My state of joblessness had enabled me to watch most of the gooners games on the weekend night, and then re-watch replays of those games on random weekday afternoons. As I watched the Hull City replays this afternoon, I was mentally giving individual appraisals to the entire team for the season so far.
Alumnia
Decent but never world class. He tends to get mixed up with defenders, lacks communication, command and handles crosses rather poorly. Alumnia has lovely silvery hair, but he ain't no David Seaman.
Fabianski
Excellent reflexes but still young, lacks experience and doesn't command his penalty box well. But this boy is definitely for the future.
Toure
Kolo had always been one of my favorite players in the squad. Unfortunately, he's having a poor season so far, coming on and off the bench. He could be miles better than what he is now.
Gallas
Prone to silly mistakes but have a knack for scoring in set pieces as well. Sucked when he was given captaincy, but played a lot better when stripped off it. This guy is a crying Jekyll and a whining Hyde.
Sagna
Solid like a rock. Runs down the flank well, strong on challenges and surprisingly decent in the air. I like everything about Sagna, except for his ridiculous hair.
Clichy
I like him, but he's always playing the last striker onside. Maybe its the lack of communication within the line, or just a plain lack of concentration. Whatever it is, watching him overlap and raid down the flanks is one of my favorite Arsenal moments.
Djourou
Young and inexperienced, just like half of the squad. In another words, prone to screw ups. Decent otherwise.
Song
I'll love to see a proper DM sitting in front of our line protecting our boys like how Viera used to do it, and Song is the closest player we have to that. I wish to see him start more often.
Denilson
I wouldn't believe for a second that he is Brazilian. Wait, actually I do. He's always giving the damn ball away.
Fabregas
Injured. And that stinks, just like the entire season so far.
Eboue
Falls down too easily, gives the ball away too much. Potential crybaby. But with the absence of Walcott and Rosicky, I do acknowledge the fact that he does provide some sort of width and (attacking) threat to the right flank. Problem is, he always gets pass the defender and then crosses the ball to the audience in the grandstand.
Diaby
Bambi on Ice. A bad copy of a Patrick Viera. A nightmare to my dreams. I wouldn't go any further.
Nasri
Pretty fast feet and good close dribbling skills. Thank god we bought him.
Van Persie
He's like the James Dean of the team. Rebellious, young and brash, but it seems like he's toning down. Always a potential match winner and has the ability to score from the weirdest of angles or strangest of turns. His performance against Hull was top notch and worthy of a Player of the Season for Arsenal for me.
Adebayor
Big guy, holds the ball well, good in the air and pretty quick too. I think he gets too much flak for not being able to live up to the high standards of his predecessor, Henry. But honestly, who can match up to him? Without Adebayor in the squad, our attack is blunt like hell.
Bendnter
Decent but I'm not convinced.
Walcott
I don' care if he's an one trick pony. He gets the job done down the flanks... Now if only he can improve on his crossing and finishing skills.
Eduardo
Give this poor guy a break.
Rosicky
Who's he?
4.35am
These months of hiatus hasn't been all rosey. Well, it may sound that way and it certainly does seem like it, but honestly it isn't. When people ask me what am I up to, I can't exactly find the right words. Let's say that I'm not working, but neither am I doing nothing. Feels like I'm threading on a thin line in between, stuck in a limbo, crossing between zones of productivity and idleness. If it was in Facebook, my relationship with life, work and reality would fall under 'It's Complicated'.
I tell myself that I'm working towards a certain goal, that of a scholarship and overseas studies. But its such a bloody long shot, even the small optimistic part of me can't barely see it. Now, even the all dancing, all singing folks of MDA can't tell me exactly if documentary photography can be qualified as one of the media areas that they support. "It falls into the cracks, its up to the panelist. Why don't you send it and we'll see how?" Sounds like painful rejection masked delightfully under wrappings of uncertainty. But I'll still give that long shot my best shot. I don't want to settle on 'what ifs' anymore.
I've not regretted much about anything for a long time, but now I have. So kids listen up. If you've the resources and opportunities to do some things now, do it. Like the wise chinese man always said, "Mai Tu Liao". Now, I'm breaking my back trying to get things done simply because I didn't do it back then. Sure is a pricy lesson learnt.
