What Do You Think?

It's amazing how, over the past 10 days, I have effectively managed to deprive myself of so many things - going to the gym, blogging, actually *going out* for a proper dinner or movie with friends - in the name of work. I have essentially traded my life - whatever it amounted to - for reading texts on the Penal Code (Crim), extracts on legal philosophy (Legal Theory), studying cases concerning petty disputes between parties (Contract) and researching for a fictitious client (LAWR). It's all very...testing. Testing is the word. But I think I have gotten to the point where I can steel myself in the face of adversity and just plod on. Because I have to. It's sink or swim baby.

Having said all that, I haven't exactly been living the life of the oracle on the mountain. Hours watching TV (mainly CNN and some MTV, Channel V and E!), throwing bad sushi out the window of a $4,800 a month high rise apartment in Balmoral (Jin & I were there for what was purported to be a housewarming thing) which was really very childish and exciting, hanging with JS and Len at Starbucks (although that was more for 'work' and we didn't actually drink any coffee, which was most odd), and of course the last time I saw Wei Ren and Lena at Starbucks in Holland V. Which was last, last Sunday. Wow.

I suppose all that is mitigated by the fact that I get to see so many friendly and familiar faces everyday. I thought of naming everyone here but well, I need to start answering Crim questions and I don't want to offend anyone I omit to mention. So yes. Know that you all are appreciated, even though I do miss not seeing my non-law friends.

Who would have guessed, when I went for my interview nearly 2 years ago, what I would be getting myself into. It's been challenging, stimulating, painful, tedious, and (I'm referring to the SLS 24 hour paper here), pure living hell. And I know that there's worse to come. But, to an extent, it has also been...fulfilling. I'll get used to it. I think we all will. So bring it on.

When In Doubt, Write

It's been a while since I've actually written out a proper, non-gushing about Tokyo / ranting entry. Actually, I'm pretty sick of talking about Tokyo because everyone has been asking me about it. Which is understandable and I'm genuinely...touched...that people care enough to ask - or maybe it just makes for good conversation - but I don't exactly enjoy repeating myself, time and again, like the proverbial echo pedal.

So I should just say what I have to here and be done with it. Photos are going to be up on Facebook for visual accompaniment. Tokyo.

Tokyo. Controlled chaos. It's amazing that a city of more than 20 million, with the potential to be so unwieldy, is actually so orderly. No doubt a testament to the - I shall choose my words carefully - unique qualities of the Japanese people. Yes they can be annoyingly insular. Yes all the politeness does get a little too much at times. Yes their soldiers bayoneted babies and raped civilians during the war. But there's something...an indefinable quality about the Japanese people - that makes them, dare I say it, somehow superior to their Asian neighbors. I'm wading into a very sensitive topic here, although I've never been one for PC bullshit, and since I am Chinese, I'll say it, the Japanese race is superior to other Asian races. They are top of the heap, kings of the hill. From the way everyone keeps to the left on escalators, lets passengers on trains alight before boarding, tries their best (well, mostly everyone) to help you with directions, even with halting English and wild hand gestures, dresses sharply...hell even the homeless don't beg, which stands in stark contrast to the story I heard of a beggar child in China who spit and swore at my friend when his party didn't want to give him money.

I'm not saying that the Japanese have more of a right to be alive than the rest of us - although if there was any country that should be faced with a declining population, I would much prefer it be China instead (ooh that is going to get me in hot soup with a lot of people) - but...it's inexplicable really. They seem to glide while the rest of us mere mortals trudge.

So...my discourse on Tokyo has morphed into what might as well be a World War 2 era propaganda speech, perhaps its best that I stop here. Plans for mid-year break include Taipei and Hong Kong/Bangkok, am especially looking forward to the former as I have not been there before.

Let me go back to describing my day. A lot less controversial I think. It was long. Criminal Law seminar, photoshoot for FOCC which was really quite fun (the exhibitionist in me came out at certain points), meeting with D&N to discuss sponsorship, gym at Cali Republic Plaza for the first (and I suspect last) time, and then to T3 to see Rachel off. Yalan was there too to see off her friend Mag, who is going to Manchester for exchange. If my big NYU plans come to nought, I would consider applying for Manchester I suppose, if only because Meng is there. I miss Meng.

