Tuesday, February 28, 2006
I know him so well - Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson
"So, you finally handed up your essay-eh?", I asked Di.
She looked at me in surprise - "Yeah. How do you know?"
"Well, i saw you vacumming your room. So i guess you must have finished your essay!"
We laughed!
"Wow - i cannot keep any secrets from anyone here!!!!", she said.
"Not in the halls, not in the halls!"
It is now the end of the 5th month of us staying together in Rayleigh Tower, Flat 11. And we have grown to know each other so well!
The other nite, as i was cooking my dinner, i could hear the front door open. Ghisseh poked her head into the kitchen, saw me and smiled. "I knew it had to be you!"
Yesterday, i found the hob left on. I asked if anyone was using it and someone said it was prolly Tom who left it like that. He always does that!
And we know who it is who leaves her soup on the cooker until it boils over - and it is always me who turns it down for her. We oso know that Aliz will eat her yogurt after her meals - and Michael will drown his food wif ketchup - Heinz ketchup, not Tesco value. They oso know that when i go to the kitchen, i'm there to make myself a cup of coffee! When we found a mysterious bag of chips in the freezer, Michael and I immediately ruled out Tom cuz we know he uses a different brand!!!
Oh, when the kitchen is left in a mess, we all also know who is responsible too!
Yeah, in a way, it is scary. But this just shows how close we have all become. It is sad to think that come Easter, Alberto and Aliz will be leaving us to go back to their respective countries - and after summer, we'll all go our own separate ways. :-(
She looked at me in surprise - "Yeah. How do you know?"
"Well, i saw you vacumming your room. So i guess you must have finished your essay!"
We laughed!
"Wow - i cannot keep any secrets from anyone here!!!!", she said.
"Not in the halls, not in the halls!"
It is now the end of the 5th month of us staying together in Rayleigh Tower, Flat 11. And we have grown to know each other so well!
The other nite, as i was cooking my dinner, i could hear the front door open. Ghisseh poked her head into the kitchen, saw me and smiled. "I knew it had to be you!"
Yesterday, i found the hob left on. I asked if anyone was using it and someone said it was prolly Tom who left it like that. He always does that!
And we know who it is who leaves her soup on the cooker until it boils over - and it is always me who turns it down for her. We oso know that Aliz will eat her yogurt after her meals - and Michael will drown his food wif ketchup - Heinz ketchup, not Tesco value. They oso know that when i go to the kitchen, i'm there to make myself a cup of coffee! When we found a mysterious bag of chips in the freezer, Michael and I immediately ruled out Tom cuz we know he uses a different brand!!!
Oh, when the kitchen is left in a mess, we all also know who is responsible too!
Yeah, in a way, it is scary. But this just shows how close we have all become. It is sad to think that come Easter, Alberto and Aliz will be leaving us to go back to their respective countries - and after summer, we'll all go our own separate ways. :-(
Evergreen - Barbra Streisand
Ever wondered wat happenned to David Prowse?
David who?
David Prowse - the original man behind the Darth Vader mask!!!!!
Well, according to IMDB, not much really. He was in town a couple of weeks back for a collectors' fair - to sign autographs (each autograph is charged, of course!! He has to make a living somehow...).
Anyways, here's proof that Darth Vader was actually a superhero in disguise!!!! He was the Green Cross Man!!!!
The Gre... what????
Check out this comic strip taken from BBC News online:-
Yup. David Prowse was - as the chinese say, having one leg on 2 boats!!!! While filming Star Wars, he was oso the Green Cross Man!
And altho his voice was dubbed out of the Star Wars movie (rumour has it that he din know until he saw the movie!!!!! Poor guy. But Darth Vader wif a Scottish accent???), you can now hear his voice as the Green Cross Man! Just go to this website and click on the "Watch the film" link!!!
David who?
David Prowse - the original man behind the Darth Vader mask!!!!!
Well, according to IMDB, not much really. He was in town a couple of weeks back for a collectors' fair - to sign autographs (each autograph is charged, of course!! He has to make a living somehow...).
Anyways, here's proof that Darth Vader was actually a superhero in disguise!!!! He was the Green Cross Man!!!!
The Gre... what????
Check out this comic strip taken from BBC News online:-
Yup. David Prowse was - as the chinese say, having one leg on 2 boats!!!! While filming Star Wars, he was oso the Green Cross Man!
And altho his voice was dubbed out of the Star Wars movie (rumour has it that he din know until he saw the movie!!!!! Poor guy. But Darth Vader wif a Scottish accent???), you can now hear his voice as the Green Cross Man! Just go to this website and click on the "Watch the film" link!!!
Monday, February 27, 2006
Amazing - George Michael
I really shud be studying...
One thing people would notice when they entered me room at Marley Hall years ago was that me walls were covered will all kinds of posters and pictures. One poster would stand out among the rest - it was a poster of George Michael!
Hey, come on - i am that old. And i was from that generation!!!!
Of course, good ol George (actually, Georgios Panaytiotou) got into the news for all the wrong reasons... again! Yeah, he got caught in possession of class C drugs (the lowest category, which includes stuff like cannabis, steriods and valium).
Well, credit to him - he admitted to it and says that it's all his own fault! (Read about it here)
I've been a George Michael fan for as long as i can remember. I basically grew up wif him - from his Wham! days right up til his bitter battle wif Sony. To me, George has had an amazing career.
When i was a lil kid, he started off in true pop style in Wham! I mean, this is pop as it shud be - sugary, fun, infectious! Even today, radio stations still play "Last Christmas" every December. And who can ever forget tunes like "Wake me up before you go go", "Freedom" and "Everything she wants"?
George's first foray into a solo career brought forth wat is to some people, the best pop song ever - "Careless Whisper"! We simply loved that song back then - the brilliant sax solo and the cool bass line! And George showed that he was more than just an entertainer - he is a singer! How many of us would try (and fail miserably) to emulate his falsetto in Careless Whisper!
His move into a solo career coincide wif me becoming a teenager (yes, yes, i am that old!!!). It was brilliant how he reinvented himself from the teeny-booper to a serious singer - but still maintaining that pop edge to his songs. His solo album won him a Grammy for best album. And wat an album it was - Faith! No more the clean cut fella from Wham! Here is the unshaven (designer stubbles, mind you) leather clad guy wif his guitar! Faith also went to show and prove that this guy can write and this guy can sing - "Kissing a fool" is evidence of his wonderful vocals.
George then went a step further - he went on to reinvent himself again (this was when i was in Pre-U - yeah, form 6) by coming out wif "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1", his most "adult" album. It showed George in a very serious mood, and wanting to be taken seriously! The first single, "Freedom 90" basically testified to that - he wanted to be free from his pop image of the Wham! days. He wanted people to listen to him without prejudice!
Unfortunately for the world of music, we never got the chance to listen to "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 2". It never came. George wanted to be free from his recording contract with Sony. At that time when he was fighting out his case in London, i was there too, studying law. We were dismayed to find that he lost - and in reatliation, George refused to record another album for Sony. As he was not allowed to go to any other label while the contract wif Sony was still running, the world was deprived of George's brilliance!
We satisfied ourselves wif his old songs. In 1993, The top song for Capital FM's Top 500 songs of the year went to Goerge Michael's Careless Whisper! Yeah, 9 years after it hit no. 1, it remained a favourite among the Londoners.
George was back again with "Older" (when i was a pupil in chmabers) and recently, "Patience" (just after i "retired") - but he was one who knew when his sell-by date has passed. Not everyone can be like Madonna - who never fails to reinvent herself over and over again! George was quick to admit that his style and music is no longer relevant to this generation - so even tho people like me who thought that songs like "Amazing" is truly amazing, we have to resign ourselves to the fact that we probably won't get anymore new material from this brilliant artiste.
Sure, many can condemn him for the mistakes he has made - and still continues to make. But no one can deny that this is one talented person. And no one has made stubbles look sooooooooo cool!
The news report in BBC ended with this remark, "Despite his low points, Michael is one of the UK's most successful artists of all time, selling more than 85m records worldwide."
Now that's amazing!
One thing people would notice when they entered me room at Marley Hall years ago was that me walls were covered will all kinds of posters and pictures. One poster would stand out among the rest - it was a poster of George Michael!
Hey, come on - i am that old. And i was from that generation!!!!
Of course, good ol George (actually, Georgios Panaytiotou) got into the news for all the wrong reasons... again! Yeah, he got caught in possession of class C drugs (the lowest category, which includes stuff like cannabis, steriods and valium).
Well, credit to him - he admitted to it and says that it's all his own fault! (Read about it here)
I've been a George Michael fan for as long as i can remember. I basically grew up wif him - from his Wham! days right up til his bitter battle wif Sony. To me, George has had an amazing career.
When i was a lil kid, he started off in true pop style in Wham! I mean, this is pop as it shud be - sugary, fun, infectious! Even today, radio stations still play "Last Christmas" every December. And who can ever forget tunes like "Wake me up before you go go", "Freedom" and "Everything she wants"?
George's first foray into a solo career brought forth wat is to some people, the best pop song ever - "Careless Whisper"! We simply loved that song back then - the brilliant sax solo and the cool bass line! And George showed that he was more than just an entertainer - he is a singer! How many of us would try (and fail miserably) to emulate his falsetto in Careless Whisper!
His move into a solo career coincide wif me becoming a teenager (yes, yes, i am that old!!!). It was brilliant how he reinvented himself from the teeny-booper to a serious singer - but still maintaining that pop edge to his songs. His solo album won him a Grammy for best album. And wat an album it was - Faith! No more the clean cut fella from Wham! Here is the unshaven (designer stubbles, mind you) leather clad guy wif his guitar! Faith also went to show and prove that this guy can write and this guy can sing - "Kissing a fool" is evidence of his wonderful vocals.
George then went a step further - he went on to reinvent himself again (this was when i was in Pre-U - yeah, form 6) by coming out wif "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1", his most "adult" album. It showed George in a very serious mood, and wanting to be taken seriously! The first single, "Freedom 90" basically testified to that - he wanted to be free from his pop image of the Wham! days. He wanted people to listen to him without prejudice!
Unfortunately for the world of music, we never got the chance to listen to "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 2". It never came. George wanted to be free from his recording contract with Sony. At that time when he was fighting out his case in London, i was there too, studying law. We were dismayed to find that he lost - and in reatliation, George refused to record another album for Sony. As he was not allowed to go to any other label while the contract wif Sony was still running, the world was deprived of George's brilliance!
We satisfied ourselves wif his old songs. In 1993, The top song for Capital FM's Top 500 songs of the year went to Goerge Michael's Careless Whisper! Yeah, 9 years after it hit no. 1, it remained a favourite among the Londoners.
George was back again with "Older" (when i was a pupil in chmabers) and recently, "Patience" (just after i "retired") - but he was one who knew when his sell-by date has passed. Not everyone can be like Madonna - who never fails to reinvent herself over and over again! George was quick to admit that his style and music is no longer relevant to this generation - so even tho people like me who thought that songs like "Amazing" is truly amazing, we have to resign ourselves to the fact that we probably won't get anymore new material from this brilliant artiste.
Sure, many can condemn him for the mistakes he has made - and still continues to make. But no one can deny that this is one talented person. And no one has made stubbles look sooooooooo cool!
The news report in BBC ended with this remark, "Despite his low points, Michael is one of the UK's most successful artists of all time, selling more than 85m records worldwide."
Now that's amazing!
Do you sleep? - Lisa Loeb
Man, what a week-end! i slept soooooooo much!!!!
People used to tease me saying that i've a love affair wif me bed! Well, that's true! Except that now, i'm cheating on me bed!!!! Muahahaha! Yeah, i'm sleeping on a different bed - 20 kgs was all i was allowed to take over here so i had to leave me bed behind!!!! I still see me bed once in a while - via the webcam in me old room at Subang - and me bed has been faithful to me!
