Depeche Mode is a band that followed me through my teenage years. The feeling was that a band that you only heard from mechanical devices for years is now playing in flesh and blood right in front of your eyes. I still have the concert tee also even though my stupid brother stained it. I even begged the Sistic staff to give me the promotional poster on the next day and the poster is still on my wall. 1st March 1994. I still have the newspaper clippings too.
Pet Shop Boys
I am an old fan and I love the older stuff. This concert was one where I got pissed because the ushers made all of us sit down (!!!). They got into some trouble when they used gay dancers but I don't think anyone remembers. Surprised when they played much older songs that I really wanted to hear (King's Cross). Credit to Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe for a really entertaining evening. Concert tee was made of lousy thin material but it's survived until now as well.
R.E.M
I am big on R.E.M. It's another one where I cried. It was really one of those rare times when Michael Stipe was obliging enough to entertain. Bought two concert tees and both of them are still wearable. I think this was the last concert that I would have seen until now (6 years already)
Robbie Williams anyone? (Not me though)
Many thanks once again. I think all your blogs are lovely too.
I have settled on a selected list of blogs which I will read regularly. Like I have written to everyone "Keep writing and keep smiling".
The song that's playing in my head the whole afternoon is (Being Boring) covered by Merril Bainbridge (original done by Pet Shop Boys). It's one of those songs that has ever made me cry in the past. I love both versions. Merril Bainbridge's only moment of fame was her song (Mouth). She sings beatifully to an accoustic version of (Being Boring) with her lovely vocals. The original version had Johnny Marr (The Smiths! - another of my favourite bands) on guitars and the use of tubes as instruments.
I was talking to a friend about concerts (because The Ego has landed - Robbie Williams i.e.) and suddenly we realised that there were more concerts more than 5 years ago than now. I have seen (not in any chronological sequence)
- Pearl Jam (1995)
- Depeche Mode (1994)
- Pet Shop Boys (1995?)
- R.E.M (1995)
Pearl Jam
There was Mudhoney as the opening act but everyone was waiting for Pearl Jam to come on. Not much memories of the concert even though I still have the concert tee. When the lights went out, I just climbed the fences.
Depeche Mode
My groupie tendencies at it's extremes. I was supposed to take my Economics Test on the same morning but I woke up at 5.30am to rush down to the Airport to catch them in person! Silly me forgot to bring something for them to autograph and Dave Gahan ended up signing on my Economics notes (humphz!). I still have those notes with me now.
The night was magical. I cried so much. It was the first concert that I have gone to and Depeche Mode is a band that followed me through my teenage years. The feeling was that a band that you only heard from mechanical devices for years is now playing in flesh and blood right in front of your eyes. I still have the concert tee also even though my stupid brother stained it. I even begged the Sistic staff to give me the promotional poster on the next day and the poster is still on my wall. 1st March 1994. I still have the newspaper clippings too.
Pet Shop Boys
I am an old fan and I love the older stuff. This concert was one where I got pissed because the ushers made all of us sit down (!!!). They got into some trouble when they used gay dancers but I don't think anyone remembers. Surprised when they played much older songs that I really wanted to hear (King's Cross). Credit to Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe for a really entertaining evening. Concert tee was made of lousy thin material but it's survived until now as well.
R.E.M
I am big on R.E.M. It's another one where I cried. It was really one of those rare times when Michael Stipe was obliging enough to entertain. Bought two concert tees and both of them are still wearable. I think this was the last concert that I would have seen until now (6 years already)
Robbie Williams anyone? (Not me though)
Sunday, October 14, 2001
I am wearing the same set of clothing that I wore to work last Monday. Same shirt, same tie. Blue Monday again.
Thank god I have Andrea Parker's musical tastes perking me up while I was trying to do my Access matching/unmatch queries. It's lunchtime now but I have no mood for food. Perhaps I would just grab some porridge at 3.00pm when I am hungry.
I have finished the book Dr Orwell & Mr Blair. It's quite a good book with such a refreshing concept. Next book that I will start tommorrow is Veronika Decides To Die by Paulo Coelho (the same guy that wrote the ubiqitious The Alchemist - which I haven't read yet). I bought that book (and alot of other great books at cheap prices) at this really good mobile bookfair that comes around my workplace once in a while.
A few days ago I was reading someone's blog about how that person wakes up to (My Iron Lung) by Radiohead every morning. I have my own "morning song". While I am dressing up for work, I will put on (Say) by The Creatures (it's actually Siouxsie Sioux teaming up with hubby Budgie).
"I don't want you brave, a truce we made today"
"If you are feeling sad, on me you can depend"
"You only have to say, it's sad. I would understand"
"You only have to say, whatever come what may"
Achingly beautiful and beautifully aching.
