by pressao

It might have been one of the most humid days I've been through this year. It was fine earlier this morning and when we came home from Ikea. Speaking of which, I am getting rather sick of Ikea/Ikano. We've been there no less than 2 times in the last week and more frequently before that. I feel like I know almost every corner of it without even being there. Next mission is to start memorising product serial numbers. *rolls eyes*

Watched Little Women on Youtube yesterday. It shames me to think we don't own it on DVD. It's gotta be one of my fave movies of all time. And I don't say that lightly. I really loved it. I loved Winona, Christian Bale, Claire Danes, baby!Kirsten & them all. I think I'll watch it again soon. Naomi finally convinced me to watch Merlin and in return, she told me she'd take a look at Legend of the Seeker. Why not right? I'm always game for a new TV show to follow as long as it doesn't involve teenies in OC flashing boobies and bling. Cause I've had enough of those. They do not appeal to me and never will.

The new semester approaches as Chinese New Year fades slowly into the past (frikkin hell it's almost the end of January!) and into February. I was looking forward to the day that I would go back to LKW to restart my everyday routine of complaining, bitching, driving long distances, putting up with lectural shiz, and keeping up with syllabuses and assignments-- Suddenly not so much. I suppose it was because I was arguing with the parentals everyday and needed a place to go to when I just needed out. But lately it's been better between us and there's not so much arguing (although the Nag factor is still in abundance) and more ... silence, to say the least. I simply avoid talking when one's opinion isn't needed and usually sit out outings. I think they've noticed and have become slightly nicer to me. Although Dad still keeps up his '1 lecture a day' ratio.

Anyway, I got to thinking lately. "What happens after University?" That is a thought many a student has contemplated with little success of ending that thought in a happy mood. I joined a group of designers/students who share their problems with work/clients/freelancing. To put it lightly, I ended up leaving after a day worried and frightened. I began to wonder if Graphic Arts was really the right thing to do. People have gone for months without a job and seeing today's rate of retrenches and layoffs going on around the world, that's not gonna ease my mind one bit. Clients are stupid. That's an established fact. What happens if I can't handle the stress of dealing with a client who wants "the background of the banner to change because my brother's auntie's cousin's dog told me it was a bad colour" or explain why a 100px by 100px image cannot be blown up to 16R in size. People get fired for mouthing off/not saying anything at all. People who have been through 3 - 4 interview callbacks and STILL fail to secure the job. How the hell am I supposed to beat all that?

I would love to think of the prospect of working in an awesome firm (which hopefully deals with sports ... liverpool fc ... official photog. HEAD OUT OF THE CLOUDS PLEASE) or better yet, owning my own firm. Owning a loft in downtown Melbourne/Auckland/Whateverla. Owning the 'pwnest' Canon DSLR you can think of. Traveling around the world in search of inspiration/photographic material/life itself. Alas, reality hits and I am living in a rented room in some ulu town washing dishes in some kopitiam hoping for a big break while that degree sits in a box, waiting to be of use. It's so scary to think about all this. It's ridiculous and I don't know why I do it. But who hasn't? When you look into your future and see nothing, it's probably better than seeing the worst of things which play in your head like a sick silent movie with you as the lead actor.

Just grit my teeth. Sit back and watch how the year unfolds as time carries on. I can only hope for best. For me and all my friends who feel themselves in the same predicament at the moment.

Is it odd, I'm in love with Slumdog's OST? I would drive around blasting it if I didn't get the WTF stares. LULZ. Maybe I should.

SO I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GOOD NEW YEAR :D

I didn't notice how much difference there was in celebrating New Years till I read an article on today's paper called The Peranakan Taon Baru. It basically highlights the differences between the traditional ways of celebrating by the Chinese and the Peranakan / Straitsborn Chinese. I always knew that we had differences in culture and lifestyle even so in celebrations. I just never knew the finer details. :)

"Unlike their Chinese ancestors, the Peranakan do not simply place oranges and pineapples on the altar but tie and decorate the fruits with serrated-patterned red paper before offering it to the gods."

I did this for the first time yesterday. Cutting red paper and wrapping it around the oranges in the kitchen. It was more annoying than fun but it was a change. I didn't know that was a Peranakan thing too.

"The Malays have cucu (grandchild), cicit (great-grandchild) and oneng-oneng (great-great-grandchild) but we go two steps further, and the next in line are called dodol and wajik. We make the kueh and hope that the human production will continue forever."

I has NO clue what wajik is. LOL.

"Then comes the paying of respect to the elders, also called sohjah. The girls would squat without their knees touching the floor while the boys would kneel and clasp their hands."

I haven't had to do this before. Sounds painful haha. Usually we would bow our heads and say all these things like "long life, good health etc ... and may the force be with you." - a new addition I've been using for some years now >=D

"Instead of wishing Selamat Taon Baru, the elders would utter something like “Pande-pande surat” (I assume this means to write more) or “Cepat-cepat kahwin” (get married quickly) or “Cepat-cepat beranak” (have children soon) while the younger ones would reply by saying, “Panjang-panjang umur”. (live a long life. See told ya)

“Our language is dying out because families are preferring to speak in English to their children. They think conversing in our dialect is embarrassing. Unlike the Chinese and Indian diaspora all over the world, the Peranakan community can only be found in Malaysia and Indonesia, so if we don’t hang on to our tradition, it will be lost forever."

*shuffles feet uncomfortably*. I suppose this is right. Dad still knows some old peranakan language but he hasn't taken the time to teach us. And it's not cause I find it embarrassing. It's simply because I have no one to speak it with. Haha.

