Camera phones, the complications of technology.

As the world change, technology change. Camera, a incredibily bulky material where people have to freeze their face for minutes (perhaps even hours) are now transformed into miniture size that is 1/10th the size of what it originally was. Not to mention, photos can be developed almost instantly, as cameras now have the ability to print wirelessly, via blu-tooth or whatever else they might use, unthinkable when Johann Zahn created the camera back in 1685, and when Joseph Nicéphore Niépce created the first ever permenant photo in 1826. Now, handphones, even MP3s players, come with inbuilt camera function, allowing people to take photos, anytime, anywhere, without the hassle of actually carrying one.

And with it, comes complications.

Even in the movies, spies have been known to capture secret documents on films, saving them the trouble of carrying the huge blue-print of the evil minion's super duper nuclear plant which will cause the world to tremble when unleashed.

Thus, naturally, cameras are banned. As handphones start to have this feature, handphones with cameras are banned in areas where it could become a "threat to security".

However, as handphone companies start producing handphones, cheaply, I must add, which scream of their camera functions (2/5 MegaPixel! \o\), one cannot confisciate all the handphones of the employees in the company. After all, a handphone is considered close to a "basic necessity" these days. Imagine the look on your friend's face when you tell him "I don't have a handphone."

And so, it isn't long before some major issue appeared. Straits Times reported some poor fella got his $500 handphone confiscated because he didn't report it. Keep in mind that this is his 1st time. Story was that he got his visitor's pass on his first visit, but didn't bring his handphone. As he had to make a second delivery later that day, he didn't exchange his visitor's pass for his IC and went home to get his mobile phone. As he was heading out after his second delivery, his handphone got discovered, and confiscated.

Now, here's the question. That guy didn't take any pictures, so why was the handphone confiscated? Like what the lawyers say, it's his first time, and so, he is unfamilar with the area. A quick check on the phone would show that he has taken none. So why, was it confiscated?

I think it would have been so much better if the phone was checked instead. True, security guards arn't that free, however, what about a master reset instead? Ensuring that nothing gets out. If there's still doubts, then the handphone can be kept for a week or two to do a through scan, ensuring terrorists or whoever will not have anything in hidden folders. This is so much better than confiscating the handphone, because it is expensive, and it could hold special memories.

Even as a punishment, confiscating is a little too much. This isn't primary school where a $2 toy gets confiscated, because $2 is rather cheap (I'm not trying to sound rich here. >_>). We are talking about things that are in hundreds of dollars here. It is way too harsh. Perhaps, it's time to look at how people should treat handphones with cameras, since around 70% of the handphones have camera, especially those newer ones.

*A slice of wind punched Falcon's cheek.

With each raindrop, it felt as if a rock sent from the heavens pelted him. Staggering along in the muddy, rain soaked path, his blood-shot eyes surveyed the area around him yet one more time.

Buildings without roofs. Charred walls in the middle of no where, the fire blackening the walls extingushed a long time ago. A donkey lay on the side of the road, flies dancing above it's corpse.

A scene of complete, utter, devastation.

Using the sleeve of what was a shirt to wipe the blood gushing from his head for the umpteenth time, Falcon staggered forward, himself tired both mentally and physically. Fighting to urge to lie down to join the decomposing mass around him, Falcon forced his legs to take yet one more step.

One more step...

Just one more step...

Yet, he seem to be unable to get away from his horror house, despite forcing himself to walk for what seem to be like years. The scene in front of his puffy eyes is always the same.

Same old destroyed house.

Same old patch of blood.

Despite trying his best to reason the cause, Falcon's mind can never comprehend the complexity of this issue. One moment, he was running on this hills, the next, he's lying face down on the mud, no idea how he got there, or why he got there.

However, that is unimportant, for all his mind is focused on is surviving. Taking that extra step. Inching his way out of this madness.

Yet another puff of wind knocked him like a sledgehammer. This time, Falcon's tired legs gave in, forcing his body to collapse like a building being demolished after the red button is pressed. Tasting the bitterness of mud on his lips, Falcon forced his last bit of strength to pick himself up.

Yet, his arms betrayed him at this critical moment, having found an empty hole in what was a huge bubbling pot labeled "strength". Falcon could only turn himself away from the vile mud, facing at the gray unforgiving sky one last time.

