In a very tragic and unfortunate event, two of my good friends got involved in a car crash. One of them is currently in the hospital.
I was informed during my Sociology class (couldn't concentrate after that, I was terribly worried). I didn't bother to figure out why both of them weren't in the registration room that time.
Then before I left the school, I met my horribly depressed friend who, normally would laugh over most of her serious problems, had lost her shine and had been reduced to tears over the whole matter. A hug is all I can do to comfort her.
This Monday I'll go see my friend in the hospital to see how is he doing. Got his face bruised and torn and hasn't talked yet.
It's sad.
Photo Blog 01: Me vs the Elephant
Labels:
photo blog
Monday, May 14, 2007
"Come here you big meany! I'm gonna rough you up!"This is me starting a fight with an elephant. During my visit to Davao last year. This was when I entered the crocodile farm and there were some statues of animals used for photo taking. There was another one with me under the powerful grip of a venomous snake (see below).
"
OK! I'm sorry for roughing up your meal!"Back to Guitars. My favourite technique...
Sunday, May 13, 2007
..is Harmonic Screams.
AKA Squeals or the Dive Bomb technique
It's those very sharp sounds that rise up to a climax in some songs. Particularly in Pantera and Slayer. I also found out Synyster Gates of Avenged Sevenfold also used Dive Bombs in his solos (if you heard Good Charlotte's "the River", it's the part before the ending solo).
S.Gates and his Dive Bomb technique using simple Pinch Harmonics.
Here's one from Dimebag Darrell, using only his left hand. This got me into Harmonic Squeals.
Instructions:
-First you need a tremolo bar (floyd rose trems make it better)
-Either you use Pinch Harmonics: Pick a string then lightly touch with your thumb of the same hand, but do it in half a second. Then you raise or drop the trem bar. (like in S.Gates's video)
-or you can use Dime's style, let your left hand do all the work:
Flick the G-string with the left finger, after that use your Thumb and pinky to block the other strings, letting the G string to sound on it's own.
-Lightly touch the string on the 5th, 7th or 12th fret (same ad natural harmonics, but best sound you can use is at the 3rd fret) with the same finger you use to flick the string and try getting a sharp harmonic sound.
-If you got it, try practising the range of the the Squeal by dropping the bar first then create a harmonic. After that you raise it up and presto! Harmonic Squealing!
AKA Squeals or the Dive Bomb technique
It's those very sharp sounds that rise up to a climax in some songs. Particularly in Pantera and Slayer. I also found out Synyster Gates of Avenged Sevenfold also used Dive Bombs in his solos (if you heard Good Charlotte's "the River", it's the part before the ending solo).
S.Gates and his Dive Bomb technique using simple Pinch Harmonics.
Here's one from Dimebag Darrell, using only his left hand. This got me into Harmonic Squeals.
Instructions:
-First you need a tremolo bar (floyd rose trems make it better)
-Either you use Pinch Harmonics: Pick a string then lightly touch with your thumb of the same hand, but do it in half a second. Then you raise or drop the trem bar. (like in S.Gates's video)
-or you can use Dime's style, let your left hand do all the work:
Flick the G-string with the left finger, after that use your Thumb and pinky to block the other strings, letting the G string to sound on it's own.
-Lightly touch the string on the 5th, 7th or 12th fret (same ad natural harmonics, but best sound you can use is at the 3rd fret) with the same finger you use to flick the string and try getting a sharp harmonic sound.
-If you got it, try practising the range of the the Squeal by dropping the bar first then create a harmonic. After that you raise it up and presto! Harmonic Squealing!
45-15
Friday, May 11, 2007
What's 45-15 you say? That's the score of our 4th Rugby match, with SM Awg Semaun again.
And yes, we won.
Our first victory with the same team that defeated us in our first game has 4 times the points than before. COOLNESS.
Marvellous tries today, Izzat was a great captain.
It seemed I was too spunky in that game that Izzat and Sofian had to shut me up before I make a real mess.
Izzat gave me some words of confidence. He said to stop whining and groaning (it was ruining our morale) and stay focused on the game. He then said that many of my teammates including himself still believe in me.
Amazing how much I improved after that! I finally grabbed high balls (I thank Sofian for that, and practice!), did more running and tackling (thanks also to Rashidin) and finally improved my defence.
