PU: Manga Festival

Not sure whether this should come under personal or entertainment, so I take it as personal anyway. It is after all, not really a very art or music type of thing, more of a personal enrichment event.

Today I was dragged to Downtown East by Ashley to attend a short crash course on perspective drawing. The crash course was in fact subordinate to a large Manga Festival taking place in the resort!

I got a shock when I saw the type of eye candy in the event. I cannot count the number of people in Number One Cosplay Dress Code with the theme of Manga and Anime. Everyone simply paraded around the resort as though they are walking along the streets. It is hard to meet, for that matter, glimpse one cosplayer. There are more than a hundred, I believe.

Had I known earlier, I will have brought my SLR and six rolls of colour film. Without, a 5.1 auto Cybershot will have to do.

After the course, I naturally took many shots around the place. The awkward lighting of the tent and the shadows of the people make me appreciate having learnt the workings of a camera, that using flash light will shorten the shutter time and make it much easier to get a clear steady shot. Enough for all the technical things though. The photos. Be prepared to get zapped by the current.

This pretty cosplayer chose a convenient background next to the dark blue curtains and posed there patiently for many a photographer to take her photo. Although I do not know the manga character she is cosplaying, she is herself definitely pretty as a fairy maiden and has a characteristic manga look on her, which means that she has done very well.

While this model with the whip, and her partner, look perfect a team of agents. This is actually part of a larger gathering.

I find the first cosplayer more pretty, but this one has a very act cute look on her face, reminiscent of many characters I have seen in animations while I was younger, at the same time having a Singaporean accent in her act cute nature. She really knows how to pose, I wish I can do it too.


That is all so far. I really wish to thank these cosplayers for letting me take these photos but unfortunately I really do not know who they are. Should this be you or should you know any of them, please let me know immediately! I will like to thank them in person.

Birthday Thoughts

It is very strange that I seem always to have plenty of thought, but when it comes to really writing them down, I find that I cannot seem to.

Today is my 21st birthday. As Xiaolongnu herself will have done, I normally face special events with a classical, soothing calm, and this is no exception. While other classmates and friends of mine have elaborate parties, I contented with a simple, meaningful gathering with a few friends.

Not one to be in favour of extravagant parties, I decided on a simple ceremony at Hans today afternoon. My list is a short one, including 5786, 2376, 0029, 5803, 8619, 1814, 6686, 6013, 3851, 4062, 7842 and 4993. The last three unfortunately did not turn up (with RSVP), making an overall total of 10, a respectable and unexpected number.

The ceremony was short and simple. Gather for lunch, talk about just about everything. As 5786, 1814 and 5803 were late (with RSVP), we dragged it further.

The presents were simple, but highly meaningful. The pillow is excellent, but sadly will be a laugh to bring to Hall, so I have to do away with that plan. The bag turned out to be rugged, the way I need my bag to be. The pair of pants in there also just satisfied my needs, completing the necessary for university.

I liked the presents, and the pains that my friends took to get them, and perhaps even more the fact that they had taken the trouble to understand me and my needs to get them. The best way to show your concern is to understand, and spend time. That is more valuable than any present that physically exists.

My birthday wish, made last night with my family at a family friend's house, was also easy and crystal clear, and standard. To wish to get the things I wish for and the hopes that I hope for.

The evening was spent with my family, and with dinner at my uncle's coffeeshop. Not much to boast about, but it is not often that a 21 year old gets such treatment. It is indeed an unusual way to celebrate a birthday. Others will have spent a large amount at some posh restaurant, but I much prefer a cosy place in the humble neighbourhood, where the traditional and ebbing Kampong spirit of Eunos is in the air.

Princess Fann has always inspired me in song, and there is a strong correlation that her songs often contain ideas or imply ideas that happiness can be very simple. I like her songs for this reason, and am pleased to find that my 21st birthday has been with such simple elegant ease. Princess Peifen on the other hand, also has mentioned many times on air that simple is beautiful, and I am also glad to put her words into practice.

It is 11, and I have finished writing and editing, and have to have it up before 2359. On the whole, simple, elegant and eventful birthday, definitely the best I have ever had so far. Excellent day, and hope tomorrow will be better.

PR001 Group vs Individual reactions

I hesitated for a long time over the title of this module. Should I call it Group vs Individual Reactions, or should I name it Differences Between Ladies and Gentlemen? I finally decided on the former as I found it to be more suitable for my presentation.

Undeniably, people sometimes behave differently in different contexts. However, certain principles or core values are apparent and seem to prevail under all conditions. When a person converses, he is always conversing either with one individual person, or a group of friends, or with a large crowd. The last one is more of a presentation or a delivery, but the first two are discussions and exchanges that happen virtually everyday.

