A Huffalump lives here

SPIN

2011-12-16T20:54:00.001-08:00

So the train broke down again this morning.

Just a quick thought on the SMRT thing.

I think the disruptions are "minor". What is more important is that the problem is fixed. If the trains must be stopped, then so be it.

Better to stop the trains and fix the problems properly, then to put up a band aid/stop gap solution and compromise on safety.

It may not be in the best interest in terms of image to disrupt the train services further. But scheduled disruptions are better than unscheduled disruptions no?

Another point I think is important, that I hope the relevant authorities learn, is our need to have better readiness.

Where was SMRT? Where was SCDF? Where was the media coverage??? This is a very glaring security gap that I hope will be patched. Be glad that it happened in good times. In bad times, it would have been a clean wipe, and there would be five hours to do so.

I also read with some disappointment in the forum today where someone mentioned that the public should be better prepared. he mentioned something to the effect that public should have stayed calmed instead on texting and messaging.

HELLO?

I think merely breaking one window was already very calm, I would expect that in many other countries more windows could have been broken.

And the texting? It was sadly THE ONLY communication that was working. And it was actually socially responsible to send the message out. SMRT, when it happen, was still letting people INTO the station (I was there). How dumb was that?

However I think he does make a good point that citizens should be better prepared and know what to do in these situations. I am going to assume there is a with SCDF and a no SCDF scenario. I think the with SCDF scenarios are the official training ones. The non SCDF scenario should at LEAST equip the driver (or public) with some means of evacuating the train or opening the doors in an emergency.

Citizens can already think and move in a hive manner with social media. I think the relevant authorities should see this as an opportunity rather than a threat (as a few other countries have already done admirably). I see some comments where the grouse was that companies now have less time to react. but seriously the same social media tools are there for them to use. They just need to maintain an online prescence. Note: PRESCENCE. Not an abandoned website or account, but one that is actively maintained.

I am confident that if there is an official word from the company, then that would be SIMILARLY propagated through the social media stream.The knife cuts both ways however, it means that if the company cannot successfully use its means of communication then it loses its credence as a source of news. Its their call really, use it or lose it.

(And really, its not PR that is most important but the work at hand which is to manage the safe evacuation of the public. Once you have done your due dilligence, you can do your PR, but if your focus is the other way round, i.e. PR then due dilligence, then... well I don't really have more to say but that you are in the wrong place and probably have the wrong values for a public resource.)

This brings us to another topic. SPIN. Spin can be used for good or for evil. If you have done your due dilligence, spin can be used to higlight the good work you have done. Spin can be used for evil, when you have NOT done the neccessary or due dilligence, then Spin in this case is used to cover up and spread misinformation and deceit. Spin, like it or not is part of our daily lives and everyone. Public, COrporate or Government, should keep a sharp eye on Spin.

A Song to Remember

2011-11-25T19:14:00.000-08:00

So I am currently watching "A Song to remember".

Actually I am supposed to study. But I have a toothache, so blankly staring at something is kinda my default mode now.

I visibly told myself not to catch another serial, but damn the toothache (haha I have found my scapegoat w00t!).

Anyways the serial is still in funny mode, so it was amusing. My favourite character is probably 牛奶瓶 (I cannot remember his name).

Julie Tan was fun to watch too, cute and amusing (which is her role at the moment .. I think?)

He (牛奶瓶) gave her two cookies! and then ran for fear that she would ask for the last cookie. That was hilarious, but how often is life like that =)

Any ways the funny part that resonate with me was the dentist that tried to pull out his teeth. My god. The sad part was I think, its still like that with many dentists. My mom got most of her teeth pulled out over time. Every dentist I met (alright not so many just one, but it was a high level one highly recommended by another rather senior personnel), also just took one look and wanted to do surgery on me. I mumbled something and left. (Oh I did'nt lose any teeth in the meantime and that was like a few years ago already)

Only recently did I meet a dentist that tries to save my teeth rather then evict them. And guess what, he was'nt locally trained. wow.

here is a link to some pics of the set, there is even the olden day dentist scene there !

Other interesting titbits about the show: there is a couple acting as a couple in the show. =)

Oh the toothache I am having now? Its not due to decay but heatiness. (I just went to the dentist to check and had a filling so it should have been detected no?) But guess what, going to the dentist and telling him I have a toothache will probably result in an eviction notice =P Even with my current dentist I am sure =P

How do I know it is just heatiness? Its my body, and its reacting differently from before. (Besides, the pain moves. So what, you want to pull my upper molar, then my lower molar, go ahead do it to yourself, but leave mine alone thank you very much =P)But these are things a doctor is unlikely to catch. Much like science is unable to capture the specifics.

-------------------------------

Well its really 20111217 now so I ahve been following the serial for a bit, I actually was'nt too keen on it. The whole Shanghai tan 上海摊 thing does'nt really get me. But Julie Tan is pretty =P *jkjk* (not the pretty part but the reason part =P). I thought it was quite a funny show, and it slowly progresses to be more dramatic and serious perhaps sombre? And it has some nice gems like this one

There are apparently a two versions =)

one by 许美静 and one by 徐亦晴

I was hoping it was Julie Tan's voice but it was'nt =P it was the song and voice that I loved tho so there... =)

Some Like it Hot, Some like it Cold, Some like it in the pot, nine days old...

2011-11-24T19:14:00.000-08:00

This is the porridge I have been eating for the past five days =)

Its half eaten, but I figured if I don't take a photo now, it might get more inconvenient to do so in the next few days since I am on leave this week =P

It is called gruel techinically. I guess. But locally its called "choke" (for native english speakers, no it is not literal, just a romantization of the phonics of the dialect)

It has pieces of fried oil stick (called "eww"-"cha"-"kway"), some "chong" (some fragrant vegetable I can't remember the name), strands of ginger, small slices of fish and fried onions. And a raw egg thrown in. Add vinegar and pepper to taste.

Whats there to talk about gruel? =)

....

Well for one I have only started eating it this year. Given that this is at a coffeeshop near my place for the last 33 years, it really did take me quite a while to take a liking to it did'nt it? =P

Well a few things struck me. Fried Onion bits. I really hate the stuff. It always had a very strong taste that I hated. And ginger. I like it to taste, but not bite and chew it as if it were the main. And the gruel itself. Man it used to be that ... the taste is nice, but it get boring and sick after the first ten spoonfuls or so.

What I liked about it in the past? The oil sticks. Thats about it =P

So what made me like it now. Well a few things. I have been ill for a while so I was looking for something plain. The porridge fit the bill. The other thing was I changed the way I ate it. I used to only eat the gruel and only eat the oil sticks. Now I eat everything and I realised what I had been missing. The onion bits and ginger, in a vacuum (i.e. on its own) have a strong taste, but when you eat it with the gruel, you better appreciate what the dish is supposed to taste like. I've been a fan ever since =)

Moral of the story? A few things. Many things in life are there for a reason (especially if its been there for a while), so give it a shot give it a chance, you might just like it and discover something old, something new. =)

Another thing? Look around for things forgotten or forsaken, you might discover something old, something new, something you =)

Oh you want something more? (I did say a few) Somethings cannot be taken in a vacuum. Few things in life are black and white. In context, everything changes.

And I think it applies to so many things in life.

Of course some things are patently bad (no doubt) hence, as with the dish, you need to apply more than one train of thought or rule or doctrine and decide if you want to do something.

As always, due diligence will go a long way. =)

Absolution

2011-11-20T23:54:00.000-08:00

Absolution

I had a few occasions to visit this concept recently.

I had a conversation (if you could call it that =p) where we were discussing about when was one considered a failure.

His argument basically went something like this:

If you have defeated yourself, then that is the greatest failure and it is THE END.

The problem I had with that was this:

I am ever the optimist (at least in logic if not deed). Hence, it is never, THE END, because the failure is is not absolute, because one can always step up from failure. My gist was every failure is an opportunity to step up for success. Even in the event where one is self defeatist and gives up. The moment one decides to stand and deliver, that is when the tides change and opportunity for success is created.

Even in my own life if I were to follow my friend's advice, I would be quite a failure. But. I try to change, even when I am depressed, depression, like failure is a state. A phase. It WILL Pass.

We go through many valleys in life, but these valleys are but a shadow of death (this is for Bible readers). Shadows are but the absence of light, and will hence ALWAYS be transient. And for people who know Pastor Phil Pringle, this is some akin to something he said:

FACT: It may be dark now.

TRUTH: These times WILL PASS.

In the end we could not reach an agreement (in the greater scheme of things pride is the bane and the reason for wars and all the pain in this world) and the reason was (aside from pride) : Absolution.

He believed that a failure in self (or a self defeating attitude) is absolute, there is no come back. I cannot believe in that. I hope he does not believe in that for his own sake, but on the flip side I hope he is not trying to propagate such a belief. The latter is the greater evil and there WILL be karma for it =P (not from me, I only express and propagate hope in hopes that others will not be influenced - but cannot stand by and waych him spout rubbish, in the end my closing comments were that THAT opinion is self defeating (of he can get out of it if he wants to ;)))

Now absolution.

What I wish to state is the futility of absolution. And yet the neediness of absolution. For instance, if my belief was truly the better of the two. It is of no use if my friend is the greater in power (be it finance or otherwise). This world is a world enamoured. We are enamoured by power, lust and greed. So in order to be of meaning, one must have power to change. Opinions and beliefs are nothing without the substance to change.

1) It is Good, if your beliefs in absolution have a divine Good associated with it.
2) It is Good, if your beliefs in absolution have a Truth associated with it.
3) It is Evil, if your beliefs in absolution have a divine Evil associated with it.
4) It is folly and possibly Evil, if your beliefs in absolution have no Truth associated with it.
5) It will be respected, if your beliefs in absolution have a power associated with it.
6) It is folly, if your beliefs in absolution have no power associated with it.

But how do we know what is going on in the greater scheme of things? i believe my friend's belief to be foolish and possibly Evil. But my own belief is'nt so great either. On the topic of the End, I believe the End is when you die, then you cannot change things, then you send in your report card and get judged and then go Hell or Heaven or get recycled in Karma ;) But I could be wrong. I am not God. In there and I too an just another fool. But I hope to err on the right side.

Afterall hope is sometimes the only thing left that a person who has lost himself can count on. But then there is also false karma. Perhaps a person needs to be insulted or shocked or angry enough that he will stand to prove other wrong, hence the propagation of evils or untruths serve only to bring out the truth and good in people. So in the greater scheme of things I could be the greater fool.

And that is the sad truth. Unless your knowledge or opinion or power is ABSOLUTE. All else is folly. Hence the message is: In all things, have moderation.

