____T.H.E. .P.A.S.S.

00:17
Friday, July 28, 2006

____Music is like...

Car Racing.

It's the driver that is important. No matter how powerful or fast the car is, you should be the one in control. If you let the car be in control. You will skid and cause an accident.

Unfortunately, the one in control is Yoshiki. And he's driving into a wall at 300km/h. And I'm in the car, on Xtasy.

But I feel the tears falling down.

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23:58
Tuesday, July 25, 2006

____You're Just An Illusion

Days of joy, days of sadness, slowly pass me by

As I try to hold you, you are vanishing before me

You're just an illusion

When I'm awakened, my tears have dried in the sand of sleep

I'm a rose blooming in the desert
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From the start, I knew it was wrong. It could be anyone's fault. But maybe because I'm too weak.
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I see red, I see blue

But the silver lining gradually takes over

When the morning begins

I'll be in the next chapter
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Too weak.
I know I'll never find the art of life.
I know I'll awake one day to be insane forever.
Maybe I wouldn't even want to wake anymore...

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20:21
Thursday, July 13, 2006

____Random Stuff

IA question:
Peak Motus and Qualisys are amazing motion capture systems that enables sports scientists to analyse the sporting performance of athletes in various sports. Except that they use different data formats. They are essentially software/hardware products of two different companies who want to protect their own customer base. And because of that, I have been dropped a major bomb to solve this problem - how do we make both data formats to be applicable mutually as well as in another software, AnyBody? (Jack, you might find this question amateurish...)
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My second Saucony has finally finished its course. Its durable outsole at heel area has worn off. Its nice toecap finish is finally peeling. The whole front sole is coming apart. The ends of the laces are worn off. Its wave-shaped logo that was originally grey, is not yellow. This pair of shoes have spent the past three years with me in most of my runs. I'll probably remember it best as the pair that accompanied me through the gruelling AHM training in 2003.

About time I call Godfrey. Anyone else wants to get Asics running shoes?! Contact me!
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Baybeats at the Esplanade this weekend. Never been inside the place itself, plus this time the show looks interesting enough with local acts, bands from neighbouring Malaysia and some of those that have performed around the world. Should I go? Sigh, nobody accompany...
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IA's been okay so far as the week is nearing the end. Even managed to squeeze out time last night to meet Wendy. Long time never see already. Still damn white. Maybe what Wilson said is right, maybe people just come and go. But still it's nice to have substitutes available sometimes. Am I right, MJ and JM?
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I am still oh-so-going-nowhere with this feeling.

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00:03
Sunday, July 09, 2006

____JC Is A Genius Too

JC is a genius.

I don't mean the JC writing this entry (the JC writing this entry is an idiot) - I mean Jesse Cook. One tiring night after training, Shaun and I were on our way home in the train. He stuck his earphone into my ear and told me to listen. Immediately I became hooked on to the magical guitar melody that rushes me back and forth like the soothing waves of the sea.

Jazz. A sound that I once felt was very difficult to understand. A sound that is painful to digest. Jesse Cook made it possible for me to actually appreciate its art form. His music though doesn't really classify solely under jazz. The well-travelled man who spent his childhood in Canada is described a musicalogical sponge. A sponge absorbs and so does he.

Quoted from an interview by Chris Gaspar in June2005.

"This Canadian instrumentalist, composer, arranger and producer have spent a lifetime listening and absorbing sounds from cultures as diverse as Spain, Africa, Cuba, Egypt, France and Brazil. Best described as a "musicological sponge", his captivating style masterfully blends different types of world music, mystically cascading rhythms and melodies at an enamoring pace."

For me, his works isn't really jazz. It's a mix. It's really flamenco or something or whatever word you think of when you listen to it. I think Latin, but I'm not sure. I'm not really that musically inclined. However, I think I know what's good. I have an idea of what I like. And Jesse Cook is one of them. I think Cuba, Africa and Brazil comes into mind when one listens to some of his works such as "Mario Takes A Walk". Guitars. Check. An assortment of percussion instruments such as congas, bongos, triangle, shaker. Check. What's amazing is the speed at which the instruments are played. Plus JC's unique technique of treating the guitar as one of the percussion intruments. And of course, arrangement plays a big part too. Especially with so many notes and everything.

Speedy tracks like "Mario Takes A Walk", "Tempest", "Breeze From Saintes Maries" are enthralling. "Nomad" is one of my favourite ones. Slow tracks such as "Breathing Below The Surface" are good to listen to at night. Well, in fact, all are good to listen to at night.

I know what you all are thinking. X Japan or Jesse Cook? I know, I know. Mingjun mentioned how my tastes changed over the years. From boybands, chinese pop, radio rock, RHCP, then X Japan, Yoshiki's classics and then now Jesse Cook. Although I'm ashamed of having listened to industry-churned crap, I feel that at least it is important for me to have matured my tastes.