Case 1: Guy with a lone guy. (Or girl with a lone girl.)
In this case, there are usually no taboos. There is little chance of offending the subject, so typically anything is alright. It could be a thoughtless conversation about their day or about something they just saw on the roadside, a light-hearted one about their favourite food or clothing or songs, or an intermediate talk regarding their view on certain news or general knowledge topics, to a serious and confidential discussion about a problem and how best to handle it. The last one is actually equally common with guys and girls alike, even though it does not appear so.

Case 2: Guy with a lone girl, as friend.
Conversing with a girl alone is a thousand times more stressful than talking to a guy alone. It is a fact that girls are more sensitive than guys; consequently, they are also more allergic than guys. As a general rule, vulgarities are banned. A guy should also be more vigilant and alert, and aware of the surroundings and his own bearing. He should hold with him a duty to protect, even as a friend, the sensitivity of the girl.

Case 3: Guy with girlfriend or potential girlfriend.
All rules of Case 2 apply, except even more stringent. There is an added feel of jealousy in it, and an added element of obligation. He must always be gentlemanly and cherish her, which is even more so in the presence of others. She should try to be understanding in turn. It is believed that a guy should not appear petty in front of a girl, but I personally do not agree. Since it is a known fact that the best date is a natural one, it follows that he should either be his natural self (petty or otherwise) or, he could decide to be petty or not depending on how the girl is.

It is also my view (once again based on the ideology of frankness and naturality in dating) that a guy (and a girl) should not avoid talking about something that needs to be discussed. Avoiding a complication to duck a quarrel may give rise to more and worse complications in the future.

Case 4: Group of friends, same gender.
Generally, group talk tends to be more light-hearted and often dwells on less serious issues. In fact, very often such non serious talk happens too often for own good.

A good balance to have the best of both worlds is that normally the conversations are kept light, but when there is a declaration of a serious discussion, the mood switches and remains serious until the discussion is over. What will be wrong, I believe, will be continuing to talk in the same casual, nonchalent way when a discussion has been called. In this system, the balance can be achieved.

Case 5: Group of friends, with some different gender.
One might expect that the initial conditions for these conversations to be the summation of all the others above. In fact, quite contrary is the fact that such events, such as class gatherings, to be completely free of taboos. The content of these conversations should be unwrittenly cloaked at all times, in particular, this is especially a rule in Truth and Dare. This is often also the most difficult type of conversation to conduct. It is similar to how some black and white are not written in black and white, but are potentially the most destructive.

Conclusion:
My own take on all of these, is that in any form of interaction, being honest and frank is important. It is the only universal strategy that truly works in all these circumstances. Being fake, or acting, can only last so long. Nobody, not the cleverest actor or actress, can truly and fully pretend without getting caught. I believe that we should always be sincere to others. That is the most important thing in PR and also the underlying idea that guides all other techniques of PR.

In the case of truth and dare, I believe that we should tell the truth. After all, it is meant to be a bonding session. At least, that is my strategy up till now.

Study of Human Character (PR001)

I noticed, having had a lot of PR to do these few months, that people have a tendency to react differently to different conditions. Men usually do not swear in front of ladies, ladies usually prefer casual topics rather than intellectual conversations, and people tend to be less serious when they are in large groups.

It seems as though society has set certain unwritten black and white about conversations, and some words, lingo and mannerisms are considered taboo under some corresponding circumstances, and must be banned or at least restricted. Simply put, it appears that people have certain taboos over what they say and it depends on the people they mix with.

The rationale of this behaviour is unconfirmed, but it is reasonable to assume that this is because people are different, and hence have different preferences, and yet people with similarities tend to have similar preferences and taboos, at least in theory. These posts under PR001 will illustrate my insights about this topic, or rather, record my observations relevant to this characteristic of people.

Kane

Shopping Spree

Yes, it is correct. I decided to go on a shopping spree today.

Having finished the test yesterday, I decided to give myself two days off. Firstly, it will allow me some time to relax at last. Second, it is the preparation for the final exam. My shifu and Mr Ng have both agreed that it is important to settle all personal problems prior to an exam.

These two days I am in green mode, and they are devoted to solving anything but work. These pre exam problems include BGR (which, dunno good or bad, I have none), family problems (thankfully, I have a proper family) and get any CD's and any other shopping that I need to do (and that is a lot).

I have five CD's on my list actually, but I decided to get only one. The fairy, Liu Yifei, whose album has the same name as her, Liu Yifei. The other four can wait and should wait, it will be too much to spend a full hundred dollars in a single day. They shall be split over several weeks.

From the moment I saw this remarkable album, I was electrified by it, and I have not been electrified by anything for a long time.

The photos are pretty of course, as Yifei deserves full marks for her unusual and ethereal beauty, she is truly one of the prettiest girls of my birth year. I especially like the photo of her on the beach, where the chemistry between her pose of an innocent, gentle smile and her angel white gown borders on the fantastic. The white, feathery gown envisions both beauty and purity, as well as eternal and infinite goddess-like nobility and child-like innocence.