I think Siouxsie is so pretty and elegant even though she's over easily over 50. I saw photos of her in a gown (from the CD sleeves of those CDs that own) and I really can't believe it's the same person that I once saw in the "The Filth and The Fury" (a docu-movie about the rise and fall of The Sex Pistols screened during the Singapore International Film Festival this year). In the show, she had this horrible punk hairdo with and all those makeup on her. Back then she was probably just this rock chick wannabe before she achieved her own glory with her band Siouxsie and The Banshees. In my own shallow thoughts, I am just thinking that Budgie must really be a lucky man.
It's the Austrians Mr Peter Kruder and Mr Richard Dorfmeister that's helping me along with my work now (They are also the wonderful people behind The Peace Orchestra and Tosca).
Thank god I have Andrea Parker's musical tastes perking me up while I was trying to do my Access matching/unmatch queries. It's lunchtime now but I have no mood for food. Perhaps I would just grab some porridge at 3.00pm when I am hungry.
I have finished the book Dr Orwell & Mr Blair. It's quite a good book with such a refreshing concept. Next book that I will start tommorrow is Veronika Decides To Die by Paulo Coelho (the same guy that wrote the ubiqitious The Alchemist - which I haven't read yet). I bought that book (and alot of other great books at cheap prices) at this really good mobile bookfair that comes around my workplace once in a while.
A few days ago I was reading someone's blog about how that person wakes up to (My Iron Lung) by Radiohead every morning. I have my own "morning song". While I am dressing up for work, I will put on (Say) by The Creatures (it's actually Siouxsie Sioux teaming up with hubby Budgie).
"I don't want you brave, a truce we made today"
"If you are feeling sad, on me you can depend"
"You only have to say, it's sad. I would understand"
"You only have to say, whatever come what may"
Achingly beautiful and beautifully aching.
I think Siouxsie is so pretty and elegant even though she's over easily over 50. I saw photos of her in a gown (from the CD sleeves of those CDs that own) and I really can't believe it's the same person that I once saw in the "The Filth and The Fury" (a docu-movie about the rise and fall of The Sex Pistols screened during the Singapore International Film Festival this year). In the show, she had this horrible punk hairdo with and all those makeup on her. Back then she was probably just this rock chick wannabe before she achieved her own glory with her band Siouxsie and The Banshees. In my own shallow thoughts, I am just thinking that Budgie must really be a lucky man.
It's the Austrians Mr Peter Kruder and Mr Richard Dorfmeister that's helping me along with my work now (They are also the wonderful people behind The Peace Orchestra and Tosca).
I lazed in bed until 2.30pm. I need that sleep.
Still feeling a little hazy. Playing some stuff off my Winamp. I guess it's just going to be a lazy day when it's just cool to get absolutely nothing done.
I have spent some time reading other people's blogs. Often I would write an email to that person offering "to share my humble blog" or leave a note in their guestbook. The collective feeling that I get from reading other people's blog is like Liqourice Allsorts. It's a palette I guess.
Playing (The End is The Beginning is The End) by Smashing Pumpkins. I am feeling all the angst from this song.
"You can watch the world devour in it's pain..."
I have read about how people have felt about every other thing about their life from those blogs. It's the same scary feeling that I have about people in general, about life in general. Despite who a person is, what a person does for a living, what a person accomplishes in life, how a person looks (that's all those brave and beautiful people who post their own pics in their sites) - everyone seem to have gone through some bits of pain in their life. Like how I have read about people not being able to handle their break-ups, not being able to let go. It just made me feel so sad. It seems like no matter what, everyone one of us walking out there on the street has our own hidden closet of skeletons. Despite everything else.
And I thought I was the only one who had my old ghosts to slay. Could I have done anything else to make anyone feel better? I wish I could.
It's (Earth People) by Dr. Octagon on now, I am missing the way Andrea Parker spun this song into a remix together with Depeche Mode's (It's No Good) on her DJ Kicks. Will play my Andrea Parker DJ Kicks when I am back in the office tommorrow.
Still feeling a little hazy. Playing some stuff off my Winamp. I guess it's just going to be a lazy day when it's just cool to get absolutely nothing done.
I have spent some time reading other people's blogs. Often I would write an email to that person offering "to share my humble blog" or leave a note in their guestbook. The collective feeling that I get from reading other people's blog is like Liqourice Allsorts. It's a palette I guess.
Playing (The End is The Beginning is The End) by Smashing Pumpkins. I am feeling all the angst from this song.
"You can watch the world devour in it's pain..."
I have read about how people have felt about every other thing about their life from those blogs. It's the same scary feeling that I have about people in general, about life in general. Despite who a person is, what a person does for a living, what a person accomplishes in life, how a person looks (that's all those brave and beautiful people who post their own pics in their sites) - everyone seem to have gone through some bits of pain in their life. Like how I have read about people not being able to handle their break-ups, not being able to let go. It just made me feel so sad. It seems like no matter what, everyone one of us walking out there on the street has our own hidden closet of skeletons. Despite everything else.
And I thought I was the only one who had my old ghosts to slay. Could I have done anything else to make anyone feel better? I wish I could.
