Dear 2008,
You have been a good year. You could have been better.
You gave me an opportunity to finally know what I want, the kind that I want. But you also told me what I want is unreachable. You told me that it is not possible.
You have been a good year where you gave me opportunities to learn and to see people for who they are. You showed me I am not as ideal as I think I am, and aside from people who made me sad, you also made me realize the people that made me happy.
Oh, how funny you have been you big round eight, you made me spend such great time with friends this year that I neglected my family. And then you showed me how fun spending time with my own can be that I in turn spend less time with friends. Okay, I get your drift.
But you have not been spectacular. There is nothing in you that I can specially note of. Nothing in you that can make me say, a year well lived. You are a year without achievement. But then again, jolly old you have been a whole load of fun!
You passed faster than the other twenty. With you, I turned into an adult legally. With you, I finally realized how foolish I once was trying so hard to grow up. I should have taken my time for there's really nothing in adulthood once you are there.
You will go and a whole new you will come. A new you called 2009. I don't know what is lying in store, but I intend for it to be a great year indeed.
Resolutions? I will leave it for next year. You? You're the past now and I will be looking forward to the future.
So long, old you,
Quin.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
A Post To Cover It All
There was so much that I did since the last post, though nothing at all of the plan I hatched before the sem break.
Family Outings
My whole family and I went for the Penang Star Walk. A fifteen kilometres walking experience with four kids and the rest of the adults. I think this was the fourth time that I have participated. Maybe it's due to experience, the walk didn't seem as far as before. Of all the kids, Yiyi was the only one who really walked. The rest just sat in the two strollers we bought, eating biscuits and drinking Milo along the way. It was tiring that day and we didn't complete the walk within the given time but at least we FINISHED it with four kids and two strollers in tow!
We went for another outing to Genting Highlands right before the Christmas week. It was a completely different thing compared to going with friends. WhenI went there the last time with friends, it was all about us; going for rides and getting good food. Basically just enjoying ourselves on a time away from home. But going with the families, we have to be concerned about where everyone was and for everything fifteen minutes or so, I had to do a head count just to make sure none of the kids was lost. Looking for a lost kid in Genting will be like searching for needle in a stack of needles (quote courtesy of Garcia of Criminal Minds).
It was so enjoyable going with the kids. Except for Yiyi and Danielle, the rest were there for the first time. However, Yiyi was only two, maybe, at that time and Danielle still a baby, and they both couldn't really recall anything. Everything was new and exciting for them. They never really had cotton candy and been to a theme park. They didn't know what roller coasters really were except that people died sitting on it (courtesy of Final Destination 3).
I made a promise with Yiyi to sit on her first roller coaster ride together. She was afraid but looking forward to it at the same time. Alas, she was not tall enough. Short of another fifteen centimetres, I think. She got disapointed but I think underlaying that pout was a tiny smile of relieve, ahahha... She promised that she will get taller soon so that we could go on the ride together the next time. I told her not to get big so fast and she said, "Then I will grow taller slower." Kids. They are so heart wrenching sometimes.
The best part about this Genting trip was going to the games booth with the kids. I played something like throwing a ball into holes of varying sizes. When I threw one into a big hole, I won Yiyi a notebook. The cheapest of all the prizes. But she threw her arms around my waist, thanking me with a huge smile as if I have won her the jack pot prize. She made me feel very much like a champion.
Mamma Mia...
.. here I go again, my my, how can I resist ya?
Ooo, I went for the stage production of this popular Broadway show.
It. Was. The. Best. Thing. I. Have. Ever. Watched.
It was so freaking good!! The music were so much better than the one in the movie and I already thought highly of the big screen production. Where Pierce Brosnan couldn't sing to save his life, the guy who played Sam Carmichael of the stage production sang to impress. In the show, the other two possibl dads, Bill and Harry, played little roles. But in the real thing, each of them had a scene of their own. This way, their characters carried a meaning of their own instead of being abandoned like they were in the movie.
I was only maybe six rows away from the stage? One very significant difference between the stage show and the movie is my point of view. In the movie, I see everything depending where the camera rolled. In the stage show, I see only one point. Take for example when Donna sang "The Winner Takes It All", she stood on one spot and sang the whole thing with all her heart. From the movie, the camera moved in different directions and took in all the different angles of the one scene. But for the stage show, Donna just stood on that one spot for the period in which she performed that song. It was kinda static for me and it didn't help that I happen to think that song was the least of my favourites. My mom loved that song though.
Ah, I regretted not getting the soundtrack CD from the selling booth. A hint for a belated Christmas present, anyone?? *wink wink*
Of Selling And Dying
I worked solely for Canon during this break. For them, during PC fair, I missed my mom's birthday dinner. I worked for them once more during Christmas for three days. It was truly an experience worth taking.
Despite feeling under appreciated during the Christmas camera fair in Gurney Plaza, it was worth it all to see how those people from Canon worked. There were not the most efficient of people but from them I got some insights on how people can be. There's this manager of some sort that governed us promoters, imagine this. Under this manager are his minions, who go around giving orders from him. If we did anything wrong like talking at work, the devil of a manager will scold his minions whom will in turn come back and warn us.
After standing outside the booth for more than twelve hours, we had to stay back for briefing about the day's performance. I could see everyone shuffling their feet in discomfort while the trusty minions get to lean on the booth while the devil of a manager got to sit on a chair. The manager will ask each of us about the problems that we faced, the kind of customers that come to us and any problems in the competitors' aspect.
However badly I might have portrayed the manager, I do have a certain degree of respect for him in the way he handled the situation. When he gave suggestions on the problem that we faced, he will look at you in the eye and gave it all with such intensity, it was as if he was scolding you. It's not that at all. It's just the way he is that made him good at his work.
But for his minions, that's another thing. They copied the way he speaks. When the leader for this fair briefed us on our performance, the tough and businesslike image he tried to portray was completely spoilt by his constant fiddling of the pen in his hand. A give away of nervousness. And when he spoke, he didn't know how to control his voice for effect. The suggestion he gave back to a simple question sounded as though he was scolding us.
Overall a pretty good experience. I learned a lot on how the more we talk to customers, the more obstacles we will encounter. And the more obstacles, the more solution we will know in tackling it. A workable philosophy in life.
Graphic Works
Nada.
To End It All With A Blast
During Christmas Eve, I got an invitation to a party by both Eve and Hooi Fong. The party was hosted by this group of exchange students whom the both of them interacted with in uni through International Office/Buddies or something.
Anyway, Rui, Chia Li, Chia Yinn and I sort of crashed their parties coz we don't know the host at all. A bit muka tebal of us to go, but yet, it was one interesting celebration to Christmas.
Oooolala~~ plenty of European guys to goggle over. After the party, all us went over whom we talked to and about what. We exchanged opinions on who we think is the best looking and Hooi fong divulged on some info we didn't know.
Yep! Interesting indeed. Haha~~
Family Outings
My whole family and I went for the Penang Star Walk. A fifteen kilometres walking experience with four kids and the rest of the adults. I think this was the fourth time that I have participated. Maybe it's due to experience, the walk didn't seem as far as before. Of all the kids, Yiyi was the only one who really walked. The rest just sat in the two strollers we bought, eating biscuits and drinking Milo along the way. It was tiring that day and we didn't complete the walk within the given time but at least we FINISHED it with four kids and two strollers in tow!
We went for another outing to Genting Highlands right before the Christmas week. It was a completely different thing compared to going with friends. WhenI went there the last time with friends, it was all about us; going for rides and getting good food. Basically just enjoying ourselves on a time away from home. But going with the families, we have to be concerned about where everyone was and for everything fifteen minutes or so, I had to do a head count just to make sure none of the kids was lost. Looking for a lost kid in Genting will be like searching for needle in a stack of needles (quote courtesy of Garcia of Criminal Minds).
It was so enjoyable going with the kids. Except for Yiyi and Danielle, the rest were there for the first time. However, Yiyi was only two, maybe, at that time and Danielle still a baby, and they both couldn't really recall anything. Everything was new and exciting for them. They never really had cotton candy and been to a theme park. They didn't know what roller coasters really were except that people died sitting on it (courtesy of Final Destination 3).
I made a promise with Yiyi to sit on her first roller coaster ride together. She was afraid but looking forward to it at the same time. Alas, she was not tall enough. Short of another fifteen centimetres, I think. She got disapointed but I think underlaying that pout was a tiny smile of relieve, ahahha... She promised that she will get taller soon so that we could go on the ride together the next time. I told her not to get big so fast and she said, "Then I will grow taller slower." Kids. They are so heart wrenching sometimes.
The best part about this Genting trip was going to the games booth with the kids. I played something like throwing a ball into holes of varying sizes. When I threw one into a big hole, I won Yiyi a notebook. The cheapest of all the prizes. But she threw her arms around my waist, thanking me with a huge smile as if I have won her the jack pot prize. She made me feel very much like a champion.
Mamma Mia...
.. here I go again, my my, how can I resist ya?
Ooo, I went for the stage production of this popular Broadway show.
It. Was. The. Best. Thing. I. Have. Ever. Watched.
It was so freaking good!! The music were so much better than the one in the movie and I already thought highly of the big screen production. Where Pierce Brosnan couldn't sing to save his life, the guy who played Sam Carmichael of the stage production sang to impress. In the show, the other two possibl dads, Bill and Harry, played little roles. But in the real thing, each of them had a scene of their own. This way, their characters carried a meaning of their own instead of being abandoned like they were in the movie.
