Just wondering about a few odd things. Why some people act the way they do.

If anyone wants to offer some insight, regardless of your background, comment!

Perhaps we can discuss a few things.

There have been times that I have crossed the line of decency, often without realizing it. I believe, THAT is what makes us human.

We're all prone to making mistakes, some of which others would hardly consider forgiving. But sometimes, I think we should be more acceptive of ourselves.

Having read the rant of a certain Dark KOF made me realize that too much humble pie is JUST as lethal as having too much arrogance.

Yet, occasionally, we're guilty of doing that, either consciously or unconsciously.

It has been difficult adjusting to 24 years of my life-span here on Earth, and there are days that I can get up and praise the Creator, and days when I feel so low that I need a lot of help to get me out of my messes.

Only too true, X. I've noticed that your emotional seal has begun to break.

Saviour-V glances round to find GemWing nearby...

There was a time I thought that emotions were a liability, for they caused pain, and untold hardship. It took a long time for me to appreciate the other side of human emotions, GemWing, but I fear the day that I wake up to find myself considerably less than a human than I already am.

Stay up, X. There may be limited time to do the most important things, but you CANNOT afford to wallow in self-pity for too long. Unless you hold out your hands to embrace the beauty of this world, you may never understand it. Ever.

Ahh, but there are times this heart can be terribly cold and distant. I hope that I can find someone to stay by my side, and warm my heart once again.

GemWing, perhaps you may be my creation, but if something unexpected occurs, seek someone else who may help you.

Don't say that, X. You're more physical than I am. You should have more power than a mere Guardian Spirit.

I'm trying hard to believe that sometimes.

GemWing looks at Saviour-V sadly...

Trust yourself, my love. Only you can do it.

GemWing teleports out, leaving Saviour-V on his own...

All right. YACCS' comment-boxes have been effectively removed, as of this post.

We'll see how things go from here.

(In other words, start commenting, and let me see some opinions!)

^_^;;

Well, no one seems to be commenting. As usual.

Could be that two comment-boxes ARE confusing, no doubt. Plus, there's an odd bug that hides any commenting efforts made. In either type, I might add. I'll see what I can do about that detail.

Anyhow, not all was rosy with Merdeka Day 2004. 47 years of independence, and YET:

1. Garbage is still something we have to deal with, the morning after. Sickening. KLCC on Merdeka Day was proof of our irresponsibility. I can attest to this, because I was there at 8.00 a.m., 31st August 2004.

2. Crime rates, drugs, and rape cases still dog the local media. Sadness all round, especially for those that have left us.

3. Our Olympic athletes STILL got blown away by the competition down in Athens. Evidently, Athena's knowledge hasn't fully rubbed off on them. Or on us, in most cases.

4. Self-censorship is a dream, for our so-called "well-meaning" Malaysian government INSISTS on covering up anything controversial from our "naive" eyes. Guys, we're not as naive as you think. It doesn't take an expert to find out that most translated Japanese comics have some bits of nudity and/or violence, so why do you insist on using a poor correction fluid job to mask all that?

5. We force our kids to join the National Service, instead of letting them gain patriotism in other ways. Frankly, if even my Nigerian friend could say that, what of everyone else?

Therefore, it's up to us to change how things are run around the world. Or at least, in our own country. Otherwise, such things will only ensure that "Keranamu Malaysia" will come up a 5th or 6th time.

At least the first 2 times had meaning. The rest, however, are proof that we've just been recycling ideas (and doing a poor job of doing that, by the way) and NOT coming up with anything worthwhile.

We have to wake up. Really.

Oh, and the above 5 are just a few things among many others, but these are more relevant to this entry at hand.

Also, Athena's the Greek goddess of knowledge. Not related to any other religion, but still...you'd have thought we'd have learnt something after those 47 years.

Ye olde trade-off. Seems like Blogger's put up a Google Searchbar.

And for some strange reason, it's affected my background image AND the Merdeka post I made previously.

Anyway, just ranting. If anyone manages to see today's date in this post, and the Phoenix image that makes up my background, let me know.

31st August 2004. 47 years of Malaysia's independence.

What happened a day before, you might ask?

Flashback: (30-8-2004)

A few days earlier, a close friend of mine, Cassy, invited me over to her birthday party. So, on that day, after classes ended at 17:00 Malaysian time, this is what happened:

1. Walked all the way back to my apartment (reached there at about 17:30 or so).
2. Took a shower and a change of dress (done by about 18:00).
3. Dashed to the nearest LRT station (Sri Petaling) and took the train down to Masjid Jamek (got there around 18:30).
4. Found that the Masjid Jamek's 2nd interchange was shut on one end of the road, so I had to get to it from the other side (done by 18:35 or so).
5. Took the train down to KLCC, and the Mandarin Oriental hotel, where Cassy was waiting. (reached there by 19:00).

One word: VA-ROOM!

Fastest effort I've ever done.

As for the events after that, well....I enjoyed a buffet dinner at Biba's Cafe in Mandarin Oriental, with Cassy and company. Lots of great stuff, but special mention goes to the cod fillets and the pasta I had (with beef bolognaise and carbonarra sauce to boot).

Later, we adjourned to Cassy's room, where some of us spent time playing with her X-BOX (most of the guys went wild over DOA: Extreme Beach Volleyball) and Wayne's PS2 (King Of Fighters: Maximum Impact. Mingnon Beart is my NEW Athena...^_^;;). Some of the others went sight-seeing near KLCC, just to kill time before 23:00.

And then, it came. The final hour when Malaysia would be celebrating her 47th year of independence, and when Cassy would be a year older. We waited for the final ten minutes. The atmosphere was tense. Everyone was waiting for the fireworks to come up.

"10....9....8....7....6....5....4....3....2....1....HEY! Where's the fireworks?" said Cassy, a disappointed look on her face.

"There's going to be a riot in Malaysia if they forget the fancy lights this season," she added, a bit disappointed.

10 minutes later, after some patriotic songs from the crowd gathered round the KLCC (which we saw on national TV), we heard fireworks alright. On the WRONG side of the hotel.

Which caused us ALL to rush out from our room on the 23rd floor, board the lift, and stop at the 3rd floor. And, of course, run out to watch the dazzling display. Never thought you could make firework hearts. First time I ever chased a fireworks display in my life. Magnificent stuff, albeit a bit deafening.

That over, we took the lift back up, and then Cassy got a call from her Mum, a few rooms away. The birthday cake was ready for the birthday girl, but we weren't going to make it easier for her to JUST blow out the candles. Oh no!

Her best friend (I think) stuffed one candle into the cake, and Cass had to pull out the candle with her teeth! Of course, two people (her younger sister being ONE of them) dunked her INTO the cake a little, so once she finally pulled it out, she painted their faces with the chocolate icing! Heh.

Later, some of us went clubbing, while some of us stayed in Cassy's room and played off the X-BOX and the PS2. I was with the latter crowd, of course. After a while, she came back from the club, a little exhausted, and collapsed on the couch until 3:00 a.m. or so. That was when we noticed that the air-conditioning was faulty, so we had to call the repairman to fix things up.

Of course, she told 5 of us to leave momentarily while the guy was coming up, so, at about 4:00 a.m., strange sounds could be heard skulking through Mandarin Oriental's hallways.....the Chicken Demon was on the loose.

After a while, we finally got word that things were OK, so we headed up. That night, we all slept in one room. Yep, that's right. 10 guys and a girl, all splayed out in odd positions throughout the whole hotel room. Except that Cassy had rights to the bed, or some of it, at least.

Got up at 8:00 a.m. As I later observed, it looked like a murder had taken place. I mean, there was even a "corpse" in the corner. Of course, yours truly was also not immune to that situation.

Rushed back to Bukit Jalil after a slight adjustment to my hair, and came round here to get a few things done. Should've stayed for breakfast, though.

Saviour-V sighs...

All in all, it was the finest day of my life. A day I get to be young, for once. It's an experience to remember, and it's something that reminds me that I'm still human, no matter how much I try to deny it.

Thank you, Cassandra. Thank you for your kindness.

Now that I've given Blogger's new features a BIT more scrutiny, I've found that NOT everything is perfect, but it's just me.

If you were wondering why my earlier comment had a different font, it was due to the font Blogger assigned to it. Might be useful later on, though, but right now, I've changed its font back to normal.

Additionally, there's a new Blood Phoenix member that'll be with us. A certain Xahra Spears. Or XS for short. Welcome to the team, milady.

As for me, I'm just coming to terms with a number of things. Emotions seem to be both an asset and a liability. Therefore, I cannot discard them entirely, although there was a tendency to do so a few days ago.

Aside from that, I have almost given up hope on finding a host body for GemWing, but I know that I must persevere. Somehow, I'll get one.

GemWing teleports in. Her comforting presence is sensed by Saviour-V, who smiles and turns to face her...

