I, Noctua

Of feedly and Firefox 4

2010-09-09T08:28:00.008+08:00

"An immersive reading experience". Those are the words I would use to describe feedly, an extension (for Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari)/custom web interface to Google Reader. I had actually given it a try some time ago but was turned away by the need to sign in each time. Now that I have my laptop, leaving my Google account signed in is actually a pretty natural thing to do (and signing in takes only a swipe of a finger, literally).

Likewise, Firefox 4's brand-new look can be summed up with the word "elegant" (the much-needed UI redesign at long last). Despite the many kinks still to be worked out, it includes many welcome innovations such as Panorama (aka Tab Candy) which I find to be a suitable replacement for a few of the extensions that I had been using. All in all, it is really shaping up to be a great release (with many wonderful ideas borrowed from the other browsers, nonetheless).

Beautiful Boy

2010-06-01T15:11:00.004+08:00

I love the Rebuild of Evangelion movies (haven't watched the original series), but I love the theme song - Utada Hikaru's "Beautiful World" even more. When I heard the song at the end of the first movie I was really touched (as I've heard the song before, with the fact that it was produced for the movie unbeknown to me).

There's a particular part of the lyrics that I can't seem to get off my mind:
君の側で眠らせて / kimi no soba de nemurasete / let me sleep by your side

My beautiful boy, I wonder if I will have the chance to sleep by your side again...

Growth

2010-03-07T02:16:00.002+08:00

一棵幼苗，除了阳光、水分、土壤，更重要的是必须历经磨练，才能茁壮成长。

And indeed, growing a plant is not as easy as "putting a seed in the ground".

Headphones

2010-03-02T22:55:00.008+08:00

My thinksound rain headphones arrived today.

Let's see what we have in the box... Shredded newspaper pieces?!

From the ashes emerged the carton made from recycled material.

Everything about the rain reminds you of its "environmental friendliness". With housing made from wood and a cotton pouch, it is a pair of headphones that more than meets the ~~eyes~~ ears.

Debit Card

2010-02-22T18:38:00.000+08:00

My card

After jumping through hoops I finally got my Maybankard Visa Debit, activated it for online transactions and paid for my headphone.

Nendoroid Suzumiya Haruhi

2010-02-05T20:36:00.004+08:00

This. Is. Too. Cute.

It was my first time buying from eBay (or for that matter, purchasing anything online).

I must be growing anxious waiting for it to be shipped over. I find myself keep checking on my eBay account for updates.

Sure it will be tempting to keep this for myself, but I already have something planned for it...

Wish

2010-02-02T02:25:00.003+08:00

What am I thinking, wishing for something so far from reality?
Take me to a world where you love me...
Does such a world exist?

This is my only wish.
I will keep wishing.
Will you wish along?

Clipped Wings

2010-01-23T23:46:00.003+08:00

Love has given me a pair of wings. I will fly to your side.
Uhh wait, they have vanished...
I will grow a new pair of wings.
It might be painful, but I will not give up.
Please wait for me. I believe I will reach you someday.

Dennou Coil

2010-01-19T00:38:00.004+08:00

Yuko (aka Yasako) talking on the phone... Naughty Kyoko fell on the floor.

Set my eyes on this anime a long time ago after seeing someone's recommendation. (I don't remember where...) It was not too high in my to-watch list. Even after I have downloaded it it had just been left around unwatched, until yesterday when I finished it in a marathon of 26 episodes.

Yet another anime touching on the topics of life and death, partings and human consciousness. Well done, I would say. It is adorned with SciFi goodness too. Nothing spectacular but it is a hidden gem.

P.S. Yes, I am writing this post in the hope that you will watch it :P

Aoi Bungaku (Blue Literature)

2010-01-10T16:07:00.007+08:00

"The masterpieces are blue."

An anime adaptation of six Japanese novel masterpieces. Must watch!

Monster

"The flames that burn a man... The flames of Hell..."

Note: Contains some sexual content and full of gore. Not for kids.

Phone

2009-11-29T00:57:00.005+08:00

It has been many months (probably more than a year) since my phone has left my side. Has it finally been repaired? Is it still repairable? I have no idea.

Now I wish it is dead for good so that I can get a new phone (as I have promised), even though that will be hard on the wallet.

Sony Ericsson C510: the phone that I'm supposed to buy...

Eternal Life

2009-09-08T16:40:00.005+08:00

After reigning over the world for thousands of years, the robots created death in order to become perfect (perfectly human).

"Every day that we've lived together like this, I've found something that makes me happy. This is the first time I've been like this. I'm really glad that I didn't kill you."

"Eternal life... Quickly! I must eradicate death."

"It's unnatural for living things to die. Death is impure evil. It must be ruined."

"Lyuze! No, Lyuze! Don't die!"

"Casshern, you and Luna may both be our punishment for trying to control life and death. Because of that, the world became distorted. Only God knows if it will return to normal!"