Anyways.... on Saturday, i finally got out of bed at around 3:30 pm! I thought that i'll be up all nite that nite. Nope. By 11 sumthing, i was oredi sleeping! It was meant to be a short nap - but it became a deep sleep! Before i knew it, it was almost noon on Sunday!!!! (i attend the evening services - just in case some church leaders read this...).
By 9 pm, i was oredi in bed again!!!! But thank goodness i dragged meself up to check if me mate, Markus was back - as i needed his sleeping bag. He was. So i just threw on a t-shirt and a jacket on me sleeping clothes, put on me shoes and went over. He can testify how lethargic i was. The funny thing was that by the time i got back, i felt fresher! It must have been the cold nite wind.
In the end, i stayed up chatting wif Michael til 3 sumthing and then studied for a bit til around 5 pm.
I slept all the way til i was awoken by a text message. It read:-
"If many mad men managed many mild mannered moose, how many mad men might mind managing a million medium mannered moose monthly? ;P"
What the @#*#@!&*#@*!@#....????????
What interesting mates i have! ;-P
In any event, it was time to wake up.
p/s - The answer: As many mad men not mad enought not to mind managing a million medium mannered moose monthly!!!!
People used to tease me saying that i've a love affair wif me bed! Well, that's true! Except that now, i'm cheating on me bed!!!! Muahahaha! Yeah, i'm sleeping on a different bed - 20 kgs was all i was allowed to take over here so i had to leave me bed behind!!!! I still see me bed once in a while - via the webcam in me old room at Subang - and me bed has been faithful to me!
Anyways.... on Saturday, i finally got out of bed at around 3:30 pm! I thought that i'll be up all nite that nite. Nope. By 11 sumthing, i was oredi sleeping! It was meant to be a short nap - but it became a deep sleep! Before i knew it, it was almost noon on Sunday!!!! (i attend the evening services - just in case some church leaders read this...).
By 9 pm, i was oredi in bed again!!!! But thank goodness i dragged meself up to check if me mate, Markus was back - as i needed his sleeping bag. He was. So i just threw on a t-shirt and a jacket on me sleeping clothes, put on me shoes and went over. He can testify how lethargic i was. The funny thing was that by the time i got back, i felt fresher! It must have been the cold nite wind.
In the end, i stayed up chatting wif Michael til 3 sumthing and then studied for a bit til around 5 pm.
I slept all the way til i was awoken by a text message. It read:-
"If many mad men managed many mild mannered moose, how many mad men might mind managing a million medium mannered moose monthly? ;P"
What the @#*#@!&*#@*!@#....????????
What interesting mates i have! ;-P
In any event, it was time to wake up.
p/s - The answer: As many mad men not mad enought not to mind managing a million medium mannered moose monthly!!!!
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Don't stop me now - Queen
"I don't understand you. You have so many work to be done. Yet, you always have the time to blog. Guess some ppl are just good in managing their time."
That's wat one of me mates said to me in an e-mail not too long ago.
Well, i MUST correct her, tho - i'm NOT good at managing my time. Far from it! I'm just good at not being able to discipline meself. :-(
I enjoy blogging. It's a great way to express meself. In fact, i have to say that i blog mainly for meself - i mean i know some people blog for their "fans". Others do it to speak out on some issues and be heard. Me? I just blog about watever i feel and want to!
So anyways, guess wat? I've started ANOTHER BLOG!!!!!
Yeah, you can check it out by clicking on the following link:-
Backpacking in Britain
Enjoy. I know I will! :-)
That's wat one of me mates said to me in an e-mail not too long ago.
Well, i MUST correct her, tho - i'm NOT good at managing my time. Far from it! I'm just good at not being able to discipline meself. :-(
I enjoy blogging. It's a great way to express meself. In fact, i have to say that i blog mainly for meself - i mean i know some people blog for their "fans". Others do it to speak out on some issues and be heard. Me? I just blog about watever i feel and want to!
So anyways, guess wat? I've started ANOTHER BLOG!!!!!
Yeah, you can check it out by clicking on the following link:-
Backpacking in Britain
Enjoy. I know I will! :-)
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Bring me to life - Evanescence
Some of you old foggies will remember George Michael when he was still in the pop group "Wham!", singing "Wake me up before you go-go", wearing his all white outfit wif the words "Choose Life" written on his t-shirt.
Those who are not so old will remember Ewan McGregor - before he was strong in the force - as a drug addict in Glasgow who at the end of the movie, "Trainspotting", exhorts that we Choose Life!
Well, last nite i watched a movie (yes another one!!!!) which had the same theme - it was a Jap anime screened by the Jap Society (they have free screenings every Friday nite). It was simply awesome! The English name of the anime is "Mind Game".
Screenshot from the movie* - note wat is written on the mobile screen
It is anime as i've never seen before - it uses all the tricks in the books! But it's not just that they "rojak"-ed it. It was done really well! Different styles to depict different moods. I just cant explain it - you have to see it to understand.
What really impressed me most were the angles used for each scene - very unconventional but very well done. As an anime feature, it is not limited by the placement of cameras and thus it takes you to views that is not possible if using the conventional style (altho wif the computers these days, the same can be achieved).
Of course it has it's fair share of violence (at the beginning only) and humour. There's this hilarious scene where he meets "God" - and there's the brilliant scene when he tries to run out of a whale!!!!!! You read that correctly!!! I wont go into details! Surely one is not meant to take some things too seriously.
But the message was clear - no matter who you are, you can still choose to live your life to its fullest! Seize the day. Carpe diem. Make the best of it.
After all, Jesus did say that he came that we may have life, and to have it to the full!
OK - time for my 3rd movie of the week-end! ;-P Let's see wat DVDs i have...
Those who are not so old will remember Ewan McGregor - before he was strong in the force - as a drug addict in Glasgow who at the end of the movie, "Trainspotting", exhorts that we Choose Life!
Well, last nite i watched a movie (yes another one!!!!) which had the same theme - it was a Jap anime screened by the Jap Society (they have free screenings every Friday nite). It was simply awesome! The English name of the anime is "Mind Game".
Screenshot from the movie* - note wat is written on the mobile screen
It is anime as i've never seen before - it uses all the tricks in the books! But it's not just that they "rojak"-ed it. It was done really well! Different styles to depict different moods. I just cant explain it - you have to see it to understand.
What really impressed me most were the angles used for each scene - very unconventional but very well done. As an anime feature, it is not limited by the placement of cameras and thus it takes you to views that is not possible if using the conventional style (altho wif the computers these days, the same can be achieved).
Of course it has it's fair share of violence (at the beginning only) and humour. There's this hilarious scene where he meets "God" - and there's the brilliant scene when he tries to run out of a whale!!!!!! You read that correctly!!! I wont go into details! Surely one is not meant to take some things too seriously.
But the message was clear - no matter who you are, you can still choose to live your life to its fullest! Seize the day. Carpe diem. Make the best of it.
After all, Jesus did say that he came that we may have life, and to have it to the full!
OK - time for my 3rd movie of the week-end! ;-P Let's see wat DVDs i have...
*pic obtained from Wikipedia - kindly note the rules on use
Africa - Toto
It's movie time again! Hey, it is the weekend!!!!
I'm actually on a roll here cuz i'vebeen watching good movie after good movie during the weekends. 2 weeks ago was "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang". Last week was "Munich". This week is "The Constant Gardener".
The title will not give you any clue of wat the movie is about!!!*
This movie won the most number of nominations in the recent BAFTA Awards in London. It oso turned out to be the biggest loser - no thanks to a couple of gay cowboys and a Taiwanese director! It only won 1 award - for best editing - despite garnering 10 nominations.
Still, dun let it's failure to pick up awards deter you from watching this excellent movie! Just before i started watching it, i was feeling pretty tired and sleepy. But once i started, i became wide awake and intrigued! And mind you, this is not an action movie!!!
First and foremost, it stars Ralph Fiennes (pronounced as "Rafe Fines") and the lovely Rachel Weisz.
The former is no doubt one of the most brilliant actors today. Who can forget him as the evil German officer, Amon, who used Jews as target practice? And he should have won the Oscar for best actor in his splendid performance in Quiz Show!
It is no big spoiler that Rachel Weisz's character, the wife of Ralph Fiennes's character, dies in the movie - this was revealed very very early on in the movie. Here is wat Richard Corliss of the Times Magazine said:-
Toward the start of his new film The Constant Gardener, Ralph Fiennes, as Justin Quayle, a British diplomat stationed in Kenya, is told that his young wife Tessa may have been killed while on a research trip with another man. As the camera holds on him, searching for a reaction, Fiennes doesn't conjure up a rage or a gasp. He doesn't gush a stream of tears or obscenities. He moves hardly at all. Yet alert viewers will see his pale face turn a shade ashen. They will watch his spirit sink as he struggles to retain propriety. Somehow a symphony of grief, suspicion and copelessness plays lightly on his sharp, elegant features. "You can see what he's thinking, on his face," says Rachel Weisz, who plays Tessa with an ornery passion that complements Fiennes' implosive delicacy. "It's an incredible shot, almost a minute long, and you can see a thousand different thoughts cross his mind. There's a transparency to him." Indeed, an interior transparency. Subtly, he shows us an MRI of a decent man's heart at the moment it breaks.
As for Weisz, how can such a lovely actress do any wrong? ;-P Ok, ok, i'm biased towards women who speak wif an English accent!
Secondly, the movie was set mainly in Africa. And it really captures Africa so well - in the opinion of one who has never been there before! Despite the scenes of the slump areas which are the homes of the locals there, i was drawn to the place - and a desire welled up inside me to add Africa to my list of must-visit-places-before-i-die! The people, the colours, the landscape - brilliant!
Finally, the plot - i actually watched the movie without any prior knowledge of wat it is all about. I would therefore recommend to you - in spite of my spoiler-free-post - to stop reading now!!!!
But if you wanna know, read on! I was surprised that the movie had a direct tie-in with one of the subjects which i have been learning in me course - the right to health and the role of private pharmacuetical companies. Yes, this movie highlights the need of the people in Africa for medication and medicare - and how they are exploited. I will stop there so as not to inadvertantly post some spoilers here.
As one reviewer said, this movie has it all - love story, thriller, and social message. And it works because it was very well done!
I'm actually on a roll here cuz i'vebeen watching good movie after good movie during the weekends. 2 weeks ago was "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang". Last week was "Munich". This week is "The Constant Gardener".
The title will not give you any clue of wat the movie is about!!!*
This movie won the most number of nominations in the recent BAFTA Awards in London. It oso turned out to be the biggest loser - no thanks to a couple of gay cowboys and a Taiwanese director! It only won 1 award - for best editing - despite garnering 10 nominations.
Still, dun let it's failure to pick up awards deter you from watching this excellent movie! Just before i started watching it, i was feeling pretty tired and sleepy. But once i started, i became wide awake and intrigued! And mind you, this is not an action movie!!!
First and foremost, it stars Ralph Fiennes (pronounced as "Rafe Fines") and the lovely Rachel Weisz.
The former is no doubt one of the most brilliant actors today. Who can forget him as the evil German officer, Amon, who used Jews as target practice? And he should have won the Oscar for best actor in his splendid performance in Quiz Show!
It is no big spoiler that Rachel Weisz's character, the wife of Ralph Fiennes's character, dies in the movie - this was revealed very very early on in the movie. Here is wat Richard Corliss of the Times Magazine said:-
Toward the start of his new film The Constant Gardener, Ralph Fiennes, as Justin Quayle, a British diplomat stationed in Kenya, is told that his young wife Tessa may have been killed while on a research trip with another man. As the camera holds on him, searching for a reaction, Fiennes doesn't conjure up a rage or a gasp. He doesn't gush a stream of tears or obscenities. He moves hardly at all. Yet alert viewers will see his pale face turn a shade ashen. They will watch his spirit sink as he struggles to retain propriety. Somehow a symphony of grief, suspicion and copelessness plays lightly on his sharp, elegant features. "You can see what he's thinking, on his face," says Rachel Weisz, who plays Tessa with an ornery passion that complements Fiennes' implosive delicacy. "It's an incredible shot, almost a minute long, and you can see a thousand different thoughts cross his mind. There's a transparency to him." Indeed, an interior transparency. Subtly, he shows us an MRI of a decent man's heart at the moment it breaks.
