Chain Messages

It’s really weird right, when suddenly your long lost text mate, (perhaps a high school friend) texted you.  You’re happy of course, knowing that you haven’t keep in touch with each other for so many weeks but you just realized that’s it’s just one of those dim-witted forwarding messages that makes your head reel like mad.   These messages that I’m talking about are those messages that contain words like “pass this message or you’ll die”, “I’m not joking, tested and proven, you have to pass this”, “you’ll receive a miracle after 10 days if you pass this to nth people…” and the worst message I received was “this is a curse, you have to pass this or your mother will die…”. It’s insulting in a way, on how people reacted so initially at these messages, and perhaps clamoring to forward it to his/her legions.  Sometimes, I feel afraid too, but then I’d realized that these messages are really absurd in a way.  And it makes me feel sad that this maybe the only freaking reason to text me, just because I’m one of those nth people, or because he or she is running out of text mates to send it to.  Weird, but true. But these messages really piss me off.  I think the how and why of it is self-explanatory enough.

I never pass messages like that to my friends, but still I’m alive and kicking.

Golden Glitters

I love coins.   Rather than bills.  Even though more or less coins are generally considered as cheaper in terms of value, still one good thing that you appreciate in them is the fact that they stay for a longer time (compared to bills, of course). Which makes coins in general, ideal for collection to some people.  You see, there’s a kind of history that is associated in coins – faces of notable men in history or unique insignias of any country.  True enough, coins carry a sense of regalia and rarity in them.

An example of a notable coin worth having is what they call bullion coins. Bullion coins are popular among coin collectors and enthusiasts because of its regal features and designs, coupled with special historical significance that are engraved on the metal.  A bullion coin is what the coin collectors call, “a precious metal.”  Simply put, these coins are widely stored and distributed, and extremely in demand in the market.

A Random Memory

When I was in highschool you could say I am not the kind of person who would deliberately study for an exam or pep myself for a short quiz. Especially if it’s math. I used to be an average student who gets enough amount of sleep and rest.  I didn’t even depend on tight schedules, or routines, or even priorities.  I could say that I am more goal-oriented as of the moment now that I am in college.

Highschool.  They say it was the best time of your academic life.  The smell of first love, the feel of youthful vibrance.  This is the time when it feels like everything is opening up, blossoms up to whole new possibilties of growing up.  And I agree with all these things.  High school is definitely unforgettable. 

Twitter Diaries

Because it’s semestral break already, I’ve been reading my favorite books (which includes collections of stories by Lorrie Moore, Kathe Koja and Nadine Gordimer), watching anime shows (Inuyasha: The Final Act, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, and tweeting on Twitter.  Anything to unwind myself. But most of the time I really tweet a lot. 

I first registered on Twitter last year, exactly September 11, 2008 after I heard about Ashton Krutcher’s deal against CNN Breaking News to be the first one to reach the 1 million follower count.  I was really fascinated how Twitter works so I thought I might try this site. That time I just acquired my Facebook account so it was a full blast cyber life.  Ever since then I considered myself as a Twitter addict. 

Twitter became my online diary willing to be shared to other people  in few words, every day, and in any instance. I was able to speak up my mind about anything under the sun.  So in just a year, it’s no surprise that I came up with 7,578 updates (as of October 28, 2009, 4:53 pm) and of course, still counting. 

Follow me @khareen. Have a good day!

Future Cars

I just watched Discovery Channel’s episode on Future Cars, and I’m so amazed on the car designers’ visions of the future. The feature presented the sort of ‘brand new DNA’ for automobiles, wherein there is a convergence of revolutionary technology and artistry for the cars in the future. How would you react on a future car that has no engines, no drivers, no limits and no steering wheel? I think this one is so amazing, indeed, the future never ceases to surprise us.

So what would they look like? The cars. For one thing, the shape is different, but it doesn’t defy the conventions, after all, according to Tom Peters, ‘if you understand classic design, then you’ll understand future design’. Right. There is that unusual blend of form and function and convenient fluid efficiency. The visibility is unpredictable, converging high fashion and high technology. I think these changes are so cool – the car upgrades, model changes, the idea of ‘no-steering-wheel’ – and probably just joysticks to manipulate the car. The GM gathered all the best car designers to design on that skateboard: no engine, and petroleum-free, wherein these designers can attach different shape bodies, attach car parts in different positions – well, to put it simply, they can do anything above the skateboard. The designers came out with really unique revolutionary ideas.