And Weiren. Even though he's physically here. Sometimes it feels like he isn't.

Not Enough Time

Sums up our trip so far. Going to be missing a lot of neighborhoods. Tokyo is huge. Think the sprawl of LA with the density of Manhattan. And we are going to miss it. The fantastic shopping, the delicious food (best sushi of my life!), the wonderful Japanese people (although they can be so servile at times it gets a little scary), the weather (although today was miserably cold), our surprisingly good hotel, the lights of Shinjuku, UNIQLO in Ginza, (relatively) cheap Paul Smith...and we haven't even hit Shibuya, Harajuku, Omotesando, and Isetan's men's store in Shinjuku yet!! Not forgetting the trains which run with clockwork efficiency, the crazy number of exits at each station (Shinjuku station alone has over 60!), and of course, the 100 yen MacDonald's Porko Burgers, the 24 hour 7-story saunas, and the Krispy Kremes where they give complimentary doughnuts to everyone in the queue. We still have another one and a half days but I'm already missing Tokyo.

As for my travel companion, haha, we've had our ups and downs, almost daily disagreements/quarrels/bitchiness (and he's snoring damn loudly now...even as I type this entry on his MacBook), but at the end of the day, I wouldn't have wanted anyone else here with me in this place and at this time...

Whether we can travel together in the future is another matter altogether, but I think (hope) that through the sometimes trying experience that was Tokyo (and the trip's not over yet!), our friendship has been put to the test and has come out intact and perhaps stronger. Please just stop snoring...

We have very different travel ideologies, and two different outlooks to life, which probably results in the clashes we've had over the past 5 days (add my own neurosis to the equation and you have a highly volatile cocktail), but somehow, something clicks. Mmm Jin is probably dreaming of the different ways I meet my demise as we speak haha.

But yeah. That's how I feel.

Pictures to come. If I'm not a lazy fucker. Got loads. Time to shower in the super small bathroom.

Oh and Hillary ROCKS!

Airpork

Watching a plane take off.

I'm at the airport and am bored. So I thought I'd fiddle with my MacBook. I can see my plane from here. It's a 747-400 (which, as we all know, was first introduced in 1988)...won't last for much longer I gather, so I should remember this flight. I can see everything being loaded up now Hope my luggage is treated well =S

Mmm.

Time for me to move on

At least for the moment.

Thanks for all the well-wishes and I'll see you all when I get back =)

This Is What Pisses Me Off

When Britney was first taken to the hospital yesterday some fucking officer told the media that she was high on some substance, and so was taken to the hospital for testing. Of course everyone jumped on it (as you can see from my post below, even I did). I mean, what else could it be right? This is Britney we're talking about here. Early reports also stated that her younger son was taken to hospital in an ambulance and some suggested that she had injured him while under the influence. Well, duh, that's what Britney does right?

But look at this, which I have copied and pasted from the latest AP article.

Early police reports said officers thought Spears might have been under the influence of some substance, but Aguirre said there was no evidence of that.

"Our understanding is that was not the case," she said.

Officers at the scene determined that paramedics "needed to be called" but it was unclear why, she said.

"We're not aware of any type of injuries that she sustained" and she was not combative with authorities, Aguirre said.

Spears wasn't arrested in connection with the custody dispute, Aguirre said.

"There was no actual crime that was involved," the police spokeswoman said.

Many people are going to have read/heard the earlier reports and assume that she was under the influence and injured her kid and that she is an irresponsible mother...when in actual fact she was not, and the only FUCKING IRRESPONSIBLE people were the MORONIC POLICEMEN who made the statements. If I were Britney I would sue their asses off...of course she's probably too stupid to realize the legal options available to her. But seriously, WHERE DO THEY GET OFF MAKING BASELESS STATEMENTS LIKE THAT? It's hella annoying. And if there was "no actual crime" involved, if no injuries were sustained, and if she was not combative, then WHAT IS THE BASIS FOR THIS WHOLE EPISODE?

