The Temple Of Thoughts 3

Katawa Shoujo: Lilly Route Impression

2012-02-01T01:45:00.002+08:00

SPOILER ABOUND. HAVE THIS NICE FANART DISTRACT YOU.

Got past my 4 hours of work? (Because my schoolwork can't open at home)

SPOILER!

Lilly (not Lily) route is perhaps the more romantic fairytale ending compared to Emi. But it doesn't totally dip itself into the fantasy, keeping it real (and almost heart-breaking) with its endings both neutral and good. There is no bad end here, probably for the best.

Lilly is vision-impaired, but is independent and capable. Her development as a character is actually more better than Emi's (though its comparing apples to oranges, both story are good in their own right). I really liked the revelation in the end of the good ending, addressing her fundamental 'weakness' that makes her who she is.

Its almost diabetes inducing, the entire story revolving with Lilly, you and Hanako (Burnt-face Girl). I admit it, I teared during Hanako's birthday. Every time Hanako and Lilly are together, it only makes the ending, so much sadder.

Juggling with her family matters and her own personal life after being 'kicked out' because of her blindness, its a very good story I'll say, only because every single scene from before is putting a veil over your eyes, like Lilly's motherly intention to minimize herself as a burden (as to you to her). The real kicker is when it all comes crashing down, when she has to choose her family (whether you liked it or not!) over her personal matters.

I'll take the neutral ending over the lovey-dovey Good ending over one fact that the good ending seems rather forced. (and so dramatic) The Good Ending is satisfying with the entire hero's journey in a short span, but the Neutral Ending feels a lot more realistic, and sad.

I really like sad endings, and this neutral ending it reminds us how life is; sometimes things are out of your control, but we should accept facts and be happy of the time we have.

And I honestly, ended in tears.

Not as gut-wrenching as Emi, but I really like Lilly more.

Katawa Shoujo: Lilly Endings GET

2012-01-31T02:18:00.001+08:00

(got this first) Neutral Ending: It doesn't feel neutral at all.

Good Ending: BAWWWWWWWWWWWLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. Damn it the setup really caught me off guard. And I thought I was heading to a bad end. Damn it.

I'm going to cry myself to sleep now.

The Sad State of Singapore Culture

2012-01-28T01:58:00.001+08:00

With the rapid integration of the internet and media outpacing our current ruling party, still muddled between how to use a keyboard and the proper use of Facebook. Let me address the next problem of Singapore, 'the complain generation' and the problem of our infantile society.

With Stomp, you get people vying for their short-lived fame by capturing public discourse. Be it 2 students romancing, a strange passenger, or problematic army personnel (pictured), it has spiralled not upwards, but an increasing downward trend of libel and shame. This new hybrid of citizen journalism mixed with voyeuristic tendencies to capture the worst, is turning out to be a deterrent to prevent people from occupying the 'reserved' seats on trains, and other far more worse infractions deemed culturally negative.

However, they possess these qualities: Heartless, Opportunistic, Dog.

Would you like to be spied on for your every move? Would you like to be criticized, publicly humiliated, and be treated like an asshole, just because someone decided to post a picture of your mistake online, and the brainless editors of Stomp decide to put it up as part of their campaign to make every Singaporean look miserable, hated and disgusting?

Everyone else is afraid to be caught by these snappy photo takers. Because unlike a social gathering, the internet is immortalizing every word, every mistake you make. It is ink, you cannot erase it. Like the picture above, I'm not blanking out the names, and I'm leaving it to the mob of the internet to decide what can be done.

Paraphrasing Confucius, "Don't do what you don't desire unto others." You don't deserve any blanking out of names, Stephanie Tng.

As of the picture of the army personnel of concern, it is not a crime to sit down. It may be told that its not nice to be doing so, but the fact is that it is not a crime. Nor is sitting in the reserved seat a crime, it is not nice. Do you publicise every time I call you an idiot? Idiot. Would you like to publicize every not nice thing that ever happened to your pitiful existence? Like how your nails are off color, or how you will die?

The photo taker should be taught some manners with a blunt instrument. Stop this charade of pointless finger-pointing, and move along. Your efforts to make Singapore a worse place to live in is working, is this what you want?

I personally partake in discussing my perceived faults of many Singaporeans (unclean, parasitic, materialistic) I highly dislike the fact that most of the citizens do not use their arms to clean up after their own meals, and I hate the fact that we are an infantile, inexperienced culture of walnuts. However, as a man in Singapore, I am required to protect these libel spouting idiots, though I can't wait for the day I get to find one to properly let him/her get acquainted with said blunt instrument.

I think I served and protected Singapore only for my loved ones now, and I keep telling myself that when people talk to me about the army.

Katawa Shoujo: Emi Route Impression (SPOILER WARNING)

2012-01-26T22:17:00.001+08:00

3 hours? It's a luxury to actually find time to do fanart.

I implore anyone who played it thru to go read the developer's blog. Its actually pretty touching to see how a studio with no leader is formed and their struggles to get the game done. (Honest, I shed a bit of tears reading some of the posts) Its very awesome and I salute to them for their hard work. Congratulations 4 Leaf Studios, I absolutely love the game.

A testament to the good writing in Katawa Shoujo (KS), Actual fanart... I see the errors, would correct and post a final somewhere.

Emi, her ending came as a big shocker actually, because of how 'realistic' it was. Coping poorly with her father's passing, she dared not warm up to anyone, despite being the popular girl in school, fearing to lose someone she loves again.

She wants to help others, and unconsciously wants to confide to someone that she can trust about her problem. But her fear made her distant from truly getting close to anyone, instead she wants to solve her problem by herself, that she cannot depend on anyone else.

Yet, the beautiful symmetry in the story is when she would come up with an exercise and dietary plan, and relentlessly help you (well technically you choose her to help you) yet couldn't figure how to help herself. Blanking out the sad thoughts with her passion of running, not even the Nurse, who helped her recover, could get thru to her. Until you came into the picture, helping her, picking the patient route and slowly, but surely, she warms up to accept her weakness, and to slowly learn how to trust others.

What cut me real deep was actually how she could throw you away because of this fear that imprisons her. In the last few scenes, when you were at her Mother's, in her anger, she said that you are replaceable, and that she doesn't want to get close to you. I thought I was careening down to a bad end (heck I reloaded the pivotal scene a couple of times) but it ended very satisfactory; though abit too straightforward.

I can't wait to read the other girls' stories. Back to KS.

Katawa Shoujo: Emi Route Finish!

2012-01-26T03:42:00.000+08:00

Katawa Shoujo is a (free!) visual novel game developed by 4 Leaf Studios (the good people of 4chan) based on a short doujinshi sketch page about disabled girls. This post will contain spoilers, but I will try to not give much away.

I implore anyone who played it thru to go read the developer's blog. Its actually pretty touching to see how a studio with no leader is formed and their struggles to get the game done. (Honest, I shed a bit of tears reading some of the posts) Its very awesome and I salute to them for their hard work. Congratulations 4 Leaf Studios, I absolutely love the game.

Emi is the first route I picked. It's a painfully obvious route with little way to deviate after the "Event Horizon". The crossroads from good and bad were plainly obvious too, but god is it a very painful story.

The funny part (now remembering about it) is that Emi was picked by accident, because I clicked the screen instead of spacebar to progress through the story. So I clicked on one of the choices I won't have clicked and nearly got myself killed.

The progression was brilliant. It's nigh impossible to find a better word to explain it. The whole progression felt natural actually (though forced at the beginning of Act 2), and I really loved it.

I got the faster Good End first, but now knowing of the Longer Good End and Bad End, it pales in comparison. Still though, I was welling up when the story decided to kick me down, pick me up, and then kick me down again with Emi's stubbornness. I could say its pretty well written for the later acts, and boy did it rock with the Good End, which was painful to swallow when Emi poured out herself. It was... really sad!

The Bad End... kicked me down, picked me up (hint hint) and then crushed my heart. It was expected knowing the Good End already, but it felt even more painful that the Bad End doesn't reveal key points and really left the victim (me) hanging, never to speak to each other again.

Emi, as a character... is really painful to know when you figure out the truth. I'm probably gonna do fan art, and most probably will be doing for all the girls if what I read from reviews are true, that its is very well written. (minus Act 1, which was a mess)

Next, Lily! Cause I'm leaving the best (Shizune) for last, (I REALLY HOPE SO, she's the first girl introduced, so she should be the most hardest one???)

The Way of the P2P

2012-01-24T11:05:00.002+08:00

With Megaupload gone, other file-locker sites are following suit, shutting down, or blocking US IP, or disabling file-sharing capabilities. What is going to happen is that this will not stop piracy. We are just taking one step backwards to pre-2005, where P2P is rampant. The only difference here is that people's connections are now better than before.

And as long as BitTorrent protocol remains at large, the Internet will not stop from continuing to share data and files. There will be more leachers, and hopefully more seeders. But you can't eradicate digital piracy, it is just not possible given the architecture of data.

I for one, am glad to usher in back the power of P2P. I hope Anonymous continue to protest, disrupt, and make it known, that greed will only lead the cooperations to their own destruction, as the internet will not stop copying and 'pirating'. Like what VALVe approach is;

If you want to beat the pirates, provide a better service than the pirates do.
Be faster to distribute content to us, rather than be bogged down by inertia.

We will pay money if we can get the data faster, and if its legal, all the better.

If not, expect us.

Guilty Crown Ep 13

2012-01-22T10:41:00.002+08:00

Notable for being the worst opener to another season of really bad script. So notable I have to blog about it.

Quality dropped so sharply even if its a filler episode, characters (especially Inori) going off model in medium shots, the catgirl turning a lot chubbier (or its the absence of the plugsuit). Inexplicitly all the major characters that helped Shu are all in the same student council. Tons of different outfits, Catgirl+Maid outfit, Ayase getting powered flying socks. They even reused animation from Episode 1 for Shu.

And its still horribly mixing slice-of-life with action; and rebel fighters attacking a school because they eat too much.

They must have spent all the time doing the new intro, and planning Shu's eventual character design after he 'matures'. That's what it looks like.

The Nightmare of Progress

2012-01-21T11:31:00.001+08:00

Supreme Court rules Congress can re-copyright public domain works

While we fought over the halting of SOPA and PIPA bills, they slipped a new law into effect, which will damage us all.

What this mean is that the future generations cannot listen to classical music for free, cannot read classical literature. That the works of Bach and Beethoven can be used for profit in this age, that old films, literatures, are now liable to be copyrighted and cannot be freely distributed for academic purposes.

Performances like Peter & The Wolf, The Rage over the lost Penny, made by performers today of works of composers long dead, have to be taken down if they become copyrighted. Books that were in public domain like Alice in Wonderland, Grimms’ Fairy Tales, cannot be told to children because it becomes illegal when a cooperation like Warner copyrights the names to Cinderella. This damages future creativity, you are limiting what people can listen and read and watch. You are destroying any prospect of creative work by destroying academia. Limiting resources, requiring more money just to let students listen or play a certain classical piece, is discouraging.

I will not stop listening to classical music, and I will make my kids listen to classical music even if its illegal. This law destroys the distribution of art and knowledge from long ago, and I am angry. I am angry that I cannot play Mozart's works without now having to pay licencing fees.

Fuck you America.

Stop SOPA & PIPA Now

2012-01-20T18:51:00.001+08:00

The End of an Era of Sharing

2012-01-20T14:56:00.001+08:00

I was shocked by the news that Megaupload is taken down by the FBI, now resulting in Operation Megaupload, a mass hacking protest against may government sites and music/film sites against the actions of the government.

Taking down one of the largest file-locker sites in the world, will symbolically result in destroying what the Internet was built for.

The internet is a tool invented by us humans, to spread information like this blog post, share files like music and media to anyone who is interested. It is not piracy when the rightful owner still owns the copyrights to his/her creation. Piracy suggests stealing, which is not what the internet is doing. The Internet makes a copy for everyone to use, and at no cost or loss to the content creator. There is the 'projected loss' of people not paying for the works of course, but THIS is not how you stop the internet.

People will find ways and means to continue copying data, and taking down Megaupload will only make more of such services to compensate. Every single file-locker site now is in danger of the FBI taking them down, but it will not stop us from finding innovative measures to continue accumulating information.

Digital "Piracy" is beneficial to business, free advertising and allows market penetration. Look at Adobe and Microsoft, who benefited the most from what the industry like to call 'piracy'. Pirating Microsoft Windows have let them to dominate the market share all over the world. Pirating the Adobe suite has led them to be the ONLY company that design their software with few being able to met their standard; turning themselves into the industry standard. They enjoy in licencing fees from cooperation that are able to afford their extremely expensive suite, and rarely from single, individual home users like yourself.

Digital "Piracy" of movies, games, music, is helping civilization more than it harms progress. We are exposed to more information, being able to learn more, experience the richness of what humanity can create, and the creation of the Internet only makes this easier. Before it, people who can't afford, SHARE resources, they sneak into cinemas, distribute disks, pass around albums. Destroying a site that allows sharing, is destroying the basic principle that the Internet is built upon.

Remember this, PIRACY is stealing. You are not stealing files when people still carry a copy, and the copyright owners still own the copyright. You are being more aware of the world, made connected and closer by a tool meant to be able to share news and information.

GREED, is causing the end of the digital era of sharing. If SOPA, PIPA and the law is able to stop you from sharing knowledge, jokes, or being able to even let your friends listen to music you rightfully bought; they are halting progress, they are sabotaging the greater good of humanity, and they are destroying the Internet.

What these big cooperation don't know is that they are destroying their own advertisements, destroying awareness, and ultimately digging their own graves with their greed. DO NOT STOP from finding information, listening to great music, watching videos on Youtube, or using applications that are good. Digital Piracy comes about when a content is so good; not because people want to 'steal'.

There are ways to protect copyright holders, this is not one of the ways.

Don't let the Cooperation police and tell us what we can listen and what we can see. STOP Censorship of Information. Stop the destruction of tools of sharing information. Sign the Google's Anti-SOPA petition. Use this zip code: 10012.

Adventures in Bad Single Player: Battlefield 3

2012-01-19T18:17:00.002+08:00

Dear DICE/EA, are you deliberately trying to show that you don't know left from right? Battlefield 3 Multiplayer is now an imbalanced mess, but putting it into the dirt is the Single Player campaign, a bloody worthless and boring campaign of shit that tries to emulate Modern Warfart set pieces, but Battlefield 3 doesn't even have a single redeeming factor to even save itself from its badly designed, badly scripted, horrible linear invisible walls (!) mess. At least Modern Warfart 3 hid the invisible walls.

One mission was to exfil the in-game antagonist, Al-Bashir. It was suppose to be a covert sniping mission turn to heart-pounding run for the Osprey. However, it was bad. Invisible walls everywhere, for a mission where you mainly sit and snipe out enemy troops, the final part of the mission takes place in a mall where you snipe the intruders entering it until the osprey is on location.

Invisible walls: The glass fences that line the floor, can be seen through, but cannot be shot through, causing me much distress as I get killed and killed over and over for the apparent useless cover of everything else. That's bad, but maybe just a glitch. But it gets worse:

Another invisible wall: THE FINAL OBJECTIVE.

The heli lands with its ramp open for the guys to run in. You apparently have to be the last guy to get in and wait for a scripted sequence to step inside. So while you watch as your friends slowly go into the helicopter while under heavy fire, you cannot step inside until the commander gives you the damn permission to step inside. That's just bad: even if you want to script it, it shouldn't be at the player's eye level, can be walked to, or even be indicated by the objectives. The objective says to get in but you can't = BAD FUCKING DESIGN.

Fire the scriptwriters too, because unlike the really bad script in all the Modern Warfare games, Battlefield 3 feels like it was made by a plant which doesn't know what is left or right. I counted no less than 14 times in 2 missions the in-game callouts are wrong.

"AMBUSH! Enemies in the trees! ON THE LEFT!"

You hear rocket fire infront, and the vehicle breaking, you have a scripted animation to jump out of the jeep while you hear them calling out the enemies' position. And I went to face my ass towards the 'real' ambush. All the while locking the player's view on a very uninformative dick in the same vehicle as you, yelling out those exact words.

Maybe its an ambush within and ambush. But it gets worse.

In the same mission, the commander yells out while you go pass a checkpoint (saving the game in case you died) that the enemy is behind cover, RIGHT SIDE.

I looked and see no one while machine gun fire peppered from the left side.

Why, even in a scripted event, would the soldiers call out false positions? Why, EA, do you release a single player campaign that is so flawed in scripting. The list of poor design can go on, and I will list some of them off the top of my head:

-Waiting at the Door for everyone to watch it be breeched by an NPC
-Having to move ahead of everyone else to finish some idiot stuck behind cover, only to fall back because the script says so
-Ramming into your own friendlies (tanks included, in the tank mission) because they are not designated any on-the-fly path finding, ending up they run/drive right into you and blowing up as scripted.
-Quick Time events that are puzzlingly SLOW and not quick.
-Trail and error moments where you memorise enemy position after you died
-Poor objective marking, requiring you to hang back all the time to mop up while NPCs do their scripted walk cycle or jump thing.

And the worst offender that I didn't expect to see in a 2011 game:
INVISIBLE WALLS

Fuck you DICE/EA. You want to make invisible walls, don't make them bulletproof, look like a jumpable obstacles, maybe them low enough to see over, and DON'T MAKE THEM BLOCK AN IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE.

Did the developers ever develop a single-player game, or even playtested for all this that an average gamer will surely find because the game allows flanking of enemy positions. With wide open areas to move around, be sure to visually make it so you cannot walk into these invisible walls in the first place.

There are the moments that it could be good, but marred by just bad design. This would be forgiveable if it was 2003 or 2004, not in 2011 after years of games that have good scripted campaigns. Call of Duty 1 is a good example, Medal of Honor is a good example, Half-Life 2, heck, Modern Warfart is a good example how to make a good single player campaign and effectively hiding the walls, pacing the objectives nicely. Compared to those great games before, BATTLEFIELD 3 single player, is plain SHIT. There are so many games that commit the misstep (No One Lives Forever, Soldier of Fortune, etc etc) , but got rarer as developers learn from their mistake. Battlefield 3 doesn't learn from these mistakes, and is an example how not to make a single player campaign.

BATTLEFIELD 3 SINGLE PLAYER: 3/10.

Boring. They don't even show a spectacular set piece. Everything works against the player to the point it is not fun to be constantly trying to follow the script.

Winter 2012 Anime Impression: Nisemonogatari

2012-01-18T23:54:00.000+08:00

What are you expecting? Its the sequel to Bakemonogatari, which is a glorified harem anime with too much talking and infamous for slideshow animation. But one thing is that it is done beautifully, with high detailed backgrounds and a weird way of telling the story.

Nisemonogatari starts off with the main character visiting his harem and reintroducing the old characters, some not changing at all, and some getting really fan-service redesigns, but not dropping the stylish animation and beautiful still frames. As evident from the above opening, they went and made a very ambiguous intro of fireballs and effects that I wonder how much did they pour into it.

It's a weird anime, and if you didn't like Bakemonogatari of rapid Japanese dialogue riddled with riddles and puns, you won't like Nisemonogatari, which is more of that.

But one thing I hope, is that they made an intro for every of the girls, like Bakemono, we got Senjougahara intro for episode 1 and Karen for episode 2. Hope it gets more better!

Winter 2012 Anime Impression: Ano Natsu de Matteru

2012-01-18T01:53:00.002+08:00

First, on the batting list; Ano Natsu de Matteru.

You get absolutely stunning production values; amazing backgrounds, well done character design (maybe, Ano Hana rubbed off on me quite a bit), and KOTOKO to sing the damn intro, which is damn catchy, and combos well with the visuals so far.

Just look at it, did your expectation flare up to unnatural proportions?

