A Musical Baton
This would be the first chain thingie that I am participating. Not a big fan of chain mail (I think they are crap) but this is something else.

Total volume of music files on my ipod:
12.45Gb — 2857 songs,
The last CD I bought was:
Peace Orchestra by Peace Orchestra.
I had all the tracks already (thanks Napster). But the packaging for the CD is so nice, I had no choice but to grab it. Bought the CD at a newly opened cafe near my office.
Song playing right now:
Flake by Jack Johnson
Five songs I listen to a lot, or that mean a lot to me:
La Valse D'Amelie (piano version) by Yann Tiersen
This song made me wanna do the impossible. Learn to play a piano.

Bongo Bong by Manu Chao
The definitive happy-go-lucky peeps anthem.

Rabbit In Your Headlights by U.N.K.L.E
I don't know whats behind the song. But especially like Thom Yorke vocals and how James Lavelle blend jazz and rock seamlessly.

Song-Song by Brad Mehldau
There was this period in my life where I aspire to live like a suave gentlemen (insert laughter here). You know, the kind who wears nice, tailored suits and have worldly conversations with important people. I always play this song late at night, but especially on Sundays, to beat the Monday blues.

Behind The Wheel (live version) by Depeche Mode
Ahhh..the band brings back memories of me trying to look cool and hip while growing up.

People to whom I’m passing the baton:
None. I got no friends (who blog).

Board the MRT today at about six in the morning. I was looking forward to get a seat and read my book after a five hours bus ride from Kuala Lumpur. Ah, the train arrives, but the carriage was filled with people. I din know my fellow citizens have to leave really early for work.

Most of the lucky commuters that were seated, were sleeping comfortably. And almost everyone carried this gloomy look on their faces. It was as if they were being cursed and there was no other way to break the spell.

I realised that I am very lucky to have a job sitting in an air conditioned office, with all my music at my fingertips and basically just doodling and dreaming up stuffs.

"So stay humble. And less whining, pls" I promise myself.

Nice thoughts...
Harold Dahl, who ran a successful business back in the 18th century, encourages his pregnant wife to take long walks in the countryside.

His theory was that if the eyes of his wife absorbs the beauty of the lush surroundings, it will transmit that image to the unborn baby within the womb. And the baby would grow up to be a lover of beautiful things. Whether that’s proven or not, it is really a nice thought, I mean he is Roald Dahl’s dad!

And he conquered his handicap (left hand was amputated in a freak accident). He could tie his own shoelaces and he sharpened his fork so that it can be his knife. he kept this in a slim leather case and carried it around wherever he goes.
He collects paintings and furniture but above all, he likes gardening and he has a vast collection of alpine plants. Roald Dahl’s mum would tell stories of how his dad would frighten her to death by hanging on rocky cliffs with his right hand, reaching for the plants.

You think you have everything, but in retrospect, you have nothing.

Nice thought by Roald Dahl
My candle burns at both ends
It will not last the night
But ah my foes and oh my friends
It gives a lovely light

Song of the moment
Queens of the Stone Age, Go With The Flow.

I Ain't No Spider King No More
Got home today and realised that my monstrous spider is half dead...or was it half alive? Felt shitty, trying to keep it as a pet.

THE SPIDER AND THE FLY
'Will you walk into my parlour?' said the Spider to the Fly,
''Tis the prettiest parlour that ever did you spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there.'
'Oh no, no,' said the little Fly, 'to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again.'

'I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?' said the Spider to the Fly.
'There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin;
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!'
'Oh no, no,' said the little Fly, 'for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!'

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, 'Dear friend, what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome--will you please to take a slice?'
'Oh no, no,' said the little Fly, 'kind sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see.'

'Sweet creature,' said the Spider, 'you're witty and you're wise;
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I have a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you'll step in a moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.'
'I thank you, gentle sir,' she said, 'for what you're pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day.'

The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again;
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing:
'Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple--there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead.'

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue;
Thinking only of her crested head--poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour--but she ne'er came out again!

And now, dear little children who may this story read,
To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counselor close heart, and ear, and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the Fly.

by Mary Howitt

I Heart Damien Rice.

Check out the song and MTV on the link.damien rice - blower's daughter.

Genre : Folk
As heard in movie : Closer


And so it is
Just like you said it would be
Life goes easy on me
Most of the time
And so it is
The shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her sky

I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...

And so it is
Just like you said it should be
We'll both forget the breeze
Most of the time
And so it is
The colder water
The blower's daughter
The pupil in denial

I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...

Did I say that I loathe you?
Did I say that I want to
Leave it all behind?

I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind...
My mind...my mind...
'Til I find somebody new

I found a humongous fighting spider last weekend. Fighting spiders (Thiania bhamoensis) are some of the cheap toys that we played when we're growing up. With lil boys, whoever caught a Bruce Lee type spider will always be respected. We boys were programmed that way, I guess. Whoever has the biggest, baddest, anything, rules.

If I'm 10 again today, with just this spider I found, I will be ko towed like a king. Other boys will meekly say Hi and ask me how I manage to skillfully find a champion breed. What kind of food do I feed to maintain the spider's fighting capabilities. And they would also want to know where I catch it, in case there's another one hiding a few leaves away. Those losers..hah!

I'm feeding my spider ants and maybe crickets. Found out another thing today. Time taken for a group of ants flocking a cluster of sugar. 6 mins. How they sense food so fast is simply amazing. Does sugar leaves a scent? Whatever the explaination, lil Goliath here is not complaining.

Computer Daft Definitions
404
Someone who's clueless. "Don't bother asking him; he's so 404." From the WWW error message "404 Not Found", meaning the requested document couldn't be located.
Blamestorming
Sitting around in a group discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.

Ohnosecond
That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize that you've just made a big mistake.
Cursor
Someone who swears a lot.
Cursor keys
What to do when you lose your keys.
Space bar
A booze joint on the moon.
Multitasking
Screwing up several things at once.