I contemplate of moving this uncared blog to wordpress - an arguably better blogging service which accepts Safari, my mac browser of choice, unlike spaces where using IE is encouraged. Sadly I am such a procrastinator that before I do anything major, like moving this blog to a better place, I would think and rethink about the consequences and difficulty I would face. I would have to redo the template. I would have to find a way to move my entries from here to the new place. You get the picture. The thought of it scared me enough to just settle with spaces, even though it looks dreadful on the world most beautiful browser, Safari.

I need to stop this habit of procrastinating. Its stopping me from doing many things. Usually I would chance upon something, be it a movie, a novel or just a little sketch hidden deep in the corners of my drawers, that would inspire enough to start a new painting. For example the painting that I am suppose to be working on is inspired by the National Geographic documentary, Gospel of Judas. It took me almost 3 days to just open Photoshop and start. Yes I procrastinate to the point of my creative demise. Right now, I am procrastinating instead of continuing with the painting. I am having some lighting issues that I am too lazy to solve. Lazy enough to stop painting. Oh great Enayla, bless me with your great skin shading and insane sense of lighting strength so that I could continue painting.

Today I had a job interview that went quite well. Thank god I did not procrastinate in preparing my portfolio. Though I did procrastinate in preparing my process sketches, so in the end I did not include them in my portfolio. The interviewer would probably spent more time looking through my portfolio if I include those sketches I believe. He flipped through my portfolio like flipping trough the ad pages of Vogue magazine. I think I charmed him with my cropped haircut and specs. :P He did say I look like a designer - You have the hair and the specs of a designer, he said. Haha. Which could either be a bad or good thing. We did talk a lot about my favorite designers Mr Michael Bierut and Miss Paula Scher, the difference between designers and artist, the importance of concept and many other arty designer stuff. To sum it up, the interview felt like a long enjoyable chat between two designers. I like that. To chat about design and art without feeling like a ridiculous arty elite.

After the interview, I decided to roam about Kino and incidentally picked up the book Struck by Lightning - a collection of political writings by four young politic journalist. As the title suggest, the dominant subject and theme of most of the writings is about Singapore long dominant ruling party, the PAP - whose logo is a circle with a blue lightning bolt. The book disappointed me though. I was expecting bold critiques and opinions of the PAP, instead what I got was a collection of writing ranging from how Singapore offered aid to the Tsunami victims overseas to how we do not know enough of our own neighbors. And then they sum it up by trying to draw a link to the political party with the lightning bolt logo. Maybe I was expecting something anti-government (oh you rebel!), but this book is neutral at best. Maybe the writers fear they will be struck by lightning themselves?

So Ministry of Sound (MOS) isn't really that big of a deal, even though it is really big. Biggest one in the world even. (and I ain't kidding) Something about that place just isn't friendly and warm enough. Maybe it's the overly crowded places. Maybe its the music. (which surprisingly is sucky). Then again, maybe it just ain't gay enough. After being in there for about an hour or so  - trying to dance like sluts to house music and experimenting with straws we decided to leave. We are not enjoying ourselves, thought there were moments on the dance floor.

That was like a few weeks ago. I always wanted to write an entry but I always get distracted by work. So yes MOS turned out disappointing, until a colleague of mine told me that there is a dedicated RnB room. Great. I remembered actually walking about that club 3 times, and all 3 times, we missed the RnB room. But still, I don't believe MOS could be as great as Why Not or Happy.

Talking about gay clubs, MOS is suppose to have one gay party. But sadly, our wonderfully we-don't-discriminate-against-gay-people government and police decided that the party is promoting an unhealthy gay lifestyle, so they shut it down. They closed it down 2 days before the party itself, after all the gay tourist have flown into Singapore especially for this party, only to be disappointed. All this reminds me of V for Vendetta.

V for vendetta is a stylistic political commentary. Pseudo-Intelligent and entertaining enough for me. Though their take on the post 9/11, post Iraq War was both amusing and scary, I think its important to note that Guy Fawkes is really not the historical revolutionist hero that he was portrayed as in the movie. To put it simply, he was a Catholic Extremist, much like a modern age, Muslim extremist. In our age, he would be called a catholic terrorist. He was a militant, fighting for his faith. A conservative. So it was quite ironic, that a conservative catholic militant was the icon for the rebels who are rebelling against a conservative religious government. Then again the movie isn't about which camp is evil or not, but about the wonderful ideal of Ideas and voice and all that nice utopian democratic jazz. Also, for those who can't stand all this political stuff, there is an element of romance and comedy to distract you guys.

