Thoughts And Blog : I'm back! It's been a long while since I've last blogged... again. :P
I'm back on a Mandy Moore craze! It's really been a while since I've last heard her songs. And these bring back a lot of teenage memories...
A Walk To Remember, was filmed way back in 2002. I wonder to myself, how did I ever miss the screening of this movie?!
Landon Carter (Shane West) is your typical teen in a "life crisis" of his own. His only wish; to get out of Beaufort, the small county where he lives in. Misled and wayward, he was soon caught in hazing incident. Being a person with a heart, he takes the rap for his fellow friends.
Put into community service and having to act in a community school play, he befriends Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore), a classmate since elementary who is also the Reverend's daughter, for the sole fact of rehearsing his script and be done with it. Little does he know, Jamie slowly changes the person within him. Slowly, he sees Jamie, beyond her bible-carrying, plain Jane exterior, an angel within...
Life takes a turn for him when a mischief played on Jamie turns him against his former friends. Jamie soon accepts him for a better person, and they fall in love with each other, breaking the promise that he once laughed off, that he could never fall in love with her...
However life is never as simple as it is. A tragedy presents itself to Landon, as he and Jamie face the trials and tribulations that love brings to their lives...
I watched this movie with a heavy heart, on the verge of tears between a few scenes. Lines that were mentioned in the movie are now a permanent fixture in my heart. Yes, the movie has once again stirred the sentimental Me within...
Wondering how could this movie be so underrated, I personally give it a 4/5. A worth-watching movie for those who need a reason to treasure life, every single moment of it, including loved ones...
Life on me however, is still having me on my toes, much to my dismay trying to curb procrastination. Especially on my tutorials. I've worried so much about them but still... it ends up in the form of Ds and Cs on my academic score sheet every semester, usually the Accounting and Finance subjects bearing the brunt of it.
COE bidding has reached a new level of madness. It's now 47,000 SGD to own a piece of paper that gives you the legal right to purchase a car. Seriously, could it get any worse than that? Apparently yes! Dad said that COE in the yesteryears once hit a high of 100k. My eyeballs popped out at that moment.
I got myself a few more poisons for the car that I will foresee myself driving longer in the future, thanks to the sky-high COE prices...
1) Cusco Progressive Development rear strut bar 2) VS One, To-Box B-Pillar floor bar
However, the installaton of the floor bar was more complicated than expected. I probably need someone to help me tighten the other end at the same time to maximise the full stretch of the middle chassis...
The biggest difference in the handling was the rear strut bar. I could feel the strong hold of the rear in corners.
However I still feel the roll of the body, a little too much for my liking. I suppose this is because of the soft settings of my spring rate and dampers. Therefore, I'm saving up on the Tanabe Pro 5 set, with upgraded springs to F8kg, R6kg. That is at least another 1,700 SGD including installation from Jeep Chee.
Currently Playing The Song : You Are Free - Chage & Aska
Thoughts And Blog : Hello folks. It's been some time. :)
Every time I look back at my blog, it's mixed feelings coming back to me. Some things that I wanted to forget, some things that I held very dear in my heart, and sometimes laughing at how I felt back then, and how I would react now, all very silly...
Some painful, that sometimes you wish to erase any physical evidence of it, yet want to keep it to remind you of how far you have come. That's how I feel about this blog.
A little emotional, but let's just leave it as it is. I guess I'm in this mood because of this beautifully nostalgic Jpop song that Marshall has introduced me.
It's the holidays for me now. A rather short one, since we've been given a longer 'break' because of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games 2010 held in Singapore. I guess it's give and take, about compromise... but hey, this is THE REAL HOLIDAY, after exams, nothing really much to worry about except for my Accounting results as usual, which would probably be released with the rest of my other module results some time in early October.
Right, some updates about my favorite love, no I meant car... with my REAL love. :D
Currently saving to return a favor from a great friend of mine. After that, it's my indulgence at full throttle again! This time I've got a list of things I want to do...
1) Sunline Racing Fender Bars 2) Cusco Racing Development Rear Strut Bar 3) R's Racing Service reinforced lower arms with bushings 4) R's Racing Service RCA (Roll Center Adjuster) 5) Brake Kit (Either Option Motor's Mini 4 or high temp. treated slotted rotors) 6) Bride Zeta III with rails 7) Defi Advance CR 52mm or 60mm gauges with gauge pod
Was thinking of actually transferring the existing Bride Vios over to the passenger seat, but thought otherwise.
1) May have difficulty ferrying friends, especially ladies with skirts 2) Mom may not like it 3) Dad would kill if he saw two Brides (pun intended) XD
Would most probably sell to a friend or over at the forum. I prefer Zeta because of the higher knee wall and broader shoulder padded areas.
Am headed to Spain/Portugal this coming Thursday on the 24th for my long awaited long haul holiday. But I know Bibi won't be happy, because she'll miss her sweetie for the next 3 weeks or so.
I'll be missing the Singapore F1 GP night race as well. Zzz.
Alright. That's about it folks. Will update soonest. :)
Currently Playing The Song : Backstreet Boys - Spanish Eyes
Thoughts And Blog : *Yawns* Nearly 3am and I'm still awake with my classmates, finishing the major bulk of our International Cross Cultural Studies project which is to be presented in less than 5 hours later.
Screw sleep? Yeah. Is it gonna be a nap? Looks like it.
The exams are dawning on us in a month or so, with thanks to the Youth Olympic Games 2010 that will be held here in Singapore. Why? Because we get an additional three weeks to complete our revision.