Ahh, my dear GemWing. I knew you'd come round when I mentioned your name.

Indeed. You'll require a lot of effort and faith to help me out. I'm really sorry for troubling you with that selfish request of mine, though.

No worries. Besides, having a physical GemWing might make things a bit more enjoyable along Life's highway. It's a bit lonely here, even with you around. I mean, you being a spirit and all that.

GemWing smiles back at Saviour-V.

But I really thank you for putting up with me. Not many can do that.

Like I said, no problem. Just give me a few good bits of advice here and there.

As long as you're willing to listen, that is. Seems that it's not too often.

Lots of stress there. You know why, right?

Half of which is your own doing. How's your progress in Dim and Jumper Two? And your FYP, as well?

Saviour-V glares at GemWing, who tries - and FAILS - to stifle her laughter...

Well, really! Must you bring THAT up?

Saviour-V looks thoughtful for a moment...

But y'know, you've got a point there.

Didn't I say so? Pay close attention, Saviour-V. You do have the potential to succeed, but you must justify your cause with effort and faith.

Luck's got nothing to do with this, eh?

Uh-uh. No-sir-ee.

Very well. I'll do my best to heed it.

You'd better. There's about 46 days left to the FYP's D-Day.

Too true, that.

I think I've harassed you enough. I'll be off, now. Oh, and to Miss Xahra Spears, may your employment be fruitful. We're counting on you.

GemWing grins at Saviour-V, and blows a kiss at him, before teleporting out...

Indeed.

Current Music: Combustion (Rockman Zero 2: Remastered Soundtrack Album).

See if you can find this soundtrack in Malaysia, comrades.

NOTE (4TH NOVEMBER 2022): This post, originally posted on 30th July 2004, has now been edited to update one URL, and to delete another URL because the site it once linked to is no more. If you do manage to find the pictures of those cool-looking Chinese zodiac animals, do let me know, and I'll put up the alternate source. Better check out this place quickly, comrades: "Ironing Out Blood Impurities", a Wired.com report. Looks like an automatic healing system is almost in the making. Let's hope the technology can be put to good use. Also, it looks like Blogger's undergone another revamp. That means new options for me, and a bit more interactivity down here. Let's hope things keep improving. - EDITED SECTION START! - The next item used to come from an offensive site, but as of the 4th of November 2022, when I revisited this URL, it was apparently shut down for good. What was it, you ask? Well, it was: The Twelve Animals Of The Chinese Apocalypse. Excuse the odd way of putting it. I meant to say something along the lines of "The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse", but these animals need NO horses. Besides, one of them's a Horse in his own right...sharp teeth, too. Maybe I should grab all 12 pictures and make a quiz or something, considering that my visitors are few, and that comments from them are even fewer. - EDITED SECTION END! - Which brings me to something I'd like to re-iterate: there's 2 comment-boxes beneath each blog item I post up. Either one or both should show up, depending on your browser settings. Do write something, OK? Aside from that, I'd like to elaborate a bit on an ol' tale. Still remember my "Of Fish And Fishermen" entry? Well, down in Bukit Jalil, there's a river that cuts through the general area. Not sure if there's any fish there, but someone was there, so it's a sign. Let's hope he managed to get some fish instead of mud; I saw him pull out a net's load of the stuff earlier on. Also, for your reading pleasure: The U Project: Supremacy, a Love Hina fanfic. For those of you who've read the Love Hina manga before, this is an interesting change of pace, but even for those who haven't, this is worth a good read. Anyway, got to leave. I'll put in a much better entry soon, I promise you. Current Music: A Stranger Met by the Wind ~From Anti-Soul Mysteries Lab~, (Michiru Yamane - Castlevania Special Music CD). Great stuff.

Just an observation on humans, in general. There's some information regarding the human body, as far as I can remember.
 
Something to do with the composition of an average human being. I mean, the stuff that makes up one of us includes about enough glycerine to make a few bars of soap, enough iron to make up a few nails, and some other materials.
 
When a person dies, all these materials normally return to the ground from which they came. To sustain the next generation that will undoubtly rely on most, if not all, of those things.
 
Which, in my humble opinion, sometimes makes me question why some people prefer to cremate their dead instead of returning it to the ground. Religious aspects aside, I think that it might be the greatest recycling effort we humans could ever do to preserve our Earth, but I believe that some people may disagree with me.
 
I mean, there are other ways for us to contribute towards saving the lives of others. Sure, you could contribute your liver or heart to save a kid, or perhaps a kidney or two to save someone else; just make sure that you know the risks of contributing those vital items while you're still alive.
 
The choice is ultimately yours, of course.

Sometimes, there are some people who tend to misunderstand you without realizing it. And when the sparks fly, you end up taking the critical hits.

And when these things happen, I ask myself, "Is it truly better for me to be alone, instead of finding friends to keep me company?"

But when I think about it, the Pandora's Box entry comes to mind, and I understand, albeit briefly. Experiences are useful, but they only offer a limited amount of insight into something. You have to continously seek out newer experiences, but you don't necessarily need to experience them first-hand.

The words of other people are the experiences that they had when they were still on Earth (or, if they're still alive, their current experiences up to their current point of existance).

To rest on your laurels, i.e. experiences so far, without seeking new ones, will bring you towards gradual mental and physical ruin, a fact I'm aware of, and a fact I'm desperately trying to remind myself of.

I hope that I become more wiser now and over time...^_^;;

Now that I think about it, I admit that I was wrong to assume certain things about some people. Remembering my past blog entries makes me feel like deleting them to cover my shame and embarassment during those times I was infected with foot-in-mouth disease, a.k.a. faux pas for anyone who speaks French.

But then again, I think that it's better for me to leave them be. Just to remind myself that I'm still human, even though there were (and sometimes ARE) times when I wanted to become a GOD.

I'll settle for being a human, but that doesn't mean I'll stop seeking perfection. It's a natural thing for anyone, IMHO. We all want the best for ourselves, right?

GemWing watches from the top of a high cliff, far away from Saviour-V....

How true, Saviour-V.

....and grins momentarily, before she teleports out....

OK, here's post #2.

Ever heard of Pandora's Box? Well, if you haven't, allow me to tell you about the legend.

GemWing teleports in....

Do tell 'em, Saviour-V....I haven't heard that tale in a long time.

GemWing walks towards Saviour-V, and sits down on a levitating disc that she had conveniently summoned earlier...

Anyway, let's continue.

At the beginning of the world, there were no adults. Just kids, playing happily. They neither had our worries, nor our fears. And they thought that life couldn't get any better.

But that changed one day....

Two of the kids, a boy and a girl, were intrigued by a mysterious box, left behind by an even more mysterious stranger a few weeks ago. In fact, mysterious voices were heard from within the box, begging the two kids to open it.

Although the boy repeatedly told the girl not to even consider OPENING the box, temptation got the better of the two of them, and they opened that box!

And they instantly regretted it.

For once that box was opened, many insects flew out of the box, and began to sting them, and all the other children! These insects were no ordinary ones, though; they represented Pain, Anger, Fear, and many other negative emotions that we humans are famous for.

After a long time, those fiends finally flew away, leaving everyone in considerable pain. But it wasn't over yet, oh no! One MORE voice begged the children to open the box once more.

And although they felt reluctant to open it again, having been stung before, they were enlightened enough to open the box a final time.

THIS time, a fairy flew out of the box, and began flying around the injured children, sprinkling healing magic to heal them all. That fairy, by the way, represented many positive emotions, but her greatest association was that of HOPE.

And HOPE is what we have to believe in, regardless of the circumstances.

For every day, we come across many such boxes. These are Pandora's Boxes.

And when we come across them, we have the choice of either opening them, or leaving them alone.

Either choice has risks.

Should one choose to open one such box, that person must be willing to accept the effects resulting from that box being opened. Regardless of whether they may be good or bad, that person will gain experience from understanding the contents of that box.

Should one decide to leave a box alone, that person may become less wiser than if he opened it. If that same person is unwilling to open ANY boxes at all, he will become less human as a result.

And these Pandora's Boxes have existed ever since we came into existance. The decision to make a new friend is worth a box in its own right. Even when a new technology or thought comes round, that box is still there. If you are willing to open that box, you must be willing to take responsibility for it.

So, are you willing to open these boxes?

If you're not willing, then you'll lose out. Both you and I know this, Saviour-V.

Indeed.

Anyway, thanks for the story. Hope everyone here learnt something new.

GemWing gets off her seat, grins at Saviour-V, and teleports out...

I hope so.

Blog updates a little to slow for ya, comrades? ^_^;;

Sorry, but I've not been able to get online lately. Apparently, some places hate my lap-top's Wi-Fi card. Which explains why I CAN'T seem to log into TM NET's Petronas Hotspot in Section 7, Shah Alam.

So this update's a bit subdued, no thanks to their half-reliable PCs.

