*Toxic.Boy

alani's.humps

2007-12-29T18:53:00.000+08:00

Somehow I prefer the down and dirty Black Eyed Peas version - but I must say this has a certain uncanny charm.

resigned.resonance

2007-11-02T00:17:00.000+08:00

... is in my head.
It is a little voice.
Soft, but sure.
A nagging little murmur.
A repetitive resonance.
A reverberating rhythm.
Resigned and regretful, it is going...

"you pathetic shit you don't even know what you are doing with your life."

coffee+toast

2007-10-08T14:37:00.000+08:00

Is coffee or bread more noisy?

(Pls see comments for ans.)

P.L.FX.55.P

2007-10-05T18:57:00.000+08:00

That stands for the Panasonic Lumix FX-55. (and... PINK!)
Don't ask me why my mom and sis chose this colour - but they were so sweet to lug this all the way from Japan for me as a 3 month early birthday present.
Pink aside (actually it really is not such an obvious shade of pink - fortunately. Imagine if it were in lilac. *shudder*), the Panasonic Lumix FX-55 is in a class of its own. 8.1MP with a 3" LCD display, it is a mean gadget for pointing and shooting, coupled with the revolutionary Intelligent Auto technology fabled to make any photo (or any idiot who does not know any photography basics) look good.
Thank you mom + sis. =)
Best facts about this pinkie - it is a made in Japan product and costs only about SGD$450 for the latest model.
It's a season of gadgetry - I am at the forefront of technology at the moment!
Call me... Trendsetter. =)

P.S.P

2007-09-23T18:39:00.000+08:00

Say hello to my new toy! =D
The latest in the PSP range - the PSP SLIM.
It's fantastic I'd say - especially when there are geniuses out there who have managed to tweak the firmware for a whole realm of unlimited possibilities for gaming, video, music, storage.
And for the gaming-adolescent-trapped-in-middle-aged-man-body me, I'd say it's a perfect match.
Thank you K. =)
I LOVE my PSP.

mediocrity

2007-09-17T11:35:00.000+08:00

I HATE BEING MEDIOCRE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY,

I AM.

Of course one can't compare to the Untouchables:

1. Babies who found silver spoons to scoop and savour their mom's placentas with.

(And managed to hang on to the spoon after being delivered to feed upon their father's innards - especially the most succulent livers, and somehow their fathers' livers keep regenerating, sometimes growing at a rate even faster than their young ones can devour.)

2. Extraterresterials who have engorged craniums and are frivolously sponsored by dictatorships to go to institutions where they drink lots of beer, puke and make out in dormitories.

(The various actions not necessarily sequential and may all occur at the same time, in various proportions - eg. make out with a beer bottle and drink puke at the same time - yeah, you get the idea.)

And then they return to climb on what they believe are ladders, but never realise that there are only a few true ladders - most of them run on rungs in a wheel similar to those that hamsters run on.

3. Folks who chose to tread upon a lesser path, groping in the dark and eventually discovering the buried treasure amongst the pile of bones of those before who tried and failed.

(What these people have are balls. Very huge ones.)

But after eliminating those above, I am still flopping like a fish.

A half-dead one.

Make that 3/4 dead.
And the only feeble thing I do is to rant.
Weak.

buried

2007-09-10T11:38:00.000+08:00

This describes the recent state of life's affairs.
The picture will paint you the thousand words that I wished to convey.

fantasy.satisfaction

2007-09-06T11:40:00.000+08:00

In youth the yardstick was "bigger, stronger, faster"
When grown it became "smarter, richer, more popular";
So short of being a complete loser,
One can claim to be content, being luckier.
Since in this day and at this age -
Far and few are opportunities of being first.
Fortunate to just survive everyday corporate carnage -
Sadly - scores like these satisfies one's thirst.

le.empereur

2007-08-28T13:43:00.000+08:00

You are The Emperor

Stability, power, protection, realization; a great person.

The Emperor is the great authority figure of the Tarot, so it represents
fathers, father-figures and employers. There is a lot of aggression and violence
too.

The Emperor naturally follows the Empress. Like an infant, he is filled with enthuiasm, energy, aggression. He is direct, guileless and all too often irresistible. Unfortunately, like a baby he can also be a tyrant. Impatient, demanding, controlling. In the best of circumstances, he signifies the leader that everyone wants to follow, sitting on a throne that indicates the solid foundation of an Empire he created, loves and rules with intelligence and enthusiasm. But that throne can also be a trap, a responsibility that has the Emperor feeling restless, bored and discontent.

What Tarot Card are You?

a.spot.of.white

2007-08-27T14:06:00.000+08:00

I have a corneal ulcer.
It started off as a white dot.
It still is.
But I hope it goes away.
It shall always remind me not to put on my contact lenses for prolonged periods.

a.letter.from.garcia

2007-08-22T09:00:00.000+08:00

(I know just what you are thinking - not another soccer post! grrrroan)
But I felt that it was my duty to the world to make known that sports personalities, in this instance soccer players, and case-in-point specifically a Liverpool playmaker - are capable of having human emotions too. (Though most of the time we just think of them as bionic beings who have super-unnatural speed, strength, with an equally unnatural bank account.)

So Luis Garcia wrote this letter to his former club, though I greatly suspect that it would have been in his native linga franca - Spanish - and taken him at least 2 years to have penned it in Ingles. One would not have imagined a has-been of any sporting organisation to have expressed such gratitude and appreciation, especially when he/she has matured into 'surplus' strength and has to be released elsewhere (anywhere in fact) so as not to continue wasting the resources for the former employer.

