And so, it begins.

...

Yeah.

Problem this time is that with 2 new people in the house, the house is very very crowded.

And let's not talk about the fridge. >_>

Otherwise, everything is fine.

Flew on Qantas, and I must say that the service I received was appalling. I knew something was going to be wrong when the air stewardess slammed that air mask on the seat in front of me loudly, because I happen to be sleeping through their safety procedure, which is the same for every flight I'm on, despite them saying that it was otherwise.

Food wasn't too fantastic, but at least it was served with a smile. When sleep time came on, I decided to take a walk, and was greeted with a smile as well as I walked around the plane to stretch, since I don't sleep easy on planes.

When sleep finally came while I was watching CSI, they somehow slammed the damned trolley into my seat about half an hour later. Not that I would mind, but the stewardess never even stopped by to say sorry. >_>

Oh well.

I'll try not to fly Qantas next time >_<

Farewell.

:)

Holiday is finally over.

It's time to get back to work.

Thank you all, for everything in these two months.

Song of (whatever) changed to Suteki da ne from the Final Fantasy X Piano collection.

I've a reason to put this song up.

See everyone at the end of the year!

*The starless skies seem to rear its grim face to Falcon a little too often these days.

Gone were the days where the lady moon would caress his face, the stars glittering in their places, their light dancing across their dark night stage.

Now, all there is on top of Falcon is an empty, gloomy stage.

Just like him.

Gone was his kingdom.

His men.

His family.

Everything.

Empty.

The death of his father, who ruled for years with peace, left the kingdom divided. While Falcon’s father was enjoying life, his advisors were planning the very next step.

And so, with the death, Falcon found himself suddenly surrounded by enemies. Men, who were loyal to his house, suddenly discovered a taste towards the riches many associate nobility with (even though they are wrong about this, while being right with everything else such as it is very very stressful). In fact, it was pure luck and bravery of whatever men he had still loyal to him which allowed him to escape from the assassination attempt.

Since then, the kingdom was thrown into chaos, as with anything that does not have a leader, because everyone will attempt to place their asses on that seat.

As of present, there are three major powers, with another two more who are in the shadows, biding their time to strike when someone slips up.

And of course, there is Falcon, the true heir to the throne. As long as he’s alive, anyone’s claim to the throne can be invalidated at anytime.

But yet, does it really matter any more? Who cares who the king is? Who cares who rules the kingdoms?

Who cares?

Falcon is just sick of it all.

Sighing, Falcon sat down beside a tree, exhausted from the day’s journey. The rough ground will make another painful night, but at least, the winds are kind. With luck, it will be a nice dreamless sleep.

If not…

Falcon prepared to lie down to take a rest from his journey towards nowhere, his ears, trained to perfection since he was young, heard a noise he was too used to hearing.

Instinctively, Falcon leaped back, watching as his mind started dreading what was about to happen.

The soft shrill of an arrow traveling through the air could only mean one thing.

Assassins.

The arrow stuck the tree with a loud “Thuck”, as if it was confirming Falcon’s fear.

“Not again.” Falcon almost groaned.

But, as his mind protested, his body was already moving, hardened by years the training his Father forced him through. His hand grabbed the hilt of his long sword, Eclipse, unsheathing with one quick practiced movement.

“Well well. We meet at last.” An all too familiar voice echoed through the area.

“Sir Kevin.” Falcon replied curtly, recognizing the voice of one who had imbedded the same skills into him since he was five.

Yet another friend whose loyalties are as cheap as the gold he has been brought with.

Side-stepping and bringing up Eclipse to block the attack, Falcon looked deep into the eyes of his mentor and long-time friend.

All he found was, nothing.

The spark his eyes had when he laughed. The way his eyes gleamed when Falcon executed a move perfectly.

Gone.

Replaced by two deep black pools of emptiness.

Kevin’s soul was lost the moment he had been brought.

Side-stepping once again, Falcon tried stab Kevin by attacking from the sides. When that was parried, Falcon immediately feinted an attack on the other, before returning for a quick jab back on the original side.

