The Garden of Forking Paths

2012-01-12T10:44:00.001+08:00

Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!

Of a modern interpretation of Sherlock Holmes

2012-01-12T10:37:00.000+08:00

'Mr. Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound!'

I finally watched The Hounds of Baskerville and it was compelling, very compelling. If you have not watched the BBC production of Sherlock, I recommend it.

The programmes in the Sherlock series have cleverly referenced the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and set them in a modern setting. Baskerville is now a secret military research facility with supposedly monstrous creations, the dogs of war...

Sherlock Holmes would be embracing the trappings of modern society with his mobile, accessing the internet while Dr. John Watson, an Afghanistan war veteran, would maintain a blog, all very fitting and hilarious. A tonic for our times.

Mediacorp

2012-01-12T09:45:00.000+08:00

Someone representing Mediacorp just called to ask if they can use the warehouse where I work at for filming. I told her, 'no'. That ended the call.

Sherlock

2012-01-11T15:12:00.000+08:00

The new BBC TV series, Sherlock, has been most engaging. For once, you get programmes that do not insult the intelligence of the audience.

The death of Google+

2012-01-11T15:07:00.002+08:00

I am wondering when Google+ will die off. It had secured some numbers but are the people on it really using it? Somehow, I doubt so. There is little reason to leave Facebook for Google+, another large faceless corporation.

Meanwhile, Google will come up with yet another iteration to attempt to beat Facebook.

The dogmatic artists

2012-01-11T14:33:00.000+08:00

The world is full of dogmatic and narrow-minded folks. For instance, in the urban sketching group, there will be those who cannot accept that people sketch outside of urban sketching too and these narrow types will want them others to adhere to the so-called manifesto.

People don different hats at different situations to draw and paint. People have their own reasons for drawing and painting. If you were to be different from them, you will be labelled as 'extreme'.

You would think that an art community would be full of open-minded and liberal types. However, I find it full of conservatives and the narrow-minded.

Huama or Suzhou numerals

2012-01-11T14:29:00.000+08:00

I was just talking to my father about Suzhou numerals or huama and he knows it well. He said it was in many of the old invoices. It was still commonly used in the sixties and seventies. He also said that one member of the staff also uses it. He wrote them out without a pause.

Drawing mecha

2012-01-10T14:58:00.000+08:00

I have meant to draw mecha and powered armour since last year. I have finally gotten down to drawing them. I have also unbounded the force of habit in drawing them in a certain way time and again. Liberation!

God's gift to blogs

2012-01-09T11:30:00.002+08:00

Shyue Chou Chuang says (11:26 AM)
Well done! You made it to my blog!

Kuoby says (11:26 AM)
did i?
WOOT!

Shyue Chou Chuang says (11:26 AM)
Yep yep!
Again!

Kuoby says (11:28 AM)
man
i'm good
it's like i'm god's gift to blogs
i create content for you

Very rude

2012-01-09T11:26:00.002+08:00

Kuoby says (11:21 AM)
spending much time with your toucan scrabble freak friend?
or delusional emperor quack doctor?
oops! mischan, very rude.

Shyue Chou Chuang says (11:21 AM)

Whoa!
Shyue Chou Chuang says (11:22 AM)
You have been obsessively monitoring my activities!

Kuoby says (11:22 AM)
huh?
it's logical
you are a loser

Shyue Chou Chuang says (11:22 AM)
That does not bode well Mister Paedophile!

Kuoby says (11:22 AM)
losers have few friends
losers hang out with each other

Shyue Chou Chuang says (11:22 AM)
Whoa whoa!

Kuoby says (11:22 AM)
therefore, ergo, you still hang out with losers

Shyue Chou Chuang says (11:22 AM)
Whoa!

Kuoby says (11:22 AM)
what's up horse face

Blimps or the Imperialist Middle Class in Singapore

2012-01-06T09:38:00.000+08:00

"The stagnation of the Empire in the between-war years affected everyone in England, but it had an especially direct effect upon two important sub-sections of the middle class. One was the military and imperialist middle class, generally nicknamed the Blimps, and the other the left-wing intelligentsia. These two seemingly hostile types, symbolic opposites – the half-pay colonel with his bull neck and diminutive brain, like a dinosaur, the highbrow with his domed forehead and stalk-like neck – are mentally linked together and constantly interact upon one another; in any case they are born to a considerable extent into the same families.

