-wish list-

We live in opulence, compared to the thousands of starving children in Africa. Every dollar that we nonchalantly spend could keep a child alive for another day. We could ease the suffering of whole villages with our spare change. Know that I am acutely aware of this, and that I do feel guilty for compiling here a list of material goods that I wish for. There really is no way for me to justify myself. So I will not even try.

This is also a rather shameless way for me to solicit gifts – if you have no idea what to get me for whatever occasion, consult this list.

-empathy-

In my last post, I talked about Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei and The Umbrella Academy, two excellent series. But I approached the matter with a slightly detached tone, which doesn’t tell you much about my personal connection with them. So let me talk about certain characters and scenes which I loved. Be warned, there will be some spoilers ahead.

-the escapist-

I have come to a strange time in my life. Sixteen years spent on this planet. Supposedly a time of joy and friendship, or “sweet sixteen”. I find myself in a faraway land surrounded by boisterous, cheerful people. It’s hard for me to get a word in edgewise between their playful, witty banter. So I become withdrawn, detached. Instead I immerse myself in books, comics, anime, video games. Introverted? Maybe. Antisocial? Perhaps.

-subliminal messages-

In this day and age, we don’t think twice about the ubiquitous advertisements that permeate our lives. They appear in all forms of media and in public spaces, taking up a few lines on your computer screen or spanning dozens of metres on giant billboards. But how do advertisements really work to pull consumers in? What makes an ad successful or not? The Gruen Transfer is an Australian programme that explores just that. It’s a witty examination of the good, the bad, and the ugly of the advertising biz.

There’s actually quite a lot of content they’re offering for free. Take a look at ABC’s YouTube channel, the show’s YouTube channel, or the official site which has web exclusive clips.

If by some devious region restriction you cannot access them, drop me a comment. Yes, region restriction is EVIL, e.g. when you buy a DVD while overseas and find you cannot play it at home. I cannot wait till the world is united into a supernation by the common threat of alien invasion, a la Ender’s Game or Watchmen or… SPOILERS! No, wait, too late.

-melding of minds-

I’ve been enjoying creative writing as of late. Especially collaborative writing. I was inspired by Terry Pratchett’s and Neil Gaiman’s book, Good Omens – two of my favourite authors, working together on a hilarious take on the biblical apocalypse. I went to convince some literary-inclined friends to write something with me; we’d agree on a premise, then take turns sending each other segments of the story over Live Messenger. Read some excerpts after the jump.