Anyhow, last Monday night, my old schoolmates invited me to attend a dinner at a restaurant in Port Klang: Medan Muara Ikan Bakar. And if you understand enough Malay, roast fish is just ONE of the items on their menu.

Of course, if you want the best fish, you'd have to catch it yourself. That explains why one of my friends had scratches from one or two fish bites (or stings) when he finally sat down at the dinner table...^_^;;;

Food was OK. Special recognition goes to the fried squid - although I normally eschew squid, that dish was great - and the roast fish. With a bit of sour sauce to add a bit of flavour to it.

Oh, and don't forget the vegetable soup. Lots of veg. Nice. Of course, I prefer Japanese misochiru soup over that, at any rate.

The only thing that really made this meal LESS than memorable was the fact that it was a STAG affair. That's right, no girls...*sigh*

But it was moderately OK, overall.

Seriously, to any Hira'kians reading this blog....CAN'T WE HAVE AT LEAST 5 GIRLS WITH US DURING OUR TRIPS AND EVENTS?

It's starting to get rather boring, somewhat.

Apart from that, I got a comment from Steven Foong in response to my comment on his article HERE.

Thanks, comrade SteveF (OK, so I flouted my earlier quotes, but forgive me), but I'm not much of a Malaysiakini fan. Still, your words have merit, unlike the words of a not-so-cute doggie. Now, that's more fangs than cuteness, IMHO.

Obviously, that other person missed my comment in your blog,. Moderation. That's the key to success. Besides, that guy should realize that gaming is serious business, nowadays. RM2 billion, if I remember right. In as much as we can speculate on the positive (or negative, as cuteDoggie has done), it's up to us to decide.

I think I'll post up another post in a while. Just a reflection.

OK, so the blog-skin update hasn't happened YET, but I'm working on that little detail.

In the meantime, check out the following URLs:

1. Wikipedia's description of Trouble Windows

2. Trouble Windows Translations

3. Now, if the above manga was made into an anime....^_^;;

...and you'll understand what's currently interesting me at the moment. Since I've got Windows XP, guess which OS-tan (OS girl) I've got? ^_^;;

Anyway, that blog skin change WILL happen - once I figure out the code, that is.

EDIT: Well, you obviously noticed the background. That's due to the Blogskin code I got. Credits go to Anissa and her friend RiverWanderer.

Nice phoenix there, you two. I owe you one.

Now to get on with the rest of the blog-skin code.

Yesterday was great. We went to Hulu Langat, in the thick of Selangor. Lots of trees, and not a single petrol station in sight.

Why, you might ask?

Because our Uncle Jaafar had invited us (my family and a few friends) over to his HUGE fruit orchard (7 acres of fruit trees, according to my parents) for a fruit-fest. And to sweeten the deal, just after we had brunch (around 10:30 a.m. Malaysian time), he pointed out the river just a few metres away from his house, and we wasted no time in changing our clothes and going for a dip in its cooling waters.

Or LONG soak, in my case. Along with my first brother, his girlfriend, and a friend of mine, whose name will be withheld for the moment...^_^;;

Oh, and don't forget my 2 younger brothers. Busy fishing, and getting their feet wet, although the aforementioned people above gave them quite a soaking! Heh heh.

Also of note was the heart-shaped durian that we picked off from the trees on the other side of the river. It really looked like a Valentine's heart. Quite odd, indeed.

But notably, the orchard itself was immense. Lots of fruits. Just great.

In fact, we even brought some home, especially the lemons. They're good for lemonade, and seasoning for some dishes, too...yum!

Also, later that night, we celebrated Father's Day at a restaurant a few kilometres away from Bukit Jalil, and that's when Mimi (yes, that's my earlier friend there) and I gave Dad the presents we had decided to buy for him.

He was quite happy, I must say. And I'm glad that he was. He's the best father anyone could have.

Thanks, Papa.

Creamed. BADLY.

Round One went to the FYP Assessor. Must not lose the last round next time.

But at least the assessor was kind enough to point out my misses. Mr Nolan (nolan AT apiit DOT edu DOT my), I owe you one. Thanks a lot.

Now at least I have some idea on how to hone my aim. Need to do a lot of interviews, and more research. Anyone know of any successful game developers I could talk to?

Elsewhere in the world, our old friend Raed is having trouble in Iraq. Life after Saddam is STILL no cakewalk.

Sometimes, I wonder how I manage to paint myself into these corners....

1. One GUIW Project.
2. One OT Final Exam.
3. One Final Year Project Midpoint Meeting.

And my moonlighting as a part-time businessman.

Heh. Guess it's proof that I need to mature a bit more quickly than I normally do.

Some of you might be wondering whether I happen to have a few girl-friends around or not. Well, most of them are normally just friends. Never had a romantic relationship in my life for real, although I've had something that felt like one.

Both sweet and bitter at the same time. I would've wished for us to be together, but there are many twists and turns in any love story, and mine ended a bit abruptly. Sort of.

But whether I can find love again is entirely up to me. I mean, a few online romances are a good start.

Getting back to the real world, I'm busy on a certain Java project, and I could use some specifications on MIDI. Musical notes never appealed to me; I normally play by ear.

Well, does anyone have a clue?

EDIT: Forgot to add my current music....and a new link to the Frequently Accessed Zones. Check it out there, or in the Current Music entry.

Current Music: Rush 'n Attack - OverClocked Remix (original composition from OverClocked Remixes)

We picked up on an old friend.

Nasyrah, a.k.a. Narusegawa Naru.

A-hem, in case you were wondering, a pseudonym's in use here, but this girl shares the same initials, minus the STRONG punch the real one did.

Of course, if she was just as harsh as the real Naru, I'd be in Jupiter's orbit in 5 seconds flat...^_^;;

Anyway, I've got a lot of things to do. GUIW tutorials on one side, OT progress unknown, DIM assignment OWED (RATS!)...and don't forget that Final Year Project Midpoint Meeting...argh!

Maybe I SHOULD get a punch from NN here. A trip to Pluto would be great around now...^_^;;

Current Music: Obsession - (Seiken Densetsu 3 - Track 2-19, from the SPC set picked up from SNESMusic.org)

You need WinAmp 2 and the SNESAmp plug-in (plug-in's from the above site), or you could try WinAmp 5, though I'm not sure if the plug-in will work for that version. Good luck.

A few things occurred within the past few days. Here's a rundown:

1. While I was on holiday at home for 4 days (from 30-4-2004 to 4-5-2004), my Nigerian friend, Asa, fell ill. Fortunately, he managed to SMS me in his condition, saying that he had a fever and he couldn't move his legs. I returned to my apartment with my Mum and some medicine in tow, and found him much sicker than the SMS mentioned. After passing him some medicine, we managed to take him to a hospital far from my apartment.

And the diagnosis? Viral fever. And RM60 as consultation, gone.

My verdict? Another friend, who accompanied us to the hospital (and gave us directions there) said that it seemed like malaria, and was quite furious when the doctor mentioned that it was just viral fever. Actually, it wasn't just because of the diagnosis, but because of the prescription: Paracetamol VS my Dad's Ponstan. The latter is much more effective than the former, by the way. Also, the fact that her Medical Certificate was not made out for 3 days, but only for 1.

However, we took the other doctor's drugs, but we told Asa to only take the Vitamin C tablets from the other doc, and Ponstan from us. Thankfully, he recovered fully within 2 days. But his story does not end there.

2. On the morning of Friday, 7th May 2004, Asa LOCKED himself out of his own room by accident; he only realised that he did only after he took a shower.

So it was quite a joke to see him sitting on the couch, in a towel, waiting for help to come. I came to his rescue again. I called up APIIT (our college) and asked them if they could send for the back-up keys. They said that we'd have to wait a while. Called up a 24-hour locksmith, and ALMOST said "Yes, we need help," until I heard his RM60 price-tag.

Ouch.

So...an hour later (and a class gone for poor old Asa), APIIT 's emissary of hope came round, and unlocked the door.

Asa learnt TWO important things that day:

i. Always make a spare set of keys, and keep it someplace nearby JUST in case you lock yourself out of your room. Or anyplace else.

ii. Never put your cupboard too close to the door, ever. As it happened, Asa pushed the door back against his cupboard, inadvertantly locking the door in the process (push-button locks are a bit RISKY), and when he closed the door, voila! Instant humiliation.

I did feel sorry for the poor guy, but that second incident WAS avoidable. So, I got in a few cheap laughs while I was calling APIIT.

So, I hope this little lesson helps those who're about to end up in a similar fashion. Trust me on this.

GemWing's back, comrades. In truth, I never really lost her; it's just that I kept her presence deep down within my heart.

I guess that since she is a part of my personality, I can never truly lose her, UNLESS Fate decides to make me forget about her completely. I hope that never occurs, for I might be less than complete if I lose her.

Thinking about others is always a difficult task to perform, and thinking in two personalities is even TOUGHER.

