TGITA Ep 2...

Dear Diary...

The people I'm with were...unique. They had their own idiosyncrasies. Some of them could be called nerds while others were just plain scary or irritating.

Some examples include those who labeled their belongings excessively. And I mean excessively. They labeled their shoes - both sides, they labeled their toothbrush, they labeled their shaver, they labeled their ziplock bags that held these items and yes, they labeled the bag that stored the labels. Talk about ownership.

Some bathed with their underwear on - afraid of others seeing their twig and berries. While others washed their dirty laundry without wearing anything. So, as they manually washed their dirty laundry, their bells were jingling away to the tunes of Christmas.

And there were those who can't help but be the rash under everyone's armpits - downright irritating. Talk about practising good hygiene habits! They powdered their boots EVERY SINGLE time they wore it, they powdered their underwear before they wore it AND after, and they powdered their slippers. Oh yes, these few also genuinely believed that the prickly heat they were using during their powdering rituals would repel poisonous snakes. Why and how? Grab a can of prickly heat and go figure. Hint: It is in the trademark.

Sleeping habits also varied amongst individuals. Some of them snored while others coughed incessantly. Some of them slept on the bedsheets while others ended up sleeping between the bed and the sheets. Some woke up on time while others woke up in time. Orders that were as clear as daylight blew by like the carefree wind: " Ok gentlemen, tomorrow reveille at 5.00 a.m. Breakfast at 5.15 a.m". Instead, to them it sounds like this: "Ok gentlemen, tomorrow wake up anytime you like before 5.15 a.m and then we can take our own time to eat. Ok?" Anyway, who eats at an ungodly hour like that! If it provides us with the energy for our morning training, I highly doubt so because what went in through our mouths came right back out at the other end in a matter of minutes.

Well, to you, this may seem like ranting. But these horrible habits of theirs will soon take a toll on me and even affect our training. And if the latter happens, I would be held responsible. Why? Because I was to become their platoon IC . And I was to take up that role for a VERY long time....

Yours truly
TGITA

MQFW

This is dedicated to all teachers, especially to some of them I know and one of them I really know - I feel you and I know it's at the tip of your tongue but you can't say it so I'll say it for you: 'Fuck middle management!'

...Dead from the neck up
I guess I'm stuffed, stuffed, stuffed
We thought you had it in you
But no, no, no
Exactly where do you get off
Is enough, is enough
I love you but enough is enough, enough
A last stop
There's no real reason

You've got a head full of feathers
You got melted to butter

- from the song Faust Arp by Radiohead from the album In Rainbows.

MQFW

I am the next act
waiting in the wings...

I am all the days
that you choose to ignore...

I am a moth
who just wants to share your light....

I only stick with you
because there are no others...

- from the song All I Need by Radiohead from the album In Rainbows

Told You They Were One of the Best and the Most Important...

Check out these articles and links. Their comeback and method demand worldwide attention whether they like it or not.

http://www.greenplastic.com/

In Rainbows...

I've downloaded the album yesterday. Yes, the album in which I paid 95 pence for it. I am quite ashamed of myself. But it was an honest mistake. Honest! Because I thought I was paying for a single track - under the impression of the website's store interface. However I am redeeming myself by purchasing their discbox next month.

My sincere apologies....to the band.

Apologies aside, the album completely rocks! An outstanding album in months! Sleek, smooth, weird yet catchy, relaxing and entirely original, this album is going to be on my playlist for months to come.

Oh yeah, TGITA will return soon enough. Sorry for the lack of humour and laughter on this blog. Been tired and busy. Then my attention was abruptly directed to the band.

Allow me to express myself...

AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Radiohead is finally coming out with a new record since 2003!

It's called In_Rainbow. Release date is 10th October 2007. Discbox shipment will commence on or before 3rd December 2007.

Currently, it's only available on their website and at the moment I can't wait for my pay day so that I can splurge on their music goodies!

And I think that's the only way their music will be made available.

Downloads come at fee in which the customer decides (SO COOL BUT DON'T TAKE ADVANTAGE LAH!) and the discbox is priced at 40 British pounds including shipment charges. They ship globally.

The link to their website is at the bottom of this page on the left.

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SOME REAL MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YESSA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

That Guy in The Army EP 1

Dear Diary...

Lets fast forward to all the fun parts with regards to my army experience! Lets forget about what equipment I received during my army stint, the uncomfortable ice breaking amongst strangers from all parts of the island and of course, the 'too-much-information-regarding-what-I-did-in-the army-till-my-girlfriend-nearly-falls-asleep-on-our-date-and-is-on-the-verge-of-dumping-me-and-associating-me-with-all-the-men-that-have-transformed-into-a-dull-dumbdud ' journey.

Lets talk about the people in my platoon; and the kind of trouble or nonsense they subject themselves to.

But lets set the background first...

I am no ordinary soldier. I am a special soldier.

Well, thats what the army medically classifies me as. So. I am special because I need special attention, in terms of training, and not because I was born perfect like a Spartan. I am considered the infirmed, the sick or the beancurd. In short, the PES C recruit.

According to the army I can't do much really. No strenuous activity (Yeah!), no real emphasis on my physicality (Yeah!) and no real physical punishment (Yeah!). Sounds real good already.

