Why do I do this?
Read: Books of Blood by Clive Barker, The Thief Lord and Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, The Wicked Wit of Charles Dickens, Now Showing by Joe Garner, The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan
Reading: The Meaning of Everything by Simon Winchester, Roots by Alex Haley, Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer
CD: none
Favorite song: Caught Up by Usher
Played: CSI
Watching: The Apprentice 2, Grounded for Life, Frasier, CSI, American Idol 4, The Amazing Race 7
*No. of times asked if I have a boyfriend: 2
*No. of times asked when I will get married: 10
*No. of times asked when I will have kids: 2
Note: * Since I started this blog of course. I've been getting these questions lots of times before but you can't honestly believe I would count them, right? I just thought of this lately. It's interesting to know the average number of times a single girl at a marriageable age get that million dollar question. I hope other single bloggers would do the same. Maybe we can write a thesis on it! I also change "ppl" to "times" since one person can ask all three questions.
Other news:
Got my degree cert, mailed straight from Australia. Yippee!
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Friday, April 29, 2005
Unforgetable Moments From the Movies
Apart from books, I love the movies. I guess it's because movies are a combination of my two favourite art forms: pictorial and written. What better way to enjoy art than watching talking moving pictures right? So I am quite proud to acquire Now Showing: Unforgettable Moments From the Movies as part of my book collection.
I finished reading Now Showing within 2 days. This coffe-table book is a compilation of 25 memorable moments, according to the author Joe Garner. Though the selections are debatable you must consider the circumstances.
Out of millions of films that had been churned out since technology made moving pictures possible, how do you chose 25? There's also the problem of getting copyright release. For example, Lucas had no problem giving permission for Indiana Jones but no permission was given for Star Wars. So Garner just had to work with what he has available and I think he did a pretty good job. The collection makes an enjoyable read. I even forget to take a nap one eezy-breezy Sunday afternoon.
However I feel that his choice is also governed by the popularity of the films. Though I've seen 15 out of the 25 films he has selected, the 'unforgettable moments' highlighted in the book didn't strike a chord in me. And so we arrived to the point of this whole post, what are MY unforgettable moments from the movies? I wish I can put up some stills from the respective moments like in the book, but you know me, I'm too kampung to know how to do that.
(Warning: The next part MAY have some spoilers. Do exercise some caution if you care about this stuff)
One movie popped in my mind immediately - Billy Elliot.
My favourite part is when Billy's father and brother sacrificed the cause they have been fighting for strongly, better conditions for coal miners. The quit the fight to go back to work so little Billy can have a better future by going to a very good Ballet school rather than see him ending up in the mines with them. They were glum when the elevator took them down to the mine but they were happy and proud to see Billy danced later on.
LOTR: Return of the King.
Among the three films, the battles are of course memorable. But one little scene from the third instalment of the trilogy has a special place in my heart. Osgiliath was over-run by Orcs and Faramir was forced to order his men to retreat. On his return his father said, "Is there a captain here who still has the courage to do his lord's will?"
Dead Man Walking.
When the death row inmate, Matthew Poncelet, a few hours before his sentence is carried out, finally confessed to his spiritual advisor Sister Helen Prejean. It's pretty hard to explain why I love this part. I think it's because that it gives a sense of hope that even the most heinous criminal can still find redemption with the proper guidance. That there is still hope for anyone if you're ready to accept it. That even at the doorstep of death's door you can still find love. The two great actors, Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon, makes this scene even greater.
Contact
In between the hyped-up, high-tech talk, alien theories, handsome Matthew McConaughey and nerdy scientists, is the story of one passionate scientist, Ellie Arroway. If you look carefully, there are two slow motion sequence throughtout the whole movie. First is when Ellie was running to get her father's medication and second is when the first transporting machine was destroyed. To me, the slow motion effects signifies the two most significant yet catastrophic moments of her life. One is when her father died and the other is when she witnessed her life's work literally blows up in her face. Two memorable moments for her and two memorable moments for me.
Toyol
This 1980s (could be 70s) movie is the scariest Malaysian movie I've ever seen. I think I was about 10 and I have already developed an appetite for horror movies. I remember watching it with my mother and my sister and my sister was such a scaredy-cat that she got her face covered with a blanket most of the time while I watched it with unblinking eyes from beginning to end.
For those not familiar with the term, toyol is a supernatural being that takes the form of a green naked boy. Its purpose? To steal money for its owner.
