Starcrafted
Bought Starcraft while I was shopping for a keyboard, and played a bit of it. Maybe Strategy games aren't my forte, but didn't find it that to my liking, or I'm more of a fantasy freak. It's best I don't get addicted to any game right now. Enough distractions already.

Yux
Man and this site is built by SCS? Talk about... UGLY!

Living on a Boat
You know, I really wouldn't mind. Have to be a better sailor first lah, but I guess the boat has it's romantic appeal.

Long Day
Well officially my last day of work, and it's out into the great unknown. Met up with ex-colleagues who were laid off earlier in the year, and they're doing all right. Wandered to the library, and read two pretty interesting articles in The New Yorker. One about a couple using in-vitiro fertilization (at one stage they end up with four embryos inside the wife's womb, but eventually three of them die), and another one about a water crisis in Bolivia. Good reads. Also bought a book, Neutral Buoyancy, about diving as told from the perspective of a former BBC producer. After that it was dinner at First Thai near Purvis which has a killer Tom Yam, and then jazz at Somerset, but the lady there sang soul and wasn't too good. The band was great. Long day. Glad to reach home.

On the Death of Friends in Childhood
We shall not ever meet them bearded in heaven
Nor sunning themselves among the bald of hell;
If anywhere, in the deserted schoolyard at twilight,
forming a ring, perhaps, or joining hands
In games whose very names we have forgotten.
Come memory, let us seek them there in the shadows.
   - Donald Justice

Julius

I didn't know that Paul Frank's Julius was actually animated until I came across it at Screenblast. The theme song is really chirpy and bright. You can also see it at Paul Frank's site.

Japander
How Japan bows to Western forces!

Stealing wishes
Oh leave those coins in the fountain, Mr Cerceletta!

Mixed Day
Well had the exit interview today and they quizzed me on why I hadn't gone in. Explained that part of it was time off (I had worked every day + weekends the month before Broadcast Asia) and that I had completed my handover so not much point going in and staring at a dead computer. They might remove the pay I'm due for my leave days, but don't care much.

Went to a demo of the Asian Films website I'm working on, and the system is too complex. They're probably charging and arm and a leg for it's deployment when it can be done for MUCH less. I'll see how it goes; I doubt they can get a grant for it which might doom everything.

Chilling
An article about the old Security vs Privacy debate.

Better, more intrusive technology is going to limit our [ability to stay anonymous]. In 5 or 10 years, you'll have eyeglasses that scan any face on the street, look it up on the Internet, and provide captions as you walk by. This will be a return to the village of our ancestors, where they recognized everyone they saw. No one will be a total stranger.

Chilling? Yes. But should we try to ban this technology? No. That would only limit it to some elite -- whichever elite you happen to fear. Then, someone passing you on the street will glance at you and break out laughing, and you'll know they can see you, really see you. And you won't be able to look back.

The village is returning, alright. But we may still decide which kind. Is it a benign village that appreciates eccentricity and diversity? One where all elites have to watch themselves and avoid abusing power?

Will it be the good village of the Andy Hardy movies, where no one is neglected and no one has to conform? Or will it be the bad village of Babbitt, dominated by secret patricians and citizens who are cowed by busybody gossips?

Technology seems to foretell a world village, whether we like it or not. But we still can choose which kind.

Enthralled
Went to the long-delayed Diana Krall concert and was enthralled, even though the seats meant I had to cock my head to one side to see her. She played wonderfully and the band accompanying her was great as well. The acoustics at the Suntech Convention Center was pretty good, to my surprise. Well worth the money.

Bye Bye Business Cards
Found my old Biz Card holder and been throwing out a bunch of old cards, or people I don't ever recall meeting. Also added my MW card to the growing list of cards. Looks like another one to add soon. I guess I should make yet another card for my nomadic career.