As his vision turned to slits, suddenly, a dark figure appeared. "The Grim Reaper?" Falcon, finding strength for one last bit of humor before he returns to his creators. Yet, this figure, despite all that's said in the books, don't look anything like Death himself. For one, he isn't holding that huge scythe.

Also, "he", looks distinctively, female.

As she peered down, Falcon saw that this she, was either a human being, or god is playing one final joke on his vision.

Yet, despite his 16 years on this sorry excuse of a rock, he has not seen such a beautiful face ever in his life. The rain, his enemy for the past few hours, was her ally, helping her black hair, despite it being matted, to glitter in the fading light. Even though her hair was matted to her face, the hair framed the curves of her face beautifully, despite the fact that it would spoil the image of 99% of the women in the soaking rain. The curves of her face, already enhanced by her hair, was nothing short of delicate.

But her eyes. God, her eyes.

Those beautiful eyes of the perfect size fitting on her face. It's like the hands of a talented graphic artist, using years of experience and his own talent to draw a pair of perfect eyes on the perfect female face. Those black Iris, almost glittering like a rare gem, held the reflection of his blood soaked face, he himself being absorbed in it. Allowing himself to be absorbed into the beautiful eyes, falling in, never wanting to come back out again.

A sight he would hold, as his eyelids fought the desire to stay open. Despite his best efforts, his vision dimmed, turned hazy, ultimately closing the shutters from seeing the image that he had been yearning to see hi entire life.

Not now.

Just a while more.

Just a while mo...

Darkness.*

Random story to cease boredom while waiting for downloads to be done so that I can start playing o2jam. LoL.
---

She texts you to say that she's breaking up.

What would you do? XD

It's something I collected/leeched off a forum I frequented (Gamefaqs' LUE, for those who care). As it was LUE, the usual replies were "Text her to say that her sister/best friend was better in bed", or the more serious "Call her to tell her that she don't have the guts to say it in front of you."

However, my favourite was "Call her and say, "sup"?", and tossed it on my MSN nick.

Some how, people actually didn't see the joke, and thought that I had broke up with my girlfriend. XD

Some how. Not only one, but several ones. XD

Even though I'm a cheerful guy, I don't think breaking up is something I would take as a joke. It isn't something to make fun of, and it is never, ever fun.

So....

XD

FTT > BTT. Some how.

Hmm, took the Final Theory Test today. Thankfully Lan Jie was around, or we would have missed it \o\.

However, I found it so much easier than the Basic Theory Test. No idea why, but I finished that thing in 10 minutes, compared to 15 for BTT. Maybe it's because we came in late, and I was practically zooming through everything.

Simple crap.

Now, to take the Practical Test, and then, I CAN DRIVE! \o/

Woman only Train Compartments in Singapore? Ridiculous.

Recently, I read, with amusment, I must add, about a reader of Sunday Times writing in to talk about the Woman-only carriages, stating that Singapore should implement it as well, so that the harassments of females would disappear.

Don't get me wrong. I'm one who thinks that, while the Woman's charter and protection women get is overrated, it is right. Rapists should be stoned and molesters should be fed to sharks.

However, this is....going beyond the line. That letter was just waiting to be blasted.

And I was right. Today, some one rightfully wrote back to rebuke that letter.

Let's see, first of all. There's this idea that women should be surveyed (..."but also survey women's receptiveness to this idea.")

Oh yay. We male are forgotten. As though each and ever single male are sexual predators. >_>

Something definately isn't right here.

So, since I'm bored, I've decided to do a little research myself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_MRT

Singapore MRT system uses trains that have barely 6 cars, spanning just 138m. Compare that to the Japanese train, and you know what I mean. The Japanese Shinkasen is roughly 250 meters, while a 223-series is 200 meters. (Source: http://www.mtm.or.jp/eng/railway/ec/223.html) 233 is mentioned because the picture that Wikipedia used (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Japan).

See the difference? If SMRT/SBS Transit were to introduce this system, how many carriages would be left to us men? For the sake of being fair, let's say 3 trains were given to males, 3 were given to females.

Sounds all fair, right?

Not.