As for Weisz, how can such a lovely actress do any wrong? ;-P Ok, ok, i'm biased towards women who speak wif an English accent!
Secondly, the movie was set mainly in Africa. And it really captures Africa so well - in the opinion of one who has never been there before! Despite the scenes of the slump areas which are the homes of the locals there, i was drawn to the place - and a desire welled up inside me to add Africa to my list of must-visit-places-before-i-die! The people, the colours, the landscape - brilliant!
Finally, the plot - i actually watched the movie without any prior knowledge of wat it is all about. I would therefore recommend to you - in spite of my spoiler-free-post - to stop reading now!!!!
But if you wanna know, read on! I was surprised that the movie had a direct tie-in with one of the subjects which i have been learning in me course - the right to health and the role of private pharmacuetical companies. Yes, this movie highlights the need of the people in Africa for medication and medicare - and how they are exploited. I will stop there so as not to inadvertantly post some spoilers here.
As one reviewer said, this movie has it all - love story, thriller, and social message. And it works because it was very well done!
*poster obtained from a link at IMDB
I'm alive - Electric Light Orchestra
Ever woke up on a day when you just feel sooooooooo alive?
Well, today is one of those days for me! :-)
The sun was up when i woke up - it normally is at around 3 pm everyday!!!! ;-P And it was shinning at "full blast"!!!!
Blaze of glory...
Wat a truly brilliant day!!!! I was feeling envious at me flatmate Michael who is down in London today. Lovely weather to be out!
The shadow of Rayleigh Tower
It almost seemed like the sun was apologetic about its lack of work during the week which saw snow, rain, clouds, sleet, rain - so the sun decided to just work extra hard today! :-) After the gloomy weather earlier in the week, the sun really raises up the spirit!
But it was more than just the weather!!!! For the first time since last weekend, i actually got out of bed when i wanted to - and not when when i had to!!!! So that explains me having me breakfast at around 4 pm!
Not only did i get hours and hours of sleep, i went to sleep last nite well-prepared (read my previous post entitled Hero) - got me thermal underwear out wif me woolem socks! Quite a nice comfy and warm sleep me had! :-)
On top of all that, it's Saturday today! Woohoo! Me official day of rest! No studies watsoever today! It oso felt good that i did quite a lot of studying during the week and late last nite, i finally got me outline for me research essay out!
p/s: for more sunny pics - including pics of me (fat? scrawny?) face - click here.
Well, today is one of those days for me! :-)
The sun was up when i woke up - it normally is at around 3 pm everyday!!!! ;-P And it was shinning at "full blast"!!!!
Blaze of glory...
Wat a truly brilliant day!!!! I was feeling envious at me flatmate Michael who is down in London today. Lovely weather to be out!
The shadow of Rayleigh Tower
It almost seemed like the sun was apologetic about its lack of work during the week which saw snow, rain, clouds, sleet, rain - so the sun decided to just work extra hard today! :-) After the gloomy weather earlier in the week, the sun really raises up the spirit!
But it was more than just the weather!!!! For the first time since last weekend, i actually got out of bed when i wanted to - and not when when i had to!!!! So that explains me having me breakfast at around 4 pm!
Not only did i get hours and hours of sleep, i went to sleep last nite well-prepared (read my previous post entitled Hero) - got me thermal underwear out wif me woolem socks! Quite a nice comfy and warm sleep me had! :-)
On top of all that, it's Saturday today! Woohoo! Me official day of rest! No studies watsoever today! It oso felt good that i did quite a lot of studying during the week and late last nite, i finally got me outline for me research essay out!
It's a happy day, and I praise God for the weather!
p/s: for more sunny pics - including pics of me (fat? scrawny?) face - click here.
The End of the World - The Carpenters
The was some frantic knocking on me door.
It was Michael - from the look on his face, i knew sumthing bad has happenned.
It did!!!!
DC++ has been shut down for copyright issues!!
For those who do not know wat DC++ is, basically, it is the internal file sharing programme we have among ourselves on campus.
But wat really tickled me was Michael's reaction!!!! he was absolutely devastated! I was laughing away! After all, this will only mean that we now have more time to study and less distractions in our lives. i kept reminding Michael that we are here to get our Masters!!!
It wasn't much comfort to him! He went on and on about the movies which he hasn't downloaded, the future episodes of 24 and Desperate Housewives etc!!!
"It's not like it's the end of the world...", i said.
"It is!!!!!!!" he replied!
:-)
OK - so i won't get to watch Lost anymore. But i'll do better in me research essay now!!!! Hehehe...
In any event, i'm sure they'll get it up again in a couple of weeks after lying low for a while! Hopefully, they won't do it til the end of the term! ;-P
It was Michael - from the look on his face, i knew sumthing bad has happenned.
It did!!!!
DC++ has been shut down for copyright issues!!
For those who do not know wat DC++ is, basically, it is the internal file sharing programme we have among ourselves on campus.
But wat really tickled me was Michael's reaction!!!! he was absolutely devastated! I was laughing away! After all, this will only mean that we now have more time to study and less distractions in our lives. i kept reminding Michael that we are here to get our Masters!!!
It wasn't much comfort to him! He went on and on about the movies which he hasn't downloaded, the future episodes of 24 and Desperate Housewives etc!!!
"It's not like it's the end of the world...", i said.
"It is!!!!!!!" he replied!
:-)
OK - so i won't get to watch Lost anymore. But i'll do better in me research essay now!!!! Hehehe...
In any event, i'm sure they'll get it up again in a couple of weeks after lying low for a while! Hopefully, they won't do it til the end of the term! ;-P
Friday, February 24, 2006
In his mind - Debbie Gibson
I was day dreaming during class today!
Surprised? Well, you shud be if u had read my earlier post singing the high praises of me lecturers!!!!
Well, i still sing their high praises! Just on Monday, we had this lecturer who just sat down in front of us and started lecturing. Suddenly, he said that he'll give us a 5 minute break! I was puzzled until i glanced at me watch - he had been lecturing for an hour oredi!!!!! Yet, it felt ike it was only 20 or 30 mins! Me coursemate saw the look on me face and admitted that the lecturer was pretty engaging!
Anyways, we had a guest lecturer today. he wasn't too bad. But it was when we had an open discussion that my mind started to wander...
OK - wif all due respect to me course mates - and i do have very high respect for them - sometimes, the discussion can get a bit dreary. Most of them are still young and quite a number do not have any legal background.
So there i was, sitting in the corner of the room, looking interested - but in me mind, i was sitting on top of a boat going steadily up the longest river in Malaysia - the mighty Rejang!!!!
Going up river!
I was reminiscing about me trip to East Malaysia last year. One of the highlights was travelling up the river - and shooting the rapids while sitting on top of the boat! It was exhilarating!
Maybe it's the cold weather but as i sat in class this morning, i was longing to be on top of that boat again - with the sun blazing down on me (had extremely bad sun burn after that) but not feeling the heat so much cuz of the wind blowing unceasingly all the way, being in the middle of the jungle, far away from civilisation, where life was just so simple!
Oh, it was in Kapit - a small village along the river - that i took some of the most wonderful sunset pics:-
Glorious sunset, isn't it?!
Surprised? Well, you shud be if u had read my earlier post singing the high praises of me lecturers!!!!
Well, i still sing their high praises! Just on Monday, we had this lecturer who just sat down in front of us and started lecturing. Suddenly, he said that he'll give us a 5 minute break! I was puzzled until i glanced at me watch - he had been lecturing for an hour oredi!!!!! Yet, it felt ike it was only 20 or 30 mins! Me coursemate saw the look on me face and admitted that the lecturer was pretty engaging!
Anyways, we had a guest lecturer today. he wasn't too bad. But it was when we had an open discussion that my mind started to wander...
OK - wif all due respect to me course mates - and i do have very high respect for them - sometimes, the discussion can get a bit dreary. Most of them are still young and quite a number do not have any legal background.
So there i was, sitting in the corner of the room, looking interested - but in me mind, i was sitting on top of a boat going steadily up the longest river in Malaysia - the mighty Rejang!!!!
Going up river!
I was reminiscing about me trip to East Malaysia last year. One of the highlights was travelling up the river - and shooting the rapids while sitting on top of the boat! It was exhilarating!
Maybe it's the cold weather but as i sat in class this morning, i was longing to be on top of that boat again - with the sun blazing down on me (had extremely bad sun burn after that) but not feeling the heat so much cuz of the wind blowing unceasingly all the way, being in the middle of the jungle, far away from civilisation, where life was just so simple!
Oh, it was in Kapit - a small village along the river - that i took some of the most wonderful sunset pics:-
Glorious sunset, isn't it?!
I guess another reason for my wandering mind was due to the fact that i had like around 4 hours of sleep only... The bed looks so nice now. Too bad there's no duvet... Nevertheless, goodnite!!!
Hero - Mariah Carey
Man, it was cold this morning!!!!! What made it worse was that i din have me duvet wif me!!!!!
You see, Michael have some frens over and i - like hero lah - offered to lend them my duvet! I was so sure i'll be fine without it. The weather has been getting warmer - in fact, last week, one of me coursemate was commenting that "Spring has sprung"!!!! Some nites, i'd wake up in sweat - not like the waking up in sweat kind that u get in M'sia, tho.
But winter has returned wif a vengence this week. I woke up last morning to find to snowing heavily! This week itself has been raining, snowing, sleeting, hailing - the works!
Still, i thought that it'd be OK. Anyways, i can always close me windows (i normally sleep wif them opened) and turn up the heater (i normally sleep wif that turned down too - Marley Hall style*). And i do have a "borrowed" blanket from MAS (no, no, no, not me who took it!!!!).
Man, was i wrong! It was C O L D!!!!! When i woke up this morning, i immediately e-mail another mate to ask for his sleeping bag. He said OK but he'll be using it this weekend, tho! Oh, no!!!!!
Michael's mates will be around til next Wed or Thurs.
It's so cliched but i guess u dun appreciate wat u have til it's gone! I promise to treat me duvet much better when i get it back!!! ;-P
It's gonna be a cold weekend!!!!!! :-(
But no worries. will prolly just wear me woolen pullover and socks to sleep!
* in the past, the heater in Marley Hall, UEL, will be turned off close to midnite and be turned back on at around 6 am. Their reasoning is that they'd expect us all to be tucked in under our duvets and hence, have no need for the heater. I guess it saves the Uni money!!!! But even now, i sleep wif it turned down cuz it can get extremely dry!
You see, Michael have some frens over and i - like hero lah - offered to lend them my duvet! I was so sure i'll be fine without it. The weather has been getting warmer - in fact, last week, one of me coursemate was commenting that "Spring has sprung"!!!! Some nites, i'd wake up in sweat - not like the waking up in sweat kind that u get in M'sia, tho.
But winter has returned wif a vengence this week. I woke up last morning to find to snowing heavily! This week itself has been raining, snowing, sleeting, hailing - the works!
Still, i thought that it'd be OK. Anyways, i can always close me windows (i normally sleep wif them opened) and turn up the heater (i normally sleep wif that turned down too - Marley Hall style*). And i do have a "borrowed" blanket from MAS (no, no, no, not me who took it!!!!).
Man, was i wrong! It was C O L D!!!!! When i woke up this morning, i immediately e-mail another mate to ask for his sleeping bag. He said OK but he'll be using it this weekend, tho! Oh, no!!!!!
Michael's mates will be around til next Wed or Thurs.
It's so cliched but i guess u dun appreciate wat u have til it's gone! I promise to treat me duvet much better when i get it back!!! ;-P
It's gonna be a cold weekend!!!!!! :-(
But no worries. will prolly just wear me woolen pullover and socks to sleep!
