Sunday, April 30, 2006

One more thing... I accordance to the rules of ACS OEP, im as sick as a dog for the 4 year running.

Woo-cough-hoo!



Saturday, April 29, 2006

Im back!

Woohoo.

Cambodia was great, but im a born city-dweller and i miss my city.


But going to to Cambodia was an experience, esspecially my time in COSI.

The world was quiet there, and peaceful. The kids were contented with what little they had and led God-centred lives. I was really suprised. Us Singaporeans really have it lucky, yet , we still whine and grumble. Those kids barely have anything, yet they're still willing to give. Some were even our age, and they act like adults.

It really puts things in perspective. We've spent so long comparing ourselves to americans and decadent 1st-worlders... but now, in comparision to these kids, we're the slobs.

....

So much to reflect about, so little time...

More detail later....

Oh, and for pics, go to Hans' Blog.



Sunday, April 16, 2006

900 words for TOK. Woot. Not much of an accomplishment, but its a step in the left direction.

*plot twist*

Ill be in Cambodia in about 5 days. WOW. Havent really done much to prepare for the trip. I better go to a group meeting to see what the hell is going on. What language do they speak there anyway?

*plot twist*

Since this term started, i've been slacking off. Quite badly, in fact. The correct thing to do is blame myself. I should be working harder, working longer, working smarter, etc. The wrong thing to do is to blame the ungodly hours, insane amount of information and ridiculous activities Notice how i cunningly leave the details ambiguous (For all you know, Im talking about DotA). Because if i didnt, I might have to testify at my own show trial( I am talking about DotA...).

DotA is a great game. But the fact of the matter is it takes up a lot of the players time.Waaaay to much time.This problem could easily be resolved by the programmers and hosts. They can make shorter games. Still addictive, but in small doses, so as not to drain us too badly. But they choose not to. Why? Because they believe its better this way. And that they have a duty to the gaming commision... or whatever it is they answer to, ( Icefrog? Blizzard? Or-something-else-entirely?)to keep it this way. And their are the forums and discussions and everything that happens after the games to give yourself a more well-rounded experience.Despite the fact that its still all meaningless.I wonder if they ip ban those complain or try to change the system.They dont have to.Not a lot of people complain anymore. Since players cant do anything about it, they dont. And eventually, they're going to convince themselves thats its the way things are supposed to go. Wasting half your day on something that wont mean anything after your gone is what human life is all about? Right?

But Im talking nonsense. In all honesty, DotA is a great game. The people who made it are geniuses, almost humanitarians. I apologize to them. I dont think that DotA is time wasting. Far from it, i think DotA is one of the best this to spend your time on. Its a beautiful game. Its addictive, but in a good way.Its one of the easiest ways to relax i know. Its really helped me through some tense times. Im actually starting to feel bad for all this. I might as well hand myself over to the Analogy Police.

*plot twist*

i hate the feeling you get when you latch onto a really great big idea.. then it dissapears when your not looking. I hate not making sense anymore. I hate knowing that i dont make any sense anymore. I hate forgetfulness. I hate the way there arent enough words anymore. I hate reruns. I hate prequels, sequels and spinnoffs.

I wonder whether it makes any sense anymore. I know im different now. Still as patchwork as ever, but maybe a bit more zen about it? Philosophy and comics help a lot more than one thinks. Especially things like the Invisibles.... or maybe ,things like Seaguy. Once i remember thinking in great big concepts. Ideas and dreams and bullshit like that.When i look back at some of my earlier ...posts, esspecially the ones over a couple of months old, i realize how much one can change in short period of time. I seem to bounce between two extremities of idiocy.I still do. I still like a daydreaming idealist. But different now of course. Different in the same way as before?Im retracing my steps back down whole news paths. Weird innit.



Sunday, April 09, 2006

Hooo.. Havent blogged in a 10 days. I even missed an April Fools prank post. Darn.

Well lots of interesting things are a'happening. First off, im picking up DoTA again after a 4 month sabatical from internet gaming in general. Hurray for decadence. Its cutting into my work/sleep time alot so im thinking of going cold turkey.

Ha.

Who needs sleep anyway?

In other news Sam Chan has started up a pen and paper RPG group, great news for RPG/gaming-deprived nuts like Ali, Ken Tay and me. The game is called Shadowrun, a cyberpunk/fantasy hybrid. Think William Gibson + RA Salvatore. Im especially interested in getting invovled in more and more of pen and paper gaming ever since i saw a few comics of it on PvP. Plus, its cheaper than regular com gaming and much, much cheaper than Magic. Plus it invovles a lot of the imagination part of your brain, which is infinitely better than any graphics card, even the ATI Radeon 9800. Or whatever.

But in pen and paper RPG the spectre of Dungeons and Dragons always looms close by. I hear its a really good game from a lot of people, but i also here many bad things about it. Many, many bad things. Some of the stuff is of course borders on the absurd, like the bit about people commiting suicide over the game. But some of the arguements are logical. Which is really worrying.

But staying out of D&D wont really be to hard for me, because in case you dont know, i really,really,really hate magic. Its something i picked up from Batman.



Ill post more after i get ganked in DoTA.



Sunday, April 02, 2006

Centrestage is finally over! I love the feeling of absolute slackness one gets just after a production. I have three essays due on Mon, but im not starting on any of 'em. And i have a lot to talk about. First, The Vault. As you all know, i've been with the Vault since day 1, and i've had the pleasure of seeing the play change and evolve into something quite incredible. It is easily the best Centrestage production i have ever seen. I don't think anyone was really suprised when we cleaned out the awards cabinet. Best Actress for Elsa, Best Actor for Yiyang and finally, Best Play of the night. Wow. This has truly been a memorable experience, and i would like to thank you all for letting me be a part of it.

But.

There's always a 'but' isnt there. Always, always,always. See, the Vault wasnt the only play I was invovled in. About a month or so ago, Reuben asked me to guest-act for him. At first, i declined. But we've been friends for a long time, and I didnt want to leave him hanging now. When i first read the Reuben's script, it struck me as an a very interesting play. It could have been great... Not as good as the Vault maybe, but great , nonetheless. But then something happened. I dont really know why. For the last week of rehearsals, i was mainly with the Vault. I heard whisperering of changes to nuts and bolts, but it never really registered. I didnt think it would be so.... I only realized the extent of the changes when i watched them on the night itself from backstage. I wonder how Reuben must have felt in the Control Room. I dont know why Andrew did what he did, but i know how it feels like to get caught up and go overboard, and i pray that God will help him through this dark time.