This is generally assuming that the number of males and females taking the train is equal. However, what if it isn't equal? The women compartment is half empty, while males have to be packed like Sardines (with olive oil. Ketchup sucks) 3 trains ahead, staring into the space 3 trains ahead/behind, thinking "So near, yet so far"?

Of course, the reverse works true too. Females packed, males happily taking 3 seats and doing push ups at the same time.

Also, what happened to the consideration for couples? Not everyone is rich enough to buy their own means of transport, and for students like me, the MRT is one very easy way to get around (expensive as hell though. ._.). There are plenty of couples hugging/kissing/doing-unthinkable-things on the train. So, with women only carriages, if they followed their boyfriend into the "male" carriages, won't they be one of the few females in that place? Won't they feel weird?

While this idea is good, since it gets rid of "sexual predators", the main thing is that it simply isn't feasible in Singapore. Even if there are trains that are designated for women come in intervals, it won't solve anything. Remember the Changi Airport trains? Either you took it and transferred at Tanah Merah or you waited for a next one. Wasting precious time. If this does happen, females will crowd the platforms, waiting for a "female" train to arrive, while the male is probably half way home to a beer and shower.

It CAN happen, if Singapore has longer trains (12 cars or so). However, the length of the MRT platforms strongly indicate that it won't happen. The train barely fits the platform, and unless millions is poured into upgrading (hence more money from us. >_>), it won't work.

Woman only trains? Go to another counry if you want them. >_>

WE DID IT!

Woo hoo. World hates us because "We didn't release 21-23". The rest of the leeches don't care and just want to know the story.

Long live Speed subs!

http://tinyurl.com/q4tw9

XD

Some how. We made it. After screw ups with RAWs (Aegisub won't load mkvs well. >_> Had to convert all that crap), staying up till 5am to time/TL check that crap. WE MADE IT

Woot.

My first official completed project. :D

Shakugan No Shana. Owns. Period. *spoilers*

11/10.

That's how good it is. Off the scale.

Story starts off with Yuji, your everyday High school student, walking to a train station after school. Suddenly, the world stops around him, and his soul gets eaten. His soul is then replaced by a torch, a replacement for humans who gets eaten so that the world's balance don't go to hell.

And so, he meets this red haired girl, whom he names "Shana" later. Shana, as you recall, is super duper cute. XD

So yeah, the relationship starts off weird, Torch and FlameHaze, like protector and protected. However, it slowly grows into love for the two of them.

Fantastic storyline.

Now, to get the group to work on it. Long night ahead.

Weird Classroom learning conditions in TPJC. LoL?

I was heading to chess club when I stepped into the classroom which is now our CCA room.

On first thought, I was thinking "Haha! Sucks to be my juniors. Having mock tests because of screwed up people like me"

Then, my juniors came in behind me, and started complaining about the status about the classroom.

Appartently, it isn't mock tests, ala Coral Times when we had Mock Tests almost everyday.

No.

It's done this way to "Help learning".

>_>

<_<

I can safely say that TPJC is going down.

Seriously. Anyone who has had a JC education will know that the classrooms are for TUTORIALS. Which means that other then the teacher talking crap on the board, he or she will also be walking around the class room, answering any questions you have. During that time, we students will also be asking among ourselves solutions to the questions we have, and if the teacher sees us, he or she will come by and help out.

According to my juniors, the case is so bad, that there are about 5 students to a table, discussing about a question.

Man, if that was what the principal assured us, that the school would be holding meetings to ensure that the 86% pass rating (including GP) will not happen again, I would be extremely disappointed. At that time, I was already wondering if their meeting will do any good to US. Obviously it won't, since if we screwed up, we screwed up. End of story.

However, if this is the result, I can safely say that nothing has changed. Money put to breaking down walls to improve "performing arts". Money (Around half a million) used to redecorate the Audi (Putting carpets or something. I must have a look some day.)

TPJC, as of now, is reaching the lowest, of it's low. And what the school is doing, isn't exactly helping.

Oh well. On par with SRJC, YJC or something, here we come!

--

Somg of (whatever) changed to being by KOTOKO, which is Shakugan No Shana 2nd Opening Theme. A song which I must admit that I didn't like at first, but ends up growing on me, that I liked it quite a bit now. This song als holds special memories for me because it was the one which held my group back on episode 17. The joys of having no Translators, RAW providers, and pretty much everything back then. Hell, I did the Karaoke timing for this song as well (done pretty well, I can say proudly. The joys of messing with it for 5 hours), as well as some crappy karaoke effects before some one with real experience came in and redid the entire thing (Kodachrome, for those who care).

