The name of the Game

Will Eisner's career spans the entire history of comic boks, from the formative days of the 1930s, through the 1940s when he revolutionized narrative sequential art with his internationally famed series, The Spirit, to his mature work which, beginning in the 1970s, led the field in the creation of the contemporary graphic novel form. In addition to his award-winning graphic novels, he is the author of the influential study comics and sequential arts.
Last week, I came across this book, by Will Esiner. He write very meaningful comics, and I would prefer comic more than words.

So far, I have read most of the comics, and this is one, I think is better than the rest.
It is called "The Name of the game"

If you have read it, you would know, this is about how people prosper through marriage, where the peasants, marry someone of a higher class, to attain fame, fortune, and properities.
This book is about three Families, Arnheims, Obers and the Kayns, who are decendent of jewish immigrants, struggling for status.It shows how the families of Arnheims, who prospers from fashions in the 1850s, and then to stock brokers, and the downfall, when kayns schemes against the Arnheims.

The story, or rather, animated novels, illustrate how marriage, is a game,, where to be married into a socially better family was most important. The first, went out well, when Lillian Ober and Conrad Aenheim are married. but the fact is, Lillian, marry out of love, but Conrad married out of sake for his father. and when Isidore Arnheim, Conrad's father died, things started to turn around, where Conrad abuses Lillian, and Conrad begin to plot against his cousins during a financial crisis. After Lillian died of birth, Conrad takes in Eva Krause, a german jews, distant relative to the Arnheim, things starts to take another turn, when Eva, will not leave Conrad for sake of fame and fortune, and Conrad will not let Eva leave for the status image.

Somewhere near to the end of the story, Rosie Arnheim, daughter of Conrad and Eva, married to Aron Kayn, a painter's boy, who is good in poetry, but bad in marketing. He sold the company to Roland Sydney, a market enemy, who took away 30 percents of gross profit with him when roland starts his own firm. Sydney plots for a long time to bring Conrad down, and in the end, Conrad died hearing news that Aron, had sold the company to sydney. Rosie, knowing this, starts controlling Aron strictly, to see that the Arnheim family survive.

The story is although long, but it is really touching, when Helan Arnheim, daughter of Lillian Ober and Conrad Arnheim, falls in love with a commoner, Pierre (Whose first name was never mentioned). When Conrad knows it, he destroys Their relationship, and Helan died. Since then, Conrad never interferes with relationship of Rosie. But Aron, brought the Arnheim name to shame.

The summary can be found at the last page of the book, where it is described in form of a novel.
There was once, in ancient time, a mighty king(Conrad Arnheim) who ruled a great land which was handed down to him by his parents(Isidore Arnheim) who so spoiled him that he expected things to go his way. His first marriage was arranged with the princess (Lillian Ober) of another royal family from a lower kingdom (Ober Bank). In time, the couple had a daughter (Helan Arnheim). But the king was uninterested. So when his queen died, he sent the child to live with her grandparents in their kingdom. A few years later, the king remarried a great beauty (Eva Krause) who did not want children at all. But the king wanted to have a child in his castle so the king had his daughter taken from her grandparents and brought to live with him. When she grew older, the girl found a suitor (Pierre ??). She wanted to marry him but the king broke them up simply because the young man was not of royal blood. The daughter was so heartbroken that she died. Later the king's new wife had a child(Rosie Arnheim) - a beautiful and outspoken princess. And it came to pass that a poor, handsome woodworker (Aron Kayn) wandered by one day. The princess fell in love with him. By then, the king, guilty about his treatment of his first child, offered his daughter's hand in marriage to the handsome young peasants, They married and the king made him a prince. In time, the humble woodworker inherited the crown and became king.
And they lived happily ever after.

