Something's Not Quite Right...

It's a minute to 4am as I'm typing this on my excellently new, nice, but slightly less well equipped keyboard (my Australian one called it quits; what's new?) and I'm completely knackered. I've spent most of my Friday night completing my rendition of a Veyron-Ark painting for my portfolio (whilst completing a half-bottle of Chivas Regal at the same time) listening to MSTRKRFT's Fist of God album (which is brilliant, I must say). Why am I sat doing work on a Friday night when I should be out lingering with pretty girls at the clubs or scouring the streets for lovely supper? The answer is hardly surprising: It's almost been two months (or has it?) since I've gotten back home, and I'm supposed to get a job. My portfolio has been on hold for a decade or so simply because I have had better things to do. And I do have better things to do. Tons of games need to be finished, weight needs to be lost, and my car needs some customising. That's not even inclusive of the claiming of my superannuation from my previous job back in Melbourne. It's hard to believe that I was there for a few years. It all seems all too distant, and my reality has again shifted considerably. Nothing has really gone to plan, and I'm a bit sceptical that anything will. You see, when a sports-coupe becomes a sedan, and weight-loss becomes weight-gain, the weather isn't exactly enjoyable, and all the girls you see cannot compare (per sq.ft.), it becomes real pointless to find a job. Except for the money thing, obviously.

Which is annoying, because there was supposed to be a 350z in the garage, a lot of (alcoholic) tropical drinks with little paper umbrellas, and sexy girls to do (instead of portfolios) on Friday nights.

The Kojima Report

So what happens is; after waking up at 8am on the 2nd (after sleeping at 5am); I'm treated to the serenity of what was torrential rain and thunder into somthing really calm and nice, soft hues of streaming water and birds chirping, only to be disturbed by the fact that the next in the line of MGS games is going to be a Raiden based one. Not too surprising since he happens to be Kojima's favourite son of sorts. What IS interesting comes the day after: a proper MGS for the PSP?

E3 was immensely exciting too: Mario Galaxy 2? A new new Super Mario Bros? GT for the PSP? And get this....Kojima doing a Castlevania? What the hell's going on yeah? It's brilliant. And I can't wait for Ghostbusters at the end of the month, amongst other things.

So Kojima, you like to see yourself on TV huh?

So I was there waiting (read:no toilet breaks during the vicinity of the thing going zero) for the stuped timer thing to go off and give me a sort of exclusive reveal on their next project. So the thing does go to zero. And does nothing. No insane hints or flashes of Naomi (nice pun!). Being a paranoid android, I tabbed the page and reloaded it on another hoping for something new. Being overloaded as hell (the site), it sure took it's time. So you'd think there'd be some sort of mild anticipation when...

All I get is another timer. WTF mate? ANOTHER TIMER? You gotta be kidding me. So it flashes 5, E, e, 3 (in that order). What does that even mean? Reveals at e3? 5Ee 3? WTF?? Mind you I could have gotten it a bit wrong but yeah.

So I'll see you in 199 hours Kojima. It better not be another timer.

It's funny when where you want to be isn't a location.

April 16th came and went, and it was good. Built my day around the movie (and as expected), ran into logistics issues. It was well worth it, but only got to watch it twice. Now, it's the day after; and the after-effects are yet to set in proper. The soundtrack has been on loop for the past week or so (Blanco!) and yes, as Sal pointed out so blatantly, this is the first time I've watched a F&F movie without any sort of automobile sat in the garage. I thought I would have gone a bit madder than this. But it's a sad realization that I might have accepted the facts, and that's worrying simply because; I never accept the facts.
As far as I can see, the movie did have some direct effects: the return to modding culture has been re-sparked, and as long as I keep myself in line, that's a good thing. It was also surprisingly well made (I'm biased on this) and a nice reunion with characters that I have grown to adore 8 or so years ago.

Need to head out to work again, so have to leave this as it is. And yes, it's this stark contrast with reality that will drive me mad.

Square One.

