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• 13Oct 07

  This blog is about YOU

  
  No, I lied. This blog is about me again.

  Cheer up... after all, most, if not all, of my blog entries are about me.

  Let's begin talking about me. >>

  Tomorrow signals the start of the new semester in school, and it looks like my schedule is packed even tighter now - school ends at either 5 or 6pm every week day. And I'm supposed to take up another co-curricular activity- so much for free time.

  Before the holidays started, I already had a long to-do list waiting to be cleared - consisting mostly of completing games, programming and studying. Unfortunately, I didn't quite finish what I set out to do at all - not even 50% in my opinion... >>

  Let's see why:

  Gaming Goals:

  • Complete Command & Conquer 3 - DONE
  • Complete Supreme Commander - DONE
  • Complete Starcraft - DONE
  • Complete Starcraft: Brood War - DONE
  • Complete Diablo (including Spawn) - DONE
  • Complete Neverwinter Nights 2 - INCOMPLETE
  • Complete Bioshock - INCOMPLETE
  • Complete Half Life 2 Episode 1 - DONE
  • Complete Half Life 2 Episode 2 - NOT EVEN STARTED!
  • Complete Portal - DONE
  • Complete World in Conflict - NOT EVEN STARTED
  • Complete Ninja Gaiden Sigma- INCOMPLETE

  Programming Goals

  • Update all programming tools - DONE
  • Complete website design - DONE
  • Complete website structure plans- DONE
  • Complete website authentication system- DONE
  • Complete website polling system - NOT EVEN STARTED
  • Complete website PM system - NOT EVEN STARTED
  • Complete website administration pages - NOT EVEN STARTED

  Studying Goals

  • Complete studying the syllabus for the entire semester in advance - INCOMPLETE
  • Complete refreshing myself with Visual Basic (I hate this language > >) - INCOMPLETE
  • Complete learning Adobe Illustrator CS3 (I suck at this > >) - NOT EVEN STARTED
  • Complete online assessment in advance - NOT EVEN STARTED
  • Complete refreshing myself with various networking technologies - INCOMPLETE

  Other Goals

  • Make 5 signatures - DONE
  • Make 5 drawgins - INCOMPLETE
  • Make a new profile banner - NOT EVEN STARTED
  • Learn 5 new songs (on guitar) - INCOMPLETE
  • Compose 5 poems - INCOMPLETE
  • Lose 10kg > > Don't ask - INCOMPLETE
  • Rectify computer network problems - DONE
  • Make new data backups - DONE
  • Get handphone repaired - NOT EVEN STARTED
  • Get... someone back > > - What do you think?

  Ok that's enough lists for today. >>

  I really didn't complete a lot of goals... > > And... I'm not posting as much in GS again... or at least in RC... for one reason > > Don't think anyone knows >>

  ---

  WARNING: THE FOLLOWING MAY BE CONSIDERED TO CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR PORTAL. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

  ---

  By the way, before I move on, does any one agree with me that the credits song for Portal is happy yet sad, full of irony and satire and contains quite a lot of subliminal messages? Go search for the lyrics if you must, I will not post them here so as not to spoil the game. Looks like I really am addicted to the song (I have listened to itfor more than ahundred times in the span of 24 hours? Maybe less?)- it's a break from my usual cl4ssical and death metal music...

  But I really wonder about the messages behind the song...

  ---

  END OF SPOILERS

  ---

  Now for part 2.

  I believe most of you know I have this tendency to give misleading names when it comes to blog titles... Say, for example, the 'Wall of Text', 'Episode III' and some other advertising gimmick. On the other hand, some are really direct - say 'Where are you?' and that entry concerning the bankruptcy issue. Keeping in line with that tradition, this blog will do both!

  I have already typed quite a bit about things concerning me, so I'm done making it a misnomer. But to make it also true, well - obviously I have to write something about YOU, the reader of my blog.