* in the past, the heater in Marley Hall, UEL, will be turned off close to midnite and be turned back on at around 6 am. Their reasoning is that they'd expect us all to be tucked in under our duvets and hence, have no need for the heater. I guess it saves the Uni money!!!! But even now, i sleep wif it turned down cuz it can get extremely dry!
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Searching - China Black
OK - sumthing "light"-er!!!! People back home are excited over the first "evidence" of "Bigfoot"!!!!!
The pic on the left, taken from The Malay Mail, shows a member of a team from the US with the cast of wat is believed to be the footprint of the local Malaysian Bigfoot!!!! It measures 60 x 30 cm (that's almost 2 feet long!!!).
Read the report here.
Reading these reports never fail to bring a smile to my face. You see, years ago, a mate was oredi telling us about this so-called Malaysian Bigfoot in the sounthern jungles of Peninsular Malaysia - so all these recent news reports are nuthing new to us.
The locals there have been telling stories of this Bigfoot for a long long time. The best story however - which never fails to leave us in laughing uncontrallably - was the one about Bigfoot's feet!
Legend has it that his feet is actually ... man, how do i explain this??? It's backwards! That means that the heel is at the front while the toes are at the rear of the feet, pointing to the back! Really! I mean, tt's how the story goes.
So, me mate was strongly advised that if he ever sees Bigfoot's footprint, NEVER, NEVER run in the direction that is opposite from where the toes are pointing if you are trying to get away from Bigfoot! Cuz if you do, u'd end up meeting Bigfoot himself! Err.... itself!
Maybe sumone shud tell this to the yanks who are searching for Bigfoot!
The pic on the left, taken from The Malay Mail, shows a member of a team from the US with the cast of wat is believed to be the footprint of the local Malaysian Bigfoot!!!! It measures 60 x 30 cm (that's almost 2 feet long!!!).Read the report here.
Reading these reports never fail to bring a smile to my face. You see, years ago, a mate was oredi telling us about this so-called Malaysian Bigfoot in the sounthern jungles of Peninsular Malaysia - so all these recent news reports are nuthing new to us.
The locals there have been telling stories of this Bigfoot for a long long time. The best story however - which never fails to leave us in laughing uncontrallably - was the one about Bigfoot's feet!
Legend has it that his feet is actually ... man, how do i explain this??? It's backwards! That means that the heel is at the front while the toes are at the rear of the feet, pointing to the back! Really! I mean, tt's how the story goes.
So, me mate was strongly advised that if he ever sees Bigfoot's footprint, NEVER, NEVER run in the direction that is opposite from where the toes are pointing if you are trying to get away from Bigfoot! Cuz if you do, u'd end up meeting Bigfoot himself! Err.... itself!
Maybe sumone shud tell this to the yanks who are searching for Bigfoot!
A different beat - Boyzone
I respect people's views - even if it does not make any sense to me. Or even if i totally and strongly disagree wif them. It's their view and they have the right to hold such view.
What drives me up the wall is when these views shift! Yeah, i'm talking about double standards. I totally lose respect for such a person. I mean, make up yr mind and stick to it - or be gracious and admit you were wrong and then stick to yr new stand. Dun take a stand and change it as when you like to suit your own interest.
Yeah, i'm talking about the Chelsea FC's coach.
In a typical lawyerly fashion, lemme say first how much i respect him as a coach (and his taste for clothes - nice coat, Jose!). Chelsea did extremely well last nite - there were so many moments when Barca fans (and those who were supporting Barca for that match - yours truly included) groaned in disbelief when time and time again, the Chelsea defence seemed to defy the odds and kept the ball out of their net!
But his latest tirade has gone too far. The papers today are filed wif views of people about it. I was surprised at how many were complaining against his reaction. They say that he's just a sore loser, needing to find someone else to blame whenever he loses. Even some Chelsea fans wrote in to voice their embarrassment over the latest incident (to you non-footie fans, read the post-script in me previous post for context).
What really irked me - and a whole load of others - is the hypocrissy in the whole thing. The double standards. He complained about how the Barca player "acted". What about his own player? Del Horno looked like he sufferred a heart-attack (according to one paper) and then made a miraculous recovery when he was given the red card!
Of course, just like me, many others highlighted the Robben-Reina incident a couple of weeks ago (which all agreed was far, far worse) - and when Benitez rued about it, Jose implied that the former was just sour grapes. Well, look who's talking now?
You can't have one standard for your own players and another one for players of team who beat you fairly. Be consistent. I'm not asking him to speak out publicly against his own players, of course. But he could keep quiet about other players - and not be like the pot calling the kettle black!
I'm pretty worked out over this cuz of another incident back home. I was reading this local blogger from M'sia when i found the link on a mate's blog. He's supposed to be one of the best. Well, IMHO, he's not. I was utterly disgusted. All this fella does is just sensationalise matters regarding the govt and highlights gossips - for the sake of just that, nothing else! As bad - or even worse than tabloids!
What made it worse was his apparent double standards too! Two incidents highlighted this:-
1. There was this post about M'sian University students being involved in politics. At first, he seemed to be speaking out against the ridiculous law we have back home which prohibits such involvement. But then in the same post, he complains about certain political parties (of which he is obviously against since those parties are part of the coalition govt party) being allegedly involved in M'sian students' activities in the UK!!!!
So wat is it now? Are you against the law prohibiting political involment? Or are you for it when it involves the political parties which you dun like??? Dun blow hot and cold. Make a stand! As Russell Peters sadi "Be a man! Do the right thing!!!!!!" :-P
2. There has been 2 earlier incidents back home involving the disciplining of newspapers over the Dannish Cartoons. of course, our fren has been blogging about it, speaking out against the government, advocating freedom of the press etc.
This week, another local paper (which many feel is govt runned) published a comic which in sum way is connected to the reactions of the Muslims over the Danish Cartoon incident.
Now our good fren started hitting out at this paper and indirectly called for it to be disciplined just like the other earlier 2. Why? he doesn't like the paper cuz he feels it's govt biaised!
But wat about all the free press thingy he was preaching about earlier????
And how can he complain of the insensitivities of the newspaper for publishing that comic when he himself republished it in his blog????????
So when it's govt-backed newspapers, they gotta pay for it. If it's not govt-backed papers, they dun!
I'm glad to read from the comments to his blog that i'm not the only one who is seeing this double standards and hypocrissy. One blogger puts it so well when he said that even if he din like the allegedly govt-based papers, this issue is bigger than that - it's about press freedom! You may win this small battle by getting that newspaper into trouble but you lose the war on the larger issue - govt clamping down on the press.
But i guess our fren is just so caught up to speak out against the govt and those associated wif the govt that perhaps he doesnt see how poorly he has potrayed himself over the recent incidents.
What drives me up the wall is when these views shift! Yeah, i'm talking about double standards. I totally lose respect for such a person. I mean, make up yr mind and stick to it - or be gracious and admit you were wrong and then stick to yr new stand. Dun take a stand and change it as when you like to suit your own interest.
Yeah, i'm talking about the Chelsea FC's coach.
In a typical lawyerly fashion, lemme say first how much i respect him as a coach (and his taste for clothes - nice coat, Jose!). Chelsea did extremely well last nite - there were so many moments when Barca fans (and those who were supporting Barca for that match - yours truly included) groaned in disbelief when time and time again, the Chelsea defence seemed to defy the odds and kept the ball out of their net!
But his latest tirade has gone too far. The papers today are filed wif views of people about it. I was surprised at how many were complaining against his reaction. They say that he's just a sore loser, needing to find someone else to blame whenever he loses. Even some Chelsea fans wrote in to voice their embarrassment over the latest incident (to you non-footie fans, read the post-script in me previous post for context).
What really irked me - and a whole load of others - is the hypocrissy in the whole thing. The double standards. He complained about how the Barca player "acted". What about his own player? Del Horno looked like he sufferred a heart-attack (according to one paper) and then made a miraculous recovery when he was given the red card!
Of course, just like me, many others highlighted the Robben-Reina incident a couple of weeks ago (which all agreed was far, far worse) - and when Benitez rued about it, Jose implied that the former was just sour grapes. Well, look who's talking now?
You can't have one standard for your own players and another one for players of team who beat you fairly. Be consistent. I'm not asking him to speak out publicly against his own players, of course. But he could keep quiet about other players - and not be like the pot calling the kettle black!
I'm pretty worked out over this cuz of another incident back home. I was reading this local blogger from M'sia when i found the link on a mate's blog. He's supposed to be one of the best. Well, IMHO, he's not. I was utterly disgusted. All this fella does is just sensationalise matters regarding the govt and highlights gossips - for the sake of just that, nothing else! As bad - or even worse than tabloids!
What made it worse was his apparent double standards too! Two incidents highlighted this:-
1. There was this post about M'sian University students being involved in politics. At first, he seemed to be speaking out against the ridiculous law we have back home which prohibits such involvement. But then in the same post, he complains about certain political parties (of which he is obviously against since those parties are part of the coalition govt party) being allegedly involved in M'sian students' activities in the UK!!!!
So wat is it now? Are you against the law prohibiting political involment? Or are you for it when it involves the political parties which you dun like??? Dun blow hot and cold. Make a stand! As Russell Peters sadi "Be a man! Do the right thing!!!!!!" :-P
2. There has been 2 earlier incidents back home involving the disciplining of newspapers over the Dannish Cartoons. of course, our fren has been blogging about it, speaking out against the government, advocating freedom of the press etc.
This week, another local paper (which many feel is govt runned) published a comic which in sum way is connected to the reactions of the Muslims over the Danish Cartoon incident.
Now our good fren started hitting out at this paper and indirectly called for it to be disciplined just like the other earlier 2. Why? he doesn't like the paper cuz he feels it's govt biaised!
But wat about all the free press thingy he was preaching about earlier????
And how can he complain of the insensitivities of the newspaper for publishing that comic when he himself republished it in his blog????????
So when it's govt-backed newspapers, they gotta pay for it. If it's not govt-backed papers, they dun!
I'm glad to read from the comments to his blog that i'm not the only one who is seeing this double standards and hypocrissy. One blogger puts it so well when he said that even if he din like the allegedly govt-based papers, this issue is bigger than that - it's about press freedom! You may win this small battle by getting that newspaper into trouble but you lose the war on the larger issue - govt clamping down on the press.
But i guess our fren is just so caught up to speak out against the govt and those associated wif the govt that perhaps he doesnt see how poorly he has potrayed himself over the recent incidents.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Barcelona - Jewel
I din plan to catch the game. After all, if i was free, i would have attended Bible study instead (honest, Markus!).
So they went off, leaving me. After the whole day of attempting to study, i was tired - and there was still a lot to to cover before the seminar tomorrow. I tried to take a nap - it's gonna be another all-nighter. But couldn't sleep. I went back to me laptop and checked on the game. Oooo.... Chelsea down to 10 men!
I was tempted to go and join Michael and Alberto. After much internal struggle, i decided to do just that. After all, it was just for the 2nd half. And i have been stuck in me room all day - going out would refresh me for burning the midnite oil tonite, i rationalised!
And to be honest, i din regret it one bit! It was an awesome 2nd half! Sure there was the smoke again and i had to watch the screen in between the many heads in front of me. But wat a 2nd half!
Credit to Chelsea as they din just sit back and defend stoutly. They came out attacking and eventually got their just rewards - altho it was quite an amusing own goal by Motta!
Still, the difference was obvious in the end. It wasn't just that Barca got one extra man. It was that Barca had the man! Ronaldinho!
The man! Where can i get a florouscent yellow jersey??
He was a class above the rest! He was instrumental in both of Barca's goals - the first by sending in the freekick which Terry could only deflect it pass his own goalie, the second, by launching the counter-attack and bringing the ball quickly and strongly from his own half to the other side.