So my mum decided to get me some t-shirts. Ever since army, I have been shopping for my own clothes, even for simple things like t-shirts. Mums being mums, will never understand their own children. It is like some evil cosmic law. She called me and told me she is getting me some t-shirt cause there is a sale at Isetan. Oh oh. Isetan sale is something I never liked. It means they are trying to clear their extremely old and really unsell-able stock. Isetan's sale is something I try to stay away from. But seeing as how my mum is insisting to get me some t-shirts, even after I tried to tactfully persuade her from doing so, I told her to get safe t-shirts. Meaning black or white, plain, not much prints something that is not overbearingly skater punk huge. If there are lots of words and random numbers on the t-shirt don't buy it. She returned home and showed me the t-shirts she got. They are huge, far from plain, with random numbers and words printed on it. They are everything I told her not to get. It's just so salah! "SALAH!" I practically screamed at her. "They are okay what. You can wear them with your jeans." She replied. "SALAH!" I screamed again. Well at this point, I realized I was behaving like a bitch of a son. So trying to salvage the situation, I told her, daddy needs more t-shirts then me anyway. Dad gladly took them, and happily too.

Walking home from camp is becoming such a sweaty affair. March's sun is unforgiving. The heat is unbearable. On top of that, I have to wear the thick canvas like army No. 4 uniform. It's just too hot damnit! If this goes on, I might suffer from heat exhaustion from just walking from camp to my flat.

All this heat got me thinking, why is the Army No. 4 uniform – the No. 4 is the common oh-so-glamourous camouflage uniform – made as it is right now. First of all, the material is rudely uncomfortable. It's thick, not breathable, totally inflexible and traps heat. And this is the uniform soldiers go to war wearing. We need something practical – hello – . Though I have to say, the No. 4 is well cut. Its flattering on most men. Makes the skinny look slim, the bulky looks built and the hunks look like gods.

The army is really a strange place. For some strange reason, people in the army find it hard to tell the truth to the question: "So free ah?" I am guilty of such myself. What is so wrong about saying yes, yes I am free and enjoying myself. What is so wrong about having finish your work early and taking an occasional break. What is so wrong about not working all the time? Maybe I will try it myself. Yes. I'm free and enjoying myself, sir.

While under the influence of the blistering heat, out in the field, I imagined up a design for a horizontal resumé. The silly heat. I sketched up a couple of design for the horizontal resumé and it's turning out pretty dandy. I do not know if I would be using it though. Seems too unconventional. But that again, just to be unconventional, maybe I will. I need to impress with my resumé even if the content is not that impressive.

I had a dream that had me soaking in sweat. I recalled it to be a short dream, however it felt really long. It was like a dream that was on repeat mode. It was dream that had me waking up feeling detached from the world. I dreamt that I was walking towards a very British train station. You know the kind in Harry Potter. So I was walking towards one of the platform and I sat down at one of the benches there. Suddenly one of the train station officers approached me and offered me tea. I said my thanks (I remembered I had a strange English accent) and had a sip of my tea.

Everything felt normal when a train suddenly flashed past me. The train was a blur but I can see through each window very clearly. In the window, I can see vivid images of my life. It was like a movie seeing through those windows. Pictures of my old secondary school and me practicing in Band. My poly life, and the fun I had then. Pictures of my first girlfriend and how then I thought she was the one girl for me. Pictures of me clubbing and dancing like a slut. There were many more but some are just too personal to mention here. It was 21 years of my life flashing right before my eyes, again and again. It felt like forever, before I woke up. Ironically even though my dream felt long, my life didn't feel like much for a 21 year old.

Apologizing seems like a charming little concept. You did something naughty, you apologized and suddenly you are forgiven. If you are not forgiven, then the person you are apologizing to, is suddenly the evil bad guy. You don't even have to be sorry for what you did, just recognize the fact that what you did doesn't go well with everyone. What I don't get is, why isn't this charming little social device used more often?

I love the annual budget speech. It's interesting, when the entire Singapore year is defined in this speech. And by the look of things, this year is all about helping the needy and recognizing our soldiers. Since I fit in both category, I am looking at some cash bonuses. I am not to sure about the needy part, (there are too many requirements and restrictions) but its confirm that I am getting at least a hundred bucks from the government in recognition of my services. And surprising there isn't even any raise in price in any public services (except for the universities' fees, but they are already corporatized, so its the Universities own doing). Coincidentally, this year is the election year.

I was walking home from camp, when i saw a whole row of pink construction lorries. Pink lorries? That's something. I snap a picture with my camera phone. The color turned out bad, the pink looked greyish orange and everything is muted. It's so bad, I immediately deleted the picture. It reminded me that I need to get a better camera phone, or maybe just a new digital camera.

