Thursday, November 29, 2007
Whoa, where did that come from? It's a frame for something, I haven't figured out what.
Unfinished business.
Posted by Calvin at
6:18 pm
I'm reading famous (infamous?) Atheist Richard Dawkin's book 'The God Delusion' right now. While I pretty much just want everyone to be rational and get along, he's about as militant an Atheist as you will find.It's a well written book, and he systematically makes mincemeat of those poor buggers. I suppose that's why it's drawn the ire of some of our religious friends overseas.
*Hellgate: London is fun as expected. Really strikes a chord with me since it shares a theme with my favourite book 'Neverwhere', by Neil Gaiman. Yeah, it's London Below again, sewers and all, except this time you've got lots and lots of guns.
Posted by Calvin at
8:25 am
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
In retrospect, it feels like a long time ago. T'was walking down some quiet road in the early morning with a girl. We always seemed to get along well. Rather better, in fact, than one would expect from normal friends. Yeah, you know what I mean.
And we were just talking, enjoying the morning. For a moment, just a moment, I felt like taking her by the hand, or something like that. I didn't.
Hey, this is Singapore we're talking about. She might have screamed, or at least been affronted. Things are much better in America, where the culture is more liberal and open.
Life isn't like Hollywood, you know. There isn't a scene where the clouds part, the man proposes, and the woman magically accepts, all in one perfect moment - complete with violins and an atmosphere of general romance.
Hah! If only it were that easy. It's possible of course, but you have to fight for moments like that, because no one is going to hand them to you.
Carpe Diem, as they say. Seize the day.
Posted by Calvin at
9:34 am
Monday, November 26, 2007
Dredged up from the recesses of the internet. Yes, it's a photoshop, but I can dream, right? Right?
Anyway, I've found Galaxy's musical score to be very exemplary. Sample. Warning, mild spoilers.
Posted by Calvin at
5:49 pm
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Posted by Calvin at
5:35 pm
"This project, in theory, afforded an upper-middle-class academic like myself the opportunity to build bridges with those of a culturally dissimilar background, enabling both me and them to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the other's unique perspectives and experiences."
You recognise it too, right? It's crap. Splitting simple words into needless obfuscations, grammatically sidetracking fogs of literary obsolescence. There, a textbook example.
It's not all bad, except when the crap starts to matter. Fine, smoke through an essay or two, who cares? But the government? In their infamous rap video, our MDA proclaims, "We classify media to give you a choice."
Let me translate that for you. In essence, it means they will slap ratings on media, like M18 and PG13, so.. actually I'm not sure where the element of 'choice' comes in. I suppose now you can 'choose' not to watch M18 movies because - surprise! - you're not 18!
Anyway, for your information, the text in italics comes from an Onion article. It's followed by, "Nope. Didn't happen. I did, however, have a lot of empty bottles thrown at me through missing windows." There's the Truth, and there's Real Life.
You recognise it too, right? It's crap. Splitting simple words into needless obfuscations, grammatically sidetracking fogs of literary obsolescence. There, a textbook example.
It's not all bad, except when the crap starts to matter. Fine, smoke through an essay or two, who cares? But the government? In their infamous rap video, our MDA proclaims, "We classify media to give you a choice."
Let me translate that for you. In essence, it means they will slap ratings on media, like M18 and PG13, so.. actually I'm not sure where the element of 'choice' comes in. I suppose now you can 'choose' not to watch M18 movies because - surprise! - you're not 18!
Anyway, for your information, the text in italics comes from an Onion article. It's followed by, "Nope. Didn't happen. I did, however, have a lot of empty bottles thrown at me through missing windows." There's the Truth, and there's Real Life.
Posted by Calvin at
7:22 am
"'I know about sureness,' said Didactylos. 'I remember, before I was blind, I went to Omnia once. And in your Citadel I saw a crowd stoning a man to death in a pit. Ever seen that?'