The part that I remembered very well until today is the climax. If I recall correctly, the toyol has been hurt and it came running back to its master, a man named Bachok. It found him and clung to him for dear life and suddenly it burst into flames, killing Bachok in the process. What I also cannot get out of my head is a soft, high-pitched, lilting, little girl-like voice saying, "Mari Bachok... mari... hihihi.. mari Bachok.. mari..." [Come here Bachok.... come....hihihi] I can't remember who said it and what for but it sure gives me the creeps everytime I think about it.
I never saw the movie again though I'd love to. Probably due to the stringent censorship on movies with supernatural subjects. Quite a shame because that movie has some moral to convey too like don't mess with things you can't possibly comprehend or control.
Star Trek
I can't remember in which particular movie from the whole Star Trek saga this memorable moment came from but I remember the scene well. A prisoner has been caught by the enemy and he was forced to become a spy for them. It seems that in the 24th century, forcing someone to spy for you doesn't involve threatening his life or a loved one. Instead the prisoner is 'installed' with a biological device that can control him. That biological device is a glowing flourescent yellow leech that is dropped into the victim's ear. Long story short, I sleep with my hands covering my ears that night.
Inspiring, horrifying, heart-breaking. For various reasons, these scenes made it into the list of my most unforgetable moments from the movies and I'm looking forward to adding more of them. What about you? What's your unforgetable moment from the movies?
I finished reading Now Showing within 2 days. This coffe-table book is a compilation of 25 memorable moments, according to the author Joe Garner. Though the selections are debatable you must consider the circumstances.
Out of millions of films that had been churned out since technology made moving pictures possible, how do you chose 25? There's also the problem of getting copyright release. For example, Lucas had no problem giving permission for Indiana Jones but no permission was given for Star Wars. So Garner just had to work with what he has available and I think he did a pretty good job. The collection makes an enjoyable read. I even forget to take a nap one eezy-breezy Sunday afternoon.
However I feel that his choice is also governed by the popularity of the films. Though I've seen 15 out of the 25 films he has selected, the 'unforgettable moments' highlighted in the book didn't strike a chord in me. And so we arrived to the point of this whole post, what are MY unforgettable moments from the movies? I wish I can put up some stills from the respective moments like in the book, but you know me, I'm too kampung to know how to do that.
(Warning: The next part MAY have some spoilers. Do exercise some caution if you care about this stuff)
One movie popped in my mind immediately - Billy Elliot.
My favourite part is when Billy's father and brother sacrificed the cause they have been fighting for strongly, better conditions for coal miners. The quit the fight to go back to work so little Billy can have a better future by going to a very good Ballet school rather than see him ending up in the mines with them. They were glum when the elevator took them down to the mine but they were happy and proud to see Billy danced later on.
LOTR: Return of the King.
Among the three films, the battles are of course memorable. But one little scene from the third instalment of the trilogy has a special place in my heart. Osgiliath was over-run by Orcs and Faramir was forced to order his men to retreat. On his return his father said, "Is there a captain here who still has the courage to do his lord's will?"
Faramir: You wish now that our places had been exchanged... that I had died and Boromir had lived.And the look on his face when he heard that was so heart-breaking that I will never forget it. Everytime I see it, everytime I think of it, I will get choked up. Those remarkable lines written by a master were delivered perfectly by two amazing actors. Could've done it better than this.
Denethor: Yes. I wish that.
Faramir: Since you are robbed of Boromir... I will do what I can in his stead. If I should return, think better of me, Father.
Denethor: That will depend on the manner of your return.
Dead Man Walking.
When the death row inmate, Matthew Poncelet, a few hours before his sentence is carried out, finally confessed to his spiritual advisor Sister Helen Prejean. It's pretty hard to explain why I love this part. I think it's because that it gives a sense of hope that even the most heinous criminal can still find redemption with the proper guidance. That there is still hope for anyone if you're ready to accept it. That even at the doorstep of death's door you can still find love. The two great actors, Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon, makes this scene even greater.
Contact
In between the hyped-up, high-tech talk, alien theories, handsome Matthew McConaughey and nerdy scientists, is the story of one passionate scientist, Ellie Arroway. If you look carefully, there are two slow motion sequence throughtout the whole movie. First is when Ellie was running to get her father's medication and second is when the first transporting machine was destroyed. To me, the slow motion effects signifies the two most significant yet catastrophic moments of her life. One is when her father died and the other is when she witnessed her life's work literally blows up in her face. Two memorable moments for her and two memorable moments for me.
Toyol
This 1980s (could be 70s) movie is the scariest Malaysian movie I've ever seen. I think I was about 10 and I have already developed an appetite for horror movies. I remember watching it with my mother and my sister and my sister was such a scaredy-cat that she got her face covered with a blanket most of the time while I watched it with unblinking eyes from beginning to end.
