Happy Birthday, Harry Potter!

Why Xiaowei likes Arashi

The long-awaited post...Tadah! After watching some episodes of VS Arashi and Odoroki no Arashi, I guess you can say they are quite likeable. All of them have quite interesting personalities, they're funny and entertaining. And the fan-subs make the viewing experience all the more funny. Hahahaha...

Don't think XW will be satisfied with this post though :P

edit 30July: XW I even joined livejournal and vox to watch their videos, okay?! I'm going to quote another fan's description of Arashi:

Aiba, the funny Baka
Jun, the cool DoS
Nino, the braty member
Ohno, the cute Leader
Sho, the dorky newscaster

Guess that about sums them up. It was a poll actually, about which is your favourite member. I chose... Nino :P

recently blogger looks weird. I dunno if it's just my computer, but on the posting page the toolbar with the add pictures, font size, font colour, bold etc buttons is missing. So I can't format my writing. Sucks. I don't know what's wrong. I'm having the same problem with both firefox and ie.

Anyway, the tormenting round 1A of bidding is over. I sat in front of the computer at 3PM and spent the next 2 hours staring at the screen, wondering what I should do, playing various scenarios in my mind... Bidding is such a torture. It's like psychological warfare, you know. Trying to figure out what other people are thinking so that you can secure a place for yourself. It sucks.

Anyway (again), if I'm going to take forensic science, that's going to leave me with very few points to bid for my fifth module. I had intended to take CL2280 Basic translation, but I'm not confident about securing that. And then I found out that I can bid for EC2102 Macroeconomics in round 1A. That's the start of my dilemma. Should I bid for EC now, then drop it if CL proves to be unpopular? I'd only be refunded half the points, though. If I were to choose between econs and sociology, which will I do? Given my hatred of GP, surely I will choose econs? But then EC2102 is an econs core module and won't it be suicidal of me to take it when I don't have A-level econs?!?! So I struggled really long and at 4.40PM, 20 minutes before the end of the closed round, I decided to put 800 points down for econs. Which is kind of ridiculous, considering the amount I used for my core modules.

The bidding results are as follows:
------------------------------------------
Allocated Modules
------------------------------------------

Module Code: CM3221
Module Title: Organic Synthesis and Spectroscopy
Bid ID: B00002906084
Your Bid: 100
Winning Bid: 1

Module Code: CM3291
Module Title: Advanced Experiments In Organic & Inorganic Chemistry
Bid ID: B00002943464
Your Bid: 200
Winning Bid: 1

Module Code: CM3242
Module Title: Instrumental Analysis II
Bid ID: B00002945626
Your Bid: 500
Winning Bid: 1

Module Code: EC2102
Module Title: Macroeconomic Analysis I
Bid ID: B00002950027
Your Bid: 1000
Winning Bid: 906

906 points! My gawd! I was inwardly thinking how lucky it was I'd thought to add another 200 points on second thought, but I don't really know if it's a good thing or not that I got it. If I drop it I'll lose 453 points from my programme account. sianzzz

(edited @29Jul 3.27PM: found a soln on the blogger help forum. For firefox users hold down ctrl and press f5. It worked for me =) )

Fragile

You know, I don’t think I’ll ever be happy. Wherever I am, I’ll wish I’m somewhere else. Whatever I have, I’ll want something different.

Smile and make you think I’m happy
I talk and make you think I love me
I laugh, so you don’t see me cry
I look at you and hide the pain inside
I feel myself dying but you see me survive

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down, probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back...

If you don't understand my silence... You'll never understand my words
The pain is there to remind me that I'm still alive

Behind this smile is everything you'll never understand

I know it seems like I'm this strong person who can get through anything, but inside I'm fragile. I've had so many things thrown at me, and each one has only made a crack. What I'm afraid of is shattering

I thought somebody would notice, I thought somebody would say something…

As we grow older, it gets harder to believe. It’s not that we don’t want to but too much has happened and we can’t.