Some of Will Eisner's work includes:

• The building
  
• City People Notebook
  
• A Contract with GOD
  
• The Dreamer
  
• Dropsie Avenue: The Neighbourhood
  
• Family Matter
  
• Invisible People
  
• A Life Force
  
• Life on Another Planet
  
• Minor Miracles
  
• The Name of the Game
  
• New York, the Big City
  
• To the heart of the Storm
  
• Will Eisner Reader
  
• The Spirit Archives.

Fish Tank Upgrade completed

Yup, the fish tank is finally completed.

It seems very nice, cos it's a three systems in one. The lastest 'toy' of mine, which combines a fish tank together with a water fountain and a hydroponic system.

Here's is how it works.
Bottom section mimic a sewer system, drawing the waste from the bottom.
Middle section is the fish swims.
Top section is the hydroponic system.

It is understood that plants takes in nitrogen to make fertilizer. and Bacteria, breaks down ammonia to nitrite, the plants takes the nitric as a fertilizer.

Pump lifespan is extended, because the water it draws, is filered clean water, rather than previous design.

The top layer incoporate a water fountain, force water to undergo pressure and current to create dynamic water head, so that stagnant water is not possible.

It is also proven that moving water, collects less dirt and making water move rapidly, the fishes will not have to grasp for air through their gills.

Dynamic head also encourages the aeration of air into the water, without the use of air pump. Some saving of electric.

The lightings are designed, that the left side of the tank, is blue, and the right side of the tank, is white. Fishs can even chooses to swim to where they like.

Hmm... enuff of the fish tank.

Last week, I rents a car, to drive around. well, orchard is so far, the hardest road to drive in. it is so congested and the direction of the road, makes turning difficult.

Have you been to sembawang shopping center? It have this taste of thailand, so nice, on the 4th floor. dun be fooled by going to hunt for it in the food court, because it is the place where it is obvious. rather, it is on the other side of the lift, and is blocked by a shop selling shirts. The food there is ebsolutely fabulous. Well the crispy squid and the fish are the signature of the restaurant. If you think it is expensive, think again. it is quite cheap. And that is why the shop have been there, since the opening of the shopping center. previously, it is from the food court, basement. but somehow, the management shift the food court up to the 4th floor, and seperate the taste of thailand from the food court.

Fish tank upgrade completed

Missed the call for service...AGAIN!

Last friday, the Twilight Zone, shown a story, that is so much very real to the reality to the world in which we live in.

It is saying that in this town, dunno what is the name, there are a group of residents, who are very friendly to each other, and even have a commitee to review the state fo the land they are living in, and trying to improve it.

One day, there came a new neighbour, and this neighbour prefers to be alone, and solitary, a peaceful life is that they wants.

Then, in the comittee meeting, there is an explosion, and disabled all electronic devices, which this town relies on.

They start panic, and there are two person, one try to make up war, another want peace.

The one who make up war, make up stories, about these new resident is a terrorist, and wants to burn them out. the other, tries to calm them down, and also, trying to talk to the new neighbour, to show the group that they are not the terrorist.

While they are quarreling, a car, came out from the city, and drove straight to the house's garage, and the lights for the house starts lighting up.
The town are puzzled of how come the house still have the light. Then, the peaceful guy, goes and knock on the house, then talk with the owner inside the house. They even shows the shadow, showing the two men are talking to each other, for all to see. Yet, when the man went out, the one who wage war, show that he is the companion with the person inside, and shout others to crash this house. Even the wife of the peaceful guy, rejected his call for peace, and follow the angry mob to attack them.

The angry one take the bottle, and stick, and smash the windows and others follow him and burn the house down.

So you see, there is a weird stuff, that if ytou are a different type opf a person in and different neighbourhood, they can't seems to give you a rest. Just like the joo chiat place.

Today, I have a free breakfast, and there is one and only person I would like to thank, for he have answered my prayer.

I am still sorrowful, cos I have not responded to the call to go for the service, in the new place.

Christmas coming!