As for the X Japan/JC debate, it's still X Japan. X Japan speaks to me. The wildness, the calmness. The effeminate nature of Yoshiki, the tame "girl", that turns into a fiery beast behind the drums. How he may seem a docile creature (his femine appearance) with nothing to hate and yet all his fury unleashed in tracks like "Rose of Pain", "Sadistic Desire" and "Silent Jealousy". I think it is very me - like a hunger infested wolf when I take to the football field.
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I had fun today in the sun though at Sentosa. Not much chances like these for some time. Working life robs one of his/her freedom to be playful. I enjoyed nonetheless.

And oh, drop me an msn if you want to check out any of Jesse Cook's works.

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03:10
Friday, July 07, 2006

____Idiot

Sometimes, guys are just idiots. Myself included. We just don't know what we want.

So many times, we hang on to things that we should have let go. So many times, we hear of friends who refuse to wake up. Sometimes, the joy is no longer there but I continue to play football for old times sake. Sometimes, my muscles are tired and my joints are screaming in pain but I carry on.

Sometimes we can't decide. Adidas or Nike? Friends or family? Work or play? Rock or classical? Scream or shut up? Yoshiki or X Japan? To hold back or to give all?

Now if only there's this direction arrow above me just like in the game "Crazy Taxi" that tells me what to do next....

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00:38
Tuesday, July 04, 2006

____Some World Cup Thoughts

May the football Gods ensure that Portugal doesn't win the World Cup. I know it's unfair to the likes of Figo and Deco. But C.Ronaldo turns me off. Never would I put a friendship to the test like what he did to Rooney. Never should anyone else. It's so sad because Ronaldo is a decent player but as a Man Utd fan, he really should go. I'd sell him for Joaquin.

In life, it isn't about winning. Nor is it about winning the World Cup. It's about winning respect.

Brazil went crashing out against France. I thought Brazil gave France, especially Zidane too much respect. They seemed afraid of the 1998 - afraid of history. But I thought Carlos Alberto Parreira should have dropped those that weren't really giving their best for the team. He failed to bring the best out of his stars - namely Ronaldinho. I felt that if there was a need, Kaka should be dropped. Yes, Kaka, one of my favourite players.

I always felt that although Kaka is an exciting player going forward, he isn't suited to battle out in midfield for the team. Kaka stifles Ronaldinho's creativity, and I'd choose Ronaldinho over Kaka anytime. He lacks the close control and a dimension to his game. Unlike Zidane, Kaka only thinks of going forward when he gets the ball. At club level, Kaka had Cafu and Shevchenko to support his forward runs. But with Brazil, Fat Boy Ron doesn't equal Sheva's workrate, Ronaldinho's static at times, and Cafu is now old and slow in the heat. Kaka should have been replaced by Robinho or Juninho - for movement off the ball or solidity, respectively.

Germany looks favourites to win now. They've improved from game to game. And their strikers have finally "grown up". Especially Podolski. I saw him during Euro 2004 but felt he was still rather raw, on the other hand, Bastian Schweinsteiger was already impressing then. Together with Philip Lahm, Germany's left wing is really scary.

However, I'd support my second favourite international team, Italy now. It's been years for them. Many felt that their quarter final slot was undeserved with the "penalty" that kicked Socceroos out. I beg to differ. History is such that Italians are natural defenders - masters of the art of Catenaccio. In fact, I thought the Italians played a lot better than the Australians before the red card of Marco Materazzi, having many chances that Luca Toni failed to convert. I also thought that the red card was just as unjustified as the penalty. However, as smart players, what Italy (with 1 man down) did was the right thing - since it's hard to outplay with the lack of 1 man, solid defending first, then wait for a break a the oppenent's end with freekicks and penalties. With set piece experts like Andrea Pirlo and Francesco Totti, why not play the way they did?? Thus, my support goes to Italy.

My greatest regret though would be the fact that Paolo Maldini wouldn't be with them if they win the tournament. Yet, I know Maldini's spirit, work ethics, love for the game, professionalism lives in many of the current Italian players. Those like Gattuso, Pirlo, Nesta, Cannavaro, Zambrotta would surely dedicate the World Cup to the Milan legend, should the Azzuri emerge champions of the world.

Alright, that's about it for now. With beloved Brazil out, my heart goes to the Azzuris. I realised too that I've been putting in too many football-related entries, I hope this will be the last one for some time to come. Hopefully, some new writing inspiration comes and I can talk about other stuff too.

I want to believe that my life isn't all about that sickening ball...

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____T.A.G.B.O.A.R.D

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