Everyone is saying, 'oh this is really serious now, its no longer a joke'. Didn't everyone say the same thing last year when she shaved her head? People don't learn. They don't seem to want to. Because for all the paparazzi, entertainment shows, and gossip blogs, Britney is a lot better off as a trainwreck...but they better be careful because if they push any further, they're going to end up killing the golden goose.

Britney Clinton

Fuck my 2 favorite women have not had a good day. As you all know by now, Hei Ren Obama has won the Iowa caucus. I'm not racist (despite what Jin may think haha), but I just don't see him as a viable candidate nationally. Or maybe I'm just a sour grapes Clintonian. I think Mike is influencing me. I would actually go so far as to say that if Obama secured the nomination, I would actually support a Republican candidate (not that my support counts, but in theory you know...). McCain and Giuliani would make for good presidents I think. But looking at who won the Republican primary, Mr Baptist Preacher from the South Chuck fucking Norris supported Mike Huckabee...I think I'd still end up voting (again, I know I'm not able to) blue. But let's see how all this pans out. There's New Hampshire in 5 days. But if Clinton doesn't win that she's in big trouble.

And of course Britney, never content to be quiet for more than a few weeks, and always with an eye for creating her own tsunami wave of headlines when there are other breaking news stories, has been hospitalized and is being tested for drugs and alcohol blahblahblah AS IF NO ONE ELSE CONSUMES ALCOHOL. The drugs part...well, plenty of Americans (and some Singaporeans I know studying in the States) have done soft drugs too so what's the fucking problem. Oh she has kids. Well then she should lose them. And continue with her career. But people will then say she doesn't care about them blahblahblah. So bitch can never win. It's not like she doesn't make it hard for herself but...aiya whatever.

The past few days have been pretty normal. Although today was memorable. Played tennis with Jin, Joel and Lisa! I don't know how much tennis we actually played, as opposed to picking up balls, but what was most unique was that it started POURING around half an hour into our game and we just went on playing in the pelting rain, which seemed relentless. It was damn fun. And damn unhealthy also. The sun came out, and then it started to rain again, and then the sun came out, and it poured a while later. Can the weather like, make up its mind?

After tennis went up to Jin's place and had delicious fried rice and then we just nuaed and watched the Simpsons Movie. Wanted to go rollerblading but we were too sian (sorry Lisa!) although it ended up raining so it's probably good that we stayed home.

Jinesh went to sleep and I...what did I do...finished my article and waited for him to get up. But the wait was worth it la. We had a fucking nice dinner. His maid's cooking is amazing. We had ribs, some mushroom thingy, salmon, corn soup, sambal prawns and vegetables with creamy sauce. It was a 'modest meal' apparently, according to Jin.

Anyway we're off to club now.

Urm, yesterday swam with Rachel at my place and went for party at JS's friend's house which is very nice and her cooking is good too. Day before was FOCC stuff followed by dinner with Mike at Sam's Curry which was disappointing to be honest.

Yeah got to go. Bye.

"Fuck Iowans la"
"Obama should be killed. Then Clinton can get the nomination"
"Aiya Britney's kids should just die la. That will solve the problem"
My 3 quotable quotes for the day

And We're Off

My first day of 2008. Let's see. Bailed on halfway through an outing (was it a date? I have no idea) - always fun.

Went to town to gym.

Watched Across the Universe and then had dinner and long chatting session with Wei Ren and Jin. Punctuated by plenty of laughter. Laugh until can die.

See I told you nothing actually changes from one year to another.

But it wasn't so bad.

EDIT: I was just looking back on old posts (as I am wont to do) and came across the most disgusting thing ever. From March 2006. Jin you should stop reading now.

"Oh well. I shouldn’t complain about army life. I have it a lot, and I mean a LOT better than most other people out there. Seriously I do. I know it’s an Asian value or something to be modest and self-depreciating, but I have it SO MUCH BETTER than most of you. And I’m going to be SO MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL than most of you too. Sorry. I know, I know, truth hurts."

Of all the obnoxious things I've said over the years, this one probably takes the cake.