Anyway, for the support that some people have shown during those trying times, I sincerely thank you all.

I'm not out of the woods though; there's still a lot to worry about. Wish me luck.

Oh, and on an unrelated note, Dhora's birthday is coming up soon, so do wish her a Happy Birthday. (and yes, Miss Dhora, many regards of the day to you, once it comes, I mean....^_^;;;)

Seems that since GemWing has lived without me for a brief amount of time, I now have to cope without her by my side. And all I had to do was merely isolate her for a brief moment.

Seems also that my desire for living has also diminished to a certain extent. It seems much more difficult to awaken my mind from the deadening pull of jadedness. And I've wasted too much time doing useless things; too much activity, not much PRODUCTIVITY.

GemWing's advice, counsel, and discipline are what I may need to stay focused, and SURVIVE. Assuming she returns in time.

Saviour-V falls to his knees, his head in his hands, as an alarm sounds out the following warning:

TIMER SET. MIND DETONATION WILL OCCUR ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2004.

As you will later observe, I have added a new link. The Castlevania Dungeon is where I've picked up my new music.

Planet Mega Man has been cutting albums off its site to conserve bandwidth.

And what about me, you might ask? Well, I'm a bit swamped with that Final Year Project, but I'm still alive to tell the tale. Hope I stay that way...^_^;;

Current Music: "Cross A Fear - Stage 2'" (Dracula X: The Rondo Of Blood - Track 05, Disc 1). This tune never made it to the Konami's SNES hit Super Castlevania V, a.k.a. Dracula's Kiss. Quite an interesting theme, this.

Age is one thing that keeps catching up to us. Unless we make the most of it, we are the ones who'll ultimately lose to it. So don't cherish your birthdays for too long; another year's just passed you by, and another one's just started.

That aside, my own birthday's coming up. I've gotten a few things prior to it though - a new Acer notebook and a 128 MB memory stick. Those items should help me immensely with my project work, and a few extra things on the side...^_^;;

Insya-Allah, things should improve a bit round here.

Oh, and if anyone's interested, I'll be 24 this March 7th. Well-wishes and presents are welcome, everything else, well....we'll see.

OK, gentlemen, if you will now direct your attention to the left-hand side of this blog, you will now see a set of links.

Miss Ayshy is going to get rather angry at me for stealing her code...

Saviour-V grins as he twirls a floppy disk on his right index finger...

...but I have my reasons. In other words, I haven't touched HTML in quite a while, but the nature of the Net allows me to pick off anything I lack. Knowledge is power, and there are many ways of acquiring it...^_^;;

And as you can tell, Blood Phoenixes are a rare lot. Rare in terms of blogging, and rarer still in the information that they may possess. You never know what you might obtain from them. But ask wisely, and your requests may be granted.

Current Music: "Our Blood Boils - VS Sigma 1st" (Rockman X7 Original Soundtrack - Track 18). Blame it on Nitro's pseudo-rock image...^_^;;

Still in Bukit Jalil at the moment. Trying hard to figure out Java from the lecturer's faulty code...^_^;;

And there's less than a week before that assignment, another one, and a Project Proposal Form, are all due.

Tough run, this. But, I've got to get through it, no matter what.

Current Music: "Code Crush", by Rina Aiuchi (Rockman X7 Theme Singles - Track 2). The intro to the Japanese version of Mega Man X7. Good music, not so good game, unfortunately....>_<;;;

The usual place for this tune, and MORE!

I have returned.

Previously, GemWing informed you all of my previous absence from this place.

In truth, each of us has a certain reason for living, but there are times when this reason (which later becomes a conviction over time) is shaken by its roots, which forces us to question it.

That is what occurred. Thankfully, the situation is more or less resolved, thank Allah.

Of course, I can't let my guard down; I'll have to increase my efforts to make this year a very good one.

To those who commented in my Tag-board, I sincerely thank you for the encouragement. To the one who talked to me, your words were chosen wisely, and I thank you for them. To my parents, I hope Allah blesses you both, and I also hope that He will allow me to continue receiving your valuable lessons on life, whether specific or general.

To those that have previously doubted, scorned, or insulted me, directly or indirectly, I thank you. For your words may have a ring of truth to them, but even if they do not, at least I know how NOT to address your needs. If you meant well, may Allah bless you; if not, may Allah forgive you.

After all, we only have ONE life on this Earth, and there are no specific manuals on Life itself, so we just have to live our lives by the day, for today, for our future.

GemWing teleports in...

Ladies and gentlemen, please excuse Saviour-V for not showing up today.

At this very moment, he's trying to answer a few questions concerning his life, and his true reason for living. For the past few nights, he has been searching for that reason, by going online, but even I know that he may not find it.

He has confided to me that he is worried about losing his sanity, and in the process, me.

I'm worried about him. I hope that he remains intact.

For if he fails to realize that reason, he may not be able to continue life as effectively as he should.

Oh, and to Miss Dhora, although I'm a bit jealous of you and him, do find some time to counsel him. Perhaps that could help him.

GemWing teleports out...

Just about leaving APIIT's computer labs now. Want to know why?

This is why.

This will effectively remove 10 years off your life unless you know how to get out of the place.

Good luck!

Still intact after today's affairs. A bit loopy, but intact.

Sometimes, loopiness helps. Take the second post below this one, for example. You've got a call for awareness round there. A sort of wake-up call, for those willing to listen.

And sometimes loopiness can have NASTY results. The post just below this one is one such example. At that, you'd think I'd know better than to post on things like that.

But I think that both posts illustrate the parts of my humanity. What makes me human. In as much as I would like to be an equal to God himself, I realize that only He has the right to his position.

He created us with certain strengths and weaknesses, to allow us to understand ourselves before attempting to understand others and Him Himself (that's no typo, there). If he created us with full perfection, we would not learn much from that.

He created us to be human. Neither angels nor animals. However, depending on our actions, we may either be able to surpass His angels, or be MUCH WORSE than animals.

Although we humans have a tendency to disregard God for material science and proof, at the end of the day, we cannot run from the realization that He is always around. And yet, some of us still try, but these attempts are futile. For NO one can disregard the presence of God (regardless who you believe in), no matter how much we attempt to deny His existance.

Current Music: "Ciel's Memory _ Truth of Hero" (Rockman Zero: Remastered - Track 22). It's a drama track this time. Think of Rockman Zero as an anime this time.

Add-on to the previous post:

Check this link:

The Guardian's 2003 Blog Awards.

...and check out the entry on a certain Belle de Jour (CAUTION: EXPLICIT CONTENT!).

Everyone's got a story to tell, a standpoint of life seen best from a different / skewed point of view.

Because we humans are unique, and uniformity can be quite BORING...^_^;;

Current Music: "Spark and Shadow ~Power Plant Stage~" (Rockman X Arranged - Track 7). Not too bad on the relaxation factor, this.

Go here:

The Rockman / Mega Man Soundtrack Archive.

First round of lectures for today.

Developing Interactive Multimedia, by Mr. Sugumaran (I met him a long time back), and Object Technology, by Mr. K.T. Yew.

Mind seems to be strangely empty today. As if there's absolutely no feeling in me.

As if I'm a spectre, haunting the Earth, not fitting in with anyone, for they CANNOT see me.

Or it could be the fact that I didn't eat anything much for lunch.

In other news, I saw a HUGE crowd in front of the Bukit Jalil Stadium, around 7:35 a.m. At first, I thought it was for the Asian X-Games, which incidentally starts today, until I noticed the "Program Khidmat Negara" banners all over the place. Oh, and those banners were meant for Malaysia's National Service.

Obviously, a lot of people were going places, and fortunately (or unfortunately? You decide.) I wasn't.

Still, I wonder if I would've fared better in another place, instead of here in Malaysia.

Looking at some aspects, we've got a lot to do. And sometimes, we're not even sure if we can get everything done in time.

In other cases, religion has become an object of satire and hatred. I've been to a few places where religious issues are debated heavily to the extent that name-calling, threatening, and much worse, killing, occur.

And you don't really have to physically kill a person nowadays; stiffling his or her thought processes by abolishing conscious thought is almost commonplace. Plus, there are other ways, which may be beyond the scope of this discussion.

Which brings up one question: WHAT THE HECK IS HUMANITY DOING TO ITSELF?

They're destroying themselves, for lack of a better word.

Saviour-V wheels round to find GemWing, resplendent in all her finery...

And there are times we don't even realize it. GemWing, what do you think?

I'd say that we can only advise others against acting this way, even though we risk being hated by all parties involved in this NASTY mess.

There's a limit to advice, though...

And are you going to give up because no one will listen, Saviour-V?

I KNOW YOU'RE BETTER THAN THAT!!

Saviour-V is momentarily stunned for a moment, as GemWing continues...