Talking about shopping, I am surprised that I did not spend this much this month. There is still healthy sum of money left behind from my last pay cheque and I like it. All I bought this month are a pair black trousers and a black t-shirt. Maybe its time for a wardrobe reorganization.

Alex, who described my blog as intellectual garbage (what does that mean anyway :P) is insisting that I write a Brokeback Mountain review, after I kept bugging her to watch the movie. She wants to know what a sexually confused young designer would say about a gay cowboy movie. Well, I would write a review, but I do not think my review would do justice to a movie where words like breathtaking, haunting, moving and flawless would describe this movie perfectly. Just watch it Alex, and you review the movie. I would like to know how a straight young asian lady designer would describe a 'gay cowboy movie'. However calling brokeback mountain a gay cowboy movie is like calling the Godfather just a mafia movie. I would like to review the movie Munich though.

As for how to make man say oooh, Dip it low Pick it up slow Roll it all around.. Pick it up..

/End of intellectual garbage.

Upon the realization that I do not own a decent pair of black trousers and a pair white sneakers, I felt slightly disturbed with myself. Not that this is the point of this basically pointless entry. I woke up on a fine Saturday morning and casually stretched out, and suddenly discovered that my boxer shorts buttons were unbuttoned. Usually I wouldn't give this mundane detail that much thought, but this time, my you-know-what was hanging out like a silly curious dog. Not that it looked like a dog mind you. So after tucking that thing back in, and buttoning my shorts up, I felt like peeing. Mornings can be such a bitch indeed.

Other than mornings, others have made me notice that I can be a bitch sometimes too. I never rejoice being the bitch. I am surrounded by bitches, that I sometimes casually swear upon the graves of rock stars that I will never be one. I do not like making people feel any less than spectacular about themselves. But sometimes I can't just help it. To borrow a quote from a friend of mine, Life's a bitch. Be a bigger one. Or something like that.

You know, being an artist and designer you would expect me to like arty talk. Well I do, if it involves art history, artist profiles and art movement. Basically I like talking about something deeper than the art pieces. I like to discuss the history of Mona Lisa, but I do not like to entertain silly interpretations of the masterpiece. Once, an artist from deviatart messaged me on MSN. I do not know whether he was a true fan or some artist desperate for critiques, but he did gave me 3 +favs on 3 separate pieces. Anyway, he told me he loved my work and began to interpret many of my old works including my favorite sketch, "When immortals die." He went on and on about how the two figures were embracing death as lovers and somehow that their love will be immortalized. It was something abstract like that. Of course it was far off what I originally intended it to portray, and it was less beautiful that it's misinterpretation. I suppose misinterpretation could be welcomed, but sometimes, clouds just look like clouds.

Talking about deviantart, I am beginning to be depressed about my art. Specifically my illustrations. I was never strong in drawing, I am however blessed with the ability to cheat with colors and artistic trickery. Can't draw hands? It's okay. I will just draw leaves to cover up that part. Wrong perspective? That's okay, I will just brighten up this area, darken this part. There, everything looks right. Clouds? Just paint whimsical abstract shapes with subtle color difference and you would get clouds. But draw clouds. Hell, how do you do that? I am sick of this. I need to learn drawing. I have been sketching from life daily these days in hoping that I would improve. I need to take a drawing class.

I like to shamelessly plug my blog to my random online friends. It's fun and people think I have cool and smart because I write entries like this. However, one of my many random friends told me she didn't understand my blog. "Its confusing" she said. "There are like so many links and stuff. What is fresh banana signals and all those crap?" she asked. "What are you dense or something?" I replied. No. I was kidding on the last bit. I like my online persona to remain as non bitchy as possible. So for her benefit and the others, I would like to explain my blog.

All the entries that I write, including this one is placed in the center column. I try to be witty, smart, funny and informative in my entries. Most of the time they are just random bits. But that's okay. To your left (or right) is the coffee table blogs grid. This is 3 blogs that I recently discovered and currently reading. It changes from time to time. Fresh banana signals are articles, random websites and pages that I would like to share with you guys. To your right, profiles, archives and wanted books are self explanatory.

A quirky colleague and friend of mine managed to get through 1st round of Singapore Idol audition. Congratulations Chin!

While we all have to agree that the Devil have great taste, fashion spies all over are reporting that even the Pope is wearing Prada. It's causing quite a tiny uproar - not the same suicidal magnitude of the islam prophet cartoon protest - but it was still reported in respected fashion magazines and tabloids world wide. I personally have no problems with the Pope wearing Prada loafers. I say its great that the man who wears ridiculous cassocks lined with blinding gold sequins in the name of God, is finally realizing that fashion is not all that evil.