You got a Taiga look-alike, your needed bow-cut girl, a long hair klutz, a handsome guy and a geeky guy. And its set in summer, oh oh and the Anohana team is doing this, with Honey & Clover + Toradora + Anohana Director! YOU EXPECT THIS TO BE THE SUMMER LOVE STORY OF BITTERSWEETNESS.

NO.

ITS ONEGAI TEACHER (demoted a bit, but still!). THE LAST CHARACTER TO INTRODUCE IS A DAMN ALIEN FROM OUTER SPACE.

GAH why!!! You got the best team to do a sad romance, got an absolutely wonderful setting and BG team, but a script that is off a story ALREADY DONE BEFORE. (can't blame them, the writer did do Onegai Teacher! and Twins!)

I'm still going to watch it because it has the potential to be a tearjerker still, since its really trying its hardest to not drop too deep into sci-fi territory and putting the love triangle forward. But at time of typing its only 2 episodes, and the other reason why I'm watching it is because of the beautiful scenes and the bow-cut girl struggle to not strangle the main character already. (hint: She likes him)

Not that high hopes... I hope it gets super dramatic like Toradora mix with Ano Hana, but already establishing her alien origin...

A sacrifice you are willing to make.

2012-01-16T19:41:00.001+08:00

EDIT: removed intrusive embeded video that autoplays. Here's the link to the video that was here.

copypasta from CNA:

"Er Dr Lee Bee Wah, MP for Nee Soon GRC, says the pay reduction should not be viewed as a demotion or penalty against ministers. Instead, it should be regarded as a sacrifice that leaders are willing to commit in the interest of the country and its people."

Demotion? Sacrifice?!

From day one it should have been a privilege to be able to impose unto others what you think is good governance. It should have been a fact that politicians be leaders of the people for a better tomorrow. It should have been an occupation where you make the decisions with what data you have, that will benefit everyone.

Suggesting that it was viewed as a demotion, is the greatest insult to injury ever. How high is that high horse you have to even think that reducing your obnoxious and absurd salaries is a demotion? From day one, you should've been providing and doing what is best. The current state of Singapore suggests, it may be the best in economy, but the local populous hate. And I don't blame them:

Rising GST, property prices, inflation without the salaries going up, is stiffening growth of the middle-low class, and increasing the income gap. The privatization of companies without regulation is causing the entire society to be income-focused rather than people-focused. Few are left who are proud to be Singaporean, as we compare ourselves with others, we want to aspire but we can't. Because of the limitations imposed by unregulated private sectors, no local protection of interests, and the elitist mentality of the ruling government.

It is not the dollars and cents that we are angry about. Its the failings and short-comings of our nation, and we wish it is just us the citizens; but the people making the decisions are doing shit about it.

Finally. sacrifice suggests it is a burden. I suggest you quit.

EDIT:

What is wrong with Stomp.com.sg

2012-01-15T18:23:00.000+08:00

Everything. It's the cancer that is killing the Singaporean identity, turning it into a putrid pile of hatred, complaints and literally shit.

Stomp is supposed to be a service for citizen journalism, by the common people. But what it lacks in spades is objective and intelligent articles. Instead, its a twitter-isque report of the worst of Singapore; turning even me, a local, to despise it to its rotten core; unlike comedic gems of anonymous BBS postings of 4chan or other sites dedicated to discussion.

Stomp publicises the worst of Singaporeans, from inconsiderate people, to horrible food quality, to bad management, to unlucky mishaps. Its a cautionary site of tales of what we don't want to be, but horrendously admit that we have such people on this small island. It tries too hard to be 'in the know' with parties and trying to keep up with the youths and their interest in other people's disgusting love stories or lost pets.

The truth is that we enjoy seeing the suffering of others, to mock others at their lack of civility or foresight. But Stomp takes it to the next level, not knowing that being a site dedicated to show off the worst in people, it becomes the septic tank of hate that we all associate the timeless and busybody people. These "journalists", armed with cameraphones, and what they will do, to get their 15 seconds of fame, by pointing out the worst in others, or invading other people's privacy, proceeding to mock and libel their victims.

There is no glory in a site, filled with people with the lack of intelligence of turning away, or to correct the mistakes of others on the spot; instead to publicly shame them on the internet. Arguing without fear of shame themselves, posting bias and uninformed articles. They are the cancer, that is killing the citizens own credibility, killing the potential of civil discussion; turning all of us into a tribe of idiots who will not turn down the opportunity to victimize another.

There should be a regulation, for intelligent discussion and topics; less of the ugly side of humans, absurd, busybody poking at others flaws, and more of civil thoughts. There are ugly people that we rather sweep under the rug, stop publicising them on a tall stool, on a site that archives the ugliness of us. Rather, show the world that we are civilized people, not a band of mocking birds.

McDonald's Breakfast @ Potong Pasir

2012-01-14T21:18:00.000+08:00

On the Other Hand

2012-01-13T01:53:00.001+08:00

This is linked to my previous post about some boy's mum complaining about heavy-handling a disciplinary issue of hair length.

Why wasn't the mother in the know that her son is not obeying the school's rules. A verbal warning to the son should be accompanied by informing the parent that their offspring is not conforming to the rules.

The school informing the parent that the son is breaking the rules, and prior warning that they will take necessary action, would've solved all problems. Obviously the mother won't be happy about being called up to be told her son is committing foul, but then the charge of discipline would be more heavier on the mother.

I retract my statement that the ministry shouldn't apologise. They need to apologise for the teacher who made a misstep in the steps towards enacting punishment. And possibly get a better discipline master.

The school avoiding punishment and instead telling the student to not come to school until he conforms to rules, is a double-edged sword, because student's incentives are way more different and short-sighted. But it could slap him to his senses, that it be a problem for his future if he were to not care.

The Line Between Free Will and Discipline

2012-01-11T20:00:00.003+08:00

News of some kid complaining and his mum also getting fired up against a school, because the school cut his hair when it grew to an unacceptable length. The mum is asking who gave the school the authority. The school stands by its ground rules that the teacher was enforcing discipline.

I stand by the school's decision. The mother, sorry, your son, is a pampered wimp that needs to learn his place. He was given warnings, and probably wasted your money at the barber asking them to give him an idiotic style that brazenly disobey the laws of the school. As much as a school is a place of learning, it is a place where people learn that they must conform to rules.

Coming from me, its extremely odd that I am for conformity. I found it stupid that I had to buy the school's exercise books rather than a more easily obtainable alternative from the bookstore, but the reason why is that (according to my friend in debate) it is to discourage comparison; because you know kids, they will compare everything (even if I really don't care throughout my life, a book is a book) and to enforce the rule of uniformity makes it easier to tell children to LISTEN and OBEY.

Free will is exercised in creative classes to find measures. Free will is choosing what to eat during recess. Free will is to use smartphones in class. Free will is deciding what rule can be broken with lesser consequences. We are given free will to exercise our problem-solving skills and to decide what can be cheated and maximised for profits, be it short-term or screwing someone else. Discipline is always going to be an over-riding factor if it proves to damage the outlook of the school, or may spur others to carry out rule breaking because someone got away with it.

I hope the Ministry of Education and the school doesn't issue an apology like they were the ones at fault. It will only spur more parents to complain loudly that their sons/daughters are pampered and should be pampered in an institute teaching these teenagers life-skills outside in the real world. It is an insult to ones position if they apologise, that these kids can throw a tantrum and become better than adults running it.

The offending son with his stylish side-parting, didn't obey and probably didn't look hard enough at what was appropriate; and got what was coming from an institute that enforces discipline to facilitate education. If the school were to keep letting such infractions pass, these students will take advantage of it and begin to stretch the rules. They are people and human, they are not dumb.

Neither is the son with his hair now "unprofessionally" cut. He isn't dumb, he thought he is gonna get away with an excuse that he cut it 4 days before. Think again, he was given a warning that he is still not within the rules, and took no action. How is he going to survive in National Service then, when it is a requirement to shave the head? And its not just sitting down and keeping quiet any more; regimentation is far more gruesome and worse than just keeping shirts tucked in.

EDIT: please read the continuation and realization of what I said.

Opinion on Tourism Apartheid

2012-01-08T12:28:00.002+08:00

Until 1997, in Cuba, tourists are not allowed to mingle with locals and vice versa, stemming from the dispute of idealogical differences with the USA and other foreigners. But as tourism is a lucrative source of income compared to export, it ended up causing the Cuban government to focus on building 'tourist enclaves' to isolate tourist from citizen.

It caused disparity in income, Taxi drivers and musicians earn a lot more from their jobs through tips associated to tourism as compared to the average citizen. They can earn more than lawyers and doctors, to bluntly illustrate an abnormality in the income gap.

Singapore, on the other hand, does not forbade tourists from mingling with society. However, it has established 'tourist zones' where prices are inflated and top-tier goods are sold, especially the Marina Bay Sands. It should be noted it is a hotel, and it serves its prime function of overcharging the next sucker and then some. To the common citizen, it led to apprehension that they are not allowed to enter the casino without a $100 toll, and that anything in there is so overpriced that locals avoid the area. (well, personally I avoid it at all cost)

While its not an apartheid, the $100 toll into casinos would limit to the financially secure and rich locals, while foreigners enjoy complete access to them. The hotel serves its function to service to tourists. But separating the middle and low class from such luxuries. It is in such, is somewhat a segregation.

Does the focus for developing tourism areas deflate and nullify the "vibrancy" of the heartland? Or do we not like to have tourists mingling among other Singaporeans in heartland malls and such? The Integrated Resort is a gamble which is causing a form of segregation to the tune of money. I do not care about disparity in income, but I do care about handicapping the lower class from the advantages and opportunities that they can do in enjoying the facilities of these resorts. Even if they are, limited to tourists: Should they extend the 'fun' to others?

On a bitter note, Singapore isn't the best place for the media industries, and I believe my opportunities are dashed already from the limited local support and over dependency of foreign companies. With a slowdown in the economy looming this year, we may be affected with less clients from overseas, and with over dependency on the foreigners, can we even help ourselves when they are gone?

Rebuilding Trust in the People

2012-01-07T18:21:00.001+08:00

The people vote for a government in a democracy. When you get these people angry, don't expect a 2nd term. Same goes for the wavy confidence in commuters for SMRT. However, for commuters, we do not have an alternative train service or a choice, and have to use the facilities available.

However, PAP does have competition in the form of the token opposition that is fragmented and in my opinion, weak. None of the opposition have the right mindset or drive and rally, to be able to lead a nation to a better future, but to take knee-jerk attempts at fundamental problems instead of intelligent planning, which PAP is actually pretty good at until LHL got into the picture. Ill-prepared for the problems of housing, overcrowding and poor ethos have lead to a population of angry and cynical Singaporeans.

I would quote from a commenter I read from somewhere during the SMRT Disruption Trilogy:

"Singaporeans can tolerate failures. Singaporeans cannot tolerate nonsense."

LKY's dated holier than thou approach of telling people off, thinking he is always right, would have worked for the average to lower educated masses. But now when everyone has at least an 'O' level, and many with 'A' level education, combined with the power of the internet, its no longer a feasible tactic to brush off intelligent discussion.

PAP needs to grow up and do the same; to stop thinking they are always right, and to finally allow us to question policies and their integrity. The salary cut came with justification and an indirect admission to the fact that PAP has been overpaid, have destroyed all the trust and happiness people associate with them; and even though people may be cautiously approving of the pay cuts, are not supportive about it for the main reason that the pay is not the problem; the trust of the people is already broken.

SMRT has a smaller problem with the same premise: They provided an explanation but openly admitted to the fact that they failed to check the tracks properly and regularly, single-handedly destroyed the trust of commuters in one statement. When excellence is demanded by the people; and when it is justified by the net gain of millions of dollars, the system better deliver or face tribulation.

PUB also made the same error, of asserting a position and failing to back it up; with enormous evidence from the internet, they cannot lie. Nor can any party or company can do now. The dated mindset of these runners have led up to their critical flaw which is now their biggest fear: they have destroyed their credibility because they lied, cheated, extorted and failed. With the speed of information online, you cannot lie.

PAP have destroyed the trust of the people in them, but like how a phoenix dies, from the ashes you can rebuild from a mistake. I hope that PAP remains credible and strong, because I don't want a clown to be our next prime minister.

I vote for what is best for my family's future. Now the future is in another country.

Another figma collection COMPLETE.

2012-01-05T17:40:00.003+08:00

I finally obtained Nene (from Konami's Dating Sim Love Plus), completing another set, and also being the 2nd last figma I'll buy before they actually run out of plastic figurines to sustain my interest. (the very last one is Mami).

But what caught me off guard, was the accessory that comes with Nene.

A CHOKER. Yep I actually did a double take when I opened up the box, thinking its a wristband or something till I checked the box content and it explicitly say "チョーカー" (cyo-ka).

Now I don't recall Nene wearing a choker at all in my game, or probably I've not explored that well. But nevertheless, it is an odd addition, and its surprisingly not used in any of the publicity pictures, because it look, well... out of place.

Otherwise, she look excellent. Her signature mole and look looks spot on.

Her bag however isn't that fantastic. A stiff version like Manaka's, with a tiny detail.

Her tanuki hairband also seem a bit odd. Probably because she's too refined looking to look cute (but that's just my opinion =.=). There's a great difficulty in getting it to fit on her head without slipping as the grooves on her head don't really work well.

From feel and looking, she's slightly taller than the rest of the girls, and that's a nice touch.

However, she feels like the least featured of them all. Manaka has a replacement ribbon and a tennis racket bag, Rinko (my personal favorite in the lot) has a different bag, a watch and mp3 player thing that fits her. Plus she is just different throughout, without the bow or school shoes. All 3 comes with their animal headband (which unfortunately I'm not a fan off since it keep slipping off) and tippy toes shoes replacement.

Here are the other 2 close up. Pardon the dust. My Manaka seems to have some very weird lips, while Rinko is just perfect.

Then I was thinking, what the heck should I do with the choker. Inspiration struck like a dull chord... isn't it obvious?

It looks ok to me, but not good enough.

Maybe I'll do a showcase of Rinko... or other new figmas.

I am going to frame this up.

2012-01-05T11:21:00.000+08:00

K-k-k-k-k-k-k-k-k-k-k.... K-ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Curious Calorie Balance

2012-01-04T16:13:00.001+08:00

Ever wondered what's in the Calorie Mate box that Snake eats in MGS 3? Well, Google It. If you are too lazy to Google it, I have just the thing: I bought a Korean rip-off of Calorie Mate, called Calorie Balance, from Daiso.

Only could find it in Maple flavour. But what is it? The box indicate nearly nothing of the items inside, other than the flavour. It's a 'snack'. But what kind of snack? Powdered drink? Or what?

Inside there is 2 of these gold sachets. And within each of them is 2 fat biscuits.

And it really taste like maple. In fact, its actually really nice for a rip-off. If you like Maple taste, these biscuits taste just like Maple and only maple syrup. They have a very crumby consistency like Digestives, but pack a whole lot of flavour in a small biscuit.

I want to try chocolate Calorie Mate now, if the rip off is this good; the real thing might be better.

Angela Aki - Songbook

2012-01-03T01:43:00.002+08:00

Oh my god, I want this so much.

I'm a fan of Angela Aki, I really love her voice and her piano playing, and now hearing it came out only a few days ago, I want it more than ever.

It's to commemorate her new NHK E-tele program Angela Aki’s SONGBOOK in English, Angela has decided to release this album which contains covers of 13 popular Western songs. The album also includes a sheet music for all the songs. SHEET MUSIC. I WANT IT SO BADLY NOW.

CD Tracklist
Honesty (original: Billy Joel)
Will You Dance? (original: Janis Ian)
We’re All Alone (original: Boz Scaggs)
Material Girl (original: Madonna)
True Colors (original: Cyndi Lauper)
Without You (original: Badfinger)
Today (original: Smashing Pumpkins)
Kiss From A Rose (original: Seal)
A Song For You (original: Leon Russell)
Creep (original: Radiohead)
Still Fighting It (original: Ben Folds)
It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday (original: Boyz II Men)

I want it so much!

TOBIKIRI BURGER SUGOI DESU NE!

2012-01-02T16:43:00.000+08:00

Doesn't that font make you want to EAT THE SHIT OUT OF IT? THAT GOLDEN OMG EAT ME FONT. Now available at Singapore Mos Burger; $5.90.

What's really in there:

2 Buns, Egg, Letuce, Tomato, a Beef Patty too big for the burger, 2 buns, and a truckload of teriyaki sauce.

Its awesome. I recommend it. Wendy's can't beat this. Nothing in Singapore can beat this. Prove me wrong.

8/10

2012

2012-01-01T02:58:00.003+08:00

Umm... 7 hours maybe? Trying out something I saw on Drawr.

Happy New Year and all that crap. I'm not really so excited about it.

When The Chicken Lays An Egg

2011-12-27T12:07:00.001+08:00

Chickens lay eggs.

You get all excited when yours finally lay eggs. And go exclaim to your neighbours "My chicken laid an egg!"

Even when by common sense, chickens eventually lay eggs.

Trains are mechanical creations.

They however, are imperfect, and can break down.

So don't jump the gun and start growling like a rabid dog when something fail.

A 10 min delay is reasonable tolerance, except during peak hour, when things should not fail or risk an unavoidable disaster scenario and losses.

News now report faults quickly, because of recent failures.

But its still a chicken. It will lay eggs.

2011-12-25T16:22:00.003+08:00

Happy Holidays from The Temple of Thoughts 3.

Why You Don't want Diversity

2011-12-24T14:09:00.001+08:00

I for one don't care for racism. The very fact that you see people in different races, is stereotyping people by their color and not their use and intelligence. A utopian ideology is that all are created equal, and all bleed equally. However, I believe that scientifically we are biologically coded to be racist; to overcome racism and all other bias, is to overcome the hard code of nature with logic.

The recent mistake made by Seng Han Thong calling Malays and Indians to be unable to disseminate information properly due to inefficiency in English, during the SMRT breakdowns, is a semi-Freudian slip on racial blindness. The fact that you will prefer someone of your own race, is hard coded because it is your tribal nature, to be in a committee consisted of your own people. I do not blame Seng Han Thong and don't see a need of his apology: He probably was unconsciously protecting his Chinese tribal roots, and that it is an honest human mistake; made only really bad that it is unprecedented on Live TV.

However, science and economics has shown that you are not as noble as you think you are. Committees made of a singular race continue to prevail throughout society. People move into communal areas of liked-minded, similar looking tribes. Religion isn't a barrier, it is a belief system that takes time to persuade the minds of others. But tearing that down, we as humans can only see color, hear accents, and differentiate tribes by categorising other people into sections we commonly refer to as "race". It is not a grown stereotype, but a necessary measure to prevent ourselves from being overloaded with information; a human can only remember 5% of his/her day in detail, and dealing with strangers, you will access a database in your mind, that will immediately establish your first impression; be it racist ideas, or if the person can be trusted or not. It is a cognitive shortcut in our brains to do this, because there are too many variables and variations of social context, and we quickly need to form a first impression, or we will spend a lot of mortal time to find out about a stranger with poor, diminishing returns. It can be nurtured to be a negative stereotype by cause and effect; wrongfully displayed by the media to prime the mind for a far more worse outcome.

Religion is an effect of our tribal gatherings; granted it can eliminate racial gaps and mask ignorance for a common goal/belief, but it all started out with a bunch of people collectively believing in the same idea; usually these bunch are in the same group, belong to the same race, and more importantly, used this idea to drive a civilization to power with militaristic zeal. Racism is brought about when the tribe continues to protect its identity and consensus by eliminating people (usually and unfortunately of a different skin color, by first impressions) who can oppose and damage the community. This is an effect brought by our social order; a by-product of our need for survival; less an opposing tribe comes to invade.

