why i fight...

why do i fight? why do i struggle so much when i possibly could just end up with nothing? why do i soldier on, despite the pain i experience along the way? why don't i just give in to the darkness and surrender? why go through the torture? why feel the agony? why bother? why waste the time and energy? why tear myself asunder when i can just find somewhere else, untouched by strife?

cos i fight for what i believe in. what i hold dear to my heart. what i treasure. what i deem worthy of. what i hope for. for the future. for life. for God. for the ones i love and care for. for those who care. for those who need it. for justice. for honour. for truth. for love.

to enjoy the fruits of peace, someone must fight the good fight, for even in peace, there will always be conflict.

so i will keep on fighting. win or lose. i will fight the good fight. till the very moment i die. till i draw my last breath. till i finally lay myself down to rest.

finally...

the weekend's here the weekend's here... ^_^

Let Me Entertain You
Robbie Williams

Hell is gone and heaven's here
There's nothing left for you to fear
Shake your arse come over here
Now scream
I'm a burning effigy
Of everything i used to be
You're my rock of empathy, my dear

So come on let me entertain you
Let me entertain you

Life's too short for you to die
So grab yourself an alibi
Heaven knows your mother lied
Mon cher
Separate your right from wrongs
Come and sing a different song
The kettle's on so don't be long
Mon cher

So come on let me entertain you
Let me entertain you

Look me up in the yellow pages
I will be your rock of ages
Your see through fads and your crazy phases yeah
Little bo peep has lost his sheep
He popped a pill and fell asleep
The dew is wet but the grass is sweet my dear

Your mind gets burned
With the habits you've learned
But we're the generation that's got to be heard
You're tired of your teachers and your school's a drag
You're not going to end up like your mum and dad

So come on let me entertain you
Let me entertain you
Let me entertain you

He may be good he may be outta sight
But he can't be here so come around tonight
Here is the place where the feeling grows
You gotta get high before you taste the lows
So come on

Let me entertain you
Let me entertain you
So come on let me entertain you
Let me entertain you

Come on come on come on come on
Come on come on come on come on
Come on come on come on come on

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children

to sum this movie up in one word: wow.

i remember when i first saw final fantsy VIII's opening movie. i was blown away at that time, simply cos the fight sequence back then looked so fluid, so real. and no matter what square does with final fantasy, it's usually cool. and not just cool. kickass and really cool cool. i loved the character designs in VIII but i wasn't taken aback by VII then... but AC is making me want to go back and play VII.

i won't go into the story, since i don't know enough of VII to be sure of what i'm talking about... but this movie is one helluva beauty. square enix is no slouch in computer graphics, and advent children fully displays SE's prowess in that field. if you thought SE's final fantasy was a great movie visually(it was a crap movie, but you'll hafta agree if you watched it that it was sheer eye candy), wait till you see this puppy. the fight scenes are fast, furious and very fluid(tifa's fight scene was particularly memorable... not to say that cloud's battles were any less awesome...). and for once, the story is pretty good. it will leave you with questions along the way, but i felt that most things were tied up nicely in the end with only questions that can be answered only from the game puzzling the viewer. and FF fans, some scenes will definitely have you grinning away.

FFVII:AC just screams cool. it's a PSP UMD movie that should be out on DVD soon if i remember right. but if you can't wait, there's a fansub or two on the net. grab it and just let movie astound.

faith restored

thank you very much manchester united for restoring my faith in you. it wasn't easy watching you guys fight back after losing the lead to a superb free kick, but i suppose that's where the excitement in football comes from. i was downright disappointed when you guys threw away one point at old trafford, of all places, against blackburn, but this victory has won you guys a reprieve, and i hope it is a sign of things to come. kudos to young phil bardsley, a youngster stepping into his first full euro debut, ryan giggs, forcing his way back into the team with an emphatic performance which could've been better, and ruud van nistelrooy for finally bulging the net after so many wasted chances. i hope this continues and you fellas give me and the rest of the united faithful a reason to spend 2 hours in front of the telly for. a job well done, but rest not on thy laurels.

