I, Fangirl

Contrary to popular belief, fangirling is a serious business.

There are not many things that excite me as much as the next person. I rarely follow TV series or even movies. Perhaps it's just how I was brought up - the TV wasn't my companion until after SPM.

I kind of think that my childhood is trying to get back at me. The level of fangirling I do for anime, Japanese RPGs etc is insane. Which is followed closely by Apple computers.

And so it is with open arms that I welcome the latest addition to my gadget collections. Affectionately named Avicenna II, it serves as a reminder to his predecessor, my very first Apple iBook.

Alhamdulillah.

This is not an advertisement for Apple. Really.
Clockwise: Mac Mini (Miki), iPod Shuffle, MacBook Pro (Avicenna II), iBook (Avicenna I), Apple keyboard & Apple mouse.

Honestly though - even now I question the necessity in owning a MacBook Pro when my iBook is still breathing (...) and alive, albeit some hardware problems which will be troublesome at times of desperate need. I actually considered getting a Windows netbook to complement Mac OS as a means to increase compatibility, but I had to hack the idea since I couldn't shake the notion of reverting to Windows. Besides, other family members are using Windows, so I'll have to even the numbers. Be the odd one out.

So as I type this entry using Avicenna II, I wonder if mankind's quest for gadgets will prove to be a never-ending and, ultimately, forever unfulfilling unless temporarily.

...Now I just need to get my PSP back working. The system crashed a couple of weeks ago, so I couldn't get started with Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep and even my Persona 3 Portable.

What's worse? Apparently Square Enix announced a new Final Fantasy title - FF Type 0, formerly planned to be FF Agito XIII - to be released in Japan this summer. Materialistic much? Or am I just unhealthily obsessed?

Money and...Much More

Am astounded as to why my Internet connection seems to be lagging. *shoots death glares at ISP*

Anyway. Haven't been doing much worth bragging about. Haven't been practising my keyboard for over a week now, and my attempt at Japanese have been so-so. One good thing that I did achieve was the revival of my Xda II by purchasing a new battery for him, and that I've managed to download a programme plus plugins to enable it to play FLV. Score one for the home team! I'll probably try to sustain it for 2, 3 years until I get a new one...Though that doesn't say much, since a camera - which I've wanted for quite some time - is still under my lengthy Wish List.

On with the subject I've promised earlier: Money and Value.

I mentioned before how depressing news are lately. And people have been complaining how hard it is to make ends meet, how troublesome it will be if the government were to issue salary twice a month, how government was right is reducing the subsidy...and henceforth. Last night's news revealed that whole chickens are sold for RM8 each, houses are now 30% more expensive...
While I'm thankful that my middle-income family is not suffering too much, it never hurts to be a little more prudent. The government has been promoting lifestyle change but seriously, a mere 10% decrement in their own earnings is laughable at the very least when we compare that the fuel price hike reaches a whooping 40%. They've been driving luxurious car(s) around, so the reduction won't even give them a proper jolt to reality. A little pang to their pride and a little jab at their greed (if present), but nothing more.
...Maybe it's not too wise to talk about them too much. God Knows if the ISA would suddenly stumble across this little blog of mine...

At times, regret and guilt would come raining down on me. Regret for either having bought something which turned out to be unnecessary later on, or even for not buying something when the chance presented itself. Guilt naturally ensues after the phase of regret.
So when I was told that it's best to invest money rather than just saving up, I had to agree. Likewise, when smart spending is involved. Let's face it, although we might be able to accumulate tons of money in banks, with the high inflation rates and all, the value would go down, down, down. Even a lot of money won't be able to get you much in the end.

Oh, the sheer horror of it all.

I'm kind of surprised (and relieved?) that students under JPA scholarship haven't tried asking for a raise. It probably had something to do with a recent raise we got a couple of months back...
...Still, the fact that I can't afford to laze around remains. There's a serious need to buck up if I want to make it in this world.
So it's time to stop thinking about how am I going to get to own superfluous things - like an iPhone (...), or a PSP (...), or a PS3 (ha?), a bunch of CDs or DVDs, clothes and stuff...
Which gave me no real reason to go to the mall, unless for window shopping. But we all know it may lead to unnecessary spending, or in the case of non-spending, a severe case of depression when the realisation that I won't be able to own it hits me hard. Even so, driving to the mall would consume money too...