I am reminded of the Chinese proverb - “饮水思源”(think of the source when you drink water), and the many thanks I have to give for all that I am today. =)

bells.a-tolling

2007-08-18T20:04:00.000+08:00

Not mine, apparently.
But I have just received like 5 wedding invites over the past month.
Sep 07 - 2
Oct 07 - 1
Dec 07 - 1
Mid 08 - 1 (this was by far the most ridiculous - whoever books you so early???)
But nonetheless - Love, is in the air.

alcohol.is.illegal.in.france

2007-08-15T21:54:00.000+08:00

To be honest, other than Voronin's spectacular shot for the Reds to win Toulouse 1-0, this video is nothing really special.
Except for the fact that, upon closer inspection, there seems to be something wrong with Liverpool's jerseys - their sponsors "Carlsberg" are totally not reflected on their jerseys!
And apparently, the reason for that is - alcohol advertisements are not allowed in France on the soccer jerseys.
And to think that the French consume 60 L per capita of wine per year! That's a really alcoholic-indulgent nation out there for you.
I'd reckon that they just have a thing against BEER companies. =)

uni.qlock

2007-08-05T11:20:00.000+08:00

This is pretty quirky.

as.the.crow.flies

2007-08-01T15:49:00.000+08:00

Just finished this book.
I know it's kind of JC-ish, but hell it was too thick for me back in those days.
Written in the manner of narrative perspectives from multiple persons, it is an interesting read, and to a little extent - even inspirational.

Rating: 8.5/10

genuine.nerd

2007-07-25T02:33:00.000+08:00

Initially it was kinda funny.
But then it became real sad.
Then totally tragic.
Tear-jerking stuff.
What were they thinking of when they produced this?

super.mario

2007-07-19T02:01:00.000+08:00

This is nostalgic. Though I never had a set of my own, I distinctly remembered gathering at the back of shophouses after school to watch classmates play.
It was supposedly an 'illegal' commercial activity and had to be conducted at the back of provision shops, which rented out their Nintendo sets for half hour slots at a time.
Perhaps then in primary school the average heartlander family could not afford such luxuries like Nintendo sets.
Having said that, if you watch this video, and if you had any idea how the gameplay worked, you'd have to agree with me that the person who did the video was a master of the game - his timing's impeccable!

tower

2007-07-04T12:23:00.000+08:00

That is what Torres in Spanish, literally means.

It is always exciting to get a new signing.

g.s.s.+.g.s.t.hike

2007-07-01T23:06:00.000+08:00

After the Great Singapore Sale (GSS), comes the Great Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike.
From 5% to 7%.
They gave everyone a pittance of $200.

Let's do some sums.
Imagine on the average you take 3 meals a day total about $15 - One month about $450.
Public Transport $5 daily - One month $150.
Put in some shopping/groceries at $200 a month.
Total $800/mth.
Now increase 2% = $16.
$200/16 = 12.5mths
So they expect your GST package to last one year.
And that's without paying your sundry bills, handphone bills, big ticket items, holidays, etc.
And with the NETS surcharge - if you use NETS, I assure you that your $200 will not even last half a year.

And this goes to provide for a bunch of people in white robes who ensure that our mothers and sisters do not become maids.
Wonderful, isn't it?

trans.formers

2007-06-30T23:29:00.000+08:00

I only have 3 words for this movie.

Watch

It.

Here are some auditions for the other bots that were rejected from the casting... =)

n.e.t.s

2007-06-28T22:52:00.000+08:00

Now there's a surcharge for using NETS!
The result?
It's forcing everyone to get a credit card? Or carry more cash?
So there'll be more reports of robbed grannies and grandpas who wanted to avoid paying the 2% surcharge?
And if you pay cab fares with NETS - it's a leviable surcharge of 30 cents on top of your metered fare?

What sort of stupid idea is this?
Get the nation to use NETS, "NETS IT!" here, "NETS IT!" there... and then slap the surcharge now when using the system is 2nd nature when buying groceries, books and even electronics?
Or rather should we say it's a damn brilliant and heinous ploy by the little men in white?

On a related article, read Brown's "Start carrying more cash."
Another article on the new meanings on talking.cock.com on N.E.T.S.

golly.woggy

2007-06-25T15:29:00.000+08:00

It was those spurs of the moment.

Reminiscent of JC days.

Anyway my hair was overgrown like a weed patch.

And it felt hot and on the brink of blooming into a dandruff garden.

I went to a Malay barber.

Now my hair looks like one of those characters in Enid Blyton.

Someone commented that my head suddenly looked

Really round.

Now it's a long hard wait.

For the patch to fallow, the keratin to grow.

benny.hill

2007-06-19T00:24:00.000+08:00

This guy takes the cake - is it just me or is his brand of entertainment oh-so-hilarious? =)

dick.lee

2007-06-18T00:04:00.000+08:00

I have never really enjoyed his works -
but you have to agree that this excerpt from his concert was pretty amusing.

his.story.of.dance

2007-06-16T00:09:00.000+08:00

celestial.earth

2007-06-15T10:05:00.000+08:00

天圆，地方 -

步入中年，已不再血气方刚。

人往何处，思绪迷惘。

只有一步一步，抓紧现有时光。

对地顿足，向天呐喊 -

没丝毫头绪，未来一片迷茫。

chip.on.my.shoulder

2007-06-14T08:57:00.000+08:00

I always had one.
I just wished it would turn into a casino chip worth $1000 that would win a 1:5000 payout.