I guess to some extent, you get used to being alone. You get used to not expecting phone calls & having nothing to do at night. You don’t expect to turn around to open arms any longer. The small sounds of him have been replaced by silence. Your thoughts echo through your head, with no one to share them with. All in all, being alone isn’t terrible, it just hurts like hell…

When you finally realize that you didn't matter at all to someone, you begin to wonder if you ever mattered to anyone

The only guy that deserves you.. is the one that thinks he doesn't. the one that'll stick by your side.. no matter how much you mess up. and the one who will forgive you.. mistake after mistake..
To put it simply, I want to be someone's everything…
I am so scared ... scared that I wont ever love anyone like this, that I wont ever find someone who can make me feel so complete yet at the same time be the one who's leaving me feeling lifeless... And you'll never know how it feels to have the one person who means everything to you -make you feel like nothing

Do you know why I hate myself? I’m selfish, lonely, insecure, annoying,and bitchy, but the main reason I hate myself is because I am me.

Even though I loved you so much, I just couldn't deal with the pain. And, the times we spent together, holding each other, were the best times of my life. But no matter how much I wanted to keep you in my arms, I couldn't. I couldn't hold on to you, knowing that all you were going to do was hurt me. But right now, even though I still love you, I don't need you anymore. I don't need you to complete me. I just need you to comfort me when I'm sad, support me, and listen to me when I talk. So, I guess what I'm saying is, I'm glad we're over. I'm glad I've let go I can cry a million tears, but you'll never see my frown. I'll whisper your name one thousand times, but you'll never hear a sound.

I miss you. not enough to want you back, just enough for it to hurt

Maybe I was just a stepping stone for you to get to that point in your life where you'd figure out what you wanted, or didn't want... So to prove to you that I love you and all I want is for you to be happy, I'll walk away..
Promise me that's all I want. Just a promise that you will never forget me.

Tell me I changed you somehow. Let me know that I had an impact on your life. Promise me that you will always remember me. Losing you was hard enough, but I don't want to live knowing I meant absolutely nothing to you

I feel like one of those people who is so miserable that they can't be around normal people, like I'll infect the happy people

Maybe we like the pain. Maybe we're wired that way. Because without it, I don't know; maybe we just wouldn't feel real. What's that saying? Why do I keep hitting myself with a hammer? Because it feels so good when I stop

Love is a behavior, not a feeling. It's the way somebody treats you everyday, all day ... not just when their life is going well

I know we're good together. You're the only person I can be myself with, even if I don't know who the hell that is.

You're scared because you don't understand... I'm scared because I do.

She's a pretty typical teenager. Angry, insecure, confused. I wish I could tell her that's all going to pass, but I don't want to lie to her.

Quote: http://postsimple.com/az696

I know I rant about this at the start of every semester, but I really need to say this again:

I HATE BIDDING!

I hate having to make choices. I hate having to choose what to take.

As if choosing the electives wasn't enough, now I have to choose my core modules too.

CM3221 Organic Synthesis & Spectroscopy - Am I going to plunge myself into the darkness of organic chem once more? Am I going to be stuck with Clayden again (or worse?)?

CM3232 Physical Chemistry of the Solid State & Interfaces - I don't know about this. I don't like it, but I don't hate it either.

CM3242 Instrumental Analysis - Definitely have to do this. Analytical skills for future labwork.

And then the electives. I'm really interested in GEK1542 Forensic sciences and GEK2501 Understanding your medications. I've wanted the former since year 1 and now I think I've finally accumulated enough points to bid for it. The thing is, GEK2501 is also very popular, in the range of 400-600+ points. So I can't afford to bid for both. I am sooo stuck. So I have to choose. The thing is, GEK2501 is only offered in Sem I, and they stopped offering GEK1542 in Sem II last year, which means I'll have to wait till I'm in year 4 (if I ever get there) if I miss it this time round. Grr! *pulling my hair* AND if I taking the med course, the lecture is wed 3-5pm, and it's impossible to find any other modules that fit in on wednesday, which means I can kiss my free day goodbye! I'll be going to school on 2 days each week just for ONE lecture, and that sucks! GRR!

I'm hungry...

2501 seems quite difficult. A lot of stuff to memorise. MCQ, negative marking. Ewww...horrible experience from SSS1207. I just thought it would be useful if I'm going to do pharmaceuticals in the future. Sigh. Maybe I'll shelve it till year 4. If there's no year 4 then... oh well.

S.P.D.

SPEED IS BACK!

Cool song. It's very very different from their old songs, but hey, I love their spirit!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

This is going to be a very long post. If you think it's tiring to read, imagine typing it.