However, as the teacher, Kevin knew all Falcon’s tricks and easily countered the attack by stepping away from the jab, while bringing his sword up at the same time to attack.

Falcon backed off immediately, knowing full well the strength of Kevin. Although Falcon was the younger of the two, Kevin was hardened by the many tourneys and wars he had been through. A young chick like Falcon isn’t going to fool Kevin easily. In fact, one wrong move by Falcon, and he could be facing the wrong side of the sword.

It’s going to come right down to stamina. The one who can last the longest, will eventually starve out this battle.

Needless to say, Kevin knew of his own physical limitations, attacking only when he needs to, while placing a sense of urgency in his attacks.

However, as Falcon sidestepped away from yet another attack, he felt his feet catching a root. Losing his balance, Falcon found earth rushing straight at him like a horse running at him at full gallop.

Usually, he would not have been so silly as to have tripped on a root. However, as a combination of despair, sadness and exhaustion weighed on his mind, Falcon’s usually sharp senses made a mistake of ignoring the root he had noticed earlier.

That mistake, is going to cost Falcon his life.

Within a blink of an eye, Kevin was on top of him, his sword ready to plunge and rid this world of Falcon. Falcon closed his eyes as he waited for the inevitable.

For the first time in a long while, he felt at peace, as he finally realized that everything, is going to end.

Just not the way he would like it.

He waited.

And heard a scream and a thud instead.

“My lord, are you alright?” another familiar voice came floating in.

Hmm?

Falcon opened his eyes to see yet another familiar face bearing on him.

“Lady Rose?” Falcon murmured, his mind still unable to comprehend what had just happened as he pushed himself up.

And saw Kevin’s body a few feet away, his sword beside him, while another sword was placed firmly where his heart was, if he had one at all.

“My lord, I feared I was too late. Thank the gods I made it in time.” Rose said, a nervous quiver in her voice that was full of dread and relief.

Falcon shook his head to clear the cobwebs inside that had entangled themselves from that fall. Looking around, all he saw were people with torches, each revealing concerned face.

Concerned.

And friendly.

“After you escaped, we gathered what’s left of the men and tried finding you. It was pure luck that I heard your voice in these silent woods.” Rose explained.

Looking around, Falcon felt something he had not felt in a long time.

The feeling of a family being beside him.

The feeling of friendship.

And, his duty.

Falcon can’t die yet. As long as one person who is still loyal to him remains, he has a duty to fulfill.

A duty, not to himself, but to these people.

And to his father.

Smiling for the first time in a long time, Falcon walked towards the people.

“Let’s do this.”

“Because it’s going to take more than that, to stop me.”

Around him, the people smiled. No cheers were heard, for none was needed.

Falcon sheathed Eclipse as he repeated the words once more.

“It’s going to take more than that, to stop me.” *

---

It's going to take more than THAT, to stop me. >:

Bring it on.

Happy Chinese New Year! \o/

The day where your parents actually go out with you till one in the morning because they are doing stuff at the temple. ;o

But putting the first joss stick was pretty fun. \o/

And of course, all those 4D numbers. >_>

Still, the number of Devotees at the Bugis Temple is pretty insane. All those people who are holding those huge Joss Sticks and pushing their way in. It will take, at least, an hour or two, to get in. And the "survivors" come out with their hair full of ash and stuff.

However, what surprised me is the people who are selling Joss Sticks outside. I don't mind the Joss Stick being sold at $2, because they are pretty big.

What did surprise me was those barrels of flames used to light the Joss Stick.

Oil is placed in a Milo tin, and a piece of paper was used to light the flame. The flame will stay in the milo tin because that's where all the oil is. These tins are placed openly on edges of tables...

...which can topple over easily.

And to add to the list of fire hazards, there are people selling plants right beside them.

With nothing that looks like a fire fighting equipment in sight, all it takes is one careless topple, and the whole street will become a huge fiery chaos.