I was only maybe six rows away from the stage? One very significant difference between the stage show and the movie is my point of view. In the movie, I see everything depending where the camera rolled. In the stage show, I see only one point. Take for example when Donna sang "The Winner Takes It All", she stood on one spot and sang the whole thing with all her heart. From the movie, the camera moved in different directions and took in all the different angles of the one scene. But for the stage show, Donna just stood on that one spot for the period in which she performed that song. It was kinda static for me and it didn't help that I happen to think that song was the least of my favourites. My mom loved that song though.
Ah, I regretted not getting the soundtrack CD from the selling booth. A hint for a belated Christmas present, anyone?? *wink wink*
Of Selling And Dying
I worked solely for Canon during this break. For them, during PC fair, I missed my mom's birthday dinner. I worked for them once more during Christmas for three days. It was truly an experience worth taking.
Despite feeling under appreciated during the Christmas camera fair in Gurney Plaza, it was worth it all to see how those people from Canon worked. There were not the most efficient of people but from them I got some insights on how people can be. There's this manager of some sort that governed us promoters, imagine this. Under this manager are his minions, who go around giving orders from him. If we did anything wrong like talking at work, the devil of a manager will scold his minions whom will in turn come back and warn us.
After standing outside the booth for more than twelve hours, we had to stay back for briefing about the day's performance. I could see everyone shuffling their feet in discomfort while the trusty minions get to lean on the booth while the devil of a manager got to sit on a chair. The manager will ask each of us about the problems that we faced, the kind of customers that come to us and any problems in the competitors' aspect.
However badly I might have portrayed the manager, I do have a certain degree of respect for him in the way he handled the situation. When he gave suggestions on the problem that we faced, he will look at you in the eye and gave it all with such intensity, it was as if he was scolding you. It's not that at all. It's just the way he is that made him good at his work.
But for his minions, that's another thing. They copied the way he speaks. When the leader for this fair briefed us on our performance, the tough and businesslike image he tried to portray was completely spoilt by his constant fiddling of the pen in his hand. A give away of nervousness. And when he spoke, he didn't know how to control his voice for effect. The suggestion he gave back to a simple question sounded as though he was scolding us.
Overall a pretty good experience. I learned a lot on how the more we talk to customers, the more obstacles we will encounter. And the more obstacles, the more solution we will know in tackling it. A workable philosophy in life.
Graphic Works
Nada.
To End It All With A Blast
During Christmas Eve, I got an invitation to a party by both Eve and Hooi Fong. The party was hosted by this group of exchange students whom the both of them interacted with in uni through International Office/Buddies or something.
Anyway, Rui, Chia Li, Chia Yinn and I sort of crashed their parties coz we don't know the host at all. A bit muka tebal of us to go, but yet, it was one interesting celebration to Christmas.
Oooolala~~ plenty of European guys to goggle over. After the party, all us went over whom we talked to and about what. We exchanged opinions on who we think is the best looking and Hooi fong divulged on some info we didn't know.
Yep! Interesting indeed. Haha~~
Friday, December 05, 2008
Puffhh!
Alone. At home in front of the computer. Everyone's out. I am not happy. I missed my mom's birthday dinner.
Ah, the guilt.
Ah, the guilt.
HUGO Create
This is my attempt at an on-going HUGO competition. The aim is to mix and match everything I like about this world and create my own universe. Go figure.. I thought that this is a pretty run off the mill design. Anyhow, am happy that I learn how to create the light beam effect. Wish me luck for this!!
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
For Mom
This was what I planned to do when I thought I couldn't make it to my mom's dinner. It appears that the time does not clash that much, and I thought this will make a pretty good present for her. I have sort of promised her to do this for a long time. She haven't seen this. Consider yourself lucky to be seeing this first. Haha.. it's just that I was so excited after finishing this portrait that I can't wait to blog about it. It has been ages since I have last touched charcoal. So am feeling pretty good right now.I did this in four hours. It's my mom and dad. Referenced this from a very old picture. But I loved it coz I thought their smiles were beautiful in this. Did this on canvas. I began this by using pencils but it proved to be a mistake. Pencils and canvasses don't go together. Remember. Finished it with a charcoal stick. Love it.
I thought it looked kinda lopsided. I hope there's a little resemblance there to my parents. Not perfect, could be better, and yet I still love it.
I began by sketching the outlines first.
Then filling the shades in step by step.
The ravages of war! :D
The reference picture!ps: I missed blogging in the wee hours of morning. Guess what. I still can't sleep early. Not yet.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Of Selling And Dinner
Hah! Finally got an idea on what I will be doing. Three days work in PC Fair selling Canon digital cameras. It's a bit scary going to the briefing on my own but all is well. The people there are pretty nice. They had this little role play session where their staff pretends to be the customer and we will have to persuade him to buy. It's a relief to know we are not expected to know how to sell immediately. Thankfully the guy who was leading my group is nice enough to explain our mistakes.
I can't sell. Never can, never will. All selling genes in the family have gone to my bro. I just hope to get through the fair having sold something on all three days. It will be an excruciating embarrassment to not break the egg.
Darn. The first day of the fair coincides with my mom's bday dinner. She purposely invited everyone from her brothers and sisters to all my cousins. She said maybe I could try asking to work only half day or get permission to leave early. How to ask??? I'll only be working for three days! Might have to miss the dinner. Disappointing for her as well as me. I will have to do something to make up to her then. Something HUGE!!!
Hooked up the computer in my room already! Will be working on some projects of my own. When they are finished, or if they ever get finished, I will, as usual, share it here with you.
Just a little rambling to share before going to bed. Nothing better to do. Bet you're dying for something to read too. Hah....
I can't sell. Never can, never will. All selling genes in the family have gone to my bro. I just hope to get through the fair having sold something on all three days. It will be an excruciating embarrassment to not break the egg.
Darn. The first day of the fair coincides with my mom's bday dinner. She purposely invited everyone from her brothers and sisters to all my cousins. She said maybe I could try asking to work only half day or get permission to leave early. How to ask??? I'll only be working for three days! Might have to miss the dinner. Disappointing for her as well as me. I will have to do something to make up to her then. Something HUGE!!!
Hooked up the computer in my room already! Will be working on some projects of my own. When they are finished, or if they ever get finished, I will, as usual, share it here with you.
Just a little rambling to share before going to bed. Nothing better to do. Bet you're dying for something to read too. Hah....
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Greetings From No.12
Oi! Hello~ I have officially been back home for a week now. A week full of nothings. I slept, I read, I ate, I play with my nieces and nephew, and best of all, I totally enjoyed Astro On Demand. Yay~ managed to watch the latest TVB series. There's a very good one going on now, the one on diamonds. I absolutely love Bowie Lam in it.. such a great character and portrayal.
Anyway, my mom managed to find a job for me and initially, all I had to do was go for the interview and the job will be mine. But I told my mom I wanted to be lazy for another week before doing anything serious, and she said "Take your time". Right. When I called yesterday for an interview, the woman said all positions are frozen for November. Maybe I can try again next month instead. Sh*t.
Well, a good lesson learnt in opportunities lost. It pays pretty well too!! Sheesh.. will try again next month though.
Anyway, I have not been a total slob. Nevermind the fact that I have yet to hook up my comp which an incredibly kind and good Shiau Fung drove all the way back to Penang for me. I have actually got a part time job already. I went for the interview the same day I got rejected for the job my mom recommended. But I have no idea what I'm gonna sell or how much it's going to pay. I have no idea at all.
Hah.. I don't like not getting to blog from my own comp. Feels so inconvenient and the feel of the keyboard not to my liking.
Some of the things I hope to do for these three months will be to earn money and improve my design skills. I WANT MONEY~ shall tell you later of my endeavours in this department.
So long. So all. Ta.
ps: no.12 is my house number, by the way.
Anyway, my mom managed to find a job for me and initially, all I had to do was go for the interview and the job will be mine. But I told my mom I wanted to be lazy for another week before doing anything serious, and she said "Take your time". Right. When I called yesterday for an interview, the woman said all positions are frozen for November. Maybe I can try again next month instead. Sh*t.
Well, a good lesson learnt in opportunities lost. It pays pretty well too!! Sheesh.. will try again next month though.
Anyway, I have not been a total slob. Nevermind the fact that I have yet to hook up my comp which an incredibly kind and good Shiau Fung drove all the way back to Penang for me. I have actually got a part time job already. I went for the interview the same day I got rejected for the job my mom recommended. But I have no idea what I'm gonna sell or how much it's going to pay. I have no idea at all.
Hah.. I don't like not getting to blog from my own comp. Feels so inconvenient and the feel of the keyboard not to my liking.
Some of the things I hope to do for these three months will be to earn money and improve my design skills. I WANT MONEY~ shall tell you later of my endeavours in this department.
So long. So all. Ta.
ps: no.12 is my house number, by the way.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Indiscreet
My first try in submitting a design for a contest. Baju design entitled "Indiscreet". Got the info from here. The funny thing is, I don't even know if the deadline is over. I thought it was pretty fun doing this, though. :DSunday, November 16, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Square One
Whoa~ so what have I been doing lately? Cleared on all assignments and presentations! Yay~
Exam seasons are officially over for a lot of people, or almost over for some. Congratulations on the big break, people! As for those who are still striving to make the best of your studies, well, all the best! It's pretty cool seeing all those MSN and Facebook shoutouts screaming things like "Exam's over" or "I'm Freeeeeee". I did the same thing too when the last huge load was off.
Anyway, I have been doing some stuff I have been promising myself in the midst of final projects. All those amazing projects that I am going to undertake on my own. Little steps to be taken to improve my skills in various softwares. Haha.. it seemed so much promising when I was weighed down by school work. Now that I have all the time in the world, I find myself dragging my feet.