It's always good fun finding out stuff about your heritage no? Pleases me so much that I learned so much today. Got home and played 2 hours of Age of Mythology. Lulz. I love not having to travel so far when it comes to "balik kampung"/going back to thy hometown. Found time watch the 10th (and very boring IMO) episode of Legend of the Seeker. Very productive day I should think :D I also heard that it's Australia Day? Sounds pretty awesome. Happy Australia Day to all my brothers and sisters from another mother from Down Undahhh! *waves flag*. Wish we had a Malaysia Day. Sounds pretty cool no?

Got the soundtrack to Pete's Dragon today :D
I haven't watched this movie since I was 5 and boy does it bring back really really fond memories. I used to cry every time Elliot had to say goodbye to Pete in the end and I probably still would if I had the chance to watch it again (and I can, youtube is your best friend). It's so amazing I still remember some of the words to the songs and the tunes as well. I really miss this movie.

Also got myself the soundtrack to Slumdog Millionaire. I haven't watched it but I was told the music was class. With stuff from A. R. Rahman, I'm sure it's gonna be one pwn album to listen to. Also got the theme song off Ghost World. Meant to get Donnie Darko's too but I ran out of time :(

Spent all evening haunting youtube watching Craig Parker and Mark Fergusons RingCon videos. I really wish I could have been in Germany for the 2005 one. I love those two like a Liverpool fan loves Stevie/Xabi. And this time I can truly can call them an OTP cause Craig actually does like guys (so I read in a New Zealand Herald article) plus Mark looks fabulous with him :D

We watched Kung Fu Panda (finally) and Madagascar 2 on DVD today. Gotta say I found Kung Fu Panda a little silly but you know, what do you expect with Jack Black right? I liked it a little better than Madagascar 2. It definitely wasn't as funny as the first one. But c'mon Melman/Gloria was just too cute too bear. I am so pumped to watch Underworld 3 mainly cause of Craig eventhough I missed the first two. Kate wasn't my fave leading lady anyway :/

Reunion Dinner tomorrow. It's off to PJ for the millionth time I suppose. Only we'll get pwn food tomorrow :D CNY takes all the life out of me and I don't even have to go far. I just can't stand the environment. I hate the music and the amounts of red thrown on everything so cheaply. Sure red is an elegant colour (Fate might kill me if I diss it anyway) but if you just colour anything from cutlery to toilet paper red (ok that is VERY disturbing), it just becomes ridiculous. Don't get me started on the music. I am so glad my neighbours aren't all Chinese people because I get enough whams and cymbals coming from the next house save all the others around me. Wanna experience total immersion in this kind of environment? Pay a visit to The Summit USJ and you'll see what I mean. From every direction you'll hear CNY music and that is enough for me to want to choke myself with a thin string thanks.

When you haven't spoken to someone for some time, especially if it's someone around your age, the common question is "So, got new guy/girl in your life ah?" It could be a harmless question but to the wrong person it could be seen as a jab in the sides. There's no need to ask about that thank you. If I actually had a "guy in my life", odds are there might have been some pictures of us around or a little giggly post / status update from me somewhere. If not, please do not ask. I really get tired of repeating the same answer. Sure, I'd love to cuddle up with Craig and say "INDEED YES THERE IS." It won't happen this century or the next, so please leave that question unasked unless you don't read this blog or have me added on MSN/Facebook or actually know me well enough to ask. Sorry I am touchy about this but this has happened way too much this last week and it's really tiring me out.

P.S : I think I need to go download Oceanlab's album. Thanks Kinna. I finally took a listen. They PWN like no other. Them and Telepopmusik. I need some good trance in my life.

"...Medium? Why sir, did you know that for a mere 25 cents more you can purchase a large beverage? And you know... I'm only telling you this because we're such good friends: Medium is really only for suckers who don't know the concept of value." - Enid from Ghost World

credit.

Episode 9. My favourite so far. Because of that dude right there. Darken Rahl. Craig Parker. Craig Rahl. Darken Parker. I don't give a white sheet. Man it feels good to have a TV show to rave about again, while everyone rants on about Gossip Girl and how hot Chuck Bass or whatever his name is, I got myself Legend of the Seeker. Not as glam but it's just right for me :D Odd as it is, I haven't seen a single episode on a TV. They're all downloaded.

& i managed to watch the entire part 2 of the LOTR : FOTR appendices this morning. Freakgeek or what?

The bill for the next semester arrived yesterday (oh sure that's on time but the results took forever). And mum made me call LKW to ask if we wanted to pay for the full year, we just needed to double the amount or not. I knew we needed to but they obviously never believe what I say so I had to face the dreaded task of calling up the uni.

Attempt 1.

Got through to no one cept an answering machine with the basic "for marketing press 1, for bursary and registry press 2..." I pressed the number for BURSARY and got through to a lady who said "uh sorry wrong number." ... my reaction was "This is LimKokWing right?" She goes "Yes." to which I answer "Well ... can you forward me to the right number/person please?" And the smart employee that she is, says "Uh sorry, I don't know." Dear God woman. Who hired you? A deaf person? You're supposed to be a competent employee who takes calls. If you're by the phone all day and answer with "I don't know." I think I better take your job. I have a little more brains ... a LOT more brains than you do.

Attempt 2.

This time someone DID pick up and I only said "I'd like to ask about the payment of my fees." WHAM. I was transferred to about 4 different people who only heard me up to the part where I said fees. I didn't want to know WHERE, WHEN, HOW, WHY. I just wanted to know if we could double the damn amount. And for that, I spent about 20 minutes being passed around the whole staff faculty. I felt like choking someone. And I guess I unfairly snapped at my sister after that.

And yes, the answer is that I can double the amount for the whole year. Stupid nutjobs.

