Losing My Mojo

It's kinda sad, you know.
But I've got to admit, it's bound to happen.
It's a wonder that I could manage to clear some after four years.

Wha?
Oh, I'm sorry.
You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?
I'm referring to O2jam.
Yes, that music game.

I found a way to download the songs from O2mania.
Trust me, there was a facepalm moment.
Anyways, I was happy to be able to get both of Yiruma's Kiss The Rain and River Flows In You.
Boy, were those songs awesome. My fingers had a nice workout.

Yeah, about me losing my mojo.
There were a few songs I could play with perfect timing and hits (and I mean a whole lot of 'perfect' notes and only < style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">Like all the 'easy' level of the Sonatine songs and some of the 'normal' ones
Milk Chocolate in normal and x4,
Natal Angel in normal x4.5,
Maustrap in 'easy' x4,
Bang! Bang! Bang! in normal and 4.5,
Song For You in normal and x6,
Missing U in hard and x5
Color Paradise in hard and x6,
Waltz of the Puppy in normal and x5,
Bride in Dream in normal and x4.5
Nocturne in hard and x6...
I can't play as well as I could before.

I can't believe it myself either!
Four years ago, my screen's color wires shorted out and my keyboard was lousy.
I couldn't press the 'd', 'k' and 'space' all at the same time.
I had to work out a way to hit the three keys when it appeared as a combo.
Now, I've got a better screen and a good keyboard, but I no longer have the same level of skills!
Well, it has been four years since then.
I guess I can't blame my fingers for getting rusty.

Oh well, practice makes perfect.
I was a noob back then, and I did managed to get myself to that level.
I guess I'll just have to do it again.

Another One

It's 3 am in the morning...And I'm supposed to go to the mall later today.
Oh well...

Yeah, I spent the last 30 minutes editing another manga.
The typesetting for I Wish... was terrible, so I decided to redo it again.
This is what came out of it.

The editing done by the person who did this (I forgot her name...)

And this is the one done by me.
I think I can call myself a copy ninja now!
The barcodes are gone, and the texts are less dull.
I also resize my image to a standard 690 that most scanslating teams are using.
I also *ahem* replaced some words and did the proofreading.
Next, I'm going to read about what type of text to use for different types of sfx and what to do when the problem is larger than what an amateur copy ninja can handle.
Oops, I think I made a spelling mistake there...Oh well. I should have checked it before merging everything. >o<

I think I'm going to redo all the chapters done by everyone else other than Korean Manwha.
Yeah, I will!
But that'll only happen when I have the free time and have no more scripts to do.
I think maybe...The summer holidays of next year?

I'll write about my trip to the mall later, if I feel like it.

Another one

It seems that I like editing, but I won't do it unless it's just for the fun of it.
I don't want to take it up as a job; translating is already enough to fill up 35% of my pie chart of things I have to do in a week.

This is another gutter shadow- free page that I found while translating.

Transformed from a two page:


to this:

I didn't do the the right page because there's the horrible gutter shadow there.
Anyways, notice the difference in fonts from the previous one?
I downloaded the font package from The Idiot's Guide to Manga Editing and installed it.
It looks authentic now, compared to the last one.

I FEEL SO VERY HAPPY!
That's it from me today.
I'm going to translate the rest of the chapters and then head onto Tasty Kiwi's 솔직 담백하게.
I owe them the rest of volume 4, since I put this on hold for more than two months.
After that, maybe I'll snoop around for more raws and try to practice on editing again, but that has to be after I finish all of my assigned projects.
I don't want to be irresponsible.

Finished

I'm finally done.
Yup, my first ever college finals.
YAY!
*feels giddy*
*throws confetti and jumps up high*

You know, I was almost late for the paper.
Initially, I thought that it was going to start at 10.30, so I got up at 9.00 and dallied my way to 9.40.
Usually, I leave my house half an hour before the time even though I live only five minutes away by car.
Even at my mildly slow driving, I still get there in 15 minutes, 20 tops.
It was lucky of me to walk to kitchen to get my cup for my breakfast drink and just happened to glance at the post-it note I wrote for my mom to know my exam schedule.
I looked at the clock again, abandoned my cup (and my breakfast) and rushed out the door.
Luck seemed to be on my side as each traffic light I passed was green the moment I reached it.
I reached the exam hall just as the students were walking in.