'It has to be done,' Brutha mumbled. 'So the soul can be shriven and-'
'Don't know about the soul. Never been that kind of a philosopher,' said Didactylos. 'All I know is, it was a horrible sight.'
The state of the body is not-'
'Oh, I'm not talking about the poor bugger in the pit,' said the philosopher. 'I'm talking about the people throwing the stones. They were sure all right. They were sure it wasn't them in the pit. You could see it in their faces. So glad it wasn't them that they were throwing as hard as they could."
'It has to be done,' Brutha mumbled. 'So the soul can be shriven and-'
'Don't know about the soul. Never been that kind of a philosopher,' said Didactylos. 'All I know is, it was a horrible sight.'
The state of the body is not-'
'Oh, I'm not talking about the poor bugger in the pit,' said the philosopher. 'I'm talking about the people throwing the stones. They were sure all right. They were sure it wasn't them in the pit. You could see it in their faces. So glad it wasn't them that they were throwing as hard as they could."
-Small Gods
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6:23 am
Saturday, November 24, 2007
_-_The_Last_Supper_(1495-1498).jpg)
Posted by Calvin at
3:31 am
Thursday, November 22, 2007
*Galaxy gameplay review - brilliant. The trend in games nowadays seems to be messing with physics. There's Portal and it's Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device, and in Galaxy you- well let's just say you walk all over the walls and upside down. Oh, and it has a really good soundtrack - my parents loved it.
There's no way I can continue without borrowing some choice expletives, so I'll stop right here. Really, if you can, get your hands on the game and try it out. Seeing is believing, and very, very, awesome.
Posted by Calvin at
2:54 am
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
End of days
A levels are over and done with for good this time. Nothing really much to say, so there's some music up there to sum it up. Take from it what you will.
Anyway, went downtown with the usual crew because what's the last day of school without an outing? Surely you can't say "Oh, I went home after my last paper." We ended up watching The Game Plan, which turned out to be pretty good, despite me being traditionally adverse to feel good movies.
Good times. Why am I writing this at 3 am? Because I was playing Galaxy outside all this time. In fact, it looks like I have to get back right.. about.. now!
Posted by Calvin at
3:31 am
Monday, November 19, 2007
Despite the extremely demanding task of studying for my last paper, Physics paper one, I managed to find the time to take Super Mario Galaxy for a test drive. Yup, bought a Wii today.
The console itself is quite impressive, detected my household wireless connection without a hitch at all. And the best thing about it is my parents seem to like it. "Can I play?" is way better than "Oh, is that another gaming thing?"
So that's that. Last paper tomorrow and I am free. Camp and chalet on the 29th of November and 5th of December respectively. Oh yes, holiday season is coming and I must say it's looking pretty damn awesome from this side.
I hope you all are having as good a time as I am!
*Pictures when I get my phone back, left it in the range.
Posted by Calvin at
5:14 pm
Sunday, November 18, 2007
I'm really starting to dig this post A levels lifestyle. As you can see I'm currently playing Final Fantasy Tactics on my computer via emulator, and I'm gonna buy a Wii come Monday. Hot damn!
I'm in real danger of forgetting I still have one more (inconsequential) paper.
Posted by Calvin at
12:04 am
Friday, November 16, 2007
With the As out of the way, I finally have time to visit The Onion again. It's a great faux news site.
Case in point, this article.
Also,
MySpace Outage Leaves Millions Friendless
"I've just been wandering in and out of my cubicle in a daze, not knowing what to say and who to talk to," said Upper Darby, PA data-entry technician Patrick "Smiley457" Mancuso, 31. "I thought about asking someone at work or in my apartment building if they'd join my friend group. But how am I supposed to tell which ones I will like and which ones I won't? It's too overwhelming."
"Without an 'About Me' section, I've lost all sense of self," said Imbrescia, 17, who depends on the site to convey his innermost thoughts to millions of extended-network friends. "Do I want kids? How tall am I? What's my body type? These are questions I can't answer anymore.