Speaking of which - glark.ware has interesting teeshirts like these below:

zero.emission.house

2007-06-11T11:54:00.000+08:00

The UK has unveiled its 1st zero emission home that will set the environmental standard for all new homes in the future.
The two-bedroom house is insulated to lose 60% less heat than a normal home.
It also features solar panels, a biomass boiler and water efficiency devices such as rainwater harvesting. The design, unveiled at the Offsite 2007 exhibition in Watford, meets rules to be applied in 2016 that aim to make UK homes more energy-efficient.
The Kingspan Off-Site's Lighthouse design is the first to achieve level six of the Code for Sustainable Homes - which means the house is carbon neutral. About a quarter of UK carbon emissions come from homes.

Green pledge
Chancellor Gordon Brown announced in his Budget in March that zero-carbon houses would be exempt from stamp duty. BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones said the Kingspan home is the first to reach level six requirements in the UK.
"The home generates all its own energy - and when you're away on holiday can send electricity back to the National Grid. The company says its annual energy bill would be £31, as compared to £500 for the standard new home of this size," he said.
Among the features in the house are a biomass boiler, which runs on organic fuels such as wood pellets. It counts as zero-emission because the carbon dioxide it gives off during the burning process is offset by the amount absorbed when the fuel crop was grown. It also has a waste separation system that allows combustible waste to be burned to help provide power.

Cost concerns
There will be smart metering so that inhabitants will be able to tell if they are wasting any energy.
While the bills may be cheap, Kingspan, an Ireland-based materials specialist, admits the building cost is 40% more than the standard home.
But house designer Alan Shingler, of architects Sheppard Robson, was confident that costs would fall when more of the homes were built.
"It gets cheaper when you build, say, 250 of them," he said. "For a whole development you can introduce other ways of generating electricity - which is where most of the extra cost comes."

LIGHTHOUSE COMPONENTS

1. Wind catcher, for summer ventilation
2. Solar array at back of house for hot water and electricity
3. High-level of wall insulation
4. Biomass boiler

appraisal.mean.ings

2007-06-02T11:01:00.000+08:00

武

2007-06-01T15:34:00.000+08:00

It is interesting to note that the very word that embodies "Martial art", is an oxymoron made up of the very 2 words that briefly means "to stop conflict". Isn't the Chinese language such a delightful play of words?
Some believe that the "Wushu" - literally Martial Art, was so coined as such and conceptualised to prevent hostilities rather than to encourage strifes between people. The masters and practitioners of these arts maintain their ideals of their pursuit a purely gentlemenly sport, with the aims of improving oneself through mutual learning rather than showing off in displays of superiority from conquering your opponents.

change.of.tune

2007-05-29T17:57:00.000+08:00

Finally - decided on another piece of ambient music with this page, lest you were getting tired (like me) of the Bitstream Dream number which had been on for a while. (I can hear some of you going - "Oooh. FINALLY.")
Nevertheless, I believe this new tune will startle some of you due to the opening banshee like wail, but give it a chance for 10 seconds - the beats of chill (not the spine-chilling type though) will kick in, and hopefully soothe your eyes pleasurably whilst stopping by here. =)
And if any audiophile out there is interested - the album's "Music from Nowhere" by Diggsville, the track being "Daze of Normal Life". Adequate, isn't it?

dumbo.

2007-05-24T19:17:00.000+08:00

Baby dumbo is adorable -I just need to look at it and she brightens my day. =)

leaning.tower

2007-05-22T09:28:00.000+08:00

... of Sentosa.
With the dawn of a new era, the old makes way for the new.
Down with heritage, Up with the New Age!

oopsy.daisy

2007-05-21T01:55:00.000+08:00

photo.shop.magic

2007-05-20T01:53:00.000+08:00

There was a previous posting on the wonders of photoshop somewhere I believe - but this is really some sweet make-over.

deci.rebels

2007-05-17T22:45:00.000+08:00

In recent years, we see vast advancement in technology, particularly nano-technology. Whilst we marvel at how such unimaginable power and memory is possible to be imbued in little silicon chips, easing comfort levels and connectivity; at the same time some lesser evils arise.
Have you ever had the displeasure of commuting via public transport and was unceromoniously disturbed by some really loud, and often irksome, music? (Noise would be a better word in my humble opinion)
I have always thought these acts of inconsideration to be restricted to the follies of youth, but couple of days ago on the MRT - there was this middle-aged dark foreign worker who was blasting those Bollywood music off his mobile, to the (horror of the) entire carriage. He seemed to be in nirvana, belting the songs out himself and causing further audio nuisance (since his voice wasn't anything to crow about - wait a minute - ok, it sounded a little like crowing all right.)
I used to think that only certain ethnicities in particular, who liked to hang loose thinking public dispensing of their music made the world "more better" - were capable of such generous acts of sharing. But it has indeed become a universal phenomena crossing all cultural borders, and is spreading at an alarming pace, jeopardizing the tranquility of all public transportation systems and human eardrum safety.
Now there's a valid reason to get your own vehicle! At least if the music is not to your palate - you could simply switch to another channel, or in the worst of circumstances - switch the damned machine off.

fantasy.football

2007-05-15T09:45:00.000+08:00

This was a hard fought season.
And finishing under 2000 - position 1701 to be exact, in the 99th percentile, gave me some comfort.
With the end of yet another season it hails the impending 3 months of football drought, with fans all over the world just waking up each day sourcing for any piecemeal information on transfers and takeovers.
Till next season then. =)

god.of.kop

2007-05-10T14:11:00.000+08:00

Please tolerate my indulgence in one of the most naturally gifted goal-scorers of all time - GOD of KOP - ROBBIE FOWLER!

