It's with great pleasure that I delay in the dispersing of Kuching and/or SEA Forensics bloggerisms, instead giving time and precious wordspace to an original work I have been working on at www.toonlet.com
My comic strip, slightly introduced in this blog just today, has arrived in its first two strips. Here you go!
Strip Number One // Number Zero. "Title Card Woes"
It doesn't take a genius to guess these two's names, right? But if it does, then refer to Strip Number Two // Number One // Number Zero Point One. "Dramatis Personae" Slightly longer, with two rows.
OH! Wait. I can embed these strips, right? So, let's try embedding Title Card Woes. See how it looks... okay, something like this.
I'm not going to wax lyrical, except for maybe take a chance at wishing everybody HAPPY AMIRUL DAY, but instead I'll show you how low-profile and silent the midnight that partitioned February 14 and 15 went. In Big-O-Vision!
This was how I reacted to being eighteen. ("REACTION: Om nom nom! I'm eating my hand")
The parents were asleep. Well, actually all family members were asleep, parents or no.
The rabbits were lying there together (and I realize this is the first picture I've ever posted of Baby "Hairy Houdini"/"Ozzy Osbourne"/"That Annoying Thing That Pisses On My Freaking Shoulder" Rabbit. There you go, Baby. HAPPY AMIRUL DAY!). As almost always, Jan utilizes his scary MAGIC RED EYES power that I suspect could be removed in either Photoshop or the camera's settings.
Purely speaking, though, I was born at exactly 9:27AM, so should I have waited for real HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMIRUL posts and comments to start only after that actual invisible boundary? Hmm...
The Internet is really good at one thing, and that's fanning rabid fan speculation.
Bioware, acclaimed computer roleplaying game developers of titles like Neverwinter Nights and Jade Empire, announced some time ago that it was working with LucasArts, as in George Lucas, as in OH MY GOD OBVIOUSLY IT HAS TO BE ABOUT STAR WARS RIGHT,
A large fraction of people are desperately, so desperately hoping for the project to manifest itself as Knights of the Old Republic III (henceforth to be known as KotOR3), but more skeptical folks believe this will be an MMORPG set in that same era. Now, I'm on the side of the KotOR3 hopefuls, but it's probably about as likely as a red lightsaber decapitating me next week.
Personally, an MMORPG would serve the financial purposes of LucasArts, given that once-respected and once-decent Star Wars Galaxies got massive exoduses out of outrage from their almost complete change to the game some two years or so back. ("Whaddya mean I can start off as a Jedi? I want to earn my way dammit! Unlock 30 Master careers first!")
An educated guess would require taking a look into all known (as well as unknown) factors. One: Bioware has previously denied any involvement toward a third KotOR game, sure, whatever. Denials from developers tend to mean little in my book, but I'm seriously hoping for KotOR3, so perhaps I'm biased. Two: Apparently, news has come out about Bioware making a non-Star Wars MMORPG, so could they possibly have space for a second massively multiplayer online game to be concurrently developed?
Third: with many upcoming Star Wars-y projects, such as The Clone Wars both in an animated and film form, combined with a rather promising The Force Unleashed multimedia project with books and games, if an MMORPG were to be made, it would make a lot more sense to set it in the Post-Revenge of the Sith era. It's a lot more flexible: the Rebel Alliance is in its early beginnings, the Empire begins to consolidate itself post-Clone Wars, it's a bridge between the maligned prequels and the revered original trilogy. With a live-action television show apparently being considered (or is this just an idea that grew into the more advanced editions of The Clone Wars?) to be piloted around mid-2009, it would give a perfect development time for the developers - now I'm not saying it's Bioware - to refine the product in time for a coincided release.
A wise sabacc player, I here believe, would put money on a Post-ROTS MMORPG and/or KotOR3. Those seem like the most logical steps to take, as well as the most fan-appeasing ones. Let's not forget both potential titles would essentially serve as replacements to "weaker" games: Galaxies and KotOR2.
EDIT: Also, having forgotten nearly completely: it would appear some are speculating that an announcement will be forthcoming around February 18-22. What a perfect time to write a post regarding the matter.
(Thieved upon by Julia's recent Myspace survey, titled "Just Know Me Better" I believe. I'm fairly certain I could give it a snappier title, like: "In five minutes you will read my soul". Okay, I'm sorry!)
1. THREE NAMES IN YOUR INBOX CELLPHONE?
The last three senders were Shafiq, DiGi, and Samantha.
2. YOUR MAIN RINGTONE?
Metric - Torture Me.
3. WHAT U DID AT 12 LAST NIGHT?
Debating with Shafiq whether to build a Shipyard or to research Energy Technology on OGame.org.
4 . WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON U WENT OUT WITH? WHERE?
Went out you say? Well, that would be Jaziel, in a whirlwind tour of the city which involved three different types of public transportation, much walking, and a nonexistent underground path.
5. THE COLOR OF THE T'SHIRT YOU'RE WEARING? NOW?
I'm, ah, colorblind-ish, but I would guess this to be grey or brown?