It's (Earth People) by Dr. Octagon on now, I am missing the way Andrea Parker spun this song into a remix together with Depeche Mode's (It's No Good) on her DJ Kicks. Will play my Andrea Parker DJ Kicks when I am back in the office tommorrow.
Saturday, October 13, 2001
I am feeling blue tonight. There's this song thats playing in my head. (Aurora) by Veruca Salt, a song from the Tank Girl soundtrack. Beautiful song. Piano and slide guitar.
"Have you in my head now, where did you go... Aurora"
"See you up ahead when I don't know, if I can go as far as you go"
Back then when I first heard this song, I didn't know what "Aurora" was. It kinda sparked this obsession to try to find out everything about "Aurora". This was what I got. Aurora is
- tower of light due to electromagnetic induction, it's a natural phenomenon
- Greek Goddess of Dawn
- actually a name of a flower
- US spy plane project codename
- name of a company that produces electronics (calculators and sorts)
I also found out that Veruca Salt is actually the name of a character in one of Roald Dahl's children books.
I remember that I once had a conversation with a friend about some book idea I had. The story that I would write is about this guy who kills himself and leaves behind a letter saying that he wants his favourite author to have access to everything that he has so that his favourite author can write a book based on him. This author would then go on to read his diary, interview his friends, examine his CD collection etc. The narrative would be about him going around with the "investigative work", fielding his thoughts about the dead person and trying to relate everything to his own life. The story would end at the bit when he finishes everything and wanting to sit down and write the book.
I realised that when people write, most of the time it's about themselves - some experience that they had; some other influence they have had from something else that they have read; some friends that they have; so on and so forth.
That "dead" person would be modeled after me and the "favourite author" would be modeled after someone none other than *ahem* Colin Cheong (trying to put Orwell in would have made the story ludicrous).
Colin Cheong is a winner of the Singapore Literature Prize and he has written quite a few books. Just two months back, I came across a copy of The Stolen Child and I decided to buy it and send the book to a friend who has just flew back to Australia for studies. Before I sent the book, I took a read at it. It was a book that I have read many years back but the very same pages made me cry bucketloads. This book is about lost innocence of a boy. Thanks to this book, I have this whole love affair with Bedok Jetty because that book always had something about this boy going to the breakwaters.
I have since read all his books and I figured that most of the things that's been written is loosely modeled after himself or something close to him. I have met him once, at a book reading that he did at Borders for his new book then (Man in The Cupboard, which was dramatized into a Print to Screen episode starring Ivan Heng). I remember that I asked him one question that unnerved him a great deal - "Why is it that there is always a very strong woman in every of your book?" His expression gave way and instantly I felt very guilty for asking that awkward question. All his books touch me a great deal (read : makes me cry), and a few of his books actually links to each other in some way (I discovered that when I read very closely). And yes, every of his books really has a strong woman.
Last I knew, Colin Cheong is a GP tutor in Victoria Junior College. I wonder how he is doing now and whether he has written any new book. I figured I would never get mine written even though my friend said that I should just give it a shot. I really hope he is happy right now.
Recently I had another book idea. It is to be a collection of letters which some person would write to different people just before he tries to kill himself - letter to his best friend, letter to his boss, letter to people he dislikes, letter to his folks etc etc. I wonder why all the book ideas that I have always revolve around death. Morbid.
"Have you in my head now, where did you go... Aurora"
"See you up ahead when I don't know, if I can go as far as you go"
Back then when I first heard this song, I didn't know what "Aurora" was. It kinda sparked this obsession to try to find out everything about "Aurora". This was what I got. Aurora is
- tower of light due to electromagnetic induction, it's a natural phenomenon
- Greek Goddess of Dawn
- actually a name of a flower
- US spy plane project codename
- name of a company that produces electronics (calculators and sorts)
I also found out that Veruca Salt is actually the name of a character in one of Roald Dahl's children books.
I remember that I once had a conversation with a friend about some book idea I had. The story that I would write is about this guy who kills himself and leaves behind a letter saying that he wants his favourite author to have access to everything that he has so that his favourite author can write a book based on him. This author would then go on to read his diary, interview his friends, examine his CD collection etc. The narrative would be about him going around with the "investigative work", fielding his thoughts about the dead person and trying to relate everything to his own life. The story would end at the bit when he finishes everything and wanting to sit down and write the book.
I realised that when people write, most of the time it's about themselves - some experience that they had; some other influence they have had from something else that they have read; some friends that they have; so on and so forth.
That "dead" person would be modeled after me and the "favourite author" would be modeled after someone none other than *ahem* Colin Cheong (trying to put Orwell in would have made the story ludicrous).
Colin Cheong is a winner of the Singapore Literature Prize and he has written quite a few books. Just two months back, I came across a copy of The Stolen Child and I decided to buy it and send the book to a friend who has just flew back to Australia for studies. Before I sent the book, I took a read at it. It was a book that I have read many years back but the very same pages made me cry bucketloads. This book is about lost innocence of a boy. Thanks to this book, I have this whole love affair with Bedok Jetty because that book always had something about this boy going to the breakwaters.