Hat-trick against Arsenal (1994)

Hat-trick against Arsenal AGAIN??!? (1995)

Watching these videos brought back memories of yesteryears with all those great players - Ian Rush, John Barnes, Steve McManaman, Jamie Redknapp, Stan Collymore, etc.

God of KOP - You'll never walk alone.

beautiful.girl

2007-05-09T23:22:00.000+08:00

This is one of the tracks from the Korean flick "200 Pound Beauty". The movie - on the much fabled plastic surgery phenomena (+ liposuction) in Korea - was a bag of laughs, yet having its fair share of touching tear-jerking moments. And... this female lead that you see above (Kim Ah Joong) - is HOT HOT HOT!!!!

two.red.legends

2007-05-08T09:48:00.000+08:00

Come next season of the English Premier League, Liverpool will be missing 2 of their most talented modern day legends.

Jerzy.Dudek
He was the hero for the Champions League win 2 years ago in 2005.
The ex-Polish national goalkeeper has been out of favour since the arrival of Pepe Reina, the current Champions League penalty-saving custodian.
The Reds will remember him fondly. Humble, and self-sacrificing. He lost his place as Poland's No.1 goalkeeper due to lack of 1st team matches in Liverpool.

This was the glorious Champions League winning team of 2005.

Robbie.Fowler
Otherwise known as God of Kop, Fowler enjoyed an illustrious career at Liverpool. It will be really sad to see him go - he was, afterall, one of the most gifted goalscorers at Anfield, and Rafa Benitez had even commented once that Robbie's the best finisher in the squad.

cute.knut

2007-05-02T00:52:00.000+08:00

So this was the little German furball who was rejected by its mother.

the.incredible.crouch

2007-04-30T23:03:00.000+08:00

I was never a huge fan of this beanpole - but this video really grows on you - I ended up chuckling halfway through it.

mouse.mouse

2007-04-26T17:51:00.000+08:00

A real taxidermied mouse for your computer anyone? =)

Instructions provided at instructables.

elbphilharmonie

2007-04-23T17:20:00.000+08:00

Take a look at the new philharmonic hall in above River Elbe, Hamburg, Germany. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, it integrates a new crystalline tent-like structure atop an existing brick warehouse - an experimentation of new forms/materials vs heritage. Personally - it seems like a ghost ship docking at the river.

Read arch.news.now for more information.

jap.air

2007-04-19T08:59:00.000+08:00

Necessity is the mother of all invention. This applies to weird art forms of self-expression too!

hike.hype

2007-04-11T12:03:00.000+08:00

Earning 300k per annum at age 32? What the f@!#?
and take a look at this - Revised Civil Service Salaries.
Mind you - this is NOT what your ordinary 'civil servant' earns. So why should those guys get like 10 times what the ordinary servant's pay (like say 30-40k a year) - do they do 10 times more work? Are they the ones who make it work? What they do all day is pay lip service, and find ways to spend the extravagant amount of money in excess of other civil servants' salaries. The hike in salaries should be inverse for once - say 100% for the bottom rung, and 1% for the top rung. That would still work out nicely to be a 30k pay increase for both the PM, and the cellar-sweepers.
Shocking.

malaise-an.rant

2007-04-07T10:58:00.000+08:00

This dude flaunts his knowledge of 6 languages, jibing at the inhabitants of the small red dot.
Pretty funny.

winter.chill

2007-04-02T21:56:00.000+08:00

Are you good at blowing? =P
Please get a microphone plugged in and try this - lynx.blow!

Well if you are wondering what you can actually DO... or SEE... just a click on the clip below will give you a spoiler...
But guys - it's best to blow... very hard... on your own! =P

tek.ken

2007-04-01T14:42:00.000+08:00

One more game inspired video.
Even though I didn't particularly love the video game, the guys in this video displayed some commendable moves. =)

counter.strike

2007-03-31T14:34:00.000+08:00

This must be one of the best re-enactments.
Gawd.
How I miss playing Counter-Strike.
And how I miss having the luxury of time to play the game.

spanish.pranks

2007-03-30T01:39:00.001+08:00

This is way too cruel... how can they treat hot chicas in this way? =O

on.top.of.the.world

2007-03-23T09:06:00.000+08:00

Well, maybe not the world, but Singapore, at least.
These photos were taken some time ago aboard the DHL hot air balloon, somewhere near the 7th storey hotel (if you know where THAT is.)
I have vertigo so it took a lot of balls (pardon the sexist distinction of the haves) for me to get my ass up there. To be honest my knees were wobbly as the balloon started rising... and it just rose... and rose some more... much to my (very much suppressed) horror. But having said that - it was perfectly safe. Or at least that was what the rest of the unalarmed passengers who were jumping up and down excited at the view impressed upon me. =P

What a load of hot air.
Yes - it went higher than Gateway towers.