You see, Saviour-V, the words of such people are merely the words of the minority that thinks it's the majority, when in true fact, they're only the minority of an even GREATER majority. There will be people who WILL listen; give humanity its time, and we'll make it, I'm sure.

I hope you're right, GemWing...

Saviour-V sighs exasperatedly...

...because we're practically exterminating ourselves if we allow that minority to pervail.

Remember WHY you're here, Saviour-V. You've got a mission that you must fulfill, and you WILL fulfill it, no matter what others say.

Then, it's up to me, and people like me, to ensure that it stays fulfilled, I believe.

Precisely.

GemWing winks at Saviour-V for a moment, before teleporting out...

There are times I wonder if all our efforts will be enough.

Just reviewing the previous two posts. Corrected them a bit.

And looking at the "Yu" Kanji (Chinese character) below, it reminds me of a true hero, strangely enough.

The Kanji for man, otoko, makes up the lower half of this character. That's the part starting from the "crossed window" and ending with the ka that makes up the bottom half.

The upper half reminds me of either a crest or halo, somewhat.

Now, does anyone here speak and write Japanese well enough? Do drop a comment with your knowledge on the whole Kanji, if you can. I'd really appreciate it.

Besides, I still have to learn a LOT of Japanese...^_^;;

Current Music: "Blazing Internet - Fire Man's Stage" (Mega Man: Network Transmission)

See the previous post below for the URL that leads to the MP3 archive where I found this.

Just got back from a quiz, and here's the result:


Heroic Courage: You are a very brave person who
puts others before yourself, believes in
helping those in need. People would consider
you noble and caring, and someone to always
count on.


Which Characteristic From the Samurai Code Matches You Best? (You may find out your best trait)
brought to you by Quizilla

Hmmm, I never knew. Unmei, ka? (Is it destiny?)

Current Music: "Legendary WWW Area - Pharoah Man's Stage" (Mega Man: Network Transmission)

It's located at the following URL: Rockman / Mega Man MP3 Archive.

And IMHO, it's got a bit of the old music I used to enjoy from Rockman 4...^_^;; Nice pseudo-Egyptian-techno feel, somewhat.

Hotmail's finally become active again, after 2 days of a possible Denial Of Service attack. At least, that's what I THINK happened within that time. Couldn't access my Hotmail within that time.

Miss Dhora / Pearl, thanks for coming by. Believe me, I've found your presence here (and elsewhere too...^_^;;) to be quite comforting. I read your blog, and the blogs of your two friends, but I can only say this to them (and everyone else): HAVE FAITH.

Sometimes, you don't know how Fate will go when it comes to matters of the heart, regardless of whether it's love or otherwise. Perhaps the coin may turn up heads in your favour, or tails against your favour.

RARELY will it ever end up on its side. This is an aspect of Fate reserved for miracles, or acts of God, if you prefer the term. But you never know.

In other news, Monday was Orientation Day #1 for my Degree, and tomorrow will be Orientation Day #2. With regards to the first day, I'd say it wasn't so bad, except that I was really feeling lonely, being on my own for the first time in Bukit Jalil.

Solitude can do strange things to a person...and believe me, singing songs from 80s-style TV shows and advertisements COUNTS against a lonely person, myself included.

It's NOT pretty at all.

Anyway, for those of you intent on listening to music as you read blog entries, consider the following URL:

Rockman / Mega Man Soundtrack Archive.

My personal favourites include "Underground - Tunnel Base Stage" (Rockman X7 Original Soundtrack - Track 5), "Mod Electric Wave - Radio Tower Stage" (Track 6 of the same album), and "Spark and Shadow ~Power Plant Stage~" (Rockman X Arranged - Track 7).

But do feel free to check out the other tunes elsewhere; just don't link directly to the music. Have a heart, comrades.

Degree's going to begin next morning.

And why, might I ask, are you sticking around in a cybercafe when you should be sleeping, Saviour-V?

Saviour-V wheels round to find that GemWing has just appeared...

Let's just say I needed some time to check out an old haunting place...the city of Sri Petaling, where I ended up 4 years ago. The place has changed, evidently.

And so have you, Saviour-V. Don't undermine yourself by living in the past for too long, OK?

GemWing grins for a moment as she says this, and teleports out in a wink!

Point. There's a lot to do.

Oh, and in case Malaysians (or a few Singaporeans too...^_^;;) want to know what time this entry is, it's at 23:07, February 8th, 2004. On a Sunday night, right after I got back to my apartment. I wonder why I ended up in this old cybercafe, anyway...^_^;;

GOOD NIGHT!

Saviour-V yawns, and teleports out...

Just an unrelated add-on.

Sure enough that IRC and other instant messengers can help you meet new people, but human contact is irreplaceable.

Albeit a short one, I'm glad I showed up on IRC for the past few months, even though not much has changed since my last visit a few years ago.

Of course, it also depends on WHERE you search for friends...^_^;;

Otherwise, use these tools merely to bridge the gap between you and your friends, and make it a point to meet them physically. In that way, you will appreciate them more.

Degree's closing in.

Feeling unprepared.

NERVOUS? You bet.

Fear is as natural as it can get. Trust takes a certain amount of bravery to believe in someone, although all signs may point otherwise.

Which is moderately difficult to obtain.

The human spirit still remains an enigma. Some people justify their actions by committing meaningless acts of misery and stupidity, while some just go with the flow, and do nothing at all. There are also the heroes who are willing to make a stand for their rights.

But how can we tell what moves may be made throughout life? That largely depends on the individual. We can only pray that he or she may be given guidance to a certain extent.

A moment of silence for today.

In memory of a friend's mother. May Allah bless her, always.

She died of cancer, at 20:30 Malaysian time, on Friday, 30th January 2004. She put up a valiant fight throughout the 4 years that she ended up with it.

I only received this news around 00:38 Malaysian time today, but I couldn't relay this to my family since I was elsewhere at the time.

From Allah we come, and to Him we'll return.

May she be granted a good place in Heaven.

Just read PE's comment on my previous entry.

There are times when I can convince myself that I'm doing the right thing, but there are times that I end up with foot-in-mouth disease, a.k.a. the dreaded faux pas that occurs a few times.

Sometimes, I can take it, but there are times that I wonder if I really mean what I say. I have been crude to some people, without realizing it until they distance themselves from me for quite some time. And when I do, it's usually too late to apologize.

There are also times that I can make myself worry about the state of the world today, and feel completely drained as a result of that fear. And times when I resist the fear long enough to take a stand, no matter what the outcome is.

Ahh, the wonders of being human. Sometimes, you wonder if your life is being lived as it should be.

Heh. Saviour-V, you know yourself better.

Saviour-V glances round to find the comforting presence of his Guardian Spirit beside him...

Ahhh, GemWing. I was beginning to get worried that you wouldn't show up.

You can't depend on me for too long, Saviour-V. As much as you'd like someone like me, humanity's construction is often imperfect, and that's what makes you all much better than me.

So you heard. Perhaps Uncle Ishak was somewhat correct in his Freudian analysis.

If you desire me too much, you may cease to become human yourself. A human has the usual fears and needs, that require intervention, Godly or otherwise.

Though I wish I didn't have to rely on such weaknesses, GemWing....

Don't you see? Those are what actually STRENGTHEN you. You created me in your own mind, without those limitations, but as a result, I am FLAWED because of my perfection.

So it seems. However, I hope that I can still have you beside me until the choice occurs.

But who can tell? There's still a long way to go.

Yes, indeed.

I can only pray that God will bless you, Saviour-V. You have much to learn before you can evolve fully. Perhaps then, you may find my physical form amongst mankind, and at that time, you'll have realized your TRUE potential.

So saying, GemWing teleports out....

I really hope so.

Looks like active duty's NOT going to last long.

From February 2004 onwards, I'll be studying in APIIT's larger campus in Technology Park Malaysia, in Bukit Jalil.

Strange how I'm returning to Bukit Jalil, after a long time. Last time, I was in a different educational institution, which didn't turn out too well.

And as I consider things now....I think I'm standing at the forefront of a new future. A future that was meant to be mine.

I've fought a lot of battles to get to this year. Not just in my studies, but also in my own heart. After my sister passed away 2 years ago, I've been trying hard not to cry when I mention her name.

But I realize, as per the words of Frodo Baggins,

"How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand there is no going back?

There are some things that time can not mend."

Indeed. Time DOES NOT always heal all wounds.

Therefore, I must be stronger than I was previously. I must become much more mature than I am now.

If all goes well, this life will become more beautiful than I could ever imagine.

Just got to give it my all. Wish me luck.

Recently returned to active duty for an old friend. My former boss, Mr. Asir.

We're getting a few operations underway, especially a Speed Reading course preview after Chinese New Year, but we need to get a few things ironed out first. Plus the fact that the INPENS Institute's been relocated, and guess who got student recruitment duty?

Not me, but I'm helping out from behind the scenes, so things should be OK.