I did try out some blog hacks though. There was this tutorial I was dying to get my hands on. I tried it out, but it didn't work. It was kind of disapointing. But come to think of it, it might be because I didn't host my images properly. Yay!! I know what image hosting is now! Do you? You don't? Why don't I tell you?? (even if you do, let's just pretend you don't for my own pleasure)
You know how there are all these different blog designs? Apparently, if you're customizing your own designs, there are some things where you have to touch on HTML codes. And some of the images that you're going to use on the design like maybe buttons or banners have to be hosted on a site somewhere. Hosted means uploaded onto a site and keep it there. And when it comes o your images appearing in your design, the codings will work in such a way that it will retrieve those images from your host. I used Photobucket. Pretty good, I would say, coz for someone like me who knows nothing about image hosting I managed to find my way around pretty fast.
You see the new image header up there? What do you think? I hope you like it but it doesn't really matter coz I'm gonna be reconstructing the design around this place pretty soon. So the header up there is experimental and temporary. I don't really know how to design my blog template. Okay, so I know zilch. But I'll be trying to make the best out of this situation. Instead of coming up with a whole new template from scratch, not possible at this point, I thought maybe I can change the stuff around bit by bit. I start with the header, go for the side bars, figure out how to put in my own background and maybe make some buttons for links. That's the extend of my knowledge now.
I'll be waiting to go home on Monday. Before that, have to clear up the mess in my room. Haih... will get to it when I wake up later.
Exam seasons are officially over for a lot of people, or almost over for some. Congratulations on the big break, people! As for those who are still striving to make the best of your studies, well, all the best! It's pretty cool seeing all those MSN and Facebook shoutouts screaming things like "Exam's over" or "I'm Freeeeeee". I did the same thing too when the last huge load was off.
Anyway, I have been doing some stuff I have been promising myself in the midst of final projects. All those amazing projects that I am going to undertake on my own. Little steps to be taken to improve my skills in various softwares. Haha.. it seemed so much promising when I was weighed down by school work. Now that I have all the time in the world, I find myself dragging my feet.
I did try out some blog hacks though. There was this tutorial I was dying to get my hands on. I tried it out, but it didn't work. It was kind of disapointing. But come to think of it, it might be because I didn't host my images properly. Yay!! I know what image hosting is now! Do you? You don't? Why don't I tell you?? (even if you do, let's just pretend you don't for my own pleasure)
You know how there are all these different blog designs? Apparently, if you're customizing your own designs, there are some things where you have to touch on HTML codes. And some of the images that you're going to use on the design like maybe buttons or banners have to be hosted on a site somewhere. Hosted means uploaded onto a site and keep it there. And when it comes o your images appearing in your design, the codings will work in such a way that it will retrieve those images from your host. I used Photobucket. Pretty good, I would say, coz for someone like me who knows nothing about image hosting I managed to find my way around pretty fast.
You see the new image header up there? What do you think? I hope you like it but it doesn't really matter coz I'm gonna be reconstructing the design around this place pretty soon. So the header up there is experimental and temporary. I don't really know how to design my blog template. Okay, so I know zilch. But I'll be trying to make the best out of this situation. Instead of coming up with a whole new template from scratch, not possible at this point, I thought maybe I can change the stuff around bit by bit. I start with the header, go for the side bars, figure out how to put in my own background and maybe make some buttons for links. That's the extend of my knowledge now.
I'll be waiting to go home on Monday. Before that, have to clear up the mess in my room. Haih... will get to it when I wake up later.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Nothing Much. Really.
Where there is tzeyee, there is good food. It was her birthday and all of us celebrated with her. I was there for three different celebrations. I have never celebrated a person's birthday that many times before. Three different groups of people, three different birthday cakes, two different locations and three different feelings. All I have to say is that it just kept getting better.
I will be having some hectic days ahead. A lot of fun to be had but limited cash.
I typed so much today the pad of my fingers are sore. I have to finish the little details in the GD journal, typed pages of craps. I don't know whose English those are. Definitely not mine! Not laying any claim on that pile of rubbish.
I lost my typo sketches! I don't know where I left them. I can't find them anywhere! So ended up sketching ideas I had weeks ago. So stupid of me. I knew I had them, I just don't know where.
Photography presentation tomorrow. A useless one, I think. Just get over it. I don't want any fuss any more.
Then Friday submit every single thing. By then, my hands will be clean. Yeh~~~
So sleepy now.. good night.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Shy Goghvinci
I chatted with Adrienne just now and it prompted this post. We were talking about how many people blog nowadays. I told her there were friends from secondary whom I think I only knew better now coz I read their blogs. And she said it's easier to talk to them in real life when you have blogging as a common ground. I couldn't agree more. If you can be funny and really friendly with someone in their blogs, shouldn't really be that hard to talk to them in reality, huh?
She said that she read back some of her posts from her old blog. She concluded that they were too "wordy", the word she used. With a new blog, it would be best to keep it short and simple. Less words, more pictures. More colours too, I should add. But not too much until you get rojak.
This thought came to me and I went back to the blog I used to have on Friendster. Not going to link it here. It's my personal archive. If you're interested, can check it out on my Friendster profile (as if anyone's interested in my old stuff, hah!).
I read through some of the things I wrote. I had that blog from the writing.com period. It was then that my passion for writing was strongest. I'm glad I had a blog from back then. It was dated from three years back. It might be a short time, but there were thoughts then that I have forgotten. Little daily things that happened. My feelings back then. I would love to think my writing style has improved since then. For all I know, it could have deteriorated. Like Adrienne too, I think my blog is also a bit too wordy. But I am a wordy person! I can't express myself in two lines! I need two paragraphs!
Ah! The name of my blog back then was "Thoughts of Shy Goghvinci". I had something against using my own name back then. Right now, I don't care.
Signing off,
Quin.
She said that she read back some of her posts from her old blog. She concluded that they were too "wordy", the word she used. With a new blog, it would be best to keep it short and simple. Less words, more pictures. More colours too, I should add. But not too much until you get rojak.
This thought came to me and I went back to the blog I used to have on Friendster. Not going to link it here. It's my personal archive. If you're interested, can check it out on my Friendster profile (as if anyone's interested in my old stuff, hah!).
I read through some of the things I wrote. I had that blog from the writing.com period. It was then that my passion for writing was strongest. I'm glad I had a blog from back then. It was dated from three years back. It might be a short time, but there were thoughts then that I have forgotten. Little daily things that happened. My feelings back then. I would love to think my writing style has improved since then. For all I know, it could have deteriorated. Like Adrienne too, I think my blog is also a bit too wordy. But I am a wordy person! I can't express myself in two lines! I need two paragraphs!
Ah! The name of my blog back then was "Thoughts of Shy Goghvinci". I had something against using my own name back then. Right now, I don't care.
Signing off,
Quin.
Today Was The Day
I'm supposed to be home today. Before this, I worked everything so that I will be home on time for this. But then, at the last minute, the photography presentation on Thursday deterred my plan. I don't get to go home, all for some bloody ten marks (but they are very important ten marks). My mom is going to cook a lot of food. All his favourite. Every year since then, I have helped her in the morning to prepare the food. When I reminded her of this date this year, she said we can choose not to practise it anymore since it has been three years. Has it been that long? But to not do this, will be to start to not remember anymore. I don't want to. I want to remember this date for always.
Love you. Miss you. Forever.
One day, I will write about you. The greatest man in my life.
Love you. Miss you. Forever.
One day, I will write about you. The greatest man in my life.
If you're still here, I would have said, Happy Birthday, Loutao~
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Illustration and TYPO
The little stuff left just before closing sem. Below is something I did for Intermediate Illustration. The topic is Hari Raya and it's supposed to spread the festive spirit. It is done in acrylic, A3 size. I really like acrylic. It's the best of both worlds of oil and poster. It has the thick texture of oil but water soluble. However, the true beauty of the colour can only be seen at the very least with three layers. I'm still very awkward when it comes to fine art. Hopefully will be able to brush up on the skill.
Below is a poster for typography promo. It's the final project. Yep, it's final and yet the lecturer has yet to show any interest either in seeing it or asking us to see him for tutorial. In short, he doesn't care at all about this project. Anyway, to simply finish this semester off, I did this candle holder thing. It might not be very legible, but the four panels actually spell out the word TYPO. The aim is to promote a chosen font.
Below is a poster for typography promo. It's the final project. Yep, it's final and yet the lecturer has yet to show any interest either in seeing it or asking us to see him for tutorial. In short, he doesn't care at all about this project. Anyway, to simply finish this semester off, I did this candle holder thing. It might not be very legible, but the four panels actually spell out the word TYPO. The aim is to promote a chosen font.
Last but not least, two more design journals to complete.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Tagged... Right.
Er... tagged by Yueh Yih.
An extract from her post coz I don't know what else to write: Wahaha~ I can't wait to tag Kok Quin! Behold! She'll show her ultimate scolding skills!!
Why will I show my "ultimate scolding skills"? Not gonna waste it on you, Lim Yueh Yih. But seriously, I don't know what to write la.. Is this a tag just to see what people will write about an "empty tag"?
Well, enough face given to you. Happy? Will be seeing you when I get back, Ms Lim. Brace yourself. Wahahahha~~
Er... am I supposed to tag someone else..? Aiya, no need la.. lazy.. hehe..
ps: my goodness~ a post dedicated to your "mo lieu"ness!!
edit 5.02 am
ARGH!!!!!!! You made me so frustrated. Now I'm really going to unleash my ultimate scolding skills on you. Who the bloody hell do you think you are??!!! Sheeesh.... ever heard of asking nicely? Or politely? Never crossed your mind, huh? Figured.