Watched Return of the King today again. I've been trying to watch this movie for ages and it seems that every time I put in the DVD, something comes up. It got really annoying because today, something came up as well. I couldn't be bothered to stop so far into the damn movie. I paused it for a good half hour. Then after that, I watched The Prince of Egypt. How's about biblical for you? Just felt like a good animated movie since I've been watching Pixar stuff lately so this movie seemed like a good one. How impressive is Ralph Fiennes as Moses yes? Loved it as I always have loved this movie. Watched Bolt after that (phew) with my sister. Just found out the people who sing at the ending credits are Miley (eww) and John Travolta himself. I didn't know he still sings lol. Thought it would have been the annoying father-daughter duo. Yes Billy-Ray Sirap, I am talking about you :D

And now I'm streaming Pete's Dragon on Youtube. LMAO. Someone has to give me a break. Did I mention I watched 3 eps of Legend of the Seeker today? Screw it man I need to GET OUT MORE. And yet I don't want to. I feel way too lazy to step out the door. Going out to dinner with friends every now and then is my personal limit. Shopping with the folks to top it off with them nagging at my back is more than I can handle. New semester approach please? I like my break, but I also want to be alone. Maybe I can convince the parentals to go on a week cruise around Asia? Haha. Fat chance. The only good thing about the situation now is that Dad's mostly at work for most of the day untill 5PM then all hell breaks loose again. He's finding new things to nag about lately and it's becoming more and more amusing to see him try to find anything to complaint about.



And I am off to watch Kevin James on Jimmy Kimmel. Yoink. He's the cutest overweight comedian ever. I just watched Hitch (great, MORE movies) a few days back. I've never watched it till now. So adorable. Go Dougie!

P.S: stop trying to prove me wrong or arguing with me over every phuckin` small thing OK? Holy shit I'm not Urkel or anything. I DIDN'T GET ALL A's IN MY EXAMS. AND I AM NO SUPER GENIUS. :DDDDD leave me the phuck alone and shut the hell up yourself. Love ya lots ok? xoxo *rolls eyes*

Another great photographer: Stephen Foote. I met him on (shh) DeviantArt. :D His gallery is just fantastic.

Skipped episode 6 of Legend of the Seeker by mistake and now I can't watch 7 which I spent ALL day downloading yesterday before I finish getting 6 today. NOT HAPPY.

Watched a movie called Sublime today. It was so confusing because I didn't watch from the beginning. (poster here. nsfw-ish)

"Admitted to Mt. Abaddon Hospital for a routine procedure, George Grieves discovers that his condition is much more serious and complicated than originally expected; and as his own fears begin to manifest around him, he learns that Mt. Abaddon is not a place where people come to get better... it is a place where people come to die." - imbd.

It was a very ... screwy movie. I felt so empty after watching it. Haha. It's a 'dark psychological piece'. It didn't feel like a horror movie. Just moved very slowly and it toyed with the viewers minds. Although in the ending I was like "WTF" but it was a smart ending I guess. It left me unhappy but satisfied. It also mentions loads of current issues the common person goes through: poor health care in USA, racism, infidelity and whatnot. It got some really good reviews and some really bad ones. Considered to be a failed experiment by Warner Bros for a horror movie. *shrugs*. But yes, if you expect hack and gore (as the cover may suggest), it's not at all like that. It's slow and mind screwing lol.

by Jess J

I am way too sleepy to be awake at this moment. My tummy rumbles but not out of hunger. God knows what the heck is going on down there but it hurts so bad. Sleepy and in pain isn't the winning combination.

I felt kinda bad I didn't get to watch the whole Inauguration ceremony. I went out for a drink with Bushan and Nisha and we decided that we'd stay a little longer. We were in Subang at a mamak called Tanjung (or something like that). It was so much fun catching up with Bushan and Nisha (though I see her every 3 days)

Got home at 11.30PM so I was probably in time for the rest of the ceremony and had skipped the waiting period :D Saw the limos drive from the White House to Capitol Hill and listened to my Mum make remarks about every one that walked past. Anyway after all that, I watched the special band with the composition from John Williams play. Yo Yo Ma! lol. Love this guy. The song (I forgot the title .. little gifts and something?) was so touching I think I actually teared the first minute into it. It was very well composed. And then past everything, after his speech and after he became president, there was a scene where the Obamas walked the Bushs (bushes ..? bushs?) out onto the helipad. I know not many people like former president Bush but it looked quite sad, seeing him get on the helicopter with his wife and leaving the Washington for good, Obama and his wife waving goodbye to them and they flew over the crowd as they waved up to them then past the White House. It was just ... wow.

Although I did find some things a little down right amusing. They mention what they were having for lunch (seafood stew, pheasant and duck etc...). I mean, do I really want to know what Obama's having for lunch? And they mentioned who Michelle Obama was wearing. Apparently we needed to know that too? @__@ AND how pwn is the fact John Cusack was there yo? LOL. How come he was a special VIP? (and I didn't get to see Oprah at all) I saw him and was like "Dude that is so John Cusack without a doubt." I watch too many of his movies D;

Designers Alex Tee and Evan Gant, of Massachusetts-based product innovation firm Altitude Inc., are hoping their LightLane bicycle add-on will make bicycling safer at night. (via Core77)

That sounds cool. If only we had bike paths here. :) Nah in Malaysia we do it kamikaze style. We ain't avoiding traffic, we be IN traffic.

The typical power adapter is the perfect symbol of design by engineers; it fits everything they need into that black box, and takes absolutely no consideration of the environment in which it will go, often rendering adjacent outlets useless.

Ideative's Socket Sense is a good solution, expanding outwards so you can "load" the outlets before compressing them together into a tidier bundle. Runs about 30 bucks US and is one of the better powerstrip solutions we've seen. (via Core77)

Now I could use one of those. There's way too many extension cords lying all over the place here and too many adapters to match them.

