song of the month: june

the past 30 days, or rather, 30 nights, have been riddled with a handful of wonderful tracks, including the memorable 'i like to move it' from the madagascar ost, and the gorillaz's catchy 'feel good inc', but here's the one song that undoubtedly enjoyed the most counts on my playlist.

song of the month: june

"all those signs, I knew what they meant;
some things you can't invent;
some get made, and some get sent"

title: speed of sound
artist: coldplay
album: x & y
genre: alternative

do you believe in ghosts?

everyone's heard or read of ghosts, and some even claim to have seen them. me? i don't really believe in supernatural hocus pocus like haunted houses, poltergeists, exorcists, visions, sightings, encounters, demons, spirits, blablabla. to prove that i'm no blind skeptic, i hereby boldly present my theory on the age-old paranormal enigma of the undead.

to start off, i'll try to enlighten the uninformed readers on basic human biology. our body generates electric charges that commute at approximately 360km/h throughout our body, the highway of which would be the spinal column. these electric charges ride in cars called nerves - the messengers that transport the electric charges, or signals, between our brain and the rest of our body. these signals, for example, tell us that the milk is bad, or that our foot should be lifted when we approach a pile of shit, or that mum is waking you up with a cane, and that you'd better move your ass before she whoops it. well, you get the picture.

you read and impatiently wonder: what the heck has electric charges gotta do with ghosts? calm down, we're just getting started. my hypothesis is, quite basically, that ghosts are merely fragments of memory. to illustrate my case, i want to mention that cemeteries are one of the most commonly known 'haunted' areas. my explanation for this is simple: because when the final rites are performed, almost everybody who gathers around the sepulchre engages in deep remembrance of the dearly departed, and solemn emotions are invoked in unison, thus creating a metaphorical stormcloud. i believe that this stormcloud of memories transcends the mental state and into a metaphysical state, generating a vessel that manifests an electromagnetic field over the burial ground. this vessel remains even as the funeral is cleared, and remain there for an indefinite period of time.

now picture this: one fine day, perhaps N decades after the aforementioned interment, a person walks through the cemetery as the hairs on his arms stand on end, and chills run down his spine, then he sees a headless man, thus freaking out and dashing off in double-quick time. any average person would think he'd seen a ghost, but i differ in opinion. i would say that his body has made contact with the electromagnetic vessel of memories that was manufactured N decades ago. he experienced a disruption in his internal nervous system, thus causing his hair to stand, his nerves to wriggle aggresively through his spinal column, and his senses to manifest a vision of a man. the figure in the vision could have been headless either due to the disintegration of the stored memories that involved the head, or because of a flawed connection between the two sets of electric charges. simply put, the man did not actually see anything, but his brain made him think that he'd seen a man that died N decades ago because the stormcloud of memories intervened with his senses.

this theory also aptly applies in the context of so-called 'demonic possession', when people speak languages they couldn't possibly have learnt of, and excrete liquid and solid waste in seemingly blasphemous manners. essentially, the electric charges would have interfered with the motor functions of the human body, as well as experienced an input of memory blocks containing foreign conversations, evoking those abnormal behaviours in the 'possessed' individuals. the susceptibility of individuals also vary, since such paranormal activities do not usually affect whole groups of people, but rather have differing experiences from person to person.

poltergeist activities are relatively more far-fetched, as far as the explanation goes, but my basis is that electromagnetic fields tend to imposingly distort and manipulate the laws of physics, resulting in the often-heard flying pot and bent spoon.

to a certain extent, my assumptions are justified and reasonable, though many people might think: what about the infamous 360-degree revolving heads, spiderwalking down staircases, and other melodramatic portrayals of ghosts and spectres and phantoms? all i have to say is, hollywood doesn't produce blockbusters by practising honesty and sticking strictly to facts.

what you see may not always be what you get. fear is the strongest fuel in the universe, and imajination is its spark.

what's a mookie?