The paper was decent (I don't want to jinx it by saying it was e***).
Most of the objective questions were what we learned back in Form 5, just in English instead of Malay.
Thanks to the tips given by the lecturer last Monday, I was able to answer the structure and essay components with ease.
I did the question on the expansion of the tin industry and its effect on the socio-economy and the formation of the government instead of the question on the foreign policies because I felt that I had better chance with the former question.
I think I wrote a little too much on the formation of government, but who cares.
I finished 15 minutes ahead of time, but wasn't allowed to leave the room. So I just sat there and looked at some furiously scribbling while some idled with a 'I don't know how to do' look.
James, who sat next to me, barely finished in time. He was still filling up the MQS when the examiner took my paper.
I'll let you in on a secret though, I idled away my Sunday instead of studying for MS. I only started reading on the structure and essay parts at 1 in the morning and finished an hour later.

In other news, I was wondering around the RomCom blog (Simon & Schuster) when I stumbled upon this site which was introduced by Jennifer Echols.
It's the National Novel Writing Month, or NaNo for short.
It's where participants dedicate the whole of their November writing a novel of any genre. At the end of November, participants who have finished will send in their entries.
The winner will have their novel sent to publishers for viewing, that means you might have a chance to be published!
I registered myself and am now in the running for it too.
I realized that, I just can't wait around for things to happen anymore.
If I want something, I'll just have to make an effort to grab it!
If it's meant to be, then it's meant to be.

It's not like I'm very confident in my writing.
Writing has never been a serious thing for me, because I never considered it as a career choice.
Even when my teachers back in sec school (or high school, if you may) encouraged me to take up creative writing courses and major in English in college, I told them that it just isn't possible.
Given my background and my practical parents, they would never agree to me having writing as a serious career.
And it's also why I'm doing my foundation year in Science instead of Literature.

I do like writing, but I don't know what's going to happen in future.
I'd probably just do it as a hobby, but who knows what the future holds?

Editing

If you're a Facebook user and happen to have me as a friend, then you'd probably read my status update.
I'm learning how to edit manga over studying for my final paper.
This is the product of what I learned!

Ahaha, this is what I initially wanted to project after two hours of watching my captive bishies.
Yes, a nosebleed.
And Rei is my REAL Japanese name. Not Kikimi like some stupid brat said a year ago.
My name in Romanji (converted from Kanji) is Taka Irei.
I prefer Rei, so I'm gonna stick with it.

Well, now I can use Photoshop to edit manga instead of just using it to watermark stuff and make polaroids, avatars and banners.
I seriously can't draw with it though; I really suck at art.
My progress in editing had to be stalled all because I couldn't engage quick mask, which is needed to get rid of gutter shadows.
And the root of it is, I can't afford to get the real copy of Photoshop (it's around 200+ bucks, WAAAAAY over my budget).
The cracked version rendered the hotkeys useless.
I was using the trial copy before and got used to doing everything with the hotkeys.
It's really terrible when you have to keep clicking on the Menu toolbar just to select the image.
If I can get a real copy to replace the cracked one and manage to master editing, I can be a real threat!
Translating, proofreading, editing, typesetting and quality checking...I can't wait till I can start my Japanese and Korean classes!

Oh well, since I don't feel like reading about the country's boring history (what's so interesting without the conspiracies, assassinations and bloodshed; it's only about a bunch of people getting outsmarted-it's the nicest possible way to put it...) I'll get a head start on my translating.
I think I'll probably get a few script to proof tomorrow.

Edit: I was translating Shape of Love when I found this gutter shadow free-page.

This is the page before the cleaning and typesetting.

And this is the page after the editing. (Click on the images to enlarge and compare.)
Out of all the fonts I have, smudger was the closest I have to manga text.
I had a tough time cloning the side and getting rid of the huge sfx on the wall.
I finished this in an hour.
I know, I know...I'm rather bad at it. But practice makes perfect, ne?

Final

Yeah, my finals are slowly drawing to a close, so is my first semester in college.
The last paper I have to take is MS, a redundant subject that I happen to hate but am good at.
After that, it's pure holiday bliss till semester two starts in September and that's when the horror begins.
I know that I screwed up Physics; unsure about Math and after Chemistry today, I fear for the worst.
I used an entire week to study said subject; when I saw the questions on the paper, I knew I should have wasted that week doing nothing or watching anime.
The questions were confusing, and that's the least I have to say about it.
I swear, I will do better in the second semester, and nothing's gonna stop me from taking what I want for degree next year!

I'll go have some fun now to forget about today and to take my mind from wondering about what will come when I go back.
First thing's first, a Naruto Shippuden marathon.
It's interesting, but I won't go rabid over it.
じゃーね!

