As a young kid, most -- if not all -- literature I read seemed to present a world of black-and-white characters. Black and white as in, someone was either a bad person or a good one, no in-betweens.

Sidetrack #1: that opening statement contains a case of dangling modifiers. It should've read: As a young kid, I was presented by most -- if not all -- literature I read with a world of black-and-white characters. Or: When I was a young kid, most -- if not all -- literature I read...

I honestly think, rather than wasting energy protesting the EPL broadcasting rights in Asia, we should all focus instead on a more pressing issue: to make media authorities outlaw sports channels showing matches that involve any of Hantuchova, Sharapova, Kirilenko, and Chakvetadze at times when normal people are expected to be asleep.

Thanks to one of such matches tonight, I had to re-read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to stand any chance against insomnia.

Incidentally, I also published this on a Thursday. In a way, that feels, well, fitting.

This Sunday, I'm leaving our magical city for the Lion City. Yes, again. And yes, another one-way ticket.

And yes, yes, it does seem a little fast after my dramatic goodbye not even two months ago. What can I say, life unfolds in mysterious ways at times.

The most amazing thing happened today. There I was, the first car stopped before the traffic light. It turned green. I blinked twice and waited. Nothing. That is, no one blew their horns. That is, no one blew their car horns, you pervert. Jakarta, there is hope for you after all.

Whoa, what a way to start the day. It was almost noon, but my day just started, indeed. If anything, it started early. You know, the DVD player in my parents' family room is like Citi -- bank, that is, not Nurhaliza, not Chitty Bang Bang -- it never sleeps. I usually open my eyes well after noon and shut them at around four in the morning. My brother, on the other hand, usually leaves his bed well after midnight and goes to it at two or three in the afternoon. When either of us is up, it's DVD time.

BTW, I would like to recommend Entourage. Very entertaining. Go watch it if you haven't.

In writing this entry, I'm taking a departure from the usual "man has wife killed" and "the narcissism in me" themes to instead send my thoughts to all the people held hostage in Afghanistan -- the Afghans, the Koreans, the Germans, the many of them -- and their families.

I'll be the first to admit my being an ignoramus -- to not use the word autistic, which I find insulting -- when it comes to news -- local, regional, global, you name it. That is, anything other than sports. For instance, I'd known about the Tim Donaghy scandal long before I knew that our Pilkada would take place on Aug 8.