Thirty years ago the Blimp class was already losing its vitality. The middle-class families celebrated by Kipling, the prolific lowbrow families whose sons officered the army and navy and swarmed over all the waste places of the earth from the Yukon to the Irrawaddy, were dwindling before 1914. The thing that had killed them was the telegraph. In a narrowing world, more and more governed from Whitehall, there was every year less room for individual initiative."

George Orwell

I wonder if we will see the emergence of blimps in Singapore, perhaps a military class, mainly ex-military men voicing their opinions in the political arena. Blimps writing in to the papers to say how the ex-military can run major corporations, blimps clamouring for new F-35s or an aircraft carrier for Singapore?

No, these blimps will not be in the junta sense as the military types here are more bureaucrats and managers. I think it is not entirely impossible that the blimps are already here.

Do you know any blimps?

2011-12-22T12:12:00.001+08:00

I may head down to Kinokuniya this evening. I am tempted to visit PageOne as it is closing down.

2011-12-22T10:36:00.000+08:00

Whee! I have been drawing and painting. I should really go down to Art Friend and get more tubes of gouache. Heh.

Of Hellboy going bonkers

2011-12-21T16:23:00.000+08:00

I think I was a convenient vehicle for Hellboy as I was a sympathetic good listener. In his depression, he had sought out an outlet. Now that he doesn't need one, well, he's gone bonkers as usual.

The chosen

2011-12-21T16:12:00.000+08:00

Lady: Hello, I'm calling from Singapore Bruends (That was how she pronounced it). You have been recommended and chosen by xxx organisation and a statutory board. We would like to conduct an interview with your directors and also two of you to our gala dinner. Blah blah blah. (She mumbled it all so that you can't catch most of the names of the organisations and boards.)

Me: Are you selling advertising?

Lady: No, we are not selling advertising, we are marketing bruends and we would like to reserve two seats for you at our gala dinner.

Me: Ahh.. Marketing. That's pretty much an euphemism for advertising (Of course there are differences). Sorry, my advertising budget is zero, we don't have any money for your company.

Lady: Since you are so direct, we will leave your company out. Goodbye!

You can literally hear me pumping my fist in the background going yeah yeah!

These days, there are many of these information and directory services that want to list you in their trade directories, advertising websites (Would you go to a site full of ads?), give you awards, invite you to their gala dinners and so forth for a certain fee. Some are reputable while others are a hole in the hall, usually housed in the International Plaza at Tanjong Pagar and so forth.

A recent mail includes a big known organisation which congratulated my company for being ranked in the local SME 1000 and continued about the award being conferred and so forth. Then, there was an invitation to a gala dinner, 'a highly anticipated networking event where over 800 industry leaders and corporate...' will gather. Oh, then, there is the 2012 edition of that ranking list. Every year, this organisation would ask me to fill up financial information and I would stuff those questionnaires into the bin where they belong. This is supported by all the big business groups and government organisation. Heh.

Playing computer games

2011-12-20T15:01:00.003+08:00

I have played Skyrim, Battlefield 3, Magicka, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Left 4 Dead 2 in the last few days.

Strangely enough, I find Skyrim less than compelling and have been bored. I did play Oblivion and finish it some years ago.

A bad year for dictators

2011-12-20T14:19:00.000+08:00

As noted in a comment on Walt O'Hara's wall on Facebook, this year has been a bad one for dictators with three of them shuffling off the mortal coil. Gaddafi, Steve Jobs, and now Kim Jong Il. (And no, Jon Bon Jovi didn't die, alas!)

Games games games!

2011-12-19T11:25:00.001+08:00

I have been playing Battlefield 3 quite a bit. So far, I have spent 48 hours. I will probably stop soon.

I have also started on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Skyrim, Magicka and Left 4 Dead 2.

Brushes and gouache

2011-12-19T10:05:00.000+08:00

I need more a few more No.3 and No.4 brushes for my experiments in gouache. I will also need more tubes of gouache in different colours, preferably more shades of greens and browns.

Hellboy, Emoboy and Coconut

2011-12-19T09:33:00.001+08:00

Hellboy appeared to have forgotten his trenchcoat and had caught a cold. He is now soft in the head due to the cold, perhaps, he has always been this way. Hellboy is now more hysterical and emo than ever.