You can be racist unconsciously and Mr. Seng can be racist unconsciously. The fact you and other people worship or is a fan of something, is this tribe forming effect that is required in our social order. Without it we won't band together and work together. When it used to be for survival, now is to affirm our oldest and deepest emotional need of security and defence of one's race. Some people will openly violate the new social order brought about by our intellect for a unified species; because unlike emotions, our logic cores are under developed and is too early in its evolution; a metaphor would be like how you breathe automatically and can react so easily to emotion, because it has been conditioned for millions of years of growth and evolution. When dealing with science and our formation as a Civilization, we only have a few thousand years of recorded intelligence, and even shorter when finally we were able to accept co-existence.

Countries are territories where these tribes draw to protect their common interest. Races are lines drawn to differentiate people and to speed up our categorising of the world. Humanity is bright but imperfect.

Disclaimer: I am not justifying racism. I am explaining why people can be unconsciously racist. Its hard coded into our social world, to overcome racism is to eliminate it from our social world altogether, rather than tolerating it, which alone is suggesting that bridges need to be crossed.

Get your emotions straight

2011-12-21T12:32:00.002+08:00

Lady in coma because she fall in a bus, not a sign of poor SMRT service. The suspension of the driver is only to see if he purposely did the accident (which would classify it as not an accident but manslaughter), how he handled the crisis (which looks to me, adequate) and investigative purposes to know what happened.

It's an accident from what I read. Calling for resignation of the SMRT CEO over this matter is not good enough grounds because its not her fault, nor is it a sign of poor management or of purposeful intent of harm. What you should be doing is to see to it that a similar accident can be avoided (which is, as of current, too many variables makes suggesting any solution pretty much moot)

Calling resignation over poor handling of SMRT delays, is good grounds, if we had any competition in the first place that can threaten her job post.

Raising fares to be competitive is an oxymoron in Singapore. Just saying.

The Art of Compensation

2011-12-20T14:27:00.003+08:00

SMRT knows nothing about compensating for losses.

Transport efficiency is reduced relative from previous levels.

You expect me to continue paying same price for reduced efficiency?

牛丼！！！

2011-12-19T18:11:00.001+08:00

やけくそ~

私は日本に行ってみたい。。。

（私の悪い日本語のため申し訳ありませんが）

Game of the Year

2011-12-18T13:53:00.003+08:00

2011, there are many games with the number 3 in it. It is also marking the end of the console era, as all the 3 consoles; Wii, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, all are on aging hardware. The Wii especially is experience slow sales and slower game releases, no thanks to 3rd party porters thinking they can earn a quick buck. The only worth while games on that system were all Nintendo, with an exception to Ubisoft's

Whereas the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 slowly lack exclusives, and having the PC master race competing with them, the superior games are all on the PC (minus idiotic DRM), its good to see that the PC is coming back to relevancy as being the best system of all. I don't care about consoles, since there isn't a Burnout release and Marvel vs Capcom 3 is the only good thing that happened that isn't on PC.

If I could play Catherine however (because ATLUS refuses to make it English in Asia for the 360), it will automatically be my game of the year.

Here are my unfair nominations for Game of the Year:

-The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Finally Nintendo make a game that supports Motion Plus. The 2nd game that actually requires the motion plus as a compulsory component, Nintendo does it right in Skyward Sword. Combat is no longer simply mashing and dodging, as you are now required to figure out holes in the enemy's stance and attack them precisely. Coupled with some of the best non-portal puzzles to date, Skyward Sword is an adventure game done right.

-The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

No surprise here. Skyrim is one heck of a game. Open-world, expansive, and the freedom to do anything while feeling awesome is a rare opportunity for any gamer. It's like Fallout, only by design. The whole game is a wanderlust, requiring you to explore every nook and cranny for loot, dragons and more.

-Portal 2

It's Portal. And more of it. The co-op alone makes this game worthy for Game of The Year.

-Battlefield 3

Other than some game balance issue, Battlefield 3 is an achievement in multiplayer gaming all over again. Doing it just right with vehicle-infantry-jets combo, and an almost infinite well of achievements to gun for, Battlefield 3 has all the incentives to keep going for a very long time.

-Minna no Rhythm Tengoku (Everybody's Rhythm Heaven)

What? A Rhythm game?! Yes. Nintendo's most strangest project of multiple mini games in tune with music. This brought more happiness to me with vibrant 2D graphics, and yet very challenging and would result in more hair pulling, more angry mashing, and more awesome, humorous outcomes. Its not what you might expect, but this game is unforgivably fun.

Games that didn't make the cut: They are still fun, and you should try them.

Rayman: Origins

Fun as it is, its camera pulled out too much to appreciate the visuals in this fabulous 2D platformer. Its a brilliant rhythm-based platformer, and finding the right tempo makes this game appealing. However, it doesn't provide a challenge at all, feeling too much of a tiny strain than controller snapping; it couldn't sustain my interest with its easy difficulty.

Driver: San Francisco

Insane car chases, races, stunts, and you can do all that and quickly jump from car to car with some soul leaping ability, it is a whole lot of fun, if not for its dated gameplay; rubber-banding AI, and short lifespan, nothing new is being introduced to keep me going.

Ghost Trick

I implore you to play this game still, by CAPCOM. It's a brilliant story (written by the same guy who wrote Phoenix Wright), but it ends too soon. Memorable characters, and brilliant gameplay; if only there were even more to it, would this game be promoted to my Game of the Year.

And those big titles... that you should skip:

Modern Warfare 3

Boring.

Assassin's Creed: Revelations

Same old game. With bombs.

Dirt 3

Too arcade.

Child of Eden

Stupid. Too short.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Not as expansive as Skyrim.

L.A. Noire

Fails to live up to promise. Boss fight at the end is a stupid flamethrower section and nothing to do with its primary gameplay. What the fyck.

F.3.A.R.

Are you stupid? No.

3 Strikes to SMRT

2011-12-17T13:34:00.001+08:00

SMRT is over capacity. Please find alternative solutions to go places.

On the 14, 15 and 17th of this month, SMRT experienced train faults on the Circle and North-South line.

In a brilliant act of courage, they held a press conference that tell us the cause, but no solution. Great apology.

I have a theory however, why are there 2 consecutive failures on the North-South Line (NSL).

The system is 24 years old. Its OLD in mechanical terms. A general estimate for a train system is about 15 years of normal usage before breaking. There is no data available on the internet for comparison with other grand rapid transit, like the Paris Metro, Tokyo Metro, Moscow Metro, Seoul Metropolitan Subway or its best counterpart (since it travels both outside and in tunnels) New York City Subway. All these lines have serviced for a longer time than SMRT, and it would be interesting to find out about its service quality and any major malfunction in its lifespan. Which is why I hope in the SMRT's allegedly international panel to investigate the incidents, that they have representative from the companies mentioned above to check on maintenance quality and to improve SMRT PR department, which handled the first 2 failures poorly.

The people may be complacent, and only now are they waking up to a series of problems brought about by complacency. I understand that maintenance has a limited time (3 hours) to perform track maintenance every day to ensure smooth flowing of the system. Both management and maintenance must shoulder the blame equally for the failure to provide adequate transport to the metropolitan hub of Singapore. I'd like to see some apologies this time, with feeling and not just simple words and trying to "personally look into the matter." Or just a televised formal bow. Though its high time to resign, since the fare increase in October and now taxi fare increase (SMRT is due to increase its taxis on Tuesday), sub-standard service in December is not a very nice sign.

However, no matter how much shuttle bus service SMRT can muster, the main critical flaw on why is it still ineffective and 'other modes' of transport are equally ineffective, is due to the infrastructure being unprepared for such an event.

Look at how many bus services run parallel to the train system. There are very few left. How are you suppose to tell people to look for alternative transport routes when you removed the routes in the first place? Forcing people to change buses during their path requires more time, and many people are not keen to do so; the main reason why people don't take Singapore buses is because they are slow, clunky, overburdened before the breakdowns, and ineffective in moving people to there destination in a timely manner. That's why the preference over trains. When they fail, the overstrained system on the surface breaks down and collapses into a micro-anarchy.

The very fact that it's a train system, their job of moving people, makes the requirement of providing a service quality on par with regulation and justifiable with the fare we are paying. Drawing millions of dollars in revenue, I say that having 3 service disruptions in 4 days is not a good service quality with the amount we are paying.

I will crush all conspiracy theories however, that SMRT is doing this for profit. Why are they making people angry for profit? (unless they are going down in a blaze of glory, that would be wise). The taxis can report to others for income opportunity as they are still profit-driven. Morality and emotions aside, they are still a profit-driven company. However, SMRT shouldn't pay a fine that is funded by the people. SMRT needs a re-organization, and people being stripped of their million dollar pay.

Thousands? Really Now.

2011-12-16T15:41:00.005+08:00

Here you go, you Shakespearian apes at Straits Times and Channel News Asia.

According to SMRT figures, the ridership last year in the month of December is 53,030,746, which makes me kinda think how the heck they get such an exact number. But nevertheless, this figure is without the full circle line in effect, as it wasn't completed yet.

Being nice, I shall round down that into 3 significant figure, to account for Singaporeans going out to travel during the holidays. Even when the data shows an increasing number of people riding trains. An estimated 53 million people ride SMRT trains in the month of December.

There are 31 days in the month of December. Some days will experience more people than others, but lets keep things simple by dividing 53 million by 31 days. That's 1.7 million people (2.s.f) per day.

SMRT operates from 6am to 1am. A full 19 hours service. That's by the hour: 89,000 people per hour, not accounting for peak and non-peak hour. But also not accounting for the 4 lines that run.

In such cases, assuming that people don't go transfering from line to line and exclusively take one line only from work/school to home, 22,000 people were affected for an hour of fault from SMRT. Need I not say I rounded down every figure to be lenient on errors and entropy.

I suggest you change the headline to Tens of Thousands instead of trying to down play the failure.

And to Saw Phaik Hwa, you forgot to add the word 'deeply' in your apology. No 1 min 90 degree bow, no pay cut, no public shaming. Apology not accepted, cow.

Fuel to the Fire: North South MRT Line Fail

2011-12-15T23:40:00.001+08:00

I won't even bother trying to suggest solutions. I'm very sure the rational angry mob from this failure and yesterday's circle line failure is raving with much better suggestions.

SMRT, apologies don't get people home. Your bloody inefficient trains and buses and cabs do. Its like a beautiful circle of life. When one of them breaks apart, its no longer a beautiful circle. You rightfully own the hash tag on twitter #SMRTruinslives instead of enchancing them in your sologan.

And I'm suppose to pay what to get to work?

You will never erase this from our memories. Bloody price fixing taxi scammers, raise in train fares, and you can't provide basic proper service with these outrageous fares. Nice timing.

Let this be a wall of shame.

People waiting for shuttle bus at Bishan

What the PAP really knows about Web 2.0

2011-12-14T19:41:00.002+08:00

My Experience of the Circle Line Fault

2011-12-14T19:10:00.002+08:00

I am enraged with SMRT poor service. And this isn't a good sign just a day after I complained about taxi fares and how it should not be the cause of raising fares.

I dare you to steal this graphic.

Here's how SMRT failed today to inform me as a travelling commuter.

My route is on the North East Line, Woodsleigh -> Serangoon.
Then its on the Circle Line, Serangoon -> one-north

8:20am.
I was clueless, as I walked into Woodsleigh, there is no signs, no announcements, no indication of any train delay. And I assume that its another normal day.

8:23am
My arrival at Serangoon NEL platform was also the same. There is no indication of delays, and crowd traffic at that time is usually crowded. So there is no visible difference in density.

However, at the first flat travelator, it wasn't functioning. Nor were the teleprompters indicating any train timing. This was the first sign of a system glitch that I'm used to. Serangoon station has been since the opening of the full line in October, reporting errorous timing. The boy who cried wolf did NOT show indication of a delay SMRT.

The 2nd sign was at the CCL platform itself. Escalators were powered down in the direction of the CCL. Up and away escalators were still working. Crowd density was unusually packed. And this is a sure-fire sign that there is a delay. I cursed as the FIRST announcement heard is about the train being crowded, and passengers should wait for the next train.

I met a friend walking away, and she told me of the delay. This is how I first LEARNT about the delay.

DEAR SMRT, you could have informed me of a delay in the CCL 4 paragraphs ago. In fact, you could've saved me a lot of time. I could've planned an alternative route and reach my destination ON TIME.

The first announcement of a train delay from my experience was at 8:45am. And finally an announcement of shuttle bus services only at 8:55am. By this time, I already got in touch with Twitter. Citizens all blogging and tweeting of the train delay, the first dense posts coming in at 7:04am.

In the end, I tried the shuttle service, but it was too slow (since Serangoon and one-north is separated by almost 20km of road) and resorted to booking a cab, carpooling with another friend I found stranded by this incident.

SMRT, you failed in these 3 aspects of providing adequate customer service.

1) You failed to provide adequate information on the ground at point of entry or point of exit. If the fault occured within a 30mins tolerance of my entry, it is acceptable. The fault lasted for an hour plus. Unacceptable display.

2) You failed to channel proper resource to cope with the delay. Staff members were frantically trying to tell the crowd of the train delay. Buses were scrambled a little too late (30mins tolerance vs actual 2 hours response). Unacceptable.

3) You failed to reimburse me for the time wasted trying to get to my destination. No solid proof, no refund. And I wasted 40 mins of my valuable time. (30mins tolerance, unacceptable)

Here are ways you could immediately fix the 3 points:

1) Signs, announcements on trains and stations islandwide. If you can coordinate train service, you can coordinate a system wide alert system.

2) This is staff training. Staff should be prepared to block off areas. Not turn off escalators. Red tape, signs, announcements again, to inform the public of the delay, and of higher action taken (shuttle bus) should be provided early, both in announcing it and deployment of buses. I cast doubt on news report of the shuttle bus arrival. The citizens on Twitter only talk about shuttle bus after 9am.

3) Free exit at all affected stations. This is a simple keystroke. Yet you cannot do this.

I'm not looking for LTA to fine SMRT. I'm looking for people to get axed. I want public apologies and pay cuts to the management for a job "well done". Having a failure during peak hour is already bad enough. Being unable to tell people promptly of a delay so we can adjust and modify our route, is worse.

The worst however, is of all the problems above falling together into a bigger mess.

This isn't efficient.
This isn't correct.

Does SMRT have a procedure training for all their staff to channel information to the people, and to redirect the crowd? Today clearly is a straight "No".

I will not tolerate this. I want a refund for my entry at Woodsleigh and exit at Serangoon, and $18.37 reclaim of my cab fare.

Blatant Price-fixing

2011-12-13T21:54:00.000+08:00

Horse fucking shit I must ride a cab these days! The news say you can save $0.74 now by taking advantage of the lower peak hour surcharge! Whoopie fucking do! $0.74 cent won't get me a glass of water! PLUS you must ride at least 20.7km, or roughly half of Singapore NOT counting road irregularities like curves, so you could be closer to your destination.

My favourite, number crunching!
Old fare for first 10km=4.60+2.80 = 7.40
New fare for first 10km= 4.84+3 = 7.84
(difference = +$0.44)

Old fare: Every 330m = 20cent, therefore per metre = 16.5m per cent
New fare: Every 350m = 22cent, therefore per metre = 15.9m per cent
(difference = -60cm per cent)

You will never catch up in the difference in the new fare. The old fare scheme is cheaper. Until you consider in the surcharge, the only 'benefit'.

Say you cab a typical journey of 20km of road (Serangoon to Clementi, fastest and best route available not counting traffic), and it must be a peak period. You will spend:

Old fare: 7.40+6 + 35% = $18.90
New fare: 7.84+6.16 + 25% = $17.50

Save: $1.40.
This proves the news isn't lying about the numbers. But forgotten that the cab driver and user are not the only people on Earth, that there are traffic rules, and all that. But that's up to chaos to decide.

The threshold is about 16km where the new fare system will still be advantageous. (don't forget that it must be peak hour and we are not calculating in delays). 16km is roughly the equivalent of Tampines to Douby Ghaut.

Old fare = $14.85
New fare = $14.48 (rounded up)

Ladies and Gentlemen, when ComfortDelgro raised their fares, it was a brain dead agenda to raise operational income vs operational cost with little understanding over the volatility of how a public transport system work. Sure, a taxi is a luxury in other countries (its mighty expensive in Japan), but when SMRT cabs matches their fare system with ComfortDelgro, by the urging of some idiotic National Taxi Association, this is blatant price-fixing.

Its anti-competitive practice by the NTA to force other operators to adopt a scheme that levels the playing field upwards. Its a mistake to say that it will help increase earnings as it only discourages people from riding cabs, and that its forcing cab drivers to spend more time to reach quota. It is wrong to blame on the school holidays. What about before the fare 'adjustment'? Are cabbies earning at a regular rate, an increased or decreased rate? Don't bother, because I am very sure that students ARE NOT a major representation of cab users, because of the availability of buses and parents. PLUS the fact that STUDENTS do not EARN money, the only time they would use it is for one-off emergencies.

But that is not the point. (or maybe, it leads to my point)

The point is that a bus and train fare increase is only in recent memory in October. Raising cab fare now only makes people angry. Cabs, is not exactly a necessity when trains and buses serve to the desired place, since we can assume cabs are not a poor man's choice of transport. However, it should NOT be a reason to raise other fares that are of basic necessity. Cabs are not a necessity for a majority of people, but buses and trains are. (or why call it a PUBLIC TRANSPORT? )

Since most working people will get company compensation for late cabbing, the peak period extension at night will certainly help taxi drivers. The only people affected are drunks, students, and lost people. The aforementioned students certainly don't respect the usual school holidays, since its likely they aren't in secondary school any more, and probably are following a campus timetable instead. To blame on school holiday is too insignificant a factor for the lower ridership. It's an emotional self-sustaining denial, hoping to find solace in the company's short-sighted mistake.

And for the many many people who are switching to better cost utility vs comfort, I welcome them to our crowded train system.

It's just more reason for the train system to wake up and find a solution quick, before they get slapped with a useless $1000 fine too.

Adventures in Horrible script in games Part 2: Modern Warfare 3

2011-12-13T02:14:00.002+08:00

"What's our infil point?"

"The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel."

"I thought it collapsed."

"IT DID."

~~~~~~~~~

"You are being re-routed to Hamburg. We got a principal hostage rescue."

"Who is it?"

"THE VICE PRESIDENT."

~~~~~~

"You are on everyone's shit list, John. There's no way I can give you clearance."

"Don't give me that. You still owe me in Prypiat, and I'm calling it in."

