Online Time Wasters

I got a new computer. About time. Its a black monstrosity, with modded case and horrible LEDs. The Samsung SyncMaster is black. The Eacan speakers and subwoofer is black. The keyboard is black. The mouse is black. I have a feeling computer manufacturers are discriminators. Where's the white? At Apple?

I spent about my entire day just installing updates and much needed software. There was iTunes, the personal firewall, the much needed oogling of features (and what the com shop guys had changed, i tweaked back to my preferences)

And then i realized, for all my geek ability, i couldn't get Zone Alarm to work. I screamed. I reinstalled the (inferior) Sygate Personal Firewall (which as i'm typing has just beeped me about some daft NT process that is supposed to run, anyway). I uninstalled Avast, and downloaded Norton. It failed. I screamed again.

I. Hate. New. Computers.

In the end, i restored most of what i had cleverly tweaked (vowing vengeance as i did so) and resorted to rereading The Harmony Silk Factory by Tash Aw. I had read it the first time (skim mode - two hours for a 300 page book, not bad, huh) when i was supposed to be studying for my Bio test. Don't blame me - i did my best. Only it was too much for one day cramming and i gave up.

So that means i have to study as i type. Doesn't make sense? Hey - nothing about the Malaysian Education System does.

Dear Headmistress Of St Mary's School

I, as the AJK of the St Thomas Judo Club will like to ask for permission to do a Judo demonstration at your school at any time. The reason why we need this demonstration is to spread to other schools about this activity. That's why we just need your acceptance so we could inform our sensei (teacher) and do preparations like bringing the mat known as 'tatami' for our falling technique like the 'ukemi'. The school hall or the newly built auditorium is suitable for us to do our demo. Please accept our offer as this activity not only as an extra cocuriculur activity but it also help students to use their extra time something more useful than wasting their time loitering.

Thank you,

Yours sincerely,
Carlucci Noel Usey Jasmy
AJK of the St Thomas Judo Club

Good lord. Imagine the reaction of the marians if we actually sent this letter (okay, not letter - order/memo/do-this-or-we-kill-you). We'll be thrown out and sent rolling all over Kuching.

It was a half term ago and Tang and Des had sheepishly passed it to me to send across the road. Both were more worried about who was to send it than what it actually contained. Thank God I opened it and nearly screamed, and then proceeded to do what i believe is my first lecture on a subordinate. I mean, for goodness sakes, Carlucci was a guy that knew a grand total of three throws! Even the Thomian judokas of my generation don't dare to hold a demo just yet without sensei's approval - and we had the experience of quite a couple of competitions. Calucci has his heart in the right place - just a little too eager for a showing off session.

Anyway, let's see how much worse it can be:

Dear Headmistress Of St Mary's School,
I, as the grand AJK (so listen to me, you-who-sits-across-the-road), of the St Thomas Judo Club am forcible asking for a damned demo that your school about time has had. It is Judo, an art considered to worthy for females of your calibre to join, but we're making it an exception because you're across the road. We demand the best of your facilities (and have our eyes firmly glued to your newly built auditorium) and we demand that you lug our boatload of tatami to your school. Accept this offer for it is better than loitering (which your students most obviously do).

(No) Thank you,

Yours sincerely

Carlucci Noel Usey Jasmy
AJK of The Grand And Noble And Best-Of-All-Martial-Arts Thomian Judo Club

I have a feeling we'll be slaughtered this time.