Argh! You brainless stupid!!!
Part One
1. What is the relationship of you and her?
As of now, mortal enemies!!
2. Your five impressions towards him/her.
As of now, stupid, F***ing stupid, bloody stupid, ass**** and C-2-pid!!
3. The most memorable thing she/he had done for you.
As of now, scolding me in my own blog! Who the hell do you think you are???!!
4. The most memorable thing she/he had said to you.
As of now, "Stupid arr?" in my own chatbox.
5. If she/he become your lover, you will...
Kill her in her sleep.
6. If she/he become your enemy, you will...
Kill her when she's awake.
7. If she/he become your lover, she/he has to improve on...
Everything! Coz she's seriously lacking in personality and looks!
8. If she/he become your enemy, the reason is...
Coz she messed with me in my own blog!!!
9. The most desirable thing to do on her/him is?
Poked her in the eyes, pull her tongue out and stabbed at it a million times!!!
10. The overall impression of her/him is?
The rudest and most horrible person I have ever met!!!
11. How do you think the people around you will feel about you?
As of now, pretty crazy and messed up.
12. The character of you for yourself is?
I seek revenge where it is due. Take note, stupid!!!
13. On contrary, the character you hate of yourself is?
Taking grudge?? Hehe...
14. The most ideal person that you wanna be is?
Definitely not you, stupid!!
Part Two1. Each player of this game starts off with 15 weird things/habits/little known facts about yourself.
Did this. SKIP!!
Tagged you, Lim Yueh Yih. Be nice. (as if)
Part One (now that I have cooled down....)
1. What is the relationship of you and her?
Friends since primary. Waaaaaayyyyyyy back.... And she sat beside me for two freaking years!!! If this doesn't screw up a perfectly sane person (eg me), I don't know what will.
2. Your five impressions towards him/her.
Truly? She's smart but lazy, has an analytical mind but apply it on useless stuff, a loyal friend, happy-go-lucky, and realistic.
3. The most memorable thing she/he had done for you.
This is not something she did for me, but something memorable I suddenly thought of. In form five, I think, we had this math test. It was the first time she actually studied for it, and got really high marks. The stupid ad maths teacher then thought she copied my answers. This proves that she's really smart if she wants to be.
4. The most memorable thing she/he had said to you.
"I'm a lesbian."
5. If she/he become your lover, you will...
Ugh.... dun wan can ar??
6. If she/he become your enemy, you will...
torture her till she dies a horrible death!
7. If she/he become your lover, she/he has to improve on...
Everything! Coz she's seriously lacking in personality and looks! (am keeping this answer)
8. If she/he become your enemy, the reason is...
Coz she messed with me in my own blog!!! (keeping this answer too!)
9. The most desirable thing to do on her/him is?
Put her in a frilly dress, snap many pictures, and laugh till I die. Wakakakkakaka!!!!!
10. The overall impression of her/him is?
One of my oldest good friends that I haven't seen in a hell of a long time and seriously have no idea what she's up to now. So let's get together soon and bash each other up in person, okay? This virtual thing is getting a little tiring..
Last but not least, no offense? Hehe... it's gonna take something more than calling you stupid a hundred times to truly piss you off, right???
An extract from her post coz I don't know what else to write: Wahaha~ I can't wait to tag Kok Quin! Behold! She'll show her ultimate scolding skills!!
Why will I show my "ultimate scolding skills"? Not gonna waste it on you, Lim Yueh Yih. But seriously, I don't know what to write la.. Is this a tag just to see what people will write about an "empty tag"?
Well, enough face given to you. Happy? Will be seeing you when I get back, Ms Lim. Brace yourself. Wahahahha~~
Er... am I supposed to tag someone else..? Aiya, no need la.. lazy.. hehe..
ps: my goodness~ a post dedicated to your "mo lieu"ness!!
edit 5.02 am
ARGH!!!!!!! You made me so frustrated. Now I'm really going to unleash my ultimate scolding skills on you. Who the bloody hell do you think you are??!!! Sheeesh.... ever heard of asking nicely? Or politely? Never crossed your mind, huh? Figured.
Argh! You brainless stupid!!!
Part One
1. What is the relationship of you and her?
As of now, mortal enemies!!
2. Your five impressions towards him/her.
As of now, stupid, F***ing stupid, bloody stupid, ass**** and C-2-pid!!
3. The most memorable thing she/he had done for you.
As of now, scolding me in my own blog! Who the hell do you think you are???!!
4. The most memorable thing she/he had said to you.
As of now, "Stupid arr?" in my own chatbox.
5. If she/he become your lover, you will...
Kill her in her sleep.
6. If she/he become your enemy, you will...
Kill her when she's awake.
7. If she/he become your lover, she/he has to improve on...
Everything! Coz she's seriously lacking in personality and looks!
8. If she/he become your enemy, the reason is...
Coz she messed with me in my own blog!!!
9. The most desirable thing to do on her/him is?
Poked her in the eyes, pull her tongue out and stabbed at it a million times!!!
10. The overall impression of her/him is?
The rudest and most horrible person I have ever met!!!
11. How do you think the people around you will feel about you?
As of now, pretty crazy and messed up.
12. The character of you for yourself is?
I seek revenge where it is due. Take note, stupid!!!
13. On contrary, the character you hate of yourself is?
Taking grudge?? Hehe...
14. The most ideal person that you wanna be is?
Definitely not you, stupid!!
Part Two1. Each player of this game starts off with 15 weird things/habits/little known facts about yourself.
Did this. SKIP!!
Tagged you, Lim Yueh Yih. Be nice. (as if)
Part One (now that I have cooled down....)
1. What is the relationship of you and her?
Friends since primary. Waaaaaayyyyyyy back.... And she sat beside me for two freaking years!!! If this doesn't screw up a perfectly sane person (eg me), I don't know what will.
2. Your five impressions towards him/her.
Truly? She's smart but lazy, has an analytical mind but apply it on useless stuff, a loyal friend, happy-go-lucky, and realistic.
3. The most memorable thing she/he had done for you.
This is not something she did for me, but something memorable I suddenly thought of. In form five, I think, we had this math test. It was the first time she actually studied for it, and got really high marks. The stupid ad maths teacher then thought she copied my answers. This proves that she's really smart if she wants to be.
4. The most memorable thing she/he had said to you.
"I'm a lesbian."
5. If she/he become your lover, you will...
Ugh.... dun wan can ar??
6. If she/he become your enemy, you will...
torture her till she dies a horrible death!
7. If she/he become your lover, she/he has to improve on...
Everything! Coz she's seriously lacking in personality and looks! (am keeping this answer)
8. If she/he become your enemy, the reason is...
Coz she messed with me in my own blog!!! (keeping this answer too!)
9. The most desirable thing to do on her/him is?
Put her in a frilly dress, snap many pictures, and laugh till I die. Wakakakkakaka!!!!!
10. The overall impression of her/him is?
One of my oldest good friends that I haven't seen in a hell of a long time and seriously have no idea what she's up to now. So let's get together soon and bash each other up in person, okay? This virtual thing is getting a little tiring..
Last but not least, no offense? Hehe... it's gonna take something more than calling you stupid a hundred times to truly piss you off, right???
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Resolutions?
I have just had the most boring weekend since I came here for the semester. This is unlike all the other weekends when I just lie around doing nothing. Those times doing nothing were precious because I was escaping from doing something. But this time, doing nothing means I have nothing to do. Well, nothing that needs to be rushed anyway.
Just some little ends to trim and then I get to go home. Home! Home is where I can sleep on my own bed, read all my own books, watch ASTRO, have my own personal clean bathroom, hang out with friends in places I am familiar with, go to malls where I know the location of the car parks, know where to find the best food, and best of all, see people I have not seen in three months. All of a sudden three months seemed like such a short time.
Here are some resolutions for the new break! (I know, people have resolutions for the new year, or new semester, but hey, I wanna be productive during breaks as well.)
1. Call people I haven't seen for a long time out: Yueh Yih, Suk Qian, Hooi Hoon and gang, Kee Theng
2. Clean up my room and paint the walls!! I have wanted to do this since last year but lacked the motivation.
3. Clear my wardrobe. I need space for new clothes!
4. Clear the house of all the CNY deco. In another three months and have to put up some ox stuff!
5. Explore traditional art: acrylics, oil, colour pencils, markers, art line pens and plain ol' fav pencils.
6. Explore digital art: Photoshop, Illustrator, open canvas/ corel painter, flash, blog hacks, codes
7. Snap pictures!
8. Get a part time job and earn money for a new laptop! Hopefully..
9. Write a little.
I have been dreading going home a little bit, actually. Going home will also mean losing some of my privacy, losing the peacefulness I have from living alone, losing the freedom to do whatever I want with no explanations needed.
Remember the good! Forget the bad! Life goes on.
ps: oh ya, hopefully not having my pc at my finger tips all the time will not deter me from blogging.
Just some little ends to trim and then I get to go home. Home! Home is where I can sleep on my own bed, read all my own books, watch ASTRO, have my own personal clean bathroom, hang out with friends in places I am familiar with, go to malls where I know the location of the car parks, know where to find the best food, and best of all, see people I have not seen in three months. All of a sudden three months seemed like such a short time.
Here are some resolutions for the new break! (I know, people have resolutions for the new year, or new semester, but hey, I wanna be productive during breaks as well.)