While I think this is a common practise every year, it is simply disaster waiting to happen. I'm surprised no one talked about it yet, even more so given the volume of human traffic in that area. Must we always see preventable accidents occur, before having preventive measures?

I sure hope not. Human lives are not for experimenting.

Google looks like Googe!

Truth!

Valentine's Day

>_>

<_<

I actually made a few more, but I ditched them away. LoL

Many reasons why, but...

Never mind.

Here's the actual one this year!

What happened to last year?

Who knows.

I was in a strange state of mind last year anyway.

Plans for the 14th.

-Play Total War 2.
-i.e. Nothing.

Nc6.

Your move. :)

Cultures.

In the newspapers today (It's always the newspapers. I always find something fascinating to rant on. Give a guess why.), there was a sub-editor who is studying Japanese in Kyoto. She mentions how "unnerving" her experience at a Medical Center in Japan is, due to their politeness.

Now, some of you may know that I enjoy Animes and quite a bit of Japanese music. However, I do not think that this is a way to my defending Japan in anyway. I just didn't like how the article is written.

First of all, I'm very sure that staff in a medical center will not say "Gomen nasai" before they jab a needle into one's arm. "Shitsurei shimashita", which means "excuse me", but can also be translated to "I'm sorry", would most likely be used. The same goes with the phrase "Otsukaresama deshita" which was said when this sub-editor walked out after her medical checkup. It can mean many things, usually used for "Thank you (for coming)" or "Thank you (for your work)".

Somehow, this article decided to use the latter.

It's weird, because as anyone who translates would know, that it is the MEANING that is important. There's no way you can translate language A to language B word for word, and to still have it making some sort of sense. Besides, how does one translate "Yoroshiku", the japanese equivalent of 请多多指教? In fansubs, most people translate it as "Nice to meet you", because "Please teach me more", or "Please take care of me" for its Japanese counterpart, usually won't make sense.

By talking to two friends who both have a JLPT 1 qualifications, and one who is currently studying in Japan right now, we've come to the conclusion that Japanese do not say "Sorry" just for every other thing. Rather, it is their culture, and the way they use it. For example, "Watashi" is used mostly by girls, while "Ore" is used by guys. (Note that quite a few male anime watchers use "Watashi" because that's the only thing they hear the girls saying. XD. And if I hear you calling me "-chan", I'll , quite frankly, smack you. XD)

It's the same for Japanese. They could have used "Ano-ne", "sumimasen", "gomen nasai" and "shitrei shimashita", all which can mean "excuse me". However, the context, and the meaning, for each, is quite different.

That aside, I was wondering why the article was being so negative with the Japanese's culture of saying "excuse me" and "sorry". With a title going by "Saying 'sorry' comes easily", one does get an impression that Japanese says sorry without truly meaning it.

But that isn't it. It's just their culture, and nothing is wrong with mannerism. What is wrong with a nurse telling you to inform her should you feel faint when your blood is being taken out, which is compared to the cold attitude of Singapore nurses who just stab their needles into your veins, pump the red goo out, and walk off? One cannot expect to go to another country, and expect everything to be done the same way as it is done back in one's home country.

For a country where racial harmony is so important, such an article showed blatant disrespect for another's culture. This is even more so as it is published in the State's newspaper, a front where it should be showing the public how it is done, instead of setting a bad example of it. With Singapore's neighbours already bringing the house down with all these disputes, Singapore would do well not to make yet another enemy.

And to do that, will require lots of understanding and respect for another's culture. Even more so, when they are actually showing politeness to you.

Because, quite frankly, it could be, much, much worse.

Trust me on that. >_>

---

Damn.

>_>

<_<

>_<

Tough days ahead.

Time to shoulder them and play this game.

Ugh.

Vista, a cause for all PC gamers to cheer?

Microsoft launched their Vista last week here.

And, Digital Life labeled said that it will give PC gamers a cause to cheer.

...

Seriously?