2004's set to be an interesting year, God willing. Hope I make an excellent run of this year, now that some issues are clear to me.

Cheap shots galore.

Recently, my nerves went haywire.

Missed a meeting with Dhora, and got too cross with her. Should've understood her problems a little better back then.

She's forgiven me, but I think I'd better exercise more control over my anger than usual. In fact, I'm finding it harder to maintain the calmness I swore myself to 6 years ago.

I've become more unstable over time. At times, I wonder if I do have it in my soul to continue this life and fulfill my mission.

I hope I can still do this.

WARNING - PSEUDO-PERVERTED POST AHEAD....DO NOT READ IF YOU'RE EASILY OFFENDED!

We humans tend to be a mysterious lot. We usually tend to assume that clothes make the man (or woman).

For example, don a business suit, and walk into a shopping complex, and people will automatically assume that you're a successful businessman (or businesswoman, if you prefer).

And if you happen to be wearing the clothes of a VERY poor person, almost no one in society will EVER give you a second glance!

And yet, when the day has worn itself out, and we retire to our sanctuaries, most of us do one thing.

STRIP. Before stepping into the showers to bathe and refresh ourselves.

Now, before you do the same old routine for today, take a good look at yourself in the mirror (preferably a full-length one) TWICE:

1. Stand in front of the mirror while you're clothed in your usual attire, and give yourself an opinion on how you're feeling at that moment.

2. Then, strip yourself of your clothes, and stand in front of the mirror AGAIN. Give yourself an opinion on how you look THEN.

If you can still feel good about yourself in both situations, congratulations!

If NOT, then, as you look at your nude self, say, "I have all the endowments that God has given me, both in body and spirit. I will NOT allow myself to be belittled by others, for they are the SAME as me. I WILL succeed in Life, no matter how many people put me down!"

I believe that you might feel a whole lot better once you do.

Also, if there's something that you don't like about yourself, again, look at yourself, and say, "I WILL make an attempt to CHANGE, to become a BETTER person!"

Repeat that every time you head off to the showers.

Insya-Allah (God willing), this will help you IMMENSELY.

Now, let's see what THIS causes...^_^;;

A few more details about Saturday...

I NEVER thought that wedding vows were quite tricky to pronounce. My cousin had to repeat his wedding pledge 3 times before he finally got it right.

But then again, I wonder why he offered RM1001 as dowry for the bride.

Shades of "One Thousand and One Nights", perhaps? Could be...^_^;;

The Kadi, a.k.a. the Islamic Justice Of The Peace, mentioned three important things to the newly-wedded couple:

1. One must keep his house filled with knowledge, i.e. teach his whole family well in terms of wisdom.

2. One must keep praying, to ensure that the marriage is continuously blessed by Allah.

3. One must ALSO keep his wife entertained, i.e. a smile to his wife when he gets up, a kiss or hug every now and so often, and of course, foreplay to bring out the best in the two of them...^_^;;

That LAST item had me blushing. But then again, when you fail to ignite the romance in a relationship, it's as good as a DEAD one.

Considering that my parents are always very affectionate, I see why that last item's so important to a married couple; many marriages FAIL because there is a LACK of this.

Enough said.

Wedding's over since yesterday. But that won't stop me from describing the high points of the event...^_^;;

The bride's house happened to be close to a fishing village.

It was quite relaxing to walk over to that village, after a considerable stuffing (burp!).

And if anyone says that checkers is a game that SHOULD be played on an 8 X 8 checkerboard, the fishermen there would tell you otherwise; in their case, it's a 16 X 16 board.

And judging from the waves back then, they had good reason to play on a large board; the sea's waves were large, and the weather was cloudy, signs of an impending storm. Only an insane fisherman would go FISHING in that weather.

Good move there, men!

As for today's run, I ended up stuffing myself again, but I doubt I can keep that BLACK HOLE I call my stomach empty enough for long.

Two things:

1. Earlier that afternoon, one of our relatives in Sungai Pattani visited us, and brought us a copy of our family's medical history, which, incidentally, happened to be a sort of family tree.

I hope she sends me the link to the place, for I'd like to know more about my extended family.

2. Later on, I joined my parents as we visited two other relatives. Hala (Auntie) Om Bee, and Hala Ain.

Hala Om Bee had held a kenduri arwah, or "feast to honour the departed" today, and we arrived at the perfect time - after the prayers for the departed were over, but before the food was finished.

Not to say that I don't honour the dead, but I CAN'T stand sitting down, cross-legged, for long periods of time. So you can tell that I was quite relieved that our timing was JUST right.

And FYI, Hala Om Bee ALSO makes good nasi dalca, a.k.a. "dalca rice", complete with the standard issue of Penangite side dishes.

Needless to say, I was HOOKED. Penang food has something you just CAN'T seem to find in Selangor...and personally, Penang has a certain attraction.

It seems to have a certain charm that's hard to explain. Could be because even though I was born in the state of Selangor, my hometown will always be Penang.

Coming back today, but I'll be headed for Genting Highlands on Friday. If I'm lucky, I'll be blogging from there. It'll be a bit freezing down there, but it's for a good cause.

Currently blogging from rainy Penang. Raya's here, and I'm busy blowing my Raya money on good food and cybercafe stints.

Which, of course, include my blogging stints as well...^_^;;

Can't help but wonder how I've progressed through Life so far; I've seen quite a number of miserable cases before, and given how things are going around the world, I sometimes wonder if anything CAN be done to make things better.

It seems that most of us humans tend to forget that we ARE capable of reaching the stars, preferring instead to remain on the ground, cursing our Fate and God.

A shame and a pity.

Sometimes, I wish that we humans would realize that we all contain seeds of greatness, and that it's up to us to plant them and create a beautiful forest...

But it's NOT too late. My mission here is to make people realize this. And as our numbers gradually increase, we WILL be able to make this Earth peaceful once again.

The road towards that aim will UNDOUBTEDLY be difficult, but I have faith in my friends and comrades.

2-DAYS AFTERWARD, EDIT: Forgot to mention WHY I'm here. A cousin of mine is getting married tomorrow, so I'm busy "preparing" to greet the lucky guy.

Now THIS is funny.

Who'd have thought of THAT? I mean, sure, a lot of people read blogs, but having your dear mother (or father) reading your blog is so...EMBARASSING.

Rule Of Thumb #183:
To quote Kain from the intro of Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver 2,

"One must keep his friends close, Raziel, and his enemies EVEN closer!

Always bear in mind that a lot of people frequent blogs, and that means that although you have a small degree of anonymity, DON'T PUSH IT.

In the meantime, I'll be looking up my blog's template again. With luck, I'll figure out how to add the links to blogs I've been to previously.

Wish me luck.

17 days into Ramadhan, 18 nights of Terawih prayers.

Before I begin, a link first:

Gendou's Anime Music Page!

That's where I downloaded the FULL version of "Viva Rock". STILL no sign of the ~Japanese Side~ edition. Also picked up "Call Me Call Me", one of the songs from Cowboy Bebop. One of my favourites.

Ramadhan's about to end much faster than I thought. Looks like I'll have to perform the full 23 rakaats once night #21 comes round, which may be much sooner than I think.

Fish sighted in Kuala Lumpur's side of the Klang River.

And I thought that no fish were there....^_^;;

If you still remember my previous fishy tale, you'd remember that I was in Klang when I spotted those guys fishing.

Today, however, I was waiting for a couple of friends to show up, and I happened to be at the Central Market LRT station. One floor below the train terminal, and one floor above ground.

Got a clear view of the Klang River from there. And while I was still wondering when my friends would show up, a fish showed up!

A red snapper. AGAIN. I never really expected that at all.

Kuala Lumpur's side of the Klang river happens to be moderately clean, if you consider the occasional debris nothing more than a mere annoyance. It smells of the sea, strangely enough.

That brackish smell I know all too well, from times long past.

If you happen to come round there, take a sniff!

Let's see now...15 days into Ramadhan.

Picked up a couple of links:

1. Muslim WakeUp.

Lots of articles concerning Islam in many places, plus a few other things. Not that I'm heavily concerned. Still, it's got a few hits in the right places; perhaps it might be able to help humanize Islam, unlike some people who'd prefer to DEMONIZE it.

10-SECOND IMMEDIATE EDIT: I stand corrected. Looks like here's an article worth reading:

How Friday Sermons Should Be Like!

That ought to keep us Muslims awake, instead of putting most of us to sleep every Friday.

2. Hybrid Be: Next Generation's music section.

Picked up Naruto's 3rd anime ending theme from here. It's called Viva Rock, and the group who made this is Orange Range. Kind of catchy. The anime ending's version is called Viva Rock ~Japanese Side~, and is more catchier than this version, but who's complaining?

Hope someone's got the lyrics.

In other news, only a few more days remain before the CNDS exam hits me in the face. Unfortunately, my emotions seem to be on CRACK at this moment. Not a good sign.