Hopefully I won't flunk my Accounts paper. I did pretty okay for the Business Law paper, so I guess I need more luck over at the Accounts paper. *Sigh* Why am I always troubled by numbers... (>_ < )"
Will be heading up to the Sepang International Circuit this coming weekend with Bibi and the Swifters. Let's hope it will be exciting! Or better still, more exciting than the previous High Powered Challenge last May!
When will it be my turn at the circuit! I wanna go have fun even though Suzie is a slowpoke, I still want to go enjoy on the circuit! Pasir Gudang perhaps?
Will this be my next set of rubber, the Toyo R888 semi slick?
I hope so! Great for cornering work, though it's pretty risky on wet... LOL! But it's the fun that matters! The only way to match speed for speed is in the corners for the Swift...
The downside though, are bad fuel consumption figures (due to the large amount of grip generated) and the lack of threading to dissipate water on wet roads.
Up side? Great soft compound for dry conditions. Same price as my current Advan Neova AD08s that aren't even semi slick by nature!
The Advan Neova A050 is too expensive, even at 15" rim size. However, it has a harder compound, which would translate to a longer life, even under high stress conditions.
Still the price is a factor that plays an important part...
Alright. Enough of ranting here. I'll get back to my project. Till then people, stay frosty. :)
Currently Playing The Song : Ayumi Hamasaki - Audience
Thoughts And Blog : Blogging again. Just got back from supper at Ang Mo Kio Macdonalds (24 Hours Drive Thru') after two good hours at Seletar Reservoir.
Just before we left, we saw an accident right before us at the entrance to the restaurant car park; Mercedes taxi reversing right into a Honda Civic behind it, because it's IU wasn't read properly. LOL. Daryl and I simply shrugged and went home.
Went to watch 'My Rainy Days' earlier with Bibi at The Cathay.
The more appropriate one.
The Not-For-Kids movie poster...
I was surprised to find the nude Nozomi Sasaki promotional poster for the movie in The Cathay lifts, instead of the first poster, the "usually censored" and "suitable for all ages" type of approved movie poster MDA would grant.
The movie is about RIO (Nozomi Sasaki), a 17 year old girl living a life of prostitution after having gone through the most painful experience of her life; living the life of a rape victim. She is the leader of a prostitution ring, made up of acquaintances who blackmails adults into bedding with a minor.
Living the life of deception and luxury, until she met KOUKI (Tanihara Shousuke), a university professor in the History Department. She falls in a deep illicit relationship, forming the most controversial relationship between a couple; a teacher-student love.
Little did she know, her life will change forever.
A touching story that will move the hearts of young adults and teenagers, this movie is a typical melodrama of a troubled student's life in Japan involving a puppy love romance with an adult.
Weighing this against 'Ima Ai Ni Yukimasu' (I'm Coming To Be With You), this show is weaker in that sense, failing to fully tug at my heart's strings.
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For Nozomi Sasaki, it was pretty good acting on her part, coming from a model background.
Lest the soapy scenes and the err... I'll leave it to you to decipher your own take by watching it.
Currently Playing The Song : Ayumi Hamasaki - SCAR
Thoughts And Blog : Just helped finish some typing earlier, Having nothing really to do at this wee hour in the morning, after having gone for a late night of rounding across Singapore with the usual suspects.
Yesterday the Pestbusters guys came down to scour the house for any signs of termite infestation. Most of it was found on the third floor in the study room where books and wood are aplenty. Haven for those creeps. Spread some powder and chemical. Said they would follow up again in a week's time.
Benny has gotten more poison done to his car again. I don't know, maybe it does pay to be a working adult. Some cash to play around with.
Considering that the car is about 1.5 years old, I say that I've already done quite a great bit of modification to it. Though most plug and play, I do not see any proper tuning potential in the Swift, not at least in strict LTA-governed Singapore.
It would be best to use a proper sports category of cars to go all out in. That is, for example, the Honda Civic Type R (FD2R), Nissan GT-R (R35), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X (CZ4A) or Subaru Impreza WRX (GRB). These are good and proper bases to start working/tuning with.
Considering that the Swift is a first car for me, I would say that I'll leave engine tuning alone and concentrate fully on learning how to maximise the car's best ability; cornering and improving my road handling skills. I've already felt it's cornering limits in the various situations and road conditions that I've been well, lucky to experience by chance or deliberately.
In any case, I'm still no good at fully understanding engine tuning, hence, "If it ain't broke, don't fuckin' touch it."
I've always told many of my friends, that power isn't everything. There is no end to modding, as well as power. However, it is essential to have a good safety base before deciding to increase power. That is, tires and brakes. These are essential items that are used day to day, unlike excess horsepower which is not fully utilised on our extremely congested roads.
You can have all the power, but without the grip ability from the tires to properly put that power down from engine to road, it is useless. Worse, imagine going fast in wet conditions and lack the ability to slow down when something crops up is serious trouble.
I'm quite particular about having such modifications done first. Tires, brakes... these are MUST items, even if you're a 'safety' driver. Accidents don't occur because you cause them, but they happen also because other people cause them upon you.
Personally, when I see a 'souped' car on the road, I'm quite a bit of the critic. My first areas of inspection of that car would be:
1) Tires 2) Brakes
These two things would already make me marvel at how the driver is able to think for himself, and the safety of his passenger, lest the usage of semi-slick tires.
For me, I feel that though the Swift is a little lacking in the horsepower department, but I imagine being able to understand how to keep the speed up while utilising what I know about the car and my knowledge. Think of it as, Takumi Fujiwara in the AE86.
Now I'm not saying that I'm anything as good as the Initial D character, but simply being able to be the best I can with what I'm given. As a lot of good friends in SwiftClubSG have always advised me, "Why up the power when you have problems keeping your car under control in harsh conditions?"
That really inspired me to properly understand the car and the limits it presents, as well as my own driving ability.
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