what it means.

things have come and gone. yet cynicism decides to make itself a permanent resident, amidst all the fanfare.

for what it's worth

It's funny how just a random, very overdue outing can set one thinking so much.

No photo-whoring, no silence (even when there is, shortly broken by a laugh and more banter). Just an publicly unacknowledged fact that we've grown up. But for that four hours or so, how young we have once been. When passion dominated more of our nerves and veins, than the stilted slumber that we call maturity. When raging fires have died down to reveal only glowing embers and a mere acceptance of our life, along with the vivid expectations of what's to come.

We have, devolved, I suppose.

But it sure is fun hanging out with old friends, even acquaintances. I guess it's partly due to how we at least have more similarities than acquaintances now. And how we're learned to live and forget, due to the many other sins we've experienced and committed.

But mostly because it harks back to the old, golden age of our civilisation. Back when we were young, dreams weren't fleeting, and we were raring to go forth.

To what? The future? If only things didn't work by relative comparisons.

Daddy

you came, and then you left.
hollow man, were you ever there?

in-between, television's fuzzing
you were the fleeting.
the one momma warned about
the telly's blurry image,
blacked-white, washed-out.

7/24, your clock on the brink
dreaming nothing but the kitchen sink
the one you couldn't fix
(actually, beyond that, there's more
like the kid who wanted Trix)

(forth-and-back, my pen begins its spin
the ink bleeds out, my disjointed limb
reality's fabric tears at the seams
i really can't make of you
unless with bad synonyms)

dormant volcano, spewing no ash.
your eruptions died a trillion years ago, there's only rehash
'tis a reminder of all things past
an empty wallet
dooming us to a lower caste

glowing embers, a familiar slope
you light up (yours, not mine) hope
smoke rings float gently to the top
guardian angel
i'd pray, but you're not.

sparkling white, your porcelain throne
also known as the beaten dog's bone
the sole solace to fornicate dreams-
plebeian fantasies,
i suppose, but it's my ice-cream

i've been flagging, can't you see?
taxi, taxi, taxi
drop me off, i'll pay the fare
or leave us both
breathing noxious fumes of despair.

but i grew roots, i grew shoots
i grew and grew, till i'm taller than you
taller than frail health, receding youth
all prestige has abandoned his name
except the silver age of sixty-two

the old sea barrel, it begins to burst
the fog above begins its choking curse
you've squirmed life of such a deal
a funny tattooist fate is, to give me
imprints of you

the lego i never had
the scooter i never sat
hey daddy,
c'mon,
play with me.

you missed~

the bulls-eye, the point, the sharpie edge, the birds, the bees, the trees, mas selamat, and even the overhead bridge.

the sheep calling the flock black.

this never gets old.

selectively pruning the holy book for the numerous verses that counter 'the' numerous verses, and then drawing a suddenly extremely clear boundary. All this done, while casting out the exiles and blasphemers (which harks back to that era the book detailed), and declaring oneself the sacred truth.

so who's the authority here?
and whatever happened to tolerance of all views that was championed, even the ones perceived as naive, bigoted ones?

so now that the big ugly has reared its head, it's time for the baby to be thrown out along with the bathwater, and brand 'ignorance' as unchristian?

I'm not quite sure how such posturing and demonstration of faith dexterity affects the final sum. You mean one can still be against homosexuality, but not ok when people impose their anti-gay beliefs upon others, because others should be able to do as they please? that sounds a lot like bending over backwards.

but the bright side, of course, is that compassion and rational thought did somewhat prevail in this polarised issue, albeit with some flag-changing and alliance-shifting.

Hardworking Also Guilty.

Quickpost this image to Myspace, Digg, Facebook, and others!

going high res.

for the new year -

charlie will finally spring clean his 640x480 real estate (not in virtual life)
amy will glean over her 1024 dresses, and maybe donate 768 pieces to charity (which she never wore, but shopped online anyway)
lucy hopes to make her life a bit brighter, maybe like her new glossy lcd screen
andy hopes to get a bit of the colour in his best friend's life, which is in 32 bit (HIGHEST) colour
johnny wants to monitor his life a bit better. you know, like taking charge. like staying off facebook, or something. you know right? if not, nevermind. his online pals probably would.

(X)
me out.
they never tick.
you'll see, you'll see.
when i come again.

wanderlust.

perhaps that is fate, or
an inaction in weaving our own strands.

the pentameter draws to a still
the seven steps slows to a crawl, and then

nothing.

our notes doomed to obscurity.
poets of virtual unknown,
bodies of brimming ideas,
wheeled into the mortuary of eternal slumber

sealed shut.

we rhyme ourselves out of existence.

are we there yet?
no. where were we going again?
but these endless limericks,
these catchy riffs that only we share
they par the course.

we can only hope,
and wonder.

STARS Secret Manual.

Learnings from both semesters has given me terrible course for concern. I suppose this must be posted for the welfare of succeeding generations to come.

For first semester:
Fastest Fingers first. Ignore those waitlisted crap, nothing of your concern. Just wait, choose your UE and GE nicely, keeping clicking 'Add course into STARS' in STARS Planner one minute before Registration Time. Once the window opens, quickly confirm and you're in.

For second semester:
1st Registration Period -
Gun for your PE only. That's the only fastest fingers first. Keep clicking as above, and confirm quickly. Ignore the UE priority crap, focus on clicking confirm!
Choose GE that has a reasonable vacancy-waitlist ratio. (ie. if the course has 0 vacancies and 100-over waitlist, you're not likely to get it)

2nd Registration Period -
Choosing UE this time round. Repeat as per GE-choosing.

Some tips:
1. Add/drop camping does wonders sometimes.
2. Sit on top of modules. You can drop later. Not ethical or nice but a lot of people do it to save their own skin and cover their asses.
3. Registering at school is quicker.
4. Waitlisted modules can clash with each other, but not with GEs and PEs that are set in stone.
5. The higher the waitlist, the easier the module is. (Generally)

Shall update this when I learn more!

the kite.

at the risk of another snide 'hand in hand' remark. (well, greatness has its off-days too)

no catches,
only one string attached.
tension evoking a series of false starts,
push-pull, push-pull.

when he catches the updraft,
she reels him in.
caught in the wind's embrace.

liberated,
the kite soars high
remaining tethered still,
to the heavens and the commons.

to cast a faint shadow,
against the bright glare of the sun,
he is content,
charting his course.