Here's something that's been bugging me for some time now. I'm sure everyone's questioned it once or twice before. When you're walking in the mall and looking for that part time job, you come across a rather cool (dark) anime/fashion/toy store that you think you could really like working in. You look at the HELP WANTED sign and the first thing you see is "CHINESE/MALAY/INDIAN only" and depending on your race, you somehow end up disappointed.

I understand that there's a need to communicate to some customers in a certain language. Couldn't they have said "Preferably able to speak Chinese/Malay/Tamil"? Yes I know there is no "CHINESE" language, but I could spend all day listing down the different dialects. I mean I know heaps of people who speak a wide variety of languages. Whenever I meet someone who isn't Chinese and speaks the language, I am immediately awed and somewhat pissed off knowing I can't speak a word of it myself and find that I am impressed by them. Wouldn't it be cool to walk into some manga selling shop and ask the Indian dude next to you something in Mandarin only to have him answer back fluently? I think so. Why specify the RACE of a person rather than the preffered LANGUAGE? I think I could be a huge disappointment for if I applied for a "CHINESE GIRL ONLY" job. I'd piss off the employer when I tell him/her I can't speak any form of Chinese worth peanuts.

And this is why we entertain Mat Sallehs so much.

inspire me. Floating around from blog to blog, gallery to gallery and designer to designer is a very fun thing to do. Yes. So today I just stopped by one blog I used to follow.


Untitled by minato. via design is mine


From Jessica Williams's "Little Messages" series. via design is mine


"Please Don't Break My Heart", from Scottish artist Sandy Smith. via design is mine


"WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME" by Snorkisnorkl. via design is mine

The father of a friend of dad passed away on new year's eve. Both my parents attended the funeral service. Today, just 2 weeks after, his mother passed as well. This time, just dad went to the funeral. I feel very sorry for his friend. It's been a very shite year from him I gather. I only mentioned a few entries back that I hope no more deaths occur after the passing of my neighbour and yet ...

This seriously has to stop before I get paranoid.

I has finally watched the first 3 episodes of Legend of the Seeker. It took me forever to download it but I finally got through. Downloading episode 4 now. I'll probably watch it tonight. So far so good. I don't mind it. Reminds me of Hercules and whatnot haha. The only thing I kinda notice is that the director only seems to have one trick up his sleeve when it comes to fight scenes. Slow down matrix style ... warrior in midair with his sword about to fall ... then fast speed wham ... then back to normal speed film ... and lather, rinse and repeat. Every stroke of the sword is accompanied by a swoooshhh sloww dowwwn ... yaaaaaa ... wham! ... we're back to real time again! It's a pretty pwn camera trick/attribute but overused, it gets old very fast. The whole Richard/Kahlan thing, now I get why everyone's so in love with them lol. I feel so bad I'm more excited to see Rahl (Craig) more than the good guys @__@ I probably should go read the books actually haha.

Sent Mum to go get my LOTR Two Towers Ext. Vers. DVD for me. I doubt she'll do it. She said she was so nervous to buy a DVD so expensive and not really know what it looked like (after I showed her my Return of the King DVD box) *headdesk*. Oh well, I might have to make a trip down to Pyramid to get my DVD later today then. RM169. *sighs* I thought 6 years down the road, the DVD's would be a little cheaper now. Apparently not. I told Mum I'd put in RM100 and she could contribute the RM69 extra.


Disturbing. Silly me. And now that I have gone and gotten it with Looi (who got herself a cool Zen Stone Plus, my collection is complete *eyes it happily*. I've waited a good 3 - 4 years for this DVD :D Will be off to Grans in a bit to help clean up for New Year. Joy. She better treat me to lunch haha. I'll being the sister and doggie along too I suppose. They could use some running around.


Looi's Zen Stone Plus

Seriously, HOW cute is that? :D (ain't as cute as my Xabier though kthx)

by semantico

I wish people would know the boundaries of privacy sometimes. Parents will always want to know what their kids are up to. That's normal. I'm glad mine never pushed me against a wall and interrogated the life of me about anything while I had friends who did. I felt sorry for them but gradually then suddenly I realised I was facing the same thing. Only it was done subtlety that I never noticed it till recently. My parents (in this case probably my mother) had people looking into my life and reporting it back to them. And the best thing is, they never told me or confronted me about anything. They just sat quietly and found out all the details of my personal life. Heck, I don't even know if this blog is safe anymore. My facebook isn't safe and hell, even my friendster isn't safe anymore as comical as that sounds.

It's not that they disapprove or anything but it's the feeling of someone watching over your shoulder which makes me feel very uneasy. I can't talk to my friends without fearing someone will scoot over to read what I said and first thing in the morning, report it back to my parents. I won't elaborate any further because of ... reasons just stated above. So, with that all said, I now know that I am just like one of people I used to tease about being so watched and mollycoddled by their parents. I just need a life that is my own sometimes. Away from prying eyes. Funny thing is, I'm not even involved in anything sneaky or negative and yet I feel the need to hide. I can't even talk about what I want anymore without looking behind to see if there's anyone around listening/reading. Pure, solid, torture.

Alison discovered she really likes The Crash. :D

The Crash is a pop-rock band from Turku, Finland, originally influenced by Britpop but later taking its lead from a diverse range of genres including Motown, Disco, New Wave and 80's rock . The band formed after Teemu Brunila and Samuli Haataja met in 1991, with both Erkki Kaila and Dani Aavinen joining to complete the line up. Originally the band was called Ladies & Gentlemen, but later changed its name to New Deal. In 1997 the name was changed to The Crash and Dani Aavinen was replaced by keyboard player, Toni Asola.