At least, Emoboy is sober.

Meanwhile, Coconut is learning to draw animals. That is something that I haven't explored much.

Kooky people

2011-12-13T11:33:00.003+08:00

I haven't so many kooky people as I know now. The views expressed are surprisingly kooky. Of course, if one were to tease them a little, well, these folks are humourless and will not take well to a bit of humour.

2011-12-12T11:50:00.001+08:00

So much to do at work too. Quoting and so forth.

2011-12-12T11:24:00.001+08:00

Such a wonderful day.

Much to do this evening. Restoring email. Diary. Sorting out stuff.

2011-12-12T10:09:00.001+08:00

I met the old Greyster outside Sim Lim Square on Friday night. I see him around quite a bit. Once in a while, I see him with his sidekick, Neuroticboy. Anyway, I said hello before heading to find Wilson.

I wonder if Hellboy will grace us with his words of wisdom today. What will he sprout from that bitter mouth of his? The world awaits with bated breath.

Saturday

2011-12-10T11:19:00.001+08:00

A quiet Saturday morning. Errands to run in the afternoon. I missed the Human League concert this year. It looks like I may miss Ladytron at Zoukout this evening.

2011-12-07T13:45:00.001+08:00

29.5° here this morning. A bit hot.

Died already of AIDS

2011-12-07T10:12:00.001+08:00

Kuoby just said, 'you got a mac? that gay dude who ran mac died already of AIDS'.

Hysteria

2011-12-06T11:12:00.001+08:00

Emotional outbursts and what not, one would come to the realisation that when people are exposed for the empty vessels that they are, they get more defensive.

Imaginary monsters

2011-12-06T10:54:00.001+08:00

Apparently, Hellboy is plagued by imaginary monsters. Perhaps, it is time for him to check in.

2011-12-02T16:33:00.001+08:00

25.5 degrees this morning. A chilly rainy morning.

Nuisance call from the Bank of China

2011-11-29T13:12:00.001+08:00

Now, a call on my mobile from a lady speaking on behalf of the Bank of China. She is very loud. I put my mobile in the drawer and let her go on and on.

2011-11-29T12:07:00.001+08:00

I saw Neurotic Boy and Mr Moustache from a distance a week ago.

Collecting debt

2011-11-29T11:41:00.001+08:00

I am thinking of referring a case of late payment to a debt collection agency. That would in a sense ruin their credit rating.

Alternatively, I could apply in court and go seize the things in their homes.

Nuisance calls from Prudential and Worldwide Debts Collection Limited

2011-11-29T10:58:00.001+08:00

Woo! A call from Prudential right now on my mobile. He asked if I had upgraded.. I interrupted him and asked him to explain what he meant and then left my mobile in my drawer as he went on and on and on. Whee! Awesome!

Yesterday, I received a call, 'I'm calling from the Worldwide Debts Collection Limited'... I let her go on and left the mobile in the drawer.

Last night, there was a call from Finexis and I also left my mobile in the drawer as the nuisance caller went on and on.

Spending a government grant

2011-11-29T10:30:00.001+08:00

‎'Hello, I am calling from Ion Consultancy with regards to government grants?'

My reply, 'Didn't you call yesterday?'

'Urrrm.. sure, okay, good bye!'

Yes, it is one of those company who call up and tell you that they want to help you spend a potential government grant. She called up yesterday and I told her I wasn't interested and she forgot and she called again today. Doh.

Warhammer novels for sale

2011-11-14T09:56:00.001+08:00

Here are Warhammer novels that an old friend, Denis, is selling.

If you want them, do email him.

Items in red to be sold as a set.
Items in black sold as single items.
Prices negotiable. Email denis1929@gmail.com

WARHAMMER FANTASY NOVELS

The Ambassador Chronicles – VG, unread- $10
The Ambassador (November 2003)
Ursun's Teeth (March 2004)

Angelika Fleischer - $10
Honour of the Grave (May 2003) G, read
Sacred Flesh (June 2004) G, read
Liar's Peak (August 2005) New

Blackhearts- VG Unread- $15
Valnir's Bane (December 2004)
The Broken Lance (November 2005)
Tainted Blood (June 2006)

Blood Bowl Series- $15
Blood Bowl (August 2005) G, read
Dead Ball (December 2005) G, read
Death Match (April 2006) G, read
Rumble in the Jungle (December 2007) VG, unread

