So I Read

你说, 我是你心底的一根刺，拔出来疼按进去也疼。
可是,你有想过吗?
你何尝不是我心底的一根刺呢.

但是,我从未想过要拔出来。

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Now playing: 陶喆 - Susan说
via FoxyTunes

In Singapore

Packing can be quite a bitch in Singapore's weather. Occasional thunder storms that drench everyone and everything do nothing to improve moods either. On top of that, I am leaving again in 3 weeks which means.... MORE PACKING.

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Now playing: Michael Bublé - Everything
via FoxyTunes

Last Mayflower Day

I just found out this: my empty room naturally has the acoustics of a concert stadium.

Tell me, this picket fences relationship you speak of, can I apply membership for it? Or is it an exclusive club just for the two of you?

Will I regret this decision to not come home in December?

My thoughts are scattered all over... I think I shall go hoover attack the dust I see on my floor.

On The First Day Of September...

Finally, something that I want to get for myself this birthday. No luck so far at Kino though.

"Death, Gunslinger. But not for you."

"Go then, there are other worlds than these."

And So The Little Prince Said...

"Grown-ups love figures. When you describe a new friend to them, they never ask you about the important things. They never say: 'What's his voice like? What are his favourite games? Does he collect butterflies?' Instead they demand: 'How old is he? How many brothers has he? How much does he weigh? How much does he earn?' Only then do they feel they know him.

To forget a friend is sad. Not everyone has had a friend. And if I do forget him, I might become like those grown-ups who no longer care for anything except figures



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Now playing: Finest Jazz Flavours - Stompin' At The Savoy
via FoxyTunes

Getting Lost in KL

Travelling up to KL was well worth it. Both Andrew and Kuan Ching were marvellous hosts for the period that Aaron and I stayed in Msia.

Maybe it's just me, but the feeling I got from hanging out with Andrew and co. in KL was that everything was very ... chill there (for want of a better word). There wasn't a sense of rush or the need to be somewhere at a certain time that seems to just exude from everyone in Singapore. I admit it might be a biased view as I hung out majorly with people from Manchester. That just means we Manchester people are a cool bunch!

Next up would be Hong Kong before I fly back to Manchester on the 11th. Travelling has done me very well this summer, it is probably one of the few reasons I managed to pull through. That and the support of friends and family of course. Onwards... Hong Kong!

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Now playing: Fergie - Clumsy
via FoxyTunes

Teochew "Hee", Hokkien "Guah"

Passing It On

Resting at Home

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

-Luke 6:37

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Now playing: 曾宝仪 - 没有人
via FoxyTunes

Pulau Tioman

One of the highlights of this summer break, the snorkeling trip with my bros left many great moments in my mind. Good company, food, weather, fun all around and these few moments stood out:

1. Being stalked by a pack of Barracudas. Seeing one of them snap its teeth right in front of us was quite scary.

2. We managed to manufacture our own hydrogen gas bomb.

3. finding out that clams come in blue, purple and even green.

4. proposing to the prettiest clam that turned bright blue as she held tightly onto the blade of leaf I presented to her.

5. going Ramly crazy

6. teaching the locals what is Nestum Ice/Milo Ice/Nescafe Ice "DINOSAUR"

Nineteen Twenties

Watched This

"People say to plan for the future, but do they realize that if all they plan for is the future, many things will be left behind?
Maybe it's because we are born with our eyes in front and ears by the sides that we can't see or hear the things we leave behind."

Last Frantic Burst

song : The Decemberists
mood: wanderlust
book(s)-in-hand: His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman

On the cards:

1. Tioman trip

2. KL trip

3. Hong Kong trip

4. Manchester.

Before I realised, the number of weekends I have left in Singapore amount to less than 5. The familiar routine or stacking things up mentally, preparing a checklist of tasks to complete and psyching myself up for the solitude once again.

Why is it through the frenzied activity, I still find myself thinking of her? Looks like I still have to constantly remind myself to move on. Chuga-chuga-chug-chug.

A truth that's told with bad intentions beats all the lies you can invent
~William Blake

Legal threats towards Singaporean fansub downloaders

sources: wikipedia, anime-source

As of 1 June 2007, Odex has sent letters to people downloading anime fansubs of series from Japanese companies that Odex represents. A copy of the letter may be seen here: [1]. The letter threatens legal action against its recipients. It is stated in the letter that the recipient is given a period of time to contact Odex for an out-of-court settlement, and if Odex is not contacted within the deadline, legal proceedings will be issued. It is unclear how Odex managed to obtain personal information of people that they suspect of downloading anime fansubs using BitTorrent programs, and information as to how many people have actually received such letters were withheld by Odex.

Odex first sent out a batch of 17 letters in May 2007. The success of the letter campaign prompted a much larger sending in June. Lawyers hired by Odex determine the penalties on a case-by-case basis with downloaders found guilty of willful and significant downloads facing possibilities of fines of up to $20,000 and up to six months in jail. So far, the youngest culprit caught is 9 years old [[2]].

However, general opinion holds that ISPs like SingNet, etc. were responsible for the disclosure of personal information. It is also believed that due to its poor sales, Odex has to resort to legal actions for revenue, as there is a large number of people who obtain anime online via torrents, whom at the same time due to the transparency of ISPs like Singnet, make easily legal targets for Odex.

However, it must be noted that due to its low marketing presence in the local anime market, many anime fans have never heard of Odex. Odex has also been attempting to encourage purchases of its anime VCDs/DVDs in place of original Japanese anime and anime produced by other English anime companies in order to beef up its sales. However, fans that have heard of Odex have criticized Odex for abusing its monopoly power to set prices that are even more than the American or Japanese counterparts.

Of important note is that Odex apparently has the legal right to commence legal action against people downloading anime fansubs of series that they do not sell, as long as they are produced by the Japanese companies that they represent, as Odex is under AVPAS directive to curb video piracy. However, many forums currently debate that the AVPAS is actually a ploy by Odex, thus not making it controlled by the Government.

The response on anime-related online communities and forums has largely been negative, ranging from sharp criticisms of Odex's video quality and business model, to impassioned outcries for a boycott of Odex or of the anime market. You can read an open letter from one of the anime community here.

Evergreen Classics

song : David Tao on repeat
mood: old
book(s)-in-hand: His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman (final book)

Edit: on the guitar
[A] Now I miss you more then I missed you before
and now where I'll find comfort God [D] knows
'Cause you [A] left me [E] just when I needed you [A] most
[D] [A] left me [E] just when I needed you [A] most

Now most every morning I stare out the window
'an I think about where you might be [D]
I've written you letters that I'd [A] like to send
[E] If you would just [E7] send one to [E] me

Amazing

Just like that, it's almost time for me to head back to Manchester already. 4 more weeks and it'll be over a year before I am able to come back home again. And I don't feel like I've accomplished anything within these months.