I went to watch HBP with Xiao Wei just now (yesterday? since it's past midnight?). My sister has already seen it on Sunday (that's her birthday), and she said it sucked. So I went and read the movie reviews. Those who hate it were generally the hardcore fans, who were disappointed because of the numerous deviations from the book. Those who like it said the cinematography was great, the acting was superb, and I agree with them. The opening in which the Death Eaters swooped around burning buildings was nauseating. As for acting, I think Helena Bonham Carter succeeded in portraying the deranged Bellatrix Lestrange (she really looks mad and dangerous!); Emma Watson was pretty good esp in that scene where Hermione cried on Harry's shoulder after Ron snogged Lavender (I cried a bit...Ron is always making Hermione upset! Actually the snogging was okay;it sounded really bad in those reviews); Tom Felton did a great job as the lonely and tormented Draco Malfoy. He really does look worn and haggard.The character has grown from a mean bully to, ironically, the Chosen One. My heart went out to him in scenes where he wasn't paying attention to Dumbledore in the Opening Feast, when he's walking alone while other students were happily playing around, his hidden fear when Harry asked Katie about the necklace, him breaking down in the bathroom, his look of reluctance and revulsion as he finally repaired the Vanishing Cabinets and opened it to the Death Eaters, when he trembled as he pointed his wand at Dumbledore, when he looked at the remains of Hogwarts as he escaped... you just know he didn't want any of this.

Alan Rickman was great as always as the Severus Snape that you love and hate (I love his voice!!!).

But Michael Gambon was the biggest surprise.

To be honest I've been kind of biased against him ever since he replaced Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore in "Prisoner of Azkaban". I found him a bit too wild and frivolous, a little over dramatic at times. But in this movie he's truly Albus Dumbledore. He's the wise old wizard with flowing white hair and beard. He speaks to Harry with care and concern, he carries himself as a headmaster would, he even manages to be witty in the most Dumbledore-lish way (see hospital scene where Lavender storms off after Ron murmurs Hermione's name in his sleep.)

The cave scene wasn't like what I had imagined when I read the book. The ground was covered with what looked like crystals (it looks difficult to walk on, what with so many jagged edges), which reminds me of the planet Superman was from, you know, in "Superman Returns"? I was filling with dread and getting all worked up, and Michael Gambon did a splendid job portraying a weakened Dumbledore, crying, murmuring "It's all my fault" and pleading Harry to stop. It broke my heart to see the tear-stained face of an old and weak Dumbledore. (I started crying here.) The only flaw was that he suddenly wasn't quite that weak when he asked Harry for water. Thought he's supposed to feel like he's dying from thirst? So as you know, Harry went to get water from the lake, and I know that's when the Inferi would appear. I knew it and I'd braced myself for it, but still I was damn frightened when an Inferi arm suddenly shot out and grabbed Harry. I was completely thrown back into my seat and I grabbed Xiao Wei. Phew. Harry was dragged into the lake where several colonies of Inferi were waiting. Oh man, there really were a lot of them. This is different from the book, but I supposed it was for a more dramatic effect? Then Dumbledore conjured a fire to dispel the Inferi and saved Harry. The scene in which Dumbledore stood, looking a little wild, with fire blazing around him hit me really hard, for some reason. Perhaps it's because I was suddenly reminded that he's an old man. Or maybe it's because it reminds me of a similar scene from one of the Lord of the Rings movies, where Gandalf the Grey was battling with some fiery dragon.

They then Apparated back to the tower. Dumbledore asked Harry to hide downstairs and not do anything. Strangely Harry did not have the Invisibility Cloak with him, nor was he immobilised by Dumbledore, so I wonder why he didn't do anything to save Dumbledore? I knew Dumbledore had told Harry to trust him, and Snape warned him to remain silent before ascending the tower himself, but isn't it just not in his nature to do nothing? It's just weird. And I think it'd have been more impactful if Dumbledore had cast the Body-Binding charm as in the book, because I remember how my heart had ached terribly when I read "the split second it had taken Dumbledore to cast the spell had cost him the chance to defend himself".

Tom Felton's acting was convincing as Draco broke down and said, "If I don't kill you, he'll kill me." The Death Eaters arrived, then Snape arrived with that unreadable expression of his, and I was almost going crazy and wringing my hands and hoping against what I knew would come. Dumbledore pleaded with Severus (it hurt to watch this; crying initiated), it was all very fast when Snape cast the Killing Curse. There was a brief shot of Dumbledore as he fell down the tower. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks (they really felt hot, I wonder why. Maybe the theatre was too cold...).