I blame a really cute vid of Craig I saw. I've spent all night watching RingCon 2006 on Youtube (as geeky as that sounds) so my mind is mush right now. I envy the Germans for getting to go watch. I want my chance plz.

Watched The Odyssey by Andrei Konchalovsky today on Hallmark. It was pretty good since I hardly watch any movie aired on Hallmark LOL. It wasn't as "fake" or "cheap" as I had thought it to be when I first saw it. Actual gory scenes and blood everywhere : totally ok with me lol. I saw a few familiar faces like Vanessa Williams as Calypso, Christopher Lee as Tiresias, Eric Roberts as Eurymachus (why is he always playing the bad guy?). And also people I thought who looked familiar but weren't. I thought Odysseus was Jean Reno but it turned out to be Armand Assante (hey at least he's French) and I thought Penelope was Alyssa Milano but it was Greta Scacchi. They did it pretty well too for a rather small budget movie if you ask me. They got the music right, the clothes and the customs of ancient Greeks pretty spot on. I was and still am a Greek mythology geek D; even sounds funny when you say it.

And then I watched a very very sad episode of Oprah (still on the Hallmark channel). It was about the whole idea of intolerance of other people because they're different like racism, homophobia, and all that stuff. Then there was a story about a woman who was a Jew who lived in Poland in the time of the Holocaust. We all know it's hell if you're in that position. Her whole family was moved to a ghetto for the Jewish and then her father was killed by gas chamber in a concentration camp in Krakow. She was handpicked by the famous Amon Goeth (if you've seen Schindler's List) to become a slave in his house. He would slap her and call her names and do unimaginable things to her. And then, there was another woman who did not know who her father was (in a sense of what he was doing to all those people) and when she was invited by Steven Spielberg himself to watch the movie, she knew straight away that the character that Ralph Fiennes played onscreen was her father Amon. She hated Spielberg and everything he stood for and refused to listen to his explanation and reasons. Finally she accepted that Amon Goeth was indeed her father.

The two women met up and went back to Krakow together. The scene of them crying in front of the memorial to the innocent nameless Jews completely tore me apart. They also went back to the house where Amon lived. Thank god no one was around; I was crying like a baby. The Jewish lady (I feel so shite I can't remember her name) started to yell at Monika because Monika told her that she had been told lies about her father and that he killed the Jews because he had no choice. "You need to forget all of that because it is just rubbish! He killed us because we were Jews! Simple as that!" and all Monika could do was cry and and nod. Of course she forgave her and it was not her fault that Monika's father was a monster. She just wanted her to know how she felt and how much hatred was in her father to simply kill people without a thought. He himself was responsible for thousands of lives everyday. You cannot pinpoint a single race of people and say "they're all bad". Amon Goeth was an unspeakable monster but Oscar Schindler was also a saviour for those who had no voices and gave them hope that some good still existed in times where nothing but pain, death and despair was all that hung in the air.

I watch too many movies @____@

Liverpool to play in Malaysia in 2009

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13 — English Premier League club and current league leader Liverpool may play in Malaysia for the first time, against Selangor at the Shah Alam Stadium as part of their pre-season tour of Asia. However, trouble could brew from the fact that the match can only kick off if Liverpool omit their sponsor’s name (a beer company) from their jersey. Selangor team manager Zakaria Ab Rahim said initial discussions with Football Focus Group Ltd, a sports events promotion company based in Hong Kong, showed that the company was keen to bring Liverpool to Malaysia. “The only problem would be local regulations that forbid any form of advertisement on sporting apparels which display names of alcohol related material on their jersey, when playing in Malaysia,” he said today. He added that the company would discuss the issue with Liverpool and find an amicable solution that would favour both Selangor and Liverpool. “I was made to understand that they can revert to a number of options that would not infringe any regulations in Malaysia,” he said. Zakaria said if the issues are settled, there would be a likely chance that Liverpool would play against Selangor in July or August next year. — Bernama

- the malaysian insider

Babe, if that is true, I don't care how much if costs, if I have to pawn off all my belongings, I am going. I made it to see Chelsea last year, I am going to make it to see Liverpool FC in Shah Alam this year. Damn it I'll bring Dad with me I don't give a rats ass. I am saving cash as of today and I will change my aussie cash back into ringgit if it'll help (I'd rather not but i did say i'd do anything ... and I will). And if they aren't allowed to play here because of a sponsorship label on their shirts then screw that shit. I've been to concerts here with the word TIGER BEER splashed all over the place. It's ridiculous if they do this. PASHASH let them in!



How cute is that? Jangan curi tau?

OK. And ... (haha) as if my day didn't have enough drama. Our neighbour (thankfully not the one I was bitching about yesterday), died in his house today. He lives in front of us with a few friends. All working middle aged bachelors. He complained that he felt unwell this morning and by the time his housemates came home from work this evening, they found him in the living room to be having a heart attack. They took him to Klang Hospital (which IMO is a stupid thing to do because there's nearby) probably because it's a government hospital. People, the guys LIFE is more valuable than the money. Of course, it was too late by then. The ambulance took his body back to the house this evening at 7. The road leading into our street was closed (god knows why) and almost everyone who lived nearby came to have a good look (as most Malaysians tend to do). So, I got this information because his friend happens to be Dad's colleague. A few people who knew him were my ex schoolmates as well. He was 35 years old. Unmarried. And just like that. He's gone. This is the 3rd death I have witnessed a week and a few days into 2009. I hope this will be the last for a long time.