So, have you started decorating the house for christmas?
I planning to not only decorate my house, but the office as well, ha ha!
If only boss understands it.
Well, Christmas, is the celebration of the arrival of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, and three humble man flourish him with presents, and the magi, also celebrate with it. it is the arrival of the messiah.

It wasn't until a thousand years later, when Sir Nicholas gave one poor girl her dowery for marriage, did the art of giving presents starts. before then, people do celebrate christmas as well, but only singing chorus and preaching, and renactment of the arrival of Jesus.

Nowadays, we do exchange presents, and when people are complaining about no money to buy presents, ha ha, think again, the bonus kicks in and noone have things to complain.

Today ate a roti prata for breakfast. Can you believe it? $1.40 for one egg prata!! That is daylight robbery (the day is cracked) I immediately note it down, so next time I dun eat that again. Yup yup. I would consider $1 per egg prata, cos hey, how much can the egg cost?

Christmas coming!

So, have you started decorating the house for christmas?
I planning to not only decorate my house, but the office as well, ha ha!
If only boss understands it.
Well, Christmas, is the celebration of the arrival of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, and three humble man flourish him with presents, and the magi, also celebrate with it. it is the arrival of the messiah.

It wasn't until a thousand years later, when Sir Nicholas gave one poor girl her dowery for marriage, did the art of giving presents starts. before then, people do celebrate christmas as well, but only singing chorus and preaching, and renactment of the arrival of Jesus.

Nowadays, we do exchange presents, and when people are complaining about no money to buy presents, ha ha, think again, the bonus kicks in and noone have things to complain.

Today ate a roti prata for breakfast. Can you believe it? $1.40 for one egg prata!! That is daylight robbery (the day is cracked) I immediately note it down, so next time I dun eat that again. Yup yup. I would consider $1 per egg prata, cos hey, how much can the egg cost?

1st Batch Upgrading material arrival

Hooray! The first batch of the second fish tank upgrading have arrived!

A new start is so looking forward to it, cos the plan is beginning to realise.
Actually, should say, the second batch of material should be more enthusatic, cos it is the building core of the whole fish tank. ha ha

The third batch is the finishing touch, so can wait.
So that taufix have won the singapore idol huh. and that felicia have gone off to china liao. well, countdown to 7 days, before they are back.

The second batch of materials are 20 pieces of glasses, and if it arrived, I hope it is the weekend, so I can build it up. Many people may think that glass are easy to cut. but it is the technique and experience to make it work. It does not required saw, or chisel to cut, but if the wrong line is drawn, there goes the glass.

Annealed glass, are so much cheaper than tempered glass. And the next most expensive is the heat soaked before the laminated glass.

Well, price, are replaced by safety. the more money is spent on strenghtening the glass, the more stronger are the glass. If I can afford heatsoaked tempered glass, this fish tank can be very very expensive.

Oh yeah, that glenn ong and jamie yeo are married finally. hmm... didn't realise the impact of jamie is so great on Glenn, to make him stop smoking.

Fish tank, second upgrading

Yup, it is confirmed, the second upgrading is up, and it is split into 2 stage.

The first upgrading is a failure. the filter compartment is not stable, and there are first, that are able to swim into the first stage filtration.

The filter is a pain, with 5 assemblies, and must be remove, inorder to access the fish tank for cleaning.

An evaluation is done, and new concept for the next stage filtration is completed. Lucky, or rather, praise GOD, for the fish tank, because it is he, who prompt my neighbour, to buy a fish tank, and cannot uses, thereby, they gave it to me free. And it is the exact size that I would want to customise. Lucky that time, I didn't otherwise, it would cost me $100 in all.

The new fish tank is bigger than the existing, and the parts are ordered. I hope this time it should not fail. The first stage, is the start up the 3 stage filtration, and the second stage upgrading, is to modify the water circulation on the top. Why water circulation?