Blood on the Reik New- $20
Death's Messenger (March 2005)
Death's City (October 2005)
Death's Legacy (November 2006)

Brunner the Bounty Hunter $15
Blood Money (January 2003) G
Blood and Steel (June 2003) VG
Blood of the Dragon (August 2004) VG

Chaos Wastes VG $15
Palace of the Plague Lord (August 2007) VG
Blood for the Blood God (November 2008) VG

The Daemon's Gates Trilogy new $20
Day of the Daemon (May 2006)
Night of the Daemon (January 2007)
Hour of the Daemon (November 2007)

Empire Army Series VG $35
Reiksguard (June 2009)
Iron Company (November 2009)
Call to Arms (March 2010)
Grimblades (July 2010)
Warrior Priest (October 2010)

Gotrek and Felix VG and G $75
Trollslayer * (August 1999)
Skavenslayer * (September 1999)
Daemonslayer * (October 1999)
Dragonslayer * (September 2000)
Beastslayer * (February 2001)
Vampireslayer * (September 2001)
Giantslayer * (April 2003)
Orcslayer * (October 2006)
Manslayer * (October 2007)
Elfslayer (October 2008)
Shamanslayer (October 2009)
Zombieslayer (November 2010)

Knights of Bretonnia VG $10
Knight Errant * (May 2008)
Knight of the Realm * (May 2009)

The Konrad Saga G $20 Konrad * (December 2001)
Shadowbreed * (February 2002)
Warblade * (April 2002)

The Chronicles of Malus Darkblade new $40
The Daemon's Curse * (May 2005)
Bloodstorm * (December 2005)
Reaper of Souls * (July 2006)
Warpsword * (February 2007)
Lord of Ruin * (September 2007)

The Marienburg Series G$15
A Murder in Marienburg (May 2007)
A Massacre in Marienburg (December 2008)

Mathias Thulmann, Witch Hunter G$10
Witch Hunter * (January 2004)
Witch Finder * (February 2005)
Witch Killer * (December 2006)

Slaves to Darkness VG $20
The Claws of Chaos (August 2002)
Blades of Chaos (September 2003)
The Heart of Chaos (September 2004)

Tales of Orfeo VG$20
These books were authored by Brian Stableford, writing as Brian Craig, and were originally published
by "GW Books".
Zaragoz (GW Books November 1989 / Black Library March 2002)
Plague Daemon (GW Books April 1990 / Black Library July 2002)
Storm Warriors (GW Books March 1991 / Black Library October 2002)

Thanquol and Boneripper Trilogy VG$15
Grey Seer (August 2009)
Temple of the Serpent (September 2010)

Time of Legends Legend of Sigmar VG$15
Heldenhammer * (April 2008)
Empire * (September 2009)

Rise of Nagash Trilogy VG$8
Nagash The Sorcerer (September 2008)

The Sundering VG$20
Malekith (January 2009)
Shadow King (January 2010)
Caledor (May 2011)

Ulrika The Vampire Trilogy VG$7
Bloodborn (June 2010)

Ulthuan Series VG$7
Defenders of Ulthuan (December 2007)

Warhammer Heroes
Wulfrik the Wanderer VG$7
Wulfrik (December 2010)

Stand Alone Novels $5 each
Battle for Skull Pass, The (novella) (May 2009)
Broken Honour (March 2011)
The Corrupted (September 2006)
Curse of the Necrarch (July 2008)
Enemy Within, The (June 2007)
Fell Cargo (February 2006)
Forged in Battle (November 2004)
Guardians of the Forrest (September 2005)
Magestorm (February 2004)
Runefang (June 2008)
Vermintide (January 2006)
The Wine of Dreams (October 2000)
Zavant (March 2002)

Anthologies $5 each
Realm of Chaos (January 2000)
Laughter of the Dark Gods (June 2002)
Cold Hand of Betrayal, The (April 2006)

2011-11-12T10:47:00.001+08:00

Saturday morning. At work work work..

2011-11-11T10:52:00.001+08:00

I am so sleepy today. Not enough sleep. I spent a lot of time texting last night instead of sleeping.

Uses for people

2011-11-09T12:06:00.001+08:00

Some people, of course, measure others for their uses.