1. Call people I haven't seen for a long time out: Yueh Yih, Suk Qian, Hooi Hoon and gang, Kee Theng
2. Clean up my room and paint the walls!! I have wanted to do this since last year but lacked the motivation.
3. Clear my wardrobe. I need space for new clothes!
4. Clear the house of all the CNY deco. In another three months and have to put up some ox stuff!
5. Explore traditional art: acrylics, oil, colour pencils, markers, art line pens and plain ol' fav pencils.
6. Explore digital art: Photoshop, Illustrator, open canvas/ corel painter, flash, blog hacks, codes
7. Snap pictures!
8. Get a part time job and earn money for a new laptop! Hopefully..
9. Write a little.
I have been dreading going home a little bit, actually. Going home will also mean losing some of my privacy, losing the peacefulness I have from living alone, losing the freedom to do whatever I want with no explanations needed.
Remember the good! Forget the bad! Life goes on.
ps: oh ya, hopefully not having my pc at my finger tips all the time will not deter me from blogging.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
A Presentation Well Done.. I Think?
Lalallala~~ very happy and giddy. Why? Coz presentation is over!! Seriously!! The major burden is off now! The dolls that I have spent all my mom's hard earned money on as well as the reason for all my fears and hopes, have now been stashed in some musty store room on level 2, Design 2.
I love my work. I talk to it, I plead with it not to give me trouble, I kissed it when I did it well, and I bid it farewell when it's time to let go. Again, I stress, I love my work. But I don't have that kind of attachment to my designs like my other friends do. Some view selling their art work as selling off a bit of themselves. I do not disagree with it but I don't see the problem of selling my work (if there's someone who wanna buy it). Don't go yabba-yabba about how your artwork is about your passion and not money. What's wrong with encountering someone who appreciates your work as well as you do to want to buy it?
Anyway, have gone completely off track! This post is about presentation! Gak!! When I arrived in class today to get ready for presentation, my worst fear was confirmed. After listening to all the chink-chang-chink-chiang on the way in the car, the glass on one of my packagings had come off. I quickly grabbed my glue gun (thank God I have the good sense to bring it along) and smuggled that packaging out of the class. I ran into the photolab, searched for an outlet and shoved the plug in. Ah... I had to change three outlets until I get one that electricity actually flows into. The few minutes waiting for the glue gun to heat was torturous... Alas, all is well!
I think I did okay with my presentation. I was so nervous that my hands shook. Which was a pretty normal occurance for me. I got shot with a question I see coming, "Why did you do only three packagings? I thought we're supposed to do six."
Quoting Eve: Nobody is stupid enough to do only three when six is required.
Of course I didn't say that, but does it not make sense that I do only three because I have other stuff to cover it up with? Anyway, I answered that I was doing some promotional stuff as well as actually designing my products, that I got permission to only do three. And then a follow-up question: "But I thought it's about packaging."
Oi~ hello. What's your problem??!!
I meekly answered, "bla bla bla... most importantly, I got approval to make the promotional items and only three packagings."
Oh!! I can just smack myself when those words are out of my mouth. I am a firm believer that no matter what kind of approval you got, you're soly responsible for your work. Even if it sank in the end, it's stupid and unprofessional to blame it all on having got the green light from the lect. It's like very irresponsible to shirk your own responsibility as a designer.
Umph. Will do better next time when asked questions like this. But then again, I don't think that I did anything less. They just did more.
I don't like the presentations this time around. Never mind the fact that we're all in a dungeon looking room with no chairs to sit on, we're not encouraged at all to ask questions. Plus, no feedbacks from the lecturer. The most proposterous comment from the lecturer, not to me, thankfully: "Why are all your packagings the same size? It's stated in the brief that you're to make six different packagings in different designs and sizes."
What the $%#&!!! What kind of a comment is that??!! If that's a problem, shouldn't he as the lecturer point it out during the numerous tutorials we go to him for? He has got nothing good to say then, only to save the most outrageous bits during presentation?? If what he said is true, a lot of us in class flunked the project, including me.
Haih...
It was great seeing all the different designs that my classmates came up with. Some of them made some really astounding improvements in terms of their skills and design. There were many times that I thought to myself, "When did they get so good?!" I'd better buck up! Better polish my skills if I don't wanna get left behind.
There was a problem with a lot of the designs though. I'm surprised that the lecturer didn't point it out, actually, shouldn't be surprised. A lot of the works there are designed for design's sake. They are designed to look pretty. You go ooh-aah over a piece of packaging, but how well does it work anyway? Does it make sense to make a huge box to store a water bottle? A pretty box simply to put in a keychain?
They are all good designs, some impressive with the quality of finishings, but how practical are they? Once again I took the easy way out with my work. My work was not perfect, it's really not practical, it's also to simply look pretty. But my excuse it that they are collectibles, their purpose is to look pretty. What's their excuse?
This is my favourite design of the lot. To me, it embodies a good design plus practicality. Not only does it look good, fantastic, actually, the design also works! It's not merely for display, but functional as well.
I love my work. I talk to it, I plead with it not to give me trouble, I kissed it when I did it well, and I bid it farewell when it's time to let go. Again, I stress, I love my work. But I don't have that kind of attachment to my designs like my other friends do. Some view selling their art work as selling off a bit of themselves. I do not disagree with it but I don't see the problem of selling my work (if there's someone who wanna buy it). Don't go yabba-yabba about how your artwork is about your passion and not money. What's wrong with encountering someone who appreciates your work as well as you do to want to buy it?
Anyway, have gone completely off track! This post is about presentation! Gak!! When I arrived in class today to get ready for presentation, my worst fear was confirmed. After listening to all the chink-chang-chink-chiang on the way in the car, the glass on one of my packagings had come off. I quickly grabbed my glue gun (thank God I have the good sense to bring it along) and smuggled that packaging out of the class. I ran into the photolab, searched for an outlet and shoved the plug in. Ah... I had to change three outlets until I get one that electricity actually flows into. The few minutes waiting for the glue gun to heat was torturous... Alas, all is well!
I think I did okay with my presentation. I was so nervous that my hands shook. Which was a pretty normal occurance for me. I got shot with a question I see coming, "Why did you do only three packagings? I thought we're supposed to do six."
Quoting Eve: Nobody is stupid enough to do only three when six is required.
Of course I didn't say that, but does it not make sense that I do only three because I have other stuff to cover it up with? Anyway, I answered that I was doing some promotional stuff as well as actually designing my products, that I got permission to only do three. And then a follow-up question: "But I thought it's about packaging."
Oi~ hello. What's your problem??!!
I meekly answered, "bla bla bla... most importantly, I got approval to make the promotional items and only three packagings."
Oh!! I can just smack myself when those words are out of my mouth. I am a firm believer that no matter what kind of approval you got, you're soly responsible for your work. Even if it sank in the end, it's stupid and unprofessional to blame it all on having got the green light from the lect. It's like very irresponsible to shirk your own responsibility as a designer.
Umph. Will do better next time when asked questions like this. But then again, I don't think that I did anything less. They just did more.
I don't like the presentations this time around. Never mind the fact that we're all in a dungeon looking room with no chairs to sit on, we're not encouraged at all to ask questions. Plus, no feedbacks from the lecturer. The most proposterous comment from the lecturer, not to me, thankfully: "Why are all your packagings the same size? It's stated in the brief that you're to make six different packagings in different designs and sizes."
What the $%#&!!! What kind of a comment is that??!! If that's a problem, shouldn't he as the lecturer point it out during the numerous tutorials we go to him for? He has got nothing good to say then, only to save the most outrageous bits during presentation?? If what he said is true, a lot of us in class flunked the project, including me.
Haih...
It was great seeing all the different designs that my classmates came up with. Some of them made some really astounding improvements in terms of their skills and design. There were many times that I thought to myself, "When did they get so good?!" I'd better buck up! Better polish my skills if I don't wanna get left behind.
There was a problem with a lot of the designs though. I'm surprised that the lecturer didn't point it out, actually, shouldn't be surprised. A lot of the works there are designed for design's sake. They are designed to look pretty. You go ooh-aah over a piece of packaging, but how well does it work anyway? Does it make sense to make a huge box to store a water bottle? A pretty box simply to put in a keychain?
They are all good designs, some impressive with the quality of finishings, but how practical are they? Once again I took the easy way out with my work. My work was not perfect, it's really not practical, it's also to simply look pretty. But my excuse it that they are collectibles, their purpose is to look pretty. What's their excuse?
This is my favourite design of the lot. To me, it embodies a good design plus practicality. Not only does it look good, fantastic, actually, the design also works! It's not merely for display, but functional as well. Wanna see the rest of my classmate's works? Check out my Facebook album. It's a brilliant opportunity to go ga-ga over some of the crazy works. Enjoy!
Oh yeah, please feel free to comment in that album. :)
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Barbie Packaging: From All Sides
It's over. Finished. Yep. And it has cost me a fortune to get all of it printed. Not only once, not twice, but thrice. And yet, the result was far from satisfying. Or so I thought at that time.
There were times when I felt like giving up. Times when I couldn't get the cloth to mold properly on the Barbies; when I do not know how to look for the proper materials to make the packaging; when I realize that the height of the glass was shorter that I thought; when I have constructed the box and saw how it broke at the sides and the glass package would not fit; when even after the second printing, mistakes still occur; even when the third time and yet the box still looked flimsy; when people around me frustrates me so and diverted my focus; when I see how my project might not be up to par at all.
There were also times when I thrived in those moments and it spurred me on. That time when I brainstormed Eve's and CY's brains for a concept; the excitement when I finally got hold of what I wanted to do; that time when I see how beautiful the Barbies looked; when I see that the glass packaging might worked after all; when people I care about stood by me and said to hell to those ****ers; the time when I realized that the best plan is having no plan.