What made me think about this topic:

1) The screening of "Journey To the West" just ended, and the tortoise punished Triptika for forgetting to ask Buddha a question. The following discussions were that. In many ill, intention is important. Triptika had no ill intentions just a moment of forgetfulness. But yet he was punished. Before the event of the old tortoise, the disciple were discussing and "scolding" all the people who did wrong. And Sun Wukong mused that they had been happily childing and judging "evil" but were themselves guilty in the end, even tho the intention was not evil, but the event happen and they were "punished". Note however the message is not, to punish for any iniquity no matter how small, but that one should have compassion and be mercyful where it is possible. This is not about compromise, but about moderation. About not being an absolutionist and blindly following your rules or doctrine (that you belief in)

2) Power. Being an Absolutionist is not something that does not come with rewards. In fact, many times that not absolution brings success and riches, while moderation brings second prize, is seen as weak and has less chance of success. (That view is ,of course, not absolute. Great Pride brings great fall, to scheme [evil] as well as to plan [good] takes foresight forbearance sometimes to do great good/evil things). Often an enterprise or person is not right, but with absolute beliefs, has the drive to follow his plans through. This of course also true, if a person has a good heart, integrity and compassion, he may also have absolute beliefs that carry him through. So Absolution has a place, the question is really what do you have absolution in and how do you know?

3) Ratatouille. Well mouse cook. Anton was rocked to the core. Anton was absolute that not anyone can cook. But was Gustauf moderate or absolute? I believe Gustauf was absolute in his belief, but moderate in expression. The mouse was abolute in his belief. He had two beliefs. One he can cook. Two he can convince Humans rats can cook. I think the rat had absolute belief and expression, but in the end moderated his expectation. It does show case, the benefits of both absolution and modertation.

4) I realise I was also holding an absolute. In my quest to question the absolution of my friend's opnion, I realised I was absolute as well.

And that is the other thing: Is it better to be absolute or moderate in our views? There is no good answer, but I think it is all about what you are absolute about and what you hold in moderation. For views you hold in absolution, pray you are right. For views you hold in moderation pray you too are right =P For all it takes for Evil to rise is for Good men to do nothing. (How do the Good men know they are good anyhow =P)

Good Luck to you in all things and may you have wisdom to hold things that matter in absolution and things that matter in moderation.

Watch Learn Soar !!!!!

2011-06-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

This is a new website!!! Recently launched to aid in learning!!!!

Best of all its FREE =)

Stuff I am working on

2011-05-29T16:04:00.000-07:00

a few websites I will be working on:

DROID-WORKS.COM

LIMKOKHE.COM

OSCOG.COM

IDROID-WORKS.COM

The Script - For the First time

2011-05-29T02:00:00.000-07:00

I loved this song, apparently by The Script

I'ved heard of them but given my age am really out of touch lol

I only pooed pooed at most of the new songs on the market, dismissive of them as too Creedish

but this song, I was forced to sit through in a fren's car (we worked til 10pm or something and he lived nearby) and I actually had to listen to the lyrics.

It was enlightening =).

I will now try to get up to speed, another friend likes Korean girl groups, maybe I should do those =P ... well maybe not, we'll see =P

[edit]

well partly I was posting becos my sis, like me, am a sour puss with regards to the state of today's music (tho we are really quite out of it) and she commented today's songs suck.... well I was remind of this song which was very down to earth and could well be about today's lifestyle, perfect song for the G.E. =P

...

But perhaps she is right. Afterall it is the same shit, different song ;)

[/edit]

She's all laid up in bed with a broken heart,
While I'm drinking jack all alone in my local bar,
And we don't know how,
How we got in to this mad situation,
Only doing things out frustration,
Trying to make it work but man these times are hard,

She needs me now but I can't seem to find a time,
I've got a new job now on the unemployment line,
And we don't know how,
How we got into this mess is it gods test,
Someone help us cause we're doing our best,
Trying to make it work but man these times are hard

But we're gonna start by
Drinking old cheap bottles of wine,
Shit talking up all night,
Saying things we haven't for a while
A while ya
We're smiling but we're close tears,
Even after all these years,
We just now got the feeling that we're meeting for the first time

Oooooo
[few times]

She's in line at the dole
With her head held high (high)
While I just lost my job but
Didn't lose my pride

But we both know how,
How we're gonna make it work when it hurts,
When you pick yourself up,
You get kicked to the dirt,
Trying to make it work but,
Man these times are hard,

But we're gonna start by,
Drinking old cheap bottles of wine,
Shit talking up all night,
Doing things we haven't for a while,
A while ya,
We're smiling but we're close to tears,
Even after all these years,
We just now got the feeling that we're meeting for the first time.

Ooooo
[few times]

Yeah.....
Drinking old cheap bottles of wine,
Shit talking up all night,
Saying thing we haven't for a while,
We're smiling but we're close to tears,
Even after all these years,
We just now got the feeling that we're meeting, for the first time

(ooooo....), ye4ahh for the first time,
(ooooo....), oh for the first time,
Yeah for the first time,
(just now got the feeling that we're meeting...
For the first time)

Oh these times are hard,
Yeah they're making us crazy
Don't give up on me baby

Oh these times are hard,
Yeah they're making us crazy
Don't give up on me baby

Oh these times are hard,
Yeah they're making us crazy
Don't give up on me baby

Oh these times are hard,
Yeah they're making us crazy
Don't give up on me baby

Still not dancing =)

2011-05-28T22:33:00.000-07:00

And.... I still am not dancing dang....

any hows

General Elections went by, and life as changed so much. So many things changed, so many things to talk about and I was just wondering when?

when? When will I write a damn thing? =P

Sumiko Tan is now married, I don't see Ong Sor Fen in the Strait Times as often .... tho that probably my fault (I only read occasionally as opposed to everyday in the past)

I guess i must be really bored today =)

anyhows things to do:

Fix the damn computer - I believe I need to cut something.. the stupid mobo has only two pins whilst the tower case power led has three

Do Android app - I am really lacking inspiration here, ideas??? =)

Do a personal horn tracker - for MH =P I dunno if I will ever get round to doinng it tho, right now I am doing a cut and paste

Get cracking on the CFA - sighz =/

Anyhows in other news, I just really wanted to say:

Movies must MOVE you. I just watch Dylan Dog, the other day and it was sad.

The story had potential, but ermm in the end the story was just kinda flimsy and the acting.... I dunno ... I could'nt link (Dylan felt really fake) ... somehow

The one connection I had......

Was when Dylan's Zombie buddy scratch his eye at the end saying something to the effect of, his eye is itchy and its like something got into it.

At this point the audience is able to see that his eyes (the Zombie) has gone light blue. And Dylan softens (no I still could'nt connect =P) and says lets get you a set of new eyes (or was it fresh eyes) and the zombie goes on to make wise cracks about old spice.

It was the acting, it was the lines and to some extent the execution that gave that moment its moment.

I guess what moved me was the fact that his friend was really dead, really a zombie. It was this realisation that soften Dylan (I guess???) and it was really a sad moment.

more later ... its lunch at crystal jade now =D

[alright -- back =) 1546]

now i spent some time reading other reviews about Dylan Dog and ...

I agree with some views, mainly the Zombie (Sam Huntington) was the only (ironically) decently fleshed out character =P

But to say that Dylan Dog ranks up there with Buffy and Ghostbusters (or The Blob)???

nah....

Buffy was waay waay better, and fan should know why it died. It just ran out of things to write and say. I mean you can only save the world once... or twice or three times nice =P but thats it! The major apocalyptic type just kept getting bigger and bigger like some property or tech bubble. (the final scenario in the TV series was mass slayers versus mass Uber Vamps ... *shivers* -- the bright spark? --

Buffy: I love you
Spike: No you don't. But thanks for saying it

Simple words, but the weight was really there because there was a build up
)

Another one of my favourite lines by Spike:

"We like to talk big, vampires do. 'I'm going to destroy the world.' That's just tough guy talk. Strutting around with your friends over a pint of blood. The truth is, I like this world. You've got – the dog racing, Manchester United, and you've got people: billions of people walking around like Happy Meals with legs. It's all right here. But then someone comes along with a vision, with a real passion for destruction. Angel could pull it off. Goodbye Piccadilly, farewell Leicester bloody Square."
―Spike joins forces with Buffy to stop Angelu

Hello Hello Helloe

2011-04-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

Wow...

its been so long huh ? unfortunately most of my 2010 post have been about me selling off my MTG collection

still.

I am trying to get into dance again for for the life of me I can remember the name of that small sch I attended.

I stilll rememebr jitterbugs and 2-left feet.

I can only remember the name as something groove, but all that turned up on google is a pole dance class for ladies only =P

I gues i will start posting more... I'm not sure about what but there are so much to talk about is'nt there =)

Lumpy

2009-11-01T07:22:00.000-08:00

There is a hole in my heart that no one can ever fill.

For I took a piece of it and gave it to my first love but had nothing in return.

Over the years, my poor heart has gotten more holes.

I believe I shall call it lumpy.

Hello lumpy! =D

someday some one might give her heart to me... but I only have a a lumpy one ...

*sighz*

now if I were religious I'd say that God will heal it all and make my heart brand new

but is it still my lumpy old heart then?

It'd be all brand new and sparkly I guess lol

Why do i blabber so? A friend is getting married on the 28th of Nov... but I then recalled, 29th Nov is her birthday. My sis says its useless information I should forget. Am I still me if I forget though?

I have better things to do I guess =D

爱

2009-09-13T09:48:00.001-07:00

My mom and dad love to watch the show "ai"

no not AI you twit!

ai4 with the "fourth" sound in chinese lol

爱

its quite ermmm hilarious... welll recently it is less hilarious and more touching as one of the female lead is dying

I'm not sure what I want to write about actually lol

Why do I smile

2009-08-30T09:55:00.000-07:00

Many have always asked me why do I smile.. why do I keep smiling.

The truth is?

They don't know me well enough to know that is not true =)

But I do smile alot. I have thought about it at length and I understand that most would not be able to understand the more abstract reasons.. but I have thought about it at length and came up with three simple reasons why I keep smiling.

Reasons that are perhaps easier to digest. =)

But first, Why I think I smile alot:

I like to think that I see the good in things . The simplest joy and wonder can be seen in the most mundane of things. This is also why I do not like travelling. It seems a bit of a waste. Not because I am stingy (as i would think is the most interpreted view/assumption) but because the mountains and valleys do not fascinate me. Not that they are not magnificent, indeed they are. But they hold no more value than the cracks and nooks and crannies in an old rock or block of cement. Thats shoulds negative =) Why not I put it in a positiver direction. Or the way I see it =). Do you not see the mountains in the plain common rocks. Do you not see the great rivers and seas in the rivulets and bodies of water? When it rains, does the flowing water not resemble the rivers?