For those not familiar with the term, toyol is a supernatural being that takes the form of a green naked boy. Its purpose? To steal money for its owner.
The part that I remembered very well until today is the climax. If I recall correctly, the toyol has been hurt and it came running back to its master, a man named Bachok. It found him and clung to him for dear life and suddenly it burst into flames, killing Bachok in the process. What I also cannot get out of my head is a soft, high-pitched, lilting, little girl-like voice saying, "Mari Bachok... mari... hihihi.. mari Bachok.. mari..." [Come here Bachok.... come....hihihi] I can't remember who said it and what for but it sure gives me the creeps everytime I think about it.
I never saw the movie again though I'd love to. Probably due to the stringent censorship on movies with supernatural subjects. Quite a shame because that movie has some moral to convey too like don't mess with things you can't possibly comprehend or control.
Star Trek
I can't remember in which particular movie from the whole Star Trek saga this memorable moment came from but I remember the scene well. A prisoner has been caught by the enemy and he was forced to become a spy for them. It seems that in the 24th century, forcing someone to spy for you doesn't involve threatening his life or a loved one. Instead the prisoner is 'installed' with a biological device that can control him. That biological device is a glowing flourescent yellow leech that is dropped into the victim's ear. Long story short, I sleep with my hands covering my ears that night.
Inspiring, horrifying, heart-breaking. For various reasons, these scenes made it into the list of my most unforgetable moments from the movies and I'm looking forward to adding more of them. What about you? What's your unforgetable moment from the movies?
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Isn't it nice...
When just one compliment could make your day.
There was I feeling so down and uninspired when suddenly someone came and said just the right thing. I can even see my ego level move up a notch.
I think I've recovered my blogging mojo. How do I know that I got it back? It's when I started to use the thesaurus again.
Thanks Fishtail! Thanks Mac!
There was I feeling so down and uninspired when suddenly someone came and said just the right thing. I can even see my ego level move up a notch.
I think I've recovered my blogging mojo. How do I know that I got it back? It's when I started to use the thesaurus again.
Thanks Fishtail! Thanks Mac!
This is how you do it
He he he... (devil laugh)
I just got back from Times Warehouse Sale in PJ and what a great time I had. MPH should just stop doing anymore warehouse sales until they learn something from Times. This is how you do it man!
Half of the area were covered with bargain books instead of the measly few bins that MPH had at their warehouse sale. A lot of paperbacks at RM8 and I'm not talking about some unknown titles by obscure authors. I'm talking about Stephen King, Catherine Lim, Phillip Pulman, John Grisham, Toni Morrison and many more. I even saw Bridget Jones (Book 1 and 2), Cold Mountain and Star Wars novelizations among others. I also saw the complete set of Stephen King's Wizards & Glass series (4 books) for RM30. Quite a bargain but I'm not a fan. Eyeris actually posted a very comprehensive take on this event already so I won't elaborate anymore.
But while he's kicking himself over Life of Pi and Terry Brooks, I was booting myself over
*** WE INTERRUPT THE REGULAR PROGRAMMING FOR A NEWSFLASH ***
Constantine is out!
Where the hell are all his fans? Did they suddenly develop a taste for melancholic chubby boy who sings melancholy songs? Scott was not even at the bottom three. I think family background got something to do with it. I think America is starting to root for the average dude (with a son to boot) rather than the high-class Greek kid from Brooklyn. Oh well, I guess now there's an opening for Bo in the final 2! Go Bo Bice!
*** End of Newsflash ***
Ok where was I.... Oh yeah...
And while he's kicking himself over Life of Pi and Terry Brooks, I was booting myself over for To Kill a Mockingbird, Anne Rice's Blood Canticle and Blackwood Farm. I bought To Kill a Mockingbird at MPH warehouse sale for RM21! And I bought the Anne Rice books at regular price. I can't believe they could sell Anne Rice at RM8 and these are the latest ones too. Damn!
But I guess that's just the ups and downs of a book collector. You win some you lose some. While I may lose 3 points this time, I managed to win on some of these...
I just got back from Times Warehouse Sale in PJ and what a great time I had. MPH should just stop doing anymore warehouse sales until they learn something from Times. This is how you do it man!
Half of the area were covered with bargain books instead of the measly few bins that MPH had at their warehouse sale. A lot of paperbacks at RM8 and I'm not talking about some unknown titles by obscure authors. I'm talking about Stephen King, Catherine Lim, Phillip Pulman, John Grisham, Toni Morrison and many more. I even saw Bridget Jones (Book 1 and 2), Cold Mountain and Star Wars novelizations among others. I also saw the complete set of Stephen King's Wizards & Glass series (4 books) for RM30. Quite a bargain but I'm not a fan. Eyeris actually posted a very comprehensive take on this event already so I won't elaborate anymore.