Besides that, he was just weaving his magic with the ball, at times turning the Chelsea players wif such ease that it was unbelievable. There was one occasion when Lampard and him tussled for the ball and no prizes for guessing who got the ball in the end. When that happenned, even the Chelsea fans standing next to me had to concede that "Frank is no Ronaldinho"!!!!
After all the fears about Chelsea flooding their pitch (the Mirror.co.uk wins the best headlines with "The Bridge under troubled waters"!!!!!), it turned out to be highly entertaining game in the end! Prolly the best match i've seen since i got here. We were all so into the game, biting our fingers, cheering, clapping, groaning in unison, jumping up and down etc.! When the final whistle went, all of us at the Top Bar broke out in spontaneous applause. :-)
Barca, Barca, Barca, Barca...
Now, i really need to study...
Post-script
I was just reading an amusing news report. Mourinho is furious over the red card against Del Horno. He is especially furious at Barca's player, Messi, who made a meal out of Del Horno's challenge. Well, to be honest, i did think it was a foul but not one which warranted a sending off. It's amusing cuz Mourinho was pretty silent over the Robben - Reina incident a couple of weeks ago! now he's calling fire and brimestone from heaven!!!!!
Anyways, it is good that he now knows how it feels when players make a meal of innocuous challenges just to get the other player sent off - maybe he shud advise Robben not to do the same anymore? ;-P
So they went off, leaving me. After the whole day of attempting to study, i was tired - and there was still a lot to to cover before the seminar tomorrow. I tried to take a nap - it's gonna be another all-nighter. But couldn't sleep. I went back to me laptop and checked on the game. Oooo.... Chelsea down to 10 men!
I was tempted to go and join Michael and Alberto. After much internal struggle, i decided to do just that. After all, it was just for the 2nd half. And i have been stuck in me room all day - going out would refresh me for burning the midnite oil tonite, i rationalised!
And to be honest, i din regret it one bit! It was an awesome 2nd half! Sure there was the smoke again and i had to watch the screen in between the many heads in front of me. But wat a 2nd half!
Credit to Chelsea as they din just sit back and defend stoutly. They came out attacking and eventually got their just rewards - altho it was quite an amusing own goal by Motta!
Still, the difference was obvious in the end. It wasn't just that Barca got one extra man. It was that Barca had the man! Ronaldinho!
The man! Where can i get a florouscent yellow jersey??
He was a class above the rest! He was instrumental in both of Barca's goals - the first by sending in the freekick which Terry could only deflect it pass his own goalie, the second, by launching the counter-attack and bringing the ball quickly and strongly from his own half to the other side.
Besides that, he was just weaving his magic with the ball, at times turning the Chelsea players wif such ease that it was unbelievable. There was one occasion when Lampard and him tussled for the ball and no prizes for guessing who got the ball in the end. When that happenned, even the Chelsea fans standing next to me had to concede that "Frank is no Ronaldinho"!!!!
After all the fears about Chelsea flooding their pitch (the Mirror.co.uk wins the best headlines with "The Bridge under troubled waters"!!!!!), it turned out to be highly entertaining game in the end! Prolly the best match i've seen since i got here. We were all so into the game, biting our fingers, cheering, clapping, groaning in unison, jumping up and down etc.! When the final whistle went, all of us at the Top Bar broke out in spontaneous applause. :-)
Barca, Barca, Barca, Barca...
Now, i really need to study...
Post-script
I was just reading an amusing news report. Mourinho is furious over the red card against Del Horno. He is especially furious at Barca's player, Messi, who made a meal out of Del Horno's challenge. Well, to be honest, i did think it was a foul but not one which warranted a sending off. It's amusing cuz Mourinho was pretty silent over the Robben - Reina incident a couple of weeks ago! now he's calling fire and brimestone from heaven!!!!!
Anyways, it is good that he now knows how it feels when players make a meal of innocuous challenges just to get the other player sent off - maybe he shud advise Robben not to do the same anymore? ;-P
Express yourself - Madonna
The news today is that doctors may not need to wear ties anymore! In fact, the British Medical Association here are saying that doctors should not wear ties anymore!!!
Besides being functionless, the tie is said to be a "germ factory"!!!! Read the article here. The article also traces the history of tie wearing among other things!!!
It was interesting to note some of the readers' comments at the end of the article. There was one which i agree wholeheartedly - the reader said "Unlike women, men have very little opportunity to express their personality when at work in the way they dress. Ties do give us this opportunity."
I remember when i first started working as a lowly student in chambers (affectionately known as a "chambie"!!!). I did not have that many ties - so much so that i actually had ties allocated for the day of the week!!!!
But i liked wearing ties cuz it's a way to add some colour and life to the usual black and white lawyer garbs. So the tie gives a little more to the clothes.
I take pride in my choice of ties - a colleague used to comment how me ties would match my clothes somehow - to which i'd reply "Of course!" :-) I had ties for every occasions - serious all black one which i'd wear wif me all black outfit on Good Friday, a tie wif a drawing of what looks like a "ketupat" for the Hari Raya period, another tie wif little pine trees on it for Christmas (i oso have "spring" and "autumn" ties), and a couple of Snoopy ties!!!
Some of the ties brought over - it was a difficult and painful decision to leave so many behind!!!
My fav ties are a grey Polo and a colourful UCB one (both not in pic)
And funnily, every tie i own has a story to tell! Either it had to do wif the person who gave me the tie or the place where it was purchased, or some occassion when i wore it. Like in the pic above, the tie on the top left was bought in Ipoh when i was handling a case there - which i won, of course! ;-P The tie on the top right was bought in Chester in 1994 when i was there on a tour around the UK wif me family. The autumn leaves tie (which used to be my "Tuesday tie") was given by someone special - who bought it wif her first paycheck!!!
So germs and all, u can be sure i'll be wearing ties again when go back into the working world!
Besides being functionless, the tie is said to be a "germ factory"!!!! Read the article here. The article also traces the history of tie wearing among other things!!!
It was interesting to note some of the readers' comments at the end of the article. There was one which i agree wholeheartedly - the reader said "Unlike women, men have very little opportunity to express their personality when at work in the way they dress. Ties do give us this opportunity."
I remember when i first started working as a lowly student in chambers (affectionately known as a "chambie"!!!). I did not have that many ties - so much so that i actually had ties allocated for the day of the week!!!!
But i liked wearing ties cuz it's a way to add some colour and life to the usual black and white lawyer garbs. So the tie gives a little more to the clothes.
I take pride in my choice of ties - a colleague used to comment how me ties would match my clothes somehow - to which i'd reply "Of course!" :-) I had ties for every occasions - serious all black one which i'd wear wif me all black outfit on Good Friday, a tie wif a drawing of what looks like a "ketupat" for the Hari Raya period, another tie wif little pine trees on it for Christmas (i oso have "spring" and "autumn" ties), and a couple of Snoopy ties!!!
Some of the ties brought over - it was a difficult and painful decision to leave so many behind!!!
My fav ties are a grey Polo and a colourful UCB one (both not in pic)
And funnily, every tie i own has a story to tell! Either it had to do wif the person who gave me the tie or the place where it was purchased, or some occassion when i wore it. Like in the pic above, the tie on the top left was bought in Ipoh when i was handling a case there - which i won, of course! ;-P The tie on the top right was bought in Chester in 1994 when i was there on a tour around the UK wif me family. The autumn leaves tie (which used to be my "Tuesday tie") was given by someone special - who bought it wif her first paycheck!!!
So germs and all, u can be sure i'll be wearing ties again when go back into the working world!
Monday, February 20, 2006
The Best - Tina Turner
Well, not everyone will agree - but he has won the Oscar for Best Director twice! To me, he is the best!!! Altho Peter Jackson is not that far behind - or even his equal!!!!
He is none other than Steven Spielberg (pic on the left is the wax replica of him at Madamme Tussaud's)!
Here is the man who directed movies like Jaws, the brilliant Indiana Jones trilogy (and he'll be doing the 4th instalment too!), the excellent but truly depressing Empire of the Sun, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan and many more!
Sure, he is not infallible! I mean, he has this thing about Tom Cruise!!!! What the...??? Then, there was the sequel to Jurassic Park (I read that he's producing Jurassic Park 4!!!! Come on, no one can do dinosaurs like Peter Jackson!!!!!).
And there are some movies which he directed which i just din enjoy. But still, i appreciate those movies for the way it was directed!
His most recent movie is Munich - which i caught last weekend. It was close to 3 hours but i enjoyed every minute of it!!!!
It was Spielberg at his best again!!!
I dun think it is better than some of his previous works (which will take a lot to top!), but this movie reminded me why i love Spielberg's movies.
Read on - guaranteed spoiler free post since i know most of you M'sians have not caught it yet - and may never will!!!
Some of me flatmates din like Munich cuz they found it either too violent or too depressing. Well, you can't take a story like this and take out the violence and the depressing nature of it.
He (Spielberg) is a master at story telling. He engages you in the story - and no matter how long the movie goes on, you dun realise it. At times, you almost feel sad when it draws to an end!!!!
But wat i like most about Spielberg is his use of the lighting. Brilliant! He uses light and silhouettes and shadows like an artist to paint his picture.
It's no spoiler that the movie is about Avner, an Israeli agent sent to kill those responsible for the terrorist killings of the Israeli Olympic team members in Munich 1972. When you watch the first killing, take time to admire the lighting used by Spielberg!
Spielberg also is a master when it comes to suspense - and i guarantee that you'll be gripping the edge of you seat (or chewing on your cushion) during the 2nd killing scene!
On top of that, Spielberg catches the simple emotions and expression - i loved the silent little montage when Avner meets his team members for the first time. Simple, yet catches the moment so well.
Also, kudos must be given to him for daring to take on such a controversial project - which made him a target for criticism from both sides!!!! That was a result IMHO of him not taking sides and thus not pleasing either. The movie raises a lot of questions - and Eric Bana did a very commendable job of playing Avner who had to deal with those issues.
Watch it - dun expect to leave feeling good and happy... but expect to be entertained!
He is none other than Steven Spielberg (pic on the left is the wax replica of him at Madamme Tussaud's)!Here is the man who directed movies like Jaws, the brilliant Indiana Jones trilogy (and he'll be doing the 4th instalment too!), the excellent but truly depressing Empire of the Sun, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan and many more!
Sure, he is not infallible! I mean, he has this thing about Tom Cruise!!!! What the...??? Then, there was the sequel to Jurassic Park (I read that he's producing Jurassic Park 4!!!! Come on, no one can do dinosaurs like Peter Jackson!!!!!).
And there are some movies which he directed which i just din enjoy. But still, i appreciate those movies for the way it was directed!
His most recent movie is Munich - which i caught last weekend. It was close to 3 hours but i enjoyed every minute of it!!!!
It was Spielberg at his best again!!!I dun think it is better than some of his previous works (which will take a lot to top!), but this movie reminded me why i love Spielberg's movies.
Read on - guaranteed spoiler free post since i know most of you M'sians have not caught it yet - and may never will!!!
Some of me flatmates din like Munich cuz they found it either too violent or too depressing. Well, you can't take a story like this and take out the violence and the depressing nature of it.
He (Spielberg) is a master at story telling. He engages you in the story - and no matter how long the movie goes on, you dun realise it. At times, you almost feel sad when it draws to an end!!!!
But wat i like most about Spielberg is his use of the lighting. Brilliant! He uses light and silhouettes and shadows like an artist to paint his picture.
It's no spoiler that the movie is about Avner, an Israeli agent sent to kill those responsible for the terrorist killings of the Israeli Olympic team members in Munich 1972. When you watch the first killing, take time to admire the lighting used by Spielberg!
Spielberg also is a master when it comes to suspense - and i guarantee that you'll be gripping the edge of you seat (or chewing on your cushion) during the 2nd killing scene!
On top of that, Spielberg catches the simple emotions and expression - i loved the silent little montage when Avner meets his team members for the first time. Simple, yet catches the moment so well.