Taking someone a quote right out from someone who knows the Gaming Industry, Jeff "CJayC" Veasey, who operates and had once owned (He sold it to CNet, but still has the sole usage of it), "Vista will be the death of PC gaming."

And I agree.

Let's go back a bit for a history of PC gaming. Back in the late 90s, PC gaming was rampant, peaking in the years 2000 and 2001 where LAN gaming was so common, there are Lan shops opening right beside each other.

Of course, back then, everyone is still on their 56k dialup modems. PC gaming then, enabled people to play with other humans, instead of some random robot on the PC. It also added a lot of replay value to games. Even with the release of PlayStation 2, PC games had never suffered any true setbacks.

Until now.

Or well, a few years ago, when Microsoft launched its Halo.

In the past, some games are known to be "Console" games while some will be designated as "PC" games. The former include RPGs and Driving simulators. The latter would be Real-Time Strategy (RTS) and First Person shooter (FPS) games. In fact, PC gaming was so common, RPGs, a game associated with Consoles back to the days of the Nintendo Super Famicom, moved into the PC market (Final Fantasy VII and VIII) to get a slice of the pie.

But no further.

Halo was one of the first true FPS games you can really play on the console. In the past, console FPS games bombed so badly, it isn't even funny to see great companies losing such money. The reason is simply because a controller cannot defeat a mouse, period. In fact, reviews of Rainbow 6: Rogue Spear, named "Game of the Year" by many magazines for the PC version, was a testimony to how bad a controller is when compared to a mouse because by the time you turned around with a controller, you're dead (Rainbow 6: Rogue Spear uses a very famous "One shot, one kill" style.)

Yet, recently, many FPS games are created for the consoles, and then ported over to PC, instead of being the other way around, or even, PC exclusive. The results are crap such as Rainbow 6: Lock down, which did well for the Game Cube, but was a joke in the PC because of it's difficulty. Even some semi-shooting games such as Grand Theft Auto was seriously too easy at times in the PC version.

Unfortunately, we PC gamers won't really see a change. With Unreal Tournament 2007 being renamed as Unreal Tournament 3 because of it's eventual ports over to the PS3 and Xbox360, and many other true PC only games defecting to the consoles (Rainbow 6: Vegas. Oh, how far you have fallen, one of my favourite series...), we are, truly, witnessing an extinction of PC gaming.

And no, Vista is not going to do anything to help it.

Reason?

DirectX 10.

DirectX, an important visual component, which many games design their games on, will become more and more standard as the games begin to develop. With many recent games already going "Only Pixel Shader Model 3.0" (Which means any graphic cards which are roughly 2 years old won't run it), people will be forced to upgrade their computers if they are ever going to want to play games which are beginning to produce more and more eye-candy, but really not much in-game content which could ever justify their ever growing requirement for size.

Also, it's worthy to note that the cards themselves don't come cheap, at least, for now. The Nivida 8800 is so going to cost over $700 according to the HardwareZone Singapore price guide (Which means it will be more down in Sim Lim).

Note that while, for now, one can play DirectX10 enabled games out of the box with DirectX9.x cards, how long, before we see an extinction of DirectX9 cards? As I've mentioned, Tom Clancy's Rainbow 6: Las Vegas, only supports cards which has Pixel Shader 3.0. DirectX10 allows Pixel Shader 4.0, and it will only be a matter of time before it too, gets chucked aside.

Of course, one can upgrade, and by the time Pixel Shader 3.0 becomes extinct, DirectX10 cards will become much cheaper.

But it isn't just a case of buying a card.

It has now become a case of buying an entire new Windows (Over $700 for Ultimate. Basic edition is really really "basic" to a point where you should just stick with XP).

Moreover, why buy a card when it could become extinct within mere weeks? New cards and hardware just keep coming out, and new cards are all PCI express, which will require a PCI-Express motherboard, a SATA-2 Hard Drive, and a DDR2 RAMs and so on.

It's like buying a new computer.