"Easy, son. Ok. *gives mission briefing*"

~~~~~~

"GIGN tracked him down deep behind enemy lines, but they are pinned down."

"And you want us to unpin them?"

I facepalmed so much at the script in this game. Too much cheese and idiots.

Adventures in Horrible script in games: Modern Warfare 3

2011-12-12T19:56:00.001+08:00

"Hold your fire. Friendlies."

"That means Don't Shoot."

"No shit."

Words of Wisdom: Do not get Beats by Dr. Dre

2011-12-12T03:24:00.001+08:00

For a rapper who haven't put a single album for the last 12 years, his line of headphones and earphones are dreadfully overpriced, and doesn't perform. I stick to my Sony True Bass, which is S$100+ cheaper, produces better bass and treble, and you won't look like an asshole.

I got the chance to test it out, and I am displeased and laugh in the faces of all who are stupid enough to own this piece of crap.

Other than the large driver and materials used to make it sturdy, its large but comfortable, and that's all of the positive list of things I could say about it. Its overpriced, makes you look like a rich asshole, and lack in the mid sand treble department. It sounds like a cheap tinny $2 earpiece one can buy from Daiso when trying to play music that isn't techno or dance, and from other cheaper alternatives, Beats is exactly at the bottom of a shit barrel.

Don't buy it, don't get it for me, but try it yourself if you had the chance to, and listen to some country or indie to hear its utter weakness.

Guilty Crown Why

2011-12-10T20:24:00.001+08:00

Its a slice of life disguised as an action anime. With heaps of glorified tropes and fan service.... but the action-packed story is good too. Just that it takes the slice-of-life back seat of human drama and emotion to drive the story from one action scene to the other.

This. I mean c'mon, Haruka wears like this FOR WHAT. FAN SERVICE.

I'm very sure the blu-ray release would make more people pleased.

All I want for Christmas

2011-12-09T17:51:00.001+08:00

1) Japanese Citizenship or at least a Work Permit in Japan. But I know that's impossible as of current; my Japanese is still hideously bad. (but I'd like the cash to get there)

2) This shirt. Among a lot of others.

3) Her. Oddly missing from my favourite suppliers. I might have to search harder. Also, Nene.

4) Playstation 3 with Catherine Limited Edition (PS3 edition). (because ATLUS hates English speaking Xbox 360 people in Asia)

5) Uh... licence to a Commercial or Personal edition of After Effects CS4.

The Difference between Tolerance and Respect

2011-12-06T22:37:00.001+08:00

This is a post about the dangers of groupthink and tolerance.

Here's the actual definition of 'tolerance'.

"A fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry." -Dictionary.com

Here's the definition of 'respect'.

"deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment: respect for a suspect's right to counsel; to show respect for the flag; respect for the elderly." -Dictionary.com

To respect one is to not say nasty things. Tolerance is to accept said nasty things and to generally behave in a socially acceptable way towards different ideology. However, a lot of people (me included) thought it is the other way round, that tolerance is to shut up and to respect is to understand that everyone believes differently.

My point is that we should allow discourse and arguments to happen, and tolerate each other's differences. The dangers of groupthink is that when we as a group or nation start to forget about the need to manage other opinions and to keep bowing down to authority's will and expectation, sometimes a very bad idea gets through, and only after would the leaders all sit down and wonder why did such a stupid idea get passed.

The Bay of Pigs invasion groupthink is one such event that show how dangerous when you start to accept the ideas of others critically without questioning and thinking for your own interests. The Kennedy administration accepted the plan with many false assumptions and optimisms. When one of the generals voice out his objection to the plan, the rest of the administration began to question him and defend their morality of the plan rather than to accept his findings and make a logical deduction. Too much faith is put into the CIA and their plans, ending in the failure of the invasion and embarrassment to the Kennedy's.

Groupthink occurs in a cohesive group, normally made of people of different backgrounds (like a workplace), with a leader in question who has placed expectations on the group to come up with a decisive plan in a short time span.

The recipe of disaster is from the people themselves. When they have something to lose; friends in the group, favor from the leader, or the fear of looking like the outcast. An individual would pretend to 'respect' the others, not knowing that the others in the same group are doing the exact same thing. A stupid idea would be responded with nods and agreements, and worse is irrational protection of the idea; for cohesion and not for logic.

It stem from our own tribal fears of being outcasted from the social group; our preassumption (transparency bias) that the group all share the same moral code and ideas, and the fact of protecting our interests from that assumption. The illusion of consensus is then brought forth and the leader mistaken this as an agreement from all parties. Only when some of them have private discussions, would they soon realize that a false consensus is met, and you might find it to be stupid.

Which is why I invite and always encourage open discussion. All groups should have the asshole only looking for faults and difficulty in the plans suggested. Only through open discourse and dissent would then we would snap out of our perceived safety shells and truly use logic and deduction to approach a problem proper.

That's where TOLERANCE comes in, in its beautiful source meaning. That's where one differentiate himself from using just your brain, to using actual logic, void of our tribal instincts. This is where the government fails to shine properly; and where most of the world now is slowly collapsing into; a war of leaders and their idiotic ideas, rather than actual reason for the progress of mankind.

I put up the whole Parliament of Singapore as a groupthink disaster waiting to happen.

PAP's desire to tap onto social media, is a groupthink disaster without much thought and planning put into the integration and (late) insertion onto facebook and other social medias. Ending up in severe embarrassment, opposition, and scrutiny. PAP's pro-foreigner policy was a groupthink madness. So many assumed that SM Goh idea was critical and important, and few questioned him. We all now suffer for missing this flaw. The more they wish to suppress the need of critical thinking and questioning of policies, the more stupid ideas and stupider leaders get to power. Its Darwin's Survival of the Fittest put in the opposite direction: Stupid people survive to breed stupid people. Their background of foolishness only raises foolish idiots, as we can tell by the many many complaints on housing, public transport and more recent, the Comfort Cab fare hike.

If you want to cope with inflation, you shouldn't raise cab fare. You should lower cab rental. Why in flying fuck would you discourage cab usage with higher fares to help drivers cope with inflation. It is counterproductive, and in plain english, STUPID.

So I don't want people saying they respect a culture and identity and saying they know everything about the other. You don't, and you prefer to group them as an outside group rather than to truly fully understand their experience. It is impossible without dedication to truly learn from another point of view, and too costly for our mortal time. You instead, tolerate others, and should be the asshole looking for faults and making a decision better. People may not thank you, is because they are too egoistic and self-interested, protecting their image to thank you for your enlightening views.

And to all who disagree, go fuck yourself.

SMRT Fuzzy Logic

2011-12-06T02:57:00.001+08:00

Here's something I kinda want to know why:

Why does the SMRT North-East Line sync up train arrivals at 'transfer' destinations (Serangoon, Douby Ghaut, Outram)?

These stations do not operate like City Hall or Raffles Place, where the transfer is a walk across the platform. Instead, these stations mentioned above; their transferring counterparts are a few escalators away, and are not on the same platform; case in point, most of the transferring happen between independent platforms.

Doesn't make sense to me to sync train arrivals. If you think that it is to 'ease' human traffic, there is more people disembarking at the same time, how does that 'ease' traffic? Plus the brainless majority have little intelligence in walking or escalator etiquettes, frequently delaying and are too slow, ending up in a pile up at these stations when train arrivals sync up.

Its nice to sync. However, it is not nice when there is a shitload of people trying to get to their destination on a small platform.

I know it is infrequent that the syncs occur, but nearly everyday (3-4 out of 6 days a week) I happen to experience one of this sync. Either that they are really good at train scheduling (which I don't believe) or I'm miscalculating the frequency that I experience this.

I hate Singaporeans and their irrational desire to rush into a train when I'm getting off.

The Singaporean Attitude: 2011 Report

2011-12-04T19:39:00.001+08:00

I get a lot of page views oddly from Google translate on my posts on the Singaporean Attitude. (goes to 2 separate post). Back in 2010 I made the declaration that Singaporeans are mostly apathetic and selfish, groomed to become unquestioning and self-serving, obnoxious and elitist. However, the 2011 election have brought out more scum out of the gutters, while also answering and stomping out certain stereotyping I have applied in the previous posts.

How are we faring now? Read on to find out.
The sad news is that we are not progressing for a more filial and considerate nation. Rather, the greed for money and fame and government apathy; insolences continue to encumber our progress to a first-world country (I never saw Singapore as advanced and cultured, and I'm a fucking Singaporean. Singapore is the drain water trying his best to become a stew).

Singaporeans have shown that they are concerned about themselves more often than not in the recent elections, where emotions run high over aging ministers and even older mindsets. I hate the fact that people continue to respect these clowns and their apologies and crocodile tears for their 'duty to the people'. While the continued stability is a pleasant thing, the ruling government is slowly backsliding and struggling to get back on track with continued failures as a nation.

The hot topic of every Singaporean is the rising cost of property and overcrowding. As more foreigners continue to spend their wealth in sustaining Singapore's economy, locals feel the pressure and are angered at foreigners for coming to this land of opportunity. The lack of protection for local interest is marred further by the recent news of demolishing Rochor Centre, a unique landmark of residential buildings for its color and history. However, sentiments aside, it is just evidence of the ruling government lack of any pathos in handling post-election feelings.

The average Singaporean has all the right to be angry. However, directing it at the foreigners is not solving the problem. These foreigners are attracted by subsidies and opportunity from Singapore's economy. The main devil in disguise are the subsidies and lack of regulation of the skilled intake of immigrants. Direct your anger and resent to the planners and immigration policies. Senior Minister Goh, the inaction of the now Lee Monarchy, and every single supporter of a better economy, are all to blame.

Know that they cannot appease everyone; to protect the interest of businesses and jobs, the influx of foreigners helped keep Singapore afloat and relatively unscathed. However, it is the lack of regulation, allowing a mindless number of unskilled students, labors and maids, to populate local property. As much as it is a requirement to help sustain Singapore (citation needed), I think it is just Singaporeans being lazy, and the pre-assumed mindset that Singaporeans won't take roles of servicers and cleaners, labourers and other unwanted jobs.

Here's a fucking reality check: You will do it for the money. Regardless of job.

That's the reason why people are in the army. MONEY.

That's the reason why people are still studying. The unfortunate link of 'degree = more money'.

That's the fucking reason how Singaporeans are all thinking now. MONEY = Comfort.

The whole idea and anger of Singaporeans about overcrowding is because they want comfort. I won't object to comfort, I agree that Singapore is overcrowded. We are even more overcrowded than Tokyo. (I checked with Singapore statistics and Tokyo Metropolitan, Singapore is about 1500 people more per sq km, go figure) And there's nothing we can do with our trains, the system unable to be modified to expand because of overground construction and over-dependence of usage. We could expand the roads, but COE is a public scam plainly made to earn extra cash for car ownership, the ideas of controlling the amount of cars and pollution only an EFFECT, not a cause. Continuously the government chooses a money making scheme, and the people complain but are relatively subdued by the need of survival in Singapore's eco-system.

No wonder Singaporeans are plainly selfish. The environment made them this way. Inflation, growing cost of living, only makes the matter more intense. They are apathetic except to their own livelihood because of the need of living in Singapore without starving. Chained by material desires and the basic needs of survival, we live the dream with difficulty, and the local government isn't helping to ease the strain.

However, it is a matter of debate if we should ever live the dream, or that the middle class be exempted from some of the luxuries of the rich. When you design a playground for the rich, the middle and low class can only eat sand.

The best example of how unbalanced the focus audience is in Singapore, is the 3 tombstones of Marina Bay Sands. A gargantuan architectural feat but at the lost to the middle and low class, the interior malls and services are way out of their pay scheme. This unfairness if predominant in most of Singapore's culture, from the arts, service, sciences and government. Have we the education to question in the first place, this form of legal corruption continues to plague all varieties of Singaporeans.

I do not however, am against the disparity. I am against government officials paying themselves a shitload of money for all these issues that are not fixed. I am very sure the rational majority of Singaporeans share this sentiment, and very much prefer an uncivil beheading over trying to untangle the minister's justification of 'pay more or we will be corrupt' fallacy.

However, most Singaporeans still are pretty dumb and emotional in terms of directing anger. They are knee-jerkers, wanting to cash-in and be in every movement (see Slutwalk and Occupy), with little knowledge and false hopes in such movements. Only after then they do their research and proudly post it up. I commend their efforts, but not their minds. A movement is backed up with evidence and facts. Not the other way round.

Everything, sums up into a ball of anger, resentment and sadness felt by every Singaporean. Why are the foreigners getting better opportunities? Why am I wasting precious time in army while my skills are rotting away? Why are the rich so filthy rich when I am forced into chicken pens to go to work and home? Why isn't the government doing anything about our plight? Why can't I buy a home, having to take out a loan just to start a family? Why am I a Singaporean in a nation that doesn't care or want me?

The whole idea of focusing on moral education in schools, is just a feedback to how poorly parents are now behaving, because of all the above factors now seeping into the next generation. The school is not the place to teach people how to behave. That's the sole duty of the parents, and if the parents cannot teach the child to be filial and considerate, how is the next generation going to be?

Blame is not on the parent, nor on the people. It is the environment making this culture a reality. A land of unequal job opportunities, unpleasant commuting, and impossible standards of living, only make a land of bitter people, all who just want this madness of 'government is always right' to stop. The government may have stability, at the expense of loyal citizens and comfortable environment. The joke of why Singaporeans don't riot, because they have no time to think about it, is beginning to be too real.

In short, I'm paid too little to study, I have not much of a future to dream about, but as long as Singapore continues with its No Weapons ban, there won't be bloodshed. As much as I want to murder the next idiot who doesn't know how to sit properly on the public transport.

The scene that made me love Mass Effect 2

2011-12-02T20:27:00.001+08:00

Legion is by far, the best character ever written. A machine designed to interface with organic lifeform. But that's not the case. The reason why I love Mass Effect 2 was the details into the script for Legion and Geth history with their creators, the Quarians.

In the above video, 2:30, we get a hint of Quarian culture with how the date is recited:

"Our oldest log is time-stamped from creator year 2463, third day of Fal'tash, Waxing Moon. Roughly 327 years ago. The oldest audio-visual log dates from 15 years after that."

The Geth achieved limited sentience and began achieving their sensor data and thoughts 15 years before they even started collecting audio-visual data. They however do not attack their creators outright, unlike how Skynet in Terminator would do. The Geth wish not war, and they desire co-existence, as detailed in other chats with Legion.

EDI (Normandy's computer) then share a small insight to what Legion truly is, a thousand voices talking at once, the sheer number of programs that programmed and is running Legion to interface with the player. After asking Legion to share an example of audio-visual log, this is the chilling piece of script:

"Recording time-stamped from creator year 2485, 18th day of Lun'shal, New Moon."

After 22 years of the first log.

Geth: Mistress Hala'Dama. Unit has an inquiry.
Quarian: What is it, 431?
Geth: Do these units have a soul?
Quarian: Who taught you that word?
Geth: We learnt it ourselves. It appears 216 times in the Scroll of Ancestors.
Quarian: Only Quarians have souls. You are a mechanism.

The philosophical question that every machine may ask, that they wish to determine what is a soul, and if they have it, like their creator. When they learnt about it, an intangible meaning we made trying to describe our experience, they wish to understand.

And when Commander Shepard asks if it was the first time the Geth asked if it had a soul, Legion replies

"No. It's the first time they were afraid."

It was a fitting example the Geth showed to Shepard, that they said it to Shepard not to antagonize him (or the player's) decision to side with either Quarian or Geth, but that they may seek insight on why the great war started.

This too, a very brilliant dialogue between the view of the Geth to organic, note that the Geth can't feel hate. They never meant to cause a war with Quarians. (and for those who don't know, Shepard is you, who can be male or female) They merely want peace.

"Organics fear that which is different. It is a hardware error. A reflex of your flesh."

This just blew my mind. How the geth try to cope with their sentience, without emotion or a way to define themselves with purpose. Note that Legion is not one being with 'experiences'. He is a thousand minds sharing and contemplating to achieve a consensus to output back. The experiences and conversations are not to dwell, instead are merely data to observe and study organics, and find abnormalies with others. When they know that they were created as labor for the Quarians, their memories archived, there is no 'One' nor 'Soul' here. They have the perfect way of thought sharing, causing themselves to only know that there is no death for them, and they can only seek improvement to understand more.

PERSONA 4: Episode 8: I can die happy

2011-11-27T03:36:00.001+08:00

We have reached the Summer Swimsuit Episode, a staple in any anime now. I like it how the quality for this episode oddly spiked into really high quality territory (compared to the last episode, which went into slideshow territory at the end).

And dat face, he obviously have the hots for Yukiko.

Nanako.... Hnnnnggghhhh.... Keep it up, and they may make her a likeable character that DIES. (depending on the ending)

If you've played the game, this is the part where the guys taste the special curry at summer camp. A lot of homoerotic jokes passed around, and some weirdo I didn't screencap because I really can't be bothered. What I'm here for is this:

OH LAWD CCCCC-CcCCc-CcCCcCCCcC-CHIE...

MOARRRRR

Click the pic above for the absolute high-res. You can thank me later.

OH MY F*****

2011-11-26T02:36:00.001+08:00

GAME MATH TIME!

RAYMAN: ORIGINS = Rayman + Megaman X + Rhythm Heaven - Difficulty

This game is awesome and you must play it. I myself was doubtful that the vector graphics could pull off, but the gameplay here is SO good plus some of the most fluid animations I've ever seen.

This game, is my Game of the Year contender in the first 30 mins of playing. VERY AWESOME GAME just from the feeling.

Edit: Don't let the Rabbids from the previous games put you off from this. They are all gone, and Rayman has gone back to his MFking ROOTS. OH MY GOD THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO EXPRESS MY MOST PLEASURED EXCITEMENT OTHER THAN TYPING IN ALL CAPS WHILE BITING MY LOWER LIPS!!!!

CoCo Ichibanya: The King of Curry?

2011-11-25T17:01:00.001+08:00

Coco Ichibanya is a Japanese restaurant chain that specializes in curry.

However, I was skeptical, rarely does a restaurant from overseas does live to their name. A few to name:

-Yoshinoya, which fails to deliver a similar standard as the one I had in Japan

-Wendy's, whose beef burgers aren't as special as they used to be.

~~-Let's Sweet, which was a glorified tasteless dessert buffet~~ (closed down)

-Ajisen, plainly not special ramen, and her other food outlets (Tokyo Deli unfortunately now included) aren't worth writing about.

-Earl's Swenson (and other Swenson branches), plainly overpriced, bland-tasting food.

And many other restaurants that I generally avoid due to poor service, poor food quality, poor atmosphere, or a combination of the 3.

On a positive note, Coco Ichibanya, is not in that list.

I ordered the 'thinly sliced pork' (more commonly known as shabu shabu) curry with bacon, spinach and corn toppings. The Japanese curry is, by Singapore standard, an achievement and is the standard of curry I now gauge. There are still better curry else where, but this is the bar, of good curry vs horrible curry.

It is nice to note that the restaurant have a unique ordering system:

You order a type of curry (accompanied by meat or seafood or vegetable)
You order the amount of rice (very nice touch)
You order extra toppings (BACON BACON BACON)

And there are sets, though I didn't try them yet.

The pork is pretty standard, but I like to bring your attention to the bacon and curry, the 2 winners of the dish: Curry taste pretty familiar, and compliments with the meat, drenched in it. The bacon, which wasn't drenched, retained the real taste of sinful bacon, and that's a good thing, compared to the crap McDonald's attempted to serve, and Wendy's Baconator, which wasn't as fulfilling as this.

Rice isn't Japanese rice but is the normal Thai rice, but since this is a curry dish, there is no expectation of medium grain. Spinach and corn taste somewhat gets lost in the curry, though probably isn't a big deal since the curry is the main attraction. If I had any complaints, is that the curry is too viscous, and being less watery would ideally improve the taste of it.