When you see the commonality in things, how things are so wonderous. How can one not smile? =)

Thats is my reason.

Actually there are many reasons to smile.

God is good! Man is bad, but that does change God. or nature for that matter. People get angry when they talk about how nature will survive anything that Man throws at it. They speak with a vengence, they revel in retribution. But I see it as a wonderous thing that, Man can obliterate himself. But the world will go on. I think its beautiful =) We can't change Man, but we can enjoy Nature.

Oh you want the three reasons.. of course of course. We'll come to that =) . All in good time as they say.

UP moview review (mabbe spoiler) but yah its past the first day =P

2009-08-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

Whoo hoo.. so fast right. A movie review =P

Just watched UP with my family, my sis brought her bf so thats five of us!

UP is a show about dreams.

About dreams being crushed or laid to rest.. or giving up dreams.

The first portion was probably the saddest. You see the old'man "Mr Fredrickson"'s entire life flash before you.

Dreams unfulfiled (his wife) which he felt guilty about.. but actually his wife already laid that dream to rest to live another dream. With him.

Those dreams were their childhood dreams. They held on til adulthood, but had to put off those dreams for financial reasons. They dream of having kids, but could'nt. Then the fat kid comes along.

The fat kid was right though, the boring parts of life, are the ones you remember the most.

One thing that hit me is how caught with life we are. I would love to have a cosy sweet life. Living within my means and being satisfied. But it might leave me utterly unprepared for the future. Society and economics may not look kindly if I do not have the means to survive. In up, the pausible reality makes everything nice and rosy. But in real life one sometimes may never have a second chance. One can't simply yell squirrel and have everything work out.

Yet that is the charm of UP. There is the sobbering truth. And then there is the illusion that everything can be made right.

Me? I died a little when I saw the first portion. Its never right that something beautiful should come to an end and be defiled. That everything you worked so hard for can be taken away so easily. The part where the old man held on to the broken mail box was all the more heart wrenching when you see how helpless he is. Perhaps mortality is what makes life beautiful. But I hate it. I hate goodbyes.

But UP is also about letting go and starting anew... again it may simply be an illusion so easily achieved in a cartoon. But the simplest stories sometimes hold the greatest truths. Perhaps one simply have to let go and move on to a new adventure. Easier said than done surely. But such is life.

I am still alive yes

2009-08-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

I guess I should write something... anything..

its just that at the computer.. I can't bring myself to write anything...

but when walking about I would have an inspiration to write something... and rather lengthy too!

Hence the beauty of the netbook =)

ah well....

I'll have to change if this blog is to survive. I probably will not be verbose. Not that I ever was =)

So its one day after NDP which is uneventful for me. This year it fell on a Sunday, so today monday it is a holiday.

I think I shall use it to do a bit of coding. Do a bit of work learn abit.

Like whether a it is good to have a single massive table or to break it up in to several smaller tables.

hmmm.

Alrighty a few movie reviews coming up!!!

Movies Ihave watched recently ......

2009-02-28T20:58:00.000-08:00

Hmm haven't really typed out anything lately.

And its already March!

How time flies.

I wish I could say I have done something significant, but i have'nt.

Maybe march is the time to start.

I watched a few movies....

Ip Man, Chi Bi II, Underworld Rise of the Lycans (Which was'nt too great...)

Ip Man did have a few good messages.. and it is something aking to "Hitler: the rise of evil", where good men must make a choice and a stand.

One has to however be strategic about where you put your alliances and talent to use.

For instance in the show there was a very patriotic Chinese who just got himself killed, by persisting to fight.

He died in the end ... (in retrospect, perhaps you need spirited individuals like that person, to die and kick sense into everyone, for up to that point, everyone was being very Singaporean actually =) ... i.e. "if things are not so bad... just let it go.")

But for the sake of his own life, he would perhaps be better off stepping down. For even Ip Man, strong as he is will die to a bullet.

And even if the masses are stirred to rise, as in the show, they would not withstand the fury of a full fledged conventional assault.

Hence the need for stategy I guess. I would like to think that in an idealized world, good and justice will prevail, and in fact I do, but the pragmatic side of me suggest that this is only possible with a little luck and thinking.

And that was Ip Man.

For Chi Bi II, it was good =) nothing bad about it. There was a part about Zhuge Liang asking his friend if the terrapin was sweating. Which was comical and we do not know if he is refering to his friend Cao cao or what =P

but he was referring to the real tortoise of course and being perfectly serious..... the change in weather in the show would result in warm air, the terrapin, being cold blooded and all would have cold skin, which would cause water to condense on its skin when the warm air approaches. So no he was'nt taking a dig at anyone =P

One of my friend did mention that the ending was not so accurate. Cao Cao was actually set free by Zhuge Liang, not Zhou Yu. The story goes that Zhuge Liang, fearing too much power in the hands of Sun Quan and Zhou Yu, allowed Cao Cao to escape so that the 3 Kingdoms will continue to balance each other.

Cao Cao (in the text) supposedly was allowed to run to the area where Guan Yu was guarding, seeing that Cao Cao had previously spared Guan yu, Guan yu allowed him to escape.

I have no idea if this is correct since I have never read the text (though I intend to =P)

The last movie.... Underworld....

Oh this was sad... i think the colour of the show was too bluish black... not enough colour and i thought this was a development in thestory but actually it was a retcon job. It was to tell the story before Underworld... i was initially very lost when the female lead got killed...

lol

enough for now... time to click on my MH

...

and it was amiss!

12:57pm tomorrow
Justin Sossin sounded the Hunter’s Horn, but my radioactive blue cheese failed to attract a mouse.

*sadface*

X-Men Origins: Wolverine Trailer !!!

2008-12-19T08:23:00.000-08:00

Wow.

Just wow.

Gambit woot!

wow.

Capish?

Great.

Awww Jeanette....

2008-12-18T05:34:00.001-08:00

Well this article was discussing whether Jeanette Aw will be propelled to stardom. I dunno I thought she was already quite popular =)

I think this would cement her position, but somehow her character does not come forth as strongly as that of Zoe or Fann (Even Fann gets the points for very fiery eyes =P)

Still I feel she did quite well for the show and kudos to everyone, as the show had alot of heart put into it. =)

But will it spell the ascend of Aw? I dunno, it might be the start, but somehow I do not feel it would propel her any higher than she already is =)

Her most memorable role? "Jing jing", even now my mom calls her that =)

Bond, Bolt and Birthday Blues

2008-12-07T09:27:00.001-08:00

So on Saturday we celebrated my sis's birthday at mirama hotel.

So is this going to be a review of mirama hotel or Bolt.???

Good Lord I dunno.

Its a blog, its free form I guess. (That means I am spaced out and making idiotic comments)

So we ate the buffet at mirama. I think I ate lotsa pastries.

the was durian puffs. But not enought durian =(

I think I said to my sis's bf : "more custard than puff"... before realising that made absolutely no sense lol

The food was alright.

but I guess i just like simple white steamed chicken =)

Oh yah i just remembered why I am even writing about mirama (bear with me.. after watching Nemo I realised i am Dory incarnate)

The service was'nt too good.

Ah yes petty ol' me writing yet another complaint. But specifically the service by the staff was good. but there just were'nt many staff.

Even the manager strength seems to be half. Where in the past there were two, now there is only one. Its like what the spice girls sang about two becoming one I guess.

I am getting inane.

Anyways.

So after dinner we watched Bolt.

The super dog who could.

Anyways, not to spoil the movie (though its already all over TVMobile). But it is really the penultimate G rated movie =)

The movie has no adult themes. The jokes were mostly based on how cute Bolt was because he was utterly clueless. And towards the end there was some focus on pet responsibility. (The cat was abandoned).

There were other sub themes, like believe/faith in a person. How a TRUE friend should act etc. But mostly this was expressed by the crazy fat hamster(Rhino) who seemed delusional anyway =). I guess the point they were trying to make was that Bolt is a hero even without powers =) Ans another possible theme is that TV is not real =)

Overall this show was trying very hard to please everyone.

Madagascar was more raw and the jokes more slapstick/lame (which is what I enjoy unfortunately or not =P)

Overall definitely a keeper for families and pet lovers.

Other movies that I watched:

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Well as mention i had my fill of slapstick =) The show was a riot. And oh ... why did they reduce Mort's airtime. Mort is so funny.

My sis and I have concluded that I like anything mousey that looks crazy!! lol

James Bond: Quantum of Solace

I actually have more to say about this... but I am getting tired... mabbe I will edit later...

But what comes to mind.... me and a colleague observed that. This james Bond is too gruffy. Te signature James bond is suave and a typical Brit gentlement. Pierce Brosnan was a little too american. This new one is Brit enough... but not suave.

And where are the women???????

When Pierce Brosnan was around, there were still women.

This new guy really does not look like the flirty sort.

So the sex scene where the female agent suddenly beds James Bond made absolutely no sense!!!

There was no attraction, they had little to no conversation. He asks her to look for something in the bathroom, suddenly he is MACHO MACHO MAN (sing the way buffy sings it) and she wants to bed him.

WTF?????

*sighz*

Otherwise the film was alright... not as dramatic as other James Bond movie, but the *evil* is more believable I guess.

Overall it was'nt a bad show. Its just that being a Bond movie, there were certain expectations... maybe I am showing my age here.... *sighz*

Good night people, its 1.26am in Singapore 081208

Change...

2008-12-05T20:45:00.001-08:00

Things change so fast, the IG website is down....

CLIPS has changed its main URL (though I think it is
definitely more organised!)

Randy Bueler got laid off???? *sighz*

Only one thing stays the same people.

*drumroll*

I am still as useless as ever!!! lol

I think I'll pick up dance.

Again.

*sighz*

I'm like a motor-dory.

2008-08-23T00:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes after some alone time in the poop hole (aka the toilet)

...

You have to wonder.

How can something so small...

Smell so bad.

Goodday to you too.

Little nits in life

2008-08-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

It funny how you learn important nits of things from the smallest things...

One of which is from the Sapling.

"Do not not look at the illusions you fear or want for by doing so you give it strength, instead look at it and know it for what it is"

or something to that effect =)

This struck me as so many things are deceptive in this world.

Money, sex (beauty), power.

People fear being rich or fear wanting to be rich for fear of being seen as greedy. People fear looking at pretty gals in the eye for fear of being seen as hum sup. People fear being able to look at another in the eye for fear of being seen as aggro and getting beated up. People like to be moralistic and sit on their high places.

Well to me this statement speaks, do not fear! If we are carnal, we are carnal. We are built like that.

It is alright to lust and want, BUT.

It is also important to remember that you have a brain and there is such a thing as self control.

This does not mean that you deprive yourself or put up a false front.

but it does mean understanding and accepting what or who you are and being the best person that you can be.

