Viva Forever

What? Wordpress has ANOTHER new update?! -_- I can’t be arsed, I’ll update when there’s some significant release.

Man, I’m sick of e-drama. Not necessarily happening to myself, but lately I’ve encountered sites and e-people who seem to love actually causing drama for the sake of it. Now I for one love constructive criticism (people like Vera seems to give it really well) but I cannot stand much of people making fun of others under the guise of helping them out.

So to clear up some of the bad e-vibes, here are a few sites I’ve encountered that either really amazed me or just tickled my fancy. Nothing but compliments to them!

• Nuwen - The site just screams “I was made by someone incredibly proficient at CSS!!!” Everything is just so neat and non-clashy! A real joy to just browse through. Who would’ve known that nifty layout placements can be so fun to look at?
• Dragon Rain - I don’t visit anime graphics sites as much anymore but this is definitely the cream of the crop. I’ve found that it’s really easy for people to slather huge anime graphics around and end up looking rather tacky but Dragon Rain looks fun yet professional! I’ve always wanted my blog to be like this; heaps of awesome content alongside the personal aspect. But I lack the skillz. Many of the wallpapers are gorgeous too. Mmm eyecandy.
• Wild Farm - This is the one that absolutely tickled me. Sure, it’s not as popular as the former two sites but the concept is ridiculously cute (and cheeky!). I like to interpret it as a subtle parody of those many angsty sites that feature incredibly expensive ball-joint dolls who just sit around looking sad. The use of old stuffed animals give it an adorably contemplative feel to the whole thing. I’d love to do something like this.
• Shinjite, Peach Arrow, Time Stranger, Fenali, Fake Wings - Yay, anime/gaming collectives! The first three are relatively old collectives that are still being updated (they were a big inspiration to me when I was into making sites) and the latter two are sites that are relatively new but are still gorgeous. From just the quick link hopping I’ve done, anime/gaming collectives have somewhat diminished but somewhat making a comeback? The styles are different too and have changed into something I really like; many utilise more “web 2.0″ looks with neat organisation and patterns but still retaining the anime/gaming creativity that I love. It’s very different to the flamboyantly colourful (and while very creative, impractically designed) sites of yore, and I don’t mind it at all.

Speaking of anime, I haven’t watched any in quite a while. Tara’s dream about one day owning an anime cafe sounds so awesome. It sucks that I have so much work to do in the holidays (in fact, I have an essay due tomorrow that I have yet to start writing >_>). I have The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya which looks to be a wickedly delightful anime (I’ve heard so many good things about it!) that I haven’t had the chance to finish watching (and it’s only 13 episodes!). I especially love their special ending dance… hilarious!

And lastly, I don’t know if anyone here can understand Cantonese but if you can, do listen to this radio clip, it’s hilariously sobering. It’s about a 16 year old girl who calls in, states as a matter of fact that she’s racked up some HK$10,000 in phone bills and doesn’t seem fussed about it at all. She’s thinking about getting a job but won’t part with her Gucci, Burberry, Lois Vuitton bags. The two DJs’ reactions makes it great.

And now… I should get to work.

(crosspost from LJ)
OMG!!!!!!!! After *two years*, Fiona and I FINALLY got off our arses and updated our networks with… *dun dun dun* The long-awaited (well only by us really ^^;), Fruits Basket collective! Or… the beginnings of it. Without further ado:

Itsumo - Fei Fei’s site! Le portal and adminish site. ISN’T IT SO ADORABLE?!
Outr� - My shrine to Ayame Souma! Woot! Also made two years ago, except it looks very crappy in comparison. Excuse the squishiness. Needs to be updated with the newer manga information, but all the content should be accessible (except the media gallery, we’ll be working on it).

For those who’ve seen Fruits Basket, please visit!

OH THE SWEET FEELING OF PRODUCTIVITY! :D

This journal is still very self-aware; sensitive to its shaky existence, I’m trying to establish a use, meaning. For a while I think, it’s going to sound a tad dramatic and a dash angsty, with a general whismical tone, so I apologise in advanced. Or maybe this is just how I sound at night. :P

How important is it to always be logical and rational? I’ve always strived to be both, failing many times, but these two are qualities that I’ve always (and always will) look up to. But sometimes it’s a little tiring having to break things down into rational and logical components. Oh, it’s easy enough to try to use logic to reason one’s way from being unhappy about something. It works quite well when you’re grouchy at something, and to just talk to yourself (or someone else) about it. Getting it out of your head, to a real or imagined third person really helps dispel exaggerated gloom in one’s mind.

But I find that reason doesn’t work when you’re happy. You see a movie you love (Howl’s Moving Castle was EXCELLENT :D), interact with people you love, or just experience the little joys in life, sometimes that can make one feel REALLY happy. I find it takes the joy out of things when you try to figure out the minute details of what IS IT that makes you happy. What is it about a film that necessarily make you gasp in wonder? What is it about being around someone that makes you feel so content?

I suppose it’s not too difficult to eventually figure out the multitude of interrelated reasons. But I find that a lot of the times it just makes one go “ah well… why DOES that make me happy, doesn’t that seem a little silly?”. Taking Gestalt psychology, sometimes the whole IS greater than the sum of the parts; is it really the individual notes of a musical piece that brings such a thrill to one’s heart, or the unique melody? I think it’s the latter.

So then, is bliss something that shouldn’t be questioned, but just accepted? If ignorance is bliss, is then not bliss rather ignorant in that respect? Does it even matter?

P.S. Finally updated.
(Note to self: CHANGE TO WORDPRESS DAMMIT.)

Man, I wanna watch Fruits Basket again. For the fourth time.

Anyway, currently I’m desperately look for a job. Well okay, maybe not desperately, but it’ll be nice to be work. Well not the working part, but the getting money part. But dammit, sending off resumes and cover letters is such a hassle, especially constructing the latter. While I try to put substance into it, to make it sound interesting and not so generic, I end up sounding pretentious and shallow with my overuse of superlatives in hope to snag their attention. Oh well, if worse comes to worse, I’d work at Woolies if I have to.

My blog, my poor neglected blog. I open up Photoshop and nothing comes to mind as I stare at the empty canvas. When would inspiration overcome procrastination? At least I’m trying to use this and wean myself from LJ. Must… not… sucuumb…

And like yeah I’m thinking I’d like to make a mini site on quotations. Not mine of course, but just a collection of all the ones that I love. I’ve been seeing people like Alex and Fiona has been implementing them into their sites, but eh I want a little, tiny mini one so I can add all the ones I love and can re-read when I want. So ironic how my whole history of webdesign began with with a site containing 400+ quotes, and the wiping out of it by geoshitties eventually lead me to where I am today. And here I am possibly at it again!

Oh the joy of having the net again… ^_^ Wah so much to do! Have to answer emails, sites to fix and move stuff over to Fiona’s server by Aug. 1st, and attempt to actually get a new layout up. Why is it when a layout is nearly finished that it always looks faulty and non-nice? -_- Geeeh so behind on net stuff.

Haven’t actually done much after coming back, been unpacking, playing the Sims (strangely addictive when there is no net), watching Azumanga. Also strangely addictive. O_o

Edit: Two months late, but Spin has been updated. Leech away.