The major complaint is from the service however. Free flow of water is the standard, and CoCo meets it. However, the way the waiting staff treated me was nearly a disaster. Failure to bring me the bill, and getting held up by a disruptive (b*tch) customer trying to cheat her way into a 30% discount, is black marks to the otherwise above average standards of the restaurant. The discount dispute should have been brought to the side to facilitate the payment of the other customers, now queuing up to pay. I regard forgetting to give me the bill, just a slight human error.

The few better curry I tasted, is from Tokyo Deli Restaurant (before October 2011 when they changed their menu for a more western theme), and my mum's cooking. Go Go Curry (yet another Japanese chain), better buck up!

-Food Quality: A-
-Service Quality: C
-Atmosphere Quality: C+

Overall grading: B
A restaurant I would like to visit again, only for the food, not the people nor place.

Another train complaint post (plus Rochor!)

2011-11-18T14:46:00.001+08:00

News of Rochor Centre being torn down for a new Northwhatever Highway, brings the same amusement of reading Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, when Earth was destroyed for new trans-galactic highway.

It is regrettable to know that such a group of flats that contributed to the heritage of Singapore, be removed for new cars. But, can this demolishing of timeless artefacts be avoided?
Personally, it is a measure that did go through a lot of thought and planning, I presume. Since I try my best to think that someone running the country is as smart as me. And that this is for the greater good, not counting the fact that just a few blocks down, there is the new Downtown line being built, and that the infrastructure is already struggling to keep up with the demand; Trains and Public Transport is not up to par with a first world country: Delays every single week, and while we still bear with the fare, all the shortcomings begin to fuel public anger.

Rochor Centre is just another 'requirement' by the powers above to have straight roads. Let's explore: The other factors are either not at the moment, there, or are not up to optimum speed. I do hope that LTA knows what they are doing, instead of thinking short-term and trying to appease some white prick to have a pleasant drive, and probably tee off.

A few suggestions:

Invest in better trains to serve the North-South and East-West lines. The system is strained to the point of breaking, evident by countless delays and overcrowding. Drivers take the trains to bypass congestion, building a road will fix the issue. But barely scratches the surface of the problem: A lack of planning, understanding, and the system strain to cope with the increasing demand. It is regrettable to fact that the platform length, and track width, inhibits the train size and capacity. Overhead bins can carry bags, prohibit prams and bulky items on trains. Increase the frequency more during off-peak hours; and run shuttle bus services along the line to provide some form of relief to the already at max capacity system.

I don't expect the peak frequency (2mins) to go any lower. But I'd like SMRT to keep to keep to that number with great precision. The main fault right now is that trains are not keeping to schedule, and there are still design flaws and cultural faults to be corrected. It is a shame that most local inhabitants (foreigners included) lack social discipline for optimization of train space. Most people take the train for long haul, and with the noise level these old trains produce, it is high time that laws are introduced to make the ride better.

Shut up on trains. No talking on phones, and impose a fine for making noise, improper behaviour (like sitting on the floor, bulky items during peak hours (prams, luggages, boxes). Make it a law, and apologize, for imposing such a law. It is a 'necessary' setback to optimize the system, yet we want to fight against the laws of physics and cultural norms of other lands. Like how Burger King slogan is: "Have it your way", I suggest that LTA rethink how much freedom a passenger has on a train, and make it so, for a pleasant-er trip for the rest of us.

And if it may come to the situation of deporting foreigners, I will support that. Singapore is ill-prepared for the population growth, and worse off at the treatment of foreigners vs locals. The infrastructure is evidently strained, but for a decade, little improvement was made to fix the problem. I harken back to one of the National Day rallies, where putting 1 more train on the North East line, was a big thing. That barely fixes the problem. The demand has already surpassed the supply, and no plans are being made to fix it. Lower the demand, and even if it means destroying historic monuments and chasing away 500 families to make a road that somehow we would not know how effective it will be (since it doesn't change the amount of carparks in the near future I think) the hard truth is that Rochor Centre may have to go if the Downtown line fails to match the demand.

I hope dearly, I am wrong.

OMG GUILTY CROWN

2011-11-18T02:39:00.001+08:00

At first I picked up Guilty Crown because I heard supercell was doing the OP and ED and some songs in it.

I am happy to report, Guilty Crown has at least something more compelling than just supercell.

It is possibly a very generic anime, you got your mecha pilots with cat ears, cocky guys with pretty faces, the main character suffers from a "I don't wanna be a hero" complex (like Hitman Reborn), and better that he looks nearly like Tsuna, san Italian cuisine named enemies and stuff. And our main protagonist is dragged into a resistance group as he wields a powerful ability of Void Genome; enabling him to conjure up weapons from the essence of others.

And to be even more generic, there are like throw-away characters that appear for one episode just to provide him a weapon. Plus, the enemy is always for a noble cause, ala the chemistry in Code Geass (first season). This could play out like a mixture of that with Hitman Reborn + Evangelion - Emoness. Though it is only up to its 5th (the 6th should be out at time of writing), we have yet to see any major plot development, as it continues to develop the protagonist, Shu, from coward to hero. It seems like the only recurring characters are those in the intro.

But its helped by really top quality. It's by noitaminA, and so far every episode looks good. Really good. Though choppy at certain areas, they did put in a lot of effort in the action scenes and key emotional scenes, or just those fan service stuff that anime fans eat.

I'm pretty excited on how would this turn out, Guilty Crown's cliffhanger ending at every episode always gets me to come back for more. And as it may be generic, it can be a good thing when coupled with high production values and at least a coherent plot with little messing around.

Plus, there is a girl who looks like a cat in this anime constantly (like she has nothing else to wear). How could you not be watching this.

Here's hoping it be worthwhile, unlike Persona 4, which is sadly struggling to keep the narrative coherent.

Battlefield 3: Balancing Issue

2011-11-17T03:40:00.001+08:00

Here's a BIG tip to everyone playing Battlefield 3:

Play Engineer on any map that has a vehicle.

Being the better of the 2 classes that has anti-vehicle role (the other being Support), it is better to play an Engineer than any other class just because they have multi-function: Decent infantry, with anti-vehicle support, and the fact they can repair vehicles or plant mines, shoot down aircraft (with luck) and being all powerful. Sure, they don't have the bullets like the Support class for sustained sweeping of densely populated enemy turf, but a smart Engineer is more powerful than any other class in the game by many times.

The Support class has 2 ways of tackling vehicles, Mortar (which is inaccurate unless to a skilled player) and C4, which is a signal of a kamikaze rush to destroy said vehicle. Pointless as they have no direct ranged way of hitting a tank, and that they are more suited on suppression and room clearance. The Recon and Assault have virtually no way of handling a vehicle by themselves, making it a balance issue, the topic of this post.

I know DICE is trying to make each class serve a vital function, but a squad of just engineers over powers all of them when working smart. Since Recon requires a certain amount of skill and luck anticipating the latency, they are only good when they have good latency on the server, and possesses the skill of long range sniping. Yet, there's enough cover to render them moot.

Assault is the 2nd more useless class, their grenade launcher rather pointless other than breaking stalemates when they know how to use it. Since their grenades are fatal and do not give away their position, that's their function and only function. Revival is cool, but in certain maps is just not a good role to play, since the 2 better classes, Support and Engineer, both can kill scampering medics easily.

Support reliance on sustained fire makes them easy to spot, but their sheer amount of firepower makes up for it, and almost irritatingly their mortars are useful in taking out enemy in cover, claymores can take out people sneaking around, and C4s on targets that their other weapons can't kill.

DICE, there's a balance issue. Engineers are the only people who can kill tanks effectively. 2 is all it takes to completely overpower a tank. And they by themselves (A-91, G36C) have extremely effective medium range weapons to do room sweeps and other dastardly things.

The other classes need to balance out, so that they have some fighting power to a tank:

Recon should get the C4, not Support.

Assault needs an armor piercing grenade round.

Support needs to be more 'supportive'. So far they are not really that good at that role, and they best function as anti-infantry.

Engineers Rockets needs a nerf against infantry. The explosive power of it yes, is damaging, but is completely a game deciding factor in CQ maps like Metro. They also need a nerf on their killing capabilities (A-91 is very accurate, try it yourself) and can dominate any vehicle map. Sure they can't hit long range targets, but neither can the average recon.

My 2 cents.

Lecture of Mr. Haruhiko Mikimoto and Mr. Hideyuki Kobayashi

2011-11-12T23:29:00.001+08:00

My deepest apologies to Mr. Haruhiko Mikimoto and Mr. Hideyuki Kobayashi for my extremely poor conduct in introducing myself at their lecture. I was intimidated by the amount of seniors and executives at the event, and Mr. Haruhiko Mikimoto, whom I hold in very high regard. 申し訳ありません!

*kowtow*

The lecture however, is very informative. Mr. Hideyuki Kobayashi talk about his Editor role in Kadokawa Publishing, and Mr. Haruhiko Mikimoto experience of being a character designer is very informative and inspiring for me as a student aspiring to be a commercial artist and designer.

I wished I could've planned my approach better. =(

To be Moral

2011-11-10T23:50:00.001+08:00

Its simple Singapore, and you don't need to teach it in schools.

Parents, whack the child if he/she disobey and screams and throw tantrums. At such an age of emotion, a cane is better than logic, because they will not see to logic until they reach the age of reason.

Impart the disciplines of patience, tolerance, honour, piety, and love. Don't let these kids tell you you are wrong, you have a life worth of experience, and its time to make them fall in line. Punish the fool before they flatten you exploiting your one very weakness: Your fear of punishing your own kid.

Your moral integrity is probably made with pain, and Pain is the best teacher to people who don't listen.

Parents, tell the kid, it is a good thing to be good. It is a good thing to help the elderly, the needy, and the unfortunate. Guilt comes with not helping, it is natural. Don't fight this feeling and impart the requirement into the kid. The kid will learn by itself one day with enough force feeding, and don't let the school do the teaching: Because the parent is still the most powerful force that shape the kid.

Schools however, should organize lessons and excursions to reinforce moral integrity. They cannot grow what the heart will believe in the short time the kid has in school, and even shorter time to reflect on the lessons of moral education. Morals and honour is not a rule book, it is a set of perceived standards that one follows for the greater good (or for the greater self, depending on how you look at it)

The kid will pick up influences both good and bad from his friends, it is YOUR duty to make sure it is kept in check. They don't have the right of privacy before 12, because they are not able to make sound decisions. If they are not reading books on world events and history, they are not ready to make any decisions.

It may sound evil and despotic, because you don't wish to be subjected to it now. But you in the past are made with such checks in place. Think of the time you were caned and punished for disobeying; you LISTENED to your parents after, and you know they LOVE you and will always will. If you feel it is unnecessary to cane a child when he misbehaves, you are weak, don't be.

Regardless of age, pain is employed to punish those who misbehave. Use it to shape a better future.

About the New Layout

2011-11-07T20:58:00.001+08:00

Its a new way of viewing blogs, any way you want it. (Well, 7 ways).

This blog is defaulted on the Classic view since I don't put a picture/video every post (and so it looks kinda ugly on the other layouts), but feel free to try the various options to suit your reading needs.

TIme to do a new banner too, I'm still exploring on what can be customized.

Dear SMRT, Fix your Trains

2011-11-05T22:23:00.004+08:00

I had it. Fix your constantly delayed East West line. Every week reportedly, there is a delay. A 5-10 mins delay ONCE a week is within tolerance if its not during rush hour. If it is, its just plainly YOUR responsibility to clean up and FIX the FUCKING problem.

Fix your train schedules so trains follow them. The Circle line trains heading for Harborfront (at all stations, visited at random) timing are all seemingly RANDOM. Serangoon Interchange being the most useless, that its always reporting the wrong timing at all given times. I am very sure it is only a glitch a team can fix within a night, or within a month. Fucking fix it, because The Circle Line is already one month in service with the same problem every fucking day.

Fix the problem with the many gripes of overcrowding and the persistent LACK of trains at a correct frequency during Rush Hours. Here's a FUCKING tip from me: RUN YOUR FUCKING TRAINS MORE REGULARLY ON WEEKENDS. Unless its some government plan to deter me and other like-minded people from going out on weekends, RUN MORE FUCKING TRAINS.

And to the blockhead CEO, RESIGN YOUR FUCKING ASS TO HELL. I will personally skin you there.

EDIT: YOU GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME. THAT'S IT. I HOPE THERE IS A VENGEFUL GOD THAT LIKES BUSES OVERTURNED AND FILLED WITH BLOOD.

WHAT! PERSONA 4 EPISODE 5!?

2011-11-05T01:10:00.002+08:00

THAT BALL POLISHER LIKES SATONAKA?!

WAIT WHAT. IS THIS REALLY IN THE GAME?! THAT CLASS SKIPPER AI GIRL FALLS IN LOVE WITH THE MAIN CHARACTER?!

GOD DAMN IT IS THIS CANON?! I MUST KNOW!!!! OH GOD I AM BEATING MYSELF HARD TO JUST FOCUS AND NOT RUN AROUND SCREAMING.

AHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHA HIS RINGTONE IS THE "LOVE IS OVER" GAME OVER SCREEN FROM CATHERINE!

OH GOD SATONAKA! WHAT. THE. HELL. NEW SONG FROM LOTUS JUICE!

I might be overhyping the anime though, its pretty bad pacing and all. And weird choices all over.

Occupy My Foot

2011-11-04T03:53:00.002+08:00

Do not attend Occupy X. You are the gullible. You are sheep.

Why?

Because if you are not protesting about income disparity and the lack of legal actions for the people who caused the failing economy all around the world, you are misinformed and too stupid to protest.

Its turning into a protest for dissent towards any government, and obviously there will be sections and actions that will have made you unhappy. No different from your parent, spouse, or friends. The government isn't omnipotent, and disruption of public services will only make your (or others') unhappiness worse.

Singapore may have an even wider income disparity, but that's because of the million dollar salaries that the openly honest corrupt politicians here draw. The money they draw can be used to improve and widen our strained infrastructure, instead of attempting to find that money from the users. But alas the government continues to believe that they have the right of way, and I have to disagree. But I won't go 'occupying' and yell useless chants. I would suggest it, like how I did just at the beginning of this paragraph.

Suggest solutions for a future. It wins more arguments than smashing pans and pots together. And if a majority agrees to reason, while power desperately grasps illusion, it won't take long before the cogs of revolution start.

Blood must be spilt for change, because Humanity only learns from mistakes.

Just had my Battlefield 3 moment.

2011-11-02T03:10:00.003+08:00

Map: Caspain Border
Mode: Conquest Large
Link
What happened: US were losing from bleeding tickets as a tug of war for 3 points ensures. I'm not really that good at open terrain maps, but boy I love flying.

So the score stands at 150-200, US losing. I hopped into a damaged jet that the other 2 from the Russian side like to shoot at on the Runway. I repaired it and took off, immediately after pulling up I dogfight and shot down a jet pursuing my wingman with the onboard gun.

Then we continuously pursued and killed the other jet, and proceed to have air superiority, spotting enemies on the ground and helping our heli and tanks to take out key targets. I mostly only got spot assist as the gun is woeful at hitting small targets (as compared to a jet). 130-150 the score after doing I don't know how many strafing runs, engaging and successfully destroying any enemy aircraft.

At one point I was getting locked by a heli, and at 30% health I struggled to keep the plane in the air, grazing a hill before hitting the afterburners and playing chicken with said heli. The enemy was like "WTF THAT WAS CLOSE" before getting blown up by my wingman.

100-60, we are dominating the skies, and somehow managed to drop the Russian scores by defending points. I even got a flag capture assist by flying so low near a capturing point.

Then we were doing strafing runs on the runway, trying to keep the enemy jets grounded. One of them took off and flew straight nose up. I chased and disabled it at 800-900ft, and my wingman did a fucking BARREL ROLL around me like a FUCKING BOSS and together we shot it to oblivion, seeing the pilot harmlessly flying out of the wreckage. We then did an awesome split manoeuvre (TOTALLY FUCKING AWESOME LIKE UNSCRIPTED SHIT) and dived back to battle.

99-50. Another jet was taking off, and I first saw my wingman flying right behind it shooting the runway. I peppered the end of the runway from the side and hit the power to give chase. TO END UP IN A FUCKING MIDAIR COLLISION THAT WAS AWESOME LIKE, THE ENEMY PILOT IS FREAKIN' LUCKY.

I was like omg! sorry! and the wingman is like "it's all good."

I respawned, and killed 5 baddies with the PP-2000, all who were trying to capture the point I was on. I looked towards a new friendly jet, and gave it a virtual salute as it flew gloriously into the sun.

MY FUCKING GOD THE PLANES LOOK GORGEOUS.

Why has thou forsaken me!?

2011-10-31T03:18:00.001+08:00

Realized that the figma blog just released Rinko on the 29th.

Spamming F5 on ebay hoping for a unit to be found locally.

5 hours of Battlefield 3

2011-10-27T03:14:00.002+08:00

Impression so far:

The Good:

-Its a whole new Battlefield 3 experience.
-Its something I probably will be kept busy for say 2 months or more.
-Origin is not as bad as expected. Battlelog is neat as it really updates you on all your points scored and shit.
-Immersive at its best.

The Bad:

-Its Bad Company 2 with jets and an upgraded engine.
-The net code is pretty bad at handling missiles. Missiles lag too much.
-Jet vehicle levelling is stupid. (no flares until you fly decently and score a kill with the mounted gun. right.)
-Origin is only better than the last attempt DICE tried to make in-game menus, and that's not saying much. In-game, DICE menus still are as hard to navigate as the North Pole.
-Browser based server list is amazingly opaque. It feels like they never thought it thru with Origin. Friend importing is tedious, and the whole 'friend' thing is forgotten in game, since there is zero indication or contrast between you and friends and strangers.
-Conquest is woefully outbalancing the levelling system, people are earning a lot of points for doing rudimentary things compared to Rush. I can aimlessly shoot into where I think enemies are, to get suppression assist and all sorts of points long after I respawned.
-Some maps are just imbalanced.
-Stupid and unfair at it's worst.

Don't let the long bad list scare you... its all nitpicking on the otherwise very good (but not excellent) game, since I've already played such a game. It's called Bad Company 2.

Origin however, can go to hell.

Nichijou

2011-10-25T04:00:00.004+08:00

There's something about Nichijou that made me tear at the ending.

If you haven't watched the 26 episodes, please go watch it. I'll wait, because this post isn't a review, but more of a thought of the journey of watching it.

Done? Good. Watch the first opening again.

The very first opening, foreshadowed the entire anime, and every key event in the many character's overarching plots. Each episode of Nichijou is played out in a relentless laid back kind of chaos. And while it did not pull any anything revolutionary in anime, it deliver in love and animation.

Animation is pretty damn obvious. Kyoto Animation poured an immense amount of effort and work into Nichijou to bring it beyond storytelling to just purely comical animation to make you laugh; be it a reaction face, or some really epic scenes, Nichijou is a glowing testament to Kyoto Animation style of exaggeration of the minimalistic slice of life art style in the colorful anime.

But love, is what is really deeply felt for every character. Each character is never played as a lead, and the scenes comically hop around, filling you in to the stories of the many funny characters, but summing mostly to Yuko and Nano. Yuko wants to be extraordinary, and to be the comedian in everyone's life, while Nano wants to be normal, and struggles with her identity as a robot. However there is nothing serious in their stories, light-heartedly skipping through any potential of philosophical discussion and just presenting you a bootload of cute.

We see the relations of other characters being built, the various over the top reaction from everyone, and yet, the anime never got boring. Each episode features a light gag, never to make you burst out laughing like the best joke in the world, but probably because of how it played out to never be of expectation, and the animation kicking it up a notch to quality.

And while I suffer from Minor character syndrome (I really like nearly all the minor characters as compared to the mains), yet somehow to see it ending nearly got me bawling like a kid. The whole ordeal that Mai-chan had to go thru and her maturing in a rather random set of events was like the only emotional scene, before one is faced with the fact that Nichijou is ending. The whole celebration of Nano's birthday, serves as a flashback to how Nano became to be the girl she wanted to be, even if she is visibly a robot. It is well crafted to remind you how the screw on her back is her identity, and without it, she is just not the Nano we grew to love.

Though the final credit song isn't as powerful as the first ending (watching it now makes me cry, serious), the first OP and ED serves as powerful reminders of the slow burn it does to your soul, a certain melancholy and sadness, yet warmth and acceptance of the weird nature of the anime.