So if the man who probably puts fashion at the bottom of his to-do list can appreciate good Prada loafers and fashion in general (fashion spies last reported that the Pope is donning Gucci shades too), I say, so can you. Here I am putting up a list of people, names, brands and information so that you too, can begin to appreciate fashion. Not all of us are as rich, or have rich friends like the Pope, but knowing about fashion doesn't hurt.

5 fashion names and facts about them you MUST know

1)Hedi Slimane Previously the creative director of Yves Saint Laurent, he was ousted and now is the creative director and genius behind Dior Homme. Under his leadership, Dior Homme was transformed from a stuffy victorian boxy look, to a slim-fit, indie rock and roll style, while sill maintaining Dior's tailor-ship and sensibilities. His last collection, the 2006 fall/winter collection however has hints of Yves Saint Laurent parisan influences. Since 2005, rumors has it that he is going back to YSL, perhaps this is the confirmation? He was born in 1968 in Paris.

2) Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana Well this are really two people, but they cannot be separated if they are to make any sense in the fashion world. While, they announced the end of their gay relationship, their company fortunately are still to remain the same, and they are still going to design together. They started the infamous fashion line, Dolce and Gabbana. Dolce and Gabbana has sprung off another entity, the supposedly cheaper and more mass market D&G. The two are famous for popularizing the debatably sexy butt-crack low-riding jeans for men. Recently they announced another questionable innovation in fashion for men, jeans that ride so low, that the jeans starts only at the crotch. Pubic hair are encouraged to be exposed.

3) John Galliano Arguably the most influential and innovative menswear designer ever. John Galliano is the Creative Director of his own fashion line, John Galliano and Cristian Dior (not to be confused with Dior Homme, a seperate menswear only entity). While his work at Cristian Dior are questionable, - his recent fall/winter collection are criticized as forgettable- his work at his own label, however are often outstanding. Never confuse his catwalk shows with clothes that are going to be in his stores. His catwalk shows always depict clothes that are seen as unwearable and extreme. Always exaggerating the message that he wants to put across, he doesn't want anyone watching the show to miss that message. Often times, when the clothes are manufactured for the stores, they turn out tame and wearable, but still with that John Galliona extreme edge to it. His underwear collection are becoming a staple in the fashion world. Its almost as prevalent as Calkin Klein.

4) Miucia Prada Unlike many other modern heiresses, the heiress to the Prada fortune is not a common dumb blond slut. She is the creative director and goddess for Prada and the new fashion label, Miumiu. Even though she is responsible for transforming Prada from a dying luxury leather goods business to Milan's haute couture, it is not her that people usually associate Prada with. Tom Ford (rightfully?) stole that from her. While not many common folks can associate with or even recognize Tom Ford's works in Prada, Miucia's works are copied and counterfeited all over. Miucia designed the infamous black Prada handbag.

5) Tom Ford Studying fashion without knowingTom Ford is like studying IT without knowing Bill Gates. Tom Ford, the openly gay american designer is considered to be one of the most influential and famous designer ever. He is responsible for the genius and works for three fashion powerhouses, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Prada. He is widely known as the saviour of the then almost bankrupt Gucci - he transformed Gucci from bankrupt slum to fashion powerhouse worth 4.3 billions. He quits fashion in 2004 and now is interested in making films.

What is haute couture? Haute couture (French for 'high sewing' or 'high dressmaking') is a common term for custom-fitted clothing as produced primarily in Paris but also in other fashion capitals such as New York, London, and Milan. Haute couture is not only made-to-order for a specific customer, it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finish, often using time-consuming hand-executed techniques. Sometimes the term is used only to refer to French fashion; at other times it refers to any unique stylish design made to order for wealthy and high-status clients.

While knowing about fashion doesn't necessarily makes your stylish, I believe knowing fashion makes you a better person, culturally. Through fashion we can examine culture's notion of beauty and style. After all, fashion is the expression culture.

We were both in our wedding clothes. I was in my charcoal colored suit and a little cute bow tie. I was strangely without my pants and only in my boxers. The tanned girl in front of me was still completely dressed. Her silk chiffon frilly dress, with long satin gloves and a head band decorated with small little roses. I approached her as she approached me , and we kissed. It was a passionate that wasn't like a normal french kiss, where you feel you should hold back, just to be polite. Non of us were holding back. She was feeling me, as I felt the fullness of her body. As we finished the kiss - gasping for air - we crashed on the bed, only to continue kissing. Eventually, I was on top of her, my back slightly arched, still passionately kissing her delicious moist lips. She decided to roll me on my back but I fell off the bed, and it was morning.

