Webcomics

I've found that reading webcomics is a great way to pass the time, and can also be a source of pretty good laughs. Here's the list of webcomics I've been following:

1. xkcd - I really have to mention this first because it's my favourite -- it appeals to the nerd in me.  The tagline "A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language" pretty much sums it up.  Here's one of my favourite strips. Don't forget to read the mouseover text on the comic strip (there's one on every strip)!  Humor: 8 (10 for nerds. :D ). Art: 8 (it's pretty good even for stick figures)

2. Least I Could Do - Of all the webcomics I've read, this made me laugh the most. It's been updated everyday since 2003 and has changed illustrators twice, and it's been funny since day one.  Click here for a more detailed review. For best results, start at the beginning! Here's one of my favourites.  Humor: 10. Art: 9 (I miss the other artist who did a considerable amount of pin-ups. Hehe :D )

3. Looking For Group - I got into this primarily because I played World of Warcraft before, but I'm still into the comic long after I quit the game.  I think non-gamers would still enjoy the comic, especially the awesomeness that is Richard. Humor: 9 (10 for WoW players). Art: 10.

4. Girls with Slingshots - "Two girls, a bar, and a talking cactus," the tagline goes.  I got hooked as soon as I've gotten to know the cast -- it's great how the supporting characters are just as interesting as the main characters. Humor: 8 (Would have been 9 or 10 but I'm not a big fan of the cactus).  Art: 9 (there's not enough stips about Jamie! :D )

Stress-free tips from the MRT station

This morning, while waiting for the next train to arrive, which always seem to take longer than it should, I was so bored that I committed to memory the marquee text scrolling at the bottom of the IPTV screen. It said,

Stree-free tips:
1. Exercise!
2. Have Fun!
3. Socialize.
4. Don't take everything so personally.
5. Listen to other perspectives.
6. Delight yourself.
7. Create space.
8. Keep in touch.
9. Business before play.

Hmm. It's an insightful list, but they should have added something like, "come to the MRT early to avoid the lines and the dreadful shoving and squeezing." Hehe. :D

running music

Despite being deprived of sleep, food and even water (read: night shift), I decided to push myself and do a much-procrastinated 5-kilometer run once more. It took me about 35 minutes to finish. This would've gotten a failing mark in my running class back in college -- far away from my personal record of 22 minutes, which was 3 minutes faster than the "perfect" mark. Sigh.

I actually could've done a worse run today if not for my trusty running music. This playlist, which I listed below, helps fight the boredom, provides a distraction from the muscle aches, and gives the needed adrenaline rush to keep me going, especially in the last 100m sprint.

1. The Fray - How To Save A Life. The piano intro and succeeding drum beat makes for a good starting background music. Relaxing.


2. Fall Out Boy - Dance, Dance. An upbeat song from my favorite band.


3. PANIC! At The Disco - Time To Dance. Emo meets disco. :D


4. PANIC! At The Disco - Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off. "Let's get these teen hearts beating faster, FASTER!"


5. JerryC - Canon in D (rock version). Guitar riffs so mind-blowing, you seem to forget the fatigue.


6. O2 Media - Identity II. From the online game O2 Jam, the best techno/rave track I've ever heard. Ever.


7. Younha - Houkiboshi (shooting star). A very upbeat Japanese rock song that was once a ending theme for the anime series Bleach. Very nice message.


8. My Chemical Romance - Welcome To The Black Parade. Nothing says "carry on!" better than Gerard Way and this awesome band. The last chorus makes for a great adrenaline rush for sprinting the last 100m in mere seconds.

update: I just realized -- no more debilitating leg pain! yey! :)

time > gold

Yeah, I know. Finally, an update!

Lately I've been having trouble finding time between (in no particular order):

• Work


• Quality time with family and friends


• World of Warcraft


• Guitar playing


• Reading


• Writing (thus the lack of blog updates)


• Exercise


• Sleeping

Sigh. If only time was gold and you could buy more of it if you needed some. But no, everyone only gets 24 hours a day. So no, time is not gold. It's worth much, much more than that.

things to do before the year ends

This includes, but are not limited to: 

• Run 10 kilometers in under 1 hour. Back in college, I ran 8 kilometers in 42 minutes. At the rate that I'm going, I'll accomplish this by mid-November this year. [Edit: this might not be feasible anymore. see here.]


• Read: The Witching Hour, Lasher, Taltos and The Vampire Armand by Anne Rice, Stardust by Neil Gaiman, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows


• Make my undead rogue reach level 70 in World of Warcraft.


• Finish O2 Jam's Milk Chocolate in Normal mode without turning into a poring doll. (Aug 8, 2007)