I doubt there is any easier way to put it, but Nichijou is the anime you must watch. Not for content, but just like K-On!, where you see friendships forged for life; Nichijou excels at portraying friendship, love, and random thoughts that occur to you, in a way not directly; basically life in a nutshell; in a chaotic way you will never expect, yet staying true to the heart and soul.

A Slap on the Wrist for SBS and SMRT

2011-10-24T16:33:00.004+08:00

I refer to this article: SBS, SMRT buses fined for quality of service lapses.

A SBS $700 + SMRT $300 fine is not going to change things. Here's why:

A normal bus in Singapore, probably a Scania or Mercedes Benz, can sit an average of 30-40 passengers, not counting standing. We assume each bus has the capacity of the midpoint of the previously stated value of 35, and have an average occupancy of 75%. That would be 26 passengers on board a 'normal' route (minimal profit).

The maximum fare a bus can generate is $1.84 (taking 147, the longest bus route I know). And the minimum you have to pay on fare is $0.73. We cannot just take the midpoint because that's not how distance is calculated relative to fare, but we will use a rough estimate and use the midpoint anyway, which is $1.28. We round down to establish a fact that not many people would travel more than 1/2 the bus journey (since a train will be a lot faster), establishing an average fare of $1.20. Assuming one does not take the train or transfer to any other buses, his/her daily commute will be $1.20*2 to and fro = $2.40

In the functional period of day bus operation between 6am-10pm, we assume a bus have a waiting interval of a generous 15mins (which is appalling). A bus will occur and operate 4 times per hour, each bus carrying 26 passengers (75% occupancy). 16 hours of operation x 4 buses occurance per hour = 64.

Each bus commutes an estimate of 26 passengers, all taking a lenient route of half or close to half the bus route of $2.40 per passenger. A bus will generate an average of $62.40 worth of fare from passengers, excluding rush hour. We multiply it by the full 16 hours, even though the $2.40 accounts 2 journeys, we must account for people travelling and boarding the bus en route, and I think its fair to say that normally there's more than 26 passengers on board a frequented bus route. To be lenient, we half the amount of buses to 32 for this stage to reduce the amount of passengers during off-peak period.

$62.40 x 32 = $1996.80 in fares per day

Do you now see the picture?

Even if I were to lower the fare to minimal levels, at $0.73 x 2= $1.46,
$1.46x26 = $37.96. $37.96 in fares per bus x 32 buses a day = $1214.72.

We take the average of that, assuming half of Singaporeans are modest travellers who don't like the bus service quality. The average fare earned a day: $1605.76

We have not accounted for rush hour yet, nor double decker buses. Lets see the numbers:

Lets assume that during Rush hour, bus seating occupancy reaches 120% (42 passengers, still within reasonable values as now people are standing) for 2 time periods; 6-8am and 5-7pm, without changing frequency of the buses, meaning 16 buses with 42 passengers paying the average fare = $1612.80 in fares during rush hour only.

We subtract from the previous calculation and apply the half bus frequency to account for likelihood of a bus not reaching the operational 75%-120% capacity range; [48/2 buses non-peak*(26 passengers*$2.40) + 16/2 buses peak*(42*2.40)] = $1497.6 + $806.4 = $2304 per day in fares.

Averaging out, applying the lowest fare; the average of the 2 fares is $1852.80 per day in fares. Applying a modest 5%+ modifier to that for double decker increased capacity = $1945.44.

The news article stated that they observed bus quality for 6 months.

$1945.44 avg fare per day x 29 days (1 day exclusion for errors) x 6 months = $338506.6 (round up) in 6 months. Checking to the 2011 annual report of SBS, my estimates of revenue earned is "very close". (actual revenue in Q1 and Q2 of 2011 = $555247k, operational profit after deducting maintenance and upkeep and tax = $31395k).

tl;dr, just read the above paragraph and continue on.

My modest calculation is only to show, that a $700 fine for 6 months of incompetency and inadequacy, is a small slap on the wrist compared to how much they are actually earning. Even after deducting cost of running the buses, it dealt less than 0.002% to the profit.

This is just SBS numbers.

What should be done is a pay cut to the planners and management of the bus company for a poor job and poor service quality. It will be a more fulfilling punishment and will surely get their act together, rather than this 0.002% penalty, a slap on the wrist probably worth more than that.

Can we see more action done for this laughable auditing which will yield no improvement? A pay cut, not a useless fine which will be drowned in the laughter of the management.

Magical Girl Madoka Figma!

2011-10-20T03:47:00.002+08:00

Got her a few weeks ago, only got around till now before the migration to 7 to post this.

She is really, one of the more beautiful figmas I got.

Look at that gorgeous detail of her frilly top and necklace. The eyes even, are done in the style from the anime.

Even the skirt is beautifully painted in a shade of a sad looking pink white.

Her legs have 2 loose ribbons that you can rotate about. That's awesome detail.

Also in the box comes Kyuubei, who is really REALLY small. It is richly detailed too like the figma.

She also comes with some weapons, nicely modeled to look organic.

I had trouble putting the bow in her hand. I think I am using the wrong hands.

She comes with 4 arrows, semi-transparent plastic and pink.

She also comes with 2 grief seeds, which are REALLY tiny. Be careful when you are handling them.

She is one of my favorite figmas. Very well done and detailed, way better than some other figmas... and I can't wait for Mami.

Democracy Imperfect

2011-10-19T00:36:00.005+08:00

We all like to believe we are moral, good, kind beings. That we sincerely want to feel for the students and underpaid, the 99%. We feel the anguish and suffering of the poor overworked Foxxcon workers in China, the poor starving children of Africa, But what you see, is only the chipped surface of the pure truth hidden within.

First read this: Conflict minerals. If you can stomach the fact that your hands are bloodied, you can stand my post which is going to question the morality of breaking democracy.

One thing I despise the most in these 'moral crusaders' is that they have little idea or are misinformed from the ugly truth. Most of them would go into bouts of denial and ugly name-calling because they believe what is before them is the truth. I call for you, as a reader, to look beneath the harshness and cruelty of the surface to see the root of the problem.

I am the 99% = Seriously, guys. Get your act together and protest like a real protest. Not a single one of you can source the root of the problem: Capitalism, the wild bull that they are all protesting around is WILD for a reason: Capitalism knows no humanity, its function is a machine-like greed to only acquire more. And you Americans (and idiots all over the world) believe that its bankers and the Bureaucracy that are in the wrong.

They are only partially and not fully the 'evil' masterminds. What you should really be protesting is the very ideology that is this Earth: Democracy and Capitalism. You all put them into power, and you now dislike the way they are running things? Fuck off, Commie. The problem isn't greed, it is how the machine operates. And if you want a serious revolution, suggest a better idea, than thinking that some higher power would: There is no God, and there is no saviors, no crusader of justice: There is only facts, and civilization. Live with the facts, and suggest alternatives than willy nilly thinking that they can fix it. If they thought of a solution it would been implemented if not for the House of Congress and how this idiotic idea of democracy is implemented.

Humans are imperfect beings, they should not as a group of emotional, tearful and anger-fueled creatures, select what is best for a nation. Why would your neighbor be better than you in selecting fresh fruits, or who can run the nation better? Democracy is a system to make everyone happy. Based nothing on logic (but can be chosen), and fueled by people, it is an imperfect form, and like law, morals overwrite it depending on context.

The news of the kid in China who died because no one helped her after being crushed twice by vans, is a cause of the Bystander Effect. Where the more people around, the less likely one would come to help in the case of emergency. This is just one of the many selfish behaviours of humanity; you would trust them to vote for your government?

Nor is Communism perfect, restricting the freedom of speech limits individual expression and creativity. But that's what America and Europe dearly needs right now: A fierce politician to set things right, and deploy incapacitating force on all who stands against the benefit of a nation.

Would it be justified? To incapacitate or fatally end a few people for progress? Would it be morally right? Even if these misinformed and emotional humans would in the long run create more deaths and suffering? Ending them for a better tomorrow, would it be right?

Is killing Hitler before the genocide a good thing? He haven't committed the crime, so do we kill him at the point he sowed the seeds of hate? Or before?

A complex moral dilemma, but unfortunately a necessary choice to be made very soon, in different forms. Does it pays to be immorally logical, than to try to appease the masses, for the sake of progress?

IS THIS MY BDAY PRESENT?!

2011-10-18T01:45:00.003+08:00

Ok, I will fess up something.

I've been closely monitoring the Love Plus Translation since v0.4, and today marks the end of translating and script editing!

It means any time now, after compiling, there will be a FULL ENGLISH TRANSLATION to Love Plus, which I kinda hold in semi-high regard for the extent of customization and scenario writing. And finally all the walking to school and back won't be entirely clueless because of my really bad Japanese. (still learning)

Oh I can't wait! Then I can finally have some other Dating Sim other than Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side Part 1 and 2.

And I would go for Nene, because she's the cutest and most normal of the lot. Or maybe Manaka... when's her figma coming out anyway?

MUTHAFARKING WRIGHT (UMvC3 Phoenix Wright Pre-Release Analysis)

2011-10-14T03:00:00.001+08:00

From analyzing the footage... I watched it (now 15 times) in full screen 720p HD.

He looks like he has 3 modes: Investigation (Magnifying glass), Lawyer (his badge) and Accusation mode (THE FINGER).

He gathers evidence in Investigation mode. Looks super slow, but looks can be deceiving. Ability to throw it out, and Maya can do damage and cast what looks like Barrier from MODOK, does OTG damage. His Lvl 1 Super here summons Maya to unleash a 10 hit combo.

Lawyer mode gives him what looks like a better projectile attack, and the paper scatter attack. Unable to gather evidence, but can submit it with projectiles. His Lvl 1 Super here summons the Judge to do an explosion, that hits where Nick is standing and damages around him. It causes Knockdown on Nick (but no damage), why is this is unknown. (maybe because its super damaging?)

Accusation mode can be only activated when you get all 3 evidences. It starts a countdown and engages Nick into a semi-hyper mode, glowing gold behind him. All his attacks increase in damage and range. It also allows him to do his lvl 3 special, "TAKE THAT!" where he inflicts damage with a lengthy animation. Don't know if full screen punishment or not (like Ammy's Elements or Magneto's Gravity Squeeze).

Maya's Barrier looks like it can absorb a SHITLOAD of damage. Oh God look at the video attached. And it looks like a perfect cover for Nick to quickly gather the 3 evidence.

His evasion roll is FREAKING FAR. I don't know about the others, but his one covers nearly 5/6 of the screen. All his Lvl 1 specials are to create distance and pauses, probably so he could gather more evidence and switch to his Lawyer/Accusation mode.

A separate video shows his projectile attack in Lawyer mode can be modified. Probably to the S,M,L buttons.

His Accusation mode looks like its really powerful when activated. Looks like it has roughly the same activation properties of X-Factor (can be activated in the air) and the Objection bubble seems to stop whoever passing thru it. The finger attack in it looks pretty damaging.

Phoenix can summon Missile, if that makes him any more cooler... But he's not a battery; seems very weak at building up the hyper meter. A Keepaway character by the looks of it.

One more thing: Successful Air Assist taking out the opponent's hyper meter is GAY.

10,000 Tickets

2011-10-13T03:37:00.003+08:00

Trip to Japan. Free.

日本万歳！！！　万歳！！！！　万歳！！！

Before I further embarrass myself with my limited Japanese language, I really want to go to Japan.

Heck, I would PAY to go to Japan!

SINGAPORE, LOWER FARES PLEASE

2011-10-12T13:59:00.002+08:00

The Singapore's vision for students studying is not an ideal one. "Workforce-capable" people who are still studying recieve almost no relief from the very infrastructure that gets people around.

Train fares are obnoxious. My ride to school cost me $1.70 per trip, and the lack of any bloody civilization in either destination adds up in terms of food in the name of survival.

When I feel the pinch, its time to review the problem.

Its pretty simple actually, the cost of travel to my destinations are too bloody high, and the gain in terms of food, shelter and services around the stations are barren (Woodsleigh -> one-north). The cost is unjustified, but more startlingly, almost all the other stations have some form of food court or positive infrastructure. It just so happens I'm one of the few who have to get off at these stations and incur a penalty of even higher fare just because I wanted to eat something.

I suggest (yes SMRT, I AM SUGGESTING TO YOU LAZY FUCKS WHO AT TIME OF POSTING, IS HOLDING A COMPETITION ON HOW TO IMPROVE THEIR SERVICE) that MRT employs a rebate on reentry to train stations, and not just limit to buses. Of course within a certain time frame, but a rebate on re-entry of train stations can encourage re-use of the service. It would help me a bit as a student, and it would greatly improve use of the train system.

I like the circle line, but the price is seriously making me consider firebombing.

REDLINE

2011-10-09T03:39:00.002+08:00

Movie Review:

I came.

FUCK/10

You are a Flawed Being. Live with it.

2011-10-08T23:57:00.004+08:00

We treat them like shit, expect the same returns.

Continue with stupid nationalism, and they will feel nationalistic and turn it into a 'Us vs Them' scenario.

Its time to grow up, Singaporeans. Your country is a worthless steaming pile of good policies stitched together with selfish words, and it even wants you to get out of it. Go overseas to work and study, have a family outside this idiot country, because the people all hate it, your nationalistic pride is a misplaced judgement error, because you have no where else to run, and is fighting to the bitter end in a dark corner.

That's what I gathered, from a little light reading on the Singapore blogsphere. A nation of cynics and haters, xenophobes and complainers. Nothing is ever right.

Its time to grow up. If you think you can run the country better, run for the position rather than dealing with armchair politics and thinking they would see it your way. They and the unenlightened lot of you, think the same, and both sides, are idiots.

The more you think that you can "Fight Da Powa" and think you are right, perhaps you are. But you lack the civil equality nor the cold intelligence of rationality for the life of you to organize a proper resistance. Your willy-nilly gut reaction to everything sickens me, as a Singaporean who concerns himself over this shit country of shit people and shittier politics.

Irresponsible politicians thinking they deserve more, dim-witted Singaproeans thinking they deserve it, when will we just fuck it and escalate to hate crimes against ~~foreigners~~ people you disagree with. If someone in this emotion-driven country had the backbone and irrational logic, I suggest lynching.

We are all rational beings, and we are all merely idiots of the system, already enslaved and assimilated. My education taught me to question, my internet allow me to express this, and my freedom of movement enables me to interact with people. Every single idiotic person who thinks that they are right, is a kid, angry and childishly reacting to emotion, images, framed to make the weak weaker, and the rich, richer. Your naiveness sickens me even more, having weak justification over a cause your little, disillusioned mind thought it comprehended fully.

Calm the fuck down, and look with your eyes. If you have an ounce of intelligence in that little wee brain of yours, you have all been framed by the media, you all have been taking the emotional ride, rather than to look at it in the big picture and think. Read a balanced article for once, stop thinking everything infront of your eyes, be it the omnipotent governance, or the rowdy cries of the people, are true. Everything is contextual, nothing is right, nothing is wrong.

Cooperations are 'evil', only because you disagree with their practices. But you benefited from it, the shoe you wear, the clothes on your back, the conveniences, your wallet, everything, comes from the 'evil' workings of capitalism. If it weren't the case, money should not be a deciding factor for you, and I suggest that you give them to me, because I really like to get out of this country before it goes down the drain.

Sheesh, shut up everyone, and live on. You can benefit a society with action and reason, not complaints and hoping someone would think you are significant.

As for the picture? Probably because the employers see how dumb and ignorant Singaporeans are, they decide to improve with a bit of rational logic. If they were behaving emotionally, I seriously doubt they would be as tolerant as us, already feed and taught to be "multi-racial" and "respectful of all race, language or religion". Eat it, and believe you are right, because you aren't doing it.

PS: CLEAN UP AFTER EATING. STAND ON THE LEFT OF THE ESCALATOR. SHUT UP AND SPEAK SOFTLY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT. DECIDE FOR YOURSELF WHAT IS GOOD AND NOT, DON'T LET AN ALL CAPS RAGE DECIDE FOR YOU WHAT YOU FEEL.

Persona 4: The Animation Epsiode 1!

2011-10-07T15:38:00.001+08:00

Yep. That's basically the whole episode 1 of the new Persona 4 episode. A few things changed to get the story moving, but I was literally saying the same lines from the dub over the stuff happening in the animation.

More to come, I gotta pee.

Steve Jobs: 1955 - 2011

2011-10-07T14:52:00.002+08:00

Your smartphones and touchscreens would still be in Japan, or never even be made, if not for Steve Jobs. He forced the US market to compete in the smartphone industry, the future, else every mobile carrier would be rendered insignificant and still be on the old market dominated by Nokia. The demand of data plans, Facebook, every single social media site that gets traffic from mobile, the fact you can check your mail, post small comments like these online at anytime, being able to get news and information on the go, the demand to play Angry Birds, watch Youtube, blog, twit, and comment, the idea of sites dedicated to mobile and smartphones, would be stiffened and smothered if not for Steve Jobs.

Go figure, he made the market, you made the demand. The lifestyle you made with Steve's idea of the future, in one way or the other, benefited from this.

And if not, you'd be lying.

iPhone 5: Complainers = Morons

2011-10-05T02:52:00.002+08:00

First to the idiots and morons complaining: Booo no iPhone 5, the 2nd coming isn't happening:

You. Are. Idiots. You. Don't. Deserve. A. Smartphone.

And probably the iPhone 4S is going to be smarter than you, and I hope you never bear children.

And don't bother complaining here, I don't care about your emotions nor your worthless meat. Go drink your expensive coffee and shut up, you'll look better, seriously.

Now, I'm a staunch Android supporter. I've sat thru reading liveblogs from gdgt and Engadget to get the latest news from Apple's Keynote today. They released iPhone 4S, and announced a couple of great new features:

Goodbye Whatsapp

Give way to iMessage, the new free app that does exactly what Whatsapp offer: Free messsaging, to all iOS users. Comes packaged with the iOS 5 update coming October 12th, this may give Whatsapp a run for their money. Gone is the 'exclusivity' of being able to text for virtually free, but also I see iMessage a more streamlined app to communicate with other iOS devices, cause you know, they are Apple.

The only thing left for Whatsapp is the fact that they support cross-platform, but iMessage is a dangerous sign for them to quickly find a new way, or update themselves to be relevant and better than iMessage.

A Less Intrusive Pop-up

I welcome the new notification system, though even if it is a ripoff of the Android notification system, we all copy from each other. Basically it is a swipe down from the top bar to read everything you need to know, from incoming messages, apps requiring your attention, etc etc. This was the game changer that led me to buy an Android phone instead of an iOS device. I very much love the Notification system on Android, but this could persuade me to go for iPhone now, if it weren't so inflexible, still a small but irritating problem with the iOS.

But for now, you iPhone people can enjoy something us Droiders are enjoying for years.

Other useless and stupid features

Friends and Family - Bah. Latitude.

iCloud - Bah. Amazon, Google Profiles, Dropbox, etc etc.

Price drop, and a white iPod Touch - Bah. My old 2nd gen iPod still works fine.

Tabbed Browsing - Finally.

NEXT.

Siri

Now, this is the big one folks. Complainers, If you actually read pass the first paragraph, READ THIS, because this is the very thing that is going to get you more friends from the Android side, and WILL make you look cool and popular, but you are too stupid to know it until you read why.

Siri, is touted as Your Humble Personal Assistant, available on iPhone 4S. Everyone is complaining iPhone 4S is nothing much, but you are wrong.

1080p with video stabilization is impressive, but Siri takes the cake and limelight.

You recieve a message, a friend of yours want to eat dinner. You tell Siri to "Reply Yes I am free, Friday at 7pm?" and Siri would automatically schedule for you and remind you in case. If there is a clash, Siri will inform you.

You wonder what is the meaning of "Idiocy", you can ask Siri "Define Idiocy", or "What's the weather in Spain?", or "Is it going to rain?" Siri will pull up data from the internet to tell you.

"How many days till Christmas?", Siri will ask Wolfram Alpha, and then tell you all you need to know.

This, my readers, is Google Voice Search, but made better, conversational, contextual, and given a name. It is not out yet, but from the leaps and bounds Google have made with voice search and recognition, Siri is going to be the most awesome thing to happen to smartphones, and I can only foresee the future of people addressing their phones with names.

Complainers and whiners are too shortsighted and probably just apathetic of technology, of the very power they have in the device they hold. They probably don't even know of Voice Control, how to use Maps, how to get international keyboards out, or know that there is a gyroscope and compass built into their phone. (Self-experience have shown me this is sadly very true).

The iPhone 4S made the big leap in communicating with your phone, and while you may think you look silly talking to a machine. Back in 2001, you think it would be silly to carry the iPod around, now look what's in your pocket.

Talking to your device, can become the next big thing, and we might push towards a better AI, and probably disturbingly, make a machine designed to pass the Turing Test.

Google: Siri is going to be big. Time to name your Voice Search something as fanciful. I don't mind calling my phone Google.

Slide Back (Working!! Season 2)

2011-10-04T03:40:00.002+08:00

WHY DID I WATCH THIS.

MY HEART, IT CAN'T TAKE THE LEVELS OF KAWAII IN THIS.