So you might think that I might have a missing limb or a missing organ or Ebola or something physically or biologically damaging or destructive. But no. I am perfectly fine. Its just my eyes. And no, the colour of my eyes aren't black. Its just that my lenses are rather...used. Therefore, I need my 'really thick' glasses. Other than that I am fine. I can stand. I can march. I can jump. I can run. I can squat. I can carry heavy things. I can carry light things. I can carry dangerous things. I can even be exposed to sunlight; and other substances, filthy or not. See... I AM FINE.

So how did I end up being in such a medical classification. That's because on a rainy and cold day, I, without really giving much thought about the medical screening and in the state of 'blurness', told the medical officer that I wanted to be in such a classification. Well, its not my fault really because he asked me if I wanted to be downgraded in a manner of asking whether a sugar-hungry child wanted candy. 'Can I give you PES C?' said the officer. 'Sure!' I answered. But heck! I didn't know what I agreed to after he squirted some medical concoction into my eyes that fogged it for almost 2 hours! And yes, I went home with a cloudy vision and I had to flag every damn bus that comes along, hoping that it's the correct one.

But I was lucky that I was classified as PES Crazy and not PES Creepy. Ohh yes....the latter is much worse of than those of my type. The latter looks and behaves like they are part of the Nightmare Before Christmas cast. And trust me, they don't need any costumes or professional acting classes to play the part. It's Halloween all year round for them! For now, lets not focus on them.

So, as you can see, that's the reason why, for my case, the people I was with and what they did, will be in the limelight of my journey. Other than that, I really love my girlfriend and friends...yeah...really...because I really wouldn't want to bore them to death or drive them away.

Yours
TGITA

ANNOUNCEMENT: IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG...

Ladies and fellow men,

I have returned and I have survived. I have managed to tolerate stupidity and ridicule. I have prevented myself from being infected by the inane and mundane. I have gathered strength - physical,mental and spiritual. I have gathered both moral and real knowledge. And of course, I have gathered tales. Tales no man dare not to laugh. Tales that are currently undergoing construction due to confidential reasons.

So, hang in there.

But here are excerpts from literary texts that more or less describes what tales I am about to spin with regards to my journey. It aptly summarizes myself, the environment and the others:

'...He is not easy to describe. There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable. I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why. He must be deformed somewhere; he gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I couldn't specify the point. He's an extraordinary-looking man, and yet I really can name nothing out of the way. No, Sir; I can make no hand of it; I can't describe him. And it's not want of memory; for I declare I can see him this moment...'

-said Mr Enfield to Mr Utterson when the latter asked the former to describe Mr Hyde in the book Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (1886)

'...Land in a swamp, march through the woods, and in some land post feel the savagery, the utter savagery, had closed round him - all that mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forest, in the jungles, in the hearts of wild men. There's no initiation either into such mysteries. He has to live in the midst of the incomprehensible, which is also detestable. And it has a fascination, too, that goes to work upon him. The fascination of the abomination - you know, imagine the growing regrets, the longing to escape, the powerless disgust, the surrender, the hate...'

-said Marlow on how a change in the environment can show Man's true colours in the book Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (1902)

Thus, I have come back a weathered man. A moulded man. A loving man. A funny man.

And as they say:

Immerse your soul in love

- from the song Street Spirit [Fade Out] by Radiohead from the album The Bends

Let the show begin....soon.

13 September 2007

MQFW

Just the mere sight of him feels me with absolute nausea...

- said Autobot Farah, a Friend of A Decepticon

MQFW

...And no funny tricks hotshot! Do NOT attempt to grow a brain! - said Dennis Hopper to Keanu Reeves in the movie Speed

Green Idea 1...

Use a water bottle.

If you don't have one, invest in one.

Reduce plastic disposal.

Recycle any plastic containers that is no longer of use.

Save the earth.

Thoughts from a little Monster in my Head Ep 5...

And so he talks again.
But you know he is shouting.
From the inside of course.
He is unhappy.
Not very happy.
He talks and talks and talks.
About things that can never change.
Till his voice slowly.......dis....app..ears....
It's gone.
His tonsils starts to rust.
It crumbles.
He swallows the dust that was his tonsils.
His tongue became stiff.
It turns blue.
Then green.
As he tries touching it, hoping for some sensation,
It snaps.
Like a toothpick.
And the chunk of meat was cleanly snapped.
His lips felt tight.
It sealed itself shut.
It sewed itself shut.
It's completely shut.
Then his face cracked.
By now, he was afraid.
So he stopped talking.
Promised never to voice out any unnecessary concerns or angst.
Anyway, he could no longer do so.

ANNOUNCEMENT...

'The Story of Mr Donny Dill' postphoned to 6 July 2007.

Excavation Site at the Record Store closed temporarily due to heavy rainfall.

'That Guy in the Army' debut episode and season pushed back to a much later date. No dates were given or confirmed.

Rumours of the 'record guy' getting married late next year in 2008.

MQFW

You had to piss on our parade
You had to shred our big day
You had to ruin it for all concerned
In a drunken punchup at a wedding.

- taken from the song A Punchup At A Wedding from the album Hail to the Thief by Radiohead