After Snape escaped, Harry returned to the foot of the tower, where the students were gathered around Dumbledore's body. He looked like he might have been sleeping. T_T. Ginny held Harry as he cried. Now I really cannot control myself when I see people cry. I just broke down when I saw that the students were crying too (had to bite my lips to keep quiet). Led by McGonagall, the staff and students raised their wands, casting lights that erased the Dark Mark cast by Bellatrix, all the while crying silently. Dumbledore was going to be missed by all... The movie then ends with Harry talking to Hermione and Ron about the road ahead, and a final scene of them watching Fawkes fly away, leaving Hogwarts forever, just as Dumbledore had... T_T

I'd cried a lot, which is why I felt so tired after watching the movie. Tears were dripping down the front of my shirt and when I finally got to the toilet I noticed my eyes were red and swollen. I wonder why my sis said she didn't feel anything when Dumbledore died. I thought they did a pretty good job. Or perhaps I was just allowing my emotions to run wild.

I've enjoyed the movie, definitely. Would have enjoyed it more if not for the bursting bladder I had to endure from the green tea I had drunk previously. I don't know it's because I'd read those poor reviews and lowered my expectations. But I have known it differs from the book, and I stopped comparing the movie with the book, and it's great. Among the reviews that I've read, the most missed scenes were Dumbledore picking Harry up at the Durseley's and giving them a dressing down (it was changed to a train station, and I thought the part about Harry trying to pick up a waitress was quite dumb), the Hogwarts Battle (I must admit it's really odd that no one stopped the Death Eaters as they marched away after killing Dumbledore, blowing up things here and there. And read, they marched. They didn't even run. Sidetrack a bit, Draco looked pained as he glanced at the smothering remains of the Great Hall, work of Bellatrix. Whatever he might have said on the Hogwarts Express about hating the school, I'm sure he felt for it. After all, he had spent six years in thw school with his friends.) and Dumbledore's funeral. But I suppose the tower scene was acceptable. It did convey the loss of Albus Dumbledore and how he was missed, albeit on a less grand scale. In the book his funeral was attended by merpeople and centaurs, which shows how a great a wizard he truly was. Some people thought it was ridiculous to do without the scene, because how else is Voldemort going to get the Elder Wand in the next movie? But actually the movie shows the Wand to be in the Headmaster's Office; Harry was looking at it when Professor McGonagall entered.

There was a brief scare when Xiao Wei lost her wallet, but luckily we found it when we went back to the Cathay (after we had already got to the MRT station!). Kudos to the helpful Cathay staff!

Gotta sleep early to watch the live broadcast of solar eclipse tomorrow at 8AM!

ALIVE

絶え間なく 打ち寄せる波よ
この切なさは 何処からくるの
心の岸辺を 濡らしてゆく
まぶしかった日々

緑が 枯れてくように
未来が色褪せてみえても
涙の数だけ きっといつか
花は咲く日が来る

遠く離れても 明日が見えなくても
愛を止めないで
この海の果てはやがて青い空へ続いてる
ひとりじゃない
この胸に愛は生きている

心へと 吹きすさぶ風よ
自分に 負けない強さ下さい
雨が降り続いても 闇が深くても
朝は来るように…

時の流れに身をゆだね
地図のない海へ 舟を出そう
信じていれば いつか たどり着けるね
約束の地へ

永遠に汚れない 思いがあるなら
愛を止めないで
この世に生まれてきた命のきらめきを
知っているなら
終わりなき旅路へ 歩き出そう

果てしなく続く航海のどこかで
また必ずめぐり逢えるよね

「愛は生きている
ずっとこの想いは胸にいきつづけている…ALIVE」

遠く離れても 明日が見えなくても
愛を止めないで
この海の果てはやがて青い空へ続いてる
ひとりじゃない この胸にずっと愛は生きている
生きていこう
愛は生きてる

Love is Alive…

Oh, endlessly breaking waves
Where does this pain come from?
The banks of my heart are wet
From those bright days

Like the withering greenery
The future may seem to fade away
But for every tear I shed
There will surely be days of blooming flowers

Even if we’re far apart and can’t see tomorrow
Don’t stop loving
The end of this ocean soon continues into the blue sky
I’m not alone
Love is alive in this heart