*groans*

Still, frankly speaking, I'm sick of staying at home. Maybe that's why I haven't been able to do much, be it the things that I usually enjoy doing or not.

It's a different case of homesickness.

Maybe I should go out tomorrow. So what if I'll be on my own? I'll just busy myself with reading at a bookstore. Besides, we live in a somewhat un-caring society anyway; one that doesn't bother with other people's business.

That's all.

Ah. In an out-of-character move, I've landed myself with a Facebook account. What has the world come to!?

What's Your Morning Personality?

My Result: Still Sleepy

Sleepyheads like you are the reason they invented the snooze button. "Another five minutes! Just another five minutes." Okay, maybe one more...But eventually you do get up to face the day and arrive wherever you need to be in somewhat decent shape.


That said, after your initial reluctance to get out from under the covers, we'd guess you're pretty eager to get your day going. And while you probably won't be up with the roosters (or at least volunteer to be), you're able to be surprisingly productive before noon. Sometimes you just may need a little nudge or strong cup of coffee to get going. Then you'll be off and running!

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=morningpersonalityogt&c=50652

The Influence of Birth Order

My Result: Eldest child because of your achievements

People who stand out as eldest children due to their achievements usually believe that educational and career advancement is very important. In fact, they likely enjoy higher salaries and more professional prestige than many of their peers. They tend to be highly efficient and appreciate the value of constructive feedback. They're probably competitive and like to compare themselves to others. Odds are they are more likely than most to enjoy competition and team sports. Additionally, it's probable that they are smart and able to perform at above average levels at most things.

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=birthorderogt&c=50652

Current Music: You - Yuzuki
A song from Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. I even cropped it so that it'll become my ringtone. A surprising change of rhythm from Back-On or doa...Have I mellowed in the past few days?

Zero Title

Because my thoughts today have been random, and may go on as random for a few days.

My break is bound to be over in less than 2 days, and I'm not ecstatic about it. It's mostly because I enjoy breaking fast at home, where one doesn't really have to worry about whether or not the cafeteria has enough food to cater to all, plus the unbeatable, traditional home-made food. Sure, add the one about "cooked with motherly love" and all, it's quite near to the truth.

Never mind that I'm only halfway through Kingdom Hearts II. Maybe it'll take another 3/4 year for me to finish it, when a longer break comes (read: after my First Pro exams).

Then there's also this news of another Kingdom Hearts coming, as hinted from a secret ending in Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix+, featuring 3 new characters (Terra, Ven and Aqua) pitting their skills (and failing miserably...) against some bald old guy and his own, um, sidekick thingy. Since Ven looked awfully a lot like Roxas, there was a lot of speculations going around among fans. Anyhow, Nomura declared that the game is set some time between Kingdom Hearts, and Chain of Memories & KH2, and that it's more of a side story rather than part of the main storyline we've seen so far.

Plus, there's no definite answer as to what platform it'll be on; Most probably (seeing the drop-dead gorgeous animation) it's on the PS3, but I'm really, _really_ hoping that there's truth in the rumour that it's for PS2.

Speaking of PS2 and PS3, I do wish Sony would just stick and improve an already existing console rather than go and create a new one. While I do understand human's constant endeavours for improvement, more advanced technologies and greater aesthetic enjoyment/achievement, eventually there has to be the end of the line. I mean, how about upgrading? It's too much to ask loyal fans to buy a new console just so they could enjoy the latest addition(s) to the hit franchise!

And darn, PSP itself is one heck of a grand temptation, especially since I found out that there will be Star Ocean and Star Ocean 2: The Second Story remakes, entitled Star Ocean: The First Departure and Star Ocean: The Second Evolution respectively. Of course, not discounting the remake of another FFVII chapter called FFVII: Crisis Core.

If my overwhelming desire is not enough to keep me unhappy, I still need to figure out how to get Chain of Memories work on my iBook!


Current Music: Get Over - Dream