*yawn*

that's another monday gone by... phew. mondays are starting to get to me... sure, i've been through work where days are 9-6... but at least that was way more fun than school. i'm not the absolutely outgoing sort with new people... and while i've made friends, i don't really feel that much part of the group. sometimes i really wonder what happened to the psycho that was hurling abuse at the myanmar team at the tiger cup semi-final and making so much noise when i'm thrown into a new social situation... ok, sidetracking too much... but yeah... work was fun with the girls and sheng and lianyi in the office... and i had a break. hoo boy. while giving up the 2 hour break to get away from numbers in the beautiful world of literature is a welcome break from all the science madness, i still miss the break for lunch. can't have everything in ithe world can you? for once i was actually starving by the time econs lecture ended at 530... something that's pretty rare considering my odd eating habits here in ntu with my morning macs usually sufficient for a whole day's worth of slogging in the varsity trenches... note to self... gotta remember to grab a bite on the fly after lit lecture from can b next time...

and let me entertain you continues to play through my mind on repeat mode. lyrics akan datang =)

muahaha. part 7. =D

SINGAPOREAN PAIR HAVE TEA WITH MAN UNITED TEAM, HENRY SPEAKS
MANCHESTER - After what has been a trying few days in trouble with the authorities, Singaporean duo, G. Loo and A. Chu, have had tea with the Manchester United team to mark the end of a roller coaster week with a tea session at Old Trafford with their heroes. The pair, on holiday to watch their heroes play at Old Trafford, assaulted Arsenal's main star Thierry Henry with trouts after the striker had insulted them and the United squad in a pub in London. "We're sorry we hurt Henry so badly, but at the time we were absolutely furious," said Loo. His friend agreed. "He was saying some really nasty things. While we acknoweledge that we might have gone overboard with our vengeance, he shouldn't have said such things in the first place. I suppose Henry did manage to think about it, credit to him for being man enough to drop the charges." Sir Alex Ferguson was all smiles, praising the fighting spirit of the two, but warned them to temper themselves in the future. "It's great to know such passionate fans are still around nowadays. However, I don't think anyone's going to be so lucky in the future, so no one should go out tempting fate. Credit to Henry- the lad's big enough to know he was in the wrong and who played the better game at Cardiff," said the United manager.

REACTIONS FROM HIGHBURY, HENRY SPEAKS
Over in London, Arsene Wenger voiced his disappointment at Henry dropping his charges, and stated that the club would now need to look into disciplinary action against their skipper. "We live in a civilised society," said a rather downcast Wenger. "No one should go around beating people with trout, and this only encourages more hooligans in the sport. I'm rather disappointed with Thierry’s decision to back down, and since it looks like he's in the wrong, I'm afraid we'll need to look into disciplining him," he remarked rather reluctantly. Players from the North London outfit were rather surprised that their skipper could drop the charges when the case was so much in his favour. "He didn't hurt anyone, just bruised their egos. Typical United ruffians resorting to violence," said Jose Antonio Reyes. "And I am not a whiner!" he added, with regards to comments made by Cristiano Ronaldo. "I'm surprised Thierry would let this go so easily," said stand-in skipper Sol Campbell. "He has a strong case against those 2 blokes, but I suppose he has his reasons. It's a massive blow that he'll be gone longer, but it's good to know he's back on his feet."

Henry, however, begged to differ with his colleagues' opinions when he allowed the first interview the be conducted in his hospital room. "I was in the wrong. My mates and I had a couple of drinks, not something I usually do, and I lost the plot a little. I can't remember exactly what I said, but it can't have been nice, especially with regards to the FA Cup final. I don't care what the gaffer says, we were really poor that day, but luck was strangely on our side. I apologize to Heinze and Smith if I insulted them in any way in my drunken stupor," said Henry from his bed. When questioned further, Henry revealed that he decided to drop the charges on hearing who was defending his assailants. "I might have taken them on in court, but when I heard that their lawyer was that Singh fella, I almost crapped my pants. I've heard stories of that man," Henry said, with a slight tremble of respect and fear in his voice. "He apparently took on a solid lawsuit against his client, turned the whole table around and got the plaintiff to withdraw his case! Lawyers are a scarey bunch, but I don't think they come any more killer than him!"

Mr Davinder Singh had already flown back to Singapore and could not be reached for comment.


ok... i promise. andrew and i are done with this... it's trout is cooked and we're sticking a fork in it... for now. =D

the end?

LATEST: THIERRY HENRY DROPS CHARGES

LONDON – In a dramatic twist to the case, Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has asked for all charges against his assailants to be dropped. However, he declined to comment further.

Sir Alex Ferguson, when told about this decision, praised Henry for his professionalism and integrity. In contrast to this, a representative from Arsenal said that Wenger was extremely disappointed with Henry’s decision.

