Thursday, September 07, 2006

Multi-tasking

The latest research indicated that driving while talking on the cellphone is just as hazardous as drunk driving, regardless of hands-free devices.

Though I seldom phone and drive – not because I’m ethical but because I’m just not very popular – I did do something else while on the road the other day.

I clapped my hands together on a mosquito, killing it while driving on Jalan Tun Razak.

Any research indicating how dangerous that is? To road users I mean, not for the mosquitoes….

Realiti 1

There's a new series on 8tv which I find quite interesting. At least very least, it's passable, waaaaayyy better than that KL Lights show they had sometime back. At least Popiah Pictures (the production house) knows what quality is all about.

From left: Nickson, Baby, Burn, Melody and Amir

Below is the review from The Star followed by my take.

Zizan Nin plays Amir, a pleasant and stable chap whose love for music is restrained by his bigger responsibility of providing for his family. - Basically the goody two shoes boy-next-door.

During the competition, he befriends Nickson (Alvin Wong), a complex guy with a happy-go-lucky demeanour. - Complex = stereotypically gay. I guess the Malaysian media still can't use the g-word. If only some ppl will stop being so anal about it then it wouldn't be such a big deal.

Baby (Melissa Maureen) on the other hand, is sexy and flirtatious and determined to reach the top any way she can. - One word, bitch. Every self-respecting series need one. Two is even better.

The opposite is shy and talented Melody (Chelsia Ng) who wants to win the competition to prove her worth to her family and hopes the experience will help her transform her introverted personality. - Female version of Amir. Basically the obvious character for audiences to root for. Or is she?

Ashraf Sinclair’s character Burn appears to be a playboy. He enters the competition after accepting a challenge from his friends. - IMO, the most inappropriately casted character. I definitely can't imagine him as Burn Ramli. But if you must know, he is the typical guy you can find in Zouk on a Thursday (Ghetto Heaven). Asian White Olive trying to act black.

In the first episode, the script goes all out to prove that all these characters have got something to hide which I felt was too much. Too formulaic. A few characters could have taken a backseat while they developed the rest.

Also, all the characters are soooo stereotypical starting with Nickson. Even the bitch could have started being fake and pretentious, but no, she already has her claws out in the first scene.

However, I did like idea of Melody secretly being a smoker. It hints of her rebellion towards her father as well as his wishes. A sign of her fighting her gift, which is also her curse. For once, they didn't try to force feed the audience unlike the rest of the scenes where the characters basically spell out the reasons behind their actions.

All in all, this is quite a worthy show. Good effort for a local production. Nice camera work and very polished. Looking forward to ep 2. Kudos to Popiah Pictures for the great work.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Movie Day

Finally went for my haircut today. Errm, the fella gave me a shorter cut than wat I had in mind but it's ok. I have a feeling I'll grow to like it. Either that or I'll just fix it the way I like it.

Met Becky in Jusco right after leaving to salon for a movie. Since I arrived first, I got the chance to browse through some magazines - that I will never buy - to check out expensive clothes that I can never afford.

We decided to watch Monster House because there wasn't anything particularly good showing and since I got there first, I was charged with getting the tickets.

Me: Two tickets for Monster House pls.

Coupon Girl: Male or female?

Me: Huh??!!

What the hell??!! Did PAS win some municipal election that I don't know of??!! Do they need to separate the genders now, ie male and female in separate rows??!! Since when did Ipoh become Terengganu??!!

Me: Errr........ one male one female.

Girl handed me the tickets and one look at it - Ladies' Day RM6.00

Snapshots from Pangkor

Surprisingly, I did manage to take quite a number of photos on this trip. Most were taken because I needed it for my asgmt with only a few guilty pleasures.

Fishing Village

The Village Pier

Two Fellas Who Ruined My Jetty Shot

Living by the coast

I'm a Kampung Boy

Hornbill Sesat in Pangkor

Landscaped Chinese Temple

Dragons Do Bite


My House Tiles

That's all peeps. Hopefully this gives you an idea about my trip. Anyone who wants to see more vacation pictures are welcomed to donate to my Send Loopy on a Holiday in Bali fund.

Monday, September 04, 2006

Island Paradise

Three days and two nights in Pangkor. Stayed at this less than stellar chalet which doesn't deserve to be called a chalet to begin with. More like a kampung house if you ask me.

Tiny room coupled with the fact that we squeezed 4 ppl in one room doesn't make it a great place to stay. Granted, some of my frens had a terrific time playing in the sea. They practically played every water sport on offer.

Me, well I spent the first evening strolling along the beach while avoiding schemes of dumping me into the sea while the second evening was spent in dreamland. Just wasn't in the mood I guess.

I went with work in mind so this was completely a business trip for me. I did however alleviate my boredom with late night chats and mindless card games with my coursemates. Also managed to go around Pangkor to take in the sites. Wouldn't have done that had it not for work. Some of my frens did their research on the sea and that's what they saw for the entire duration of the trip. They were more than happy to do that though.

Sadly, my Quiksilver sandal is probably swimming with the fisher right now. I lend it to my roomie who went and came back with another pair of sandal. I was heartbroken. My comfy and quick-to-dry sandal which coincidentally cost more than RM60 is not gone. Really wanted to break the idiot's neck.

I don't actually know him in the first place but I would seem really mean if I refused. And I don't know him well enough to throw a big fit and bitch endlessly. So in the the, all I did was say "It's alright and walk away." The fella got away easy. Anyway for all I know, he might have stole the damn sandal although I can't imagine anyone who would be desperate enough to steal a pair of sandal but he may just be such a low life.

Oh, and the bus ride back was horrid as hell. It was really bumpy and I could smell the fumes in the bus. Thankfully it wasn't that long a journey. Else I'd probably hurled. The best part of the entire trip is coming home.

Do

What does it mean when you hurt someone knowingly
What does it mean when you lie
What does it mean when you know you are wrong
Yet don't apologise

Sometimes you run away

Sometimes you walk away
Sometimes you stay and fight
But when it matters most
You turn around and hide

We all share the same mistakes
Time and time again we repeat them
Somehow we just don't see
Or we just turn a blind eye
Because sometimes
It's easier to be wronged
Than to feel wrong