I have since read all his books and I figured that most of the things that's been written is loosely modeled after himself or something close to him. I have met him once, at a book reading that he did at Borders for his new book then (Man in The Cupboard, which was dramatized into a Print to Screen episode starring Ivan Heng). I remember that I asked him one question that unnerved him a great deal - "Why is it that there is always a very strong woman in every of your book?" His expression gave way and instantly I felt very guilty for asking that awkward question. All his books touch me a great deal (read : makes me cry), and a few of his books actually links to each other in some way (I discovered that when I read very closely). And yes, every of his books really has a strong woman.
Last I knew, Colin Cheong is a GP tutor in Victoria Junior College. I wonder how he is doing now and whether he has written any new book. I figured I would never get mine written even though my friend said that I should just give it a shot. I really hope he is happy right now.
Recently I had another book idea. It is to be a collection of letters which some person would write to different people just before he tries to kill himself - letter to his best friend, letter to his boss, letter to people he dislikes, letter to his folks etc etc. I wonder why all the book ideas that I have always revolve around death. Morbid.
Friday, October 12, 2001
Saturday is one of those days when my body gets the sleep it demands. I will usually wake up 10 mins before 1.00p.m (which is enough time for me to wash my face and brush my teeth) and I would be in front of the TV at 1.00pm sharp to catch Slamdunk.
I tell everyone that I don't watch the goggle box much except for - Slamdunk (I even got angry at a close friend once for her failing to give me a wake-up call at 1.00pm and that resulted in me waking up at 1.30pm, when the show JUST ended. Then I realised that I was being like a kid and it's really just my own damn fault), FilmArt (excellent programming - but I don't like horror so I am giving the whole "Shocktober" a miss), news and footie (Long Live Liverpool, but that Grimsby result really broken my heart).
I spend alot of them outside the house, on my computer or behind a book. I don't care much for TV. I once told a friend that I felt that TV is too unreal - sitcoms, drama serials (especially crap TCS ones) and sorts. I don't even watch sitcoms for all the slapstick and humour behind them. Personally, I have always felt more for films (movies i.e.) rather than TV. Even though I am more of a reality person, I STILL can't appreciate shit like Survivor or so-called "Reality" TV. I couldn't believe it when one of my friend's lawyer friends chose to go home just to catch Survivor even when the whole group of us were going clubbing after dinner. When they first had Survivor and all these "Reality" TV bollocks, I saddened at the fact that TV has now arrived at a new low. Super Sunday anyone?
I don't watch MTV either.
I tell everyone that I don't watch the goggle box much except for - Slamdunk (I even got angry at a close friend once for her failing to give me a wake-up call at 1.00pm and that resulted in me waking up at 1.30pm, when the show JUST ended. Then I realised that I was being like a kid and it's really just my own damn fault), FilmArt (excellent programming - but I don't like horror so I am giving the whole "Shocktober" a miss), news and footie (Long Live Liverpool, but that Grimsby result really broken my heart).
I spend alot of them outside the house, on my computer or behind a book. I don't care much for TV. I once told a friend that I felt that TV is too unreal - sitcoms, drama serials (especially crap TCS ones) and sorts. I don't even watch sitcoms for all the slapstick and humour behind them. Personally, I have always felt more for films (movies i.e.) rather than TV. Even though I am more of a reality person, I STILL can't appreciate shit like Survivor or so-called "Reality" TV. I couldn't believe it when one of my friend's lawyer friends chose to go home just to catch Survivor even when the whole group of us were going clubbing after dinner. When they first had Survivor and all these "Reality" TV bollocks, I saddened at the fact that TV has now arrived at a new low. Super Sunday anyone?
I don't watch MTV either.
I don't know if other people feel strange when they see groups of grown-up men crowding around some arcade machine. There were a total of 8 of us, all aged above 24 with the oldest being 31 (who is actually happily married, a handsome father of one and "fierce" owner of a Nissan Skyline).
We are the legacy "Street Fighter" players. All 8 of us played Street Fighter from 1992 all the way until now from the earlier versions of it. Some of us can even play more than one fighting game (the other really popular one being King Of Fighters). All my closest 4 mates excel in playing these games even though we do other things together (like dinner, clubbing, hanging out, traveling etc.). One of us even won the local "Street Fighter" competition and went on to represent Singapore in the Finals in Tokyo. If I was some stranger, I would feel really weird watching guys dressed up in designer clothing (my friends) pounding away on these machines.
The latest craze we are at is "Capcom Vs. SNK 2". We have even gone to the extent of traveling to HDB heartlands to challenge the best players in the game.
The good thing is that you get to know people from other walks of life whom you will never get to know. People working in Merrill Lynch, Ah-bengs, Poly students, people who also listen to Manic Street Preachers, private bankers etc. A pretty wild mix I would say. While me and my friends were having dinner, we bummed into someone who was once an avid player 9 years ago. He doesn't play arcade games anymore but there were alot things that we could catch up on - like how we are faring in life, our jobs etc. At the end of the day, everyone is a winner if you form lasting friendships with others. Some of us has really gone on to forge really close relationships with each other over the past 10 years.