The true colours

2011-11-09T12:05:00.002+08:00

Have you ever known people who when they first met you, were earnest and seemingly sincere in knowing you and upon knowing you and knowing that you do not matter in the grand scheme of things* in their little world would discard you?

I have met a number of these people. Initially, when you meet them, they have not figured out how you could be of consequence, thus, they are wary and they play safe by their friendliness. Within months, they will have figured out the social dynamics in a group and they will stick to the so-called leaders and befriend them.

These people are everywhere now. I met a number over the past year and their true colours only begin to emerge lately. I can't say that I am surprised by the turn of events anymore.

*Essentially a nobody in their eyes.

Invisibility

2011-11-09T11:58:00.001+08:00

Have you ever been invisible? Have you ever been invisible in a room full of people you know? Have you ever been invisible in a street of numerous acquaintances? This form of invisibility is more potent than the popularly imagined physical invisibility of that described by H. G. Wells.

Have you ever been dismissed with a glance and in seconds, thus turned invisible forever?

Such is the state of the world.

2011-11-09T11:47:00.001+08:00

I have accomplished quite a bit this week. Listlessness banished. Work done. Whee!

2011-11-09T11:26:00.001+08:00

I wonder if dear Bea Bea is as busy as ever.

2011-11-09T10:11:00.002+08:00

Gonna go to a funeral later today.

Idiot from Great Eastern Life

2011-11-08T15:32:00.003+08:00

Some idiot from Great Eastern Life just called. They don't give up, do they? I can't wait for the national 'do not call' database. I hope they get fined.

Some idiot from Prudential called

2011-10-22T10:48:00.004+08:00

Some idiot from Prudential called. I told her coldly twice, 'Tell them to remove my name from your list'. She was so intimidated that she hung up at once. Heheheh.

2011-10-14T10:05:00.000+08:00

Enough of Mactards! It's Friday! Ice-cream at Udders this evening! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Mactards cry

2011-10-13T17:28:00.002+08:00

Rabid Mactards. Their reactions and mourning continue loudly and vehemently.

It would appear that it would take a month or so before it dies down.

Of the death of a successful business leader

2011-10-07T11:40:00.001+08:00

I think one shouldn't be overly or even concerned. It's another successful business leader, a more ruthless and dictatorial one than most that uniquely cultivated a grassroots level cult of personality.

Seniority

2011-10-07T11:29:00.001+08:00

A friend was talking about how seniority had and would occupy positions in certain hierarchies. If he were to join certain organisations, he would, of course, despite his body of work and ability, be forced into some form of an apprentice position or junior position. It must be noted that the senior person would have 'earned' that position by virtue of the amount of time put in. Seniority is the norm in many fields and also in informal ones, for instance, group dynamics. Recently, I had observed a case of a rather senior person giving advice when he really didn't know much and was also giving rather vague and general directions in other instances. He was giving advice because of his seniority. Heh. I had wondered how he would receive advice if given to him.

Of course, I tested. It only confirmed the worst.

Blind followers

2011-10-07T11:26:00.000+08:00

Who likes to be told that they were blind followers in a consumerist cult of personality? There will be some re-adjustment of their psyche as they seek to explain and rationalise to themselves that it is the others that are the fanatics, not them and that this isn't about a cult of personality when it clearly is. They will be too blinded to see.

Kinda of sad but you can't expect otherwise from most people anyway.

The end of the cult of personality in the commercial world

2011-10-07T10:50:00.001+08:00

Cult of personalities do not merely occur in that of the North Korean state, it also occurs in the commercial world. When the Dear Leader passed on, his sheep were anguished, lost and angry.

The outpouring of emotions this week only showed as much.

2011-10-06T14:55:00.000+08:00

Quoting a friend: 'iCancer! iFail!iDied!iGo!'

iDiots and their iCon

2011-10-06T14:39:00.002+08:00

The reactions of the iDiots over the iCon who did an iDie is getting really really amusing.

The death of the iCON

2011-10-06T09:56:00.000+08:00

What he got right was the share price. What he got massively wrong was a legion of rabid, diehard, unthinking worshippers. (You could say that that is right from a market standpoint but from a human perspective, it pains me to see so much sheep in the world.)

Losing your god

2011-10-06T09:50:00.003+08:00

When religious fanatics lose their beloved god, well, you see widespread grief. It is very interesting to observe their reactions.