Sir Alex wished the two Singaporeans well and said he hoped to be able to meet them before they returned to Singapore.

(Chu, 2005)

can't get the music outta my head

mmm... not a bad day. finally finished my bloody lab report that has been sapping me of all my sleep for the past 2 days and submitted it. 20 pages of electrochemical polishing... bah. lab was simple enough this morning even though the day didn't start that well... woke up at 810 for my lab at 830... almost slipped on the stairs on the way... nothing wounded there but my pride...

went for my first acts session after a couple of weeks... never had the chance to the attend the hall one cos of the timings which are off for me... anyway, it was good, and i feel pretty at home there ^_^ ... 2 lectures later and i can smell the weekend coming already... =D

and i just can't get robbie williams's "let me entertain you" out of my head... bloody nice song... =)

part 5... when will the madness end?

RED DEVILS UNITED BEHIND HENRY ASSAULT DUO
MANCHESTER- Following the charges against the pair of Singaporeans who assaulted Arsenal star Thierry Henry, who allegedly provoked them into action, the players of Manchester United have voiced their strong displeasure with regards to charges against them.

The pair, G. Loo and A. Chu, both 21, allegedly assaulted the Frenchman outside a London pub with trouts, beating the star striker senseless in order to defend the honour of the club. Reports say that Henry was gloating about Arsenal's penalty shoot-out victory over United in the FA Cup final in May, and hurled abuse at the club and players at the pair, who are both Manchester United fans.

"It's ludicrous! No one human associated with Manchester United could possibly not react those kind of comments. The only Arsenal player who can dare say anything about that game should be Jens Lehmann. The rest of them should just shut their traps," fumed Roy Keane.

Wayne Rooney agreed. "The cheek of Henry to say such things when they were just trying to kick us off the pitch while we played real football. If not for Jens Lehmann, that trophy wouldn't be at bloody Highbury. I feel sorry for the lads. Any true United fan would simply not be able to stand for such nonsense."

"I bet the only reason why they're being charged is because it's a bloody Arsenal player. Otherwise it's just like any other punch up in the pub districts of London. I should know," said Londoner Rio Ferdinand. "It's just a concussion. Sure, not a nice thing to do to somebody, especially considering they used trouts. But it's a routine thing in a pub."

Gabriel Heinze and Alan Smith, who were both insulted by Henry as the pair were wearing replica jerseys of them, both promised Henry an unforgettable encounter the next time the sides clash. "I may be injured, but I can assure you that Mr Henry will have a rather... memorable encounter once we meet again when I'm fit," said the tough-tackling Heinze, who has be sidelined for most of the season from a cruciate knee ligament injury. "A pansy. Pfft. He should take a look at his own squad before he dares call anyone else a pansy."

Alan Smith did not mince his words. "He's lucky he's out for a long time. By then Roy Keane should be back, but if I'm playing on the same pitch as him, he'll wish he never opened his mouth. Bloody hell, Arsenal are the ones always complaining about roughhouse tactics. When we lost at Goodison last term, did we complain? I don't think so. I wish those 2 all the best in their trial. Won't be very fair if they go to jail over that bunch."

Paul Scholes declined to comment on Henry's remarks, but wished the pair all the best.

psalm 111

well... it's been a trying 1st 2 days of school... just thought i'd share a psalm that i find meaningful and hold very, very dear to my heart. wish there was a way to get the music on the net, but you'll all have to do with the words only. =)

PSALM 111(112)

Happy are they who fear the Lord
Who take delight in all His commands
Their descendents will be powerful on earth
The children of the upright are blessed

Riches and wealth are in their homes
Their justice stands firm forever
They are a light in the darkness for the upright
They are generous, merciful and just

Good people take pity and lend
They conduct their affairs with honour
The just will never waver
They will be remembered forever

They have no fear of evil news
With firm hearts they trust in the Lord
With steadfast hearts they will not fear
They will see the downfall of their foes

Open-handed they give to the poor,
Their justice stands firm forever
Their heads will be raised in glory
The wicked see and are angry,
Grind their teeth and fade away
The desire of the wicked leads to doom

Glory be to the Father and to the Son
And to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning,
Is now and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen.

and just in case...

if you're wondering, theirry henry has not been beated up by myself or andrew chu. we're just two bored fellas churning out insane rubbish so you can have a bloody good laugh if you love your football. hope you enjoy this little series as much as we are =)

i swear andrew... you're nuts for making a part 4... LoL...

