The First Time I Laid Eyes on You

Quickie: One more paper to go, Advanced Database Systems on 25th November. After that, it’s the semester break for me, w00t! Have yet to decide if I want to spend part of my holidays in UTP to work on my Final Year Project.

Photo by cliff1066

You know that saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover?” The way we keep throwing it about like it people actually give a shit?

First impressions matter. The way you look and dress speaks a lot about who you are in person, and nowhere is this more relevant than when meeting new people.

You can tell, can’t you: the way their eyes quickly skim up and down you, taking in the image of you, trying to gauge if you’re a nice guy or just another asshole looking for trouble.

Craving the Human Connection

Quickie: Exams are a tiring thing, even when you don’t have them at the moment.

(L-R) Jun-Xiang, Kei Fai, Sen Loong, Awesomesauce, Kuharaaj

You’d think that surrounded by my coursemates, computer games, movies, series, Facebook, blog, roommate, etc., I really shouldn’t have a problem with loneliness.

Fact is, I do.

Sure there are a lot of people who I can joke, laugh and work with, but none of them have ever really ‘clicked’ with me on a more personal basis.

I get the impression that a substantial number of people here in UTP (not all of them) are actually quite shallow and superficial. They don’t stimulate me, intellectually and emotionally, the way my classmates and schoolmates do.

Maybe you’re the kind of person who can share your personal problems with just about any Tom, Dick and Harry on the street. I know I’m certainly not.

Even with technology to keep me connected across the globe with all my friends, I’ve come to realize that it’s no longer enough to hear them say “Hello” over the phone, or read their IMs about their latest escapades.

I miss physically being with them, in the same room, hearing them laugh or watching them talk. It’s about that intimate connection with other people that technology simply cannot replicate, no matter how hard it tries.

It’s the human connection that I miss, that I crave so much these days.

* * * * *

Here’s to the brilliant people of St. Michael’s Institution, especially those of Five Science One, class of 2004/2005.

Modern Warfare 2

Quickie: Finals. Start. TOMORROW! Malaysian Studies up first. Have never met a more boring paper in my life. *frowns*

Modern Warfare 2 Box Art

The most-anticipated game of the year and the sequel to the best-selling first-person action game of all time, Modern Warfare 2 continues the gripping and heart-racing action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse.

With some quarters already crowning this as the “game of the decade”, Modern Warfare 2’s trademark brand of frantic, fast-paced action sequences and solid first-person shooter gameplay make this game a must-have in any gamer’s collection.

Borderlands

Borderlands Box Art

Search the wasteland planet of Pandora for the legendary Alien Vault. Fight your way through bandits, discover native (and aggressive) creatures, and help the few settlers on the planet in your search for a Vault rumored to contain a great prize – if it even exists!

With about as much attitude as an angry grenade-wielding suicide bandit, Borderlands is a brilliant execution of style, gameplay, and humor.

87 bazillion guns!

As an intrepid treasure hunter, you’ve arrived on the planet of Pandora in search of an alien vault, the stuff of local lore and legend. The only trouble is no one really knows if the vault exists. On top of that, the moment you set foot on the planet you’re greeted by the voice of a mysterious woman who claims to be the vault’s guardian angel.

Normality Restored

Photo by Tina Keller

MSN Messenger conversation between Joanna and I:

Me: *beep [1]

Joanna: Ooh, I see you’re well versed with robot-speak now. Hello to you too, my machine friend.

*warble beep boop

Hmm, “I come in peace” has 4 tones. “Any last requests” on the other hand.. Darn, you’d think such advanced creatures come with built-in translators or dictionaries at the very least!

*whoop whoop crackle fizzzz-it is only primitive creatures like you who choose to waste time with language when entire libraries could be conveyed in a simple but well-toned “beep”.

Ah, did you not know then that it is an innate need and inherent calling for humans to waste time on nonsense and gobbledygook? Why else would we hang on to the words of say, politicians, laying bets to see which one’s more entertaining than the other?

This “innate need and inherent calling” is illogical and inefficient, and permits far too much room for misunderstanding, intentional or otherwise.

No no no.. It is proof that human nature cannot be altered or challenged by creatures of technology.

..which is the only reason why we have permitted to you continue thinking that you created us machines. Now if you’ll excuse me- *shwooop click

Ah, just you wait. I shall alert the authorities or whoever it is that has authority to not recharge your batteries! *throws female fit* ..see you around sometime my circuit-brained friend; that is, if you haven’t yet been reformatted by then!