In its wake...

[in musing mode, reading, analysing, absorbing information as I sit at my PC and spin a pencil in my hand]

Responses on the Internet have been greatly varied, as to the tsunami disaster.

A blog has been set up to give information on the tsunami and the rescue efforts being held underway. The
blog is one of the most comprehensive sources of information on the tsunami.

Sintercom has an interesting thread going on right now about the tsunami, and of people's responses to it. The author of the original article states that the media had the wrong focus all along. (Some singaporeans who were initially interviewed on TV were shown complaining about their cancelled holidays, and whether they could get refunds. This is the basis for the article)

Miss Beautifuk's blog gives a more bitchified take on the issue. She raves at people who send "sentimental nonsense" to people about how much they cherish them during times of disaster, blah blah blah, and states that the focus of pity should be more on the survivors and as-yet-undiscovered survivors of the disaster, rather than the people who are already dead. From her blog:

"Yeah, I know, it's not the best way to die and I'm sure none of them wanted it. But there is utterly NO POINT in pitying the dead! They're dead! They don't deserve our pity and neither do they feel our pity. In fact, they should be happy they're dead and not floating in the salty sea, half-dead, with carnivorous fish nibbling at their toes."

Hehehe... there's a blasting-boulder-in-your-face approach about her style of writing, that I like....

Mister Miyagi is also keeping his blog up to date with news of the disaster.

Some artists are helping out too. Clio Chang is holding an auction to raise funds for the Canadian Red Cross to give to victims of the tsunami disaster. Who says art is useless?

DBS Internet banking customers can send donations through the Net, or ATMs islandwide. I'm not sure yet whether that applies to POSB customers. Food packages can be bought at NTUC for $10. The usual cash/cheque/donation can be made to the Singapore Red Cross, online payments can be made at the American Red Cross website. (No rants about the Americans now, please. The money still goes where it's needed)

Pray and hope for the best, in the future.

Recent conversation with the Slayer revealed that our group is comprised of:
1) A starving artist [me]
2) A struggling actress [her]
3) A struggling dancer [SJ]
4) A struggling filmmaker [J14]
Gee, does anyone see a pattern in the friends I hang out with? *whistles innocently*

The power of the Internet: A comprehensive blog on the tsunami disaster can be found now. It has news, information, and links for online donations.

Me, I'm just thankful that Quetzal got home safely, after running through the town with the tsunami hot on her heels. My friend and her significant other owe their guardian angels [or some heavenly deity, depending on your religion] some huge dues.

So the year is almost over. Father Time prepares to hang up his cloak and hourglass, and the race for 2005 starts again. Time for self-reflection and resolutions. Time to brush off old dust, and replace it with new junk.

How was this year for you? Was it good? Was it bountiful? Or was it heaped with misfortune, and other times you'd rather do without?

Or perhaps worse: Was it a mediocre year like every year, and one in which nothing happened to help you grow in any way?

Did you change? For the better? Worse? Or are you the same person you were last year, with the same amount of gifts, and the same old bad habits?

Did you learn? Did you take up some new skill? Did Life give you some lesson? And more importantly, did you remember everything you'd learnt?

Did you bloom? Or are your petals already starting to fade?

And will you grow again next year?

Questions, questions, questions...... Oh hell with it. Let's pop the champagne and sing Auld Lang Syne already. :)

Anyway, my plans for 2005:

**COMICS**
CHIX ( the one with the rebelling chickens ) will launch on MON, 3rd JAN. Assuming I wake up early enough in the morning, you guys will be able to see it after lunch. I hope. It's a short story, which will run till just before CNY.
GTS launch will be on FRI, 7th JAN. I have a preview strip up, which you can access from my shameless self-promoting website under Art and Illustrations. Yes, I have a website. Go check it out.

Wish me luck for 2005... and hope I don't become like that artist in my illustration. What! You didn't see it?? Click on this damn obvious link!

Another Comic Page

Perhaps a metaphor for all those in life, who are too afraid to take the first step. Who knows where it'll lead u?

Maiden Voyage by Kazu Kibushi

Movies before Xmas

Ocean's 12 - Good. Slick, witty and smooth.
Phantom of the Opera - Great! If you didn't catch the stage production, it's a good substitute!

Though Dragonfly told me after the show that the stage production was better. And after he described some of the amazing stage effects they used......

Damn I wanna watch it now.

Sure, the next time I happen to pop by London on a visit, I'll just tally on ho to the theatre....... Sometime.... in my future.... hopefully the short term one......

Ergh. Ack. CHoke.

Xmas itself...

Wasn't too bad. Did the usual thing, went to my relatives' house for food and ended up watching the Ten Commandments. Or rather parts of it. The front part was so draggy, I ended up half talking to my cuz, and glancing at the TV screen at 20 minute intervals to keep abreast of the show. Oh yes, hahaha, glance, still at Egypt, continue talking to cuz, hahaha again.

Also ended up listening to Dad spout a lot of dumb religion jokes. Why won't Moses talk to George Bush? Because the last time he spoke to a Bush, he ended up lost in the desert for 40 years.

*Chill*

Then at Angie's house for dinner on Xmas day. ( Great food, btw, Angie... :p ) Her friends were a riot, one of them helped produce a film, which we watched in her room, and another of them is horrible at daidee. :p :p :p But I liked playing with him.... hahaha.... well, partly because of that. :p ( Er, angie, no need to tell your friend I said that, eh? )

Cosplay Convention

Boxing day was spent with Yenn and her sister staking out Far East Plaza looking at cosplayers, and fervently hoping the potentially-paedophilic emcee would just drop off the stage and die before he made us all die of boredom. Seriously, as a supposed cosplay convention, it could've been much better done.... *sighs* 2 local illustration groups were there, wings symphonia, and project scar. Which makes me wonder, hm, could I actually pull this off in Singapore? hahaha.... but seriously, project scar's work was BLOODY BRILLIANT. If ever you guys see the name somewhere, check out the awesome artwork.

I have pics of the Cosplayers themselves of course, but they still need some heavy photoshopping. *Gomen* So hang on guys!

2 hours later...

I've finished the page with the cosplay. *Faints from lack of sleep*

COSPLAY 2004