"If they can live, then it's better than dying. I can't deny them that. However, if you... If any of you ever forget death, then I will return."

The artwork of Casshern Sins might not be anything spectacular but it is a must-watch for its deep meaning. There is great wisdom which ought to be discovered beneath its ridiculous-sounding story.

Without death, it means nothing to be alive.

Neverland

2009-09-07T19:01:00.011+08:00

I watched Eureka Seven - Pocket Full of Rainbows today. It was a nice movie overall.

"We saw the world beyond the tunnel. A blue planet with a shining green ring around it, and a carved moon floating nearby."

"I'm glad I grew up. It's because I grew up that Renton came to get me. It's because I grew up that I... I... I want to live. Even if it's a fairy tale, I want to live... With Renton..."

"You decided didn't you? To see your dreams yourself."

"When the soul of the one beyond worldly reason speaks its words, two children shall become one existence as the white and holy being."

"You're a spoiled child. Why didn't you try to make your own legend?"

"Idiot. But... you're my very own idiot."

"I don't care where... As long as I'm with Renton, I don't care..."

"We've come back. I know. This is Warswaza, right? Where you brought us... This place itself, is Neverland."

"You know, Nirvash said in the end, 'Both of you can fly even without wings now.' He said that both of us can fly to our futures with our own two feet now."

My take-away thought: "Neverland is where the memories of you and your loved ones lie."

P.S.: I suppose I should watch the anime series to get the full story when I'm free (a.k.a. not downloading other anime).

Person

2009-09-05T12:12:00.021+08:00

From Bakemonogatari:

Kanbaru: "I'm a lesbian."

"I would have been willing to die for her back then."

"But I was rejected with no consideration."

Araragi: "No matter how hard you try, you can't take Senjougahara's place. After all, you're not Senjougahara. No one can become anyone else's replacement. No one can become anyone else. No matter how much you like her or look up to her."

It matters not who you cannot be, for it is who you are that makes you 'you'.

「自分に自信がある！」 (jibun ni jishin ga aru, lit. "Have confidence in yourself!")
P.S.: Found through many many searches with the help of Google Translate. Hope it's correct... XD

Love, Disappearance and Regret

2009-09-03T15:56:00.011+08:00

Chiaki's farewell

I sensed the same pattern when watching both Toki o Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) and Fate/stay night. The main characters would meet and fall in love, but in the end one of them would disappear.

Moments before Saber's disappearance

As for the regret part: it's not like the characters in the anime truly regret it (they would move forward holding some sweet memories); I would be the one regretting that they couldn't be together (for some reason I always long for a 'happily ever after' ending).

Failure X2

2009-08-27T18:00:00.000+08:00

Failure 1: Final Year Project
Failure 2: Love

Racial Discrimination

2009-07-17T19:43:00.000+08:00

Case 'A':
Last night, a friend told me he will be the only Chinese among the Indians in his course. He was worried that he will be left out and thought it's normal for people to form groups based on their skin colour due to familiarity. He even went so far as to suggest that we will always leave the good things to 'our own people'.

=> Friendly people are the majority compared to their radical counterparts. I would only agree that language is a barrier, but even an unnecessary one at that. Treating others differently due to their ethnicity is plain wrong to me.

Case 'B':
Just a while ago I was chatting with a course mate when he expressed his concern that Wonder Woman (a Marvel Comics character) might be starred by a Black singer/actress (Beyoncé Knowles, whom I did not happen to know). To my objection he invited me to try to picture "Black Wolverine, or Black Batman or Black Superman".

=> His futile attempt to justify his argument was duly shot down as thus (humorously, of course):

A dark Wolverine (wolf? werewolf?) doesn't sound bad to me. It's mysterious and nocturnal (hey!).
Batman (bat) is a a nocturnal hero (animal) and anyway he doesn't show much of his skin under the sleek (black) outfit.
Superman? He's an alien so who cares... He can be as outlandish as he needs to be. :P Do you expect aliens to be similar to you (White viewers, etc.)?

Endless Endless Eight

2009-07-07T00:33:00.003+08:00

So we know we're not going to be put through the same number of repetitions as Yuki has gone through, or are we? "Endless Eight" seems really endless to me, at least for now.

The thing that came up in my mind was that if we were given another chance, will it really change anything? It certainly won't if you're someone like Kyon. Such consistent behaviour... Under the same circumstances will we always make the same choices?

Haruhi's smile didn't touch Kyon's heart?

Yume

2009-07-06T13:10:00.004+08:00

Last night I had a weird dream of being some kind of a cop and killing a criminal at my home (shot him in the head). I guess it must be related to the anime I watched yesterday. Yozakura Quartet...

Akina performing Tuning to send Enjin to the other world

Noctua

2009-07-03T03:04:00.000+08:00

Well I know it as a brand (manufacturer of PC cooling products), but it happens to be the name of a constellation.

Yes, I'm a nocturnal animal. Lol... "Little owl" sounds so kawaii too. *_*