  Seriously, I notice that most blogs people write are about themselves (including mine) and I thought that it's time to give readers some consideration. After all - who's obliged to read, let alone comment, in one's blog? Especially if that blog is about you and not that reader thousands of miles away who has absolutely nothing to do with you in real life or not.

  Let's start - I realise I don't know even the names of some people here - sure of course I remember Justin, Craig, Andi, David, etc. But some posters - even regular ones - I don't know a thing about them other than 1) usernames, 2) if they post in OT.

  I think it's time to change that. I shouldn't be so self-centered - I should get to know my blog readers and friends - of course not only by name But any information they'd like to share... Say for instance, their likes and dislikes, location (I messed up the states of a lot of people > >)... habits... anything to do with them. If you want, you can think of it as a re-introduction... a more in depth one?

  If you're really clueless as what to share... well, here are some suggestions:

  • Name
  • Location
  • Occupation
  • Likes
  • Dislikes
  • Hobbies
  • 5-10 adjectives to describe yourself?

  Of course, if you'd prefer to keep certain information private - I respect that decision. But I do hope to know you people better...

  Go ahead, what are you waiting for?

  
  
  EDIT: Please tell me if I haven't been commenting in your blog... apparently quite a few of your blogs don't show up in my updates... I apologise if I've missed them
  • Posted Oct 13, 2007 7:38 pm PT
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• 7Oct 07

  Episode III - Encounter

  
  The sirens are wailing.
  The sirens are wailing.
  The sirens are wailing.
  The sirens are wailing.
  The sirens are gone.
  
  The skies darken. A gargantuan mass looms not far. A mass of twisted metal, blackened and scarred by erosion of blade and bone. Deep bellows drown the screams and shattering glass. Heaving structures bow at its arrival. Yellow ash.
  
  Then, descending from the craft gliding as a dove does land, a heavily armored figure sets foot on the cobble paved road. It faces the direct end of the road and gazes at the surroundings without turning its head, swirling mist forming around the gold plates engraved so dear with fine long strokes indicating its history. Like a hero cast in stone.
  
  'Burn it,' a deep tone sounds off the cast metal.
  
  Cylindrical pylons at the craft's sides rotate slowly as the shifting gears moan their work, with the occasional one screaming from the torture of both weight and heat – the leaping flames boast the temperature of suns and threaten with death who dares challenge them. Ravenous for more fuel and about to engulf the place, but they were stopped.
  
  'Someone is here.'
  
  Immediately a figure emerges from the haze, landing on knee and foot as the earth beneath splits from the pressure. It rises, revealing its slender silhouette.
  
  'Leave. You have no business here.'
  
  It reveals a glistening line of silver, half tucked in a sheath hidden by its cloak.
  
  'You know It no longer exists. You bond yourself to nothing.'
  
  'Leave. Now.'
  
  'You know It was toppled and taken down, never to rise again.'
  
  'It is none of your concern. If you want to keep that chest of gold, you had better return to where you come from.'
  
  'You tempt Artemis' judgment?'
  
  In an instant the silver now glistens against the gold, the pure against the royal.
  
  'No one courts Neveron's Guard.'
  
  Black wisps leak through gaps in the armor. A stroke lightens and emits a pulse of light.
  
  The craft disappears, as does the figure.
  
  The street is as it was before.
  
  

  ---

  
  
  Review
  
  For those who are are wondering what this has to do with the 'something I have been hoping to find out' for just about the entire week, it really helps if you analyse somewhat and don't simply read the passage as it is
  
  But if you really can't bring yourself to it - there's a spoiler.
  
  

  ---

  
  
  SPOILER
  
  

  ---

  
  
  Q: First thing, the sirens. Why is the same line repeated multiple times?
  A: If you have heard those war sirens before, you shoul know they usually wail in high and low pitches alternately (or at least they do over here). But still the sound is continuous. The main reason why it's repeated is to signify that people have had multiple warnings to evacuate before the craft came.
  