I'd recommend anyone who likes birds' eye views from above to try this.

sleep.mask

2007-03-19T21:41:00.000+08:00

Whilst commuting on the subway, there was a taciturn lady who seemed precariously imbalanced standing, swaying from left to right, back to front (though not necessarily in that order).
At one of the stations somebody got up and off, and the swaying ragdoll of a lady sat down. She whipped out a sleep mask and dozed off almost into the empyrean as if operated by clockwork.
Though a rare sight for sleep masks to be worn out of the bedroom or plane flights, K commented that it was a great idea to don the sleep mask. When I asked why, she gave the following reasons:
1. One sleeps better
2. One does not need to feel socially responsible for giving up seats to old folks, pregnant mothers nor the physically challenged
Put in that way - yes indeed sleep masks do provide a valid excuse to be oblivious to social pressures in a crowded train.
Other than getting a free sleep mask whilst on board a plane, where does one buy a sleep mask? =)

300

2007-03-12T23:23:00.000+08:00

The Battle of Thermopylae.
That was the historical event, inked into a legendary tale by graphic novelist (comic artist) Frank Miller.
300 Spartans (led by their king Leonidas), forms part of a 4000 strong Greek contingent to deter the Persians (led by their king Xerxes, strength from 200,000 to 2 million) from passing thru the "Hot Gates", a narrow pass at Thermopylae. All of the Greeks perished, but not in vain - the rest of Greece was awakened to war to resist the Persian invasion. Without the Spartans' (and subsequently the Greeks') resistance, the history of Western Europe might not be what is recorded in the annals now.
I was there once, but the historical narrow pass (supposedly 14m wide) has been eroded away by rivers and now become a vast plain ranging from 2~5 kilometres wide. What is left is but a monument to commemorate the event and Leonidas, I guess the location was believed to be where the "Hot Gates" were located.
The cinematography was excellent I felt, and of course this film is reputed for its painstaking digital post-processes as most of the scenes were shot using blue-screen backgrounds. It is amazing what modern technology can do to digitally paint an era past, yet not forgotten.
Ratings: 9.5/10

music+lyrics

2007-03-11T11:35:00.000+08:00

Another romantic comedy by Hugh Grant.
But I take my hat off to him - his movies are always full of Brit satire with cheeky sarcasm dripping at every unexpected corner, and thus notwithstanding that they are girlie romance fairy-tales, surprisingly enjoyable. K & I were reeling with laughter, so were the rest of the cinema patrons. Amongst the other pluses was definitely the sound-track, ranging from soft ballads to made-up band 'POP' hits.
Catch it whilst it is still showing on the big screens!
Ratings: 9.5/10

make.over

2007-03-10T22:53:00.000+08:00

With digital technology and post-processing, one can look anyway he/she desires. =)

no.pork

2007-03-08T14:46:00.000+08:00

Man. What an evil prank!

(For the readers who do not know, 'Halal' is most commonly used in the context of Muslim dietary laws, especially where meat and poultry are concerned, and in particular - pork is a prohibited food item.)

shower:wo/men

2007-03-05T19:32:00.000+08:00

This is pretty hilarious! =)
Perhaps whilst watching the video, you could verify your own routines too haha!
(Before you start, perhaps you would wish to turn off/pause the background tune - even though the accompanying sound is not crucial to this clip.)

reserved.

2007-03-03T22:05:00.000+08:00

Once a year.
2 weeks of time away from work.
10 days in a green uniform.
240 hours return to regimental life.

You see older faces, wrinkles wrought in them.
You hear disgruntled voices, pouring out tales of burdening work schedules, harassing wives and meddlesome children.
Yet amongst these comrades you also get tales of love and family, pride for their newborn, amorous yearning for their newly-wed Missus.
Some have moved on to new horizons, others promoted, yet others are looking for work.

It is a microcosm of the nation, of society, and of humanity.

milk.coke.beer.blood

2007-02-22T16:25:00.000+08:00

Milk bottle. Coke bottle. Beer bottle. Blood pack.
What do you think this picture represents?
Take a shot in the comments box! =)

ghost.rider

2007-02-18T23:59:00.000+08:00

Yet another movie fashioned out of Marvel Super heroes comics.

Ghost Rider appears in the form of Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stunt performer in a traveling circus, who sold his soul to what he believed was Satan but was actually the demon Mephistopheles, in order to save the life of his stepfather, Crash Simpson. Even his incarnation as a skull in burning flames gives the first impression that he's from the dark side. Not quite your typical chiselled good-looking do-gooder the likes of Superman/Batman eh?
But even he looks like a load of evil, he's on the side of justice, and in this movie battles Black Heart, the son of Mephistopheles, and pits his Fire element against the other Greek elements - Air, Water, Earth.
Whilst not particularly enticing to me as I am not your run-of-mill biker gang member, nor profess to have any fetish for leather, studs nor chains - Ghost Rider does have some cool special effects and the overall concept of the unlikely hero appeals to me. In chinese they call them 枭雄.
Another useless piece of trivia would be that Black Heart would later on recruit Black Rose (Roxanne Simpson, Blaze's wife, who was resurrected) into his dark team.

Ratings: 6/10

过年

2007-02-18T19:01:00.001+08:00

一瞬间，又一年流逝。
在过去的一年里，你是否有了什么新的体验，或不同的感动呢？

岁月匆匆崔人老，
生老病死不可少。
荣华富贵谁不要，
但愿每年会更好。

就趁剩下的时光，把握机会，大家一起努力吧！
恭祝过个大肥猪年!

cool.tunes

2007-02-15T20:12:00.000+08:00

If you have your speakers on, you'll be able to listen to a new streaming tune I have included for the page.
It's from an album called 'Spiralglide', by Bitstream Dream.
Apparently, Bitstream Dream is a collective of musicians, remixers, and producers from all around the world. Their newest album "Spiralglide" features dreamy female vocals with a mixture of downtempo, trip-hop, breakbeats, drum n bass, and progressive house.