But while he's kicking himself over Life of Pi and Terry Brooks, I was booting myself over
*** WE INTERRUPT THE REGULAR PROGRAMMING FOR A NEWSFLASH ***
Constantine is out!
Where the hell are all his fans? Did they suddenly develop a taste for melancholic chubby boy who sings melancholy songs? Scott was not even at the bottom three. I think family background got something to do with it. I think America is starting to root for the average dude (with a son to boot) rather than the high-class Greek kid from Brooklyn. Oh well, I guess now there's an opening for Bo in the final 2! Go Bo Bice!
*** End of Newsflash ***
Ok where was I.... Oh yeah...
And while he's kicking himself over Life of Pi and Terry Brooks, I was booting myself over for To Kill a Mockingbird, Anne Rice's Blood Canticle and Blackwood Farm. I bought To Kill a Mockingbird at MPH warehouse sale for RM21! And I bought the Anne Rice books at regular price. I can't believe they could sell Anne Rice at RM8 and these are the latest ones too. Damn!
But I guess that's just the ups and downs of a book collector. You win some you lose some. While I may lose 3 points this time, I managed to win on some of these...
- The new Artemis Fowl book (The Opal Deception) RM24
- The Complete Book of Vampires RM15
- The Complete Tolkien Companion RM10
- Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind RM8
- Yann Martel's Life of Pi RM8
- Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha RM8
- Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass RM8
- Philip Pullman's The Subtle Knife RM8
- Philip Pullman's The Amber Spyglass RM8
- Charles Dickens's The Old Curiosity Shop RM5
- E.M. Forster's A Passage to India RM5
- and War and Peace (VCD) RM9
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
I feel so uninspired
I don't know what I want to blog about anymore.
I do have a few topics lined up but these topics need a lot of research before it is ready for publish. Well, if you know me well enough already, you might know what I'm about to say.
"I'm just too lazy"
I tried blogging about some trivial things like what I did today, what I was thinking about lately. But I feel these matters a bit too trivial for my taste. I mean it's not like those who read this would care unless they know who I really am. But alas, as far as I know there's only one (1) reader who knew me outside the blogosphere and that's because I went on and mentioned that I do have a blog. But she deserves to know since she was the one who introduced the joys (and pains) of blogging to me. Anyway, I don't think this person would care to know what time I woke up this morning, whether I squeezed a nickel-sized or a dime-sized toothpaste onto my toothbrush or why I was 15 minutes late for work today or what I did last weekend, which usually consists of waking up late, watch tv, read or twiddling God-knows-what on my computer.
Blogging about recent books that I've read, something that I've done before, is another option but then enjoying a book is way different than TALKING about why you enjoy it, especially when you also want to sound intelligent in the process. Very difficult.
A clear mind helps in organizing critical thoughts so I guess my mind is a bit occupied lately. What has it been occupied with? Man I can't believe I'm doing this. I'm going to talk about 'what I was thinking lately' after all.
Since my last post 7 days ago I have to spend 2 of those days helping my boss's brother typing data on the computer. I'm finally back at the bookstore on Thursday evening much to my relief. I was so worried I'm going to be stuck there I was ready to quit if I stayed there any longer. It was so mind-numbingly boring I thought that my brain has shut down on me.
On top of that I think my modem was strucked by lightning (again!). That's another strain on my budget. I still have my dial-up account but I began to suffer broadband-withdrawal syndrome: mind-numb caused by longer waiting time for a page to load, higher stress level because less time is spent on reading and watching tv and unnecessary interuption when someone picked up the phone, well... you know the drill.
To occupy the times when I don't feel like hearing the dialing sound the modem makes, I installed CSI, a game I bought so long ago but never got around to play. However, installing the game resulted some errors on my computer - I cannot shut it down properly. Thankfully the game is short and I uninstall it straight away, not caring that I didn't get 100% on all my evaluations.
Last weekend my aunt from Ipoh came over and stayed for a few days so not much private quiet time to think. They are my favourite family members however.
Now, Tuesday has come again. My broadband is up and running and I just feel obligated to publish something if only for the sake of those who visit my blog regularly but got shut down everytime they saw "Crossing into the Borders" at the top of the page, especially to those who has 56K dial-up connection. I totally feel you. One tip: get Firefox and find out about Live Bookmark. For the time being I give you "I feel so uninspired".