Proficiency

I'm done washing my bathroom.
And it feels great to have time to finally clean it!
...I don't think anyone in the whole wide world would admit to that.

Anyways, I was lurking around the Baka-Updates forum's Recruiting section. It seems to me that there are a whole lot of groups around, and a whole lot of them are looking for staff.
There are some asking for C-E translators, which I was VERY tempted to bump back.
But I've got a whole lot on my plate now. And since semester two is coming, that means that I have less time to manage my stuff.
And with the introduction of Biology, I think I won't even have off days and probably will have to stay till 5.30.

My translations are still on hold, until next week. Proofreading has been ongoing though.
I haven't heard from J-Sis in a long time, so I'm assuming that I'm out.
Fate hasn't sent me anything, and I'm still waiting.
I've not received any proofreading scripts from Shoujo Crusade yet, but that's because they know that I still have a whole lot of translating to do.
So far, I've done 61 scripts; 40 translating and 21 proofreading.
I'm aiming for 100 each.

Proofreading seem to be a much coveted position; that's because people think it's easy.
But it isn't.
If you get a script from a translator whose written English isn't good, you'll have a hell of a time trying to figure and piece together what they're trying to say.
The raws help, but not very much.
I do ask for the raws to be sent alongside with the scripts, but that's because I want to see the reactions of the characters to exactly express their tones in speech.
I also want to assess their characters and character development to know the kind of speech they use; tone, slang and all.
And it's not because the translators are incompetent. Thank goodness that most of the scripts that I PR-ed are from translators who have a good command in English.
Like I told mioka, I read the scripts thrice. Once is with the spell checker to note obvious mistakes, then the second time to make sure the dialogues flows well and are according to the character's manner and the third to catch things that I missed.
The reason for doing so many reads is to ensure that everything is perfect and that the 2D characters are able to come to life.
A grammatically correct script is one thing, but without a tone that suits the characters, it'll just be another monotonous read.
Yeah, I'm that picky.
I'm still far off compared to veteran proofers, but I will try my best.

Translating, however, is not easy at all.
There's always the issue of changing the character's names from Chinese to Japanese.
I used to have a problem with the names; always asking the department head to give me the list of names in romanji. Most of the groups don't have the list, which made it even harder.
However, I solved the problem by getting a Japanese word processor and using a little ingenuity.
The only problem now is deciding which pronunciation is the right one for the name, whether it's according to katakana or hiragana.
I want to think that my scripts don't need to be PR-ed, since I proofread them as I translate. But, I can't say for sure until I ask proofers who gets my scripts.
My only problem is missing translations. I get very careless after many hours of translating, and sometimes don't check them after being done.
I get e-mails from editors now and then to fill in those blanks. I don't mind it though, I'm happy to oblige.
I can't comment on editors, scan preppers and QCers because I've never done any of them.

You might say that I'm stupid for doing so much when I'm not even getting paid for it.
Boy, are you wrong.
First, it's for the readers; but I'm not that selfless though.
As a reader myself, I hate to see low quality scans done by a half-baked team. Horrid editing, terrible typesetting, atrocious translations and an abominable feel to the overall chapter is one thing that I avoid like the Black plague.
I do appreciate the fact that a fellow manga reader has converted from a leecher to a contributor, truly I am. But if you produce such a horrible product, you would either have to buck up and get more experience and get a few experienced people on the team or go back to being a leecher.
I don't want my eyes to be tainted by LQ stuff.
Someone might happen to stumble upon my site and be affronted by my flamming, but I'm not pointing fingers to anyone and I do reserve the right to say it, since I do contribute.

Second, it's a sense of passion and pride. I like doing it, and I take pride in my work.
It's practically pointless to do something without those two attributes.

For those leechers who are looking to join any scanslating groups, I suggest that you apply for a group that has been around for 3 years or more.
They have experienced staffs who are willing to help you with any problems and you might even get to learn new tips and tricks from them.
If you're a newbie in the whole scanslating scene, ask for help; they won't bite.
Most scanslating teams offer training to newbies, since extra help is always appreciated and welcomed.
I'm forever grateful to the staff in Entropy for teaching me things I previously was oblivious about and the experience that came with it.

With this, I end my post.
I hope that a leecher happened to stumble across this and takes the initiative to help a group.
What's the point of hording your skills? Set it free and show the world what you can do!
Then, you can control the masses of rabid otaku like me! XD

Changes

I dunno.

I've 'reconnected' with most of my primary (or elementary school, if you want to 'Westernize' the term) mates via Facebook.
They've changed, a whole lot.
I guess people do change, even when terms like 'a leopard can't change its spots' comes to mind.