Two things to get over. 1. The fact I found out Craig Parker's gay. (insert very loud crying sounds and yells of "why?!" here) 2. The fact he's a brilliant actor and it shouldn't matter. But yet ... I knew it. From the moment he said he loved Art and his hobbies were gardening ... it just sparked something. Should have seen it coming. LOL. And no that's not his partner. It's just Mark Ferguson and him an various Conventions.

And there is someone I'd like to pimp. Photographer James Merrell. He comes from London and has produced some pretty awesome images of both people and interiors. I love his stuff just as much as I love Chris Friel's.

Watched the Man Utd / Chelsea game last night. I didn't stay awake through it all. Woke up to find John Dykes saying that the had beaten Chelsea 3 - 0. I don't even know if that's a good thing or a bad thing now. We better trash Everton if we're gonna stand a chance now. I still cannot believe we drew with Stoke City. It's just. Pfft. And seeing as we'll be playing Chelsea after that, who knows. I don't know if Xabi can save us again.



Had the chance to watch Titanic on StarMovies last night. It's been easily a whole decade since I've watched this movie. Needless to say, I understand it a whole lot better now than when I was 8. Although I still didn't weep throughout the whole thing. And that's saying something because I cry at almost EVERY movie I see. There's just something about it that makes me go "so what?". Nah, I didn't really connect to the movie. It was sad of course but I had more fun recognising faces than spilling out tears. For example, I noticed the captain of the ship is Bernard Hill. Can't imagine him going "Forth Eorlingaaaas!" on Titanic lol. And Ioan Grufford was the officer that saved Rose's life in the end. And Mr. Andrews being the dude from Alias (although I knew this one for quite some time already). Cal looked a whole lot familiar to me but I haven't had the chance to look up IMDb to see where I might have seen him in yet. But I gotta tell you, the score in the movie alone was almost good enough to make me tear up. It's got so much feeling in it and I have half the heart to go download it now. I think I have a thing for Celtic sounding music. And then cue Celine Dion's song which rang throughout the 90's. Kids as young as 8 were screaming out "NEAR, FAR, WHEREVER YOU ARE!" in schools and boys grimacing from all the mushy pictures of Jack and Rose kissing on the front of the ship. Ah, good memories.



But still. Imagine what it might have been like to actually be there. It's a really horrific story isn't it? I think thinking about that would actually make me tear up.

PS. How disturbing it this? :



Anyway, enough about that. I wanna show you guys a picture I took yesterday of a spider I saw on my curtains next to me. Yeap, you heard me. I grabbed my digital A700 as fast as I could and just snapped away macro style.



Isn't it the most creepiest thing? The shape and hair have no effect on me but just the "WTF EYES" thing. Like what the hell is that? And this spider is no longer than my pinky nail. So you can just imagnie how far in I had to go haha. *squirms*

*sighs of relief*

Watched Spirited Away yesterday for the first time in a few years. Yep it still confused me as it had done the first time I watched it. I still almost teared up at some points of the movie. This time my sister was around to watch with me. After the movie she freaked out so bad about No Face (weird thing in pic) and ranted on to me about how she didn't want to sleep alone at night anymore. My own fault. I told her it wasn't a scary show. Wonder if I can get the soundtrack off anywhere. Studio Ghibli usually have great OST's to their movies.

Speaking of which, I have been trying to download the LOTR trilogy OST's since two days ago forever and I'm positive that by the time I get them, it'll be the year 2010. I bloody well should have bought the CD's instead of the cassettes how shit is that? No one even uses them anymore and my radio sure doesn't play them.



Kavi's birthday tomorrow. The big 20. Well actually it's on Saturday but since no one is available then, we're going out tomorrow instead. I suppose we'll head down to Fig and Olives again as that seems to be the best place to eat at affordable prices on special occasions (plus the student prices are pwn). I thought about it for a while and freaked out a bit. It's finally come. That age when the '1' disappears and '2' makes it's way in. The "mature" age. The "adult" age. It's so scary. I hardly know how to do a lot of things yet. People may or may not look at me differently too. They expect a 20 year old to know what to do when a situation arises (as much as they can expect anyway) and always come out with a good result. Thing is, I don't know what the hell I'm doing half the time. As much as I tell myself that I have everything in control, I don't. I still require someone to guide me through certain aspects of life. Already I feel as if I've missed out on a lot as a kid/teen. There were things I didn't get the chance to do and possibly will never get an opportunity to do ever again. As sad as that is.

Point is, time is moving way too fast. Come back 1998 please?

This is silly. Why do the parentals pay for 100kbps every month and everything downloads at 4kbps tops (after 6AM)? It's not life or death that I get what I am downloading but I would appreciate it if it was downloaded at the speed that was paid for. It's like ordering a Happy Meal at Maccas and just getting the fries. What the hell happened to my burger, drink and toy?

And if it's not that, then the Interweb gods up there seem to only hate sites I go to aka Livejournal, Facebook, Media Converter, etc. *chokes something* I don't think I can wake up at 5 just to go online. That's mad and I don't think I am that obsessed.

Was given a chance to download Dostana on some site earlier yesterday but passed on it. The whole thing came in 10+ parts and I haven't done that for movies in my life. Actually truth be told, I have no courage to download a movie anyway LOL. Reasons being what I ranted in my first paragraph. Nisha told Anne and me once that it's a good movie. I'll take her word for it I suppose.

The Hobbit has been pushed back to 2012. What the mother of hell? Filming only starts next year. Yes. Next year. What the hell has Guillermo been doing? Some reports also rumour that Viggo Mortensen might be back in The Hobbit too but probably not as Aragorn LOL. Ugh these movies are utter crack and I'm glad I stopped watching them for a while because now it feels new all over again. I feel kinda bad I took down all my posters now :/ but I don't have the heart to take down Stevie/Xabi/Nando/Spain/Germany at all either. Problems. I think I need a new wall o_O

Went to bed at 4am and woke up at 10. I think my back is broken and my eyes refuse to open all the way until I dunk my face into iced water or something. Don't think I'll try the same thing tomorrow. I blame falling asleep at 6pm for it.