If you decide that I am speaking hubris and you have some sort of moral high ground then good luck to you. I hope for your sake that you are indeed as perfect as you seem, for I have seen too many imperfect people pretending to be perfect then imploding and hurting themselves and others.

Another nice line was from the show Young Yang Warriors

where the 4th brother said:

"If I have to face it anyway, why worry about my chances"

He was injured and had little chance against his opponent. But still he showed up for the duel to lose. I guess it is about the same as "going down fighting" or like when Daniel said "even if there is no God, we would not serve you (Nebuchanazzar)". It is standing for what you believe in, standing for the one you love.

Sometimes the cards you get dealt with in life say "you lose".

Which is pretty true about many of the circumstances that we find our selves in.

Of course one must first then decide, MUST we face it =) or are there other avenues.

But what if there are truly no other avenues?

If you must face the music.
How would you dance?

Movies I watched .. Hellboy 赤壁 Hancock and err Shao Nain Yang Jia Jiang =D

2008-07-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

So I watch some shows recently the latest being 赤壁 and before that Hellboy and Hancock

Hancock was alright.. but too short storyish... like can you see a serial coming from this?.... I can't

I tot it was cute... but tired.

Too much Will Smith acting matured and all..... see I am Legend

any MTG fan will be able to tell you that you are obsolete outmoded Theresa era etc

kay... bad MTG joke.

Hell boy... man it was hell...

no it was'nt quite that bad.. but close....

too cartoony.

I dunno. The first Hellboy was fine... it was the same cornball jokes.... and hey to prep myself I actually watched the first show in 2004 directed by Guillermo del Toro ... both... by Guillermo del Toro

this I am surprised....

so why did the jokes in part 2 suck so bad....

I dunno.

Though I think Guillermo del Toro directed Pan's Labyrinth now that was a very dark and well done show.... there is a horrific beauty about it.

So the director was rather stylised and made a pretty good first Hellboy... so I guess I was expecting more.

One of the messages in Hellboy II was to die beautifully... that though you may be maligned but it is still wrong to go all wonky and destroy the world. Something like that.

I guess I can't relate.

Maybe it is the morals.

HellBoy I had this line said by Myers.

"YOU HAVE A CHOICE, YOUR FATHER GAVE YOU THAT"

That has so many biblical connoctations.

Background. Hellboy is a demon. His "father" took him on the "good" side, hence he had a choice.

Also there was the scene where, when Hellboy uttered his real name, his horns grew. It is evocative of the power of your NAME. For instance Jesus means Son of God. God Himself is known by His many names. Even in Hindu the gods have many facets. So the power of the name (the power of the WORD as it may be) is being invoked.

But in that scene, Hellboy made his choice, he broke the damned horns =)

So there were some very strong imagery used in Hellboy I ... but I am wont to see the same in Hellboy II so I was a little disappointed.

The last show i will talk about is Red Cliff or 赤壁

Why is there a hoo ha over Lin Chiling... I really dun find her pretty.

I thought Takashi looks rather mischievious... is Zhuge Liang supposed to be mischievious??? I dunno. Zhao Wei has eye bags.... i guess she is growing old (compare with her stint in huanzhu gege)... Seeing her old, i feel old. I remember how A used to be addicted to Huanzhu gege.. and that was like in my uni or JC days....

I thought the show was quite well done... a little bloody and the CGI is sometimes overdone

But I actually think the currently running serial Shao Nian Yang Jia Jiang on TCS 8 on Sundays is rather good too so.... whatever I guess =)

And I do love the ending theme song

Er Shi Nian by Zhang Meng Meng (张萌萌)

Gawd I am having my exams!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-04-30T21:43:00.000-07:00

I would really love to say "The bitch is back" ... but I'm neither female nor gay so that did'nt quite sound right. And beside there might be kids readin' this no? lol

In any case... its not that there is nothing to write but right now it is tedious and I have no time

That in itself is a business opportunity people, so go rack your brains ;)

In any case I just want/need to put up this little chorus from the theme song for the TVB "Ah WANG"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sunshine and love be with you
In rainy days, I shall be with you
Love is no fool
Dreams will come true
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Just watched tge last epi and it was sweet... I like to read deep into lyrics and tts simple sweet and all too true for this sick sick world lol.

And that is my rant for the day. Amen.

Perspective of a Buyer - Ebay Feedback Changes 2008

2008-02-15T23:50:00.001-08:00

Ebay's changes

To seek the article, follw the link and look for "**A Message from Bill Cobb – New Pricing and Other News***"

It took awhile, Ebay is finally doing something right about the feedback systems.

It was fundamentally flawed.

Anyone saying that the old system was simple and equal is either

1) Crazy or really stupid

2) Is a bad/errant/"at least potentially bad" seller waiting to exploit you

3) All of the above

Oh when I said awhile, its like years... I joined ebay in 2001 I think, and now it is 2008.

Why is the old system flawed?

it is actually heavily biased to the sellers.

The insideous thing?

You do not actually see, it, everything is implicit.

It allowed sellers to cheat and then blackmail and get away with it.

It takes balls to stand up to a seller. I did it twice and it took me a few years to get back to my current 99.3%

My dear errant sellers did not even feel a dent. I took out 2 sellers and I am proud of it. One I left a negative for, the other got off scot free. But lets talk about that later.

Back to why the old system was flawed.

You have to be burnt before you see it.

Step 1) Buyer pays

Step 2) Seller should have reflected feedbaCK by now,ANYTHING ELSE IS AN INTENTION TO BLACKMAIL.

Step 3) I get bad bad karma and my stuff is wrong or fake (I was cheated 700 USD)

Step 4) I reflect the badness of his behaviour to the seller

Step 5) He says "OOH we leave what you leave", or something to that effect, believe me his email is actually very nice about, so no don't get doped by the niceness of the sellers comments, A BLACKMAIL IS A BLACKMAIL.

Step 4) I leave neg.

Step 5) seller leaves neg.

Oh seller drops all fronts of niceness at this point.

I was lucky.

Well I got cheated of 700 USD (well 400USD actually, the others were from other bad sellers - but this one takes the cake)

I reported ebay paypal, what have you, but nothing resolved.

Audience: "But you said you took him out!!!!!"

Yes yes, thats the "lucky" part. Dude was a scammer. Oh he was selling Power 9 if you are familiar.

Somewhere later in time, I saw an ID on ebay selling power nine.

BTW bad sellers are generally not smart (still he got 400 usd from me, yay him!). This one was not too smart, I recognised the html and pics (yes really not smart)... I still had his email and the old auction description. I emailed everything to ebay, ebay said something to the effect that they cannot tell me anything due to privacy issues.

But I continue monitoring the ID, apparently others got ripped and eventually that account was closed. I had to vigilante it. Why must it be so difficult to weed the bad seed out?

Well I did say I was lucky.

Why lucky? Because this was a case where I could do something about the seller. This is a CASE where the feedback system is fair and buyers and sellers have equal power.

Audience: "YOU LIAR!!!! You said the system is flawed!! You can't talk straight!!!"

Well you don't listen good buddy. It was a SINGLE case. I will now come to why the old system is flawed. Its about power. A seller is typically a shop, or at least specialised enough to garner thousands of unique feedback. As a buyer I have 1800 transactions (all positive) but only 250+ unique feedback. Sellers' total is WAY WAY higher. Its a many to one relation.

The old system only works when the seller is small, but when the seller grows big, there is NOTHING to stop the seller from going rogue.

I have actually personally seen a seller grow from the hundreds to thousands. They are usually nice, but would use quid pro quo tactics to get ONLY positive comments (those sellers that are not nice, or cheat early get weeded). Once this particular seller grew he went nuts and cheated left right centre.

Audience: "But he was caught right??"

Yes but only because he BLATANTLY cheated. He was an extreme.

ONLY EXTREMES get caught. All other bad feedback left is usually too miniscule to be of worry to sellers. Oh and theres the bit about the carnage of dead buyers left in the dirt with no money back to them. Yes there is the ebay and paypal schemes, but to catch a scammer it can take months to years for the true colours to show, the protection schemes have expired by then.

AND YET.

And this is the dumb part.

Sellers leave retailiatory comments.

Stay with me, its a little complex.

We will assume 2 scenarios.

Good Seller - out to make a living, will do good things, send the damn thing and be over with it.

Bad seller - may not be blatantly out to cheat, but bad quality of goods and bad service.

Good seller -

generally if you do not piss people off, buyers leave good comments, I always do

Point is short term, a buyer loses way out more than a seller in the old system.

You get a few bad ones? In the past at least, this does not affect you one bit.

But still a BAD seller would be obliged to leave a bad comment, I mean if enough ppl rise up to you, you will get a negative eventually right? (Oh that only should happen if you are INDEED a BAD seller) So alot of big bad sellers use the quid pro quo tactic to keep everyone in line.

The good sellers? You actually should'nt need to leave comments. What is the chance of a few hundred bad buyers (usually from competitor sellers or someone you royally pissed - which in anycase should'nt even be in the picture!) trying to screw you? And even then, such cases can be resolved.

The usual quoted cases:

1)
Buyer has wild expectations about shipping, sellers LOVE to quote the "BUYER EXPECTS IT IN TWO DAYS!!!"... I agree that those negs should be invalid. TWO MONTHS late shipping, should still be seriously considered for a bad neg. Lets be very clear about it.

2)
Buyer not paying. This too I agree, that the negs are invalid.

But apart from those? Please most of the complaints from buyers are that THEY PAID!

In most cases the BAD seller blackmails for a good comment, usually implicitly. Like the very familar:

"Leave your comments and I'll leave mine"

The BAD seller only gets caught after hundreds and in some cases thousands of buyers get screwed.

Too late buddy.

If you think I am joking, you have sellers with a 20000+ rating.

They may have a 99% rating. Should they screw you. You count for 1/20000+

Sure you say: If he is really bad, people will leave a neg!

Well buddy, you obviously do not understand herd or sheep mentality. One shot and you silence the entire herd.

The damage to someone like me for instance I will receive a downgrade of 1/200+ way higher than the seller.

Is that fair? Is that equal power? If you still think that is fair your math teacher must have been disappointed in you.

And you know what is worse?

There is no way to explicitly look for bad feedback.

Often when I look at the seller I look for what he/she has done. And sellers with the many transactions actually get their bad deeds HIDDEN!

This was actually something I had to tangle with in trying to expose a seller doing bad quality stuff.

I tend to buy in bulk so I have many transactions to blow feedback on.

What happens is, when I leave a negative, it gets blown to the back. And new buyers actually have a hard time seeing the negative feedback. So what I did was I left a negative every few days (NOTE! HIS PERCENTAGE DOES NOT CHANGE! ALL MY COMMENTS ONLY COUNT AS ONE UNIQUE).