Also, kudos must be given to him for daring to take on such a controversial project - which made him a target for criticism from both sides!!!! That was a result IMHO of him not taking sides and thus not pleasing either. The movie raises a lot of questions - and Eric Bana did a very commendable job of playing Avner who had to deal with those issues.
Watch it - dun expect to leave feeling good and happy... but expect to be entertained!
Movie poster obtained from a link on IMDB
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Yesterday Once More - The Carpenters
My mobile phone rang. I looked at the screen and was pleasantly surprised to see me mate's name on it. It has been a while since I've heard from her.
She was driving and then suddenly a song came on - which reminded her of me. So she thought she'd just call me to say "hi"!!!
I can't remember if i've posted sumthing like this before - i prolly have - but i'll do so again if i have. Music and songs are truly wonderful time travelling machines! One moment you are there surfing the net or studying and then suddenly a song comes on and the next moment, you get transported back into time! It becomes yesterday once more!!!!
Prolly the earliest memories i have connected to songs will be Andy Williams' songs - which was the first music cassette me father bought along wif our very first radio cassette player!
Just the other day, i was watching "Armour of God" and when Alam Tam's song "Friend" came on, it almost moved me to tears. It was one of the songs that me mates and i sang together back in the good old Marley Hall days! It was also during another girl's b'day do that i played that song - until me fingers bled!
Another song would be Starship's "Sarah" - that would bring me back to the crazy time in Langkawi when all of us cramped into the van burst out singing it at the top of our lungs.
Then there'd be Sam Hui's songs - i've blogged bout it many times oredi.
Sometimes, the memory attached to the song may have nothing to do with actually hearing the song or singing it!!!! There was this one trip wif certain people *ahem* to Temerloh when we mentioned about the song "Kokomo" - which was the subject of a pretty lame joke. Now each time i hear that song, i get transported back into that Unser on that Saturday morning heading east along the Karak highway!!!! And remember the look on our driver's face each time we cracked a lame joke! :-)
I actually have 2 CDs full of songs which brings back memories of me stay at Barking in the early 90s. And some cassettes wif songs which remind me of a certain individual...
Ah... memories! :-)
Oh, you wanna know wat was the song that reminded me mate of me? It was Lou Bega's Mambo No. 5!!!!!!!!!
Don't ask... ;-P
She was driving and then suddenly a song came on - which reminded her of me. So she thought she'd just call me to say "hi"!!!
I can't remember if i've posted sumthing like this before - i prolly have - but i'll do so again if i have. Music and songs are truly wonderful time travelling machines! One moment you are there surfing the net or studying and then suddenly a song comes on and the next moment, you get transported back into time! It becomes yesterday once more!!!!
Prolly the earliest memories i have connected to songs will be Andy Williams' songs - which was the first music cassette me father bought along wif our very first radio cassette player!
Just the other day, i was watching "Armour of God" and when Alam Tam's song "Friend" came on, it almost moved me to tears. It was one of the songs that me mates and i sang together back in the good old Marley Hall days! It was also during another girl's b'day do that i played that song - until me fingers bled!
Another song would be Starship's "Sarah" - that would bring me back to the crazy time in Langkawi when all of us cramped into the van burst out singing it at the top of our lungs.
Then there'd be Sam Hui's songs - i've blogged bout it many times oredi.
Sometimes, the memory attached to the song may have nothing to do with actually hearing the song or singing it!!!! There was this one trip wif certain people *ahem* to Temerloh when we mentioned about the song "Kokomo" - which was the subject of a pretty lame joke. Now each time i hear that song, i get transported back into that Unser on that Saturday morning heading east along the Karak highway!!!! And remember the look on our driver's face each time we cracked a lame joke! :-)
I actually have 2 CDs full of songs which brings back memories of me stay at Barking in the early 90s. And some cassettes wif songs which remind me of a certain individual...
Ah... memories! :-)
Oh, you wanna know wat was the song that reminded me mate of me? It was Lou Bega's Mambo No. 5!!!!!!!!!
Don't ask... ;-P
Have a nice day - Bon Jovi
I had a nice day yesterday! :-) It had a sad ending tho...
Met up wif a mate who made a stop-over here in London on his way back. Besides the fact that he brought over some stuffs for me (inter alia anchovies and Fisherman's Friends!!!!), we had a great time together.
He's a really old fren of mine and we go back forever! Had our usual ups and downs - and even went thru periods of time where we hardly spoke to each other - besides seeing each other almost every Sunday. Guess that's wat happens when we have our own lives. Occasionally, when we get to work together, it was like old times again.
Last year, we worked together in the Church retreat comm - among wif some other old mates. And we had the time of our lives! At least I had! Just like real frens, we just clicked together again so well.
Anyways, we had a brilliant time yesterday! Let's see - we had excellent Laksa at China Inn (on the recommendation of the Culinary Hags - see their blog here) and we spent hours just chatting. Got the usual updates - who's doing wat, who's back, wat's been happening, who's driving wat new car etc. Looks like I'm missing quite a bit - esp the football match!!!!! They actually had a match on a proper pitch (no small futsal pitch) wif the youngsters and almost all the "veterans" of the 90s came for it!!!! And we veterans - in our old yellow strip - won!!!
Woohoo! Great job, guys!
Later, I took him to Trafalgar Square. He din wanna do the touristy thingy since he was here last year but he did wanna see the march by the Muslims that day. So despite clear injunction by me father not to go anywhere near these marches and protest, I went right into the heart of it!!!! Sshhhhh... dun tell him, ya!
When we reached the Square, the march oredi started and we went along wif them for a short while.
On the way to Hyde Park
It was pretty interesting. Lots of cops and stewards around for crowd control. The protesters, using all kinds of voice aplification devices, all shouted their slogans and protests and declaring that Allah is great. Some even took a "time out" and started praying by the side of the road. It was pretty organised - the stewards helping them along in batches to prevent a crush.
What left a bad taste in my mouth was not them but a sweet old lady (a Brit) who came up to me and said "Now we've seen who are the lunatics in this country!" I remain expressionless and she repreated loudly to me "Lunatics". I wasnt about to tell an old lady off but I wasn't gonna agree wif her. She walked off, prolly thinking to herself that this stupid Chinese immigrant can't understand the Queen's English!
Sigh... without being drawn into the whole controversy (any treatment of it in a brief manner would not do justice to it), I just wanna state 2 things:-
1. I am all for freedom of expression but people exercising the right must learn to be sensitive to the feelings of others; and
2. While everyone has a right to be angry, no one has the right to break the law or stage violent protests and/or in a manner which can incite violence and hatred.
They alleged that Europe lacks manners and respect... but from this sight of the pile of rubbish swept-up at Trafalgar Square at the end of the day, it appears that the protestors perhaps should learn basic civic consciousness of not littering indiscriminately! Oh well...
After that, we adjourned to a pub and had a couple of Guiness. The conversation turned a little more serious and we shared on our plans of our lives. Before long, it was time for him to go.
Oh, it was at the pub when we learnt that Liverpool dumped Man Utd out of the FA Cup! Yes!!!! I learnt later that despite the fact that this was the first time Liverpool has done so in 85 years, yet, none of the Liverpool players saw it fit to run to the opposing team supporters to incite them. The captian of the opposing team should learn from this piece of sportsmanship.
It wasn't the end of the day for me, tho. Walked around a bit, met up wif another mate for dinner (she paid for me double Whopper meal! Nice to have working frens in London!;-P), did some shopping at Chinatown and head back home.
Was totally exhausted but felt good. :-)
p/s - i suspected something amiss when i read me mate's blog last nite. Texted her bout it - was awoken in the middle of the nite when she texted me back. Her grandfather passed away yesterday. :-(
My thoughts and prayers are wif you and yr family.
Met up wif a mate who made a stop-over here in London on his way back. Besides the fact that he brought over some stuffs for me (inter alia anchovies and Fisherman's Friends!!!!), we had a great time together.
He's a really old fren of mine and we go back forever! Had our usual ups and downs - and even went thru periods of time where we hardly spoke to each other - besides seeing each other almost every Sunday. Guess that's wat happens when we have our own lives. Occasionally, when we get to work together, it was like old times again.
Last year, we worked together in the Church retreat comm - among wif some other old mates. And we had the time of our lives! At least I had! Just like real frens, we just clicked together again so well.
Anyways, we had a brilliant time yesterday! Let's see - we had excellent Laksa at China Inn (on the recommendation of the Culinary Hags - see their blog here) and we spent hours just chatting. Got the usual updates - who's doing wat, who's back, wat's been happening, who's driving wat new car etc. Looks like I'm missing quite a bit - esp the football match!!!!! They actually had a match on a proper pitch (no small futsal pitch) wif the youngsters and almost all the "veterans" of the 90s came for it!!!! And we veterans - in our old yellow strip - won!!!
Woohoo! Great job, guys!
Later, I took him to Trafalgar Square. He din wanna do the touristy thingy since he was here last year but he did wanna see the march by the Muslims that day. So despite clear injunction by me father not to go anywhere near these marches and protest, I went right into the heart of it!!!! Sshhhhh... dun tell him, ya!
When we reached the Square, the march oredi started and we went along wif them for a short while.
On the way to Hyde Park
It was pretty interesting. Lots of cops and stewards around for crowd control. The protesters, using all kinds of voice aplification devices, all shouted their slogans and protests and declaring that Allah is great. Some even took a "time out" and started praying by the side of the road. It was pretty organised - the stewards helping them along in batches to prevent a crush.
What left a bad taste in my mouth was not them but a sweet old lady (a Brit) who came up to me and said "Now we've seen who are the lunatics in this country!" I remain expressionless and she repreated loudly to me "Lunatics". I wasnt about to tell an old lady off but I wasn't gonna agree wif her. She walked off, prolly thinking to herself that this stupid Chinese immigrant can't understand the Queen's English!
Sigh... without being drawn into the whole controversy (any treatment of it in a brief manner would not do justice to it), I just wanna state 2 things:-
1. I am all for freedom of expression but people exercising the right must learn to be sensitive to the feelings of others; and
2. While everyone has a right to be angry, no one has the right to break the law or stage violent protests and/or in a manner which can incite violence and hatred.
They alleged that Europe lacks manners and respect... but from this sight of the pile of rubbish swept-up at Trafalgar Square at the end of the day, it appears that the protestors perhaps should learn basic civic consciousness of not littering indiscriminately! Oh well...
After that, we adjourned to a pub and had a couple of Guiness. The conversation turned a little more serious and we shared on our plans of our lives. Before long, it was time for him to go.
Oh, it was at the pub when we learnt that Liverpool dumped Man Utd out of the FA Cup! Yes!!!! I learnt later that despite the fact that this was the first time Liverpool has done so in 85 years, yet, none of the Liverpool players saw it fit to run to the opposing team supporters to incite them. The captian of the opposing team should learn from this piece of sportsmanship.
It wasn't the end of the day for me, tho. Walked around a bit, met up wif another mate for dinner (she paid for me double Whopper meal! Nice to have working frens in London!;-P), did some shopping at Chinatown and head back home.
Was totally exhausted but felt good. :-)
p/s - i suspected something amiss when i read me mate's blog last nite. Texted her bout it - was awoken in the middle of the nite when she texted me back. Her grandfather passed away yesterday. :-(
My thoughts and prayers are wif you and yr family.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Smoke gets in your eyes - The Platters
There were no red roses but there were 13 men in red (10 outfield players + 3 subs) who ended up smelling really nice! Yes, the Reds beat Arsenal 1-0 (may I add - thoroughly deservedly so!) on their Valentine's Day fixture!
For a long time, it seemed that a certain German goalie - Jens Lehmann - would deny the Reds their celebration - saving the penalty, saving Senderos the blushes, saving brilliantly from wat should have been Fowler's first goal since returning, saving from Morientes, and saving Kewell's bicycle kick.
