Finshed the novels, watched some movies and....got the 360!

Another Week has come to an end. Alot happened this week. As the title suggests, I finally got my very own Xbox 360! Playing my friends or my brothers console is one thing, but nothing beats having your very own console. Especially if you get one with your own money. Now I can try out alot of the games that Ive missed out on like:

Lost Odyssey
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja
Eternal Sonata

Yes, Im a big RPG fan.

My excitement in getting the console isn't really THAT evident though. My initial plan was to get the console in my first year here, but I ended up waiting 2 years. In that time, I have played the console numerous times (My friends and my brothers), going as far as ending Mass Effect on my brothers console.

I got a bundle at JB-HIFI for $529 that consisted of the Pro Console with GTA IV. The console didnt come with a remote, but I got the Xbox Live Headset. A far better gadget than the remote.

So what of GTA IV?

The game IS very good. Ive already completed quite a few missions, done some crazy driving, hung out with some of the "friends with benefits", gotten drunk and called a cab, smoked some drug dealers and the list goes on....

In short, its a very good game and I cant wait to see the intense drama that Rockstar always gives us with each iteration of this franchise since GTA 3.

Then I shall get Ninja Gaiden II followed by Too Human. Yes, It feels good to finally own the white console.

What else?
I went out with a good friend on Saturday for a lil mini movie marathon. I met Won back when I was working with Red Room DVD from Nov 2006 till March 2007. We clicked really well and started becoming fast friends. Then I lost that job and lost touch with Won until my good friend Ali moved to Rhodes (where the store is). In my numerous visits to Ali's place we would frequently visit my old workplace to grab DVD's and thats when I would catch up a little with Won.

I met him early this week right outside the Uni and we had our longest conversation yet and Won told me of his plans to watch Indiana Jones 4 and Iron Man on Saturday. I was glad to come along. When Saturday came around, I left early for the City. It was a good day because I had also got my property bond back into my account and had one thing I wanted to buy in mind: Xbox 360.

Indiana Jones was a very good movie. The effects were very nice, but I'm sure you all knew that given Spielbergs reputation. The long action/car chase sequence in the Jungle was great fun to watch. Though many doubted the inclusion of Shia Lebouf (spelling?), I think he is one great young actor. He surprised me again with a very good performance from a character who's very existence in the film will be questioned by many Indy fans. He has "That actors charm" as Won put it and he put it quite well.

After the break, the three of us went for a bite to eat and some site seeing, Won's friend Kelvin was there as well. A nice guy with a keen interest in Video games and anime like my own which I always respect and look for.

Won showed me this amazing Japanese bookstore in the Galleries Victoria called Kinokuniya. The store was quite big and had a HUGE collection of Manga and anime and tons of other Fantasy/Sci-fi books that I would love to get my hands on! Last week I was introduced to Galaxy and now this! I like to collect things that I like and now that I know about these two stores......let the collection begin!

After we watched Iron Man (they really liked it), I went out to JB-HIFI with them and bought the Xbox 360. In short, it was a good day and we're already planning on having a REAL movie marathon after the exams lol!

So yes, I finally have the console. Got it on the 24th of May 2008 :P

Ive finished reading the Legend of Drizzt Set I that I got from Galaxy last week. The first two books were great, the third lacked any real connection with the first two, though this was expected as Drizzt had left the Underdark, but the disjointedness from the previous two books really killed a little of the enjoyment. The Underdark and its characters where quite interesting.
My mini reviews are up on facebook for the three books.

On the Anime front, Ive stopped watching the terrible piece of crap that is Naruto:Shippuuden. I still catch the latest episode of Bleach and even though it is a filler arc, it is animated quite well and the characters are interesting enough to watch. I also loved the new opening soundtrack to the anime called Chu-Bara by Kelun.

My other flatmate (not Danish) wont be able to pay the rent again and this time I am going to really give it to him x( he deserves a good lecture, the guy is the most irresponsible person I have ever met in my life.

Hmmm, did I miss something....well, this session is drawing to a close. My exams begin on the 11th of June and my last paper is on the 25th of June. Then the long awaited 1 month break. I intend to take Computer Graphics next session to feed my little hobby of graphics design.

Well, thats it for now. Gotta finish up my last two assignments for this session and prepare for the exams. Then have some fun slowly increasing my Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novel collection, my games library, and now Manga library. I must thank God for how things are getting better, for my part time job, and for some other things that are too mushy for me to ever write about! =P

Haris signing out

So whats new in 2008

Hey there people....its been a long time since Ive posted an entry here. Had a whole lot of free time today. I actually tried to write a really long entry but I cant seem to remember where I placed that file...oh well, so whats new for me in 2008!