SINGAPOREAN DUO FORMALLY CHARGED FOR HENRY ASSAULT

MANCHESTER– The Singaporean duo involved in the assault on Arsenal striker Thierry Henry have been formally charged by the police.

In a statement, the police said that investigations have been completed and that the evidence was compelling enough to warrant formal charges.

The duo have been named as G. Loo and A. Chu, both 21. Upon hearing about the charges, they reportedly expressed their disappointment at the decision. Their passports have been impounded by the Home Office, however their movements have not been restricted.

In an unprecedented move, Manchester United have offered the services of their legal team to the Singaporean duo. The legal team will meet with the accused men and their lawyer tomorrow to review the case.

(Chu, 2005)

the henry assault saga: part 3

HENRY ASSAULT DUO CLAIM INNOCENCE
MANCHESTER- The Singaporean duo allegedly involved in the assault on Arsenal striker Thierry Henry are claiming innocence, saying that the Highbury star had provoked them into action.

In a statement released by their lawyer Davinder Singh, the pair said "We're only human. The stuff he was saying was unbelievable. We believed at that time that we had to defend the honour of the club when Henry said Manchester United was the poorer side in the FA Cup final. We all know who played the better game and deserved to win it that day in Cardiff."

In statements released by the police, it is believed the Arsenal skipper, usually a model professional, was a bit tipsy from his drinking session and started insulting the pair for wearing Manchester United replica kits. Witnesses in the pub claim that the French international had gone overboard by bashing the players whose names were printed on the replica jersey, calling Alan Smith a "washed up striker" and Gabriel Heinze a "wild animal who should be caged". He also branded them a "bunch of pansies."

The pair left the bar without saying a word, but the bartender claims both were as "livid as Sir Alex Ferguson on a really bad match day".

WENGER CONDEMNS MILITANT UNITED FANS

When approached for comment, Arsene Wenger was defensive of his star striker, claiming there was no way a model professional like Thierry Henry could have drunken himself into such a state. "Thierry eats, sleeps and breathes football. He does not like to indulge in excesses, and I find it hard to believe he could have drunk so much," claims Wenger. He then went on criticizing the 2 assailants and Manchester United for encouraging a "militant and hooligan culture which has no place in the beautiful game." "United should be ashamed that they have such militant fans. We won that game fair and square. In the end, the better team at penalties won. I hope this puts the matter to bed," the Highbury boss said rather agitatedly.

Back at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson was defensive of the 2 attackers. "They're young lads. Young ones tend to react to injustice pretty strongly, just look at Wayne's red card against Villareal. While such behaviour should not be tolerated by society, it makes the game of football so much more interesting. And I'm pretty glad they stood up for the club and the players. Alan Smith and Gabriel Heinze offered to send them autographed jerseys! It was a shame we couldn't win at Cardiff, but like they say in football, the ball is round. Arsenal were very lucky that day, but we'll not worry about it and show our own class on the pitch," Sir Alex said rather graciously.

General opinion around the Old Trafford outfit on hearing the comments made by Henry pretty much swayed their sympathies towards the pair. "Reyes was whining that he got kicked off the pitch here at Old Trafford; what about me at Cardiff? We were playing some smashing football," said Cristiano Ronaldo. "Their only form player was Lehmann, and while Reyes did get a red, I believe it didn't reflect the roughness of the Arsenal players." Alan Smith just snarled when asked for comment.

(edited by Chu, 2005)

and the madness continues... thanks andrew =)

POLICE DETAIN HENRY ASSAULT SUSPECTS

MANCHESTER - Officers from the Greater Manchester Police detained two Singaporean men in a series of predawn raids in Manchester. The two men were suspected to have assaulted the Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.

Items seized from their hotel rooms include two large trouts found stuffed into the minibar fridge and two bloodstained Manchester United home kits bearing the names Smith and Heinze.

Police representatives have not named the two suspects. This paper understands that investigations are taking place, and until formal charges are put in place, the two men are merely assisting in investigations.

REACTIONS

Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager called this a "triumph of justice" and said that he was hoping for a speedy resolution, calling the two men "enemies of football".

In contrast, Sir Alex Ferguson, in a press conference after today's game against Liverpool, called the arrests "premature and unfounded". He refused to comment further.