Self-Help Lecture Attendees Surprised To Hear Speaker Was Once Just Like Them
"I figured I'd never have anything in common with such a confident go-getter, but then he said he used to be unhappy and unmotivated, and I thought, 'That sounds exactly like me!'" "The only logical conclusion is that if I do everything this man tells me, I will find the same success he found," said Dwyer. "I'm going to start today!"
Case in point, this article.
Also,
MySpace Outage Leaves Millions Friendless
"I've just been wandering in and out of my cubicle in a daze, not knowing what to say and who to talk to," said Upper Darby, PA data-entry technician Patrick "Smiley457" Mancuso, 31. "I thought about asking someone at work or in my apartment building if they'd join my friend group. But how am I supposed to tell which ones I will like and which ones I won't? It's too overwhelming."
"Without an 'About Me' section, I've lost all sense of self," said Imbrescia, 17, who depends on the site to convey his innermost thoughts to millions of extended-network friends. "Do I want kids? How tall am I? What's my body type? These are questions I can't answer anymore.
Self-Help Lecture Attendees Surprised To Hear Speaker Was Once Just Like Them
"I figured I'd never have anything in common with such a confident go-getter, but then he said he used to be unhappy and unmotivated, and I thought, 'That sounds exactly like me!'" "The only logical conclusion is that if I do everything this man tells me, I will find the same success he found," said Dwyer. "I'm going to start today!"
Ah, satire.
Posted by Calvin at
6:18 pm
Thursday, November 15, 2007
In the Straits Times today there was an article on how continuing to dam the Mekong river would cause thousands of people to be displaced in Thailand. Also, some financial news about oil prices hitting $100 a barrel.
Odd, because those are prominent topics for Physical Geography and Economics respectively. The latter of which was mentioned in my H1 paper. Yeah, it feels funny that now that the As are over, information like that just loses it's importance to most of us. I find it's always good to keep up with news like that, it's like meeting an old friend.
Speaking of old friends, most of my notes are now at the bottom of a cupboard in my room. Strange, really, but I'm kind of sad to see them go. If you asked me, I'd trade 2 years of NS for another 2 years in NJC. Yeah, I like studying that much, it sounds silly coming from me but it's true.
Mekong what?
*It's not about the studying really, it's the environment and the people you meet. Can't say much for some of the administration, but I'm really going to miss you Shooting Club folks.
Posted by Calvin at
8:11 pm
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Super Mario Galaxy gets straight As. An omen, it is. Anyway, the one on top is from some foreign magazine I presume, second one is straight out of Wikipedia. I am so digging this game right now.Posted by Calvin at
2:27 am
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
"About 120 years ago, Mme. Cadolle figured out that it made more sense for women's breasts to be suspended from above than cantilevered from beneath. That is, she invented bra straps. so instead of walking around wearing the lingerie equivalent of the London Bridge, women could slide themselves into a Golden Gate. This was a huge relief - as anyone who has worn a strapless bra can tell you - because the London Bridge pretty much always falls down."
Haha oh gods, in Time magazine, no less.
Posted by Calvin at
11:01 am
Monday, November 12, 2007
Since everyone seems to be doing it, here's what I'm going to do after the As.
#1 - Things to buy (Gaming) - Wii, Super Mario Galaxy, WipEout Pulse, Hellgate: London(?). Immediately or when they release.
#2 - Things to buy (Others) - New coloured pencils! Probably Prismacolor from Artfriend if they have 'em. And lots of paper, I got a feeling I'm going to need it. Also books, all the ones I put off buying because I was too lazy to go downtown. And clothes, because of #3.
#3 - Go out and party. Hey, why is this #3?!
Anyway, it's 0445 and I haven't slept yet, just don't have the mood for it. Been drawing on my wall as part of a mini-experiment - on just how observant to change people are, and how nice I can get it to look.