Ah well. Can we really release episode 24 before the other team? Who knows? :o

A Driving Falcon, aka, A Dangerous Falcon

So, I finally got my turn to sit behind the wheel.

Fun, some what. The experience with the real thing is so unlike that in the arcade. For example, in the arcade, where you slam the brake pedal to power slide, slamming the brake pedal on the real thing will ensure that your head and body will jerk forward, before hitting the head rest in a rather painful manner.

Damn Newton's Third Law. >_>

The instructor reminded me of KKK back in school. A dude who scolds you as though he's talking to you anyway, but with a much sterner voice. All the "Why press so hard?" and stuff. Kinda like a grandmother nagging at you.

However, after a while, I relaxed, and enjoyed the ride, even though my car was crawling at an average of 15km/h. Still, there are people going even slower then I was, causing me to drive really really slowly.

Which annoys me. I aim to get that 24 demerit points in my life some day (60km/h above the road speed limit FTW. Hehehe). Still, it's not as though my driving is that fantastic yet. Nervousness is my main enemy, especially with overtaking and making sharp/big turns.

Oh well. So far, so good.

There are leeches....

And then, there are leeches.

Otherwise known as morons.

Fine, the team screwed up, and all because one person decided that releasing an episode faster than anyone else (which is always the case anyway) is so much more important then actually releasing it properly. Worse still, he added his own moronic comments, did not QC (Quality Check), nor did he add the stuff in the 2nd edit pass.

A total moron, yes.

However, when we pulled the episode because we found the screw ups, and worked our asses off to retime, retypeset, re-edit, reQC, you would think that people are a little more appriciative that we actually care enough to do a Version 2, which is almost working right from scratch.

Some are.

Many are not.

While those do not really annoy me, since there's nothing they can do, those who really irrtate me are those who keeps on flaming us.

Namely, people from other groups, on the same project or otherwise, all ready to pile the flames on us if we made a single mistake in our translation, or if our timing was 1 second off.

Basically anything under the sun.

Which is why I'm rather pissed. That damned Anime-Universe leader, Sophia, came in, and was pretty much saying how we were headless chickens under the command of the guy who ****ed up.

Right. If we had actually SEEN that goddamned episode, we won't have released it. What are we supposed to do after it's been released? Cry?

Which was why I had a pretty interesting...debate with her. She pretty much got owned anyway, since she was saying we need a leader, to which I simply countered that we are a new group, and our founders need time to select one.

And she keeps mentioning a joint with us. Rofl. As IF I'll EVER do a joint with AU. Anything with Sophia inside is an absolute NO NO for me.

I'll probably get my team to do Soul Link (Likely, since most projects rely heavily on Translators. No translators, nothing gets done. Hence, Translators have a huge influence on selection of projects. XD) just to annoy her. I wanted to join KNKF for it, but due to the fact that I might not be with them too long, I've withdrawn with mutual agreement with their leader, Kaze.

So yes, Sophia, you can probably go hang yourself or something. Seesh.

*"Die stupid creep!"

Note: DOTA knowledge required. Rofl.

Rylai shouts, as she flings a magic ball at a Ghoul with her wand. However, as she has just a few items, the ghoul merely shugged it off before continuing his attack on a Treant.

A piece of rock flung by an Ancient Protector nearby put an end to it.

"Stupid Tower" the Crystal Maiden swore at her displeasure of losing at least 40 gold that was the bounty for killing the Ghoul. Nearby, a Necromencer continued his futile attempt to attack a Treant, before a flurry of wooden claws and a Druid of the Talon took it out of it's controlled misery.

Rylai smiled, as she lead her troop of creeps towards an enemy Spirit tower, ready to send her poor minions to their doom as the tower has barely been scratched.

But hey, that's why they are called "Creeps" and she's called "Hero".

Or "Heroine". Blame the gods for being sexist.

Suddenly, a ping ran out in the air which only she and her team mates can hear. Using her superior vision, she looked towards the area that her team mate has pinged in annoyance.

"4 heros pushing. Mid lane help."