for all of you who've been wondering, this is what super mookie really looks like. according to the artist, i'm bruised because i'm a superhero who does a lot of fighting while saving damsels in distress; and i'm balding because i'm.. old? i'd say it's probably because i never bother to clean that pink lacey panty i always mask myself with..

antichrist supperstar 1

during supper, preceded by the usual chill-out session at zouk, trefor and i had a casual discussion on religion. it began when i asked him why he didn't go to church since he claimed to be a christian. the response, to which i acquiesce, was essentially something like this:

"it's all about faith. i don't demonstrate my commitment to god with communal worshipping, and neither will you see me praying or doing anything superficial like that. it's all in the heart.

not going to church doesn't prove that i don't deserve to be a christian, or that i don't believe in god. conversely, going to church doesn't equate to more devotion or commitment."

to boldly postulate, i feel that nowadays, people dedicate time to churches chiefly because of familial or peer influence. i would think that not many church-goers actually become pious, devout christians or believe in god to save their souls and pass through the gates of paradise come judgement day.

they go to church because of socialization, conformity and (maybe) to avoid nagging. this contemporary dogmatism about christianity not only frays the beliefs of existing followers, but also casts shadows of doubt on would-be converts or believers, and accordingly renders more ammunition to the artillery of their skeptics.

i would like to believe that there still is a significant percentage of church-goers who unfalteringly give heart and soul in their religious commitments in their quest for redemption, but the black sheep in the flock are multiplying swiftly, owing largely to the inadequate lucidity when church communities recruit their followers. recruiters stipulate, in some way or another, that as long as you participate in church activities and/or make monetary contributions, heaven will open its doors for you. well, if salvation can be bought, then hell would be for paupers and beggars, instead of sinners and nonrepentants.

i expect that this entry will draw a few debatable comments that might lead to the usual disputes, but i hope it'll be light-hearted. there's no right or wrong answer here, just opinions and perspectives. oh, and there was also another issue of the antichrist and satanism, but i'm tired now. that will probably be discussed in my next post, if i can still retain the interest by then.

clouds

i like to watch clouds.
i like to watch clouds float across the horizon.
i like to watch clouds pepper the land with rain.
i like to watch clouds play hide-n-seek with the sun and moon and stars.
i like to watch clouds transmute into different shapes.
i like to watch clouds morph all the colours of the rainbow.
i just like to watch clouds.

sometimes, i think people are like clouds. they come in different shapes, sizes, colours, and origins. they move constantly. they change constantly. they are moulded by nature and the environment. they experience life and death. they have moods and emotions. they can be good or bad. well, actually i think cookies, oysters and pokemon can also be used in this post instead of clouds. but i like clouds. so that's that.

i'll wait til kingdom come, or til my days are done,
whichever may be the earlier one,
for the moment true freedom is won.

rot in peace

this is me for the past 4 days, and probably the next 5 too. this week's online lessons just encourage me to get lazier (is that even humanly possible?).

i've hardly bothered to exercise, shave, or even change my pants these few days. yes, i'm practically in the second phase of decomposition as i write this, though i have to admit, the occasional lengthy hot showers really slow down the decaying process. my mum thinks i'm a decorative artefact in the living room, and everyone else basically treats me like i'm invisible (maybe due to the fact that that's roughly how i've been treating them recently).

my body moves only when nature calls, when i run out of cigarettes, or when i feel like sleeping. speaking of which, i've been keeping really unhealthy hours lately. sleep: 9am to 8pm. i don't even fit into the 'nocturnal' category anymore.

when friends try to call me out, i get them over instead. and while we're on the topic of guests at home, i'd like to make a special mention that kids are running rampant in my house. besides that permanently residing baby sister of mine, my mum decides to take care of my aunts' kids as well. now i can't even rot in peace, having these 3, sometimes 5, little monsters wrecking havoc and creating pandemonium all day, for at least an entire week.