2011-10-06T09:40:00.001+08:00

Woooooooooo hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

2011-10-05T15:17:00.001+08:00

WOO! Quite a bit done last night. Perhaps, I could do more without a headache. Two days of headaches. Well, I would need to go for a run.

A month of starships

2011-10-03T11:06:00.001+08:00

Last month, I did about 76 A4-sized sketches of starships, freighters, research vessels, mining vessels, orbital bombardment vessels, destroyers, space stations and more. I also drew 16 vehicles and a few buildings and much much more. It was great fun.

2011-09-29T12:19:00.001+08:00

Five starships drawn last night! And I retired earlier than usually. An hour earlier! Whee!

2011-09-28T14:04:00.001+08:00

Four starships drawn on Monday night and five last night.

2011-09-26T12:38:00.000+08:00

Focus focus. I have lots to do. I need to make a list and get the things done.

Then, after work, I can read and draw.

Group visibility

2011-09-26T10:26:00.000+08:00

Oooh, the Facebook interface has changed. I'm looking to change group visibility again. Moving the Science Fiction Singapore group up to the forefront. Moving the First World War group up. Moving Singapore Wargamers up. Rearranging a few others and changing prioritisations. Moving the urban sketchers group to a much less visible position (probably out of sight) and much lower priority now. Ditto for a subsidiary music group, 80s Music Discussion Group.

A weekend of talk

2011-09-26T10:01:00.002+08:00

A nice weekend, mostly of talk and meeting people. On Friday night, I was drawing spaceships at the Food Republic at 313. Later, Siu Hean dropped by, then Mitchell, then, Koi Hin

We were discussing about solar sail mechanics and the design of such a vessel, beam weapons ranging and the random walk needed for evasion (much like First World War hit prediction between two battle lines of dreadnoughts!), electromagnetic railguns shooting clouds of particle and counter fire in a cloud form, biological space vessels, the design of it, photosynthesis, flying cabbages, cauliflowers, sketching spaceships, 2-dimensional worlds and more. Highly enjoyable.

Amelia and Leos came and joined us later.

It is really just too bad that the main Sketchwalks are held on Saturday mornings with an afternoon sideshow. At this rate, I would probably miss the rest of the year or perhaps for the foreseeable future. I had already missed the majority last year. I wish sketchwalks are on Saturday afternoons or Sunday mornings. I am but one person and it would not be proper otherwise.

Earlier in the year, it was fortunate that the two polling days had fallen on the Sketchwalk days and after I had voted and I was then able to attend.

Well, I doubt if I would have much of an opportunity in the future. Sketchwalks look like a dead event for me now. Circumstances beyond my control. Fading away. It would be Portrait After Dark and Figure Drawing sessions only from now on from the looks of it.

Then, I spent a late afternoon and night drawing with Mitchell and Kit Mun joining me on Saturday.

I had decided against going to figure drawing on Sunday evening as I was drained.

I think in future I will start a new movement and organise sessions for sketching imaginary things if there are people who would join me.

Entrenched positions

2011-09-25T02:00:00.000+08:00

A person I know often has fixed positions. What this person often does is to construct explanations around his or her fixed positions. The person would also find bad analogies and examples to support them.

It is not that the positions are wrong but rather than the examples used to illustrate the positions are often poor ones, akin to a reversal of creating positions to tear down.

Warehousing demand

2011-09-24T16:03:00.000+08:00

It does appear that warehousing demand has gone down. It would be reflective of something.

2011-09-23T11:56:00.001+08:00

It is finally Friday. I can devote more time to drawing my starships now.

Possessed by emotions

2011-09-23T03:29:00.000+08:00

I have got a few friends who seem to act according to their emotions. They are not rash per se but more unthinking at times, governed by sentiment, often jumping into what they feel, rather than think, is the right course. A cursory examination, coloured by prejudices. As a result, their actions and statements often seem thoughtless and rash. I have seen it too many times before.

Still, it is how they had chosen to conduct their lives, I respect it. It is entirely their ship to steer.

Sketching

2011-09-22T16:02:00.000+08:00

Sketching from 3 pm to 11 pm last Saturday was enormously satisfying. I shall do that more often.

Comment of the Day

2011-09-22T14:20:00.002+08:00

Comment of the Day (not mine): "He looked like some deformed cabbage patch doll!!"