I surely think, I have recaptured my obsession for all things LOTR. It started when I decided to watch The Return of the King one day and it all snowballed (again) from there. I cried all over again when Gandalf fell in Moria, winced when Gollum bit into the rabbit/fish, marveled at the armies of the West, rooted for Frodo and Sam in their journey ... and of course fangirled Legolas and Haldir (NOT in a slash sense) every time I saw them on screen.



It's been quite a while since I looked at Orlando Bloom with admiration. Ever since Pirates, it's usually accompanied with disgust. I don't mean to diss the POTC fabase because I know it's a good movie, just not my kind of movie. Like Australia, deeply epic but not my kind of epic.

Watched some bloopers on the ever resourceful Youtube and fell over laughing. I hadn't bothered with these till now. Watched all the pranks everyone played on each other, Ian McKellen messing up his lines and Viggo randomly smooching everyone (poor Billy) and headbutting Orlando. Then I watched an old clip I remember having watched a long time ago of Billy singing Hit Me Baby One More Time on Sharon Osbourne's TV show. Gotta love Billy in a kilt too. And all that slash comedy from Elijah/Sam/Dominic/Billy always kept everyone laughing.

And then of course there's all the PS2 games I hadn't touched in years. It's not as easy as it used to be and I fail at life for hardly being able to make it past one level without restarting at least 3 times over and over.

Such a sad sight. Seeing Xabi like that. Hopefully he'll be up and running again as soon as possible. On the other hand, yay Torres for coming back with a bang. And also for Stevie for being unselfish for Torres' goal. Yep. Thank God Rafa understands now that FA isn't just a game for subs. It's the oldest knock out game in the world after all.

Watched all three of the Lord of the Rings movies today. Odd as it seems, it didn't even feel long. I started at 12PM and finished a little after 6. This being because I watched half of The Fellowship OTR last night. Extended Versions for the win. (Craig Parker for the win too.)

Put up Mum's curtains while watching so my day wasn't all unproductive. I might need to take a stab at drilling another 4 holes into the wall because it looks like the brackets are a little unstable :/ ... and that must be the most boring thing I've blogged about.

I feel like I should take more photos these days. And I don't mean like "come lets go walking around KL and I snap away" photos. Actual studio/models/sets/lights ... the whole combo kind of photos. I feel like I have done nothing benefitial to my course this whole holiday minus the whole editing of photos and your usual header/icon batches on LJ. But that's it. No reading, no sketching, painting ... anything art related. And it feels shitty.

I fear what lies ahead now. What will come this year (uni wise). I don't know what kind of assignments (duh) I'll get and what kind of lecturers will be assigned to us, who my classmates are, and how will the next semester will play out financially. I honestly cannot go through another one spending huge amounts of money on markers. Photographs are alright but probably not markers. I don't think Illustration again will do me any favours. Whinning on my part but it's the truth. I admit my weakness is indeed Life Drawing and Illustration. I was good at it years ago but now there is genuinely no more interest or even skill anymore.

Another odd (or maybe not so) thing I've been feeling lately is how much I miss living out. I am obviously very happy to be home again of course but I miss the idea of not having a curfew, not having to listen to instructions and nagging from parents, doing things on my own time and all that other stuff associated with freedom. I also miss meeting friends easily while living out. A simple text and a "I'll see you in 5 mins at your place." and it's all set. Now planning a simple dinner costs more money and energy to orchestrate. I don't mind it, but it gets tiring after a while. Plus living out meant that most places were bus and foot acessible for me. That saved me a lotta dough. Haha. I miss walking around Cyberia/Desaria (oh yes I said Desaria. Pre mental state that it's in now) by myself some breezy evenings. I think I miss that the most. I miss getting up in the middle of something and just saying to myself: I'm gonna take a walk. And just leave. I don't need to tell anyone what I want to do because I didn't need permission for stuff. I know some people can do that at home but not me. Every step outside the door requires me to ask a parental unit for approval. I miss meeting people from uni while on those walks too. Or even just meeting new people. I used to sit down by the poolside in Desa alone in the evenings with my MP3 player plugged in and just people watching and before you know it, someone sits next to you and just strikes up a conversation. In fact that is more or less how I met my ex housemates. I also miss just walking down to the pool in the evenings with friends to just enjoy a nice swim. Then after that we'd take a bus to the nearby shops (Street Mall haha) for dinner. Then just taking another bus around Cyberjaya for fun. A lot of things to miss isn't it?

Spoke to Messi last night. Not Lionel haha. And decided we should have a meet-up one day. I think that'd be a fun event. Especially if he brings Zarf along.

I learned today that a high amount of sulfur in one's body would lead to green blood. Thaaank you CSI. LOL.

Melbourne. by me.



It's so fooking mind-blowing that it's already the THIRD. It's just like that you know. I thought the days might move slower in 2009 but it seems to have kept momentum. Maybe it's because I'm on holidays (till Feb) and don't really feel the strain. I really dread going back to Uni now because I have gotten so comfortable being home all day and meeting up with people and stuff. I am not ready to go back yet.