The water circulation, is to have the water beat against each other, to force the air, into the water. And once they are inside, the water are forced to circulate into a narrow channel, and then expand out, to force the bubbles to be smaller in size. then they are again, go through a narrow channel, to create the water head, before dumping into the reservoir.

Sights in Boat Quay

hmm.... Actually, It is suppose to be type yesterday, but the PC was down.
Let's us assume it was yesterday this was input.

I was in Boat Quay, cos I was having the Creative 4200 camera. well, that camera somehow have a problem with the current, so gotta bring it to the creative center in the evening.

As I was taking photos, I went to sit on one of the stone chair. Yup, the breakfast of the day, Some german sausage and some bread.

Does those pigeons knows what am I thinking? I was eating and many pigeons flying to me. and even a crow. When I saw the crow, I could felt as if GOD is beside me, telling me about the prophet Elijah. He was to deliver a news of deliverance and prompt the people to repent before the downfall of the kingdom. GOD, uses crow, to pick food for elijah everyday for 3 years, because the king's men are after him. Although crows, are deemed as 'unclean' by jews, but GOD uses it to provide food for Elijah. After 3 years, Elijah challenge the corrupted priest to start a fire. Well, in the end, Elijah wins because he have GOD with him.

As I was eating happily, I realised that the crows seems to be afraid of me or something. the pigeons seems to gather around me at the inner circle, and the crows are standing on the outer circle. yet, when I throw a small piece of bread, and the crow snatch it and eats away, as the pigeon watched with resent. And when the crow gets it, it would swallow it whole, and if any are stick out, other crow will rush and try to dig the exposed piece out of the beak.

One thing that the pigeon and crow never do. If you throw into the river, they wun get it. ha ha ha.

One word I got: The WILL of GOD, will never lead you, where the GRACE of GOD will never keep you. Rather, it is the GRACE of GOD will lead you, and the WILL of GOD will keep you.

Another, is ALLAHU AKBAR, meaning, GOD is greatest in muslim. Hmm... published in the STREATS on Wednesday, 1st December 2004, front page.

Oh yes, one thing about this streats and today. The TODAY, are some sorta annoying. They wants to distribute the newspaper, on 0730 sharp, period. And they would gone missing in actiuon until 0730, then they would come down and distribute the newspaper. And when they distribute to some, it is in bulk, and not one by one. I remember once, I only want 1 piece of newspaper, but they just push one whole stack, with the rest that I dun even need. I just would like others to have a chance, so I would take one, and share among my office. hmm... but to the STREATS, however, when they are stocking up the papers for the day, they would leave one bundle open, and anyone can just go and take it. Once the 0730 is up, they start distributing one by one by hand, and would even thank you for taking it. I find this is some pleasing, because we will feel that it is a nice day. One guy even greet me GOOD MORNING, and prompt me to take a copy of streats, and that is when the cycle starts, and continue to take.

0730, before, is the time where I must reach Raffles Place for the 10 cents rebate on the fare. after that, it is the normal price. I uses a casio A220 model, and it have an alternative timing, which I setted according to the SMRT time. and the normal timing is according to the Clock in the office. Yup, gotta know the difference, because they both are different. before 0730, TODAY people will never seems to be exist, and their boxes are locked up. HELLO, you not there, I am not taking it. rather, it is the STREATS, the man who offers me. In return of the previous, I would look into his eyes. and says thanks to him, and that is the price to pay for the 'free' newspaper. hee hee hee.

Let's zap back to reality, today. ha ha, today, Glenn Ong of Class 95 is leaving the club of singlehood, and join in the club of marriage. He is marrying Jamie, and as far as I remembered, he seems to have it planned, cos he propose to Jamie, when they are both in oversea. hmm.... Jamie is one who can acts and be a DJ. Glenn can only be a DJ, and crack those corny joke. and when the joke goes out of control, hello, the 'daddy style' flying dutchman will step in and take control of glenn. and ROD would spray the foam at the fire. ha ha ha.