Damn! For someone so uninspired I did talk a lot, didn't I? I guess what matters is not what is it that you want to write about, but to actually start writing. Something I've noticed while studying for my business degree. It's always the same every single time. I will start an assignment late because I have no idea what to write about but once I got started I can't stop. Just hope that I didn't babble as much as I am now. Well, I've submitted all the assignments and I got the freakin' cert already. Nothing I can do about that now. But I do have to control my babbling on this blog since it doesn't have anyone to review/mark it. You be my lecturer. Just let me know if this is too much babbling for you.
Double damn! What if no one actually reach the end to actually read that previous line?
Oh well...
I do have a few topics lined up but these topics need a lot of research before it is ready for publish. Well, if you know me well enough already, you might know what I'm about to say.
"I'm just too lazy"
I tried blogging about some trivial things like what I did today, what I was thinking about lately. But I feel these matters a bit too trivial for my taste. I mean it's not like those who read this would care unless they know who I really am. But alas, as far as I know there's only one (1) reader who knew me outside the blogosphere and that's because I went on and mentioned that I do have a blog. But she deserves to know since she was the one who introduced the joys (and pains) of blogging to me. Anyway, I don't think this person would care to know what time I woke up this morning, whether I squeezed a nickel-sized or a dime-sized toothpaste onto my toothbrush or why I was 15 minutes late for work today or what I did last weekend, which usually consists of waking up late, watch tv, read or twiddling God-knows-what on my computer.
Blogging about recent books that I've read, something that I've done before, is another option but then enjoying a book is way different than TALKING about why you enjoy it, especially when you also want to sound intelligent in the process. Very difficult.
A clear mind helps in organizing critical thoughts so I guess my mind is a bit occupied lately. What has it been occupied with? Man I can't believe I'm doing this. I'm going to talk about 'what I was thinking lately' after all.
Since my last post 7 days ago I have to spend 2 of those days helping my boss's brother typing data on the computer. I'm finally back at the bookstore on Thursday evening much to my relief. I was so worried I'm going to be stuck there I was ready to quit if I stayed there any longer. It was so mind-numbingly boring I thought that my brain has shut down on me.
On top of that I think my modem was strucked by lightning (again!). That's another strain on my budget. I still have my dial-up account but I began to suffer broadband-withdrawal syndrome: mind-numb caused by longer waiting time for a page to load, higher stress level because less time is spent on reading and watching tv and unnecessary interuption when someone picked up the phone, well... you know the drill.
To occupy the times when I don't feel like hearing the dialing sound the modem makes, I installed CSI, a game I bought so long ago but never got around to play. However, installing the game resulted some errors on my computer - I cannot shut it down properly. Thankfully the game is short and I uninstall it straight away, not caring that I didn't get 100% on all my evaluations.
Last weekend my aunt from Ipoh came over and stayed for a few days so not much private quiet time to think. They are my favourite family members however.
Now, Tuesday has come again. My broadband is up and running and I just feel obligated to publish something if only for the sake of those who visit my blog regularly but got shut down everytime they saw "Crossing into the Borders" at the top of the page, especially to those who has 56K dial-up connection. I totally feel you. One tip: get Firefox and find out about Live Bookmark. For the time being I give you "I feel so uninspired".
Damn! For someone so uninspired I did talk a lot, didn't I? I guess what matters is not what is it that you want to write about, but to actually start writing. Something I've noticed while studying for my business degree. It's always the same every single time. I will start an assignment late because I have no idea what to write about but once I got started I can't stop. Just hope that I didn't babble as much as I am now. Well, I've submitted all the assignments and I got the freakin' cert already. Nothing I can do about that now. But I do have to control my babbling on this blog since it doesn't have anyone to review/mark it. You be my lecturer. Just let me know if this is too much babbling for you.
Double damn! What if no one actually reach the end to actually read that previous line?
Oh well...
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Crossing into the Borders
I 'm always excited when I discover any new bookstore that I didn't know existed. If I was walking down a street and suddenly came across a shop with books inside, I would certainly walk in. Even so that I even walked into Salvation a few years ago (to those who don't know, like I was a few years ago, Salvation carries books on Christianity) 
You can imagine my excitement when I read the news that Borders is coming to Malaysia. I even marked the opening day in my diary. What's the use of marking events if you're not going to take part right? So I went there this evening.
I didn't join in the opening ceremony of course, like Eyeris & Daphne did, but I was hoping they will have some special events throughout the day. I mean, you are a big international corporation opening your very first shop in the country, shouldn't you make a big deal out of it? So when I walked into the shop about 7pm this evening, I kind of lost a bit of the excitement. It felt like walking to any other bookstore that I accidently came across while walking down a street. And I was a bit disappointed that there was no "Opening Day Sale", not even a mere 10%
.