6. THE LAST THING U DID?
Checked Limewire to see if Dr. Strangelove is going to finish anytime soon. Six hours, it says. This better be no hoax file.
7. THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY FAVORITE ITEMS?
Everyday items? Pants, pillows and... (let me grope around for another word starting with 'P')... posters. I do, I swear. I just posted a new one above my bed. It says: MY TRIUMPHS, MY MISTAKES by Dr. Gaius Baltar.
8. THE COLOR OF YOUR BEDROOM?
Again, colorblindness doesn't help here, I'd say light blue, except for the fact that I'm fairly certain the faint blue tint is from the light, not the color of the wall. Probably white.
9. HOW MUCH MONEY IN YOUR WALLET NOW?
Just enough to tell you that I'm rather poor indeed.
10 . HOW'S LIFE?
Slightly slower this month than others. A good thing, really.
11. YOUR FAVORITE CITIES?.
Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, and Kuala Lumpur.
(Note to Tabby: your city sucks. Note to Self: Don't change your mind after your trip)
12. WHAT WILL U DO NEXT WEEKEND?
Easy. I'll be on a five-day solo holiday to the Eastern Provinces, primarily their one of two capitals Kuching, doing stuff solo tourists do. Which, ah, I don't quite know. Experience, people, I'm here for the experience.
13. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME U SAW UR MOM?
About twenty minutes ago when I went downstairs to announce to her, "Parliament is dissolved! Parliament is dissolved!" Turns out the news came out round noon.
14. WHERE IS SHE NOW?
Downstairs in their auxiliary bedroom. Watching TV no doubt, or something of the sort.
15. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU TALKED TO YOUR PARENTS?
I think I've just answered this question in #13. "Parliament is dissolved! Parliament is dissolved!"
16. WHO IS THE LAST PERSON THAT TEXTED U?
Shafiq. "Yeah. the one that i played. not oblivion."
17.WHERE DID U HAVE UR DINNER LAST NIGHT?
It was at home. A rather rare thing, too. This month I've been doing nothing but eat at home, which is something that almost never happens during collegeweeks and collegedays.
18. THE LAST SURPRISE YOU GOT?
Surprise? I am not so easily surprised. I actually can't remember anything.
19. LAST THING U BORROWED FROM UR FRIENDS?
Bah! Unless it's cash, usually it's my friends who do the borrowing.
21. WHO IS UR BF/GF OR HUSBAND/WIFE?
I don't quite use such trivial labels that simplify my many complex relationships.
22. WHAT DO YOU FEEL NOW?
Rather itchy, as in "this might be a slight allergic reaction." Screw you, instant-noodles-which-include-unusual-amounts-of-seafood
23. WANNA SHARE WITH WHO?
I could share anything with anybody. Even you. Especially you.
24. WHO KNOWS UR SECRET?
Julia knows a secret or two, Shafiq knows a secret or two, Roslyn knows half a secret or so, but nobody really knows any secrets beholden to me.
25 . DO THEY KEEP UR SECRET?
They damn better well!
27. ARE YOU ANGRY WITH SOMEONE?
Me? Angry at people? I am anger personified, except slightly less burning. More like ice-anger.
28. WHAT DO YOU ORDER AT MCD?
I'd love to have a Beef Foldover right now. I really would. The last thing I had from McD was that cheap RM3 chicken burger. "Country Grilled Chicken Burger" is its full and formal name.
29. THE LAST TIME YOU FELT SO SAD?
I am almost always 'so sad'.
30. WHAT IS YOUR WISH FOR TOMORROW?
Not to come so fast.
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There you go. It surprises me that Julia still uses Myspace, but what the heck, we all have our weird fetishes. Unlike most people on these Interwebs, I refuse to tag anybody, but please! Feel free to continue this circle of love (and survey theft).
Tomorrow is Commercialized Lovers' Day,
The day after is my own 18th birthday,
And the one after that is my solo trip to Kuching.
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Looks like it's going to be quite a busy next few days.
Who shall be my Valentine?
I've actually got a Myspace valentine, but I need to consolidate power by marketing myself to a larger audience. That would be Vox. Go on, Vox, you can make a difference!
Sri Inai's team is as such:
- Danielle and Ashley in one pairing for Duet
- Roslyn and Aween in another pairing for Duet.
- Sofia S doing, what, Solo, I think?
- (I don't know anything about second-events that these people will take)
(Pointless Anecdote: Sofia S shouldn't be Sofia S anymore, because for the last two years there have been no Sofias, not since Sofia A graduated in the same year I did)
Roslyn's been talking a lot about the piece she'll be doing: unlike previous seasons, she does not wait until two days before the tournament to select her piece.
I've seen what Roslyn wants to do - it's good, potentially great, even - but Roslyn is notoriously unreceptive to early criticism. The piece is okay, but there are bits that don't hold up to any use. The entire second minute of the performance is essentially unnecessary. I've recommended she trim it, but she seems to have a better idea of what she wants to do with it. However, I'm a notoriously insistent person, and I'm sure she will incorporate one or twelve of my changes sometime soon.