Bah. Useless people.

With her Nike Boots of Speed, she hurried from her right lane (No idea why the world calls it bottom. If it's bottom, then why is it leading upwards? Weird) towards a crowd of trees, ready to backstab any heros stupid enough to push too far in. (Editor's note: The bunch of trees near Sentinal's Mid Lane. Go figure.)

Once in position, she found a nice spot to settle down, as she formulated her plan.

"Frost bite, Freezing Field, Frost Nova for any who Sur-"

Her train of thought was interrupted, when something incredibily smelly and fat lumbered towards her spot.

The Butcher.

Pudge.

Version 6.908763c.

Or something.

And he wasn't alone. Luna, the Moon rider was forcing her poor animal which she used as her rider to move faster, despite the black cat doing it's best while being cruelly whipped.

With 3 of them, Rylai smiled. 3 does make the thing easier.

But of course, getting the kill...and the bounty....on the other hand, makes it so much more harder to get, since this stupid world does not believe in assists.

And they are talking about "Helping out with development". Rylai almost laughed at the irony.

The plan for formulated immediately. Pudge will hook one of the 4 heros, before we take it apart.

Sounds easy enough.

On paper.

Rylai smiled nervously, as a shake on her grip of the wand showed how nervous she was. Despite having that Aghanim scepter in her backpack, she isn't too sure that this will go on really smoothly.

But hey, you just to have wait, like they all say.

Pudge measured the enemy's relative velocity, his possible place when he tosses out the hook.

And then, he tossed it.

A perfect strike!

Although...not the best of all targets.

With a selection of Prophet, Furion, Clinkz and Centaur War Chief, Pudge just have to hook the only strength hero among the 4.

And one which can stun as well.

The damned Centaur, of all the choices available.

Rylai almost shouted "You ****ing noob!", but the time for swearing comes later. Right now, they got almost 2k points of HP to reduce.

Seems like a lot for a game that's in the middle.

But with the abilities they have...it should not be a problem.

Rylai first chanted the spell for Frost bite, encasing the Centaur in a block of ice, preventing him from stunning or running away.

Beside him, his comrades, now turned competitors, unloaded everything they have.

Luna pointed to the heavens and immediately, beams started shooting out from the sky, striking the poor Centaur. Pudge clamps his jaws on the Centaur, dismembering it.

Not to be outdone, our Crystal Maiden chanted the spells for Freezing Field, causing explosions of ice to appear all over the field.

Neither one has ever thought about the 3 other heros which was on the area. Meat is in front of them, and all of them MUST release their Ultimates in order to kill him, despite having 3 other heros which have lesser then 900 life running away from their comrade on a one way trip back to the fountain.

So much for "Team work".

Within seconds, it was over. The spells are done. Pudge released his grip.

Yet, it still stands.

With 3 hp.

Rylai smiled. No way is it going to walk of out this alive, she thought, as she prepares the incantation of the spell required for Frost Nova, which should kill the Centaur, who now realises that it's still alive, and is now foolishly trying to run away. Beside the Crystal Maiden, the Moon Rider prepares her own spells which would cause even more moon beams to fall from the sky.

Suddenly, a hammer streaked past the two of them, straight at the Centaur's head. With it's back turned, the Centaur stood no chance, as the hammer took it's head straight off.

"M-M-M-M-M-M-MONSTER KILL!" The skies above screamed, as the soul of the Centaur is returned to it's fountain.

"OWNAGE". The skies added after a moment of thinking, as they require time to use their fingers to count the number of Consecutive kills the Sentinal team had so far (33. And counting).

Stunned, Rylai and Luna turned around to see who was the one who got the bounty of the Centaur.

Skeleton King.

"WTF! KS!" both screamed together, watching their hardwork to get an extra 155 gold literally robbed in front of their eyes.

The skeleton king merely smiled before saying "haha. sry. play 4 team."

With that, it walked away, it's divine rapier in it's backpack glittering off the sunlight, blinding Rylai's eyes, as though adding additional unnecessary insult.

"Bah" was all Rylai managed, before walking off to pound the nearest creep with her wand to ease some fustration.

"Damned skellie"*


XD. True story! Well, almost. :D

Breaking reinforced glass, or eardrums, whichever comes first.

Due to a birthday celebration, I've finally stepped into this shop known as "K Box".