Names of target and utterer withheld to protect the innocent and not so innocent.

Rainy days

2011-09-22T11:16:00.001+08:00

What a nice rainy morning. The dream I had two nights ago was that of powered armoured. A unit of 'Soviet Reference Powered Armoured' disappearing after being sent in. Strange.

Whee! It is time to switch to drawing spaceships. This time, it will be warships. Nuclear missile launchers, particle beam weapons, lasers, projectile weapons, hangers and more. Enough freighters, mining vessels and such for now. I did a sketch of a large cruiser and two three fast outlines.

I also inked a man-at-arms and did a wash of a knight. I also did a cityscape of an imaginary city in an alternate universe.

Wrongs

2011-09-21T19:51:00.001+08:00

If you wrong me, I will remember your deed. I will not forget.

I am not a vengeful person. However, I will remember.

For a long time.

If you apologise and ask for forgiveness. I will forgive. I do not expect penance from you.

Figure drawing sessions

2011-09-21T16:23:00.001+08:00

From the looks of it, two upcoming figure drawing sessions are going to be on the same Sunday with slightly different timings. Since one of them is free and in an air-conditioned environment, I think the other will have a surfeit of attendees.

A pity about the sketchwalks

2011-09-21T15:36:00.001+08:00

Sketchwalks (the official ones) on Saturday mornings are usually hit and miss affairs as it is within my office hours. I missed the majority of them last year.

This year, I have attended a few. I find some of the locations awkward as well. Oh well. Hopefully, things will change but I suspect it will not. After all, I am but one person.

Starship sketches

2011-09-21T13:11:00.002+08:00

Two starship sketches completed last night as well a host of outlines.

Groupthink and strength in numbers

2011-09-21T03:43:00.000+08:00

There are people in a group that I know of that is supposedly capable of critical thinking. I think some of them are. However, I do get the impression that a number of them are simply followers and have a sense of insecurity. That the group can provide strength in numbers and the numbers of agreeable people? Surely. Groupthink? Possibly.

Two others that I know of also had this impression.

There are also a few in that group who watched television and youtube video presentations of their favourite topics as discussed within. What level of understanding and thinking do they hope to achieve through these soundbites? By repeating soundbites of their own and appearing witty? Have they thought through matters deeply? How have they discussed?

Who knows?

The thing is that when you have a group of people mostly of the same opinions and directions, you are not really going to get a diversity of opinions or ones that challenge you.

And some of them are going to conventions of similar worldwide groups. Heh.

Next stop

2011-09-20T11:32:00.002+08:00

Next stop, smaller star craft. Fighters, bombers, shuttles, small and medium freighters, space stations, probes and vehicles.

Herd mentality

2011-09-19T14:36:00.001+08:00

Do you find that the people here often follow each other mindlessly? Whenever people gushed about something, they would all embrace it?

Whatever happened to individuality? Whatever happened to independence of mind? Whatever happened to critical thinking?

A week of drawing starships and vehicles

2011-09-19T14:33:00.000+08:00

I drew over forty starships in a week. Pencils. Concepts of starships. I also drew over sixteen vehicles all within a week.

Then, there was a wonderful weekend of drawing.

CivWorld

2011-09-17T10:09:00.000+08:00

We started playing CivWorld recently. This is our third game.

Alistair pulled off the final era economic victory with the wonder which effectively boosted our 640,000 gold to 800,000 gold.

Our four person civilisation (effectively four since Yen Lyn is inactive) has managed to win this in the face of at least four or five other larger civilisations of which three have 16 or more people.

We had four persons. Siu Hean, Brian, Alistair and I. Two economic victories secured in the face of great odds.

I had managed to amassed 565,739 gold by the end. Of course, the objective was to amass fame and not gold. The usual means would be to join a large civilisation and win numerous medals, some of which can be self-serving to say the least.

2011-09-16T14:44:00.003+08:00

FRIDAY! Finally!

I had a nice dinner with Zenn and Teck Loong at the Ma Maison Tonkatsu at the Mandarin Gallery last night. Eve joined us later.

It has been a while since Zenn left to do missionary work. Now, she is back for a short while.

2011-09-15T15:33:00.000+08:00

Twenty-two spaceships and vehicles of various types drawn this week. More sketches to come!

One house drawn and another not far from completion.