This is how much I have spent:
Barbie doll x 3 : rm 59
Beads: rm 11
Kamdar cloths: rm 64.20
Fishing line + sewing kit + tweezer: rm 11.20
Glitters: rm 13.60
Trinkets: rm 44.50
Glass Vases x 3: rm 51
Taxi: rm 25
Printing 1: rm 190
Printing 2: rm 85
Printing 3: rm 85
Printing of promotional items: rm 81
Additional printing: rm 20
Styrofoams + boards + double sided tapes: rm ??
Total: rm 740.50 ++
There are some things I bought that can be used again for other stuff. So the total is around there. There is no final project, but I think what I've spent is sufficient for two projects. A lot of mistakes have been made here. I have also spent unneccessarily. Hopefully I can do better the next time.
Calendar.
Calendar. 
Calendar.
An array of flyers and coasters. (haha.. flying coaster??)
Coasters and booklet.
Flyers. You can see a lot of repetition. I wanna believe it's to present a unified image of the whole project rather an excuse that I was getting lazy.
The fans. There are three. Can you see?
All promotional items plus the souvenir box. Love that box!!
My complete packaging!!
I have finished most of this prject well before the dateline. However, there are some stuff that I held off coz I don't have a plan for it. Take for example the souvenir box. I only had a basic idea on what it's gonna look like. I doodled some nonsense on a piece of paper, and got my lect to approve it. Then, I printed on a whole piece of A1 the wrapping paper to make the box. I only finished that box two days ago. No proper plan, but it turned out to be the best thing out of this whole project. The box worked! The foldings were good, the lines neat. It looked good inside out. Unlike the three main packagings which many flaws are obvious if you looked closer.
There were times when I felt like giving up. Times when I couldn't get the cloth to mold properly on the Barbies; when I do not know how to look for the proper materials to make the packaging; when I realize that the height of the glass was shorter that I thought; when I have constructed the box and saw how it broke at the sides and the glass package would not fit; when even after the second printing, mistakes still occur; even when the third time and yet the box still looked flimsy; when people around me frustrates me so and diverted my focus; when I see how my project might not be up to par at all.
There were also times when I thrived in those moments and it spurred me on. That time when I brainstormed Eve's and CY's brains for a concept; the excitement when I finally got hold of what I wanted to do; that time when I see how beautiful the Barbies looked; when I see that the glass packaging might worked after all; when people I care about stood by me and said to hell to those ****ers; the time when I realized that the best plan is having no plan.
This is how much I have spent:
Barbie doll x 3 : rm 59
Beads: rm 11
Kamdar cloths: rm 64.20
Fishing line + sewing kit + tweezer: rm 11.20
Glitters: rm 13.60
Trinkets: rm 44.50
Glass Vases x 3: rm 51
Taxi: rm 25
Printing 1: rm 190
Printing 2: rm 85
Printing 3: rm 85
Printing of promotional items: rm 81
Additional printing: rm 20
Styrofoams + boards + double sided tapes: rm ??
Total: rm 740.50 ++
There are some things I bought that can be used again for other stuff. So the total is around there. There is no final project, but I think what I've spent is sufficient for two projects. A lot of mistakes have been made here. I have also spent unneccessarily. Hopefully I can do better the next time.
This is the dumpster that my room has become.
What you can see here are my box packagings in the plastic bag, my three glass packagings, souvenir box, that rolled up paper there are my printed final photography pictures and all other craps.
Top view. 
Front view.
Bottom view.
Side view.
Back view.
Calendar.
Calendar. 
Calendar.
An array of flyers and coasters. (haha.. flying coaster??)
Coasters and booklet.
Flyers. You can see a lot of repetition. I wanna believe it's to present a unified image of the whole project rather an excuse that I was getting lazy.
The fans. There are three. Can you see?All promotional items plus the souvenir box. Love that box!! My complete packaging!!I have finished most of this prject well before the dateline. However, there are some stuff that I held off coz I don't have a plan for it. Take for example the souvenir box. I only had a basic idea on what it's gonna look like. I doodled some nonsense on a piece of paper, and got my lect to approve it. Then, I printed on a whole piece of A1 the wrapping paper to make the box. I only finished that box two days ago. No proper plan, but it turned out to be the best thing out of this whole project. The box worked! The foldings were good, the lines neat. It looked good inside out. Unlike the three main packagings which many flaws are obvious if you looked closer.
It is done. The major project for this sem is done. All is left is the presentation on Friday. I always believe that I know my work the best therefore there should not be fear no matter what the lects asked. But this time around, I know that my understanding of this is not as wholesome as I wanted it to be.
Whatever. We'll see when the day comes.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Ta-Dhum!
Hehehe.. hmhmmm...
IT'S DONE.
Even the tiniest details. Finished. It's far from perfect. But finished. I don't love it, but I don't hate it either.
Stay tune for pics, yes?
ps: btw, I'm referring to the BABI project.. wahaha...~
IT'S DONE.
Even the tiniest details. Finished. It's far from perfect. But finished. I don't love it, but I don't hate it either.
Stay tune for pics, yes?
ps: btw, I'm referring to the BABI project.. wahaha...~
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
With Love
MY SISTER HAS A FRIENDSTER ACCOUNT!!
I really only checked my Friendster in like, once a blue moon. Or rather red moon, as the moon was red tonight! Really! Anyway, I added her in Friendster, adviced her to have an FB acc instead and then proceeded to explore the two friends she had. Hey, cut her some slack, she's new. Anyway, of her two friends, one was my sister-in-law. I surfed my sister-in-law's albums and spotted some really cute pictures of my nieces and nephews that I have never seen. Sigh, they took these pics while I was not home. Only served as a reminder of all the quality time I have not spent with them. Look at this pics and be amazed at how these B-E-A-U-tiful and cute as buttons kids can in any way at all, be related to me. I understand it if they're smart, well, that's hard not to be me. But good looking as well??!!
The reason I put this picture up is coz of the PIG behind. SO fat!! Such a big fat G!!!
"Wooh??!!"
Hehe... looking charming there, yes? I miss that smelly kid so much!!
That's a pic of me with the three of them. I have a pic of the exact setting taken when I was a kid together with my siblings. A generation later, that blue monster monument is still there! That's another one of the few things that made me feel old!!
I really only checked my Friendster in like, once a blue moon. Or rather red moon, as the moon was red tonight! Really! Anyway, I added her in Friendster, adviced her to have an FB acc instead and then proceeded to explore the two friends she had. Hey, cut her some slack, she's new. Anyway, of her two friends, one was my sister-in-law. I surfed my sister-in-law's albums and spotted some really cute pictures of my nieces and nephews that I have never seen. Sigh, they took these pics while I was not home. Only served as a reminder of all the quality time I have not spent with them. Look at this pics and be amazed at how these B-E-A-U-tiful and cute as buttons kids can in any way at all, be related to me. I understand it if they're smart, well, that's hard not to be me. But good looking as well??!!
That's my sister-in-law, Ethan, Danielle and Sydney. I miss them~~
The reason I put this picture up is coz of the PIG behind. SO fat!! Such a big fat G!!!
"Wooh??!!"
Hehe... looking charming there, yes? I miss that smelly kid so much!!
That's a pic of me with the three of them. I have a pic of the exact setting taken when I was a kid together with my siblings. A generation later, that blue monster monument is still there! That's another one of the few things that made me feel old!!Monday, November 03, 2008
Exam Horrors
I had my Design Management Exam today. I figured there's a reason why it's called an exam and not test. Too bad I didn't catch on earlier.
My lecturer sent each and everyone of us an email on topics which will appear in the exam. I checked my email the night before and couldn't care less about the topics listed. I don't care enough to even flip open my journal and read the notes that I have written. Instead, I stayed up till late at night doing I don't know what. Even chatted a little with Choops and discovered how we're both wishing it's going to be an open book test. There was a little part of me that clung to the hope that either it's going to be open book or there's some really easy way for me to look at my notes.
Much to all our horrors, we are asked to place our bags in front of the class, all bags, small, big, pencil cases, even eyeglasses containers! Only a pen is allowed. There were nervous chatters around. Round bewildered eyes swung around, thinking of ways to get out of this predicament. We didn't think this is going to be this serious. I doubt anybody really "Studied" for this. Really, once you're doing design, there's no such thing as "studying".
The test was... erm... let's just say I think it's fair to give me extra marks for creditable effort displayed in filling in all the blanks. Hahahaha... the horrors of exam. I almost forgot. At least it was sort of fun.
My lecturer sent each and everyone of us an email on topics which will appear in the exam. I checked my email the night before and couldn't care less about the topics listed. I don't care enough to even flip open my journal and read the notes that I have written. Instead, I stayed up till late at night doing I don't know what. Even chatted a little with Choops and discovered how we're both wishing it's going to be an open book test. There was a little part of me that clung to the hope that either it's going to be open book or there's some really easy way for me to look at my notes.
Much to all our horrors, we are asked to place our bags in front of the class, all bags, small, big, pencil cases, even eyeglasses containers! Only a pen is allowed. There were nervous chatters around. Round bewildered eyes swung around, thinking of ways to get out of this predicament. We didn't think this is going to be this serious. I doubt anybody really "Studied" for this. Really, once you're doing design, there's no such thing as "studying".
The test was... erm... let's just say I think it's fair to give me extra marks for creditable effort displayed in filling in all the blanks. Hahahaha... the horrors of exam. I almost forgot. At least it was sort of fun.
