Paradox: If everything that is 'real' is imperfect, and if God's love is 'real', then is God's love perfect ?

Was cycling home today from the volunteer training session after the rain. It was still drizzling lightly, and the sky was a darker hue of ocean blue. The street lamps that flickered on as I cycled along the path painted like pastel impressionist flowers against the canvas of the sky. It's starting to smell like Christmas again.

The year's gone (going?) by faster than I care to admit. Teachers' Day's coming up in a week's time (reminder to self: pay mrs goh a visit), and it almost seems like it was just last month that I was mugging for my A levels. Has anything changed since ?

Settled down into something I'm possibly going to do long term. FINALLY learnt to play the guitar (probably the best thing I did this year). Taking up volunteering. 'Taking up' because I'll need to finish this course all volunteers have to through before they are considered qualified to do counselling. Am in module 2 (of 4) now, but there's a pretty good chance that I might not make it to the end.

Their ways are not my ways and my ways are not theirs. While both paths have their valid views and methods, they do not necessarily converge. And especially as they go further along, they probably won't. I've walked too far down my path to learn to walk theirs, and I'd sooner leave their company than allow it to change me.

Belief is that which separates stubborness and strength of will. I believe, and if the whole world disagrees, let them be the ones who are unsound of mind, blind and deaf.

Updated the links to those whose blogs I actually read. Pofun, Gene, and Tey now grace the links section.

My fingers hurt now when I play the guitar, my finger have become much less nimble due to lack of practice. It's almost like how a jealous lover punishes her negligent other. Guess it's time to get to know her again, the way I used to.

Authorities coming down hard on people who download pirated music, and the local filesharing scene takes a hit. IRC channels which used to be filled with file servers and their users are now muted and relatively devoid of chatters and activity. While this might come as a blow to those of you who download music indiscriminately on a regular basis, I feel that it 's a good thing for genuine music lovers (who are hopefully also the ones who buy original music) and the way music should be shared.

Let me explain myself. Remember a long time ago (for those of you who grew up in the 70s and 80s) when sharing music meant arduous hours of popping casette tapes in and out of tape recorders to put together a desired compilation ? I don't suppose the humble casette tape is going to ever make a return, with CDRWs being the de facto standard in almost every new PC nowadays. Having IMs like ICQ and MSN also means that for sharing of small files, or most often just a track or two, the physical component of sharing music can even be done away with altogether.

Sharing music once again takes meaningful purpose on the part of the person sharing the music. If rampant music piracy can be construed as the whoring of music by its cold assembly line efficiency, then the turn of events now would mean going back to how sharing music ought to be - the sharing of a common love, the weaving of one of the many strings that bind people to those they love and care about.

The standard disclaimer applies. Share music all you want, but don't get caught, and if you like what you hear, buy the CD. And mayhaps tell someone else about it. 8)

peace,
eric.

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