So - blast those speakers. =)

my.super.hero

2007-02-12T10:15:00.000+08:00

I am Iron Man.
Inventor. Businessman. Genius.

Take the Superhero Test

As taken from Wikipedia:
"Iron Man possesses powered armor that gives him superhuman strength, virtual invulnerability, flight, and an array of weapons. The armor was invented and, with occasional short-term exceptions, worn by Tony Stark, an American industrialist billionaire and military contractor known not only for his lifestyle, but also for his incredible ingenuity and inventive genius.

Iron Man was originally an anti-communist hero. Throughout the character’s comic book series, technological advancement and national defense were constant themes, but later issues developed Stark into a more complex and vulnerable character as they depicted his battle with alcoholism and other personal difficulties.

Writers often portray Iron Man as a symbol of humanity's creativity as well as its frailties. He is often placed in contrast with his close friends Captain America and Thor, the former as a comparison between interventionist and cooperative attitudes, and the latter comparing science and the supernatural. Throughout most of his career, Iron Man has been a member of the superhero team the Avengers, and has been featured in several incarnations of his own various comic-book series.

nomad

2007-02-09T10:05:00.000+08:00

I am wont to move, like a wandering nomad, never settling down.
Though in some manner there will be new things to learn, fresh experiences, benefits sure to come in certain forms with each migration, but at what cost?
So far the pains outweighs the gains, and it all feels like a Pyrrhic victory to me.

the.tyrant

2007-02-06T23:59:00.000+08:00

Yet another wonderful piece of translated literature, from Manfredi.
I found that I simply love novels on epic classical battles. The heros. The heroines. The wars, the brutality, the bloodshed. The honour, the integrity, the will to conquer.

This was on Dionysius and his conquests in the ancient Italian-Greek world of Sicily - a world of democracy vs tyranny, of civilization vs barbarians. It has been a long while since I found such a compelling read, and much eagerness to finish the novel. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Rating: 9/10

crazy.horse

2007-02-02T11:56:00.000+08:00

Ah. The demise of a fat lady in Singapore.
Or at least that was what I felt when I heard about the closure of Singapore's Crazy Horse. All that censorship, on advertising, on publicity - dealt this French maid the coup de grace.
Under the impression that the lights would eventually dim on a silent Wednesday evening on the 31st of January 2007, I went to watch the final curtain call. (Only to find out that the misery for them had been extended to 4 Feb 2007 due to ironic full-house attendances.)
Overall, I would say that the show was interesting. Attributing some credit perhaps to my training in the 'creative' arts, I was able to appreciate the skilful manipulation of lights and screens. Of course, at the end of the day the trained movements of the well-proportioned performers was the crux of the show, and that they used, to impeccable gracefulness, to commendable choreography which was limited by the small stage.
Au revoir, Mademoiselle! =)

the.oracle

2007-01-15T10:58:00.000+08:00

Another novel by one of my favourite writers - Valerio Massimo Manfredi.
Even though it didn't intrigue me as much as Alexander (the trilogy) did, I was still deeply entrenched within the storyline. Some history, some fantasy, mix of fiction and non-fiction, bits of Greece, Italy, France.
Sometimes I wonder how the original story in Italian would have felt when read?

Rating: 8/10

a.a.

2007-01-10T23:50:00.000+08:00

Take a look at the new A.A. - Assholic Anonymous!

Everyone can get help

speed.painting

2007-01-09T22:22:00.000+08:00

Thought this was really cool. All done in PhotoShop.
Apparently there are others in the series.

Enjoy! =)

the.queen

2007-01-08T22:45:00.000+08:00

A movie about the British Monarchy, in particular the Queen, and focusing mainly on the handling of the media with regards to Princess Diana's death. Provides an interesting insight into the royal family, and their struggles with the changes of the times. I felt that the movie was rather slow at points, perhaps to be consistent with its stately nature? =)
It's been nominated for quite a number of Grammies, so if little else, watch it for all the acclamation.

For more information, here's the site of the.queen.

Rating: 8/10

goths.become.architects

2007-01-07T11:21:00.000+08:00

Read this report.
Some other titbits:
1. The term "Goth" comes from Germanic tribe that invaded the Roman Empire in the 3rd to 5th centuries.
2. Goth was thought to be first used to describe bands around 1979, with Joy Division and Siouxsie and the Banshees.
3. There are sub cultures within the sub culture, such as cyber goths.

egg.1st.chicken.2nd

2007-01-05T23:10:00.000+08:00

The Chicken or Egg issue has been around for centuries.
A study as reported on BBC in May 2006 claims to have answered the question.
Now you know - the egg came first! =)

girl.and.the.sea

2007-01-03T17:18:00.000+08:00

The drizzle on the window pane,
Yearns for weather sunny and fair.
The breeze after the rain,
Brings a breath of fresh air.
The girl looks upon the sea,
Wistful and deep in thought;
Does the future look as blurry?
Will it end up in nought?

you.never.know

2006-12-26T22:48:00.000+08:00

A little splash that I created for the office bunch.
We have been experiencing a great many comings and goings - 2 newbies actually left within 3 weeks of taking up the job.
Hence the theme of the party - "You Never Know Who's Around Next Christmas!" =)

the.rule.of.four

2006-12-18T14:32:00.000+08:00

Based on the Hypnerotomachia, an ancient Venetian text, it attempts to decode, in a similar way as the Da Vinci Code, such historical text and images (in the form of woodcuts). Though it wasn't as engaging as the DVC, I felt that it was interesting enough, albeit in a geeky kind of manner.
Here's a copy of the Electronic.Hypnerotomachia.Poliphilli, if you are interested.