I don't know what they'd say if they see me at the reunion. (If there is one, that is.)
They'd probably comment on my appearance.
Hey, it's not my fault that my hair color is a genetic problem; I didn't ask for it.
I'm more brunette than I was.
And then there's my English, which makes me more 'banana' in their eyes.
Well, who really cares.

Oh yeah...I've got another round of wallpaper to show!
Hehe...

This one is kinda nice.


One for the Naruto fans.


Oo, I love this one!


I like this one, too. The clock adds a nice touch.


This one is just cute.


This is suits me more. I love black.


This one looks like the one I found before. This one is Vocaloid while the other one was from 家庭教師ヒットマンREBORN！


This one isn't bad either. And I love the MP3!


A forum poster had this one, but I didn't know that I could actually find it.


This is is for 涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱 fans who love Nagato Yuki. (I know you're out there...)


And last but not least, something for the Final Fantasy fans.
I love her gloves. I wonder where I could get one...

That's it for now.
I think these wallpapers will last me for another say...two months?
I like collecting them, but I'll only use a few that I really like.
Most of them have dark background so that it doesn't hurt my eyes when I'm staying up late on the computer.

I'll go flip through my Math book now.
The finals start tomorrow and I have to be there at 12 just for the MS scope class.
*sigh*

ARGHHH

Well, you guys must be puzzled by my title...like always.
Yeah, that's me after studying for a whole week. I'm so sick of it that I'm not even bothered about continuing Physics, which is my weakest subject.

I've been doing absolutely nothing the whole day.
I went out to the Curve and got myself some new clothes.
And no, there won't be any pictures of my ugly self.
When I came home, I did nothing but browsed through the wallpaper section of my bookmarks to get some wallpapers.
And I also downloaded a new theme for my computer. I was getting real tired looking at the one I have.
So, these are the results.
This is my computer with the old theme. Boring, right?
And I love watermarking my stuff. It gives me a reason to use Photoshop.

And these are with the new theme.
I'll give you a cookie if you can spot the differences.



I think I will put this for my laptop, when I get it.

Bro says that this doesn't suit my image. I like it, so the heck with it.

I think this one will work too.


I love this one. It's exactly what I do every freaking day.


I don't remember where I got this wallpaper. It's still one of the best one I've ever seen.


Speaking of which, I have a whole lot of backed-up manga...again.
I think there's 3+GB worth of it unzipped.
I'm afraid of busting my hard drive, so I dare not unzip any one of these until I clear some room. There are a few series coming to an end soon.
But I think it'd be hell the day that it does.
Well, that's the price to pay for countless hours of pure pleasure and bliss.

At Times Like These...

I'm glad that I stalk Aerandria.
They have one of THE BEST titles.

I swear, I will get this series if I can read Japanese.
I'd even go through the hell of a jam to get to Kinokuniya.

Yeah, I'm THAT extreme.
My reason?
A picture is worth a thousand words.

Serious Realization

I just came to realizing something when Aunt Molly's friend (my mom's friend) asked me this question after we reached home from having brunch in Puchong:

Are you going out later?

Aunt Molly and her friend are visiting from Singapore.
I think Aunt Molly and mom were once colleagues when we were still living in Singapore.
Mom's shopping with them at 1U at the moment.

Anyways, that question kinda took me by surprise.
I could've told her that I just went to 1U with my friend (technically, it's bro's friend but I know him and we talk occasionally) or that most of my friends have gone back to their hometowns.
I could've also said that I'm having finals in two weeks and want to prepare for it.
(Well, I am planning to finish the rest of the chemistry questions after this...)
But I didn't.
I stupidly went and said this:

I'm more of the homebody type. I prefer to stick at home

Yeah, smooth move... *facepalm*
I realized that I have no life...Seriously.

I mean, yeah, I do prefer to be alone.
And that my dad has some stupid rule that I can only go out a specific number of times with my friends. Overprotective, much.
I feel like I'm living a life of a really old lady who lives with 27 cats, not an 18-year-old teenager who can drive and has the privilege of having her own car to drive!
The only thing that I don't have is a purse full of cash.

Other than college and occasional band practice (we're missing a keyboardist), I don't go out much.
I either spend my time writing or translating, which is mostly in front of the computer.
I don't watch much tv either, other than a few shows or the sudden whim of having a drama marathon.
I do study on a regular basis...Ok, that's blasphemy.
I'm the kind that does stuff last minute and somehow gets lucky. My luck is running out though.