Firstly, I've now transfered into the new 2 year Program of Masters in IT and will now graduate in November 2008 insha-Allah. I only did this because Australia requires 2 years of study (96 Units of Credit) as a pre-condition before I can apply for PR (Permanent Residency). Had it been otherwise, I would have started work by now...sigh.

The sessions in UNSW have also been reduced by 2 weeks to a 12 week session. A real pain ofcourse and hence I've been really busy since it started. Im also still living in the same place but more on that later.

This being my new session in a "session Im doing only because I have to" (being honest here), my subjects are not hard. The new program I am in forces me to take pre-requisits and though, if I had talked to certain people, this these could have been avoided, I am all for some refresher courses.

The finals are now right around the corner and this session has gone alot better than my last two sessions.

Ive also joined 2 new societies this session, namely the Islamic Society and the Pakistani Society. I was unable to attend the two events of the later only because they held the events when I had work or an assignment due. Though I have attended a couple of the Islamic Society events and it was a decent experience.

It was disheartening to witness "Tablighi Jamiaat" like people at our Society center once. They still preach with their extra emphasis on the Hadith and concentrate on motivation instead of knowledge. I disagree with their methods and believe that there can be no greater motivation than knowledge its self, or in other words the Quran. Hadith's and the Prophets (S.A.W) companions should come afterwards.

Sohaib and Therese are no longer living in our flat. They have long since left and in their place Danish is now living with us. The previous owners have also sold the house. The new Owner is a nice guy named Peter. Me and him have gotten along quite well and even though he is turning our place into a student accommodation, he has offered me and Danish a secure place and at a lower fee. I couldn't be happier. Not only to get a place where just me and Danish can be, but to be released from my other flatmate's ever increasing debt which is hitting me hard.

I've also been working at a call center since November last year. Im one of the annoying people who call you up to take a telephone survey! but hey, look on the bright side....at least I'm not selling anything!.....not directly ;)

My last post "Bills Bills...." was quite negative, but my situation has turned around quite a bit from back then. The new job has made things ALOT easier but with my other flatmate continuously running low on cash and me having to pay for quite a bit for his rent and bills this entire session has taken its toll on me. Oh! hurry up Peter and finish up our room already!

But, Just yesterday I was finally able to get something with my cash. I went to the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Bookstore: Galaxy on Friday. Id heard alot about it from people at work and it lived up to my expectations......sigh OKAY! so I was expecting it to be LARGER but its not every day you stumble upon a bookstore that specializes on Sci-Fi and Fantasy. They had the Warcraft Novels I so want to get, the Diablo Novels, Terry Brooks, Anime, etc. But what caught my eye was "The Legend of Drizzt" Set I and II. I quickly picked up set one. This has been long overdue.

The Set contains the first three novels of R.A Salvatore's best selling Forgotten Realms Novel that introduced us to one of Fantasies greatest characters: Drizzt Do'Urden.
I am already deep into the first book titled Homeland and soon I shall get the second set followed by the Warcraft Novels.

Ofcourse, I still watch anime. My disgust with Naruto Shippuden remains and now I have decided to stop watching the anime all together. It has started with yet another filler arc. But that is not my only gripe with the show. The humor falls flat and every SINGLE story arc has dealt with the "Oh! your like me and were treated like crap all your life but look at me and how I dealt with it and be inspired!" ....there is no creativity left in these fillers.

Bleach on the other hand has continuously impressed me. Even the filler arc is well animated, and atleast adds some to the original story. Though the latest one is a bit silly in that Kurasagi is now back in the real world when he should be in the Hollow World where we last saw him. But no worries, as long as the story is good and the animation is smooth. Besides, bleach has a wealth of characters many of whom can easily have a whole arc just on them.

Ive also got into the Manga and thats where Naruto's strength still lies. Bleach is also equally strong if not better than Naruto in their manga as well.

Apart from the above two, I saw a few episodes of Macross Frontier and was turned off by its blatant copying of the first Robotech Saga.....what has happened to creativity.

Im also excited because I come closer to getting my own Xbox360. Though my brother and friend have one, it still doesn't beat having your own. Right in time too, with the recent release of GTA IV and Ninja Gaiden II and Too Human not too far off. I'll also finally get to experience Lost Odyssey as well.

Oh, and then there is Iron man. I went into the cinema thinking it to be an average superhero flick and came out having watched the best movie this year. Robert Jr acted very well and literally held the movie together. Its not easy acting like a cocky super hero but he pulled it off with ease. If Marvel Studios handles the rest of their properties like this then the future bodes well. Heres hoping Norton and the Incredible Hulk does the same!

Ive written WAY too much, so I'll sign out now....and maybe try to be a little more consistent with this blog posting.