So far, so good, there's a bit of it up there. For those who can't figure out what it is, let's just say that racing is a lot more fun in the 23rd century.
It's a work in progress and it's going places. Hell yeah!
Posted by Calvin at
4:05 am
Sunday, November 11, 2007
You know how people always want to be the best in everything? King of the hill, they want to be. So everyone really looks forward to the view at the top of the mountain, and they climb, with zeal and gusto.
And then, about a quarter of the way up, some people forget a thing or two and turn back, or just don't acclimatise properly, and give up.
Halfway up, it's getting sodding cold and with hypothermia setting in, perhaps the view from Camp Two isn't so bad after all. With the summit looming ahead like so many thundering skyscrapers, they decide to stop.
And, of course, there are the lucky few who persevere. If they haven't been eaten by a yeti or squashed by a penguin, congratulations and welcome to the summit! To find out that the view, while awesome, isn't really as nice as the one they imagined.
But why am I saying all this? I'm the one going up in a jet pack.
Ha hah! I'll be chucking so many metaphorical rocks at them from the International Space Station, just like my pal Mario up there.
Posted by Calvin at
10:28 pm
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Click for full size.
You know, there are times in life where you just have to stop and wonder. It's one of those days, or that time of the day where the light comes in at just the right angle to illuminate the dirt and grime of the city.
Some lady wrote into the Straits Times to complain that the Hellgate: London advert in Today was too realistic and gave her a shock. Yeah London is burning, boo hoo. Perhaps my GCE papers will go up in flames as well. Get a grip, godsdamn.
In the Philippines, contraception is frowned upon by the religiou- yeah whatever, you knew it was coming. Now I've just about had it. It's all well and good to believe that life is sacred and all that, but people die or live in poverty because you encourage every damn person to multiply like rabbits. Rabbits!
Some lady wrote into the Straits Times to complain that the Hellgate: London advert in Today was too realistic and gave her a shock. Yeah London is burning, boo hoo. Perhaps my GCE papers will go up in flames as well. Get a grip, godsdamn.
In the Philippines, contraception is frowned upon by the religiou- yeah whatever, you knew it was coming. Now I've just about had it. It's all well and good to believe that life is sacred and all that, but people die or live in poverty because you encourage every damn person to multiply like rabbits. Rabbits!
*Is this how villains are born? Because after witnessing so much perceived nonsense, chucking a thermonuclear device into the atmosphere doesn't seem like such a bad idea after all.
**I can almost understand how those medieval religious nutters felt. Replace 'perceived nonsense' with 'those wretched heathens' and 'thermonuclear device' with 'bloody crusade'.
See, we're all Humans after all, it's the same impulse. Well then you coelacanths, just bring it!
Posted by Calvin at
6:07 pm
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Events that transpired during the execution of one Agnes Nutter, witch.
"A howling mob, reduced to utter fury by her habit of going around being intelligent and curing people, arrived at her house one April evening to find her sitting with her coat on, waiting for them.
'Ye're tardie,' she said to them. 'I shoulde have been aflame ten minutes since.'
Then she got up and hobbled slowly out of the cottage, and on to the bonfire that had been hastily thrown together on the village green.
'Gather ye ryte close, goode people. Come close untyl the fire near scorch ye, for I charge ye that alle must see how the last true wytch in England dies. Gather ye ryte close, I saye.
Thirty seconds later an explosion took out the village green, scythed the valley clean of every living thing, and was seen as far away as Halifax."
There was much subsequent debate as to whether this had been sent by God or Satan, but it may have been helped by the contents of Agnes's petticoats, wherein she had with some foresight concealed eighty pounds of gunpowder and forty pounds of roofing nails.
-Good Omens
"A howling mob, reduced to utter fury by her habit of going around being intelligent and curing people, arrived at her house one April evening to find her sitting with her coat on, waiting for them.
'Ye're tardie,' she said to them. 'I shoulde have been aflame ten minutes since.'
