//beconfused

There was this time when the whole Pokémon craze is in Singapore. Pokémon or Pocket Monsters (ポケットモンスター Poketto Monsutā?, IPA: /ˈpoʊkeɪmɒn, ˈpɒkimɒn/) is from Japan, comes in more than 400 nowadays. All the kids were just crazy over them. They discussed Jigglypuff in the morning, they discuss Pikachu during recess and they strategize how Pikachu can win some water creature.

My brother bought gameboy just to play the game. And he bought the Pokémon cards, watch the television cartoon which I always felt is retarded by the way. My brother know his Pokémon inside out and offer technical support for his friends. They call my brother to ask him where can they find a particular Pokémon. And my brother knew! He may not know where Istanbul is but he definately can tell you where’s Dratini.

“Oh no! I have to use Pikachu’s XXX to counter.”

(I hate Pikachu.)

The cartoon didn’t really attracted me. The game however did. I got almost all the Pokémon! And when Nintendo release a sequel with like 250 Pokémon or something. I just given up playing.

I got this friend who train almost all his Pokémon to level 99. What a complete waste of time.

With more than 400 now, try memorizing them! That take - Deoxys. Togekiss. Regigigas. Arseus. Fuwaraid. Bossgodora. Huntail. Dumbbell. Metagross (gross name!).

It’s been a long week. It’s quite an okay week for me. A number of my friends are leaving army already. They are going to ORD. I’m happy for them, at the same time, kinda sad too. Lesser people to talk to I guess.

(National servicemen fighting for Singapore. I haven’t a clue what those guys are holding!)

We all started not knowing one another. It’s quite ironical that when I finally get to know those bunch well enough, it’s time for them to leave. They’re very nice and hardworking people. I’m sure they would be missed.

But the cycle works this way. People come, people go. It’s a good thing that they finally completed the two-year national service. They can’t wait, I tell you. It’s an end here but it marks an exciting beginning for them.

I am really happy for them and I will wish them all the best.

[By the way, I drew that picture when I was a kid, hahaa... I'll post more of my art pieces. Please don't puke.]

Be careful on what you wish for.

_(Comic of a woman wishes for no housework, cooking and cleaning.)_

Nowadays, men are participating in the housework more already I think. In secondary school, I know of this guy who simply loves to do cleaning. He loves things neat and neater. He has the best score in Home Economics lessons. He is just so neat and tidy. He is kinda like the Bree Van De Kamp (Desperate Housewives) in our class minus the breasts.

And the girls find him okay. The guys avoid him and make fun of him. Anyway, the last time I met him was early this year and he was laughing loudly and surrounded with girls. I was trying to walk out of that food establishment because I forgot the name. I got spotted it in the end and we chatted a minute. He is doing pretty well now it seems.

This is said to be Nintendo’s first commercial. It certainly looked old. I never even thought Nintendo had such devices.

[Direct Link]

Today, it’s the Nintendo DS, it’s so much of a change. I won’t be buying a DS but it would be more portable console of choice if not for the fact that I don’t really need a portable console anyway. I’ll probably spend my money on a music player perhaps.

An advertisement every Tuesday

There was this time that I was caught in a situation that I have to just close the door of the bus and turn off the engine. So my friend Ken said to me, “just press that button to close the door and then take out the key and the engine’s off!”

“Can you do that?”

“Sure, sounds quite easy, so it shouldn’t be a problem. You guys can go and watch American Idol, I’ll settle this,” I reassured them. So I sat in the bus waiting for the repairman to do some bus measurements. They left not long after and it’s time for me to shut off the bus.

And I press the button to close the door. It didn’t shut. I tried the open door button, it didn’t work too. So I called for help and Ken told me, “oh, there’s no battery already, just step onto the accelerator to charge the battery.”

“Oh, that’s it? Oh okay… Which one’s the accelerator?” I questioned.

“Far right one.”

I charged it and the door closed quite nicely. And I turn key out but the engines didn’t seem to have stoped. “Er, you know, the key’s out and the engine isn’t.”

“Huh? Try putting back the key and turn counter-clockwise?”

I tried it and it didn’t work. “Still noisy, didn’t work.”

“Maybe have to press some button? Can you look around for some buttons to press?” he guided.

I start to read every label I see, “…and there was this button that has an ‘EN’ at the back. I can’t see the word, it’s too dark. What if the whole bus moves?”

“Oh, maybe it’s ‘Open’ or something. Press that one and try, you will not move the bus one lar. You don’t press a button to move a bus anyway.”

“Okay… Wait a second, I’ll take a closer look.” I shone my cellphone light onto the words slowly. It reads…

“SIREN”

Always read, don’t make assumptions.

Just something to remember.

View it through YouTube.

This is the advertisement of the then Atari Breakout. Atari used to be one of the bigger players in video gaming. It’s sad that today’s Atari seemed to be struggling in releasing games. And their games - they’re buggy. They are usually the publishers so it’s not fully their fault but shouldn’t there be more quality control?

You see, that’s why people thing the games in the past are better. You alway got those guys who would say things like, “those were the days, dude, games are just fun and original.”

I always argue that I prefer games today. Because I love SimCity 4, Civilization VI, and a bunch of other strategy games. The games in the past are good and simple. But today’s game captivated me totally! Unfortunately, the bugs in today’s game are getting more due to 3D graphics engine coded badly. Many games are just taking too much resources too!

Maybe I should return to playing Tetris.

An advertisement every Tuesday

These shoes belongs to my brother and his friends. I saw them outside my house. My brother has once again, brought a bunch of friend back to play Pokémon and WWE cards.

_(The school shoes outside my house; they sure bring back memories.)_

I remember my friends coming to my place after school too. It kinda bring back memories. This photograph is taken on June 30, 2004. It’s taken in color but I desaturated it to give it an old look. No sepia, simply grayscale.

On a side note, I went to the doctor today as I have infection on a foot. The doctor wrote “excused from wearing shoes”. Great! Now my pals have to help me put on my shoes.