well, like they always say, if you can't beat them, join them. earlier today, i took the first step by watching the madagascar dvd with them, and i have to say, a couple of toddlers laughing hysterically in front of you can really amplify the hilariously enjoyable humour in the show. their not-so-harmonious chanting of 'we loike ta move it, move it', accompanied by peculiar dance-like motions, really tickled me for a while too, but very quickly became an incessant annoyance instead.

in conclusion, i'll just quote: the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. it's gonna be a very, very long week ahead..

post-season exercise

pick your favourite XI out of the following painstakingly composed dream teams.
you can also vote for your favourite player, or create your own dream team to match up against mine. personally, i like team a better. what do you think?

dream team a:

gk - iker casillas

dc - rio ferdinand
dc - alessandro nesta
dr - cafu
dl - ashley cole

mc - steven gerrard (c)
mc - michael ballack
mr - cristiano ronaldo
ml - pavel nedved

fc - wayne rooney
fc - andriy shevchenko

dream team b:

gk - petr cech

dc - john terry (c)
dc - jamie carragher
dr - carles puyol
dl - roberto carlos

mc - andrea pirlo
mc - ronaldinho
mr - juan roman riquelme
ml - raul gonzalez

fc - michael owen
fc - adriano

dream team c:

gk - gianluigi buffon

dc - paolo maldini (c)
dc - walter samuel
dr - javier zanetti
dl - gabriel heinze

mc - mark van bommel
mc - zinedine zidane
mr - david beckham
ml - arjen robben

fc - thierry henry
fc - ronaldo


*i know the response for this post will be like shit. a big thank you in advance to those who actually do respond.

hair today, gone tomorrow

i've decided to shave my head. not for any particular reason, other than the fact that it's one of those things that i've been contemplating, on and off, in recent years. i am saddened, yet eager, to try out a different style. it's just another mookie's-acting-on-impulse fad. let's hope i won't regret it.

in my memory, as well as many others who know me, or have seen me around, my proud mane of silky smooth hair, lightly tinged with my natural dark brown, has undergone many, many metamorphosis stages. all the colours of the rainbow and more -- black, brown, red, orange, pink, blonde, white, grey, green, purple, turqoise, and blue.. yes, blue. my favourite stage. oh, what fun we had, my hair and i.

specially arranged, the following collage is a tribute to the different styles of hair i've had, though there were many more memorable moments regrettably not captured on camera. *sob*

time

school is into its 3rd week. i'm catapulted into a spiralling frenzy of tutorials and assignments. already i've spent countless hectic hours tearing hair out over project deadlines that are too short for comfort. so much to do with so little time. i vaguely remember just under a month ago, things were the direct opposite. that's what got me starting this blog in the first place -- too much time with nothing to do.

a large majority of my buddies have enlisted to serve the nation, something that's taking me forever to accomplish. i haven't had the time to properly bid them farewell, or to tell them things that i really want to say, or to bring them to places that i really want them to see. i guess these will have to wait til they book out of camp.

i haven't been blogging much lately. in fact, i haven't been blogging at all. my apologies to those who are still waiting for the next instalment of 'the immortal'. i just can't squeeze out spare time to pen down darian's adventures. but i promise it'll be posted by the next weekend. and i also promise it'll be better than the first two chapters. for sure.

this furious pace of life is exhausting me. everything's happening in a blur. even my senses are obscured. my mind is flooded with incoherent thoughts. imaginary people whispering into my ears. bus rides are blank-minded trips. the only time i ever really get to shut my brain down isn't when i'm sleeping. i've been dreaming often. not the usual dreams. they're more of flashbacks about the day's activities. i guess the only remedy for being stressed out is to space out. maybe it's the absence of music intertwining with my activities. i hope to go clubbing soon. alcohol and good music always provided a welcome form of distraction for me. well, maybe not just booze and beats. fortuitous encounters also lower the pressure gauge by quite a few notches. well, it's late. time to get some rest before another foaming-at-the-mouth day. thank god this week is almost over.. (-.-)