I walked into the store at the first floor and the first thing I noticed was how white and bare the shop is. It's like walking into a hypermarket or a hospital. The first selections that you'll see is, of course, the latest releases and bestselling titles. This is where you can find your Dan Browns, latest Kay Scarpetta novel, etc. But I was more attracted to the ones with special offers.
Special Offers Year Round
1. 3 for 2
Borders offer selected titles where you can buy 2 and get the third one free. There are some interesting titles but they are either ones that I don't want to own or ones that I already have. Available at children's section as well.
2. Bargain Books
They consists of some obscure titles mostly informational. I saw the whole Calvin & Hobbes range selling about RM19-90 each, even the big ones. But I grew out of Calvin & Hobbes, so no interest there. I saw some LIFE books which I usually love but the subjects doesn't interests me. Bargain books at the children's section at quite good. At the end, I manage to get Now Showing: Unforgettable Moments From the Movies and The Handy History Answer Book for RM19-90 each
.
It was mentioned that this section is updated every week so... to go or not to go....
3. Borders Best
This is similar to Kino's offer. You'll get 20% discount for selected titles with any other purchase. The ones on offer now didn't interest me either except for Revenge of the Sith novelization. But it's in HC and I want to watch the movie first.
Layout
Science Fiction = Fantasy???
I don't understand why they want to classify books about dragons, wizards, dwarves, fairies or magic under Science Fiction. Enough said.
Modern Lit + Classic Lit = Fiction
I never realized that putting this two categories together could be quite efficient. For example, if you go to Kino you will find Steinbeck's books under 'Literature' but if you go to Times they will be under 'Fiction'. So what the heck, let's put them all together.
Children's Book by Age
Is quite effiecient too but I didn't check whether they arrange the books correctly or not.
General
The whole place is very spacious. It kind of gives you the sense that there are not so many books after all. I don't know if they're planning to add anything else or if this is it.
Selection
I'm not about to comment on the selections of the whole damn store. I read a lot but I'm not that well versed in what's good and what's not. Instead I will just measure the variety of selection based on the books that I was looking for.
1. Fyodor Dostoevsky
They have a lot of his books. I never knew that he wrote so many short stories as well.
2. Clive Barker
Not bad but doesn't have all of his works. I was hoping I can get the latest one Abarat: Days of Magic, Night of War. No Luck. Actually the whole Horror section is dissapointing, They only have about three shelves for Horror.
3. Gregory Maguire
All of his books are about the other side of a fairy tale. I've read all of them except one, Mirror Mirror, about the wicked queen in Snow White. Good news, Borders have all of his books. They even have a special edition of Wicked with photos of the Broadway musical by the same name. Oh, his books are placed under 'Science Fiction'.
4. For Better or For Worse
They have a few. I think it was about 5% of the range. I don't care, Times has more of this series and I can get 10% too.
5. Children's section
Very good, this section took up a lot of space. A lot of titles for teenagers but according to Daphne they don't have Joan Aiken books. I also noticed they don't have the latest Artemis Fowl book. Their 'latest' is The Artemis Fowl Case Files, which came out a year ago. And the picture books are a bit lacking.
6. Parenting
Not that impressive. Most of the books are about taking care of babies, babies' learning process etc. If your children are above 6, you won't find that many books that could help you.
7. Entertainment
Very good. They have a lot of books about bands, artists, songbooks and films but not much about TV. I saw a lot of books on U2, more than what I can find at other bookstores. No book about CSI.
8. Others
Other sections like business, art etc didn't impress me. I don't know if it's the way they arrange everything or there just wasn't that many books. I feel that Kino has more titles.
So that's 4 and 4 . A lot of room for improvements.
Ambiance
Hypermarket, soulless, sanitized, not cozy, cold and uninviting are words that came to my mind. They didn't even bother with any creative decor. Even the sofas looks uncomfortable. I saw some quotes here and there but I almost missed them. And they were so obscure that they didn't effect me in any way.
They hold to the principle of allowing customers to browse freely so be assured that you won't find any plastic foil between your fingers and the pages inside. It is a noble notion but I feel it is unsuitable for Malaysian market. The Malaysian general public usually treat bookstores like a library. They go there to read with no intention of buying, which is fine. But when they don't practice caution while handling the book it becomes another story altogether. I remember the time when Kino practice 'open browsing' once but then... well just look at Kino now. Every single book is wrapped, not even one copy escaped that clingy plastic thingy.