Oh, wind blowing fiercely into my heart
Please grant me the strength to not give in
Even if rain keeps falling or the darkness is deep
May morning come…

I entrust myself to the flow of time
And will sail into this uncharted sea
If I believe, I’ll make it there someday
To the promised land

If memories won’t be tarnished by eternity
Don’t stop loving
If you know the light of a life born into this world
Then let’s set off on an endless journey

I know that somewhere on this boundless sea voyage
We’ll meet again

“Love is alive
These feelings will forever be in my heart…alive”

Even if we’re far apart and can’t see tomorrow
Don’t stop loving
The end of this ocean soon continues into the blue sky
I’m not alone
Love will always be alive in this heart
Let’s live on
Love is alive

Love is alive…

Taken from http://www.quartet4.net/?p=276

《雨啊，请你到非洲》

《生还与灭顶》

有些现实，是连电影也拍不出的一出惨剧。

找一个长周末，去爬山，去看海，去接近花花草草。有一千零一个留下来的借口，也有一千零一个出走的理由。只要拿得起行囊。

A study just published in the journal Psychological Science says trying to get people to think more positively can actually have the opposite effect: it can simply highlight how unhappy they are. ... common-sense proposition: when people hear something they don't believe, they are not only often skeptical but adhere even more strongly to their original position.

Adapted from TIME "Yes, I Suck: Self-Help Through Negative Thinking"

I don't want to grow up. I don't.

Furthermore, regular visits from doctors and access to modern medical care raised the birth rate and decreased the death rate, causing an enormous natural increase . Before long, the Inuit population was beyond what hunting and fishing could support, i.e. the carrying capacity of the ecosystem. By the mid-1960s, encouraged first by missionaries, then by the prospect of paid jobs and government services, and finally forced by hunger and required by police, all Canadian Inuit lived year-round in permanent settlements. The nomadic migrations that were the central feature of Arctic life had for the most part disappeared. The Inuit, a once self-sufficient people in an extremely harsh environment, were in the span of perhaps two generations transformed into a small, impoverished minority lacking skills or resources to sell to the larger economy, but increasingly dependent on it for survival.

~Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit

Why do people like to change others to become like themselves? It's the same with the Spanish missionaries who brainwashed the Mayan people. Why can't they just leave the natives alone? Do they think they are better, do they think everyone should convert to Christianity?

It disgusts me.

Nodame Cantabile SP

Time to update on nodame... The SP starts with Chiaki and Nodame flying to Paris, where they befriend two dorm-mates, Tanya and Frank. This shot was taken in Frank's room. I thought I was seeing things... isn't that Puririn hanging from the Eiffel Towel?!?!
And that shirt! Puririn and Kazuo!
Nodame looks up Frank to learn French from him (cos Chiaki is too busy) but is instead distracted by the TV... I was like, LOL they have Puri Gorota in France too?!?!


Haha I hope they really sell these.



Smart Nodame's learning French by watching anime...


She brought Gorota to Paris with her :)
Good luck charm for Chiaki-senpai's competition. Seriously, they made so many Puri Gorota merchandise I wonder if they sell them... I would want to buy! :D


It so happens that the anime festival is held there and Nodame takes a picture with the creator of Puri Gorota! Damn real huh?
Kazuo on the baton :)
This is episode 2 of SP, which focuses on Nodame. Her room is extremely messy and she struggles to locate the key to Chiaki-senpai's room. Ah, I spot Gorota!

Kazuo makes a cameo :P
Gorota!
Gorota again! This part was quite sad; Nodame was crying and wondering if she should just return to Japan cos all these training for competition stuff didn't really suit her, she just loved to play piano for the fun of it. And what's more, Chiaki was away on tour with Stresemann, who dragged him along to those nightclubs, causing Nodame to think that Chiaki was cheating on her. It was sad, but I was sort of distracted by Gorota...

Kazuo!
Reunion of Gorota & Kazuo!

They're on their way to Nodame's first recital. She really likes playing with puppets huh?



They kiss after the successful recital!
Isn't it romantic?
A final hug after Chiaki's conducting debut... She was expecting him to kiss her, but he drew on her face...LOL. Looks cute anyway :D
Chiaki OS: My Europe debut...and at the same time, into Weirdo's Forest. :) :) :)

Wonderful show... The movie will be out next year!