Chick Lit VS Romance
Since I have posted a review on a chick flick, I'd say it'll be fun to do something about the four chick lits that I have read. I started reading the works from this author, Dorothy Koomson, when I bought "The Chocolate Run". There was nothing special when I read it the first time. In fact, I regretted my choice in purchasing the book for it was no where near interesting. However, about a month back, my reservoir of books had run dry. I got nothing better to do so I was rereading past books. I picked this one up again to reread it. This time around, I appreciated the plot, humour and characters more. Maybe it was due to me not expecting anything much that the book finally managed to charm me. So much so that I looked forward to reading other books from the same author.
There is to me, and generally, I think, a difference between chick lit and romance. The stories and characters in chick lits are usually bolder and closer to reality. Think authors like Marian Keyes and the one who wrote "P.S. I Love You", her name slipped my mind. It doesn't really follow a standard plot evolvement like romance do. Normally, in romance, man meets woman, conflict, realizes they love one another, and then happy ending. You can bet your life that the main characters will definitely fall in love and be with each other by the end of the book. The only thing you can be sure of of chick lit is that the main female character stays constant. You won't know until the end if she's going to end up with her boss or the guy she loved in the past. Better yet, she might even choose to remain single in the end.
Anyway, my lenthy explanation above sort of also described Koomson's books. You really won't know what is going to happen to her main character. In her first book, "The Cupid Effect", there were a lot of potential players around. You tried matching her lead with every other guy that cropped up but sometimes you will just have to read on to find out. This is another major difference between chick lit and romance. In romance, you can be sure of the chemistry between the two main leads. Even if there's another guy with better qualities than the hero, the heroine will ultimately choose the hero. But this is different in chick lit. The girl might think the guy's just a friend and have no feelings for him, but in the end, she might realized that she has been heal over heels since chapter one. Either that or there's great chemistry between man and woman, and in the end they won't be together due to stupid reasons like logistics. I mean, how can problems like this occur in fiction??
My point is that I hate and love Koomson's books. I like how she has good foundation for her plots. The back cover always read interestingly. This made me purchase her books full with anticipation. There are also characters you can love easily for everything they do have reasons to support. The changes the characters go through from the beginning when everything is lost until the end when they managed to recover who they really are, were very real. It's not rushed so that a happy ending can be achieved. It was paced properly to keep you reading.
What I hate about her book is that I cannot figure out the ending. And a lot of times it ended in disappoinment. What's the point of the book if everything's back to square one by the end??
Anyway, below are her books that I have read. She's still new so there are only five books to her name. I read four. I have had enough of her. No way am I buying the fifth one. I have set my eyes on other books. Books I am only going to read after finishing all those crappy assignments.
By far the best I have read from her. Plot was awesome, with the revelations in the end, plus a wholesome ending. It felt that my time reading this was worth it.
This was one book that left me with a "What the.. huh???" expression by the end of the book. It just didn't live up to its top billing. In fact, it felt like a waste of time.
This is one book where I have no idea who she is going to end up with in the end. Also the one I hinted at when I referred to square one. Hah.
Apparently this was one of her more successful books. Why, I have no idea. This book is supposed to talk about the love between a single woman who is suddenly burdened by a dead friend's child. The story didn't focus so much on developing this relationship. Instead, it steered to a direction which left me sort of baffled.
Oh, and something else too. All these are British books. Meaning it's set in London. So, it uses a lot of British phrases that I was not familiar with. It was a refreshing change from all those American reads. Example, knackered means tired. And I am so knackered right about now.
There is to me, and generally, I think, a difference between chick lit and romance. The stories and characters in chick lits are usually bolder and closer to reality. Think authors like Marian Keyes and the one who wrote "P.S. I Love You", her name slipped my mind. It doesn't really follow a standard plot evolvement like romance do. Normally, in romance, man meets woman, conflict, realizes they love one another, and then happy ending. You can bet your life that the main characters will definitely fall in love and be with each other by the end of the book. The only thing you can be sure of of chick lit is that the main female character stays constant. You won't know until the end if she's going to end up with her boss or the guy she loved in the past. Better yet, she might even choose to remain single in the end.
Anyway, my lenthy explanation above sort of also described Koomson's books. You really won't know what is going to happen to her main character. In her first book, "The Cupid Effect", there were a lot of potential players around. You tried matching her lead with every other guy that cropped up but sometimes you will just have to read on to find out. This is another major difference between chick lit and romance. In romance, you can be sure of the chemistry between the two main leads. Even if there's another guy with better qualities than the hero, the heroine will ultimately choose the hero. But this is different in chick lit. The girl might think the guy's just a friend and have no feelings for him, but in the end, she might realized that she has been heal over heels since chapter one. Either that or there's great chemistry between man and woman, and in the end they won't be together due to stupid reasons like logistics. I mean, how can problems like this occur in fiction??
My point is that I hate and love Koomson's books. I like how she has good foundation for her plots. The back cover always read interestingly. This made me purchase her books full with anticipation. There are also characters you can love easily for everything they do have reasons to support. The changes the characters go through from the beginning when everything is lost until the end when they managed to recover who they really are, were very real. It's not rushed so that a happy ending can be achieved. It was paced properly to keep you reading.
What I hate about her book is that I cannot figure out the ending. And a lot of times it ended in disappoinment. What's the point of the book if everything's back to square one by the end??
Anyway, below are her books that I have read. She's still new so there are only five books to her name. I read four. I have had enough of her. No way am I buying the fifth one. I have set my eyes on other books. Books I am only going to read after finishing all those crappy assignments.
By far the best I have read from her. Plot was awesome, with the revelations in the end, plus a wholesome ending. It felt that my time reading this was worth it.
This was one book that left me with a "What the.. huh???" expression by the end of the book. It just didn't live up to its top billing. In fact, it felt like a waste of time.
This is one book where I have no idea who she is going to end up with in the end. Also the one I hinted at when I referred to square one. Hah.
Apparently this was one of her more successful books. Why, I have no idea. This book is supposed to talk about the love between a single woman who is suddenly burdened by a dead friend's child. The story didn't focus so much on developing this relationship. Instead, it steered to a direction which left me sort of baffled.
Oh, and something else too. All these are British books. Meaning it's set in London. So, it uses a lot of British phrases that I was not familiar with. It was a refreshing change from all those American reads. Example, knackered means tired. And I am so knackered right about now.
So long.
What the...
I DUN WANNA CARE NO MORE~
PLEASE DUN BOTHER ME NO MORE
I DUN WANNA CARE NO MORE~~
PLEASE DUN BOTHER ME NO MOREEEEEEEEEEEE
This is the joy of blogging. You go mental on yourself and there are actually people who care enough to read.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Movie: My Best Friend's Girl
Tadadadada~
Isn't it any wonder how I can still find time to go watch a movie? It's a stupid move but I enjoyed the movie tremendously. It's a chick flick starring Kate Hudson and Dane Cook. I watched it with Tzeyee and it was nice not having to make up excuses as to why we want to watch it. You know, normally when there is such a movie up the first thought would be to go buy the pirated version and keep the RM11 for a blockbuster or something that will do the big screen justice. Either that or you make up excuses why you wanna watch a chick flick, as if liking mushy movies showed you in a bad light or something. Those excuses being "I haven't watched anything light in a long time" or "I need something silly to release stress". Heck, watch it if you like it. You don't have to make up excuses. I am a chick flick lover. Guilty as charged. I'm glad to brush past all that and just watched it with Tzeyee whose only reason for it is that she liked Kate Hudson.
The synopsis of the movie is this: Tank earns some side money by being the rebound guy from hell. Guys who have recently being dumped by their girlfriends payed him to date their girlgriends. After showing those girls a date from hell by the rebound guy from hell, those girls will gratefully turn back to their boyfriends, who seemed to be great after a comparison to Tank. So, when Tank's cousin's profession of love to his girlfriend was blown off, he turned to Tank to make his girlfriend appreciate him more. Is there any need to say that Tank fell for that girl, Alexis? It's all in the chick flick package, cliches and all.
I didn't hold too much hope for this movie. I haven't watch a good romance in a long, long time. The last one I watched was Maid of Honour, and I dare say Best Friend's Girl is better. These two are not really romance flicks, for they are not in the least bit romantic. However, the thing that worked in BFG's favour is the jokes. They are dirty, crude, laugh-out-loud sex jokes. I believe it was this that made all the guys in the cinema laughed. One more thing, I have never encountered such a loud crowd in a cinema. Seriously, everyone laughed so much at this movie.
If you're there to watch Kate Hudson, be ready to be disappointed coz there's not much of her. Though she's the female lead, the story was heaped heavily on Dane Cook, who looked so old and haggard at the beginning (which made me wish that he's not the lead) but once I got used to looking at him, really rather handsome and charming (which made me frantically take back that wish).
However, due to it's sexual language and content, a lot of scenes have been cut. I can't wait to get my hands on a "cheaper" un-cut version. So if you just wanna have a good laugh or you're just into chick flicks, I believe this one is a good choice. But please, don't expect anything romantic.
That done, let's look at my progress so far. Read it only if you wanna be tainted by my negativity. IF you're feeling all bubbly and looking forward to the day, skip it. Don't wanna spoil your day.