Conclusion
In gist, I hope that this is not it. I imagine that Berjaya was so pressed with the opening day dateline that they just go with what they have. I hope that they have some surprises yet unveiled. Borders won't be a regular visit but I do want to see if they do update their bargain books every week. Maybe I'll go again someday and see if it's worth it.
Related Blogs
1. Eyeris's On the Borders of Popular Soullessness
(For the record, I just love this title. It is a nice and concised way to describe the latest edition in the book retailing industry of Malaysia. Why can't I come up with titles like that
) and another post
2. An Explanation for the Borders Hatred
3. Daphne's Borders
4. Kyl's If I Could Marry Borders I Totally Would
Did you post about Borders as well? Drop me a line and I'll gladly add a link to you.
You can imagine my excitement when I read the news that Borders is coming to Malaysia. I even marked the opening day in my diary. What's the use of marking events if you're not going to take part right? So I went there this evening.
I didn't join in the opening ceremony of course, like Eyeris & Daphne did, but I was hoping they will have some special events throughout the day. I mean, you are a big international corporation opening your very first shop in the country, shouldn't you make a big deal out of it? So when I walked into the shop about 7pm this evening, I kind of lost a bit of the excitement. It felt like walking to any other bookstore that I accidently came across while walking down a street. And I was a bit disappointed that there was no "Opening Day Sale", not even a mere 10%
.I walked into the store at the first floor and the first thing I noticed was how white and bare the shop is. It's like walking into a hypermarket or a hospital. The first selections that you'll see is, of course, the latest releases and bestselling titles. This is where you can find your Dan Browns, latest Kay Scarpetta novel, etc. But I was more attracted to the ones with special offers.
Special Offers Year Round
1. 3 for 2
Borders offer selected titles where you can buy 2 and get the third one free. There are some interesting titles but they are either ones that I don't want to own or ones that I already have. Available at children's section as well.
2. Bargain Books
They consists of some obscure titles mostly informational. I saw the whole Calvin & Hobbes range selling about RM19-90 each, even the big ones. But I grew out of Calvin & Hobbes, so no interest there. I saw some LIFE books which I usually love but the subjects doesn't interests me. Bargain books at the children's section at quite good. At the end, I manage to get Now Showing: Unforgettable Moments From the Movies and The Handy History Answer Book for RM19-90 each
.It was mentioned that this section is updated every week so... to go or not to go....
3. Borders Best
This is similar to Kino's offer. You'll get 20% discount for selected titles with any other purchase. The ones on offer now didn't interest me either except for Revenge of the Sith novelization. But it's in HC and I want to watch the movie first.
Layout
Science Fiction = Fantasy???
I don't understand why they want to classify books about dragons, wizards, dwarves, fairies or magic under Science Fiction. Enough said.
Modern Lit + Classic Lit = Fiction
I never realized that putting this two categories together could be quite efficient. For example, if you go to Kino you will find Steinbeck's books under 'Literature' but if you go to Times they will be under 'Fiction'. So what the heck, let's put them all together.
Children's Book by Age
Is quite effiecient too but I didn't check whether they arrange the books correctly or not.
General
The whole place is very spacious. It kind of gives you the sense that there are not so many books after all. I don't know if they're planning to add anything else or if this is it.
Selection
I'm not about to comment on the selections of the whole damn store. I read a lot but I'm not that well versed in what's good and what's not. Instead I will just measure the variety of selection based on the books that I was looking for.
1. Fyodor Dostoevsky
They have a lot of his books. I never knew that he wrote so many short stories as well.
2. Clive Barker
Not bad but doesn't have all of his works. I was hoping I can get the latest one Abarat: Days of Magic, Night of War. No Luck. Actually the whole Horror section is dissapointing, They only have about three shelves for Horror.
3. Gregory Maguire
All of his books are about the other side of a fairy tale. I've read all of them except one, Mirror Mirror, about the wicked queen in Snow White. Good news, Borders have all of his books. They even have a special edition of Wicked with photos of the Broadway musical by the same name. Oh, his books are placed under 'Science Fiction'.
4. For Better or For Worse
They have a few. I think it was about 5% of the range. I don't care, Times has more of this series and I can get 10% too.
5. Children's section
Very good, this section took up a lot of space. A lot of titles for teenagers but according to Daphne they don't have Joan Aiken books. I also noticed they don't have the latest Artemis Fowl book. Their 'latest' is The Artemis Fowl Case Files, which came out a year ago. And the picture books are a bit lacking.
6. Parenting
Not that impressive. Most of the books are about taking care of babies, babies' learning process etc. If your children are above 6, you won't find that many books that could help you.