My only consolation is that I can keep the RED maintained on his feedback.

Eventually other buyers noticed and did the same. Guess what his feedback when from all green, to all RED. It was amazing. He was actually SCREWING EVERYONE. But no one dared to fire the first shot. The sad thing is if you only bought one thing, IT ACHIEVES NOTHING to leave your neg, as your little RED dot will just get washed away by the rest of the sheep. I only dared to fire because I know I have many transactions so I can sustain the TRUTH.

Even then, to this day I have 2 negs in my feedback. I cannot afford to stand up any more. I worked hard to keep my 99.3 (worked hard as in I no longer dared to leave negative feedback).

You think its no big deal? One more neg, will result in 99.0 or less. Two more and I slip to 98.0 Three? And what does three do to someone with 20000+ rating or for that matter 1000+ ?

The old feedback system was such that you get HAMMERED INTO SUBMISSION. Is this how a fair system works?

I got to go now, but I will complete this later... stay tuned

To be totally truthful, I think the new system is fair, but may need some tweaks, for instance negative feedback should be removable if found to be given wilfully. The sellers deserve that at least.

Oh and for those saying Ebay needs the sellers?

WRONG.

There will always be sellers, just as there has always been buyers. (Which is why the bad sellers are able to screw for so long)

What we want is to root out the bad ones, buyer or seller.

The old system was HORRIBLY UNFAIR. The new system is better, it must still be tweaked it is not perfect, but it is WAY fairer than the old system.

Magic the Gathering and World of Warcraft - my recent experience

2008-02-03T06:02:00.000-08:00

Well I bought Warcraft III as well as WoW...

yay....

sighs

I need to get a life bhwahahaha

Still checking out the intro video (which is a year old btw)

I cannot help but feel FF has a really though, if not impossible fight

On the other hand, being both a MTG player and a WOW noob, I really do not think WOW can break into MTG's CCG.

I stand by my earlier stance that, whichever CCG a dude/dudette plays really depends on whichever he/she started on first.

MTG has 15/16 years of TRADITION.

That is hard to beat.

Does WOW have anything like the Moxes? Lotus? P9?

Nope. Nuff said.

That said however, it not entirely impossible for WOW to take over MTG, but this is only possible if MTG drops the ball (something entirely possible given the way they act at times).

On the other hand looking at WOW, they really have the MMORPG estate carved out. I do not see FF competing.

It is not impossible to overtake them, but again they too may drop ball, again given the way they act.

Below is a set of emails that went back and forth...

Well I bought the disc... so you know it resolved happily... for them and maybe not for me (I will be the one wasting my life in the game haha)

In summary, I got locked out on my second login... god knows for what... apparently I exploited some account even though I only used the trial account for a day or so...

Now if you were a new customer what would be your reaction?

If you were accused of an act which if Blizzard decided to pull no punches and wanted to, could pursue charges and sue your sorry ass into financial oblivion. (Hacking is criminalised in the US afterall)

Think.

I thought so.

Still I am impressed with WOW amd MTG should be worried at least. I only have so many dollars =)

I have bought the WOW game disc, and yes I do not mind the 14.99 leaking every month.

I did'nt buy the boxes of morningtide I normally would have. In better times I would have gotten at least 10. Now I am thinking more like 4 or 6.

I spent my munny on IT books, and some text books.

But don't worry wizards, I am still getting morningtide, but not now ... maybe next month. You have'nt lost me with your price increase. You have just lost priority.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

> ***Notice of Account Closure***
>
> Hello,
>
> This is a notification regarding the World of
> Warcraft account XXXX. Access to this account
> has been permanently disabled for exploitation of
> World of Warcraft through associated accounts which
> have been closed for intended exploitation. While
> we try to be as lenient as possible in our
> assessments of the results of exploitation
> investigations, reoccurring trends in exploitative
> endeavors on your accounts have ultimately lead to
> their closure. The recurring subscription on the
> account has been disabled to prevent further
> charges.
>
> As a result, this account will no longer be able to
> access any aspect of World of Warcraft. This action
> has been taken in accordance with the Terms of Use
>
(http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/legal/termsofuse.html)
> and our game policies
>
(http://www.blizzard.com/support/wowgm/?id=XXXX).
> According to the World of Warcraft Terms of Use, to
> which all players agree when installing World of
> Warcraft, Section 5, Paragraph C [Rules Related to
> Game Play] states that you may not do anything that
> Blizzard Entertainment considers contrary to the
> "essence" of World of Warcraft.
>
> Any disputes or questions concerning this account
> action can only be addressed by Account
> Administration. To learn more about how Account
> Administration is able to assist you, please visit
> us at http://www.blizzard.com/support/wowaa/.
>
> Thank you for your time and understanding of our
> position in this matter. Please feel free to
> contact us with any questions or concerns you may
> have.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hi,

I have no idea what you are talking about, I only
played with this account once and it is a trial
account.

I log in a second time and this happens. I was really
thinking of getting the game disc but this incident
has really discouraged me from joining your online
games.

Imagine if I paid the money and I get locked out.

I do hope you can correct this quickly if you still
intend to keep your customers.

Best Regards,
Edmund

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Greetings,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding the World of
Warcraft account you are using. We understand your point of view and have
thoroughly reviewed this issue. As a result, the account action has
been removed from the account and all involved parties have been
addressed. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Please feel free to contact us with any further questions or concerns
you may have. Thank you for your time and patience in this matter and
your continued interest in World of Warcraft.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

2008-02-03T05:25:00.001-08:00

Oh yah this post is a real life example of how pissing off someone turns him/her off and for how long....

woot almost half a month...

Google is losing it?

2008-01-12T01:57:00.000-08:00

I dunno...

I haven't been on blogspot for a long time.... yah life has its hold on you sometimes... but it was a pain logging in.... I had to log in 6 times just to post this.

1. Log into blogger (typo)
2. Log again (correct but blogger requires visual comfirmation)
3. Log again (Blogger says, "doit' with yah google account baby!!!")
4. Log into with google account (typo - hey I am pissed by now)
5. Log again (google wants visual confirmation)
5. yay i logged in!!!

That was dumb.

Remember why google did well?

Hassle free.

Clean interface.

now stupidity reigns.

WOOT for corporatisation!!!

Oh... and btw... there is another search engine putting out better results than google.

At least it got me Lotus Notes information

At least it got me C related programming stuff.

Google will do well to remember that it was a LATE comer and yet took the search market by storm.

The day google takes its success for granted, is the day the death knells ring.

Resident Evil: Extinction

2007-09-15T21:50:00.000-07:00

Installment number 3 of the series.

Supposedly final, but seriously I hope they do not stop I like the series so far lol

Sure Milla Jovovich is just acting cool, but damn she is cool lol
And with all manner of sci-fi monster, bio-scare stuff, mutants and the ever iconic zombies.

Hey if you mix it well, its a hit =D

Based on the trailer, its less on the babe factor, but seems more on the zombies and music. But it looks like a fun ride!

Nothing too deep and philisophical, and with other Zombie shows running around like Dawn of the Dead etc, it is hardly new, but as aforementioned, this show is about fun and it dishes it out well.

Be forewarned though, you might what to get up to speed by checking out the first two shows. The second show made little sense to people who did'nt watch the first. It just hit the road running and took the ride from there. All action all music, and the third installment might not buck the trend ;)

Oddly though, for some reason I decided to look for "Resident Evil" and i realised it is due out 21 Sept, now is already 16th September, but I haven't heard a peep in Singapore. or maybe I am just so out of touch lol.

881 - a review

2007-08-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

The Show 881 was surprisingly good.

It was mostly in Hokkien and there was alot of humour. but alot of the humour is local based.

I do not know if the songs sung are the typical getai songs, but if they are, they are rather depressing =P

I loved the song 一人一半 though, it was very touching though like alot of old songs, you need to read the lyrics to understand it.

After hearing all the songs about misery, it is refreshing to hear one about the tender moments between two people. The simple act of sharing. I like to think it is a chinese thing to share and offer something of your own as a sign of acceptance and friendship, but I guess it isa universal value. Something very human and sweet.

I also do not know if it is a hokkien thing, those songs I mean. Is it that they love to dwell on the negative side? Or is it just bravely facing facts? Or is it a hopeless resignation to the vagarities of life? Perhaps life is too good for me to understand the things they say, but I am glad to have a glimpse of it. it never fails to amaze me how unrooted I am. How detached from reality my life has been at times.

Though I have said earlier that I wonder why they reflect on the negative things, but in the show, little papaya was about to die. Time is running out, and being positive is not helping her get any better. The same for the guy in debt his whole life, the guy who gambled and is a disgrace to his family, the guy who has cancer (or like little papaya) and is going through alot of pain. Perhaps songs like those sung are not about being positive or negative, but rather are reflections of the situations. And in familiarity, the audience finds comfort, whatever cold comfort there is.

It is most strange but it makes me think of National Day =P

I feel so lucky that: If we as humans like to sing songs that reflect the times. I am glad that we are able to sing songs of happiness and prosperity and dreams. I am glad not to have to sing overtly patriotic songs, but songs that encourage me to go further. Whether the situation or agendas are really in line with the songs, I am glad that we are able to sing those songs, as it does mean that we can still afford to. (And you though National Day was really just about blowing up millions of dollars in fireworks ;P)

I am probably not done writing this post, I am still rushing a final year project =P I like to ramble and draw my own conclusions and see little nuances in the show. Thats why I like mindless action movies or slapstick comedies better than thought provoking movies, given my nature, I would spend less time analysing it lol

In the meantime here is something I found in Youtube!

Apparently thats the trailer.

And here is another scene (the song yearning):

And wow...

I am not the only one in love with that song =)

There is another haunting melody in the movie which they play when they hit the tender moments. I believe they played it in the kissing scene between Yeo Yann Yann and 牛奶瓶 (at least thats how I remember him lol) and a few other times.

Some music touch and move you deeply, it makes you react, that melody was one of those. Haunting, desperate, hopeless yet hopeful... ultimately resigned. Given that fate seems to be a central theme, the song was very evocative.

Perhaps that tune was about love.

But that where a funny thought comes.

Mo Zuodong said to VV about Zhan Zhan:

Love is complicated. Women ah. 没有又烦，有了又嫌 (referring to love)

Well, when he said it, it was alot more amusing I am sure, but thats the gist.

So there you have it, two very different facets of love, one so very funny, the other so beautifully painful.

Heres an interview with Roystan tan

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++070816
How much do I like the song?

I like it enough to actually try to fix the sound on my PC lol

All the while my PC could not play the flash videos on YouTube (yeah.. not much for Youtube.. I know I know I am old man fine...)