In a hastily arranged press conference, Mr Wong Kan Seng, Singapore's Minister of Home Affairs stated that the country would also provide legal aid to the two men. Davinder Singh has been briefed by the MHA and is expected to be in Manchester within the next few days to meet the two Singaporeans.

(Chu, 2005)

a meal worth missing liverpool vs man united for...

yeah... i missed united vs pool just now... considering it ended square and goalless, i'm pretty glad i spent the evening at brazil churrascaria(portugese for bbq...)... if you're a carnivore like me, you'll love the place. sausages... beef... chicken... lamb... fish... you ask for it, you'll get it. fresh from the kitchen served by the passadors on a skewer and sliced onto your plate for your dining pleasure. a meat lover's haven for sure... and they serve some mighty fine wines as well. the atmosphere is great to boot. for vegans, there's a salad bar and an option for just salad, but make no mistake, this joint those of you who must have your meat. the marinades are divine... i personally never had a piece of tenderloin like i did just now... the service is cheery and good as well. and they're no slouches in the dessert department. my cousin had an ice cream and i had a lime sorbet...the ice cream's smooth and not very sweet... just pure flavour... and the lime sorbet's out of this world. sheer delight... if you ever have the cash to spare or if you're looking for a really good place to eat, this place is definitely an option...

one week already?

back to school... back to the books... oy vey.

and from the weirdest, maddest reccesses of greg's mind...

HENRY OUT FOR A FURTHER 2 WEEKS
LONDON- Arsenal star striker Thierry Henry has been further sidelined for 2 weeks after he was assaulted outside a London pub by a pair of mystery assailants. After having a drink with his mates, the Arsenal frontman was confronted by a pair of Asian men believed to be in their early 20s. The two men, believed to be Chinese, then attacked the French international, reportedly, with large trouts, beating him on the head until he was unconscious. Once their victim was senseless, the duo fled the scene, with eyewitnesses claiming singing "Glory glory Man United."

At Highbury, manager Arsene Wenger condemned the assault on his star player as "heinous and barbaric", saying that a player of Henry's stature did not deserve to be attacked in such a "savage and primal fashion." "It is ridiculous," said the French manager of the North London outfit, "that anyone can attack you with, of all things, fish. It is an insult, and I would not be surprised if Manchester United did not act to curb such violent fans." Arsenal medical staff have looked over Henry and confirmed that last season's Golden Boot winner would be out for a further 2 weeks on top of his 6 weeks for a groin injury, citing severe concussion and memory loss as the reason for the added rest for Henry.

On the other side, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was surprisingly indifferent and calm towards the implications that fans of the club had committed such an act. "Well, that's life," the usually fiery Scot was quoted as saying in a calm tone. "It's a crazy world. You can even get a red card for applauding the referee when you get yourself booked for a soft tackle, so I'm not surprised that rival strikers are getting smacked on the head by fish-wielding fans. Anything goes nowadays." United's chairman was a little more sympathetic to his rival's situation, by promising that the club will try to identify the hooligans responsible. Player reactions around Old Trafford were mixed as well. Fellow Frenchmen Louis Saha and Mikael Silvestre wished their compatriot a speedy recovery, whilst United captain Roy Keane just snorted in derision. Wayne Rooney reportedly fell off his chair laughing when he heard the news.

falling for the first time...

another song... on a posting roll at the moment... blame friendster... starting to like blogspot a great deal. =D

Falling For The First Time
Barenaked Ladies

I'm so cool, too bad I'm a loser
I'm so smart, too bad I can't get anything figured out
I'm so brave, too bad I'm a baby
I'm so fly, that's probably why it
Feels just like I'm falling for the first time

I'm so green, it's really amazing
I'm so clean, too bad I can't get all the dirt off of me.
I'm so sane, it's driving me crazy
It's so strange, I can't believe it
Feels just like I'm falling for the first time

Anyone perfect must be lying, anything easy has its cost
Anyone plain can be lovely, anyone loved can be lost
What if I lost my direction? What if I lost sense of time?
What if I nursed this infection? Maybe the worst is behind
It feels just like I'm falling for the first time
It feels just like I'm falling for the first time

I'm so chill, no wonder it's freezing
I'm so still, I just can't keep my fingers out of anything
I'm so thrilled to finally be failing
I'm so done, turn me over cause it
Feels just like I'm falling for the first time

