can’t define what i’m after

nothing much to say really, but i just wanted to update and ahem, show off the stuff i got at comex. i am abysmally broke now, but i love all the new things i got:

the ASUS LS221H monitor

my new monitor! while i have to agree with maryam that the samsung one does look kind of nicer, i got this because of its slimmer profile (supposedly the world’s slimmest 22″ lcd monitor) and because of the free TV box offer – so if need be, i can cart the trusty samsung lcd tv home and just use this bigger, sleeker baby for my tv pleasures instead :D

the logitech cordless desktop wave keyboard

and of course, a nice keyboard to go with the new monitor :D i didn’t actually get the one i originally wanted (the dinovo media desktop laser) because it’s not available in singapore and it’s way too expensive. but i’m still glad i chose this keyboard because it’s sooo comfy and nice to type on, plus i love all the extra function and media keys. can’t wait to use it!

western digital passport essential, 320gb

before comex, i was still having internal debates over whether i really needed a new hard disk. i saw how cheap they were (by at least 30 bucks) and the rest is history…

the sandisk sansa fuze, 4gb

while i did say i wanted the sansa clip, i changed my mind and got the fuze instead – reason being the expandable storage option via microsd (and i would be swimming in microsd cards now if i didn’t accidentally throw them all away the last time…) and the navigation wheel which makes it easier to use than the clip. the sound quality really is fantastic, to the point where i didn’t quite want to stop listening to my music on it when i was trying it out just now. apart from some issues with mp3 tags and that i have yet to figure out how to get playlists in, it’s perfect. now i just have to stop myself from being tempted to get the sansa clip, which i still am madly in lust with, because it’s such a small, cute player. and cheap, too.

and mind you, while all these seems like a lot, i did actually practise quite a bit of self-restraint with the buying spree – at least i didn’t get new earphones, or the creative x-fi 5.1. the latter is actually quite big, which i guess kind of turned me off. its more portable cousin was more attractive, but for some stupid reason it only supports 2.0 systems – meaning just two plain speakers, no subwoofer. which automatically discounts both of my speakers… and most speakers, really. oh well.

in other news, we have discovered that the cakes at megabites are actually pretty good. i quite like the fish and chips there too. as a result of our 3-hour lunch there, i’ve also developed a craving for clodhoppers. which i had with my peach frolick yoghurt after comex-ing with maryam.

also, for some reason i’ve managed to fall asleep in ALL of my classes (except for film, but that doesn’t count) this week. i have no idea why, considering that i think i’m actually sleeping more than usual. in any case i hope this bout of sleepiness goes away soon, or i might have to resort to caffeine infusions in the morning, something i don’t quite want to start because i dread the day i become immune to the stimulative effects of caffeine…

and sigh, it’s only week 3 and i’m beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed by work. i need to be active in forum participations but i just am terrible at forum postings, plus the US modules seem to require an inordinate amount of reading that has to be done every week. and then there are the 180 or so testimonials i have to vet.. yes, i’m starting to feel stressed. if i didn’t only have four modules again, i think i’ll be dead. plus i still have to think about whether i should join another comm so i can stay in hall for the fourth year, because i definitely do not want to commute. blah.

okay, time to go shower and read the US textbook until i fall asleep.

realisation

i’m supposed to wake up in about two and a half hours, but owing to the nescafe iced coffee i drank about four hours ago (and maybe that nap i took earlier in the evening), i am totally unsleepy now. damn.

oh well, i guess i will just continue with the readings, given their soporific effect on me.

okay, can’t think of anything to write about (my brain got a bit fried trying to post on the history and film forum. my posts are all crappy.) so i’ll just post a video. if you haven’t watched this hitler and ERP woes video yet, please do, it’s hilarious.

and to be off-topic, shareminer + USD (universal share downloader) rapget = my new way of downloading stuff, now that bittorrent is wonky for me in hall. pity that the rapidshare links are kinda slow/not-really-working most of the time though. megaupload, on the other hand, is pretty good.

oh crap, only two hours of sleep left.

i, i want it, i, i need it, i, i breathe it, you are the new drug

amazingly enough, i have racked up a total of 1500 blog entries without quite realising it. must be all the almost-daily entries i did in secondary school and jc. by the time uni came around, though, daily blog entries became impossible. not to mention that it probably would be frightfully mundane.

