15.10.06

without doubt the greatest invention in our time

It's probably no secret to those who know me, but I am hopelessly in love. With the Internet, that is.

I love how the Internet has allowed me to keep up to date with the latest movements in the Japanese music and entertainment scene. With it, I get to listen to previews and leaks of songs even before they are officially released, and I get to discover so many artistes that would have otherwise been left untouched if the Internet didn't exist. Because of this I am now able to listen and enjoy a very wide and diverse range of music ranging from commercial pop to hard metal to bubblegum cutesy synth music to trippy R&B beats. I don't think I'd be able to open my ears to so many different kinds of music had it not been for the Internet.

I love how the Intenet has introduced to me so many football clubs around the world that are relatively unknown and made me a fan of at least a couple. I simply cannot imagine how I would have been able to come to support Galatasaray SK and Urawa Reds if I hadn't come across them on the Internet, and been able to follow their latest news on it. I might not be able to watch them live in the stadium (how many Singaporean "fans" can lay claim to that anyway?), but at least I'm still able to read up on their results online, and I am dead certain that I will be able to catch a live home match for both clubs before I become old. And that will be thanks to the Internet too for giving me so many options on air tickets, accomodation, travel tips and match tickets.

But most important of all, I love how the Internet has opened me up to people from all around the world. I am really grateful that I have been able to meet and make friends with people as far away from the United States or Canada or the Czech Republic. Without the Internet, we wouldn't even have known of each other's existence, or indeed that of Ayumi Hamasaki as well. It is a really fascinating experience talking to these people and learning about the way they live in their countries, even though we might not realise it while we're chatting online.

It's been mentioned so often how it has changed the way we work and live, but how has it affected you on a personal level?

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