Wish me luck. And luck with a few girls...^_^;;

Hey, who said Ramadhan had to be BORING?

Now, go and download that MP3. Trust me, it's addictive.

30-SECOND IMMEDIATE EDIT:

My inner child is ten years old!

The adult world is pretty irrelevant to me. Whether
I'm off on my bicycle (or pony) exploring, lost
in a good book, or giggling with my best
friend, I live in a world apart, one full of
adventure and wonder and other stuff adults
don't understand.


How Old is Your Inner Child?
brought to you by Quizilla

Almost true. I'm more of a walking person.

APIIT's going to KILL me if they spot me downloading MP3s, but THIS site's worth it, at least to me.

Rockman / Mega Man soundtracks!

The music there's pretty good, but I'm going to need lots of cash to buy the CDs.

In other news, Mahoromatic: Motto Utsukushii Mono (Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful) a.k.a. the 2nd season of this anime is currently casting a shadow over my exam revision.

I mean, it's quite a deep anime. Of course, I suggest you watch the first season before you pick up this one by any means, Kazaa being one such idea...^_^;;

Here's a few links:

1. Cassie's take on Mahoro...

2. Mahoromatic Love, version 3.0.

And, of course, there's always Google.

Checking out this blog, I noticed that although it may seem as if no one comments much in my message-boxes, there ACTUALLY are comments!

Blame it on shoddy code. Still haven't gotten round to my other blog at Danchan's YET.

GemWing holds sway over it, but repairs and upgrades to it will take quite some time.

Here's the Blood Phoenixes' 2nd Sanctuary. Still under much construction.

Day 8 of Ramadhan. 22 days left.

Last week's project presentation was a slaughtering. Of me and my teammates.

We failed ourselves by not putting enough effort into making the project a success.

That leaves the exam to worry about. Currently obtaining information to stay intact.

Also have to consider ACTUALLY working to obtain money.

It is no sin to be a follower, but it a sin to REMAIN a follower.

Day 2 of Ramadhan. The fasting month for many a Muslim.

Where good deeds reward you many times over.

In my case, however, I've got an exam to worry about. Plus an apology that I must make, regrettably, on behalf of my team-mates.

I've every reason to fail this subject, although I must admit that our project was doomed since Day One. We hardly communicated well enough to understand each other.

But enough about that. There's still a few other things that have to be done, and I'm not going to get a second failure.

Times are changing, as far as the eye can see. I hope everything turns out right.

Just adding something for my own reference here:

A VB game design tutorials site!

Good enough for future reference.

And for those of you looking for the TGS 2003 trailer of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, check the entry after this one.

Enjoy.

And there are times...we disagree...
What's right for you is NOT for me.... - singer and song unknown.

Indeed, one man's meat is another man's poison.

Some of you may have been to Faiz Sahri's blog, and read that story on the "99 Club".

Or perhaps the recent tale on "Missing Ribs" in Dhora / Mutiara's blog made you shed a tear or two.

Personally, although they're good stories, nothing beats the stories by the living.

Although I try to live each day as it comes.

Travelling beyond the bounds..
We have to take that step
What are we waiting for?
It's now or never... - Maki Kirioka, Beyond The Bounds.

I may not be heavily religious, unlike some of my friends, but I do know one thing.

There is always much to learn.

And adding to my musical reverie, check THIS out!

Picked this off Konami's Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater page.

Listen to the music, and tell me if that doesn't sound James Bond-ish.

Would've added that tune's lyrics here, but I need to hear it one more time to recall it.

Currently on OVERDYNE mode. Project's due in 9 days, and I haven't the slightest inkling of what we're supposed to do.

I've been looking up a lot of VB code for this purpose. The code in some sites seems to be much better than what most of my team-mates have offered me.

One minor story I'd like to share with you all.

Last night, around 20:05, I finally reached Klang after an exhausting (but fun) outing in KL.

Called up Mum, and Mum mentioned that I had to get back home on my own.

So I was busy walking along the bridge closest to the ruins of the Great Wall supermarket, just wondering about life.

Halfway across, I spotted two guys FISHING from the safety of the bridge.

What interested me was the fact that their fishing target was a very heavily polluted Klang River. Filled with garbage and loose debris.

In most cases, you'd expect that the river would be too polluted to sustain life.

So, I asked one of them, "You guys fishing?"

Guy smiles, and answers, "Yep."

I ask, "In THERE?"

Guy nods his head, still smiling.

I ask, "Any fish there?"

Guy points to his bicycle, and that's when I noticed a very large red snapper in the bike's basket.

Subhanallah! (Exalted be Allah!)

That's when I learnt that we humans are all fishermen, fishing for fortunes and better lives in this world.

Depending on our dreams and intentions, there are many sorts of fishermen.

Some who'd be satisfied by fishing in the murkiest of rivers, and getting one or two big fish.

Some who'd prefer the choices offered by the oceans of our Earth.

And some who'd use their previous catches to catch bigger and better fish.

So, what are YOU fishing for? ^_^;;

From Dr. Maya's blog:


! You are most like An Emerald !
Caring, giving, - and very emotional. You're the
person
people turn to with a problem. You worry about
everybody,
and genuinely want to help - a little too much
sometimes.
As an emerald, you tend to take a more backseat to
the other
gems, but your inner beauty soon captivates those
who take
the time to get to know you.
Congratulations ... You're the selfless gem
everybody needs as a friend.


?? Which Precious Gem Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla

Fate? Perhaps. All I need now is to create an winged emerald ankh sooner or later.

In other news, Tripod's wiped out my old site.

Good thing I still have the original files. I think they STILL can't tolerate ROM posts. Even though the ROM's impossible to find in the US.

6 days since my initial findings. The more I read those excerpts, the sadder I get.

That friend of mine sure has been through a lot of BS in her life. I do wish she'd come round and ask me for advice.

Perhaps she might be much better than she is now.

I have been betrayed.

One of my closest friends of mine took a decision to adversely affect her life, even after I mentioned that I would always be around to offer her advice whenever she needed it.

Suffice to say, I am terribly aggrieved by her actions. Her decision could come at the cost of her life. Most of our youth today often fail to realize that spur-of-the-moment decisions tend to affect them adversely when they become older (but sometimes NOT always wiser).

Ordinary people would've terminated their friendships if this ever happened to them, but given the fact that they are human, it's forgivable.

In my case, however, all I can do is pray for her safety, and keep my doors open. That way, perhaps her heart might be opened wide enough to notice my comforting presence, and she'll come round to ask me for advice and forgiveness.

This is what will, God willing, separate me from the anger that her actions have caused to me.

And if she happens to be reading this account, God willing, I will honour my promise.

I hope that He grants me the strength to carry on with my mission.

At this moment in time, the world is still in a state of confusion.

We have all been lied to by the greatest nation's government - that of the United States of America.

Suffice to say that the war on Iraq has been a harrowing affair, both for the Iraqians and the American soldiers involved in it.

Operation "Iraqi Freedom" indeed! HAH!

That name is a pure misnomer; the reality couldn't be more different. The Iraqians are still trying to make sense of the "democracy" that has just been forced down on their shoulders. It will be an uphill struggle to understand its true meaning.

But in the meantime, it might be prudent to consider our own safety measures to ensure that we do not end up this way.

The Internet represents a treasure trove of information, just waiting to be tapped and used. Those who fail to utilize it fully, will be brought down by people who do.

My motive here, apart from being a hermit, is to change Fate. We have seen far too much bloodlust and pain in our history.

Therefore, we must prevent the creation of yet another blood-stained entry.

This place is merely a facade for something much greater, and I pray to God that He might allow us an opportunity to change Fate for once. Peace must reign on Earth again.

I hope that I may lead the winds of change towards a new Age. An Age of reasoning, peace, and goodwill amongst us all.

But I cannot do this on my own. So if you're as mad as I am, come round, and let us make plans for the FUTURE!

Wedding's over. Long since.

Nothing can contain my intense envy of those two lovebirds.

I mean, those two looked as if they were MEANT to be together from the start.

And there's one hermit here who wonders more about the future, and its secrets...

Exhibit A. ME.

Heh.

I promised that I'd mention my rationale for the afore-mentioned pic I grabbed previously.

Luna's the Mana Spirit of Moonlight. Her counterpart is the Mana Spirit of Nature, Dryad.

Of course, I thought that Luna conveys a more accurate message on her own, IMHO.

A bit subtle, I might add.

Because light cannot exist without darkness, and vice versa.

OK, so I'm not really explaining my full rationale behind that pic, but since I haven't seen a single comment in my YACCS and Enetation comment-boxes, should I even bother?

Currently thinking of what to get for Hafsah M. and Imran K.'s wedding tomorrow.

The present's in my hand, but I've not really given much thought to wrapping paper.