Haven't written in for quite a bit and quite a fair bit has happened. First off I've moved away from Milano into someplace in the middle of Richmond, where most of my day takes place anyways (think uni and work). Secondly, my project-cum-workhorse EG4 has been totalled (read total-loss) last Tuesday (I won't go into details but it was not my doing for once). So it's all a bit odd. There were some (Sydney for one) good times with the car. It was surprisingly fuel efficient, torquey and did the job without (much) complaining, although the red-pink faded paint job did bring back not so fond memories of the 1.3. Well I suppose the end of the project was inevitable anyway. A considerable amount of time (and resources) was put into sourcing suitable wheels, tyres, exhaust tailpipe, let alone the Spoon front splitter (understand that Melbourne is a total mod part sourcing nightmare). I just kinda feel bad for the EG. It's like it had such potential. A B18C transplant, a pair of Recaros and some footwork complimented with some gun metal paint was all it needed (OK maybe a decent amp, some 6X9s, a sub, sunroof, front and rear lens, a HID system, mudflaps, boot cover, spoon spoiler and some upholstery refurbishing was in order).
So yeah, it's all over now (for the better I suppose) but then what I'm left with is the bicycle again (and public transport). Granted that the train station is really close by and the tram stop is directly in front of the house, it means trips to K-mart at 3am or my frankfurter run to the Safeway in Camberwell is pretty much a no-no. I've contemplated cycling around at night, but it's getting pretty cold at the moment. I like cold mind you, but then I like cold so I can huddle up in my blanket, safe and warm. Not so much when you're travelling at 20 or so km/h without a windshield (Don't say superbiking is the same cos you get to wear nice leathers and a full faced Arai or whatever and you'd just look silly riding a bicycle in leathers.) So it's back to PGR4 I suppose.

Square one. Again.

Tiger Wooks 09' for XBOX360, PS3 & Wii.

Leading sports video games maker EA Sports has announced earlier today that they will be dropping their world #1 franchise Tiger Woods PGA TOUR for a new partnership with Tiger Wooks, golfing world's current ultimate champion, and released a press release stating that Woods was "past his prime" and [that] "gamers needed a change, but will not really notice the difference anyways". Wooks is a newcomer to the golfing arena but made headlines early last year when he entered the PGA Tour without a handicap quoting that "Pros aren't limited to such trivial things". Well known for taking radical risks on the course and then somehow winning them through sheer trajectory (or luck), Wooks is the only player in golfing history to win the PGA Tour twice in a year, entering two player profiles in 2008, and then getting to a tie with himself at the top. "I really wanted two jackets." was Wooks winning quote as he clinched the title last year.

EA Sports's decision to drop former #1 Tiger Woods came as a shock to many PGA TOUR fans as they were worried that the increased skill of Wooks would mean that uncomprehensible skill would be required to play the game. To calm diehard fans of the game, Wooks released a press statement stating that the game mechanics would remain exactly the same down to the box art itself (bar the change of Woods to Wooks). Wooks was also quoted saying that "fans of the old Woods game will feel right at home with Wooks simply because it is the same game." and [that] "we didn't want to change the game at all not because it is perfect, but because it's a waste of time and money". When asked if there were any differences at all, Wooks cunningly smiled and said "It's got my name on it."

Wooks also sparked controversy early this year after blowing the time-old adage that golfing requires skill -- "Golfing is not about skill, it is about trajectory. I acknowledge skill, and am therefore thankful not to possess any." Wooks plans to win 3 PGA Tours this year to "set the record straight" by using his 2010 game in 2009. When asked how he will perform such a task, he said "people [other golfers] always bring forth their game to evolve. I bring my game from the future so it's already evolved."

-Golferworld

Making sense of fate, and perhaps love itself.

It's 3.55 in the morning, and I'm back on the bourbon. I've just watched Ghost Town (right after Kevin Smith's aptly titled Zack and Miri make a porno.) and after a bit of emotional soul searching (something I tend to do after watching movies; especially rom-coms), I've just realised that fate is the direct consequence of a cumulative will of others. And because of that there is no way to actually fully control anything. When people tell you to do your best, they're basically asking you to have the will to try and control your fate. Which is subject to the cumulative will of others, or "the environment" around us, so to speak. So what you ask? Where am I going with this? The point of this rant really is to prove two things. First, controlling your life is absurd, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't try. There are things that we want to control, the illusion of power, acceptance and perceived happiness envelopes us. However there is one thing that money and power can never buy. And The Beatles were right, it really is love (well they were on the right track anyway). Money can get you percieved love yes. Physical love definitely. But not true love. None of the heart wrenching feelings you get when you see that perfect smile. Or that warm glow. But the point really isn't about love. It's about the will of others , mislead with the example of love. You can influence people to change their minds. But you can never really control their will. And that's the one true gift that each of us have. That's the one equal thing that each and every inhabitant of this planet has. The amount of will however, is sadly not equal. The second point I was trying to get at was that will itself is the only important thing we need to build. Because, with will, we can achieve the skills we don't have, get the things we want, and get the things we need. But things will remain things. And remember, you can never buy true love. That comes from a culmulative will of two (or in some instances, more) people. And that, my friend is exactly is why some people will always tell you that love is fated.