Gah...This is bad.
I'm only a teenager once and I'm living it like a freaking old lady with 27 cats!
Can anyone save me from this?!

Hand-ins

Note to all admins & staffers:

There will be no hand-in for translating scripts for the following two weeks, including this week. I have finals and I need to prepare for it.
I will make up with the extra hand-ins after my finals, which is during my semester break.
Please take note!

I'm still doing proofreading as it doesn't take me as long as translating.
Think 1 hour vs 3.5 hours (my fastest translating speed- minimum bathroom breaks)

どうも有難うございます!

Nutty

Despite of the terror of the H1N1 epidemic, I went out to the mall.
Yeah, this is the first time in my life when I actually drove out on my own to go for a walk at the mall. Okay, maybe not alone...Bro said that he wanted to blow off some steam and he went with me.
And he just called Ryan to follow and I was surprised to find that he agreed to.

I went there for some books and anime price check. I think I'll buy my anime from Classic Records and Sun Comics, the OST from Anime Tech, my tankobon from Borders (in 1U, Tropicana City) and maybe even Kinokuniya when I can actually stand the downtown jam. My novels will still be from MPH and popular; but it'll be a while before I start buying novels again, unless it's absolutely awesome.
My dad doesn't pay me much, that's why I'm hunting for places with cheaper prices.
And, my favorite secondhand bookstore closed its doors...I can never get my 'Dear America' series anymore, unless I courier them straight from the States.

I also spotted a really awesome messenger bag and a great hoodie in Momoe, a pair of nice sport shoes in Sketchers and a nice looking watch in Swatch.
And...All the above mentioned stuff are well over my budget range.
I guess it does suck that I don't have a part time job.
I still do have that 300+ bucks as allowance from the conscript...but I don't think I'll spend it unless I really have to.

Oh well, window shopping did do me some good.
At least some of the stress got blown off and I think I'm ready to tackle my exams.
If anyone wants to go out to the mall, give me a hollar. Just make sure that it's not the following three weeks, I'm having my finals then.

Glad

I'm glad I turned 18 and can watch any damn show that I want.
I'm not glad that I don't really look 18 and have to show my ID to watch any damn show I want.

I know that this was released last year, but watch it when you get the chance: Wanted.
I love it and it's on my 'To Get' list.

I also got another pitch for a story.
"My presence is no benefit, my absence is not loss. The gun was what brought me to life, and it shall certainly bring my death."
The first sentence was inspired by the famous Khmer Rouge motto "Your presence is no benefit, your absence is no loss." while the second one is by the above-mentioned film.

I never reveal direct plotlines of my stories, just in case some moron comes along, steals it and then get famous with it.

For now, I've got to worry about getting at least a 3.0 to get the course I want next year.
Here's to studying during next week's study break!

Realism

There was once when someone asked me,
"How real do you think you are?"

Well, I finally found my answer,
I'm only as real as the rainbow you see.

I'll leave you to my cryptic post and let you pick and ponder over the existence of a hidden message.

Net

It's not the butterfly net.
Nor is it the fishing net.
Or the -ball net.
It's the internet.

When I had my first ever internet experience back when I was 12, I was amazed by it.
I even made a list of what I'd do when I had access to it.
My own experience didn't come until I was 15 for it was my dad's perpetual fear that we (my siblings and I) will be influenced by the evils that lurk in the information superhighway.
He also imposed a ban that we could not visit any internet cafe for any reason.
Yes, for the first 15 years of my life I was an internet virgin.

My inability to contribute any information for projects or group discussions frustrated me and I was quite verbal about it.
Lo behold, I was finally able to have it.
Coming back to the present, I don't think there's anything great about the internet.
I think the novelty wore off three months after I got it.

I've been into countless trouble after getting the internet.
I think the worst would be MMORPG addiction.
Of course I'm a rehabilitated gamer now; I'm clean and have not played any games for a while now. Even if I did, it'd just be a few minutes before boredom claims me and I'll close it off.
Grinding levels isn't an interesting way to past the time anymore.

I have turned to reading since then, manga to be more specific.
Speaking of which, Aerandria's site crashed down once again due to heavy or rather, extremely heavy traffic.
I imagine hordes of fangirls (and some smut-loving fanguys) have maxed out the bandwidth of the site leading to the crash.
Here's to Aerandria's speedy recovery and longevity to continue producing quality scanslations and excellent titles.
Not to mention those witty remarks found on the credit pages.

All right then.
I'm supposed to do my math now, but I'll predict that I'll give up halfway through and end up falling asleep on the floor.
I only slept five hours yesterday.