perfect circle

"Not all ghosts are dead, but all are hungry."

This is a nice bittersweet magic realism book, a lot like Gaiman and Kelly Link, where strange things happen to normal people. The narrator DK sees dead people, much like what would happen if the boy in the 6th sense grew up and became a slacker. And if dealing with the dead and with relatives (and dead relatives) is not enough, he's also got a daughter living with his ex-wife. I found it funny, scary and sad, definitely worth a read even if the ending feels too neat.

Another excuse to avoid studying

I've been having strange dreams. For instance last night, I dreamt that we were back in Philo hons, and having tutorials in a cosy English sitting room, with rich chocolate brown leather sofas. What was strange was the impression that we had been doing these discussions for a while, after graduation. (yes, i know, for the sheer love of kant.) And the other day, I woke up convinced that I had to do a Chinese exam and was pretty sure that I would fail it.

Exam stress does get to you.

This bit however is real: Loy (super smart chap in the year above, 1st class hons guy) is finally back in Singapore, returning with a Phd from Berkeley and a baby girl. Presumably he is now bonded to NUS for life and will be teaching philo.

Left Behind

Apparently, there is a whole series of books, in the genre of Apocalyptic fiction, about what happens on earth after all the good conservative christians are saved in the rapture. You'll be surprise who's left behind - Catholics, mainstream moderate Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, atheists, suspiciously well-groomed men, lesbians. The writers are now launching a video game based on their books, where (excerpt):

The game portrays the United Nations - hello again, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Catholics, and Jews - as the headquarters of the demonic forces of the AntiChrist, who is spawned by DNA from two gay lovers (hello, Greenwich Village!). So nice to see you all, my errant, resisting brothers and sisters. BLAM! BLAM! "Praise the Lord!"

When children tire of converting or killing New Yorkers, they can switch sides and command the demonic armies of the AntiChrist, and kill the conservative Christians.

Which sorta defeats the point really. I see this game being embraced by devil worshippers and young christian boys (in sects where video games are not evil).