I had a silly wedding dream, and no, there was no sex. It was strange of course. I am a 21 year old bachelor, (almost turning 22) who never really had a serious relationship -ever- in his life (okay maybe 1, but I never considered marriage with her), and is suddenly dreaming about the wedding night. I even considered that I might never ever get married, and would be a swinging bachelor till the day I die. It was a possibility that I am prepared to accept, even to the great dismay of my loving parents. My mum once said that, if I am not in any serious relationship - serious to her, means engagement, with a promise of marriage - by the time I am 25, she would be matchmaking me. Of course it would be quite hard work for her. I'm not exactly the guy with the je ne sais quoi that would make girls weak in their knees. I mumble, has a fetish for typography and giggle at the mention of ,umm, anything. Not really that impressive. To add salt to the already festering wound, many find my sexual orientation questionable. Not that's entirely their fault of course.

I am still trying. I go on dates (well not that many, but its the effort that counts eh) and try to be as sociable as possible. Of course my social life is not exactly helping. I have too many gay friends and the girl friends that I have all think I'm gay. The straight guy friends I have, well, I think they are gay too. Maybe I should try internet dating but signing onto something just for the sake of finding a partner seems a little too desperate.

Maybe it's because I do not want it. I don't know. It's a bit too scary to admit that you at a tender prime age of 21 no longer want or desire the possibility of a romantic life. I do not want to be a jaded loveless human being, but at the same time I do find the whole dating/wooing process to be a bother. It's just too scary. That's probably it. Relationships scare me. Maybe its just the responsibility of a relationship. Once again, I am not too sure myself.

Valentines day is coming, and I would most probably be spending it either alone or with a few of my truly best friends. We would wonder the city, admiring the couples around (even if we never were to admit it ourselves) and then ponder when it would be our turn to be admired in the city of love.

French philosopher Voltaire, once said that it is one of the superstitions of the human mind to have imagined that virginity could be a virtue. I say virginity is an unnecessary baggage. What is virginity anyway? Virginity is a concept or superstition created by ancient men to allow them to put a certain value on women. Virgin girls are more highly valued than girls who are more experienced. For some strange reason, that same perspective doesn't apply to men. In fact, the reverse is sometimes true. Some groups see men who are no longer virgins as 'THE MAN!!!".

I lost mine, due to a series of unfortunate and some rather fortunate events. But I'm not here to talk about me. We are here to discuss, why in these modern times, when women can do as well, and most of the time more than what men could do, still value virginity so much. Why do dogs get more action than most of us? I turned to science for the answer. Scientist described women as more protective, because they need to ensure that the guys they sleep with, will stay around to take care of the baby. Men are more promiscuous because they want their seeds to be spread all over. They want junior to be everywhere. That could be the answer right? Natural selection and evolution has wired us this way, hence we act the way we act. Of course if we take the same reasoning, we could justify nepotism. Evolutionary psychologist discovered that the human brains are wired to favor relatives and siblings. Still, nepotism is shun and considered a counter to virtuous ethics. We have the ability to not prescribe what is wired in our nature.

Before this blog post is the taken the wrong way, remember that I am neither for or against virginity (a little bit more against than for if you must know). I am however amazed at how virginity is still considered a virtue and something worth saving, at not just our culture and country, but universally. Even some among those that already are no longer virgins, say that if they could turn back the clock, they would save it. This applies, according to my own very unscientific research and polls, to both heterosexuals and homosexuals. Though right now in modern times, there are various levels of virginity to consider and this is something too graphic for me to write about. What is amazing is the archaic concept of virginity still exists.

The modern man have discarded many barbaric traditions and ancient values. We no longer force our women to be barefoot and spent their entire lives in the kitchen. Men are no longer considered the superior gender these days, except in certain religious roles, and even there it is slowly dying. Women can flirt and make the first move. Men can shop and own more shoes than women, and still be considered straight. Yet, virginity still exist. Perhaps no longer as important as the old days, but still existing and has a value. Most of my male friends have no qualms engaging a relationship with a girl who is no longer a virgin, but if she is a virgin, it's a great bonus.

Perhaps I should just concede to the fact virginity is probably a virtue like honesty and integrity. But virtues like honesty has a purpose. If lying is alright, then civilization will fall, mankind will be destroyed and all that shit. What I'm trying to say here is that virtues are virtues because they serve a purpose. Finding the purpose of virginity is a little hard. Whatever the purpose, it's probably why dogs get more action than us.

I always secretly hate those people who have Photoshop (or illustrator or inDesign) and used those programs to design their own logos, business cards and newsletter. Perhaps deep inside, I was secretly hoping that they would hire me, or at least some other designer. It was the fear that the design-it-yourself community would make designers irrelevant.