Rating: 7.5/10

hyper.cube

2006-12-11T21:21:00.000+08:00

This intriguing construction supposedly illustrates the possibilities of a 4th dimension, which many have believed to be Time, but in this case it is the turning inside-out of the original form that achieves the 4th, internal dimension.
(I do believe this page doesn't show it metamorphosizing - you have to click on the picture and it will bring you to another page where the effects can be seen.)

red.dic

2006-12-05T22:55:00.000+08:00

The team that I root for is facing a potential take-over by the ruler of Dubai.
I hope that doesn't mean that I will see weird Middle-Eastern players getting into the club and dampening my viewing pleasure.

Dubai International Capital (DIC) are one of half a dozen private equity firms buying up investments around the world on behalf of Dubai Holdings, which is owned by Sheikh Maktoum, who is also vice-president of the United Arab Emirates.

DIC recently bought Madame Tussauds for £750million and the Travelodge hotel chain.

The new stadium and injection of cash would see Liverpool able to compete with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, who this season moved to the new 60,000-capacity Emirates stadium - Anfield's capacity is only 44,000.

Liverpool would now have the finances to move to a new 60,000-capacity stadium in Stanley Park.

brother.colour

2006-12-04T06:00:00.000+08:00

Managed to lay my hands on this at the Sitex at Expo yesterday.
It has the following features:
4-in-1 Colour Flatbed Inkjet Multi-Function Centre
Colour Printer, Colour Copier, Colour Scanner and PhotoCapture Centre
Print speeds up to 20ppm (mono) / 15ppm (colour)
Print resolutions up to 1,200 x 6,000dpi
Borderless printing up to A4
8MB standard memory
Up to 100 sheets input paper capacity
Up to 25 sheets output paper capacity
Copy speeds up 17cpm (mono) / 11cpm (colour)
Copy reduction / enlargement from 25- 400in 1increments
Optical scan resolutions up to 600 x 2,400dpi
PhotoCapture Centre - Print direct from media slots
and for all of $88/=.

Now that's a steal.

of.deities.and.diamonds

2006-11-26T21:57:00.000+08:00

A good old old-fashioned classic tale of adventure, treasure-seeking, with a tinge of fantasy, yet not so unbelievable as science fiction.
Some trivia:
1) It was first published in 1885.
2) It is said to have been written as a result of H. Rider Haggard's (the author) wager with his brother, who touted that he (Rider) could not write a novel half as good as Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island (published in 1883).
3) The novel is the first (at least it claimed to be) fictional adventure novel set in Africa.
4) It was believed that it set the gears in motion to inspire other works of the 'Lost World' nature.
5) It has been adapted to film (at least) 4 times.

Thoroughly enjoyable, bringing back waves of nostalgia to childhood days of reading other Classics like 'Treasure Island', 'Kidnapped' and 'Robinson Crusoe'.
I'd like to visit Kukuanaland someday.
My rating: 8.5/10

mc.dull

2006-11-23T01:31:00.000+08:00

This is a HK animation produced in 2001.
It is a tale of an adorable (albeit dim-witted) pig, or piglet, to be more exact, with his mother in the typical low-income family in HK.
It was pretty well acclaimed, having bagged the following awards:
1) 21st Hong Kong Film Awards - Winner for Best Original Score (Ho Sun-Chi)
2) Golden Horse Film Award's Best Animation Movie (2001)
3) The FIPRESCI prize at the 26th Hong Kong International Film Festival (2002)
4) Grand Prix at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Annecy, France (2003)
The animation techniques are varied and interesting, so are the issues of everyday living for the average person (not necessary in HK).
Though intended as a children's movie, I'd say it is worth watching.
Best of all, I bagged the DVD for $5 bucks. =)
My rating: 8/10
And here's my favourite song from the movie.

underground.connections

2006-11-13T07:30:00.000+08:00

Check out if where you are residing is going to be well-connected in future.

make.your.grass.greener

2006-11-11T12:57:00.000+08:00

10 new lighting rigs - supplied by Dutch firm SGL - designed to help the grass grow on the Anfield pitch even during the winter months. The wonders of technology.

pink.family.portrait

2006-11-10T13:04:00.000+08:00

This song may invoke in many of us a feeling of empathy, at some point or another of your lives - 'one of those days' reflection. For those who cannot identify with the song entirely, just enjoy it, and count your blessings one by one, that you remain as a spectator for such entertainment around you.
For the more observant lot - notice that the little girl and the singer are both donning the same garb, creating a 'mini-me' repetition throughout the video. Makes you wonder if it was a deliberate inference from the singer Pink. Also reminds you of Jay Chou with his 'papa abuse mama' songs?

male.restroom.etiquette

2006-11-09T00:27:00.000+08:00

Funny.

cute.bunny

2006-11-07T11:43:00.000+08:00

(I'll try to translate later.)

death.note

2006-11-04T22:51:00.000+08:00

Inspired by the manga (Japanese comic) of the same name, this movie was surprisingly interesting. The concept of control over life and death, as well as exploration of issues of the devious human mind, the extent of our present judicial system versus the adequacy of the punishment meted out to the criminals.
Totally interesting - but a note for true believers of faith: take this movie with an open mind and a pinch of salt, and appreciate it from its wonderful point of making you think about the concepts of good vs evil, right vs wrong.
Watch it! For me, it was a 8.5/10.