Of course, people will say that upgrading your computer can help you watch HDTV movies, listen to music, and whatever illegal activities which is commonly associated with file-sharing these days.

But, the issue here is, PC games will die.

Of course, some games such as RTS and MMORPGs will keep the PC games alive, just as Super Mario, Pokemon and Donkey Kong kept Nintendo alive while Microsoft and Sony were battling out (Note that Wii is said to have outsold PS3 in some areas. Not that I'm surprised...).

However, as consoles have sacked one of the PC gamers' haven of FPS, there's no telling when MMORPGs and RTS can be played on consoles. After all, one clear edge of PC games, multiplay-ability, has been broken down with the introduction of internet to consoles, such as Microsoft Live service.

Good bye, PC gaming. That piece of brick will soon be turned into one which will, even more, be associated with pirated activities, or plotting graphs, something it was made to be done in the first place.

---

Song of (Whatever) changed to A Happy Life by Hayashibara Megumi, Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight's Opening Theme.

This song by itself, is very meaningful. I've placed it's lyrics and my guesslation below. However, Hayashibara Megumi still sounds like she's 20 even though she's 40. I still have her Sharman King OP/EDs, which are still one of my favourite songs of all time.

Yes, she's 40, and one of the most, if the THE most, famous VAs around. She has slowed down some after giving birth to her daughter, but still regularly voices Haibara in the long running Detective Conan series.

The anime itself is one of the better ones in this very weak Winter season. It shows what a student council is supposed to do.

Actually bond students together.

One should not join the student council/union for the sole reason of getting CCA points or furthering one's political ambitions!

Moreover, this anime actually shows that the council people actually working together, and not creating all those goddamned groups. Also, the teachers ARE actually HELPING the student council, not heaping shit on them at every turn.

Unfortunately, there's a reason why it's called an anime. >_>

Oh well.

---

A Happy Life (Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight Opening Theme)
By: Hayashibara Megumi

Translator's note: This is a song, and I do not claim to have perfect knowledge of Japanese. I will get something wrong here.

ほら　振り向いても　もういないよ
チャンスなんてね　そんなものだと
あおられても　動けない時だってあるの

そうこれも全て君のために言うことだよ
でもゴメンネ　納得しないこと
簡単にはうなずけない

嘘でその場をうまくやりすごしても　きっとくやむから
過去も未来ももちるん今も　全て背負うの自分だもの悩もう

もう出ておいでよ
閉じ込もってるその背中に　声かけても
すぐは無理だね　私にもおぼえはある

やさしちの意味はむずかしい
いいと思い　かけた言葉
思いがけず　傷つけることがあるかも

でもあきらあないで話しかけたい　言葉にがいても
だって何度も思い知ってる　誰も一人では生きてないよ　いつも

なぜ　大なことは一度に来る
選ぱなくちゃ　どちらがいい　どちらもいい
あなたなら　ちあどうする

あとでわかるよ　全ての意味が　今はわからなくても
苦しみも幸せも秘密も　だから　なげないで抱きしめていこう　ずっと
It’s my life　だから！

hora furimui te mo moui nai yo
chansu nante ne sonna mono da to
aora re te mo ugoke nai toki datte aru no

sou kore mo subete kimi no tame ni iu koto da yo
demo gomenne nattoku shi nai koto
kantan ni wa unazuke nai

uso de sono ba o umaku yarisugoshi te mo kitto kuyamu kara
kako mo mirai mo mochirun ima mo subete seou no jibun da mono nayamou

mou de te oi de yo
tojikomotteru sono senaka ni koe kake te mo
sugu wa muri da ne watashi ni mo oboe wa aru

ya sa shi sano imi wamuzukashii
ii to omoi kake ta kotoba
omoigake zu kizutsukeru koto ga aru kamo

demo akira anai de hanashikake tai kotoba nigai te mo
datte nan do mo omoishitteru dare mo hito de wa ikite nai yo itsumo

naze dai na koto wa ichi do ni kuru
sen banakucha dochira ga ii dochira mo ii
anata nara saa dou suru

ato de wakaru yo subete no imi ga ima wa wakara naku te mo
kurushimi mo shiawase mo himitsu mo da kara nage nai de dakishime te ikou zutto
It’s my life da kara!