anyway, i’m a bit too lazy to really write anything, so all i’m going to do is post up pictures of my latest objects of desire.

the sansa clip silver 4gb

after reading reviews here and there about creative players and mp3 players in general, i’ve decided that the sansa clip would be a great mp3 player to buy. it’s one of the cheapest around and has the ‘usual’ functions (‘usual’ because the ipods, for all their niceness and price tags, never have them) like radio and recording. although what really won me over is that apparently, they’re one of the nicest sounding mp3 players around. to most people, there really isn’t a difference (because ahem, they use stock earphones) but with a good pair of earphones it shows. and it so happens that i have a pretty decent pair of earphones… so yes. i’m definitely looking out for this at the upcoming comex it fair.

western digital passport essential

technically speaking, i don’t desperately need this at the moment because i still have like 50 dvd-rs and my wonky network connection means i haven’t been downloading much. but i think this is a very nice-looking hard disk that isn’t too expensive, and if the prices are low enough at comex, i might just get one…

the nintendo wii

my shoulder and elbow will hate me for this, but i would so love to own the wii. i had my first wii experience playing rayman raving rabbids at ah foo’s 21st birthday party, and damn, is it fun. it’s the ultimate party console and damn fun to see your friends do crazy stuff with the wiimote and nunchuck, haha. and this kind of gaming would be great for me because it does involve quite a bit of movement. which translates into some exercise, at least? haha. the only thing stopping me from getting it is the price (i can get a 22 or 24 inch samsung lcd monitor at the price of the wii) and the fact that i don’t have a nice big tv (in hall) to play it on yet. maybe when i move into my new room and save up some money… maybe.

anyway, some updates on my life. am finally done with the thesis work, thankfully. unfortunately, my zeal for starting my readings also went with that. and thanks to insane physics lecturers who only put ‘updated prerequisites’ on their module after people bid and get the module, i’ve had to drop modes of invention. and since there were no other science gems or breadths around, i’m doing only 4 modules this sem… again. oh well. at least that leaves me some time to earn some money to buy all of those things above that i want…

oh well, nothing much else to say, except that comex is at the end of the month (28-31 august) and i can’t wait. i shall try and live frugally from now on so i actually have money to buy all the stuff i will inevitably lust over there. anyone wants to go with me, btw?

oh i know what i must say: the thousand foot krutch album the flame in all of us is damn good. i can’t quite put my finger on it, but almost every song is great and it’s just a pleasure to listen to. it’s probably a bit too ‘rock’ for most people’s tastes, but i just love it. if you’re an alternative rock fan, please go and listen to it. you won’t regret it.

over the line can’t define what i’m after

what i should be doing at 6am in the morning:
finishing the proof/edit of chapter 3 (only 17 pages left!)

what i should NOT be doing at 6am in the morning:
going online window-shopping for expensive tech gear

okay i am going to force myself back to work with the reasoning that if i don’t get the work done, there will be no/less money for me to go and buy all these things i want.

but before that i must say that i’ve become very tempted by creative mp3 players. back when i still had a functioning ipod, i used to scoff at the creative counterparts. now, their practicality and price are winning me over. i mean, recording function + FM radio without having to buy additional accessories and other cool little features like expandable memory via SD cards (creative zen) and built-in speakers (creative zen x-fi, creative zen mozaic)? that’s like how attractive la. plus they actually bundle a decent pair of in-ear earphones (the EP630s) with the creative zen x-fi (sorry folks, the apple earphones just don’t cut it for me).

on the flip side, the moment i see an ipod i will probably still drool over it (especially if it’s red, to match my psp). plus the ipod does have a wider range of accessories, and if you know me i’m quite the accessories whore… especially when it comes to the ipod. but then again, ipod accessories are always so bloody ex anyway…

okay man i’m gonna earn and save money like crazy up until the PC fair, so i can actually massively splurge on a new desktop/laptop (possibly a *gasp* mac!) and maybe a new hard disk and mp3 player… for now i will resist buying new speakers (again). thankfully my shure earphones are working well so i can convince myself that i really love them and don’t need new ones till they actually die on me.

in the meantime, maybe i should buy this to temporarily stave off the rest of my temptations…

i mean, it’s better to get this than to get a new set of expensive speakers, right?

okay, back to work now.