The idea that the future car would be ‘drive by wire’ thus eliminating mechanical linkages and is flexible, totally interests me. Not only that – the future car would have minimum weight and perfect aerodynamics, low resistance mobility, and very efficient. Moreover, the cars would have totally different wheels – new wheels that would eliminate the potential ‘flats’.

I just love the show. So cool!

Future Guns

Just recently I watched an episode in the Discovery Channel featuring future weapons, this time, it’s all about guns.   Guns, not in sense associated with violence, but guns that are used in the current revolutionized law enforcement systems in the first world countries.  They are called “directed energy weapons” – amazing stun guns and laser guns. 

For that episode they presented two kinds of revolutionized guns.  The first one is the laser gun which aims to disable, distract, disorient one’s ability (used ideally in vehicles and in any checkpoint); to obscure the driver’s vision, giving him a momentary and temporary inability to focus.  The second one is the stun-strike wireless stun gun that fires a bolt of light, with a static energy of 200,000 volts! Gosh, it perfectly captures, as they say, the “natural psyche of lightning”. 

So you might ask, How are they used?

We all know that the use of technology, in any form, in any kind, reduces the stress.  In this context, using technology one can gain control of the situation without any kind of casualties.  Perfect for police and law enforcement officers. 

But future weapons and gadgets like these are not only limited to the very concept of lasers and lightning.  Soundwaves can also be a vital strategic combat loudspeaker against intruders.  The effective acoustic weapon, I say.  Using long ranged acoustic device such as “LRAD” (which is surprisingly and amazingly 10,000 times louder than usual, in 155 decibels) is enough to disable the focus of the attacker.  Simply put, it’s like a punch in the eardrum and believe me, it’s going to cause you more than great severe discomfort. 

But future weapons like these must be used the way they were idealized of course.  In a good way. 

Have a pleasant afternoon.

School Rumble and my Attraction to Harima

If you love an ultra funny anime with totally crazy characters, then you’ll surely love School Rumble! It’s one of my latest addictions currently – I just finished watching the anime version in Hero channel and I’m still downloading the manga version.  It’s a pity the anime version doesn’t seem to conclude just yet, and I still haven’t watched the OVAs! huhuhuhu.  It’s a romance comedy (and at some point, comedic-tragic) but I assure you that this one is very very amusing.

Tenma Tsukamoto

Tenma Tsukamoto

Tsukamoto Tenma

“The reason Karasuma-kun doesn’t know about my feelings, is because I’ve never done anything about it.  That’s it – I’LL CONFESS!”

Likes: Karasuma-san

Dislikes: spicy food

The anime series starts with Tenma Tsukamoto, the female protagonist, and his creative reflection of her feelings for Karasuma Ooji.  She tries persistently to confess her love for this stonefaced passive guy, but fails in the process.  While Tenma is busy thinking of her Karasuma, the anime’s male protagonist Harima Kenji, who is a delinquent, develops feelings for Tenma and tries to confess to her too, but Tenma fails to notice it.

 

Karasuma Ooji

Karasuma Ooji

Karasuma Ooji

“… … … … …”

Characteristic: He’s always spacing out by himself.

Hairstyle: It’s weird.

So it’s all about futile love confessions both for Tenma and Harima that made the anime really funny.  Although the real story revolves around them, still the anime isn’t just confine to them.  Other characters also complicate the whole story, like Tenma’s friend Sawachika Eri, who always ends up in embarrassing situations with Harima.  Later in the series, she develops feelings for him.

Harima Kenji

Harima Kenji

Harima Kenji

“A man in love must not disgrace himself.  Don’t think, FEEL.”

Favorite Person: Tsukamoto Tenma

Specialty: Fighting

Tenma’s youngest sister Yakumo is also associated with Harima because she was helping Harima in editing his manga.  She is a very reliable sister who always looks out for Tenma.  And lots of guys are attracted to her too.