But I did it just so I could hear the song =P

Kinship ~~ 天老地荒

2007-08-10T09:03:00.000-07:00

Just watching TV and musing I guess.

Currently watching "Kinship" or shou3 Zhu2 手足

The people on this forum don't seem to like it much.

But i guess dramas get cliche after a while.

But I like the song.

I think it by Ah Du.

I like the last four words.

天老地荒

Which means forever.

But word by word it means when the heavens are old and the land is gone/kaputz/fallow???

or mabbe not forever.

Till the end of time or something like that.

The main link links to Mediacorp's main site

In other news, my current favourite show is To catch the uncatchable

Dayo Wong and Ada Choi are just so funny. I see and hear Mo Zuodong and I cannot help but laugh lol And Vivi is just hilarious. The whole thing runs a little like a comic and is very light hearted.

According to this little excerpt:

"Did’ya know: The drama ending created such a stir in Hong Kong after it was aired that TVB was compelled to film an alternate ending to appease the disgruntled viewers. The second ending was shown in a local entertainment programme but was not included in any subsequent releases overseas. "

The show must've been quite well loved in Hong Kong =)

National Library @ Orchard is moving

2007-07-28T00:59:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm I have only been there a few times and it is cosy.....

I do home they will keep a library in Orchard... hope its just a renovation.

Visit the link =)

You can write limericks or haikus or you can send in photos of yourself in the Library =)

Also there is a going away party on the 30th of November. Not many details but I guess more news will come out.

Incidentally I only haunt the AMK and Bishan libraries lol

Term Life Insurance

2007-07-22T04:09:00.000-07:00

Term life insurance refers to a form of insurance where it is purely insurance protection and does not build any cash value.

Also in term life insurance, normally insurance is only purchased for a specific period of time. e.g. 1 year, 5 years and so on. Usually a death benefit is still paid to the beneficiary should the insured individual decease during the period for which the insurance is purchased.

So what is the difference. There is no real answer and you really should check with the agent proffering the insurance. The term insurance may not or may not cover things like debt and education for the beneficiaries. The key thing is that payout is only upon death of the insurer as opposed to other froms of insurance where payout is eventual. Premiums are usually lower since studies have shown that term insurance do not pay out always, whereas for other forms of insurance the payout is eventually given (assuming all premiums are paid and no fraud is involved and so on). Note that term insurance can be for life as well, as in you can get term life insurance quotes, it may simply that the term is for life or for a period that is as good as for life =) Just remember that there is no cash accrued, so read your life insurance quotes carefully.

Given that, term insurance may be an economic way to insure, so long as you are not viewing as an investmant or savings as well. Many companies actually practise term insurance for their staff, since for the time of there employment they can be insured and cash accrued makes no real sense since there is turnover.

Heroes in a Half Shell

2007-07-05T02:42:00.000-07:00

There are just too many jokes here...

Heroes in a half shell!!

Turtle Power!!!

Oh and its solar powered =)

Transformers - Crash For the New Generation?

2007-07-01T00:30:00.000-07:00

Transformers

- More than meets the eye?

Well as an old coot from the eighties I was somewhat disappointed.

Where is the cool music???

Okie so the original music from the series is a little obiang by today's standards, but the music from Transformers: The Movie is a real doozy. Way cool!

Things Like

"you can win if you dare" - I don't know the title, but it has Hot Rod cruisin' some cool

The touch - Optimus Prime's entry music haha, oh and Optimus whipped Megatron's cybertronic butt, not the other way round lol

And the theme song. - Metal for the kids ;)

Oh and how can one forget the iconic "Dare to be Stupid" by Weird Al =)

Still the movie (the real CGI one) is not too bad, at least the robots look real enough, and Bumblebee was hilarious. I do wish the Autobot and Decepticon insignia was larger =P

Starscream did'nt look like Starscream *hic* did'nt look like Starscream, then again neither does Ironhide and em.. actually everyone!!

Except Optimus, and even then, instead of a faceplate, they give him a face this time! Ermm.. yeah!

I guess as a first movie it had to sort of introduce, exactly what is a Transformer.

And to be fair, even the storyline is sketchy, what with the franchise going up and down.

I think this is a show the young will like (most of the people I know are like 20+ and they seem to like it). The gals are like "the big robots are oh so cute!!!"... ermm yah =)

Really if you have caught the movie "Transformers". Go catch "Transformers:The Movie", it is darker and way way cooler ;)

I mean the show was practically PG, nobody died (except for one autobot). No blood was spilled. This was with hugh hulking robots trashing the city and no one got squished. tsk tsk. No it can get really bad (think Animatrix, or Pan's Labyrinth) I know, but I dunno its almost unreal. Oh yah the jokes were corny, but hey the original series was corny too, so I'm cool with that. =P

All in all, I felt alienated from someone watching the movie from the perspective of the old cartoons and so on.

But watching the original series, and comparing it with what kids watch today. I have to admit, the franchise is really gearing for the new generation of fans, not eighties cooties like me. Our time was that of Transformers:The Movie.

And yes, I did enjoy the movie =) I just thought it could have done the original more justice.

Reverse Auction Games !!

2007-06-07T19:19:00.000-07:00

Reverse auctions are funny things. One of the more interesting auctions I have seen is that held by bid4prizes, where Free Gifts are given everyday!

Apparently each day they give away prizes to the lowest unique bid. Its best to watch the youtube instructions on the site itself =) Imagine it like ebay, but with the lowest UNIQUE bid as the winner.

Note that the winning bid must be both the lowest bid and it must be unique! Everyday a prize is given, and the winner of that prize has an opportunity to take part in a sweepstakes. The prizes range from Apple I-Phone’s, HDTV’s, Designer Bags, SCION XB’s to Cash Prizes.The best part, you pick your prize! =) and no you do not have to pay what you bid (its a game).

So whats the catch? From the looks for it, the revenue structure would seem to be advertising, maybe the SMS and premium membership. So it is "free". ANYONE with a handphone can take part, makes it really easy to play =) all you need to do is to take part =)

Go check it out now!

Maui!!

2007-06-06T18:35:00.000-07:00

Though Singapore is an island, it is rare that I have the chance to visit the beaches. That said however Singapore beaches are often crowded and really at times you wish it could be more spaceous.

Hawaii's temperature is similar to Singapore, i.e. tropical. So when one is stuck in sunny Singapore, sometimes the concrete gets to ya, so it might be good to go to the sandy beaches of Hawaii =) Being Singaporean, how can one go without proper accomodation???

Maui is a nice place to begin with, it is the second largest island in the state of Hawaii, in the mornings you can trek up to the Haleakala Crater to watch the sunrise, a most magnificent view! And oh did you know you can see humpback whales at Maui!! For your maui vacations you should book a nice comfy condo to rest at the end of the busy days!!

2007-06-03T04:47:00.001-07:00

if my heart could play music,
like a jukebox in an old cafe
it would sing songs of sadness
of loss and pain
of emptiness and shame

sorrow wrecking its reverberations
flowing air easing out a windpipe
it suffocates me and yet haunts me.

if my heart could weep
blood would run dry
eternity would be but a drop away
yet tantalising it would yearn

A youth so wasted
a life so pasted
narry a kind thought could manifest
if only peace could prevail

Spiderman 3

2007-05-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

It should have been just a little longer, there were so many themes, and some parts felt a little skimmed. Characters were not as deep, but not for lack of potential, but rather coverage. For instance the theif who stole in desperation. That could have been explored more, forgiveness is yet another theme, that the director tried to tie, Harry vs Spiderman, Spiderman vs Sandman. And of cause, the fatal flaw in all of us, the seed that slowly poisons us, was displayed but not explored.

Eddie broc, could have been handled better. Still the rendition of venom was actually VERY good. My initial reaction upon hearing that Venom would be in the picture was: huh?? How are they gonna do the face of venom??? Without lookin stoopid. Well i stand corrected, Venom was actually quite nicely done =)

I think make up did alot too. Harry looks really sad, and his face after being blown by his own bomb, was a portrait of pain and brokeness. Beset in his boyish cheery grin, it was quite a heartbreaking sight. Note that this was after spidey said the mean little, tryin' to live up to your daddy things to Harry, and from the first part we know that those were the insecurities that Harry had. So indeed dark spydey was alot better at "striking the heart" of the enemy.

Another theme running through the whole thing is the nice guy bad guy thing. And that is, no matter how emotional we are, we really should think before we speak. Because words can harm, hurt and miam a person. So make the right choice =) Which I guess was supposed to be the epinomous line for this part. But really choice was not a very strong theme, so *shrug*. Still the show has alot going for it. =)

Later.

Just Say Hi

2007-04-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

well there seem to be an abundance of dating sites nowadays. Most allow you to sign up. But often these are just trying to earn some money.

However the strategy is a little weak, and not too nice if you ask me. Most often, to make contact, you will have to pay via credit card and so on.

Still, some sites out there do have a free service, for example JustSayHi.com, this site is still relatively new and at the moment it is only focused on the states.

Actually it is also a nice way to meet the people living in that particular state ;) Actually it is a little like friendster as it has a social network function, so check it out, you might find your mate =)

T.I.T.S.

2007-03-27T01:19:00.000-07:00

Clean your filthy minds you!!!

lol read the link for more details. I think it is so true today, that we forget the basics.

I hate the new blogger

2007-02-24T21:11:00.001-08:00

No really I do.

I hate the way Google is pushing it.

I feel forced into using the new blogger and really... as soon as i can the financials straight I will transfer my blog into my own site.

And I will use wordpress =D

Eat that.

I hate the new blogger

2007-02-24T21:11:00.000-08:00

Advertising on my blog

2007-01-14T01:19:00.000-08:00

To advertise on this blog or any blog that I control, please just post here to indicate interest and leave a contact, or just let me know and i can leave my contact =) Thanks!

Digital Love

2006-11-05T04:46:00.000-08:00

This so is the one from recent Nokia ad.

It sounds really sad and lonely.

But the song is apt I guess, the song is about trying to get a connection (or yearning for it), and yah. Thats the point the Nokia ad is trying to push I guess.

The link is the source.

Apparently the song is by Daft Punk =)

"Digital Love"

Last night I had a dream about you
In this dream I'm dancing right beside you
And it looked like everyone was having fun
the kind of feeling I've waited so long

Don't stop come a little closer
As we jam the rhythm gets stronger
There's nothing wrong with just a little little fun
We were dancing all night long

The time is right to put my arms around you
You're feeling right
You wrap your arms around too
But suddenly I feel the shining sun
Before I knew it this dream was all gone

Ooh I don't know what to do
About this dream and you
I wish this dream comes true

Ooh I don't know what to do
About this dream and you
We'll make this dream come true

Why don't you play the game ?
Why don't you play the game ?