(this is a damn nice song from the new O.A.R. album, all sides, btw. most of the songs in the album actually kind of sound alike, but this one really sticks out.)

In a way, I need a change
From this burnout scene
Another time, another town
Another everything
But it’s always back to you

Stumble out, in the night
From the pouring rain
Made the block, sat and thought
There’s more I need
It’s always back to you

But I’m good without ya
Yeah, I’m good without you
Yeah, yeah, yeah

How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can’t define what I’m after
I always turn the car around
Give me a break, let me make my own pattern
All that it takes is some time but I’m shattered
I always turn the car around

I had no idea that the night
Would take so damn long
Took it out, on the street
While the rain still falls
Push me back to you

But I’m good without ya
Yeah, I’m good without you
Yeah, yeah, yeah

How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can’t define what I’m after
I always turn the car around
Give me a break let me make my own pattern
All that it takes is some time but I’m shattered
I always turn the car around

Give it up, give it up, baby
Give it up, give it up, now
Now

How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can’t define what I’m after
I always turn the car around
All that I feel is the realness I’m faking
Taking my time but it’s time that I’m wasting
Always turn the car around

How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can’t define what I’m after
I always turn the car around

Don’t wanna turn that car around
I gotta turn this thing around

of a revolution, shattered.

all i wanted to say / all i wanted to do

i should be going out to watch the rag preview half an hour later, but i don’t know. am feeling rather anti-social right now. or rather, hall-anti-social? i just don’t quite feel like interacting with anybody right now, unfortunately.

yes, believe it or not, i would much rather prefer to continue peering at chapter 2 out of 6 of this thesis i have to proofread/edit as a job i’m doing for jo. even if the thesis is very f-word-inducing because i go “fugggg, what is supposed to mean and how in the world do i paraphrase it when i don’t even get what the writer was trying to say” quite a few times.

or i could trawl the CORS website to find an alternative breadth or science gem to take, because it looks like intro to cybercrime is out of my league in terms of points. the last i checked, the minimum bid is 501 points and this is only the first day of round 2a.

or i could crash on my bed because i’m still feeling a bit tired and achy from singfest.

i guess i will go back to the proofreading for now. 30 pages to go before i finish chapter 2…

or maybe i will be so peeved by the sound of drums and whatnot, i will end up doing none of the above. whee.

okay, i am bored so i shall spam this post with photos taken by dr e during the penang trip, which is necessary because none of my dear musketeer-friends have facebook and that’s where dr e has posted the photos.

yummy looking youtiao from the place we had breakfast at on friday

us having fresh coconuts at a back alley

shanta on facebook: "thats a cute face, ee ling!" and i agree. hoho.

example of how dr e's DSLR makes practically everything look good/better, me included.

i think the chendol at malacca was more shiok, but this one had very very good red beans.

the girls at the beach

my very flat foot(print) at the beach. haha!

chilling at the beach bistro

the nice lamps at the night market. i got myself a green one for my new room :D

shanta giving me a massage because 21-going-on-40 me was having a terrible crick in the neck

the surprisingly good carrot cake we had at dragon-i

and nope, not going for the rag preview after all. erh, work is more important?

and i must say that today’s horoscope at dailyhoroscopes.net is totally off the mark. which is unfortunate, but fortunately, i’ve always had a healthy half-skepticism of horoscopes, anyway.

all i need / is the air i breathe

i am totally pooped from singfest but boy was it good.

onerepublic live was fantastic. marvelous. fantabulous. in short, amazingly good.

the same for jason mraz. my only complaint is that i think he should have sang more songs.

the rest were okay but i didn’t really care that much for them. stacie orrico and jamie scott were nice, though. alicia keys was also great live, but she was right at the end when everyone was already tired, and also anxious to leave early to avoid the crowds. the number of people squashed in fort canning today was crazy la.

as hot and tiring as it was, i had a pretty good time. onerepublic and jason mraz alone was worth the $140 i paid for the ticket.

and now that i’ve seen how good music artistes that i love can be live, i’m seriously dying to watch lifehouse live. it would totally be a dream come true if i ever got to do that.

ok, i really am crazily tired so i’m going to sleep now. to the sounds of onerepublic and jason mraz. hehe.