It had to take another German to save the Reds - and it came rather fortuitously. Hamann came in for the injured Alonso and unleashed an almost unstoppable shot. It was saved again(!) by Lehmann but this time, he could only parry it away and Luis Garcia was quick enough to pounce on it and slam it home. Even then, Lehmann had managed to pick himself up and got a hand (or a butt or something) on Luis Garcia's shot but not enough to stop it from signaling the start of the celebrations from the Reds!
Happy Valentine's Day - for the Reds!
(Pic obtained from BBC Online)
Me? I was on me feet all nite, trying to watch the big screen amidst the many tall heads and shoulders in front of me.
But the nite din end well for me as I ended up wif a really bad migraine - due to the second-hand smoke inhalled during the course of the match. It was pretty bad. :-( But hey, I'm OK now, thank God!
Actually, I find that the people here smoke less than those back home - in fact, most of those who smoke here are those who are from Asia!!!! At least, those whom I've come in contact wif.
The good news is that come 2007, there'll be no more smoking in pubs in the UK! Woohoo! Read all about it here - the MPs have voted for it yesterday!
That's pretty cool! Of course, there are those who say that this infringes on the freedom of smokers. But most human rights are not absolute - especially when the exercise of your right will infringe on the right of others. And we all have the right not to get cancer by inhalling second-hand smoke, dun we?!!!!
For a long time, it seemed that a certain German goalie - Jens Lehmann - would deny the Reds their celebration - saving the penalty, saving Senderos the blushes, saving brilliantly from wat should have been Fowler's first goal since returning, saving from Morientes, and saving Kewell's bicycle kick.
It had to take another German to save the Reds - and it came rather fortuitously. Hamann came in for the injured Alonso and unleashed an almost unstoppable shot. It was saved again(!) by Lehmann but this time, he could only parry it away and Luis Garcia was quick enough to pounce on it and slam it home. Even then, Lehmann had managed to pick himself up and got a hand (or a butt or something) on Luis Garcia's shot but not enough to stop it from signaling the start of the celebrations from the Reds!
Happy Valentine's Day - for the Reds!
(Pic obtained from BBC Online)
Me? I was on me feet all nite, trying to watch the big screen amidst the many tall heads and shoulders in front of me.
But the nite din end well for me as I ended up wif a really bad migraine - due to the second-hand smoke inhalled during the course of the match. It was pretty bad. :-( But hey, I'm OK now, thank God!
Actually, I find that the people here smoke less than those back home - in fact, most of those who smoke here are those who are from Asia!!!! At least, those whom I've come in contact wif.
The good news is that come 2007, there'll be no more smoking in pubs in the UK! Woohoo! Read all about it here - the MPs have voted for it yesterday!
That's pretty cool! Of course, there are those who say that this infringes on the freedom of smokers. But most human rights are not absolute - especially when the exercise of your right will infringe on the right of others. And we all have the right not to get cancer by inhalling second-hand smoke, dun we?!!!!
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
The Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston
Have a blessed Valentine's Day!
Me? I've got a date wif 2 Arsenal fans - I'm gonna watch the Liverpool v Arsenal match wif Sachin and Michael at the Top Bar! :-)
To Sir with love - Lulu
The intelligence obtained proves that there's a bomb in town. Of course, there are reasons to believe the info was obtained by means of torture.
In any event, it is schedule to go off in a week's time.
The intel received also narrows the perpetrators to be living in this particular high rise flats. Unfortunately, the authorities do not know who they are.
The residents of the flats come from over 90 differing nations.
What can the government do?????
No, the aforementioned set of facts is not taken from the latest season of "24".
It is actually the scenario that we had to discuss during the seminar this morning!
Fun-eh?
It was a seminar on "Terrorism, States of Emergency, and Human Security". There was a list of questions given out earlier (along with the mile long list of readings to be done) - but we were surprised wif the said scenario above when we were in class.
I was up til 6 am trying to read as much as i could - until the words on me laptop screen started ~moving~ by itself!!!! Before i knew it, me alarm went off and i felt like i needed wild horses to drag me out of bed and to the seminar room.
Yet, the moment we started the seminar, i was wide awake - and 2 hours later, i'm still wide awake!!!!! I thought i'd be crashing into me bed the moment the seminar ended. But the adrenaline is still flowing.
This is an example of wat normally happens. I truly thank God that i've been blessed wif extremely brilliant lecturers! I mean, they are super interesting and funny! But more than that, they do not just entertain us - they make us think! And they make us want more!
There was once when this particular lecturer went on and on and did not even bother to stop for the usual 5 minute break at the stroke of the hour. In fact, after the allocated 2 hours were up, she went on - seeing that it was lunch time and there was no one else waiting to use the room. But all of us did not complain at all! In fact, i'm sure we wouldnt have minded if she went on some more - sure, we were tired, hungry, our butts hurt - but all that just din matter.
Time and time again, i would just sit there at the end of the seminar and go "Wow! that was brilliant!", or "Whoa... i never saw it that way before!", or just sit there in stunned silence.
I guess wat makes them really good is that they are all human rights activist themselves. These are the human rights people!!!! The ones who argue cases, the ones who decides on such cases, the very ones responsible in establishing the human rights law that we have today. Can u imagine the wealth of knowledge and experience they have to share wif us?
As if that wasn't enuf, some of them are the nicest people that you'll ever meet!
There are times when i do wonder if i made the right decision to come here to do me Masters. When i think of the quality of the lecturers i have here, i've no regrets.
To Nigel, Geoff, Paul, Franciose, Diedre and the rest of the LLM lecturers - you guys are the best!
p/s - for those of you who are wondering wat was the final outcome of the today's seminar, the answer was the same as always - there's no one right answer. In fact, the final answer does not matter - it's the reasoning and the application of the law that matters!
p/p/s - whoa... now i begin to feel the effects of having only 2 hours of sleep. Good nite! :-)
In any event, it is schedule to go off in a week's time.
The intel received also narrows the perpetrators to be living in this particular high rise flats. Unfortunately, the authorities do not know who they are.
The residents of the flats come from over 90 differing nations.
What can the government do?????
No, the aforementioned set of facts is not taken from the latest season of "24".
It is actually the scenario that we had to discuss during the seminar this morning!
Fun-eh?
It was a seminar on "Terrorism, States of Emergency, and Human Security". There was a list of questions given out earlier (along with the mile long list of readings to be done) - but we were surprised wif the said scenario above when we were in class.
I was up til 6 am trying to read as much as i could - until the words on me laptop screen started ~moving~ by itself!!!! Before i knew it, me alarm went off and i felt like i needed wild horses to drag me out of bed and to the seminar room.
Yet, the moment we started the seminar, i was wide awake - and 2 hours later, i'm still wide awake!!!!! I thought i'd be crashing into me bed the moment the seminar ended. But the adrenaline is still flowing.
This is an example of wat normally happens. I truly thank God that i've been blessed wif extremely brilliant lecturers! I mean, they are super interesting and funny! But more than that, they do not just entertain us - they make us think! And they make us want more!
There was once when this particular lecturer went on and on and did not even bother to stop for the usual 5 minute break at the stroke of the hour. In fact, after the allocated 2 hours were up, she went on - seeing that it was lunch time and there was no one else waiting to use the room. But all of us did not complain at all! In fact, i'm sure we wouldnt have minded if she went on some more - sure, we were tired, hungry, our butts hurt - but all that just din matter.
Time and time again, i would just sit there at the end of the seminar and go "Wow! that was brilliant!", or "Whoa... i never saw it that way before!", or just sit there in stunned silence.
I guess wat makes them really good is that they are all human rights activist themselves. These are the human rights people!!!! The ones who argue cases, the ones who decides on such cases, the very ones responsible in establishing the human rights law that we have today. Can u imagine the wealth of knowledge and experience they have to share wif us?
As if that wasn't enuf, some of them are the nicest people that you'll ever meet!
There are times when i do wonder if i made the right decision to come here to do me Masters. When i think of the quality of the lecturers i have here, i've no regrets.
To Nigel, Geoff, Paul, Franciose, Diedre and the rest of the LLM lecturers - you guys are the best!
p/s - for those of you who are wondering wat was the final outcome of the today's seminar, the answer was the same as always - there's no one right answer. In fact, the final answer does not matter - it's the reasoning and the application of the law that matters!
p/p/s - whoa... now i begin to feel the effects of having only 2 hours of sleep. Good nite! :-)
Monday, February 13, 2006
You learn - Alanis Morissette
Being here has been one big and long learning process. Besides the International Human Rights Law, i've learned so many other things - how to cook better, about other cultures, things about myself... the list goes on.
Last nite was "Chap Goh Mei" - the 15th and final day of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
Me outside me room! Last pic before the deco comes down!
For those who do not know, Chap Goh Mei also happens to be the night when single women back home throw mandarin oranges into the sea!!!! Really! Well, not all but quite a number still do it!
It also happens to be the Chinese Valentine's Day!
Now what i din know was that these things are actually a Malaysian Chinese culture/practice!!!! Yeah. The Chinese people in China do not have such orange throwing practices. And to them the Chinese Valentine's Day is actually another day in the month of July!!!!!
So, while searching for answers on the net, i learned that the practice of throwing oranges into the sea actually started in Penang (did u Penang-nites participate in it???). And the celebration of the Chinese Valentine's Day on Chap Goh Mei is in fact a South East Asian practice!!!! (yeah, check it out here - Wikipedia - the idiots guide to anything and everything!!!! I even use it or my studies - and was mocked by one of me lecturers!!!!).
Interesting-eh? Or am i the only ignorant Malaysian? Well, better (learn) late than never!
Life is one long learning process and i've enrolled as a life-time student! :-)
Last nite was "Chap Goh Mei" - the 15th and final day of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
Me outside me room! Last pic before the deco comes down!
For those who do not know, Chap Goh Mei also happens to be the night when single women back home throw mandarin oranges into the sea!!!! Really! Well, not all but quite a number still do it!
It also happens to be the Chinese Valentine's Day!
Now what i din know was that these things are actually a Malaysian Chinese culture/practice!!!! Yeah. The Chinese people in China do not have such orange throwing practices. And to them the Chinese Valentine's Day is actually another day in the month of July!!!!!
So, while searching for answers on the net, i learned that the practice of throwing oranges into the sea actually started in Penang (did u Penang-nites participate in it???). And the celebration of the Chinese Valentine's Day on Chap Goh Mei is in fact a South East Asian practice!!!! (yeah, check it out here - Wikipedia - the idiots guide to anything and everything!!!! I even use it or my studies - and was mocked by one of me lecturers!!!!).
Interesting-eh? Or am i the only ignorant Malaysian? Well, better (learn) late than never!
Life is one long learning process and i've enrolled as a life-time student! :-)
Sunday, February 12, 2006
The Goonies 'r good enough - Cyndi Lauper
The preacher began his sermon with the following story (sori - me got no photographic memory but this is basically the gist of it):-
It was a snowy wintry Sunday. When the Christians gathered together in a methodist Church in Colchester, there were only a dozen of them, at the most, 15. Most were prolly snowed in. In fact, the pastor was one of the many absentees, no doubt unable to attend due to the elements.
The members look to each other and it was a tradesman who "drew the short straw". Now this fella had no training watsoever in God's word. He was no speaker - he spoke wif a strong accent. But someone had to do it - and he did.
The text for that day was taken from Isaiah 45 v22 - "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."
He had the verse but he had no sermon notes. But he went on bravely... for all 10 minutes(!!!!), just repeating the words and going round in circles.
Could you imagine how he could have felt? Inadequate? Not good enough? A failure?
The preacher went on to encourage us never to give up. We will feel inadequate. We will stumble in our efforts. We will basically feel that watever we do, it'll not be good enough - and never will be.
We were then referred to 2 Kings 4v38-44. Click on it and look it up when you are free. It basically tells of 2 accounts when the efforts of men seemed inadequate - but yet, God used it for his glory!