Went out with Kavi, Looi and Anne on Thursday for dinner at McD's (lol) and then had a sleepover. Picked up Mum and took her to Kavi's house and we hung out + baked chocolate chip cookies (meaning I hung out and they baked). While picking up Mum, we passed by an intersection at the EON highway place thinger and saw a massive jam which seemed kind of strange at the time, we got closer and found out there had been an accident. And probably a fatality as there were body bags around the place. It just struck me as the most horrid thing that could happen on a Friday afternoon on the 2nd of January. The year had just started and this person, without knowing it, has met his/her end. Just like that. They could have made plans for this evening. They could have been out with friends now or staying in with his/her children and spouse. It's so sad when you think deeper about it and I just sat silent for a while just feeling so horrible for the people who knew them.

Pas tu, had dinner with Rizal. LOL. Then some Chinese lady came along and started to talk to him in Chinese. Kesian. Celebrated his new car too~ woo. You should name it la.

Alison is not ready for Uni. Nope. Not yet. When does the new sem start anyway? Anyone?

EDUCATION/SCHOOL:
1. Obviously achieve better grades if possible
2. Attend 95% of all classes lmao
3. Participate more
4. Hand in assignments before the due date if possible
5. Talk to some people less
6. Never spend time in the Plaza because that place seeps brain cells out
7. Drive there only once each day
8. Spend more money on stuff I really need now that I am in my 3rd year
9. Hate less on lecturers (unless provoked)
10. Get more books on Graphic Design
11. Attend more art shows
12. Start saving money for a tablet (see 8)
13. Be more independent on some stuff.


CREATIVITY: (kinda bleh cause it's the same as my education)
14. Take better pictures with the camera I was blessed with
15. Probably try to get a new lens to go with the current kit one.
16. Sketch more. Lord knows I don't sketch enough
17. Come to terms that I will be needing what I learned in Life Drawing in my career
18. Re-learn my Art and Design history
19. Take more Photoshop / Illustrator tutorials
20. Learn to use the Mask Tool (which I do but not enough)
21. Master the Pen Tool
22. Discover new artists / blogs / galleries
23. Meet new people and discuss art in a more subjective form because I haven't done so in some time and I am beginning to feel stupid.
24. Pay more attention to typography
25. Start painting or doing anything traditionally instead of just Photoshop
26. Research into my career opportunities a little more.

FOR OTHER PEOPLE:
27. Care less. It's not a positive resolution but I think it's important)
28. Not be such a people-pleaser
29. Spend less time planning trips and just enjoying them. done
30. Meet up with people I haven't spoken to in some time
31. Be a little more nicer?
32. Don't bother so much about their lives and just think about mine.
33. Help out more (although ...)
34. Stay home more with the family
35. Be happy with family trips
36. fight less with parents
37. Show support to loved ones

BUY MYSELF:
38. bamboo tablet
39. one more LFC jersey (I think I have too many already)
40. new clothes cause mine make me look like a beggar
41. an air conditioner for my room :(
42. More stuff from IKEA cause you can never have enough done
43. A plane ticket for Stockholm
44. A train ticket for an all round trip around Europe
45. A new camera lens
46. More books on art
47. More time haha.

HEALTH:
48. Sleep earlier.
49. Eat less. LESS MAGGII NOODLES TOO
50. Go out a little more
51. Make sure my wisdom tooth stops killing me
52. Swim more. Decided I love swimming.
53. Cycle more (only outside Malaysia)
54. Obviously eat healthier
55. And above all, lose thy weight. ;) (which must be the most common resolution)

EXPERIENCES:
56. Travel, travel, travel.
57. Take more pictures of things I never would usually take.
58. Go out with Uni friends more LOL
59. Get. A. Job.
60. Earn money with a consistency.
61. Travel to Europe / New Zealand
62. Watch Liverpool FC live (which won't happen this year I suppose)
63. Going a month without arguing with Mum and Dad
64. Going a month ... week without Coke.

GO TO:
65. Liverpool
66. New Zealand
67. Stockholm
68. Bali
69. Anywhere pwn with friends
70. Russia! St. Basil's Church please!?


MISCELLANEOUS
71. Finally own a Two Towers Extended Version DVD done
72. And a PS3
73. Stop spending money on expensive meals until I have secured a job
74. Play more PS2. No seriously. Everytime I want to play, it's taken and obviously by the time I get to play with it, it's all shitty and heated up which means I have to let it "cool down"
75. Get to play a Wii. Not own one.
76. Own a better guitar
77. Be a more optimistic person. (And then the world will come crashing down)
78. Once again, argue less with parents
79. Have more patience with people and myself
80. Stop being such a killjoy. Although it helps at times
81. Move out again(?). Actually No. I want my folks to move out into their dream 'service apartment' and I get this house to myself (and sister).
82. Rekindle my love for LOTR and all it's pwnness. done
83. Spend less time thinking and more time doing something.
84. Ignore my mothers insane rants
85. Go on a roadtrip =)
86. Fix up my car
87. Volunteer for things more.
88. Learn a new skill(?)

BOOKS TO READ
89. Jamie Carragher's book.
90. Home Rules by Nate Berkus
91. Picture of Dorian Gray. I've always wanted to read this.
92. 100 years of Absolut. LOL.
93. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
94. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
95. The Lord of The Rings (all three) as I can never seem to accomplish this.

I don't think I've ever spent so much time on a list. I don't really expect to fulfill all of those. Of course not. But I'm hoping for the best this year. It's a new day and a new year so I should give myself some credit and just do whatever I can do. Without screwing up hopefully.

I cannot believe it's already the 2nd. It's insane how time eludes you and just ... catches you off guard.

I has moved from my previous blog infecao. Changed my email so I couldn't customize the blog which led me to curse, kick and scream and start a new one. Which blows cause I really liked infecao. Wonder if they'll let me change my name. Oh well.

NEW BEGINNINGS ON A NEW YEAR!

so if you've added my previous blog to your links, please update them kthx.