One question was being brought up over dinner - "Would we still be playing arcade games in 5 years time when some of us would be in our 30s?" It was just smiles for all of us. I guess all of us don't really know... ...
Today has been a really hectic day at work. Boss wanted me to get a "deck" (it's a term we use in the company for Powerpoint presentations) done immediately and prepare a few sets of our all our marketing collaterals for one of our regional directors. I immediately set out to get it done. I was also supposed to conduct some product training just before lunch.
I never really like doing trainings. I remember that the first few times that I have done it and it was totally embarassing. I was stammering away and fidgeting nervously. The feeling is ten times worst at times when you are made to do presentations to top bosses on business results/cases/practices. My boss has urged me to conduct these trainings to help build up confidence and flair (he would conduct them if I refuse, that is how nice he is) as part of my personal development. I have tried and today is already my fourth time conducting such trainings.
Today is Friday and I am casually dressed. It doesn't help me alot when I already look like some 19 year old temp staff (despite being 26). Without my usual shirt and tie routine, I looked quite "hopeless" standing in front of those training attendees. There were 18 of them. It just gets easier with every time and trainings suddenly became a breeze. It's good to be light-hearted, use simple analogies and listen to questions that they post. Over time, I have also found out that it's really important to crack some jokes in good humour to make people feel at ease. Still I hate having to do presentation to bosses, no matter what.
After much moaning and groaning, I managed to get the "deck" done . I even took a trip down to the regional office to hand in the stuff to this really nice director personally even though I could have just "internal-mailed" it to him. I am willing to do that because he is really this one nice fellow with no airs.
Right after that I read someone's blog complaining about how it's "depressing" to have to dress up for work on Fridays because she is in sales while others get the chance to "dress-down". It sort of echoed how good I felt about being able to dress causually on Fridays, cut the crap and get the training done. But not when I am presenting to my bosses though...
We are the legacy "Street Fighter" players. All 8 of us played Street Fighter from 1992 all the way until now from the earlier versions of it. Some of us can even play more than one fighting game (the other really popular one being King Of Fighters). All my closest 4 mates excel in playing these games even though we do other things together (like dinner, clubbing, hanging out, traveling etc.). One of us even won the local "Street Fighter" competition and went on to represent Singapore in the Finals in Tokyo. If I was some stranger, I would feel really weird watching guys dressed up in designer clothing (my friends) pounding away on these machines.
The latest craze we are at is "Capcom Vs. SNK 2". We have even gone to the extent of traveling to HDB heartlands to challenge the best players in the game.
The good thing is that you get to know people from other walks of life whom you will never get to know. People working in Merrill Lynch, Ah-bengs, Poly students, people who also listen to Manic Street Preachers, private bankers etc. A pretty wild mix I would say. While me and my friends were having dinner, we bummed into someone who was once an avid player 9 years ago. He doesn't play arcade games anymore but there were alot things that we could catch up on - like how we are faring in life, our jobs etc. At the end of the day, everyone is a winner if you form lasting friendships with others. Some of us has really gone on to forge really close relationships with each other over the past 10 years.
One question was being brought up over dinner - "Would we still be playing arcade games in 5 years time when some of us would be in our 30s?" It was just smiles for all of us. I guess all of us don't really know... ...
Today has been a really hectic day at work. Boss wanted me to get a "deck" (it's a term we use in the company for Powerpoint presentations) done immediately and prepare a few sets of our all our marketing collaterals for one of our regional directors. I immediately set out to get it done. I was also supposed to conduct some product training just before lunch.
I never really like doing trainings. I remember that the first few times that I have done it and it was totally embarassing. I was stammering away and fidgeting nervously. The feeling is ten times worst at times when you are made to do presentations to top bosses on business results/cases/practices. My boss has urged me to conduct these trainings to help build up confidence and flair (he would conduct them if I refuse, that is how nice he is) as part of my personal development. I have tried and today is already my fourth time conducting such trainings.
Today is Friday and I am casually dressed. It doesn't help me alot when I already look like some 19 year old temp staff (despite being 26). Without my usual shirt and tie routine, I looked quite "hopeless" standing in front of those training attendees. There were 18 of them. It just gets easier with every time and trainings suddenly became a breeze. It's good to be light-hearted, use simple analogies and listen to questions that they post. Over time, I have also found out that it's really important to crack some jokes in good humour to make people feel at ease. Still I hate having to do presentation to bosses, no matter what.
After much moaning and groaning, I managed to get the "deck" done . I even took a trip down to the regional office to hand in the stuff to this really nice director personally even though I could have just "internal-mailed" it to him. I am willing to do that because he is really this one nice fellow with no airs.
Right after that I read someone's blog complaining about how it's "depressing" to have to dress up for work on Fridays because she is in sales while others get the chance to "dress-down". It sort of echoed how good I felt about being able to dress causually on Fridays, cut the crap and get the training done. But not when I am presenting to my bosses though...