Its 4.35am now and I feel like having a mega upsize sausage mcmuffin breakfast.
I tell myself that I'm working towards a certain goal, that of a scholarship and overseas studies. But its such a bloody long shot, even the small optimistic part of me can't barely see it. Now, even the all dancing, all singing folks of MDA can't tell me exactly if documentary photography can be qualified as one of the media areas that they support. "It falls into the cracks, its up to the panelist. Why don't you send it and we'll see how?" Sounds like painful rejection masked delightfully under wrappings of uncertainty. But I'll still give that long shot my best shot. I don't want to settle on 'what ifs' anymore.
I've not regretted much about anything for a long time, but now I have. So kids listen up. If you've the resources and opportunities to do some things now, do it. Like the wise chinese man always said, "Mai Tu Liao". Now, I'm breaking my back trying to get things done simply because I didn't do it back then. Sure is a pricy lesson learnt.
Its 4.35am now and I feel like having a mega upsize sausage mcmuffin breakfast.
We Salute You
Thanks to a fat bar of soap and his article I've read recently, I'm once again stoked and riled up over a particular slice of music history - when the tunes were much heavier and the band had longer hair then a whole bunch of high school cheerleaders. It was a time when grown men did not sing song about being dumped, hurt or sad, a part of history when bands like the Jonas brothers or the Click Five would get kicked in their nuts for trying to act like something they're obviously not.
Sorry to say this. As much as I appreciate Coldplay, Death Cab and the entire post rock/shoegazing wave, back then, I quote Mr Soapfat - "rock was ROCK and not pussy bands". Rock will never die out. It lives on forever, kicking ass and taking names.
If I still had my long mat rock hair, these would be the 4 songs I'll listen to.
Guns N Roses; November Rain
Slash. Guitar solos in desert. Helicopter shots. Classic.
This is embarrasing, but I air guitar to Slash's solos here.
Iron Maiden; Fear of the Dark
Rock in Rio. Fans singing along. Bruce Davidson.
This gig hits a tie with Muse @ Wembley for 'Concert I Most Wish I Had Attended'
ACDC; For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
Title says it all.
Metallica; Master of Puppets (S&M Concert Live)
'Call of Ktulu' + 'Master of Puppets' = Extremely wicked
Sorry to say this. As much as I appreciate Coldplay, Death Cab and the entire post rock/shoegazing wave, back then, I quote Mr Soapfat - "rock was ROCK and not pussy bands". Rock will never die out. It lives on forever, kicking ass and taking names.
If I still had my long mat rock hair, these would be the 4 songs I'll listen to.
Guns N Roses; November Rain
Slash. Guitar solos in desert. Helicopter shots. Classic.
This is embarrasing, but I air guitar to Slash's solos here.
Iron Maiden; Fear of the Dark
Rock in Rio. Fans singing along. Bruce Davidson.
This gig hits a tie with Muse @ Wembley for 'Concert I Most Wish I Had Attended'
ACDC; For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
Title says it all.
Metallica; Master of Puppets (S&M Concert Live)
'Call of Ktulu' + 'Master of Puppets' = Extremely wicked
you know it
You know you're bored when you think about stuff like this. And you can be sure you're nearing the brink of that boredom when you actually bother to write it down. So here we go...
I've a pet terrapin that bites cardboard boxes and follows people around when they clap their hands.
And it can kick most hamsters' asses. Maybe even small chihuahuas.
The Killers is pretty danceable, not in the normal club-dancing way of course.
AC/DC 's new album is quite decent. Sounds like the good ol times.
I get heartbroken every weekend supporting the Gooners.
I prefer Miyazaki to Burton.
Kurt Cobain was murdered by Love and Tupac is still alive.
I'm extremely random at random times.
- 26/12/08
I like to eat prawn noodles and drink teh-o at the circuit road market. Feels like Malaysia or Singapore in the 80s. Not that I'm making comparisons with the Malaysia-now and the Singapore-then.