Hey, it’s time to look back.
Because the chance to do so has not passed. No matter what happens,
There’s a time to stop.

That’s right, all these words are for you.
But, I’m sorry.
The parts which I do not understand, I can only nod and say yes.

By using lies to slide past, I’ll only regret it later.
Unable to surpass the present, or the future, I am only betraying myself.

It’s time to come forth.
By closing yourself, you are merely backing away from the voice which is behind you.
Even as impossible approaches, I’ll move forward.

The meaning of gentleness can be difficult.
You just have to say what you feel.
Even if your feelings will hurt others, you have to go with it.

But, you must be clear with what you say.
Because, you must know how many times you have to say it before he understands. After all, no one exists forever.

Why does all of it come at the same time?
And so, I have to choose. Which is fine? Which is not?
As for you, which would you choose?

Even if I cannot understand it all now, I am sure I will in the future,
By embracing hardship, happiness and secrets. So please do not get angry. Let’s hug together tightly forever.
It’s my life, that’s why!

A dance of the Strains.

Song of (whatever) changed to Waltz For Strain, from the OST of the excellent Soukou no Strain.

A combination of a great storyline, mechas, and two of my favourite VAs (Ayako Kawasumi and Yukana) = the creation of one of my favourite animes.

Then again, I should not speak too soon. 2 episodes to go >_<.

So...

Anyone care to dance?

;)

HDTV, are we ready for it?

Ah, the wonders of HDTV. A techno-dweep like me can go over for hours pondering about the effects of HDTV compared to SDTV.

How sharp an image can go. How much larger a screen can be, although it quites depends on the size of your TV/monitor.

In case you don't know, HDTV stands for High Definition TV. The pictures shown in HDTV are much clearer than the usual Standard TV (SDTV). HDTV also allows things to be broadcasted in a much larger, 16:9 pixel resolution.

However, is the world truly ready for HDTV.

Moreover, do we really need HDTV?

It all boils down to how one would really want to watch television.

For people who really want to see how the ripples of a water look like on television, or how a lion's mane would look like under a gust of wind, they would be the ones to go for HDTV.

Others, like me, would go for actual content. I don't really care how nice this show looks. If it has quality, I'm watching it.

This can easily be seen in Animes. There are some animes out there which look pretty decent, but have a great storyline, which resulted in a huge following of fans. Naruto, Bleach and Detective Conan, 3 of the most popular animes today, are not shown in HDTV.

On the other hand, Black Lagoon, was shown on HDTV. However, as to why it was shown in HDTV, will perhaps be something beyond me. While I am an action fan, I never found Black Lagoon any interesting.

All it had was random swearing and shooting.

Story? What story?

Hence, a good graphics, may not necessary mean a good show which is to be watched. After all, WOWOW, a Japanese station, airs pretty much of its animes on its HDTV channel.

My point is, are we watching a show to be entertained, or to woo at some graphics which is 4x sharper?

Currently, Singapore has Discovery HD and National Geographic HD channel. However, with most television sets being 1080i instead of the proper 1080p (Note: 1080i takes half the bandwidth required of p, but the difference varies. Many arguments have gone on as to say "Which is truly better", but technically, 1080p > 1080i), and the LCD/Flatscreen television sets having yet to truly die off, it would be hard to see people shelling out thousands of dollars (unless you are buying a HDTV enabled projector, which is another matter) for a brand-new television.

Also, are you watching Discovery to learn about the lions, or to see how a lion's mane would flow with the wind? On top of that, you have to cope with "current" technology being obsolete within a week or two. With the 1080p50 and 1080p60 (50/60 encoding frames per second) yet to be released, would one take the risk?

Perhaps, in a few years.

But for now, let's just enjoy the story.