Thursday, October 11, 2001
Work is endless. But it feels really good to get those pressing ones done. I just did it 5 mins ago. *Beam*
I have been reading so much bad news on some of the headlines that has been circulated over the office Intranet.
- -5.6% in grim third quarter
- STI falls on recession blues
- US growth rate set 'to slow to 1.1%'
- Singapore headed for worst slump in over 30 years
Unprecedented. I remember the depression I got into when I couldn't get myself employed when I first left the Army in late 1997. That was the "Asian crisis". Before that there was this huge economic boom and all this talk of "The Pacific Century" from 1992 to 1995. There are alot of people whom I know that are either jobless or working in some temp job (I had two honours grads temping for me once). My heart goes out to them, I hope they all settle down soon.
I have music on right now. Shadows of Ourselves (Thievery Corporation) - lovely horns, french vocals and nice guitars etc. Someone asked me where I work and what I work as because she read about the part about me being able to "blast" music at work. That's because my boss is okie with me "playing" music over my small speakers as long as I don't turn the volume up too loud. I think it's pretty amazing that he could put up with the drum 'n' bass sounds of Jonny L, LTJ Bukem, Goldie; the Indian chants from Bill Wells Octet; hip-hop and turntablist sounds etc. What I have played so far is definitely not something familiar which one would get to hear usually. This makes him to be much more wonderful than he already is. My other colleagues always joke about me "hero-worshipping" my boss as my "idol". I think they are all just jealous *Ha!*
I feel really lucky - for the fact that I could play music at work, more so that I even have a job in the first place (even though the job doesn't pay me well) and much much more for having someone nice to work for.
Now back to the other endless parts of work...
I have been reading so much bad news on some of the headlines that has been circulated over the office Intranet.
- -5.6% in grim third quarter
- STI falls on recession blues
- US growth rate set 'to slow to 1.1%'
- Singapore headed for worst slump in over 30 years
Unprecedented. I remember the depression I got into when I couldn't get myself employed when I first left the Army in late 1997. That was the "Asian crisis". Before that there was this huge economic boom and all this talk of "The Pacific Century" from 1992 to 1995. There are alot of people whom I know that are either jobless or working in some temp job (I had two honours grads temping for me once). My heart goes out to them, I hope they all settle down soon.
I have music on right now. Shadows of Ourselves (Thievery Corporation) - lovely horns, french vocals and nice guitars etc. Someone asked me where I work and what I work as because she read about the part about me being able to "blast" music at work. That's because my boss is okie with me "playing" music over my small speakers as long as I don't turn the volume up too loud. I think it's pretty amazing that he could put up with the drum 'n' bass sounds of Jonny L, LTJ Bukem, Goldie; the Indian chants from Bill Wells Octet; hip-hop and turntablist sounds etc. What I have played so far is definitely not something familiar which one would get to hear usually. This makes him to be much more wonderful than he already is. My other colleagues always joke about me "hero-worshipping" my boss as my "idol". I think they are all just jealous *Ha!*
I feel really lucky - for the fact that I could play music at work, more so that I even have a job in the first place (even though the job doesn't pay me well) and much much more for having someone nice to work for.
Now back to the other endless parts of work...
Wednesday, October 10, 2001
I wasn't able to post my blog in the afternoon because it timed out. Then I thought I should blog later in the night when I get home.
Yr 2002 Marketing Plan occupied most of my time for the rest of the day after a heavy Teochew porridge lunch. My friend who were working at Hitachi Tower had alot more "excitement" when she had to evacuate from the building that she was working in (Hitachi Towers, 16 Collyer Quay) because of "some emergency". This is the "tremor" from the Sept 11 terrorist attack. I guess the world will never be the same again somehow.
It's one of my best friend's birthday tonight. He comes 27 this year (he's one year older). We do alot of things together but we have totally different ideas about life.
He's someone who doesn't care less about feeling anything for anything. Zero savings in the bank and living this totally epicurean life. Always partying, always spending his money on stuff, doesn't read for nuts, doesn't plan for life, talks alot of crap etc. Although he has been my mate for 10 years and more, he doesn't even try to understand the "dynamics" of me. Just simply because he doesn't care. We do alot of stuff together - Film Festivals, guest DJs, Jazz Festival, round-the-clock Big2 sessions, Hong Kong trip etc.)
I couldn't have been like him. I ponder about life all the time, I try to read alot, I worry alot about the future etc. Sometimes it amazes me at how we have became such good friends after I got to know him and his younger brother at some "Sports club" (back then arcades were not legal so the only place with arcade machines were these so-called "Sports clubs" or "Football clubs"). It was Street Fighter 2 then. Although I can't discuss Sophie's World with him or brag about having the latest limited pressing of Brainfreeze to him (it's a CD), he has been a real mate that has stood through the ravages of time with me.
Happy Birthday to him. He is probably already drunk at some club right now.