So dun ever give up, we were exhorted and reminded. Our efforts are sometimes meant to seem inadequate - this is so that when it brings in the results, we know that it is not thru our own strengths and that all glory will be given to God.
Wat happened to that Methodist tradesman from Colchester? Well, he prolly din get to preach ever again!!!! As if the situation that day wasn't bad enough, he broke one of the cardinal principles when preaching! You see, present in their midst that day was a teenager, who was making his way to Eld Lane Baptist that morning but because of the snow, he had to settle for this Methodist Church instead. It wasn't hard spotting him in the crowd of 15 or so!
Maybe it was an effort to shift the attention away. Maybe it was a last ditch to try to make something out of the disastrous sermon. Maybe (most likely), he was prompted by the Holy Spirit.
He pointed the poor teen out from the pulpit and challenged the bloke to "Look unto God and be saved"!!!!
Well, the boy did.
Today, we do not know wat happenned to that tradesman - but we know wat happenned to that teen - he is one of the greatest preachers who ever lived. You may have heard of him - Charles Spurgeon!!!! ;-)
Inadequate? Not good enough? Broke one of the cardinal rules of preaching?
It was good enough for God to use!
We may be serving God in Malaysia or in Colchester, or in the Phillipines, or in Australia, or in the States - but our efforts will never be in vain!
p/s - you can a full and proper account of Spurgeon's conversion here.
p/p/s - it was only tonite that i learnt that Spurgeon is from Colchester - altho my suspicions were aroused by the presence of a "Spurgeon Street" on the way to town!
It was a snowy wintry Sunday. When the Christians gathered together in a methodist Church in Colchester, there were only a dozen of them, at the most, 15. Most were prolly snowed in. In fact, the pastor was one of the many absentees, no doubt unable to attend due to the elements.
The members look to each other and it was a tradesman who "drew the short straw". Now this fella had no training watsoever in God's word. He was no speaker - he spoke wif a strong accent. But someone had to do it - and he did.
The text for that day was taken from Isaiah 45 v22 - "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."
He had the verse but he had no sermon notes. But he went on bravely... for all 10 minutes(!!!!), just repeating the words and going round in circles.
Could you imagine how he could have felt? Inadequate? Not good enough? A failure?
The preacher went on to encourage us never to give up. We will feel inadequate. We will stumble in our efforts. We will basically feel that watever we do, it'll not be good enough - and never will be.
We were then referred to 2 Kings 4v38-44. Click on it and look it up when you are free. It basically tells of 2 accounts when the efforts of men seemed inadequate - but yet, God used it for his glory!
So dun ever give up, we were exhorted and reminded. Our efforts are sometimes meant to seem inadequate - this is so that when it brings in the results, we know that it is not thru our own strengths and that all glory will be given to God.
Wat happened to that Methodist tradesman from Colchester? Well, he prolly din get to preach ever again!!!! As if the situation that day wasn't bad enough, he broke one of the cardinal principles when preaching! You see, present in their midst that day was a teenager, who was making his way to Eld Lane Baptist that morning but because of the snow, he had to settle for this Methodist Church instead. It wasn't hard spotting him in the crowd of 15 or so!
Maybe it was an effort to shift the attention away. Maybe it was a last ditch to try to make something out of the disastrous sermon. Maybe (most likely), he was prompted by the Holy Spirit.
He pointed the poor teen out from the pulpit and challenged the bloke to "Look unto God and be saved"!!!!
Well, the boy did.
Today, we do not know wat happenned to that tradesman - but we know wat happenned to that teen - he is one of the greatest preachers who ever lived. You may have heard of him - Charles Spurgeon!!!! ;-)
Inadequate? Not good enough? Broke one of the cardinal rules of preaching?
It was good enough for God to use!
We may be serving God in Malaysia or in Colchester, or in the Phillipines, or in Australia, or in the States - but our efforts will never be in vain!
p/s - you can a full and proper account of Spurgeon's conversion here.
p/p/s - it was only tonite that i learnt that Spurgeon is from Colchester - altho my suspicions were aroused by the presence of a "Spurgeon Street" on the way to town!
You oughta know - Alanis Morissette
I've been trying not to blog about "serious" matters - sometimes, we just take things too seriously. After all, this blog is meant to be a light hearted look on... anything an everything which crosses my mind.
But i blog now wif a heavy heart.
It frustrates me when i read blogs belonging to other people who have strong views about things - but the very essence of their posting reveals their ignorance on the issue at hand. What makes it worse is that MANY will praise these ignorant bloggers on their so-called brave views.
But enuf about them - they are ignorant. What really drives me up the wall are the views of lawyers back home. I am sometimes left open-mouthed in disbelief at the drivel that is submitted by my learned frens and my brothers and sisters "in-law"!!!!! I truly worry over the standard of the lawyers back home.
These are supposed to be the people who are the professionals - the experts in legal matters. They are supposed to be trained to analyse the matters in a legal perspective, to be able to apply the law accurately - not emotionally - in every situation. They are supposed to be those whom the members of the public can turn to to be their counsellors. They oughta know better.
Yet, time and time again they have shown otherwise.
I started noticing it during the AGM debacle last year. Since as far as i can remember, the Bar Coucil in Malaysia has always interpreted the law to be that a quorum is needed before an AGM can proceed. For some reason which are still unclear to me til this very day, the Bar Council that year decided that such intepretation was wrong. They decided to proceed even if the quorum is not met. This was met wif approval by many an amotional lawyer!
Yes, we dun have to waste time and money adjourning the AGMs.
We dun have to look stupid when the presses report that the Bar Council's AGM had to be postponed again due to lack of quorum.
After all, the law that required us to have the quorum was just a means used by the government to make life difficult for us.
We'll show 'em!
But, but, but.... hello? What does the law say? The law requires us to have a quorum!
Legal gymnastics were never so overused by the so-called experts to twist the law unnaturally to support their ridiculous stand!
Their incompetence was proven at the High Court, the Court of Appeal and finally, at the Supreme Court.
Many were angry at the legislature who came up wif such a law. Many were angry at the judiciary for not being "brave" (read: stupid?) enough to uphold their arguments.
But were any angry at the lawyers who do not know how to interpret the law? Despite the belief that they are the ones who are trained to do so?
Here are some examples of the nonsense that i read on an almost daily basis:-
1. One lady lawyer believes that rape is not about violence - this was cuz she was on the plane and was chatting wif this person who alleged that he's a doctor (of wat we were never told) and he said that it wasn't!
Whoa.... she comes to a conclusion based on an unsupported allegation from a person who's authority on the matter was never established! Good work, counsel!
2. Another lawyer said that the response of the muslims attacking the embasssies was as a result of grave and sudden provocation.
Err.... cartoons publish in November 2005. Embassies burnt in February 2006. "Sudden"?????? Riiigggghhhhh!
3. One lawyer was angry that a group of men were arrested on suspicion of illegal gambling when caught playing mahjong in a shoplot. He demanded why then are the gamblers at Genting Highlands (a hill resort in M'sia) are not arrested????
Well, maybe becasue the Genting casino has a valid and legal license to run the casino???? Duh!
4. Back to the Danish cartoons. One lawyer thought himself to be brilliant when he asked why were the muslims so worked up since no one actually said that the cartoons referred to Muhammed himself!
It is trite law that in cases of defamation, you do not need to expressly mention the name of the person you are defaming to be guilty as such. A person can be defamed by implication, by innuendo, by many ways without having to mention his/her name specifically.
Anyways, the people responsible for the cartoons NEVER denied it but instead went on to defend themselves. This is known as an admission.
5. Just today (the one which caused me to finally blog this), this fella states that the Westerners who believe in the absolute freedom of thee press are "...products of DYSFUNCTIONAL families or even SOLO PARENT families".
I wont even bother to dinify such a statement wif a response.
There you have it. If you are Malaysians, these are a sample of the lawyers that will defend your liberties and rights.
But hey, it can't be all that bad. I'm sure there are good ones. A few rotten apples does not mean that all the apples in the basket are bad. Perhaps those who are really good and professional lawyers just dun reply/post any of their views up.
I really hope that that is the case.
But i blog now wif a heavy heart.
It frustrates me when i read blogs belonging to other people who have strong views about things - but the very essence of their posting reveals their ignorance on the issue at hand. What makes it worse is that MANY will praise these ignorant bloggers on their so-called brave views.
But enuf about them - they are ignorant. What really drives me up the wall are the views of lawyers back home. I am sometimes left open-mouthed in disbelief at the drivel that is submitted by my learned frens and my brothers and sisters "in-law"!!!!! I truly worry over the standard of the lawyers back home.
These are supposed to be the people who are the professionals - the experts in legal matters. They are supposed to be trained to analyse the matters in a legal perspective, to be able to apply the law accurately - not emotionally - in every situation. They are supposed to be those whom the members of the public can turn to to be their counsellors. They oughta know better.
Yet, time and time again they have shown otherwise.
I started noticing it during the AGM debacle last year. Since as far as i can remember, the Bar Coucil in Malaysia has always interpreted the law to be that a quorum is needed before an AGM can proceed. For some reason which are still unclear to me til this very day, the Bar Council that year decided that such intepretation was wrong. They decided to proceed even if the quorum is not met. This was met wif approval by many an amotional lawyer!
Yes, we dun have to waste time and money adjourning the AGMs.
We dun have to look stupid when the presses report that the Bar Council's AGM had to be postponed again due to lack of quorum.
After all, the law that required us to have the quorum was just a means used by the government to make life difficult for us.
We'll show 'em!
But, but, but.... hello? What does the law say? The law requires us to have a quorum!
Legal gymnastics were never so overused by the so-called experts to twist the law unnaturally to support their ridiculous stand!
Their incompetence was proven at the High Court, the Court of Appeal and finally, at the Supreme Court.
Many were angry at the legislature who came up wif such a law. Many were angry at the judiciary for not being "brave" (read: stupid?) enough to uphold their arguments.
But were any angry at the lawyers who do not know how to interpret the law? Despite the belief that they are the ones who are trained to do so?
Here are some examples of the nonsense that i read on an almost daily basis:-
1. One lady lawyer believes that rape is not about violence - this was cuz she was on the plane and was chatting wif this person who alleged that he's a doctor (of wat we were never told) and he said that it wasn't!
Whoa.... she comes to a conclusion based on an unsupported allegation from a person who's authority on the matter was never established! Good work, counsel!
2. Another lawyer said that the response of the muslims attacking the embasssies was as a result of grave and sudden provocation.
Err.... cartoons publish in November 2005. Embassies burnt in February 2006. "Sudden"?????? Riiigggghhhhh!
3. One lawyer was angry that a group of men were arrested on suspicion of illegal gambling when caught playing mahjong in a shoplot. He demanded why then are the gamblers at Genting Highlands (a hill resort in M'sia) are not arrested????
Well, maybe becasue the Genting casino has a valid and legal license to run the casino???? Duh!
4. Back to the Danish cartoons. One lawyer thought himself to be brilliant when he asked why were the muslims so worked up since no one actually said that the cartoons referred to Muhammed himself!
It is trite law that in cases of defamation, you do not need to expressly mention the name of the person you are defaming to be guilty as such. A person can be defamed by implication, by innuendo, by many ways without having to mention his/her name specifically.
Anyways, the people responsible for the cartoons NEVER denied it but instead went on to defend themselves. This is known as an admission.
5. Just today (the one which caused me to finally blog this), this fella states that the Westerners who believe in the absolute freedom of thee press are "...products of DYSFUNCTIONAL families or even SOLO PARENT families".
I wont even bother to dinify such a statement wif a response.
There you have it. If you are Malaysians, these are a sample of the lawyers that will defend your liberties and rights.
But hey, it can't be all that bad. I'm sure there are good ones. A few rotten apples does not mean that all the apples in the basket are bad. Perhaps those who are really good and professional lawyers just dun reply/post any of their views up.
I really hope that that is the case.