Omg~ it is already Nov 2. I'm so sick of all the assignments. To think that I have to keep doing them just makes me feel like puking. It is not easy at all to pull them all through the "Done & Dusted" gate of bliss. I still have some final-and-never-gonna-finish details on the packaging. The more mistakes that crop up just made me feeling like throwing up my hands and scream "You Win!!" and chunkig those stupid laminated card boards into the pile of rubbish that is accumulating at the coner of my room. Plus, I have a newsletter which I have no idea where it's gonna go! It's supposed to be easy. Last but not least, the stupid typography thing. Not hard. At all. I don't know why I'm bitching about it here. Quoting Evelyn: I'm scared but unmotivated. I hate this feeling. However, I'm not exactly scared. Just demotivated. And frustrated. This always happen when the end of sem is near. You want it to end so much and yet, time seemed to just drag. OR maybe it's the pace in which you work that is dragging, but time flies.
Really. I have to stop. I know I am already better off than a lot of people. I'm supposed to have polished it all off my working table now. Just a little bit more. Just a lil' itsy bitsy more. Hang in there!!
Friday, October 31, 2008
I Have A Dream
Have you ever heard of the phrase "I have a dream"? This phrase had been commonly employed and used in our lives. There was this time when my mom wanted to show me a speech by Martin Luther King Jr., she said that it was inspirational and wanted to expose me to it. I was blank about what it was all about and she said, "You know, the 'I have a dream' speech." I didn't know. In the end, she didn't show it to me coz she left the copy in the office.
From then on, I knew there was such a thing as King's "I have a dream" speech on his dreams where white and blacks will live harmoniously in America. I have read about a friend making a reference to this phrase and also listening to Sophie singing "I have a dream" in Mamma Mia. It is only now that I worked towards quenching my curiosity.
Below is the "I have a dream" speech by Martin Luther King Jr. This was the first time I have read it and was awed by the vision he painted with his words. It was extracted from US Constitution Online. If this is the first time you have come across this speech as well, it will be a worthy experience to know what it is all about.
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.
As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.
Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
From then on, I knew there was such a thing as King's "I have a dream" speech on his dreams where white and blacks will live harmoniously in America. I have read about a friend making a reference to this phrase and also listening to Sophie singing "I have a dream" in Mamma Mia. It is only now that I worked towards quenching my curiosity.
Below is the "I have a dream" speech by Martin Luther King Jr. This was the first time I have read it and was awed by the vision he painted with his words. It was extracted from US Constitution Online. If this is the first time you have come across this speech as well, it will be a worthy experience to know what it is all about.
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.
As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.
Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
Of Spooks, Birthdays and Idols
I'm putting up a lot of random posts lately.
First off, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! Secondly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Magie! (though I know you won't come across this blog) So yeah, I have a friend whose birthday falls on this spooky celebration.
The bunch of us, half the class I think, sort of planned this surprise on her. It's not exactly a party, more like an excuse to get together before the sem comes to a close. Anyway, we bought these junk food and a cake. After midnight, we gathered at a friend's place just opposite the birthday girl's place. Anyway, we sneaked into the house, knocked on her room's door, and then... awkward silence. You know, for things like this there is usually a loud SURPRISE or HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Instead, there was just this silence, and Magie exclaiming, "Oh!" Haha.. I figured it's coz we didn't plan on what to say when she saw us. Anyway, we managed to make up for it by singing a rambunctious birthday song for her. All in all, a good break from all those final moments stress.
Oooh!! I've experienced my first contact with a celebrity!! Okay~ so what if he's only a DJ and not a real celebrity? Anyway, he's my favourite DJ hosting my favourite program on 988, a chinese radio station. I've recently added him and also becoming a fan of his club on Facebook. There was this picture of him that I commented and he replied! He was generally teased as being fat, but that picture of him portrayed him pretty well, so I just commented that he's really not fat. I guess flattery works for he replied. Lol~
Ah... my biggest wish when it comes to things concerning idols is to be able to hug Eason Chan. I want to embrace him in a giant bear hug and have him sing personally to me... ah...~~ Everytime I went to his concert I day dreamed that he would pick me out from the crowd and invite me onto the stage. Haha.. This revelation was sparked from me watching this entertainment show on youtube where Eason was the guest. He played some games with his fans. He hugged one of them and sang together with another! I metaphorically melted.. sigh~~
A girl can wish, yes? Haha..
edit 3.57am - ps: did I mention that I am going to the Mamma Mia musical? Uakakakkaa... ~ I'm a disgustingly lucky gal, I know.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Poor Kitty
There was this cat that started coming into our house (my hostel unit, that is). We lived on the sixth floor, so it came in through the balcony, coming from next door. We never really know whose cat it is or whether it even has an owner. IT is actually a she, white and has red eyes in the dark. Xiao Lu er said that she's an old cat. Though I dislike cats, I can see that she's really beautiful with her white fur and slanted eyes.
The first time she came inside, Xiao Lu er was ecstatic. The second time, the cat was fed. Xiao Lu er purposely bought cat food for her. For the past week, the cat has been a nuisance for me, especially when it is just me and her in the house. I avoided her as much as possible. Thank God she never leapt at me, I guess she's too lofty to do something like that. There was this one time when I came back bearing food. When I put my food down on the table, that freaking cat jumped on the table, sniffing my way. I quickly swiped the food into my arms and put a humongous distance between us. In panic, I threw a piece of bread on the floor. And when her attention was elsewhere, I ran to my room.
Though I don't like the cat, I never really did resent her presence, so long as it's not just the two of us.
Something happened to the cat today. I was sleeping when it happened. Xiao Lu er came back and the cat was by the door. Suddenly, strange gurgling noises emitted from the cat and it vomitted on the floor. Xiao Lu er was freaked when the cat came after her, puke still falling from her mouth. She ran out the door with it hot on her heels. I don't really know what happened next, but someone from next door came to carry the cat off. Though the cat always appeared from next door, even those people did not know where she came from. I was SO lucky to be sleeping when they cleaned up the mess that cat made. Yes, they cleaned up it's puke. But then again, I have seen something worse before that my dog made.
Anyway, after the floor was cleaned and everything, the cat appeared once more on the balcony. She couldn't come in coz the glass door was closed. It kept mewing outside. Xiao Lu er was too scared over what happened to like the cat anymore.
I dount the cat will get the chance to come into the house anymore. For that, I'm grateful. But then again, pity the cat. Everyone loved it when it was clean and normal. At the first sign of trouble, people just dumped her and won't even touch her again. This kind of attitude pisses me off at times. One thing about pets is that if you want to treat it good, go all the way. They don't understand when the affection just stopped.
I was a lousy pet owner. I never want to have pets again, unless I know I am able to commit myself to it.
The first time she came inside, Xiao Lu er was ecstatic. The second time, the cat was fed. Xiao Lu er purposely bought cat food for her. For the past week, the cat has been a nuisance for me, especially when it is just me and her in the house. I avoided her as much as possible. Thank God she never leapt at me, I guess she's too lofty to do something like that. There was this one time when I came back bearing food. When I put my food down on the table, that freaking cat jumped on the table, sniffing my way. I quickly swiped the food into my arms and put a humongous distance between us. In panic, I threw a piece of bread on the floor. And when her attention was elsewhere, I ran to my room.
Though I don't like the cat, I never really did resent her presence, so long as it's not just the two of us.
Something happened to the cat today. I was sleeping when it happened. Xiao Lu er came back and the cat was by the door. Suddenly, strange gurgling noises emitted from the cat and it vomitted on the floor. Xiao Lu er was freaked when the cat came after her, puke still falling from her mouth. She ran out the door with it hot on her heels. I don't really know what happened next, but someone from next door came to carry the cat off. Though the cat always appeared from next door, even those people did not know where she came from. I was SO lucky to be sleeping when they cleaned up the mess that cat made. Yes, they cleaned up it's puke. But then again, I have seen something worse before that my dog made.
Anyway, after the floor was cleaned and everything, the cat appeared once more on the balcony. She couldn't come in coz the glass door was closed. It kept mewing outside. Xiao Lu er was too scared over what happened to like the cat anymore.
I dount the cat will get the chance to come into the house anymore. For that, I'm grateful. But then again, pity the cat. Everyone loved it when it was clean and normal. At the first sign of trouble, people just dumped her and won't even touch her again. This kind of attitude pisses me off at times. One thing about pets is that if you want to treat it good, go all the way. They don't understand when the affection just stopped.
I was a lousy pet owner. I never want to have pets again, unless I know I am able to commit myself to it.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
And Beyond...
Ah-hah! I can't help myself. I'm already planning what to do after I'm done with all these crappy assignments! That is a list that I have compiled so far. I really hope I can manage to pull some of the stuff off. I usually make this kind of list for breaks but when the time comes, I usually sleep my holidays off. I just changed my wall paper today. I know there's nothing interesting there, but don't you just love the colour? It's so refreshing after the pale yellow of my last image there.The Taste
I don't know why I bother blogging about this assignment. It's such a "goreng" piece. Everything is just make believe, the information are made up and we don't really learn how to properly do this.
Anyway, we are supposed to work in pairs and we take turns becoming client and designer. Supposedly we are to acquire approval from our "client". In the end, we just said, "I'm okay with yours so you're surely okay with mine?" kind of things. So much for learning experience. Hah!
The cover. That is the logo I "goreng".
I sort of had fun making up restrictions on how to use the logo correctly.
There are some other side stuff to do. This is the business card.
Anyway, we are supposed to work in pairs and we take turns becoming client and designer. Supposedly we are to acquire approval from our "client". In the end, we just said, "I'm okay with yours so you're surely okay with mine?" kind of things. So much for learning experience. Hah!
The cover. That is the logo I "goreng".
I sort of had fun making up restrictions on how to use the logo correctly.There are some other side stuff to do. This is the business card.Though we do not have to print all those materials like the stationery set, but we do have to print the manual itself. I counted eighteen pages. Another chunk of money here. Sigh...
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