Dress Code

2006-10-29T15:59:00.000-08:00

This one is hilarious =)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To all Employees:

Effective January 2007

Dress Code

1. It is advised that you come to work dressed according to your salary. If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we assume you are doing well financially and therefore do not need a pay raise.

2. If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and therefore you do not need a pay raise.

3. If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a pay raise.

Sick Days

We will no longer accept a doctor's certificate as proof of sickness.

If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.

Holiday Days

Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturday & Sunday.

Compassionate Leave

This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, relatives or co-workers. Every effort should be made to have non-employees attend to the arrangements.

In rare cases where employee involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad to allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hour early.

Toilet Use

1. Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. There is now a strict three-minute time limit in the cubicles.

2. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the cubicle door will open, and your picture will be taken.

3. After your second offence, your picture will be posted on the company notice board under the "Chronic Offenders" category.

4. Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sanctioned under the company's mental health policy.

Lunch Break

1. Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch, as they need to eat more so that they can look healthy.

2. Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure.

3. Chubby people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim-Fast.

Thank you for your loyalty to our company. Remember we are an employer of choice and we are here to provide a positive employment experience.

Therefore, all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere.

Papayas are Good for you !!!!

2006-10-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

Yup, thats a Papaya.

Oh yeah it was my Bdae not too long ago...

2006-10-07T06:44:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah those were the pressies =)

I kinda like em lol

Scratchpad

2006-09-30T22:33:00.000-07:00

http://emxauxi.blogspot.com/ - Political Science?

http://professortopkat.blogspot.com/ - criminal law?

http://www.blogger.com/profile/7589637

Transformers - Dare to be Stupid !

2006-09-22T01:02:00.000-07:00

Wow... I loved Transformers and this was one of the songs I remembered to this day lol.

Teochew Sauce Chicken

2006-09-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

So I cooked, teochew sauce chicken....

the wok beckons ....

I wanted to learn it cos it is something that is...

distinctively teochew =)

Call it searching my roots lol

Any ways this is how it went.

My sis cut the garlic and chili.

First put in about a table spoon and a half of oil in wok.

Let it simmer with a small flame.

Once the oil is heated, add in garlic. About a handful.

Wait till slightly golden brown.

Throw in chili again about a handful.

Oh yeah... smell the sizzle ;)

Throw in chicken. Cook till the chicken is no longer pinky.

Add in a table spoon and a half of Dark sauce. Evil evil stuff!

You should prepared the dark sauce in a small bowl first. Add in a packet of sugar (those small packs will do).

Fill with water till chicken is submerged.

Cook for about 10 mins.

Ta daa!

Chicken Soup For The Aging Brain

2006-09-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

The giant Nintendo store in Manhattan was swarming with silver-haired citizens and their grandchildren. The elders, gathered on a recent Saturday, weren't there to spoil the kids, however. Nintendo was hosting a video game competition to determine the "Coolest Grandparent," and the aging gamers in the store were competing for a Nintendo DS handheld game player. They weren't playing Super Mario Bros. either, but a product called Brain Age, a mind challenger targeted at one of the fastest-growing segments of the game market: people over 40 worried about losing their mental edge.

Hope Faith and Love

2006-09-13T07:11:00.000-07:00

I call this

"Hope Faith and Love"

well not exactly, but these are what my parent make every morning without fail for my sis and me, and I thank God for them.

Scientists reveal how H5N1 kills

2006-09-11T09:09:00.000-07:00

Ho hum I am just gonna add a green pic here

I am Superman apparently haha

2006-09-10T17:54:00.000-07:00

Its official ...

Your results:
You are Superman

Superman		85%
Spider-Man		75%
Green Lantern		70%
Hulk		70%
Batman		70%
Supergirl		68%
Robin		67%
Catwoman		65%
The Flash		60%
Wonder Woman		58%
Iron Man		45%

You are mild-mannered, good,
strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...

And here I was thinking was a huffalump...

I am a huffalump wearin' red suspenders whoohoo!

Brain scan shows that vegetative patients can think

2006-09-09T23:57:00.000-07:00

PATIENTS who are in a vegetative state may be able to hear and understand much more than hitherto believed.

Experiments conducted in Cambridge could change the way in which such patients are treated: the results suggest that even those who seem to be comatose can hear, understand and respond.

Nice blog

2006-09-02T21:46:00.000-07:00

Nice photoblog that let you see samples of the world.

Feng Yu Zhong de Mei Li

2006-09-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

Until the day i figure out how to get chinese characters on the screen =D

Lyrics for the song by Han Hong

You - lyrics

2006-09-02T19:26:00.000-07:00

Written by: Michelle Tumes
Sung by: Jaci Velasquez

/==========================
As always christian songs only lift my spirits only when I am already feeling good, yep, they are like people to God, they only come when they need you ;p or something like that.

I like this part:

"You make everything good
Everything wonderful
You grace my days
And heaven fills my view"

/==========================

Who makes
The sun light up my shadows
When the darkness tries to follow me
Who makes
The air that bring me life
So I can breathe the love that's given to me

CHORUS:
You make everything good
Everything wonderful
You grace my days
And heaven fills my view
Let's forever sing
You make everything pure
Everything beautiful
You make me see the only thing that's true
It's you

Who makes
The waters of my sorrow part
And leads the gladness into my heart
Who makes
The rivers run that wash away
And clean my soul to make a new start

You hung the moon
You placed the stars that shine your love for me
I hope all that I do
Will show reflections of you

Blogger is going through a REVAMP !!!

2006-09-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

"Google's Blogger is going through a major revamp, called Blogger Beta, with lots of nifty new graphical layout features and pesky bugs to annoy the users. Yesterday they finally opened up the HTML code behind the Beta, and it's a significant departure from the traditional Blogger. This post at Banana Stew deconstructs the Blogger Beta code and points out some nice new features like if-then, loops, and object-oriented structures."

Pluto Making a Comeback

2006-09-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

"Space.com reports that the American Astronomical Unions Division of Planetary Scientists recognizes the IAU's authority to make a new planet defintion but expects it to be altered. Separately, 300 astronomers have signed a petition saying they won't use the definition. All this stems from the discontent over how only 424 astronomers voted on the proposal that demoted Pluto. Looks like this little dog is on the comeback trail."

Well i would say "the bitch is back" ... but I think the affable pooch is male

You heard it before the stem cell ethics debate.. new development !!!!

2006-09-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

A single cell can be teased from a human embryo and used to produce stem cells while leaving the embryo intact. The process, published online in Nature, could enable stem-cell lines to be generated without the controversial destruction of human embryos — but some ethical objections remain.

Single-Celled Species' Genome As Complex As Ours?

2006-08-31T20:07:00.000-07:00

"A new paper reports on the sequencing and
analysis of the [0]genome of a single-celled species known as
[1]Tetrahymena thermophila. This ciliate (like the Paramecium people
look
at in school) has some 27,000 genes, or nearly as many as humans. And
despite existing as a single cell, this spcies encodes fantastic
complexity and unusual features. For example, it has a primitive immune
system that prevents the invasion of foreign DNA. Also, it is able to
cordon off its germ cell lineage much as humans do with sperm and eggs.
But Tetrahymena does this by having two nuclei within each cell, with
one
of the nuclei being held in reserve for sex. Basically, this species
uses
its genome complexity to function like a single celled chameleon,
changing its shape and its properties in response to the changing
environment. For example, when a new nutrient shows up in its
neighborhood this species can build a kit to suck the nutrient in,
degrade it, and turn it into cellular biomass quickly. Thus whereas
humans use their genomic complexity in part to create a stable
environment for the body, this species simply uses a genomic swiss army
kit to make do with whatever environment it encounters."

The Battery Recall: A Win for the Web

2006-08-30T19:20:00.000-07:00

Much has been said about the potential for the blogosphere and cyberjournalism to reshape the flow of information and opinions. But for a case study of how these new media can impact the business world, consider the biggest event to hit the computer industry in recent weeks. Yes, we're talking about those burning laptop batteries and the decision by Dell (DELL) and Apple (AAPL) to recall more than 5 million of them—the largest recall of its kind in the history of the consumer-electronics industry.

And you thought it was just all about me .

2006-08-27T08:36:00.000-07:00

French American British Politics Culture

2006-08-26T19:49:00.000-07:00

Lots of history .. well recent anyways

Oh the pain! the pain! a planet disappears

2006-08-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

Luckily we are like the third rock from the sun, the ninth is gone!! well at least 5 more before unicron gets us oh yeah!

Love is depressing

2006-08-20T03:17:00.000-07:00

WHat is love that it depresses me so.

Billy Joel's "And So it goes" is so poigant.

As the first four notes are played.

My heart breaks all over again.

And of course the song is about a perosn that loves someone, but is afraid to share. But at the same time is afraid to make the mistake of not saying so.

Yet in "sharing the room", its just so to let her have the heart to break.

I guess it is about the fact that love is mutual (one where no one is bullying or forcing).

"So I will choose to be with you"

"That's if the choice were mine to make"

"But you can make decisions too"

"And you can have this heart to break"

Full Lyrics

Of course this is after I was playing Han Hong's Mei Li de Chuan Suo

Which my sis says is depressing.

So I thought to myself (what a wonderful world.. NOT!) "well lets try something really depressing..." and Billy Joel came to mind. And boy was he depressing.

The earth the moon the stars oh my!

2006-08-19T22:54:00.000-07:00

If astronomers approve a newly proposed planet definition next week, things could get really strange. Sure, asteroid Ceres will become a planet. Pluto's moon Charon will become a planet.

But we're talking really strange.

Love

2006-08-12T23:38:00.000-07:00

Take a little time, if you know me, believe, sit down and have a listen and watch this vid. You will be a better person for it =)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's about a father's love, you can read the comments here:Link

About the vid:
A glimpse of the remarkable father-son bond of Dick and Rick Hoyt, and their inspirational journey together in a triathlon and life itself.

Music: "I Can Only Imagine" by Mercy Me

More about the father and son team: Team Hoyt!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Love is the greatest thing you will ever know and act on.

Lust is something else altogether, so for all you wannabes out there, grow up already.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Bible on love:

1 Corinthians 13:

1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.

2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing.

3 If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud,

5 doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;

6 doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

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

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;

10 but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.

12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.

13 But now faith, hope, and love remain-these three. The greatest of these is love.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Investment is a little like relationships

2006-08-12T21:23:00.000-07:00

It never fails to tickle me that doing investing is a little like marriage and relationships.

When you have dividends or spare cash, what should you do with it?