Design has always been to me, a way to relate to the world around me. My fascination with the design process and the idea of a design ‘ideal’ has reflected in my personality, my perspective and even my life. This has affected in how I view people who do-it-yourself. I discussed this with a good designer friend of mine, and he told me outright, “Aren’t you guilty of such things yourself?” I was speechless.

Also it got me thinking. Why do we fear people, the non-designers, who design on their own? There are books out there that teach, or at least show, design. Tools are widely available. This blog is a product of a design-it-yourself. Design is a way to relate to the world. Design is not only about making money. It can be, but it should be accessible to the general public. It shouldn’t be a foreign skill available only to the elite few, many designers (I WAS sadly one of them) consider themselves to be.

A designer’s credibility shouldn't come from design's elite status, but rather from its universal relevance to daily life. Not everyone is a design “professional,” a person dedicated to solving complex problems and carrying out large, capital-intensive projects. But everyone can design elements of their own life, from their personal business cards or letterheads to their own flyers and wedding invitations.

In the mid-1980s, Apple launched a television advertisement that showed an image of hands cutting type and pasting it on a board. This demonstration was probably the first time “graphic design” was demonstrated to the public on television. Then, a quick cut to a state-of-the-art Macintosh screen showed a layout (probably for a newsletter) in progress. The voiceover went something like, “This is a graphic designer ... And now you don't need one anymore.”

It’s the year 2006, and graphic designers are indeed a hardy lot.

I cringed at my painting just now. I opened up painter, scanned in my sketches, did some rough but serious dabbing and cringed. I seriously cringed. Like when I learnt how to perform urinary catheterization - the medical procedure of jamming down a long slim tube through the top penis opening to draw urine out from the bladder. It's that cringe worthy. Something is just wrong with the color choices. The green seemed too yellow, the blue is really a pale violet and the pale ivory skin looks like diluted puke yellow. I immediately closed painter and deleted my sketch. An act I would later regret, since scanning is a pain.

So, I went from trying to paint, to my redesigning project. I am in the process of updating my design portfolio, so I am redesigning a ton of my old stuff, so they look more updated and hopefully would get me a job that got to do with graphic design after I ORD. One very interesting redesign project, is the redesigning of the old debates competition poster. The old posters though still looking quaintly pretty, lack the intellectual depth that is typically associated with debating. I came up with a pretty neat concept of using ongoing debates and disagreements that existed in each school. So for the, school of life sciences, I might use Intelligent Design Vs Natural Selection as the basis for the poster design. Every school will have different 'debates', but the underpinning concept would be the same.

I have been trying to fix that perfect mood music playlist for painting. I used to listen games, anime and Loreena Mckennit, but they are not working anymore. My party playlist - music includes r'n'b to remixed techno - works surprisingly well for designing. I currently am in love with music from fashion shows and I think they would works wonder for my painting. The music from milano fashion collection cd cost $50. Bleh. Must wait for next pay. I hate being paid peanuts.

My parents went to Johor on the Sunday, and brought back their version of Sunday Times. Interestingly, their publication is way better than our Singaporean version. Yes Malaysian Sunday Times is better than ours. They have a section called opinions where journalist openly attacked government policies. Well, not exactly attacked, but still openly and daringly criticizing government policy is not something our journalist - whom sadly prefers to review the next big restaurant and speculate when the next general election, cause, gee we all really are anxious who the winners are going to be. One article even criticized, constructively of course, the Malaysian Vision, of Islam Hadhari. Wow! Islam Hadhari is, Malaysia's official vision of moderate islamization and religion is something Singaporeans have been raised never to talk about. Yet, in a Muslim country, Malaysia, reporters are openly discussing a religion that wholes so much prominence.

Memoirs of a geisha thought me that saving your virginity could be profitable business.

I seem to always get art / design books for christmas. It's either that I give out the arty vibes or that my stuff sucks so bad and all my friends are hinting for me to just stop, or at least get better. Oh well, I'm not complaining. I love collecting art books.

One of my army mates gave me a 'drawing how to' book. The natural way to draw by Nicolaides. I was intrigued. The back cover reads :- "There is only one right way to draw and that is a perfectly natural way." This book doesn't attempt to teach you to draw humans, or techniques, proportions, perception or those silly important arty stuff. This book however is going to teach you how to draw. Yes, just simply draw. And after years of reading those human proportions books, internet tutorial and copying Enayla, I realize that I do not know how to actually just draw. I do not know how to pick up a pencil and just draw a tree. Or draw that cup. Or draw that wonderful fantasy scene in your head.

The first few exercise in the book really makes you feel stupid. It forces you to draw without any preconceived notion about perspective or what you know about proportions. It forces you to draw what you see and feel. You just stop thinking and draw. And you must spend 15 hours just to complete the first chapter's exercise. Scary eh, But it's fun. As you continue with the contour and gestures exercises, you will soon realize that you can draw what you see much better. Most of my drawings still sucks, but I am just 4 hours through it.