I thanked Mr Stuart for not letting me out of the game even when I was exhausted (and like a premonition my exhaustion dissappeared).
And the coolest thing is I lasted in the whole hour of the game.
So the lesson here is always push yourself when you think you're tired.
The pain will dissappear without you noticing it.
Awg Semaun did great too. Still high tempered but fast. I don't want to go through what kind of stuff happened during the game, but I can tell you the referee wasn't pretty happy.
One rule is to always listen to the referee, no questions asked.
Should I also mention how slippery they are?
Tomorrow...
Sports Day. I was forced to join the march pass.
And yes, we won.
Our first victory with the same team that defeated us in our first game has 4 times the points than before. COOLNESS.
Marvellous tries today, Izzat was a great captain.
It seemed I was too spunky in that game that Izzat and Sofian had to shut me up before I make a real mess.
Izzat gave me some words of confidence. He said to stop whining and groaning (it was ruining our morale) and stay focused on the game. He then said that many of my teammates including himself still believe in me.
Amazing how much I improved after that! I finally grabbed high balls (I thank Sofian for that, and practice!), did more running and tackling (thanks also to Rashidin) and finally improved my defence.
I thanked Mr Stuart for not letting me out of the game even when I was exhausted (and like a premonition my exhaustion dissappeared).
And the coolest thing is I lasted in the whole hour of the game.
So the lesson here is always push yourself when you think you're tired.
The pain will dissappear without you noticing it.
Awg Semaun did great too. Still high tempered but fast. I don't want to go through what kind of stuff happened during the game, but I can tell you the referee wasn't pretty happy.
One rule is to always listen to the referee, no questions asked.
Should I also mention how slippery they are?
Tomorrow...
Sports Day. I was forced to join the march pass.
It's May
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Just finished my last assesment test yesterday. I had to do an essay in Sociology, and while anyone would normally dread from the word "essay" and "test", I enjoyed it. Exploring Comte's view of Sociology as a science and Durkheim's interpretation is very intersting.
The tournament has arrive, and sadly, we lost the first match. It was against the Knights again, but the funny thing is that the game wasn't as aggressive as the last match. Our scrum were uncontested, resulting in no pushing during the scrum.
I was subbed in the first half and did not enter in the second. Maybe it's because I panicked and end up my focus on the tacklers than my teammates. This means I have to get this fear away, get more exercise and learn to tackle better.
Simon said I was better in diving through (I think he meant the move I did in the first Knights match, most of my teammates were impressed by that). I hope I'll do better next training.
Yesterday during my EAS class, Mr Kendrew called me to his table. I thought it had something to do with my commentaries on previous texts, but it wasn't. Instead he said:
"How would you like to be on the telly?"
*Shock* (Note: Telly is an english slang for Television)
"Why would I like to be on the telly?" I replied.
"Mr Thompson today was asked by Mrs Lim to present student for an interview by RTB. So I thought of you, since you like to talk and you have very good english."
So he said if I'd like my name written down. And of course, I have to take in many opportunities, I said yes. If I get chosen, my interview will be on Monday afternoon.
The tournament has arrive, and sadly, we lost the first match. It was against the Knights again, but the funny thing is that the game wasn't as aggressive as the last match. Our scrum were uncontested, resulting in no pushing during the scrum.
I was subbed in the first half and did not enter in the second. Maybe it's because I panicked and end up my focus on the tacklers than my teammates. This means I have to get this fear away, get more exercise and learn to tackle better.
Simon said I was better in diving through (I think he meant the move I did in the first Knights match, most of my teammates were impressed by that). I hope I'll do better next training.
Yesterday during my EAS class, Mr Kendrew called me to his table. I thought it had something to do with my commentaries on previous texts, but it wasn't. Instead he said:
"How would you like to be on the telly?"
*Shock* (Note: Telly is an english slang for Television)
"Why would I like to be on the telly?" I replied.
"Mr Thompson today was asked by Mrs Lim to present student for an interview by RTB. So I thought of you, since you like to talk and you have very good english."
So he said if I'd like my name written down. And of course, I have to take in many opportunities, I said yes. If I get chosen, my interview will be on Monday afternoon.
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