I'm excited for the Danielle/Ashley combo, but anybody should really. They got into Semis last year - a logical impossibility given that we're Sri Inai - and I'm fairly certain that with a sufficient piece they could make it in again.
At last, I've finally gotten hold of the proper Forensics schedule, and it's 21st until 23rd. Luckily for me that's just the day after I come back from my solo Kuching trip. So from the 16th til the 23rd looks like I'll be superbusy. 16-20 February: Kuching. 21-23 February: SEA Forensics 2008.
I love being busy.
It completely makes up for this sitting-at-eleven-AM-in-your-pants business that I'm so capable of doing.
Myspace had its flaws: people with their stupid bulletins going "Hey im on9 now", the ridiculously retarded HEY YOU WANNA GET FREE LEGAL WEED?!?!?! retard spambot posts, the mentally challenged profiles with their garish colors and overly liberal usage of animated sprinkles, but at least it was manageable.
Friendster had its flaws: the profiles had practically no distinguishing differences, everybody was stuck with the same ugly formats, testimonials disappeared regularly, and applications were not added until the very latest updates. Oh, and it's full of idiot friends who continuously spam me with garish animations full of sprinkles, too.
But Facebook, oh Facebook. Facebook is the devil. Facebook is the worst sinner of the lot. And just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, too! Facebook has a nice standardized profile page, a great home page which lets you stalk everybody purely on their own actions, a fairly decent photo album and uploading system, a brilliant How Do You Know This Person bit which lets you realize that oh! Roslyn is Amirul's sister. Julia went to the same college as Amirul. Amirul once lived with Janis. Etc, etc. But the applications... the applications are the sinners which affect upon this otherwise pure and minimalistic website.
Vampires! Werewolves! Slayers! Flirtable! Flirt with me! Are you flirty! My Pictures! My Sketches! Are You Gay Quiz! How Stupid Are You (Quiz)! Spark! Ten Second Interview! Are You Sexy! How Sexy Are You (Quiz)! Circle Of Trust! Circle of Friends!
It goes on and on, with people clickety-clicking, and upon the next page are demanded to Invite 20 More Friends. So they do. They click upon twenty hapless, innocent peoples' faces. "Why thank you, Lady Monrovia, for considering me a Hottie(tm)! How very nice of you." Lady Monrovia doesn't remember you. She hasn't talked to you either, except for that one time you bumped into her in the airport and gained a massive world-ending crush on her. But she continues to add your name onto these unholy lists.
I have 647 invites to trawl over, and click ignore. I know there's a button which lets you ignore all these invites, but I decided to go over them one by one simply because I wanted to know which of these invites were genuine invites, where Lady Monrovia actually went, "Hmm! Blackjack! I'm fairly certain Amirul would enjoy playing Blackjack online with me!" Me and Lady Monrovia, we've been playing Blackjack for countless nights ever since.
At this point I've only got 170 left. My clickety-clicking can be just as fast as theirs. So let's look at what I've ignored so far
Jim thinks I'm a celebrity. I mean, he really thinks I'm a celebrity.
Zayaana, we all love you to bits, but... I'm not a girl. I'm honored that you invited me for such quizes, but, well... you know. I'd rather not know what type of girl I am. It would be kinda like that dreadful time when the Blogthings quiz declared I was 60% female and 40% male. I spent the next hour in the bathroom crying.
Natasha thinks I'm weird, and she wants to know how weird. But, um, while I may be weird and/or wired, how weired can I be? Is this some new young-people amalgamation thing? "You're so Weired, man."
Thus, I end my piece. Facebook: The Most Evillest Thing Since Terrorism.
Amirul B Ruslan surprises a great number of people by not making a pretentious
FIVE DAYS TO MY BIRTHDAY
-styled countdown; he's known to do such things. I personally think he's jaded now. Doesn't want to turn eighteen, really.
As you may have read from this blog, Amirul will be going on a solo trip to the Eastern Provinces (ah! It would seem I've been criticized over the use of this term: Eastern Provinces should refer to the states of Terengganu and Kelantan. Pfah! I tell them). It's one hundred percent independence, which is more often than not a confusing and worrying thing, but still! You don't turn eighteen every year.
Though, I'd wish very much I'd turn fifteen every year.
I liked being fifteen. Not many great things happened then, well, with the exception of the world-changing SEA Forensics 2005, which is personally important to me (at the exclusion of all other Forensics-es that I've ever attended). Fifteen is a nice age to be and to stay. Sixteen... not so good. Seventeen is decent, but it's the absolute border. Eighteen is deadzone. You're too old. Nobody goes, "Wow! Look at how young this guy is!" anymore. Pfah to you, universe.
Befunky has two online photo-converter thingies: a Uvatar which, well, makes you into an avatar; and the above-seen Cartoonizer. It's a fairly okay program, even if it would appear my left ear has mutated greatly. I'm thinking this would be a great program to use as a first-step. I don't have a rotoscoping filter or anything of that sort for Photoshop, but I'd love to have one. I'm thinking I could use this and then later edit heavily on Photoshop.