Alright, time to pop in that Mandy Moore cd (I love Mandy Moore!!), get that mug of milo and just sit back and draw! Yes Wan draws now!

Now that year 2005 has left us, and the trend for blog entries and magazine editorial these days is to write lists of great things that happen, I figure I do the same. So here goes:-

1) Getting posted to ALTC as my unit. While other NSFs rush to book in on Sunday night and savor every moment of their few hours of nights out, I get to book out every day, 5.30pm on the dot. Nuff said.

2) Vainquer Magazine Design gig I love designing and have been finding every possible excuse to design. I desgined my mum's school canteen signage. I designed my brother's school project scrapbook. I designed silly little logos for my self. I designed imaginary book covers. I redesigned bad magazine page layout. But of course, designing vainquer magazine means I am getting published. What a great feeling.

3) The release of Rome drame serial on HBO Sexy hot babes and dudes of this highly anticipated drama serial on HBO is not the only reason I never fail to watch Rome every week. The tension in the drama is well crafted, the characters well protrayed and the action wonderful. Sex in the City, move aside.

4) Getting the Design Basic Index for Christmas Kristen Danker gave me a wonderful book this year. Design Basic Index is not your typical step by step, how to do design book. In fact, nowhere in this book did the author even attempt to teach you design program packages. What the book teaches you is something more important, the intagibles: Concept, Composition and Ideas. The chapter on Typograhpy is delicious!

5) Redocaration project of ROOM One afternoon while sitting in the dusty, uninspiring ROOM, I remembered Mary Ann. Wow, she does have big boobs! Of course, its not her luxurious assets that have me initiate the decoration project, its her disturbing neat room. So in the middle of 2005, I began the task of decorating my room. It's still ongoing, and I am still buying pieces (I need a huge white lanterns) but my room is now suitable for guests to wine and dine.

6) Finding my dads old clothes The little fashionista in me have a little prediction for the year 2006. Hawaiian and floral motif shirts are going to return big time. Dudes will wear them bright and proud. Chuck your preppy stripes and raid your dads cupboards! I did and found floral shirts that will put Elton John to shame. I love them and they will be great for mambo nights in the clubs!

7) My sister's breakup with her obnoxious boyfriend Okay, my sister did go through the ritual of crying for 3 nights, the no appetite and the "I am not good enough for anyone" cycle, but am I am relief that they finally broke up! Her boyfriend is a freaking show off and every conversation with him is about how he is going to buy that new car, got into that new club and how all girls wants his number. And he is dumb! He doesn't get my sarcasm and speaks like a 14 year old mat. Good riddance! And my sister is happier too.

8) Dead Computer My main computer died, so I am forced to use the laptop on a regular basis. The laptop is an iBook G3 and G3s are slower than G4s and G4s are slow! So imagine the bleeding pain I have to go through every time I need to design on this thing. So because of this, I am saving up to get a new computer. Its nice to have savings in the bank.

9) Got new brown Zara pants There's a mysterious ruggedness about brown pants. Brown pants are so masculine, yet at the same time its a color seldom worn by man. Well man can be fools. I got my dark brown jeans and its a clubbing staple, just like my blue jeans and white shirts.

10) Still alive for 2006! Yes, I thank god that am got to live through 2005. Not that I am dying, but yeah you know. There is so much great stuff I want to do in 2006. Slimming down, more shopping, and more design stuff! It's an exciting start for the year!

Ne ne ne ne.. o.o;

I love The Apprentice. The reality hit TV showing capable young business minded contestant all vying to be The Donald Trump apprentice by slugging it out doing small 'real' Business activities. In all of its season's running, there will be a time when the contestants are required to work on an Advertising Campaign. To win this contest, the contestants must convince the Creative Director that his/her campaign is the best. Now what's the problem here? Why not? Surely it's a great thing for future managers and CEOs to understand the creative process and the value of design. But these contestants are not designers, one would argue. Or are they?

Design, especially Graphic Design has always been and probably will always be a craft that requires no certification to practice. Anybody can claim to be a graphic designer. Graphic design, the instrument of differentiation and branding has been diluted to mere 'IT Magic' Anybody who can render clouds with a filter and make silly bubbles is now considered a graphic designer.

Another more design related reality TV show - Project Runway is another show that hides and cuts the core of design - research, process, evaluation, testing, more research, analysis and then finally production. Sure these parts of designing aren't glamorous, but this is the real thing. It is a reality TV show right? Project Runway, requires designers of various backgrounds to compete in several fashion exercises. In the second episode of the show, they are to design and make a dress inspired of envy. Many beautiful dresses are made, all with different interpretation of envy.

