I decided to go back to the basics. (I never really mastered the basics anyway).

So, no exaggerated hair, clothes, expressions, folds.

Just something simple, with reference to the Basic beyond Beginners book.

More artworks to be uploaded.

Drops of sweat fell onto the ugly mixture of asphalt. Each step seemed like a mile too far away. The sudden increase of CO2 particles from the south began trapping more heat. The sea of faces seen from afar was the same - long, boring and tired. Many quickly sheltered away from the sweltering weather. I did the same too, and headed towards the only air conditioned place which was nearby… the library.

It was quiet, due to it being only the first week of school. The usual nerds were probably still having their lessons. I quickly ushered to my common place. On my right. 2 were on their chat client whlist another was fast asleep. On my left were a couple, doing their PDA in a corner.  

This is the point where this entry was written. And this is where this entry will end.

My attempt at fan-arting. Need to draw more.

I finally see the advantages of using a tablet.

To the artist that did the picture on the left. I’ll improve my artwork :)

With response to PriPub: Or, Anti-social Engineering <Link>

But how is it possible to think of porn, and then link it to mp3 players, PDAs (Public Displays of Affection), and mobile phones?

Easy. It’s all linked to the personal and the private. Now, I didn’t pay attention during my lectures, so I can’t tell you who actually first came up with this, but the public and personal SPACE must be distinguished with the public SPHERE, which is where the media is located, and where there can be political discussions and such. That is not what we are talking about here.

It remains even in today’s “connected” society, with technology being submerged into the waves of our lives ever more subtly, that there is a taboo regarding the personal and the public. Mostly, it’s a restriction against the private overflowing into the public.

The everloving pursuit to exhibit the private to the public. One that is “For Your Eyes/Ears Only” becomes what is known as “For your eyes/ears as well”

I experience such almost daily. One fine example happened today. I got on the bus which brings me to the doorstep of my school. Just at the stop before mine, six elderly women got on bought the same bus as well. This led to the situation of them engaging in a conversation that required incremental voices over the bus’s airspace, just like a swarm of bees. I’m glad that my headphones muffled out most of the noise.

^ Too much noise makes Rin crazy :/

Another pet hate would be the exhibition of the songs that are being leaked (layman: mp3 players tuned too loudly + crap earphones). We do not wish to listen to your “OMFG. This band r0xx0r my s0cker” or “Hey, Look people. I’m listening to [insert band/artist/song here]! Don’t you think they are like the bestest?”. If you have to tune your volume bar to like 80dB, I suggest you get a new set of high-quality earphones/headphones [Sennheiser, Shure, Beyerdynamic etc] and no, your default ipod phones DO NOT qualify as high quality. There is also those who publicly blast songs thru their “l33t” phones speakers. I do not mind if it’s a nice song [which is rare]. Please listen to your chinese/english rap crap in the privacy of your bedroom and at a acceptable noise level.

 Public Displays of Affection (Read PDA) are one that which I cannot stand. I’m down with holding hands. But petting or kissing (affectional or not) is way out of the line. I do see couples standing near the train doors, leading against the glass, touching each other and their lovely-dovey eyes… Ugh. This somehow leads to Chikan (Train Molesters) and this picture (see below) which I took in a cubicle a few days back. HAHA.

Reads: If you like to get molested in crowed train, leave me your handphone number and I will SMS you.

I am wondering how would this apply over here. The most crowded trains here do not compare to that in Japan. How would such be commited?

There are also loud mobile phone conversations. This applies very much over here. We have people going “HARLOW? AH SENG AH? LIM PEH AH!” or those “I ish yesterday tell you oready.” I am fine with the latter, as it usually has some amusement in the coversation… But the former really ticks me off.  

I believe there’s one stand I would take to counter. Pop on my headphones, and sleep :) This removes both the visual and audio aspect off the outside world, leading to inner peace.

Flight or Fight. Which is that you choose?

Here’s a lovely picture of Saber.

Many would have seen the recent ‘well made’ Saber figurine.

But when the pirates go too far.

^ Straits Times 11 Oct 2006

Japan’s varsities short of students as birthrate falls <Link>

An interesting read. Japan’s varsities lacking in students due to the decline in birthrates. This isn’t surprising as the Japanese population has been rapidly aging and the postwar baby boom followed by the decrease in birth. Such can also be seen in Australia and Singapore as well.

The short summary “Private universities are hoping to recruit retirees and foreign students” caught my attention. Would it mean that enterance exams would be exempted? Or the required JLPT level or minimum CES scores be lowered? Courses taught in English? This article did not elaborate the above.

^ Make female students wear uniforms and really short skirts :p

[...] Some students may benefit from the crunch. Many colleges are relaxing acceptance requirement, making career-defining entrance exmas less stressful, said Mr Keigo Nakano, a spokesman at the ministry’s college-entrance section. [...]

This is rather good news for Japanese students. Why? Japan’s education is very competitive especially at the college level where you have all the prestigious universities such as University of Tokyo, Waseda University, Kyoto University etc. The students are now given a new path to choose from - Private or Public Universities.

Despite the fact that the private universities are hoping to recruit retirees and foreign students, what can be done at the local level? Back at home, we are encouraged to have more babies through the provision of financial incentives for the first to fourth child of each family. Immigration could also be another ’solution’. Yet, these are speculations.

What about the retirees? I take it that retirees would be people that havfe retired from working. How would they benefit from such. By learning new skills which they might not use in the near future? Or just to gain additional knowledge?  

[...] China accounted for 80,592 students, followed by South Korea with 15,606, Taiwan with 4,134 and Malaysia with 2,114. There were 1,646 American students [...]

I believe the reason why there is such a large number of Chinese students as compared to others is due to the writing system - Kanji (漢字). They are the chinese characters used in Japanese logogram writing system. Given that the characters are the same, with certain differences in pronouncation and meaning, I do understand why Chinese students are a majority of the foreign students there.

How would these private universities continue to woo foreign students and retirees?  No one really knows…