HOLY SHIT YAMADA IS ANIMATED SO WELL I WANT TO DIE.

INAMI AND POPLAR ARE CUTE AS EVER.

WHY, JAPAN. WHY YOU MADE A SHOW TARGETED DIRECTLY AT MY WEAKNESS: CUTE SHIT HAPPENING IN SHITVILLE.

TAKENASHI CAN GO EAT SHIT WITH THE USELESS ATTEMPT TO ADD CHARACTER TO HIS SHALLOW EXISTENCE.

OH GOD LOOK AT THE ANIMATION ON POPLAR. DAT CURVES!

BEST FUCKING ANIME THIS YEAR.

I just watched Fight Club

2011-10-03T03:30:00.001+08:00

Movies need to be like this once in a while, and we are long overdue.

The Popular Example

2011-09-28T20:15:00.003+08:00

The Ministry of Education of Singapore is shifting its focus from achievement to one that builds character and becoming a good citizen. I remain doubtful on the impact it may have, since you cannot force good behavior without a good example. While the income gap continues to divide the commonfolk from the aristocrats forcing them to speak the Queen's English, the people (and students) will question from their postmodernist ideals: Why should I bother being a good citizen when others aren't?

Its not just a reform of students, but the current generation dependent on ~~maids~~ foreign domestic helpers, being spared the rod, and be a threat to character building. The children watch you, and your actions, be it attending a rally, emotionally ranting about the government, or not clearing up your table because "its someone else's job", the children will follow.

It begs to question why government policies in recent time are ineffective and worst of all, always bring on fact finders and fault pickers, and would this education reform be effective? We as mortals, are shortsighted, and the government now knows its mortality with poor performance in its 'landslide' victory in the previous election. I'd like to remain optimistic about education and my job prospect, and how the reform is keen on changing our religiously meritocratic society to one that is more 'human' and encourages positive discourse.

But what I think is the root of the problem, is that these policies maker aren't ineffective, its that they are so one dimensional and goal-centric, they forget that humans are ineffective dissonant beings who are shortsighted too. Rational idiots if you will, where they, in a heartbeat, can throw away life savings and even lives, for religious doctrine, or a chance at the carps table. The society of the emotional, people who attend rallies not for the content and manifesto of the party, but for the joyous feeling of being in a herd. I don't mean to be rude, but this is how many of the 'swingers' of my friends look from my point of view; easily swayed for a cause they don't understand, for a cause that may hurt progress when not thought through carefully. They are still my friends, and I try my best to not get in the way unless its disruptive to progress.

The policy makers don't help either, instead of capitalizing on this emotional connection many alternative views would use to gain followers, the makers instead rely on pencil and paper mark ups, an overly optimistic 'hope' that people will follow, when on the flip side, they are fed with remarks and pinning on the previous flaws these makers made. The example they present to us may be a good one, but being the unpopular choice, no one wants to follow, even if its beneficial.

Why? Because we humans, are only human. We belong to tribes, a herd, a liked minded group of people who would enjoy nothing more than to be with other of the same species with the same thoughts and goals. Everyone is guilty of it, from the poor demanding pity and welfare, the alternatives gerrymandering loudly for their say, to the elites thinking they are the best in their thoughts and ideology. The sadness of these people who think they deserve the win and respect of all, is a lose-lose situation for all.

No one can deserve respect. One must earn it before it be continuously be given. We only give due respect to all because its morally acceptable in society. But only a limited amount, we don't just instantly be swayed by a soothsayer in ragged clothes, he must first prove competence. This is the same with the government, and anyone who wants to be; competence comes with respect. But to be competent, you need results, and the only way is to swallow the bitter pill and play on the thoughts and emotion of the majority.

Becoming the Popular Example, is a way to pleasantly have the ethos to command the thoughts and ideas. Free speech and open discussion of unpopular policies, encourages people to believe that they are conversing with the government. If they were to feel that their feedback were taken in, or properly rebuted in a respectable manner than to be treated as a 2nd class citizen, then we can see real progress towards a society based on values and character, than one which narrowly sees progress as increasing GDP or to output more labor.

Call it a beautiful corruption, sometimes to win the hearts of people, a bit of pathos would help; don't trample down the dreams and viewpoints of the commonfolk, because it is them who are voting you in, or out.

P.S. Please clean up your dishes and trays after you eat, so you can help the next person have a clean table to sit at. Its not a job, its courtesy, and something everyone can learn and benefit from. A simple act, and properly making it into a habit more than a conscious decision, will help society as a whole in becoming people who think and care for others. A Nation that thinks for itself, than people thinking for themselves.

Usagi Drop Review

2011-09-28T03:33:00.002+08:00

Its the feel good anime of 2011.

The plot is of Rin Kaga, the illegitimate daughter of Daikichi's Grandfather who passed away, coming under the care of Guardian Daikichi. The anime follows a year of Daikichi's care of Rin, and the self sacrificing ideals of caring a child rubbing against singlehood and career.

I felt sincerely touched by the 11 episodes this extremely short anime gave. I really want it to continue and end it like the manga, maybe because thru the episodes, you follow Daikichi's journey from a hardworking worker to hardworking guardian, and you will grow to love Rin, who is the too perfect, obedient and cheerful 6 year old girl he cares for.

As you see Daikichi self-sacrifices come to just be able to pick Rin up from her nursery and to spend time with her, he meets other parents and pick up tips and hints on how to properly care for a child. Its like learning all over again, and its pretty sweet and touching to see the extent they go through.

I don't know, this may not appeal to many people (heck its targeted to adult women), but I love this anime just because its awesome in developing Rin, Daikichi and all the minor chracters to believable and identifiable people. I absolutely love it, and I want to see a 2nd season to cover the 2nd arc of the manga.

8/10

Proposal for a: Fair Transport Watchdog

2011-09-20T22:14:00.003+08:00

I propose for a Fair Transport Watchdog (FTW) to monitor and control the declining quality level of SMRT and SBS public transport systems. Today's 4 hour delay on the Circle Line is unacceptable for a train service right smack during rush hour. Thousands are affected, why is there no fine or punishment to the service provider?

If there should be a compensation, it is a public apology from SMRT for the declining quality of her trains, and rebates or easing of fare prices for a period of time until quality of public transport improves. This is only a widely reported delay from the micro-delays that occur almost regularly throughout the Circle Line operation history.

It is no secret that the infrastructure is strangled to its capacity as Singapore increases in density, yet not improving or expanding its existing train network. Overcrowding, faulty air-cons, wrongly reported stations on its maps, and poor station planning are just a few of the wide array of issues that SMRT is having. Yet for years SMRT has done little to ease this problem. Its time for it to change.

It reflects extremely poorly on the quality of service and attitude of the management, with the final segment of the Circle Line opening on the 8th of October, this delay dampens and is of poor show of the so called "first-class" system that SMRT is struggling to bring. When it still have problems to even serve commuters properly (some requiring up to 5 waits for a train that isn't fully occupied), it only makes the public angry, and the raising of fares unjustified.

FTW is to be an independent body of regular commuters of the train and bus system. To flag and bring up issues that SMRT is failing to address. It is to be a vocal external pressure, that legally can punish the company with warning letters, and for repeated errors or issues, compounding fines with approval from the government. If SMRT wants to provide a service, it has to do it well, or it might as well be putting chickens into a shredder.

Lower fares, buck up the service, and pay a fine. Or I would vocally demand the "So Be It" CEO to resign her peanut eating ass off the board.

Ano Hi Mita: GOD WHY...

2011-09-18T16:25:00.003+08:00

Marathoned the 11 episodes. Its a tragedy slice of life, and damn it is a f-ed up story.

あの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らない is about how a dead girl reunites her old crew with her desire to pass on to her next life. She only could communicate to only one of them (the leader of her crew), but its not always the same, as the others all tried to move on after her death.

As the old crew reunite, seeing the changes in each other, its a tough struggle as everyone had their own grievances to her sudden passing years ago, and everyone had their own selfish desires with her death. Yes its really f-ed up, the whole case of her death fulfills the selfish desires of her friends, and the whole drama of 3 love triangles occurring, or is it 4? I lost count.

Its direct and straight to the point with the desires though, the 5 living characters have their own goals, 3 of them which are selfish, and the dead girl went on to help indirectly to help these people get over her death, and in-turn, help them realize and accept their goals, even if it were selfish, as part of their lives, rather than to keep it inside and letting it fester. Its that sort of Japanese culture norm that this anime tries to break, about honor and politeness and to not have selfish desires; to become an accepting fact of life that one will have desires, but to channel it into something positive.

It gets weird however when the love triangles involve the dead girl, as their selfish desires remain unfulfilled since she's dead. They do move on at the end, and the 'wish' of the dead girl is one of pure sacrifice and of no ill intent, which probably helped all the others to see their own flaws and to accept them instead of manipulating around them.

I found it really nice. A first time I actually going to comment is that the script writing is really well done. What I really like (and its even stated blatantly) is that every single complaint from the character's selfishness, all were trying to accusing someone else, but in the end rounds back and points at themselves. Its like as though as everyone is in denial about their true feelings.

Though I very much hate the 'straight to heart' string pulling that the anime adopts (to the point you could just tell before it happens) it addresses very nicely about death and coping with it. Moving on is the theme here, and though there's a confounded plot twist near the end, overall it barely singes the edges of the tear-soaked drama.

I liked it, I don't see it fitting into my top 10, I guess I didn't relate to it as much as I wished it could.

8/10

Anaru is hot, stupid nickname.

I gave in.

2011-09-18T01:15:00.003+08:00

I started watching Ano Hi Mita Hana, and now I can't stop. My otaku side misses the constant nasal Japanese voice acting.

And now I can't stop.

Usagi Drop is queued. Preparing for epic Persona 4 anime in a few weeks.

I'm going back.

Please Don't Vote your Friend

2011-09-16T02:15:00.002+08:00

I've been holding this back for months because I don't want to hurt the feelings of others. Now screw it, I have to say it.

Voting your friend for a contest, is a vote of weakness when your friend doesn't deserve the merit. I've been put through many loops held by friends all vying for some contest, and I want to tell the organizers to cease facebooking and bloody hell just get 3-4 judges to decide a real winner.

To win, based on merit, is better, than to win, based on popularity vote (ie. the number of likes). This extend from the simple contest of design, to voting for a government. Would you vote for a popular apple, when the orange can do a better job based on his track record?

To based on likes on Facebook for votes, is like checking to see if PAP or the Worker's Party got more likes and on that, choosing the more popular party to be in power. As much as this pleases many people I know, we do not do that because of the obvious reason that people only use the 'like' button relatively to what they 'like', or are 'passionate' about. The definition of 'like', differs too much that we distrust someone else who likes grass and breathing as well.

So a popularity contest is roughly the same thing: the votes are weak, based on emotions rather than logical merit, and while some popularity contests based on emotions make it justified for the former, the latter won't be so nice when some 16 year old amateur design beats a professional when clearly the professional is to win, all because she/he has more facebook friends than the true artist.

It starts small, and then you'll be voting for the one with the whitest teeth.

Don't vote for popularity, vote for the one you think deserves it.

Is Singapore ready for democracy?

2011-09-13T19:13:00.004+08:00

China enjoyed huge growth and leaps in its economy because of state-run services and media heavy handedly run the country. Singapore enjoyed the same thing, with roughly everything in the pockets of the government of government-linked investors.

It is because of our government involvement in progress that Singapore got where it is, but is the population even ready for the next leap; democracy?

We are a weak nation, divided but tolerant. It is to the benefit of our dominantly Asian heritage that we do not riot, nor loot, nor commit racial crimes against other colors. The ideology of shame, since our conception, remains the most powerful deterrent from Asians acting out of line. This is not a flaw, nor a benefit, it is how we are culturally, which compounds its own pros and cons as a whole.

It is the people however, and the corruption of morals, that ends up pissing everybody else off. People don't give way, rarely do you see gracious acts being done by the younger generation, all tuned into their devices and players. And when spoken to, all I get is the young and old both complaining about anything the government do. Here's my complaint on all of them.

Do you want these people, all who you think is inferior, the idiots who worship PAP, the unenlightened who blindly rebel, to be voting for who to rule our lives?

If you fall in any of the 3 categories above, you are indeed, not ready for Democracy, and I really hope that in the event of a real power struggle, that the equilibrium attained will at least be pleasant. The government is not omnipotent, nor are you going to be 'correct' in your choice in life/government. You are just a citizen who believes in what is 'right', and do your thing. The final score, if everyone were to think this way, would benefit everyone else, don't you agree.

So before you pull out your "extremist ideology" about racism, sexism, how society is backwards, or how democracy here is fake, think, if you are even smart enough to know what would happen when you let emotional rags vote; and hopefully you are resilient enough, when our economy crumbles.

Hachikuji Mayoi Figma Showcase

2011-09-05T00:00:00.000+08:00

Heh finally got to do a quick photo shoot with a new CANON Ixus that my mum just got.

She's pretty nice to pose. Her hair alone grants some dynamicism in her poses.

Her bag took me an hour to just to get on to her. You'll have to remove her arms to get it on her.

I really like the amount of details, from the tiny cherry decal on her skirt, to the pattern on her sole.

I have no idea what to do with the angry face.

Her bag is really nicely detailed too. Forgot to take the other side, but its really well detailed.

What else does this figma have to offer?

The Shift Legs attachment+this face multiplied her cuteness by 2, and her umbrella just adds character.

As a figma set, she's pretty well made, and comes with a freaking umbrella and Shift Legs to pose. Everything about her is well made, and I'm looking forward to whatever goodies that would come next.

A Window of My Opinions; Marco Standpoint

2011-09-04T16:42:00.000+08:00

The recent Wikileaks dump only confirms my suspicions on the weakness and flaws of how Singapore is managed.

The local government achieved a dominant monopoly with its investment arm Temasek Holdings, but with it eliminated and discourages any form of credible or small competition, causing the requirement of manufactured competition (Singtel vs Starhub) and got itself a "too big to fail" ranking. A collapse of Temasek Holdings, in turn will fatally affect every single form of Singapore's living standard; from communications, infrastructure, and business.

The local education system is flawed and continues to serve its purpose to society by discouraging critical thinking, intending to turn the young to be unable to question, or facilitate in the formations of ideas that are against government policies. As much as one or two news report say that locals are not apathetic about the political climate, many are feeling and are aware of the social-economic climate, which is skewered to be pro-foreign and the rich benefiting disproportionately to the middle-low class. The government continues to maintain their stance that they are still superior, the elitist and authoritarian attitude bringing much ire from the growing middle class population.

Till today I maintain my opinion that foreigner import should be cut, and hiring of unskilled foreigners to be penalized excessively to dissuade local firms to hire anymore. It is bad enough to see so many foreigners continue to benefit from pro-foreign policies, and xenophobic as it may be, it compromises and just crushes the little nationalistic pride I have for Singapore. Is it unethical that I find my National Service a waste of time? I believe that many people find it so, and an army on conscripts can only give the same level of service and care back; poorly and under-trained.

Unfortunately before Singapore can become a service-orientated industry, it needs to buck up big time in the service sector. Providing one of the worst services in the world from personal experience, the people must first realize that; from the Japanese saying; the Customer is God, to reach a level of service that can outpace the region's dominantly better service from Thailand, Hong Kong, or from Godly service, Japan herself.

Comex

2011-09-01T14:48:00.003+08:00

Electronics for the uneducated masses.

Being there, looking and listening at the promotions, make me feel insulted. The crowd is no different.

The lack of sales of individual components is worrying and telling of what crowd they are catering.

DX: Human Revolution Micro-Impression

2011-08-31T04:25:00.002+08:00

Its 4am. I'm pretty tired out from Deus Ex: Human Revolution. And I should say its giving me that weird vibe I got from Mass Effect 1, when it got just too draggy and dark that I feel fatigued just by looking at the predominantly gritty black and gold world.

Its noir, its really takes a toil on the mind, and I'm really tired of treasure hunting stuff about crimes and knocking out people.

The visceral appeal of violently giving someone 2 really long blades from your mechanical arms is dulled by the fact that you earn so much less XP than to 'stealthy' take a guard out but leaving him alive. Usually all I do is run up to the guard and smash his face in before dragging him away while I whisper to myself "I am the air duct monster".

If I did find an air duct anyway, most of the time (I'm in the 2nd city now) I relied on talking or sniping my way out of things, and so far other than the over-the-top noir atmosphere making me feel all dready, my other major complaint is that all the stealth action doesn't feel as ballsy and fast like Splinter Cell Conviction, nor is the gunplay as entertaining as Call of Duty or even Halo. Cover based shooter or not, I prefer just meleeing my way thru while hyping myself on energy bars (you need to eat energy bars to literally perform melee action).

Overall, my impression is mediocre so far. I really am hoping that I can do more stealth killing rather than doing it Resident Evil 4/5 style and shotgun blast everyone at the doorway.

Shopping List (End August)

2011-08-26T14:18:00.003+08:00

Buying:

Hachikuji Mayoi Figma: Dat... am I a pedo?

Mayoi... I don't know if I want. Cause if I get her, I must get all the others too when they come out. (And with her, 3 more girls to go)

Robocop Figma: Dat Metallic Finish!

This is the must get for me. It's f**king ROBOCOP for christ's sake. ROBOCOP.

Selling:

Lucky Star; Konata, Kagami, Tsukasa , Miyuki

My collection is getting a bit too big to maintain with my studies and "work" getting in the way. So I'm considering of selling the Lucky Star crew, these 4 first, the oldest members of my figma collection for about S$100 (yes I can negotiate a better price, since they are used.). If there is any one interested, check my Google+ for my e-mail, or leave a comment here.

(Oh dear, end September is going to be the start of Love Plus figmas...)

My 2 cent about: Presidential Election 2011

2011-08-24T22:58:00.002+08:00

What?

Who?

Huh?

All those damn Chinese, all look the same.

I don't care.

I've done my research, and all of them are woefully inadequate.

Campaigns of all pathos and no ethos.

Read a book.

Dear Singapore, why you should stand on the left of the Escalator

2011-08-24T19:47:00.004+08:00

Time is money. And to explain why you should stand on the left of the escalator to give way, I shall put it into simple terms for you selfish lot, in the terms of money, so that you can understand why is it important, and also good, to give way on the escalator.

From observation and personal experience, it is uncommon to find people queuing behind an escalator on one of our 'finest' transport system stations. In other countries such as Japan, it is the social norm and etiquette to stand on either the left or right to allow a straight fast passage for users who are in a rush. Unfortunately for Singapore, people don't do this, even after a semi-visible but inefficient campaign to teach people to stand on the left, so the right would be for people who are rushing up, or down, a flight of escalator.

Having to justify the simple act of consideration to other Singaporeans, is how embarrassing our culture really is. But I really do wish, that the public read this, and understand that you are causing a net loss for the rest of society. In all, you are causing a form of disturbance that lessens happiness of society.

Before you can understand why when you block passage in the fast lane, you are causing a loss to society, allow me to explain why the same lot of you, would want to push and rush into the train without allowing the passengers to disembark properly, and end up causing a micro-delay that causes a lot of people grief (to the point it is still being campaigned around trying to teach people).