Dinner and drawing with Leos and Amelia

2011-09-15T15:23:00.001+08:00

Dinner and drawing tomorrow with Leos and Amelia! Whee! Are Kun Rong and Jerry going?

The Reckless

2011-09-15T15:09:00.002+08:00

I think people who are reckless often do not recognise that they are reckless. Otherwise, they wouldn't be. Risk-takers, on the other hand, are another type altogether.

Dinner with Big Monkey and Lao Hobo

2011-09-15T15:06:00.000+08:00

Woo! Dinner with Big Monkey and Lao Hobo this evening! Urm, Zenn and Teck Loong... Whee! It has been a while since Big Monkey swung off into the jungles of Cambodia.

2011-09-14T15:17:00.000+08:00

To work to work! Focus focus! Then, I will go run and also draw this evening. I will also write my diary.

Open Figure Drawing at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia - September 2011

2011-09-14T11:56:00.002+08:00

I was there at the Open Figure Drawing session at 3 Kay Siang Road organised by Patrick Smith of the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia. Zhu Chuan, Eric, Isaacs, Don, Joy, Tia, Claude, Oyo, Tony and quite a few others were there. There were at least fifty people who turned up ultimately.

It was a fast-paced session of two hours, beginning at 7 pm and ending at 9 pm. Furious non-stop gesture drawings of 1-minute, 2-minute, 3-minutes followed. Then, there were a few 5-minute poses, 10-minute poses and a final 15-minute pose.

Wonderful session. I must thank Patrick for organising these sessions and opening to everyone.

Where the Wild Things were

2011-09-13T14:01:00.002+08:00

I just got back from buying food for my mother at Junction 8 at Bishan. I was also at the library there and I borrowed 'Where the Wild Things were: Life, Death, and Ecological Wreckage in a Land of Vanishing Predators' by Jason Stolzenburg.

It is about a dearth of predators and how these causes imbalances, herds of elks invading, unchecked deers and cats and ants and more...

Intriguing looking volume. There should be predators out there eating up greenies actually.

The weekend was too short!

2011-09-12T11:54:00.001+08:00

The weekend was too short! First, it was Portrait Day with JF, Jerry, Wai Hong, Ray, Kun Rong, Amelia, Rafa, Richard, Eve and many many more. It was an enjoyable evening of drawing.

I spent a happy Saturday afternoon and evening drawing with Kun Rong and Amelia at Cedele at United Square. Then, we had dinner at Waraku at Square 2.

I slept most of Sunday and I also drew four vehicles and five spaceships.

Posts

2011-09-12T11:45:00.001+08:00

Looking at the number of posts so far...

► 2011 (146)
► 2010 (425)
► 2009 (175)
► 2008 (707)
► 2007 (1038)
► 2006 (900)
► 2005 (281)

Alphabet Rescue

2011-09-12T11:13:00.001+08:00

Introducing Alphabet Rescue on Facebook!

The new Word game from Jerry and his gang from Rat Pack Studio. If you can, do give it a try.

Burke Commodities

2011-09-12T10:45:00.003+08:00

VMR Corporation, Target Research Group. Now, it is another lady with an American accent calling from Burke Commodities from Boston.

2011-09-09T15:42:00.001+08:00

Oh yes, add babes to that equation!

2011-09-09T15:28:00.000+08:00

The ultimate cool movie: Pirates versus ninjas versus robots versus zombies!

2011-09-09T14:50:00.001+08:00

Petulance...

Angst and the world

2011-09-09T14:47:00.000+08:00

The angst-filled types bemoaning that 'the world sucks' and that 'the world should end because it sucks' seem to be a norm among the younger set these days. It would appear that the world revolves around them. It is a 'Me Me Me'world when they don't look beyond themselves.

Not a determinant of ability

2011-09-09T13:57:00.002+08:00

I am laughing at the presumptions that some people have. Seriously funny.

The thing is that seniority is not a determinant of ability.

2011-09-09T13:34:00.003+08:00

It is finally Friday! HURRAH! HURRAH! Meanwhile, Siu Hean and Alistair have started a new game of CivWorld. Hopefully, we can get Yen Lyn to join us.

2011-09-07T14:22:00.001+08:00

Now. To focus!

2011-09-06T15:00:00.002+08:00

Dreary day. I shall endeavour to sleep earlier in future. No more sketching in bed till 1 am.