Its funny to see people shout warnings cheerfully when they spot carpark attendants coming. Especially at circuit road market. Its like the kampong community spirit truimphing over the authorities. And that is always beautiful to watch.
I'll like Arshavin to join Arsenal (preferbly for a low transfer fee). Such similarities, both are Ars-es.
It took me almost a year to buy a plank of wood. The guy took 10mins to cut it for me.
It took me almost 3 years to replace a broken guitar string. The guy took 2mins to change it for me.
I don't understand why Israel doesn't get it hard for defying the UN. In fact, I don't understand the reasons for most of the modern conflicts. They always sound like little kids fighting in a sandbox.
Defoe is a mercenary.
- 9/01/09
I've a pet terrapin that bites cardboard boxes and follows people around when they clap their hands.
And it can kick most hamsters' asses. Maybe even small chihuahuas.
The Killers is pretty danceable, not in the normal club-dancing way of course.
AC/DC 's new album is quite decent. Sounds like the good ol times.
I get heartbroken every weekend supporting the Gooners.
I prefer Miyazaki to Burton.
Kurt Cobain was murdered by Love and Tupac is still alive.
I'm extremely random at random times.
- 26/12/08
I like to eat prawn noodles and drink teh-o at the circuit road market. Feels like Malaysia or Singapore in the 80s. Not that I'm making comparisons with the Malaysia-now and the Singapore-then.
Its funny to see people shout warnings cheerfully when they spot carpark attendants coming. Especially at circuit road market. Its like the kampong community spirit truimphing over the authorities. And that is always beautiful to watch.
I'll like Arshavin to join Arsenal (preferbly for a low transfer fee). Such similarities, both are Ars-es.
It took me almost a year to buy a plank of wood. The guy took 10mins to cut it for me.
It took me almost 3 years to replace a broken guitar string. The guy took 2mins to change it for me.
I don't understand why Israel doesn't get it hard for defying the UN. In fact, I don't understand the reasons for most of the modern conflicts. They always sound like little kids fighting in a sandbox.
Defoe is a mercenary.
- 9/01/09
恭喜你健康
every race has their own stereotypical character traits, be it true or false.
indians are thought to be smelly, have a natural tolerance for alcohol and are ferocious wife beaters.
malays are thought to be lepak and always relaxing in one corner, waiting for their subsidies.
chinese? well the chinese are just a greedy greedy bunch of people.
every chinese new year, we greet each other 恭喜发财 (congratulations, hope you huat ah). the whole idea of chinese new year seems to revolve ridiculously around money. you ask the young punks what they like most, they'll say the hongbaos. woe to the relatives who give only $2, because they will forever be labeled as cheapskate and stingy.
well, i shall not participate in such a celebration of materialism and greed.
you say 恭喜发财, i say 恭喜你健康!
indians are thought to be smelly, have a natural tolerance for alcohol and are ferocious wife beaters.
malays are thought to be lepak and always relaxing in one corner, waiting for their subsidies.
chinese? well the chinese are just a greedy greedy bunch of people.
every chinese new year, we greet each other 恭喜发财 (congratulations, hope you huat ah). the whole idea of chinese new year seems to revolve ridiculously around money. you ask the young punks what they like most, they'll say the hongbaos. woe to the relatives who give only $2, because they will forever be labeled as cheapskate and stingy.
well, i shall not participate in such a celebration of materialism and greed.
you say 恭喜发财, i say 恭喜你健康!
Unconcerned but not Indifferent
Interesting essay on the changing face and roles of photojournalism.
Unconcerned but not Indifferent by Adam Broomberg
"Roland Barthes summed up the analgesic effect of looking at images of horror when he wrote “someone has shuddered for us; reflected for us, judged for us; the photographer has left us nothing - except a simple right of intellectual acquiescence”. Put another way, we look at events in photographs and feel relieved that they’re not happening anywhere near us."
Unconcerned but not Indifferent by Adam Broomberg
"Roland Barthes summed up the analgesic effect of looking at images of horror when he wrote “someone has shuddered for us; reflected for us, judged for us; the photographer has left us nothing - except a simple right of intellectual acquiescence”. Put another way, we look at events in photographs and feel relieved that they’re not happening anywhere near us."
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