burnt.face.man

2006-11-02T23:32:00.000+08:00

On the topic of animated cartoons, here's another pretty interesting series... Check out the burnt.face.man.

we.are.robots

2006-11-01T22:33:00.000+08:00

This was actually introduced to me a couple of years back - but nonetheless it's still funny! Take a look at all the episodes at we.are.robots.

grass.hopper

2006-10-31T07:05:00.000+08:00

Oh he hops and hops,
like a girl who shops;
He's hard to catch,
from patch to patch.
Like a rolling moss,
The wind does he toss;
There is no permanance,
True test of his patience.
Where will he go?
and what will he show,
When winter arrives -
He freezes, he dies?

l.o.v.e

2006-10-30T23:12:00.000+08:00

Love is patient,
Love is kind,
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
It is not proud,
It is not rude,
It is not self-seeking,
It is not easily angered,
It keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil,
but rejoices with the truth.

Love always protects,
always trusts,
always hopes,
always perseveres.

Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.

Love never ends.

Love never fails.

Corinthians 13:4-8

I was on the train when this most unkempt gentleman occupied the seat beside me. He whipped out a book - "The Ice Age" - or so it read. As he read his bookmark caught my eye, a black rectangular piece of laminated card which otherwise would have gone by unnoticed as any other commercial paper divider, except that it bore the words above. Though I never was much of a believer, these words rang true and struck every chord; they remind me that I should look upon this world with more compassion and hope, more belief in the milk of human kindness, and propagate this emotion of share and care to all around me.

an.inconvenient.truth

2006-10-28T23:06:00.000+08:00

"....Intellectually Exhilarating. An Inconvenient Truth is a necessary film." A. O. Scott, The New York Times"

From director Davis Guggenheim comes the Sundance Film Festival hit, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, which offers a passionate and inspirational look at one man's fervent crusade to halt global warming's deadly progress in its tracks by exposing the myths and misconceptions that surround it. That man is former Vice President Al Gore, who, in the wake of defeat in the 2000 election, re-set the course of his life to focus on a last-ditch, all-out effort to help save the planet from irrevocable change.

I have never imagined Al Gore to be such an environmental activist. But beneath all that political undertones for the movie, I can only deal it due justice by saying that it is by far the most educational piece of entertainment that I have ever watched in a cinema seat. Go watch it. The end is nearer than it seems.

A good movie is best watched FREE, and with FREE pop-corn and drink to go. With a lovely Kitty subject to the same treatment too. =)

Overall, the movie is a must-watch and my rating is a high 9.5/10.

the.measure.of.a.man

2006-10-25T23:00:00.000+08:00

Have you ever had one of those days when you felt like the most important person in the world?
Not in an honourable kind of way, but more in the way that everyone and everything needed your attention, and you wished you could clone yourself 256 times over to handle all of them?
Well technically this should only happen like once in a blue moon, or not even at all if you had the luxury of time, but recently it feels as though every single day is a good Samaritan day. I spend time at work trying to help the customers solve their problems, answer their queries, faciliate their applications, well that takes up majority of my time anyway. Then whatever remaining time is dedicated between family and and loved ones, time well spent. Except however, that there is no longer any 'ME' time - solitary confinement spent playing PlayStation for half a day, reading novels for 5 hours at a stretch - that sort of thing, save for the time spent sleeping alone.

Which begs the question - does self-worth stem from the presence, synergy and fulfillment of expectations of other people around you? Or is the yardstick held against how much you do for yourself?

r.e.d

2006-10-22T22:33:00.000+08:00

Red.
The colour that I like.
Red.
Red car, Red train, red bike.

Since long forgotten, I have fallen for the colour of passion. Or it may be a sign of warning, of blood and rage; I sometimes wonder why it's not the colour for this page. (Perhaps soon.)

And now that I have my red soccer shoes, shoe bag, towel, mobile too...
It's wonderful to know that there are some
around the world who love red too.

Check out blog.red, and the world movement in join.red.

RED rocks.

cheers!

2006-10-18T23:48:00.001+08:00

To every little good thing in life.

pen.a.title.for.this.post

2006-10-16T23:20:00.000+08:00

red.mobile.day

2006-10-15T10:00:00.000+08:00

Meet my new communicator, gateway to the world, clicker of the universe.
I'd agree that it isn't very sophisticated, but it's RED!

And when I see RED, my soft spot just gets softer.

And just look at how that floral wallpaper adds a touch of metrosexuality.

selective.hearing

2006-10-10T23:59:00.000+08:00

The ear hears what it wishes to hear.
The mind thinks what it wishes to think.

adi.color

2006-10-09T23:55:00.000+08:00

Adidas created a film series celebrating color, customization and personal expression. Each director was given a blank canvas to create a short film based on their emotional and creative response to a given color - Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Pink, Black or White. The seven directors are Roman Coppola; Andy Bruntel, Neill Blomkamp, PSYOP, TRONIC, Saiman Chow, Charlie White, and HAPPY.
Get a glimpse of the tinted films.
("White" has a particularly gratifying effect!) =P

sing.song.leong + fun.pan

2006-10-03T22:20:00.000+08:00

He's not really my kind of comedian - but well here's an interesting piece, done right in the Parliament House...

And here's an amazing young lady with a repertoire of 'native' English accents - you really gotta hear this!