Anything plain can be lovely, anything loved can be lost
Maybe I lost my direction, what if our love is the cost?
Anyone perfect must be lying, anything easy has its cost
Anyone plain can be lovely, anyone loved can be lost
What if I lost my direction? What if I lost sense of time?
What if I nursed this infection? Maybe the worst is behind

with the scalp of basic theory under my belt...

ok... fine... if i failed my basic theory, i would've considered it God's personal message to me. "Son... you're not quite cut out for driving. Go on along with thy bicycle..."... geez. anyone with common sense and the handbook could've passed it... still, it feels good to pass a test, even one so simple as basic theory. can't wait to take to the road =D

now this is just brilliant...

to combat the spread of dengue, now people are actually looking to removing all the bloody trees that could be potential breeding sites for those pesky skeeters. *shakes head*... what the hell is wrong with you people? it's like cutting off one's nose to spite one's face... sure, mosquitoes can breed in water collected on plants. sure, mosquitoes are perhaps the peskiest of all of God's creatures, more so now that they're spreading dengue rapidly. but isn't it natural for those little buggers to breed in water collected on a planted? it's nature's way... so why are we thinking of destroying precious nature when she is carrying out things in her own way? hellooooo... it's natural. not like us having flower pots or vases filled with water for those little critters to breed in. while i hate mosquitoes and obviously do not relish the prospect of getting dengue, i don't think we should meddle with nature's mechanisms just to stop the spread of dengue. if that's the case, why don't we just nuke singapore and kill every single damn living thing other than human life and go on? mosquitoes, like it or not, are part of nature. interupting nature's processes just isn't man's calling, especially if it involves destructive measures like cutting down trees. we should protect and preserve the hand of mother nature that feeds us whilst finding other less silly and drastic measures to solve a problem like dengue.

why i chose to put SMITH 14 on my united jersey...

football... the world's game... so loved that it even has a competition not unlike the olympics held every 4 years in the form of the world cup. as if we cannot get enough of it with so much coverage of european football leagues on cable, we must have international action to sate the craving. what's the allure of football? some say it's a game for gentlemen played by ruffians... the opposite of what is said by rugby... some just say it's 22 fully grown men chasing one ball on a huge grass pitch... technically, those who say that are right. but there's so much more.

a really good football game can be comparable to the finest works of art. it's a really tough skill to cultivate when it comes to learning how to play the game. there are so many subtleties involved when it comes to kicking a ball that it is very hard to appreciate the game unless youve actually tried it yourself. for instance, david beckham's well known ability to curl a ball is actually bloody hard to pull off. likewise his pinpoint crossing is akin to a sniper hitting a moving target, no mean feat. a great game will have on display the finest skills, the most brilliant individual efforts, the shrewdest of team tactics and the best teamwork. starting from the front to the backline, the most potent strikers and forwards either have the sharpest of predatory instincts to sniff out a potential goal or have the most explosive and entertaining magic that will create goals from virtually out of nothing. wingers, who play along the flanks, usually have the quickest of feet and the finest ones are always a pleasure to watch as the overcome their markers with such immense speed and skill, either to cut in and score or provide that killer pass for someone else to tap into the goal. midfielders come in all shapes and sizes. some reknown for their attacking prowess, with the vision and intelligence to send their teammates through on goal with the most sublime and sharpest of passes and incredible sharpshooter's ability to fire in a goal from the most uninmaginable distances. others are more infamous, claiming their fame through being the hard man on the pitch, enforcing order and organisation whilst holding onto the ball. they nip opposition raid from the centre of the pitch in the bud, allowing their defenders to breathe more easily and from there, fashion the previously defensive mindset back into an attack. defenders are the last line to stop the opposition from scoring and are more than often the villains or heroes of a football game. fullbacks usually have the job of not only defending the flanks, but joining in the attack along the wing as well. centrebacks usually stay where they are and are the wall that forwards must overcome. they're usually big and strong in the air and often score whenever a setpiece is being played. the greatest goalkeepers are legendary. usually huge and towering, but deceptively agile once they're called into the game to save goalbound shots. all these skills and personalities blend into one machine on the pitch, and the potential magic within unfolds as each game is told as a story over the course of 90 minutes or more.