I'm half-thinking of bringing in Luna. Oh, and in case you were wondering, Luna's one of the spirits from Seiken Densetsu 3, a pure gem of a Japanese game that Square decided not to bring to the USA and beyond. Because of that, we've had to be content with the fan-translated ROM, instead.

A shame and a pity, that. It really is a good game.

That aside, I've been here:

Square Haven's SD3 section...

...and I've been looking at the Mana Spirit artwork. Lovely.

Although this could get me in trouble for copyright infringement, I've already picked up Luna's pic, for use in a greeting card that'll come with my present for those two newly-weds.

I think that pic's OK. Luna seems a better and much cuter choice than Undine, at this moment.

There's a bit of philosophy behind my decision, but I'll elaborate on that after I return from the wedding tomorrow.

Wish me luck, everyone!

GemWing teleports in...

Looks like this is one of the reasons WHY those search items came up, Saviour-V....look at the URL below!

Real History & MOSSAD, the Israeli Secret Service!

Hmmm.... I see.

Looks like David Duke's not the only one who knows about the Sept 11th Genocide.

Saviour-V, please be careful. I don't want you to die before you complete your mission...

It will be completed, GemWing. Even if I don't get to see its completion.

For there will be others like me, those who wish to expose the unrecorded events of history, and restore TRUTH to our Earth, and revive it from all evil.

Do not fret, my dear. We will succeed in the end.

I do hope you're right, Saviour-V....

GemWing teleports out, while Saviour-V gazes at the heavens...

Sometimes, I HOPE I am...

Hmmm....interesting.

At this moment, I seem to be the only one who's caused a lot of people to go searching (on Google, no doubt!) for the following items:

1. MOSSAD.
2. Israel history.
3. David Duke.
4. Ariel Sharon.
5. Hamas.
6. Aipac (whatever this is, I've no idea).
7. Dante's Inferno (that's the Hell's test for you).
8. Purgatory.
9. Palestine.

In contrast, some of my other friends have other *interesting* search items....

Go and check out the URLs below:

1. Miss Apple's blog.
2. Brother Faiz's blog.

....and look at the search items advertised at the top of their sites.

Semi-savoury, I might add.

And it seems that Enetation is offline this time around....surprisingly.

Just came round after a few errands in APIIT:

1. Retrieved my lost CNDS book.
2. Retrieved my DBS results (I passed!)
3. Found out that I've lost 10 GameFAQs Karma Points for posting something offensive, and yes, it was my fault. I should've been more careful.

There's a minor question I'd like to ask the working generation today:

What is your main reason for being with a company?

For me, it's not merely about the cash; it's about the HONOUR.

I've been through one of the less-than-honest ones once before, and I'm glad that I've got a new job with a new company.

A trend business. An honourable business that keeps me ahead of the pack.

That's a brief description of it. Been with it for 2 months, and although I'm still learning the ropes, I'm glad I'm with it.

Some of us seem to forget that not all of us appreciate web page music....and I've just come back from two such sites.

Sheesh.

Currently adjusting my comment boxes....Enetation's is the "Secondary Teleportation Chamber" entry.

A few minor changes.....I'm still keeping both commenting systems up, as a precaution.

Looks like a few people have come round....a certain Miss Apple being one of them.

Blogger seems to have undergone changes AGAIN. Can't seem to find the Hyperlink icon to mark her name with.

Either that, or Blogger has ZERO support for Macintoshes.

Anyway, my recruitment drive on GameFAQs has been going smoothly, but i still believe that time may not be on our side.

India's people have protested Ariel Sharon's visit to their country, but it seems that the START2 treaty will be violated again, if that female-named-creep gets his way.

We cannot allow this to happen. David Duke once mentioned that Israel's MOSSAD operatives (and possibly Israel's top brass) have been involved in many crimes that have yet to be dealt with, and i believe that apart from them, there may be other puppeteers waiting in the shadows.

Waiting to make marionettes out of the Earth's people, by any means possible.

Thus, as people who are still sound of mind, we MUST acquire as much knowledge and technology to prepare for any possible onslaught against us.

We cannot allow our history to contain ANOTHER blood-stained entry.

There is, however, one other concern. I suspect that Israel's people may not support their leaders, because they too, are victims of hatred. Just like the Palestinians.

There is a side of me that wishes to completely obliterate both Israel and Palestine in order to close the chapter on the entire Israel VS Palestine issue, but that would be far too harsh for the people of both countries.

Ahh, what a dilemma. I believe that this post might irk both sides, but I speak the truth. I assure you, gentlemen, that our time will come.

A true time when wars and suffering will be a thing of the past. However, we MUST work towards it.

May our work be blessed, regardless of who our Gods may be.

Just activated Enetation. YACCS is down, and I've no idea when it'll be back online.

Not sure if I can use both at the same time, so consider this a temporary test run.

Let's hope it turns out well.

GemWing and I haven't been in close contact, off late.

Fact is, I haven't been relying on her sound judgement when I should.

There have been times when I tend to overreact and cause more trouble than usual, even though I mean well.

Not that anyone's going to take much notice. "To each, his own!" they'd say.

Life remains a mystery to me. Its intricacies, biases, and such.

I hope that I can unravel it all in my lifetime....being the pseudo-philosopher I am.

Anyway, just continuing....

Sat down in the kitchen of my house today, watching the evening sun pass me by.

Beautiful.

And I was just appreciating the beauty of that evening, if Mum hadn't caught me snacking.

Yeez. Can't seem to avoid interruptions, these days.

From Mudster's blog, I've taken the following test:

The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to Purgatory!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Extreme
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	High
Level 2 (Lustful)	Low
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	Moderate
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Very Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	Low
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Low
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Very Low

Take the Dante Inferno Hell Test

I must say that although I indulge in a few sins, I do have a good Guardian Spirit on my side.

Thankfully.

Life seems to be improving lately.

Could be my new business, or the fact that I've started forgetting more.

Heh.

Looked up a few blogs:

1. Eisu's.
2. Aimo's.
3. Kotak's.

....and I must say that life's going pretty smooth for 'em.

Won't be talking to them just yet. Need to get a few things up first.

Question for a few people (taken from Bruce Almighty, not out yet in Malaysia, but....):

If you were God, what would you do? How can you handle the most greatest responsibility in the universe?

OK, that's TWO questions. Not that it matters much.

Any answers?

Looks like Blogger's been busy, lately.

Nice new interface.

That aside, I've just returned from a business convention in Johor Bahru, close enough to the Causeway leading to Singapore.

Picked up quite a lot of information regarding my new business.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, I've joined a new line of work. Instead of working for others, I'm working for myself.

And believe me, nothing beats making your own money. Still have a lot to learn though....^_^;;

For any Hira'kians that have just arrived, Assalamualaikum to ya, and welcome to my humble abode.

One thing I've learnt over the past 2 days is that we've all got potential to change ourselves, and the lives of others. If you're either DEAD or unwilling to help other people change for the better, things might just get worse.

Yesterday, one of the speakers at that talk brought out a DVD called "It's A Wonderful Life". He then told us a bit about what that movie was about.

The movie starts out with a view of Heaven and 3 guardian angels looking at the Earth. One says to the other, "You'd best get down there; someone needs your help a lot!"

So while this one angel flies down to Earth to help this person, a flashback of that person's life is shown in Heaven. This guy did a few good things in his lifetime:

1. During winter, his brother fell into a pond when the ice on its surface broke. Had he not been there, his brother would've died.

2. This guy's dad made homes for families with low funds. Unfortunately, he died, leaving that business in his son's hands. Along with debts, too. Plus a major threat: a greedy business tycoon who wanted to flatten those houses to make way for a shopping mall!

3. He found the love of his life, and married her.

4. He owned a pub, and frequently invited his friends over.

Flashback ends, and we now return to our earlier guardian angel, who appears just before that very person attempts to kill himself by throwing himself off a bridge. Luckily, the angel manages to save him just in time!

So once this guy is safely on firm ground, the angel asks him the reason why he wanted to kill himself. The guy replies, "My life's lost its meaning. I can't go on anymore; I'm better off dead."

The angel grants his wish. Of course, the guy's still alive, but in the eyes of others, he's DEAD. Then, the angel shows him the results of his death:

1. Because he wasn't there, his brother died, and was mourned immensely by his family.

2. The low-cost houses were never built. Instead, there was nothing but cleared land, to make way for that shopping mall.

3. The love of his life never found her love, and ended working in a library until she became a very old and frail spinster. Also, a man-hater. In fact, when that "dead" guy shows up, she says, "I don't know you! Leave me alone!" as she runs away from him.

4. The pub now belonged to the greedy business tycoon.

Now, in case you had trouble understanding the above, there are some lessons to be learnt here:

1. It is tough to DIE, but it is even tougher to LIVE!

2. If you FAIL to make the lives of others better, everyone suffers!

So keep those lessons in mind, and keep an eye out for my next update.