Oh sure, it's been around for a while, popping up all over the island, allowing people to sing their hearts content, enjoying themselves as they watch others dissect songs piece by piece, and people making a fool of themselves.

In the comfort of a room, where the only people looking at you are people you know.

However, so to speak....I'm not exactly a singing type of guy. =\.

So, I've generally avoided the K Box, preferring it to Bowling/Pool/Lan/Arcade/Movie.

But hey, sometimes, others make that decision.

And, it was pretty fun. LoL.

Although K box did not have the songs which I preferred to sing (More English/Japanese), it was extremely enjoyable. The girls have fantastic voices (especially Rebecca), while I found a liking to songs which more of reminds me of a shouting contest, although "I knew I loved you" was dismembered pretty nicely by me and Ron. Hell, after the first song, my throat was hoarse from all that screaming I did for Sex bomb. Rofl. Although my partner in Crime, Nicholas, seems to be doing pretty well throughout all the songs.

All in all, K box was extremely enjoyable, but I do believe that's the case only if there are females. If it's an all male group....well....it would be very very different. After all, it's hard to get guys who can sing at a very high pitch.

I, for one, fails miserably at that.

And oh, Happy Birthday Rebecca (Even though it's tomorrow)!

--

http://outpostnine.com/editorials/sfer.html

XD

Time to head back to life. I think.

Life goes on. LoL.

Anyway, after rediscovering my love for Theme Hospital, got to apply for Universities now. Looks bleak, but I guess I got to try anyway.

Speaking of Theme Hospital, I was wondering how such a simple game (first played when I was in Secondary School) can be so addictive. I was surfing mininova one bored afternoon when I noticed it on the front page. It's only 200mb, something huge back in 1999/2000, but now, it's peanuts now (Hell, I download animes at 300mb per episode, depending on the aspect ratio and encode).

And so, for 3 straight days, I found myself trying to run/destory hospitals to save/kill lives. Fantastic game. Simple, yet addictive for a mere 200mb.

Which brings the question, is simple better? I mean, for games, sometimes, yes. Look at Tetris, Pong and the like, games which our parents played when they were young. Even now, people are playing it on the buses on their handphones, with all sorts of newer stuff thrown in it, but the concept remains the same. Simple, yet effective. Sonic, a household name back when Sega was still using the 24-mbit console, was fantastic, yet, it fizzled when the 3D versions hit the dreamcast. There are games which needs a full DVD (4 gigabyte) to install and run, but yet, you won't be playing it much after one pass at the game, unless you play the multiplayer parts, which could get boring after a while as well.

Simple is good. Trust me. Too bad everyone is looking to games with a fantastic storyline (Games screw it up unless it's a RPG, but still....even then...), great graphics (Hence all the new PCI cards. Argh. No $$ to buy those... ._.), great multiplayer (No local servers) and god knows what else. How about just expecting little? I didn't expect much for Theme Hospital, and it has exceeded my expectations. Sonic kept me playing for weeks (I still can't beat the game. Rofl).

But hey, it's the new age....

So....

*shugs*

---

New banner. Mai is the main girl this time. Star of Hime deserves the spot after her amazing performance in Hime. Absolutely fantastic anime.

Anyway, she's reappearing in Otome! Woo hoo!

The font for this banner is something which annoyed me. Hard to find a decent font, even harder to find the correct colour. LoL.

MAI MAI MAI MAI MAI MAI~~~

Song of (whatever) changed to Anata ga Ita Mori by Jyukai, which is Fate/Stay Night's Ending Theme. Nice calm song, which fits well as a Ending Theme.

Attending Funerals.

Attending my first today. Won't be my last, I'm sure.

And definately something I don't want to repeat.

Again, Rest in Peace, Jun Rong.

However, I'm surprised that the principal didn't say anything. Oh well. Typical. Especially after the news leaked that we sucked in the last A levels release.

But still....

In any case, no more music for a bit. Will upload the Bleach 6th Ending theme later or something. Links are still there.

Rest in Peace, Jun Rong.

I will always remember you as the one who brought life to the Chess Club, contributing excitment when every one was bored. The games that we had will forever last in my memory, never to be forgotten.

May your soul rest in peace.

Sigh

The world is so meaningless right now.