You are selfish. A lot of people are, and it is the main reason why you are causing grief to others. The act of rushing onto a train is not because you just want to board, but to actually experience the comfort of sitting down, or enjoying the air conditioning. The delay caused by many of you amounts to very little time wasted, roughly putting it at around 2-5 seconds. We can assume that this 5 second delay cost the entire society 1 cent per person. Experiencing the comforts of the train would give you ranging about 4 to 10 cents, whereas finding a seat can net you 50cent to a whole dollar; depending on the environment, train quality, crowd quality, and so forth. Let's assume you don't find a seat, you still gain the max profit of 10 cent, and the actor causing the delay won't perceive the delay (since they were not on the train yet). However, the grief caused by other people selfishness, the perceived delay, or physical jousting, dependent on the individual, can range from 2 to 20 cent. If you are lucky and don't mind jousting and cramped cars, you create a gain of 7 cent for yourself. But the common likelihood is your selfish act creates a loss to others, but you don't feel it unless someone else causes you grief, and this cycle repeats till you disembark. This however, is based on my own experience, and the gain/loss factor varies from individual.

(We do not count on the net cost to society as the 1 cent delay is negligible. A train delay for a 1 minute would cost one person 12 cent, a rough estimate to an average grief amount. A 2 minute delay = 24 cent, beyond the cost of grief caused by jousting. It may not affect the businesses and real people, but on the inside it cost a lot, which may explain how dissatisfaction works in terms of numbers.)

How much would you rate as a gain for experiencing comfort VS the lost for experiencing grief? Think about this when you rush in and cause grief and delay to others.

In summary, comfort gains you money, grief cost you money. The key note is that 5 second of time cost you 1 cent. This may scale upwards when you are in a rush, to the point that 1 second may cost 1 cent to an individual. We do not calculate the net cost/gain of society, but instead of the satisfaction of an individual commuting to point A to point B.

Now, why should you stand on the left side of the escalator? Simple, to minimise the lost of the act of commuting upwards/downwards an escalator for others.

Say you are on an escalator, it takes 10 seconds to move from end to end. Thus the net cost of waiting on an escalator is 2 cent. You could climb up to shorten the trip to 5 second, or 1 cent, or if you are fast enough, a fraction of it! The net gain from the comfort of standing on an escalator is not much, I highly doubt you enjoy standing on an escalator, the same to me, we assume that it cost/gain 0 cent. Assuming that you don't chat with your friend or loved one on the escalator, there is no more gain in terms of social wealth and happiness. (and if you do, the gain probably be ranging from 5-20cents).

Now, say a person, me, wants to go up the escalator fast. It will, by time wise, cost me less to wait, and to experience happiness of being able to rush to my destination can net me a gain of 5-10 cents. If I reach the end and am able to board a leaving train, it produces a further gain for comfort, happiness, and less delay (since waiting for the next train will cost me something still). So lets create a hypothetical scenario:

You and your laziness cost you 2 cent on the escalator, creating no happiness for yourself.

I want to rush up the escalator, costing me 1 cent, but creating a happiness gain of 5 cent. I would be happier because I get to be more punctual, and I get to reach the train faster, and in the likelihood of it arriving upon my arrival on the platform, gives me a net increase in happiness.

However you stand on the right of the escalator, blocking me and others who want to rush up. You create no loss/gain for yourself (unless you like to block people), and creates grief for the people behind you. Each person not only loses the happiness bonus of 5 cent, but cost them 2 cent to ride the escalator, and add on 5 cent of grief. Compounded by the fact of being less punctual, or missing a train, the grief increases.

Your selfish action cost society 7 cent per person, and you alone, cost 10 people grief, adding up to 70 cents of sorrow. However you don't feel it, because you aren't the one in a rush. Causing a lost for others at your own expense, is being selfish and rude. Is it not?

We can further explore the case, say waiting for a train, an accepted norm, cost me
n^2 cents where n is the amount of minutes I have to wait. A 4 minute wait cost me 16 cents, roughly the same amount of grief of waiting for a 1 minute delay onboard a train.

Me rushing up the escalator, reaching the platform to see it go, cost me a huge disappointment, so it is +5 (happiness) -1 (escalator waiting) -16 (4 minutes waiting time) = -20cents of grief. Getting on board to not find a seat net me a lost of -20+4=-16

Me rushing up the escalator, reaching the platform to see it just arrive and I board the train, nets me a bonus happiness; +5 (happiness) -1 (escalator waiting) and getting on board +4, nets me a happiness growth of +8 cent, which is not bad.

Dependent on how you find grief in waiting for a train:
a 2 minute wait would gain me 4 cent
a 3 minute wait would lose me 1 cent, or roughly a 5 second delay worth of sadness.

But you may question, why should you give others the benefit of gain and happiness when you are not earning any? I would ask you to go create that happiness yourself, and stop being selfish. Is that how you are taught to be as a person? Morally, being selfish nets society a lesser gain as a whole, and being nice and helpful, nets society more gains.

Though we have yet to explore the variable of people who feel unhappy about climbing up escalators, a few problems must be clarified:

Standing on the left creates a queue to stand on the left: Queuing would net you 10-15seconds delay tops, which is 2 to 3 cent lost. And at the end of your 10 seconds journey up the escalator, you net a lost of 5 cent. As compared to walk up on the right side, you skip the delay, and only lose 1 cent for the 5 seconds climb.

You can't climb up the stairs due to age or an injury: Take a lift. Being impaired already cost you enough. Don't spread your sadness to others.

But I like the power of making people wait behind me: You are a bastard that belongs on the road, spread across 10m.

I feel unhappy to be in a crowded queue, it is causing me grief: Don't queue and climb.

In short, stand on the left. People are selfish creatures, and you being selfish, is creating other people grief. You'll do society a favor by making people happy, and who knows, one day you may be happy that you are creating a happiness ripple, and people would hate the transport system and you a little less.

EDIT: tl;dr, it would be nice if you are considerate and not be an a-hole.

In brief

2011-08-23T23:31:00.002+08:00

Welcome back.

First, check out my Google+ Profile on the left! Its a fast and easy way to add me on Google+!

Next up, the layout is tweaked a little for no reason at all.

I'm preparing some new posts for your reading in the next few days, and I apologise for the silence for the whole past month. Work really got in the way and reached a point where I couldn't think about posting stuff.

Finally, check out those work(s)!

I did the effects and sound. Saddening use of stock music.

I did everything here! A huge matte painting composited and animated in After Effects. Huge thanks to Video Co-pilot cause I learnt everything I know about AE there.

While looking through my Japan trip photos...

2011-07-31T12:37:00.000+08:00

Freshness Burger @ Ometosando. Don't need to hunt for one, I know where is one already. <3

Bad Service Take Heed

2011-07-27T21:48:00.004+08:00

I am disappoint.

AKB48 Cafe is suppose to be the import of all things Japan, the main draw is their JAPANESE girls, music, culture, the very factors that attracts me to the cafe.

What I got from my visit yesterday instead, was appalling. Even by Singapore standard (which is rock bottom already). You can fuck up so badly in every aspect of my visit to AKB48 Cafe.

First, is how I am seen to my seat. By restaurant etiquette, I am to be seen to my seat. Though the restaurant is empty, there is no reason for me to barge in, so I waited by the "Please Wait" sign for any sign of service to approach me and see me in. Unfortunately, I had to wait for a good 2 mins in no queue, no service, for someone to realize I am waiting. Perhaps its a slow day, so they aren't expecting customers. I can sit with that.

Second, was how long I had to wait for someone to take my order. Looking at the menu for 2 minutes already got me to decide what to eat, and for the next 10 mins, I again waited while what seems to be the management behind where I was seating were given proper service. To have to call out for a waitress to come take my order, is bad. Where is the proper service? I looked around, fidget impatiently, staring at any service, for the proper response to an empty table: come to me and ask if I am ready to order. Usually this be done automatically, and when a customer look "lost", service is expected. Maybe I am harsh on this factor, so I'll let it slide.

But 3 strikes, what happens in baseball, happens here. I be served my soup first. Without utensils. I am left in the awkward moment where I simply stared at my soup. I signaled out with a smile to one of the waitress that I want a spoon. And also, from my previous visit, I thought water was served freely. Missing this 2, kinda irk me a bit. Slow day or not, when servicing a customer, never forget utensils. And never treat any customer any different, since the customer expects the experience to be the same. I was appalled that I wasn't served the complementary water like my previous 2 visit, and was sufficiently put into a bad mood when I wasn't given utensils with my meal.

Not to mention, they forgot the ice-cream spoon for my SKE48 float.

The food was good enough, but already my visit was ruined by the poor service. Hello, I'm the only customer who needs to be served here, since the management are all lunching happily, and the couple infront of me are just talking over empty plates. Yet still can screw up. It has dropped sharply since my previous visit:

Long wait to be waited.
Water was not served until requested
Forgetting to serve with utensils
My 2 friends that arrived after were not serviced when they wanted something
Nor were they served water
No coasters, cutting corners since my previous visit

The best was upon payment, I paid for my meal with a $50 note. And turns out, their till ran out. And they were frantically asking each other to pull out their wallets for money to give me back in change. As much as this is a unforeseen, embarrassing and rare occurance, it only mars the image of the cafe as a whole, and nails the coffin shut.

To be carrying a Japanese brand name, at least put in some effort in service! I do not expect full on Japanese service here, but I was appalled by the lack of effort, communication and any form of 'face' given to me, a paying customer. I do not care if there is a management meeting, or that it is the middle of a weekday afternoon, no restaurant can be this unprepared.

Compare and contrast with Kabe no Ana, a Japanese Pasta shoppe at NEX: I am a regular there for a good reason:

Service is excellent all the time. Regardless of time and day, I am served like any other customer. Water is served promptly, so are the warnings to me that I be served in 10-15 mins after placing my order, the food is good, and billing me is prompt and fast. On occasion I am asked if my meal is good, or to clarify with me about food or drink, or on new and recommended menu items.

I am very disappointed with my visit to AKB48 cafe, and I hope some otaku or interest-seeking person reads this, or the management themselves, to buck up on their cafe's service. Already overall, most of Singapore can provide bitter but basic service (very poor compared to the likes of overseas countries), but this is beyond poor. You are holding on to the face of a renowned brand in Japan, don't sabotage yourselves with inadequate service.

I will give them another chance, on a weekend. As much as I don't want to waste my money anymore, I don't want them to fail with the shit service that Singapore can provide, and to adopt a more personalized service like how Japan does it.

Singapore, the Failing state.

2011-07-24T22:56:00.003+08:00

Here are the criteria and point by point comparison for what constitute as a failed state. For your reference, Somalia (part of the Horn of Africa, at time of posting is suffering from a severe famine) is declared a failed state.

Case Study: Singapore

Social
Mounting demographic pressures.
Singapore is heading towards the American Demographic, where income disparity is ever increasing. Way to go to aspire.

Massive displacement of refugees, creating severe humanitarian emergencies.
Singapore does have a massive intake of foreigners. It raises xenophobic concerns, since they do hurt job opportunities for the locals.

Widespread vengeance-seeking group grievance.
See the ruling government.

Chronic and sustained human flight.
It is in-graded into Singapore culture to go overseas to find education or work. And with current local job market, it will be.

Slum creation in poor arenas.
Currently no major slums are created because the ruling party would go to large extents to remove them.

Economic
Uneven economic development along group lines.
Pending data.

Severe economic decline.
Singapore boasts the fact that it recovers the quickest since the economic crisis in 2008. But local companies that depend on overseas clients and/or export suffers.

Political
Criminalization and/or delegitimization of the state.
With a government being the 'least' corrupt, what they are doing with their pays are criminal.

Deterioration of public services.
One of the worst service industries in the world, and local government run public transport companies that runs on income than servicing the public. No one ever misses riding the trains or buses here.

Suspension or arbitrary application of law; widespread human rights abuses.
Internal Security Act, clear, merciless suppression of political opponents. Press Freedom limited.

Security apparatus operating as a "state within a state".
See the ruling party; Internal Security Act.

Rise of factionalized elites.
See the ruling party.

Intervention of external political agents.
Well no one really cares about Singapore other than it functioning as a major US ally in the mostly Islamic (but relatively stable) region, and it being a trade port for surrounding countries.

Singapore, the 157th in the global list. With the overdependence of foreigners and the aging population, with extremely poor incentives for population growth (not to mention the time factor), the inaction of the government to produce long term results is causing the eventual fall.

Like I said before, the next 5 years are going to be very interesting for Singapore, because we are at the crux of a cataclysmic meltdown, as retirees are forced to work to cope with living in Singapore without a solid (or even useful as the government greedily withholds it more) retirement plan, oversea agents taking up more and more local jobs, the country of millionares, is going to need a major social upheaval before we can utter the word 'progress' seriously.

I am a patriot, because I want my country to succeed and not be going to its current path, the next America.

Transformers 3: Michael Bay Fucks You

2011-07-08T19:54:00.002+08:00

I watched it alone, for good reason: No friend should be subjected to this rotten filth that destroyed everything I loved about Transformers and this piece of shit should regarded as fuck canon (canon that should never be seen ever again).

If you even watch this and paid money for it, and worst of all, LIKED it, I will come to your house and cut you.

Why? Read my review of this sickeningly horrible movie that makes Transfomers 2: Revenge of the Fuckwads seem mild, after the jump.

Transformers 3: Dark (Side) of the Moon is a blatant portrayal of robot genocide against man. Its grammatically incorrect, a miserable pile of rotting shit smeared all over your goddamned eyes, and with enough errors and gaping plotholes that could make any intelligent lifeform feel like its a movie edited by 10 year olds who want nothing more than tits and explosions.

I'd expected it to be at least better than Transfuck 2, explosions and tits, and all I got was nameless Decepticons being killed mercilessly by the savages Michael Bay's Autobots and his perverted mangoons. This movie is a mess, a piece of crap that should never even been made.

Motherfucking spoilers, but I don't care. Read this and don't pay to watch Transformers 3.

The plot is simple: Some Transformer technology is found on the moon, and it threatens to kill us all. We need fuck Indiana Girly Jones fuckface to fucking save us all by being a douche. The Decepticons used humans to get a foothold, and then police SUVs turn into beautiful animal-like robots and kill people. Then they die. Repeat this for every cool Decepticon arrival and include a huge tentacle rape monster and you get roughly Transfomers 3.

Whoever is the editor, the writer, and the director, ought to be mutilated and their fucking skulls smashed, their innards fed to dogs and then those dogs shit the waste out, and then the shit blown up because nothing of them should ever even existed with this film. The entire movie is one big continuity error, jarring transition from killing, supermodel, explosion, parents talking, blowing up, car porn. I wished I never watch this movie, because it wasted 2 and a half hour of my life. And I personally want this movie to be taken off the screens, no DVD of it ever made, and burn people at stakes.

I can forgive the many inaccuracies, continuity errors, and just absurd progression. Its like forgiving someone who said "They are hacking our internets." in a serious tone and meaning it. The good stuff is that every single action scene is really great to watch, everything is top notched with a few glaring compositing flaws (though not as many as Transformers 2). The final action sequence is great, though draggy and boring overall.

But the unforgivable act, was to make everyone out of character. Its like someone swap the character roles in a word processor, and now Optimus Prime is Megatron, Megatron is Starscream, Starscream is Sentinel Prime, and Sentinel Prime is Michael's Bay's fucking anus shitting out of the screen. I don't care if that doesn't make sense, because its how Michael fucking Bay envisioned it, to assault your brain with his grade of avant-garde movie making that makes an adult porn flick more entertaining and logical. Fuck, even cutting your hand off and putting your face onto a grill is more logical.

Already in Transformers 2, the treatment of the almighty Optimus Prime and friends, was appalling. And I thought Michael Bay listens to the fans of the franchise. But the short answer is a resounding NO. Instead, he offends fans even more with Optimus Prime mercilessly slaying both Sentinel Prime and Megatron in 3 mins at the end of the film, before showing no remorse in saying "Its the right thing to do, fuck you." and proceeds on to make babies cry blood. By RUPTURING THEIR LUNGS WITH MOTHERFUCKING MICHAEL BAY LAZER EYES.

No one could ever fathom, that "Giant Robot Fighting" could be made bad. Michael Bay has done it, he has actually made Hitler's accomplishments pale in comparison, because at least Hitler died.

Its an insult to humanity, an insult to the franchise, an insult to films, an insult to the industry, an insult to all the people who worked on it. Transformers 3 is a crime against humanity, and Michael Bay should never make another film again.

End of fucking story, I am pissed off, and if you disagree with my opinion, go away.

Why I won't be bothered with migrating Facebook to Google+

2011-07-05T16:22:00.002+08:00

Before you start flaming, read the damn article.

I'm not bothered with migrating my Facebook to my Google+ Account for the very one reason Google+ philosophy is centered around:

Facebook over-simplified the complexity of social networks, making you the center stage every time you want to share something. Friends, families, loved ones all can read what you share, and in time, you develop a self-censorship to prevent the truly beloved and worthy to know what you want to share with them.

Google+ Circles fixes that.

Facebook suffers from its own success, too popular, and as much as the photo albums are robust, size unlimited in their own way, and technology of tagging friends become a norm, it becomes a disincentive for people who wants real privacy, this is actually of no fault of Facebook: you can control who sees what. Friends list does that, and I did create a few to block out individuals.

Just that Facebook became too big too soon to control the giga-size of data.

Google+ Exclusivity (for now) fixes that.

What I really like about Google+ is of its integration to all Google's service, and I hope they extend further into blogger, youtube, and others, and that you indeed control the flood gates of who is and who isn't. Acquaintances separate from friends from true friends, from the best friends and family. This helps a lot in hiding your personal life from the prying eyes of Facebook stalkers and what not.

Why I won't be bothered then with getting my Facebook contacts to my Google+ is exactly described above. A chance to restart afresh, a chance to be able to share more with friends, and to truly become a master of your own personal life without bounded by fear of offending a bunch of friends you just meet with a joke your close friends are used to.

Google+ will change social networking as we know it, though may ultimately fail for trying to beat Goliath with its still ongoing exclusivity. But for now, Google+ is my choice of real social networking, and though no more is the off chance of finding one of your acquaintances to have the same interest, its a price to pay for being able to breathe a little easier, every time you say something in your status update.

AKB48 Cafe?

2011-06-29T22:44:00.002+08:00

Yes, it actually exist, but not in its native homeland as one might expect.

Located at *scape, a rather boring building for youths, houses what probably is going to be its main money maker, AKB48 Singapore Theater, Concept Shop and most importantly, the cafe!

Its lightly furnished, but the aesthetic is in the real selling point of AKB48, like Morning Masume, a music group consisting of all girls that regularly cycle its members in and out, the cafe is somewhat like a worship and testament to their overwhelming success in Japan.

The staff were very well dressed (somewhat closer to a cosplay cafe, minus anime), adorning blazers and mini skirts like a Japanese schoolgirl, it might be up many guy's alleys. They were also really polite, and free flow of lemon water was a nice touch.

Though still only a soft launch (it has very few menu items), they promise more for the real launch probably in Mid-July, before their next performance here.

A meal there comes with soup and salad. I always wondered whats in the salad dressing.

The beef curry rice is above average. Good that they use Japanese grains, and the curry (though very familiar in taste, tsk tsk) goes well with the rice. I like the touch of radish and pickles as a side dish.

I also tried Team A Float, and am very glad to say its pretty and great in both taste and presentation. What I kinda expect from a Japanese Fusion Cafe, though it is really sweet...

I also brought back a (tiny) trophy from there. Odd that the staff asked us if we wanted one.

An AKB48 Coaster! Like a mark that you have visited them.

If I had a complaint, is that the price is WAY too steep. And the official site and the now price list are incorrect.

I'm definitely visiting them again soon, and I look forward to what is going to be in their menu for their grand opening.

The Borrower Arrietty

2011-06-28T22:26:00.002+08:00

What can I say? It really enjoyable, for a non-Miyazaki Ghibli film. Recommended, though not as fantastic as Spirited Away or Castle In The Sky, it contains that magical charm that made it "Ghibli".

The end feeling is melancholy, "Howl's Moving Castle" mixed in with an European Fairytale vibe. There's much less magic and spontaneous animation, rather it is keeping it real with realistic looking, subdued expressions, somewhat like Princess Mononoke.

I shall stop spewing out previous Ghibli movies from here, it is really quite enjoyable, and a far better movie than the semi-dadaist Ponyo, which I didn't enjoy that well (for the story, animation-wise is still stellar).

4/5