Then she got up and hobbled slowly out of the cottage, and on to the bonfire that had been hastily thrown together on the village green.
'Gather ye ryte close, goode people. Come close untyl the fire near scorch ye, for I charge ye that alle must see how the last true wytch in England dies. Gather ye ryte close, I saye.
Thirty seconds later an explosion took out the village green, scythed the valley clean of every living thing, and was seen as far away as Halifax."
There was much subsequent debate as to whether this had been sent by God or Satan, but it may have been helped by the contents of Agnes's petticoats, wherein she had with some foresight concealed eighty pounds of gunpowder and forty pounds of roofing nails.
-Good Omens
*I can't help but smile very time I picture this.
Posted by Calvin at
7:11 am
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
"The Spelling Club of Hogwarts had changed their weekly meeting location again, and I, as a new initiate, had no idea where it was. So I took my flying pillow and looked around Singapore for it. It wasn't on the roof of Takashimaya, nor was it in the Fullerton, or Treasure Island - where the light and dark pirates switch their vigil every 12 hours, at 7.
It turned out to be at the top of a towering skyscraper under construction, in the heart of the CBD, all green and dark metal. So I ascended it, vaguely enjoying the thrill of flight, only to find that the top had been rigged with explosives and the meeting had ended."
I'm guessing that this one drew inspiration from Mario Party, WipEout, high technology, and, understandably, the Harry Potter series. What in the world do I do to deserve such dreams?
I want more of 'em!
Posted by Calvin at
4:58 pm
Monday, November 05, 2007
Ye gods, I almost forgot.
Posted by Calvin at
7:56 pm
Singapore thinks that you can manufacture geniuses (actually, the correct plural form is 'genii') and somehow create creativity. Wrong. Where's the skill in that?
The wonderful thing about wonderful things is that they come and go as they please, you can't force them into existence. You just don't.
Geography was cake, but it wasn't fun at all, I take no credit for it being easy - it's all memory work. Just once, I'd like society to measure me in ways I find fun and challenging.
The wonderful thing about wonderful things is that they come and go as they please, you can't force them into existence. You just don't.
Geography was cake, but it wasn't fun at all, I take no credit for it being easy - it's all memory work. Just once, I'd like society to measure me in ways I find fun and challenging.
Go on then, WipEout Pure, Vineta K in 20 seconds, tops. Or get me to go one-on-one with those Cambridge buggers in Smash Bros. Melee. I'm pretty sure I'm off that bell curve.
Ever heard of a game called Portal? I figure you have. It's a much better gauge of intelligence than asking me to move numbers around a silly bit of paper.
Vexations! I'm really itching to draw something, and with a week of break after Math tomorrow, I just might.
Posted by Calvin at
7:09 pm
Friday, November 02, 2007
Singapore isn't very hot on Halloween, bah, all that chocolate gone to waste. Something from my favourite Deviant.
Anyway, before each A level paper I try to cultivate the appropriate feelings of awe, terror, panic, and anxiety - alternately or in pairs. These are the all important A levels after all. He who hath done badly will be cursed to walk the streets forever, cast out from the realm of high paying jobs and ground down by the collective boots of society. My goodness!
It's been getting difficult though. I always wondered how my seniors would look like so many train wrecks after prelims, and perform a magical comeback to ace the As. Well, now I know the secret, it's just that easy. Ye gods!
Now, for a good one or two weeks of serious studying (compared to months for others, apparently) for Physics and Math, I must say it's ridiculously and relatively easy, respectively. Physics in particular - I expect to get an A. There were a couple of bits that stumped me for Math, but I must say it felt like a B or C. For my sake, I better be right on this.
I still maintain that one can start studying late and do well in college level examinations. Now I'll have to walk the talk and ace the rest of the papers for these two subjects, we shall see. Also, Geography and Economics. Till then!
Posted by Calvin at
2:01 pm