Other friends of Tenma include Mikoto Suou who is a black belter in kenpo, and Takano Akira who is serious, perceptive, and mysterious.  Other characters include Haruki Hanai who falls in love for Yakumo, Nara Kentarou who’s love interest is Tenma, Osakabe Itoko a teacher and Harima’s cousin, Anegasaki Tae who falls in love with Harima and calls him “Hario”, Imadori Kyousuke a playboy who hooks up with many girls (with D-sizes) and falls for Mikoto, Ichijou Karen the wrestler who falls in love with Imadori, the foreigners Harry McKenzie and Lala Gonzales, and many many more!

My personal favorite character is Harima Kenji, (not Harry McKenzie, hehehe, although Harry is much more handsome though).  But Harima is better than Harry, I suppose.  It’s because he’s a very interesting guy who ends up either being understood (misunderstood moments: that he once confessed to Eri, or that he’s dating Yakumo) or some idiot who misunderstood, in any case, that his love Tenma has hidden feelings for him.

Yep, it’s literally “school rumble” if there is such elements as misunderstanding in a very amusing way.

The anime theme songs of School Rumble are the following, in season one: Scramble by Yui Horie (Eri) with UNSCANDAL, Umi no Otoko wa yo by Kikokumaru’s Man Chorus Group, Onna no Ko ♥ Otoko no Ko by Yuko Ogura, Hatenkou Robo Dojibiron’s Theme by Jūzō Nanba, School Rumble 4 Ever by Ami Koshimizu (Tenma), Hitomi Nabatame (Mikoto), Kaori Shimizu (Akira), and Yui Horie (Eri) and Ginga Ensen ‘05 by Hiroki Takahashi (Harima Kenji); in season two: Sentimental Generation and Kono Namida ga Aru Kara by Ami Tokito, THE LAST CANDLE, and Futari wa Wasurechau by Tenma (Ami Koshimizu) and Yakumo (Mamiko Noto).   

The manga author is Jin Kobayashi and the manga is published by Kodansha.  I’m so happy that the manga series is still ongoing, with 273 chapters as of May 09, 2008, since its original run in 2002.  The manga is serialized in Shounen Magazine being classified as “shounen”, action-themed stories for boys, but don’t worry girls, this is the kind of manga that both girls and boys could enjoy.

The TV anime is directed by Shinji Takamatsu in cooperation with Studio Comet, FUNimation Entertainment, Revelation Films, Madman Entertainment and Tokyopop.  It was first aired on October 2004 in TV Tokyo network.

I’m still not finished downloading the manga yet, but I want to thank Y-Anime (http://yanime.com) and Akatsuki Manga (http://akatsukimanga.com) for coming up with the scanlations.  Thank you so much guys! (bow!)

Final Exams Week

This coming week is the looming final exams week!  I have two exams for that week, a group exam in my math class and my final exam in my asian lit class.  I’m still studying ancient texts from Indian, Chinese and Japanese literature.

But aside from my exams, I still have to revise my novella and my thesis manuscript and this one is even more mind-boggling than the written exams.

Wish me luck. J

I’m talking to myself

Slowing down can sometimes be associated with procastination, but I think I need that one now.  Why not take a break for a moment.  Slow down like molasses.  Perhaps, come up ways to shake things up.

Stop brooding too much on stressful things.  Instead just go and have it your way.  Everything will be fine in time and you’ll be laughing off with yourself when you read this post again.

Math, Must-Do’s and Movie Marathon

I’ve been busy for the last weeks, trying to catch up with my math lessons, and of course, thesis revision.  Now the lessons are all about logic and I find some problems in class really thought-provoking and honestly, they drive me nuts sometimes.  But like any other subject field I believe that it only takes a couple of serious dedication and well, practice.  XD. Right, I have to follow that kind of thought.

So many things to be done next week, which includes -

1. write an evaluation paper about a play we watched last week

2. write a 5-page paper about asian literature

3.  revise stories

4. study japanese literature for a unit exam

5.  study math

6.  write draft for my business presentation

7.  send good lucks (XD)

— i forgot the others though.  Anyway, must-do’s keep on popping every now and then.

This weekend we went to Panabo, (Kring’s place) to chill. Nice.  I was with April, Dimple, Henry and of course, Kring. We watched a couple of movies (4 chick flicks, 1 love story, 1 thriller) in one day. It’s just one of those rarest times that we can do something like this, amidst our busy schedule.  I really enjoyed the whole thing.

We are still brewing plans what to do next for leisure.  First thing in mind? Beach party.

Till next time.  Take care.