The songs are of a high level, the fast songs are highly energetic, and the slow songs have a characteristic type of melody and feeling that has soothing, if not healing effect. The mark of a good singer is her ability to touch others. The mark of an excellent singer is her ability to sooth others with her song, and bring them into a state of concentration.

I cannot determine which one has more effect on me, the photos or the songs. Yifei certainly deserves to be classed among the truly great characters in the field of Entertainment. For that matter, she has already held a princess appointment while in her early days as an artist. She is a rising star and certainly has the potential to go really far, once her acting and singing skills are honed to maturity. Yifei is a fairy descended, a matured but still innocent girl, and a girl with great potential, in other words, she is a princess.

In my opinion, this is the finest album ever sung by a 20 year old. I certainly look forward to the next album by her, and will certainly rush for it when it releases.

Back on air, and tired

Princess Fann Wong. (Source: Return of the Condor Heroes VCD, captured and edited Kane.)

Here is my princess. Yes, the correct word is princess, not idol. Please do not use the word idol or say that I am wrong. I feel it is my own right to decide what I want to view her as. Thank you very much.

School has started for less than a month (two weeks anyway), and the pressure is starting to pile up. Today's homework is one entire set of slides, and a big book to read and understand.

Woke up today with a sense of lethargy I so often experience nowadays but which I had never experienced in the past, I forced myself to start to gnaw at the large 444 page book before me. When I simply could not start, I forced some elementary exercises into my body and mind first.

Hardly five minutes into the mugging session, I found that I could not concentrate at home.

Decided to go to Parkway, where I could find a cafe or something, play some music and concentrate there. So I walked there, and landed in KFC, ate a little and started to read.

This was better than nothing, as I managed to finish the slides. Having the book to finish as well, I hurriedly finished my lunch and started. Not fully understanding the contents, I read a few pages, then found myself drifting. I forced my consciousness back, and tried to find where I ended before I drifted. To my annoynance, I found myself reading the things that I had already read again.

An hour or so into this, I decided I could not take it anymore. I took a break, and tried to force more information into my mind.

It was 3 when I decided that rest or no rest, I have to return home. But I was not going to slack home. I decided to walk home, and pick up a few items. First I visited my VCD shop to get a copy of my favourite VCD, this time in the form of Lu Xiao Feng.

(Source: Cover of Lu Xiao Feng VCD, scanned Kane.)

Cool huh?

On the way back, I decided to pick up the latest Nu You, with Angela on cover. I do not usually buy magazines, but I do when the cover is particularly nice. Angela is not only pretty, but this pose is very artistic and I rather thought I should collect it. The difficult part is that most of the 7-Eleven stores are already out of its stock. However, I still tried. I got it.

(Source: Nu You Magazine, scanned Kane.)

Pretty, isn't she? Comparable with my princess.

I can't believe I spent over thirty dollars today. Still, it was an eventful day, and got two rare items that are not easy to get.

Back to studying. I have to fulfill my promise.

Xinhui: 从台北到北京

Rather late a time to write a review on the album, so I shall write one about the MV of the album.

I wish to say that Xinhui was totally unrecognizable in this album. I meant unrecognizable in two ways. On the one hand, she has matured to an astonishing extent in her ability to step out in originality and great bravery, to take on such a demanding album, while maintaining her personal elegance. Sadly, in terms of her image, she has also become way too daring for her own good.

I recall that 7891 has used the word "flattering" to describe photos that show and indeed showcase a pretty girl well by means of dress sense and photographic skills, and do not hesitate to assert that the image of Xinhui is completely flattering. Her prettiest features are portrayed to maximal electric effect, in particular, her perfect facial features are emphasized.

What I feel is inappropriate however, is the extent to which the contents of the MV are. The intimate scene in 你给的 is not as bad as the attire she was wearing in 从台北到北京. I will not make too much mention here, but I think it is revealing too much rather in the wrong way. (There is nothing too offensive, but I still think the school uniform is a little way too "stylo" in the wrong way.)

Xinhui is a beauty by any proportion, but her beauty is one of elegance, as in the second and third songs, not too suitable for over-exaggerated images, much less negatively suggestive images. This is because Xinhui is a fine lady and an artist.

I therefore feel that Xinhui's image of wearing altered school uniform is not appropriate for her, if not inappropriate at all, given that it might give school children a wrong impression. Xinhui is a pretty girl, a fine lady and certainly an excellent singer. I feel that excessive amounts of decoration will only interfere with her imbued beauty. In contrast, glamourous, fine clothing with simple, light makeup is much better for showing off not only her features like her pretty eyes and fair skin, but also her entire disposition that is of a natural, elegant charm, as are such in the second and third songs, but perhaps most evidently apparent as she sang the eternal 屋顶 on the night of the Final 2005.

Kane