i'm a manchester united fan. not since that young, but when i adopted united as the club i support, i've never looked back. the sheer ability and attacking prowess from united teams is breathtaking. combined with the most colourful personalities and talented individuals with fighting spirit enough to start a fight in an empty room, i've learnt to appreciate their style and football philosophy... and while relatively new to the squad, alan smith has already made a big enough impression on me to call him my hero. while i respect the explosive skill of wayne rooney(his volley against newcastle united will forever be etched in my mind, for it was one helluva fine strike) and the blistering pace and technique of ryan giggs(arguably the best left winger in the world), smithy's sheer determination, fearlessness and fiery nature are what i look up to. industrious and committed to a fault, he never gives up on a loose ball without a chase. he never shirks from a tackle and will glady make it, a quality rare in striker. and he isn't afraid to give you a piece of his mind when you deserve it... he may not be the most skilled of players, but he has shown moments of brilliance with spectacular volleys in his early days at old trafford. even now, he is attempting to slot into a central midfielder role to replace united's ageing stalwart captain, despite his previous training as a striker. he wears his heart on his sleeve and has never thought of quitting despite not getting an extended run in the side and i believe this fighting spirit and of his will keep him a red devil for many years to come...

the one and only

ok... time for a song =)

The One and Only
Chesney Hakwes

I am the one and only, oh yeah

Call me, call me by my name or call me by number
You put me through it
I'll still be doing it the way I do it
And yet, you try to make me forget
Who I really am, don't tell me I know best
I'm not the same as all the rest

I am the one and only
Nobody I'd rather be
I am the one and only
You can't take that away from me

I've been a player in the crowd scene
A flicker on the big screen
My soul embraces one more in a million faces
High hopes and aspirations, and years above my station
Maybe but all this time I've tried to walk with dignity and pride

I am the one and only
Nobody I'd rather be
I am the one and only
You can't take that away from me

I can't wear this uniform without some compromises
Because you'll find out that we come
In different shapes and sizes
No one can be myself like I can
For this job I'm the best man
And while this may be true
You are the one and only you

I am the one and only
Nobody I'd rather be
I am the one and only
You can't take that away from me

I am the one and only
Nobody I'd rather be
I am the one and only
You can't take that away from me

pride...

why are human beings such prideful creatures? no matter how noble we aspire to be, how high we wish to go... pride will always sting one to his or her very core once injured... after a fall, we try to be brave and say, "i'm alright..." but inwardly, we're smarting so bad, it's overwhelmingly painful. despite previous cautions, preparations... the hurt just runs deep... runs so deep.

love... what is it?

la dame aux camelias... i swear, i've never known how much emotional power a book can have. when i didn't have the book and attended my tutorials, i dismissed the notion that no matter what was said, i'd never need to use any of the kleenexes mentioned to review the book. no way could one weave a story so gripping and tragic... until i finally finished the book today on the bus...

i had heard what was said and discussed in my tutes... little did i know that the discussions had left out gaping chunks in the story that could only be grasped upon fully digesting the novel. my tutor was very right in saying the story was a structural masterpiece. the book starts at the end of the whole story that leads to the retelling of the whole saga. and just when the reader thinks all is solved and everything has been wrapped up, the bombshell is dropped in the end. everything comes to realisation, and with such power and raw emotion that even the most hard of heart would defnitely be moved...

la dame aux camelias... or the lady of the camellias in english... does make me sit up and think though... is love so powerful that we'd be able to transcend our deepest wants and needs, sacrificing our dreams and ideals that we'd subject ourselves to the most torturous devices, to the point of death? while alexandre dumas fils(the son of the author of the count of monte cristo among other famous novels) writes this tale parallel to his own love affair with a celebrated parisian courtesan of his time... it just seems so... surreal. would you ever give your life up... and have to suffer immense pain and give up the person you love... so that someone close to that person might be happy? love... what exactly is it? what drives us to love? what would we do for love? is there anything love cannot make up for?... there just seems something so christ-like in the nature of maguerite gautier's death in this book... it's a love that we mortals probably could never attain... fine, comparing to her to christ might be a little off since she was a creature of sin and avarice, but her character was so pure... even her sins are cast in a noble light... does love heal all wounds? alleviate all transgressions? the search for that elusive answer goes on.

jumping ship

hoooooookay. thank you for pushing me out of your service friendster. since you lazy cads can't even remedy my error ridden blog when everyone else seems to have no problems whatsoever, i've decided to move out. and i'm starting to like blogspots's choice of font already. =P
*clicks preview*
yup... i think i'm gonna like it here. so long friendster blogs. you're just a network webby in my eyes from now on.

and just for my beloved readership... if i have any in the first place... i'm reposting the last few posts on my ill fated friendster blogs account, just for your reading pleasure. bon apetit. =)