Yr 2002 Marketing Plan occupied most of my time for the rest of the day after a heavy Teochew porridge lunch. My friend who were working at Hitachi Tower had alot more "excitement" when she had to evacuate from the building that she was working in (Hitachi Towers, 16 Collyer Quay) because of "some emergency". This is the "tremor" from the Sept 11 terrorist attack. I guess the world will never be the same again somehow.
It's one of my best friend's birthday tonight. He comes 27 this year (he's one year older). We do alot of things together but we have totally different ideas about life.
He's someone who doesn't care less about feeling anything for anything. Zero savings in the bank and living this totally epicurean life. Always partying, always spending his money on stuff, doesn't read for nuts, doesn't plan for life, talks alot of crap etc. Although he has been my mate for 10 years and more, he doesn't even try to understand the "dynamics" of me. Just simply because he doesn't care. We do alot of stuff together - Film Festivals, guest DJs, Jazz Festival, round-the-clock Big2 sessions, Hong Kong trip etc.)
I couldn't have been like him. I ponder about life all the time, I try to read alot, I worry alot about the future etc. Sometimes it amazes me at how we have became such good friends after I got to know him and his younger brother at some "Sports club" (back then arcades were not legal so the only place with arcade machines were these so-called "Sports clubs" or "Football clubs"). It was Street Fighter 2 then. Although I can't discuss Sophie's World with him or brag about having the latest limited pressing of Brainfreeze to him (it's a CD), he has been a real mate that has stood through the ravages of time with me.
Happy Birthday to him. He is probably already drunk at some club right now.
Tuesday, October 09, 2001
The internet connectivity was dead in my office so there wasn't any lunch blogging.
I love the book that I am reading now. It's very interesting! It's has "Orwell" sharing his life stories with a kid (the first person) in the Animal Farm setting. Very complete (Includes "Orwell" talking about his St Cyprians' school days, Eton, Burma, Spain etc etc.). This book is alot more significant to me because I have read Orwell's biography twice. The book even brings to life the people that surround Orwell's life - Eileen (Orwell's first wife), Cyril Connolly, Fredric Warburg (his publisher - Secker and Warburg). It's a such a brillant idea to present Orwell's life in such a fascinating way! The author also did a good job of personifying Orwell as a living person - from the way he spoke to the kid, his movements, his dialogues in the book etc. I am hooked.
Most people have a shock when I tell them that Orwell had the greatest influence on my life. Not as an author (in fact I have only read 2 of his books - Animal Farm & 1984, though I am very tempted to go read Homage to Catalonia because there's alot of talk in this book that I am reading now about the Spanish war) but as a person. Like Orwell, I wasn't brought up in a well-to-do environment and I instantly identified with him when I read the preface of my Literature text (i.e Animal Farm). That was at the tender impressionable age of 15.
After that, I have gone on trying to find out more about his life. By chance I landed a copy of his biography and I read through it twice. The book is about 564 pages long (and in very small print). Since then, I have read some of his essays and loose bits here and there.
The French Film Festival draws to a close today. Watched this film - You Shouldn't Worry 2. Really witty and humourous comedy from start till the end. Totally charming. Easily the best show I have caught for the entire Festival. Supiak! (my Ah-Beng french at work "Super" *Ha*)
I love the book that I am reading now. It's very interesting! It's has "Orwell" sharing his life stories with a kid (the first person) in the Animal Farm setting. Very complete (Includes "Orwell" talking about his St Cyprians' school days, Eton, Burma, Spain etc etc.). This book is alot more significant to me because I have read Orwell's biography twice. The book even brings to life the people that surround Orwell's life - Eileen (Orwell's first wife), Cyril Connolly, Fredric Warburg (his publisher - Secker and Warburg). It's a such a brillant idea to present Orwell's life in such a fascinating way! The author also did a good job of personifying Orwell as a living person - from the way he spoke to the kid, his movements, his dialogues in the book etc. I am hooked.
Most people have a shock when I tell them that Orwell had the greatest influence on my life. Not as an author (in fact I have only read 2 of his books - Animal Farm & 1984, though I am very tempted to go read Homage to Catalonia because there's alot of talk in this book that I am reading now about the Spanish war) but as a person. Like Orwell, I wasn't brought up in a well-to-do environment and I instantly identified with him when I read the preface of my Literature text (i.e Animal Farm). That was at the tender impressionable age of 15.
After that, I have gone on trying to find out more about his life. By chance I landed a copy of his biography and I read through it twice. The book is about 564 pages long (and in very small print). Since then, I have read some of his essays and loose bits here and there.
The French Film Festival draws to a close today. Watched this film - You Shouldn't Worry 2. Really witty and humourous comedy from start till the end. Totally charming. Easily the best show I have caught for the entire Festival. Supiak! (my Ah-Beng french at work "Super" *Ha*)
Monday, October 08, 2001
Managed to flip through Life! abit during lunch and I found out that New Order was on the front page! What a coincidence especially when I just wrote about them in the morning. In the article were also all the bits about Joy Division, Ian Curtis and Hacienda etc. Spooky.