So how do we judge the winner? More importantly, how do we find the loser? Disappointingly, the winner of that episode is the designer whose dress got the highest bid, and loser, the lowest. Suddenly its all reduced to the perceived value of the design. Designers have different interpretations, and some are more commercial than others. So is the designers with the more commercial design the better designer? And yes, just like Apprentice, the designers in Project Runaway, usually have a mere 24hrs to design and produce their end product. Instantaneous design.

Designers are always thought up to be the ridiculously good looking fellas with stylish sensibilities and flamboyant gestures. Every word spoken from them, are to inspire creativity. Inspiration are instantaneous with quick sketches on the napkin, all problems solved. Logos designed in 15 seconds, magazines thought up in an hour and entire advertising campaign in a day. What a perfect candidate for a entertaining reality show. Until of course they realize that designers are real people who are not so good looking with real ugly and less then perfect work that requires time and lots of thinking. They will realize if they show the real design, it will not be a reality entertainment but a mere documentary.

Last minute festive shopping

Chinese aunty feeling like a minority

Long queue for the coveted grated coconut

Hard negotiations for the grated coconut

My house is in a freaking mess. Strange, when you shift your focus away from your room for a little while, you suddenly realise that your house is in a freaking mess. Mess. Its like 3 days to Raya and everything is in a mess. And the scary thing is, no one seems to care. I feel like a Maryann.**

First of all, there is no sign of any aesthatic decoration in the living room. Every thing is a functional object. Except for the huge vase of plastic flowers. But those don't count. I am living in a malay household. I better have plastic flowers all over the place. Its the malay thing to do. If the chinese have their strange ball eating lions and the eurasians have their chucky porcelain dolls, we malays have our plastic flowers.

The kitchen is a nightmare. There are stacks of empty tupperware strewn all over the place. The food cabinet smells funny. And the refrigerator is a habitat for strange looking meat. The place is unbelievable. I can't even begin to imagine cleaning the place up. I don't even know where to begin.

My room is neat enough, until my brother decided to use it. Which is all the time. He doesn't like putting things in their proper places. Like clothes in the cupboard. Bags on the bag hanger. You know simple things like that. He puts bags on the floor and clothes on the bed. Maybe he is confused . The bed does look a little like the cupboard. Then, why doesn't he sleep in the cupboard instead?

*This is one of those entries where the title is misleading. Sorry.

**A Maryann is a special women who performs the miracle of cleaning up and decorating her whole house all by herself just in time for christmas because her family doesn't bother. She is also the genius who finally cracked the code of Kristen's bedroom floor and walls. You see, for a generation, nobody thought Kristen's room had any walls or floor, but in fact it was so messy that the walls and floor were covered up. Maryann was the brave soul who cleaned her room and revealed tiles.

Her green dress fell nicely on her slender body, and the way she crossed her legs created an image of poise and elagance. A woman of class and high standards. She took a sip from her glass of red wine. Her face winced a bit, frowning at the taste. She could not hide behind that green dress. She's a girl of cheap vodka and barcadi. Her eyes carefully glanced around. Prehaps she was making sure no one saw her. Or prehaps she was checking out the handsomely dressed blokes. Suddenly she felt insecure. She adjusted her dress and ran her fingers through her hair. Her actions caught the eyes of a blond haired gentleman from the bar. He smiled at her from a far. She didn't know what to do. She uncrossed her legs only to cross them the other way. The blond gentleman walked towards her. Every step he took, his hair bounced, reflecting the light. He smiled again. She panicked. Her breath hastens. Her pulsed increased. She could feel sweat trickling down her back. Her throat suddenly felt dry. Without thinking, she lifted her glass and downed the red wine. She winced and grimaced at the taste. The blond gentleman was getting nearer. She could now make out the chiseled face and slight stubble of hair on his chin. He was wearing an Armani cut suit with a white shirt that was slightly translucent, showing the strong chest he has. His pants were not pleated, showing a hint of his crotch and the bulging cell phone. She blinked. Her eyes were drying out. Her throat were dry again. He finally reached her table. He offered to buy her a drink. She blinked again. Then fainted, falling on the floor.

I love MY penis

I really love my penis when he's with his friend vagina but lately he's been spending more time with his friend hand. But he is still a great penis.

I do enjoy the history of the word 'fascinating'. In Roman times young men would have penis pendants around their necks to show their manliness. These were called 'facials.' Eventually it somehow morphed into 'fascinating.' Thanks English language.

Of course you are.

The wanjuro loves the pants galore. Well cut jeans are the bestest. The wanjuro is pretending to be the french fashionista.