Value in a relationship is like trust, you have cash? you have chips? You invest more in the company, just like you invest more trust in a relationship. Of course it is more risky, but thats why its called trust. We could talk all day about trust of course =) but if you trust a person who would fail you, you are like a speculator, you buy into a stock (even at inflated costs) hoping it will go up. Investing is when you expect (not hope) that you will have a higher or equal return ;) chew on that for a while. (I did'nt come up with that Buffett said that in 1992)

"There is no question that current listings and future offerings are improving in quality and thus, the thinking is there will be more stability and higher share prices extending over the long-run -- and potentially even more upside this year although high valuations may limit the extent of further gains. Somewhat ironically, it is these same new blue chip listings that have investors pulling money out of already listed shares in order to take part in IPOs."

This quote Link tickles me as well. So you are average Joe, like the rest of us, you have limited cash/juice/chips. Choose your mate wisely, dun put your money in and out. Or you will never reap the benefits of a healthy growing relationship. Your relationship takes time to grow and blossom. Always seeking new love, new faces will leave you empty, both in trust, value and cash. In investment terms you are just begging to lose money brother.

On intelligence... a whole blog on it!!

2006-08-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

Intelligence

Garrrgh!!! Look at the buggers!!!

2006-08-08T18:59:00.000-07:00

!!!!!

Japan on the Rise: A Random thought

2006-07-22T17:37:00.000-07:00

Just a random thought that crossed my mind.

Japan is a nation on the upswing.

In the past 5-10 years.

Now the areas i look at are MTG, software, football and anime =P

But seriously, this are all recreational (aside from the software bit but even that is debatable)

MTG: the Japanese pro-players are now among the best. They have pro-tour cards of them for God's sake =)

Software: Ruby. 'nuff said

Football: Though not the cup holders, they are definitely in the game.

Anime: They flat out beat anyone here. The first anime like movie (I think) - "The Last Unicorn", though it was an American production company, the company that did the art was.... Japanese =)

Yeah just a random though, Japan is a nation on the rise.

Perhaps this is a spillover effect from the industrilisation era.

Empathy - The Key to Success

2006-07-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

Now I got this off another website:

The fish said,'You can't see my tears, 'cause I am in the water,' Water said,'I can feel your tears, 'cause you are in my heart.'

But I have heard this one before, it is more of a Ocean or Sea rather than water, and its originally spanish????

Anyways I got this off a chinese TV serial =)

But it was old news, nice touching but old news.

So the lead guy tells the girl, he has this hatred for his ex, and he cannot undo that hatred. Then he goes on to spout this little fish and water story.

The nice twist (I feel) the director/scriptwriter did was this:

The girl then said, "I know why you cannot undo the hatred, because though your loved one was the fish, you were'nt the ocean"

I think it was a very reflective moment =)

We all hear niceties and like to think we are so noble and good, we are always the moral protoganist (sp?).

Even the female lead after saying this, at a later part of the show, realises that she herself was not the ocean. Except that now it was not a love between couples relationship, but a love between friends (err friendship not the les variety =p). She was not forgiving, and hated her friend for causing the death of her husband. But she had not shown empathy.

And that is the key thing here: Empathy.

In going through life, it is much easier to understand why things are such. Then it is easier to let go. Or if you are the manipulative sort, it is easier to weasel your way through ;) In any case empathy is a very strong characteristic for a person to have. All great leaders need it. All great evil doers need it too ;) It is a sword, the morals are that of the person wielding it.

Man this sounds so Jedi hahahahahah

haha so lotr

2006-06-30T20:48:00.000-07:00

When all the world is failing,

And the darkness quickly gathering,

When giving up the fight seems timely,

and all you see is void.

In a world of darkness gathering,

and cold and frosty death.

No lights to shine or warm you.

Its perhaps timely to realise.

Sometimes that light is you.

And the reason for darkness encroaching

is that you are not alit.

Take heart O' little candle

For,

in the darkest night,

a simple light,

can smite the mightiest gloom.

Such is hope,

that all Man quiver.

And rise from beaten ground.

For heart, for hearth.

For rememberance of Good.

Spirit will not be sundered.

2006-06-12T01:52:00.000-07:00

Half a lump

is better than none

but i do so wish

to find my other one

Upgrade to articles!!!!

2006-05-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

Just finished uploading more posts on my magic blog...

mostly just decklists, I will update those into articles later on =)

Its 1202am and I need to sleep

on May 19 2006 about 6pm I met Xiao Jing

Hmmmm

2006-05-21T02:05:00.000-07:00

Just finished creating a few blogs so that it will be less messy =)

Azorius Control U/W

2006-05-20T22:03:00.000-07:00

So this is the Azorius deck i have been working on for the last night while waiting to see if anyone has updates on regionals

=P

My take on u/w has been the flying weenie version, but i decided to try out control.

I have tried Grand Aribiter + SpellTithe Enforcer

its nice when you get it out.. but..4 and 5cc repectively is still a little high, so I scrapped that eventually (it felt too

much like a bad LD deck, it either works or just caves)

So this is the deck list =)

As always, i am paranoid about surviving aggro, so I have tested it against the standard heezy preboard

// Lands
4 Hallowed Fountain
3 Azorius Chancery
5 Island
4 Adarkar Wastes
4 Plains
1 Prahv, Spires of Order
1 Island

// Creatures
1 Azorius Guildmage
1 Pride of the Clouds
1 Windreaver
2 Azorius Herald
1 Paladin en-Vec
1 Hokori, Dust Drinker

// Spells
4 Spell Snare
4 Mana Leak
4 Faith's Fetters
3 Hinder
4 Remand
4 Ghostly Prison
4 Wrath of God
2 Stream of Consciousness
1 Ivory Crane Netsuke
1 Evacuation

no side board as yet =P

The deck can play in to quite a few positions, kill cards can be the windreaver, Hokori lock, or beatdown via pride

And there is a whole swathe of counterspells. 15 in total.

Yeah yeah I heard not everyone likes ghostly prison, they work for me ;)

How the deck works:

1. Counter:

Work out how what counterspells you have in your opening have. You want to counter early if possible. No counters is fine

too, but you have to then think about the critters coming on against you early, so your playstyle will also have to change.

2. Try not to tap out:

Errmm I guess this come under old school u/w control =P You normally do not want to tap out. If you can make a play (say

playing ghostly prison) see if you can afford to play later. Most times you want to stall for as long as is possible. If the

board position allows, build your mana base rather then just play as much as you can. As far as possible, make plays on your

turn with counter protection.

3. Your life is a resource:
You can afford to go all the way down to very low life (e.g. 2 life ;p), if you can stabilise the board, and if they just

blew chars and flames at you, you are still cool. Though you should still try to get your life up asap. Play carefully, you

may have to cast the Faith Fetters on something really irrelavent just to get your life up (say a land or something), though

judge for yourself, do you have reason to think your opponent is not holding back, if not feel free to fetter the land =)

4. This deck can play forever

You have streams of consciousness, so you can technicall go on and on and on. But always sqeeze as much out of your resources

as you can.

5. The cards have different values at different points in the game.

Mana Leak is graavy early game, sucky mid to late game. However if you get hokori up, mana leak becomes relevant again.

Streams accordingly.

6. The deck is trying not to lose:

heh, I think this line of thought have been talked to death recently, but anyways as long as you do not lose you are still

winning. The deck is real slow at killing. Which is partly the reason for the lifegain (the longer you drag the game, the

likelier you are to be taken out by a top-decked burn). Th Azorius Heralds are both lifegain as well as "kill faster" cards.

I play 22 lands. I think the remand helps though. I noticed other decks run compulsion or telling time. This works for me

though.

Paladin En-vec is just amazing against anything red or black =P Oh and the first strike is just grand =)

Other notes or things I have tried:

1. When you have hokori online, the bounce lands really shine, as you untap 1 land but get 2 mana =)

2. Prahv is usable, not great but usable, would be fantastic if the activation cost was lower, but it would be too good I

guess =P

3. Windreaver - superman/superboy is quite nice ;) Even if he can only bounce rather than become untargetable

4. Overrule is too expensive early game, unfortunately that is when I need something more powerful, like wrath or just a

manaleak

5. It used to have condemn, but rather than condemn I have always wished it was something else so I took it out. I rather

lose some life, and lock it with prison or just wrath it away.

Overall it is about 50/50 against Heezy... the games are fun, often close. In most U/w there was always some way of locking

up the game. That is sort of missing in current u/w. (whether armageddon or winter orb). I though of using the kami of false

hope and Proclaimation of rebirth, but then i realised to get the stuff back efficiently i need B or G, more of an orzhov or

selesnyan trick I guess =) The Hokori is meant to fill that spot, but rather than becoming the focus (like the orb deck of

the past), it more of an alternate path thingie.

Comments or thoughts as always are welcome.

I'll try to do more testing... but once a deck half works I move to something else... golgari looks interesting at the moment

=)

Where I really am.........

2005-06-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

I normally blog in www.xanga.com by the same username, there you will find that i am lamer than i seem here, yes the depth to which i sink is astounding!

Hmm Me the Inspirer.. wow

2005-06-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

Your #1 Match: ENFP

The Inspirer

You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends.
You are also unconventional, irreverant, and unimpressed by authority and rules.
Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives.
You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're qutie the storyteller!

You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist.

Your #2 Match: ENTP

The Visionary

You are charming, outgoing, friendly. You make a good first impression.
You possess good negotiating skills and can convince anyone of anything.
Happy to be the center of attention, you love to tell stories and show off.
You're very clever, but not disciplined enough to do well in structured environments.

You would make a great entrpreneur, marketing executive, or actor.

Your #3 Match: ENFJ

The Giver

You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed.
Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections.
Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down.
You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine.

You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist.

Your #4 Match: ENTJ

The Executive

You are a natural leader - with confidence and strength that inspires others.
Driven to succeed, you are always looking for ways to gain, power, knowledge, and expertise.
Sometimes you aren't the most considerate person, especially to those who are a bit slow.
You are not easily intimidated - and you have a commanding, awe-inspiring presence.

You would make a great CEO, entrepreneur, or consultant.

Your #5 Match: INFP

The Idealist

You are creative with a great imagination, living in your own inner world.
Open minded and accepting, you strive for harmony in your important relationships.
It takes a long time for people to get to know you. You are hesitant to let people get close.
But once you care for someone, you do everything you can to help them grow and develop.

You would make an excellent writer, psychologist, or artist.

What's Your Personality Type?

A Huffalump lives here

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爱

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The earth the moon the stars oh my!

Love

Investment is a little like relationships

On intelligence... a whole blog on it!!

Garrrgh!!! Look at the buggers!!!

They have arrived...

Japan on the Rise: A Random thought

Empathy - The Key to Success

haha so lotr

Upgrade to articles!!!!

Hmmmm

Azorius Control U/W

Where I really am.........

Hmm Me the Inspirer.. wow

Your #1 Match: ENFP