  Q: What on earth is that strange craft? It makes no sense having a giant and damaged piece of metal floating?
  A: In terms of the story, it's a warship - I think most of us got that. But look a level beyond - the scars signify the casualties wars have caused and the razed territories, while the fact that it is still up and flying allures to how wars do not stop despite the heavy losses sustained.
  
  Q: The figure coming down from the craft - you called 'it' an 'it' but not a him or her? What's with the fancy set of armor? A: I'm sure you know they often say war takes away conscience and the humanity in people. Same thing applies here. The armor basically is part of a theme - it shows that this character is of esteemed background. 'A hero cast in stone' - the 'armor' weighs the figure down... again look one level further - the antics and customs of royalty and the like are restrictive. It can also be interpreted as to show the lack of emotion in the character.
  
  Q: Okay I get those. But how do those pylons house such flames? You said the temperature of the SUN, you know.
  A: Technology. Notice the difference between the high-tech craft and the not-so-modern armor? Compare that to the real world - military research tends to be focussed much more on (albeit usually in secrecy) and during war you notice a stark contrast between the technology of war machinery and the technology present in civilians' lives. The temperatures and flames reflect the strong desire to conquer more.
  
  Q: The other character looks like a loser. A simple cloak and a silver sword? Hahahahaha!
  A: That's not a question. > > Basically represents the humble. Gold is favored compared to silver and people flaunt their assets - like in the passage the first character boasts its golden armor. It also emerges from the haze and has a 'slender silhouette' - meaning it usually isn't noticed at all. Think about that in real life. Q: What are they talking about? I don't understand?
  A: That will be revealed in another episode
  
  Q: Huh? What happened in the end?
  A: The first character is not of the flesh - the black wisps can be thought of as its blood. Wisps aren't corporeal - compare that to how people who boast power tend to be unable to backup their arrogance. There are 'gaps in the armor' - gaps in what people say? And it dies - killed by the other character. Just in case you haven't realised.
  
  Q: What about the pulse of light?
  A: With respect to the story, it is basically a distress signal. Notice that nothing was mentioned about the craft retrieving the body or helping the character? In real life, typically two things can happen to those wielding power when they pass away. One, they leave behind a legacy and are mourned. Two, people do not care at all. The dead figure apparently did not have the support of its kind when it was attacked... and killed.
  
  Q: How come things return to normal?
  A: What is 'normal'? In the context of the passage, you can say that fights and deaths are common in the event of war - although most of the time no one notices unless it's a huge scale battle or some important people are involved. Again, the same thing applies to this short prose. It suggests that things are always happening around us, but we fail to notice them. And even if we do notice them, we may end up completely forgetting.
  
  

  ---

  
  
  END OF SPOILER
  
  

  ---

  
  
  
  
  Just curious, should I write more of this?
  • Posted Oct 7, 2007 8:40 am PT
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• 29Sep 07

  Where are you?

  
  
  It has been about one month since I returned to GameSpot... and after some posting both in the forums and in blogs for the first few days... I realised I completely forgot about a lot of people... (Sorry really ) Add that to a lot of regulars (when I was still around in the beginning of the year) having disappeared and a lot of new users...
  
  > >
  
  Well... on the bright side, in 1 month I've managed to remember everyone again (although unfortunately that includes some people whose blogs I won't be commenting in as... well you know my policy > >) And say... a lot of people have changed, some for the better, some unfortunately for the other way round... I'm guessing most of these changes are due to changes in people's individual lives - again some are doing better than others.
  
  Then I'm also reminded of the few UCBs and external forums I'm members of... quite a few of which I was/am a moderator... and I really find it well... awkward > > Awkward in the sense I haven't posted in these boards for months... and for those in which I hold positions... it's like I don't deserve it > >
  
  If you get what I mean...
  
  In any case... I apologise for the inconvenience and trouble caused...
  
  And... one last thing.
  
  I noted a lot of regular blog commenters disappeared entirely... regular as in... not for my blog... but for others' as well. Sure, some of them have left GameSpot... but quite a few still post... so I'm wondering...
  
  Where are you?
  • Posted Sep 29, 2007 7:22 pm PT
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