I left work at 6.00pm sharp and I had some time to kill because I reached Orchard early. Grabbed an interesting book called Dr Orwell & Mr Blair. Should be an interesting read because it's a "twisted" Animal Farm, re-written by this David Caute bloke.
The two french films were great.
Barnie Et Ses Petites Congtrarietes - A very funny romantic comedy. Had to rush to Alliance Francaise immediately after the show ended to catch the second one. Gamer - Quite a good show with impressive graphics. Tommorrow is the last film as the Festival draws to a close.
I left work at 6.00pm sharp and I had some time to kill because I reached Orchard early. Grabbed an interesting book called Dr Orwell & Mr Blair. Should be an interesting read because it's a "twisted" Animal Farm, re-written by this David Caute bloke.
The two french films were great.
Barnie Et Ses Petites Congtrarietes - A very funny romantic comedy. Had to rush to Alliance Francaise immediately after the show ended to catch the second one. Gamer - Quite a good show with impressive graphics. Tommorrow is the last film as the Festival draws to a close.
Sunday, October 07, 2001
It's Monday morning and I am wearing blue to work (Navy blue shirt, navy blue tie). I guess that the thing that has been constantly on my mind was Blue Monday (the thought, not the song). Yep, New Order. It's very likely that I would reach out for the new New Order single (Crystal) and play it in the afternoon.
"We are like crystal, we break easy..."
"We are like crystal, it's not easy..."
I suppose New Order has come a long way. There's everything about Joy Division, Ian Curtis, Hacienda etc. I do not know why there's this thing they have about naming themselves. Joy Division and New Order were both names of comfort woman groups during WW2.
It's only 10.30am in the morning and I am blasting Kemistry and Storm (DJ Kicks) on my desk. Perhaps it's the noise that is keeping me awake and the rythmn that is keeping me going. It's a loss - Kemistry and Ian Curtis i.e. I wonder how Goldie felt about Kemistry's death (Kemistry was Goldie's girlfriend and she died in the car that Goldie bought her, a Volkswagon Golf. Before Goldie became a superstar drum 'n' bass DJ, it was Kemistry who introduced him to the sounds of jungle). And I wonder what Bernard Sumner felt about Ian Curtis death too (Trivia : New Order = Joy Division - Ian Curtis.)
Something that I am really proud of is my desk. Right now, I have the whole set of my own collection of DJ Kicks CDs surrounding my workstation. I will continue to do "thematic" CD displays. Next on the list :
- Logical Progression + Progression Session series
- The Cure
- Orbital albums + singles
- REM albums
- Chemical Brothers albums + singles
- Return of The DJ series + Deep Concentration series
etc etc.
Today is going to be a hectic day. I have to leave the office at 6.00pm sharp because I would have to rush to catch two French Film Festival screenings tonight. After catching the first show at Cineleisure, it's going to be a mad rush to Alliance Francaise to catch the next one. Reminds me of those days during the Singapore International Film Festival, when I shuttled to and fro from Grand World City to Alliance Francaise twice in the same day.
Back to work for now, if not I would never be able to leave at 6.00p.m sharp.
"We are like crystal, we break easy..."
"We are like crystal, it's not easy..."
I suppose New Order has come a long way. There's everything about Joy Division, Ian Curtis, Hacienda etc. I do not know why there's this thing they have about naming themselves. Joy Division and New Order were both names of comfort woman groups during WW2.
It's only 10.30am in the morning and I am blasting Kemistry and Storm (DJ Kicks) on my desk. Perhaps it's the noise that is keeping me awake and the rythmn that is keeping me going. It's a loss - Kemistry and Ian Curtis i.e. I wonder how Goldie felt about Kemistry's death (Kemistry was Goldie's girlfriend and she died in the car that Goldie bought her, a Volkswagon Golf. Before Goldie became a superstar drum 'n' bass DJ, it was Kemistry who introduced him to the sounds of jungle). And I wonder what Bernard Sumner felt about Ian Curtis death too (Trivia : New Order = Joy Division - Ian Curtis.)
Something that I am really proud of is my desk. Right now, I have the whole set of my own collection of DJ Kicks CDs surrounding my workstation. I will continue to do "thematic" CD displays. Next on the list :
- Logical Progression + Progression Session series
- The Cure
- Orbital albums + singles
- REM albums
- Chemical Brothers albums + singles
- Return of The DJ series + Deep Concentration series
etc etc.
Today is going to be a hectic day. I have to leave the office at 6.00pm sharp because I would have to rush to catch two French Film Festival screenings tonight. After catching the first show at Cineleisure, it's going to be a mad rush to Alliance Francaise to catch the next one. Reminds me of those days during the Singapore International Film Festival, when I shuttled to and fro from Grand World City to Alliance Francaise twice in the same day.
Back to work for now, if not I would never be able to leave at 6.00p.m sharp.
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