7. Entertainment
Very good. They have a lot of books about bands, artists, songbooks and films but not much about TV. I saw a lot of books on U2, more than what I can find at other bookstores. No book about CSI.
8. Others
Other sections like business, art etc didn't impress me. I don't know if it's the way they arrange everything or there just wasn't that many books. I feel that Kino has more titles.
So that's 4
and 4 . A lot of room for improvements.Ambiance
Hypermarket, soulless, sanitized, not cozy, cold and uninviting are words that came to my mind. They didn't even bother with any creative decor. Even the sofas looks uncomfortable. I saw some quotes here and there but I almost missed them. And they were so obscure that they didn't effect me in any way.
They hold to the principle of allowing customers to browse freely so be assured that you won't find any plastic foil between your fingers and the pages inside. It is a noble notion but I feel it is unsuitable for Malaysian market. The Malaysian general public usually treat bookstores like a library. They go there to read with no intention of buying, which is fine. But when they don't practice caution while handling the book it becomes another story altogether. I remember the time when Kino practice 'open browsing' once but then... well just look at Kino now. Every single book is wrapped, not even one copy escaped that clingy plastic thingy.
Conclusion
In gist, I hope that this is not it. I imagine that Berjaya was so pressed with the opening day dateline that they just go with what they have. I hope that they have some surprises yet unveiled. Borders won't be a regular visit but I do want to see if they do update their bargain books every week. Maybe I'll go again someday and see if it's worth it.
Related Blogs
1. Eyeris's On the Borders of Popular Soullessness
(For the record, I just love this title. It is a nice and concised way to describe the latest edition in the book retailing industry of Malaysia. Why can't I come up with titles like that
) and another post2. An Explanation for the Borders Hatred
3. Daphne's Borders
4. Kyl's If I Could Marry Borders I Totally Would
Did you post about Borders as well? Drop me a line and I'll gladly add a link to you.
Well doggone it!
Having Nadia sent home last week kind of ended Kampung Gal's career as a psychic. This is what I predicted before. Just scroll all the way down to get to the predictions.
But I wasn't surprised that she was the one with the lowest vote. In fact I kind of expected it. I wanted to blog about it before the result show to prove that I still have the knack for predicting but man I was so not in the mood to blog lately.
I did enjoy her performance by the way. But after I watched the rundown of all the performances at the end of the concert it was obvious that she was the least outstanding among them. It doesn't help that she was the first to perform either. First to go, first to forget right?
I agree with Simon on this one, she made a bad song choice. No one knew it, not even Randy, it was slow, uninteresting and so was not able to make her shine among the many bright stars among her. I guess she's just too 'artsy-fartsy' for the general audience. ('Artsy-fartsy' was the word she used to describe her taste in music)
But boy did I get a scare when Bo was in the bottom 2 with Nadia. But sometimes you just got to be put down to realize that you are as vulnerable as anyone else. Remember how cocky Fantasia was at the beginning of American Idol 3? A few times at the bottom 3 sure quiets down that big mouth of hers. I hope this will be a wake-up call for Bo. He must work hard to stay at the top, this is no time to slack off. I want Bo in the finals!
Okay, it's time to salvage what's left of Kampung Gal's psychic career and make another prediction.
1) Bo, Constantine, Vonzell and Keri will be in the final 4
2) Even though I love Bo, it is Constantine who will become the next American Idol
3) Scott is the next to go
Let's see where this will take us.
***************************************************
Additional thoughts (21 April 2005, 12:36am)
Just watched this week's show, a great one I must say.
I'm still sticking to my predictions. Just want to add one more with regards to Tipah's question.
Before tonight I was thinking Bo and Constantine will be in the final two. But after some research and analysis which involved recalling past performances, each contestant's personality, commercial value and marketibility, I think Constantine and Vonzell will be voted by the American public all the way to the top two. So there's my answer Tipah and I still think Constantine is going to win.
After Scott leaves tonight, I think it's going to be more difficult to predict the next one to go. They're all very good in their own way and I like them all, even Anthony with the pale squeeky clean image that he has. Cannot deny that he does have a good voice. The competition is getting tougher every week. I think this is the best season for American Idol.
But I wasn't surprised that she was the one with the lowest vote. In fact I kind of expected it. I wanted to blog about it before the result show to prove that I still have the knack for predicting but man I was so not in the mood to blog lately.
I did enjoy her performance by the way. But after I watched the rundown of all the performances at the end of the concert it was obvious that she was the least outstanding among them. It doesn't help that she was the first to perform either. First to go, first to forget right?
I agree with Simon on this one, she made a bad song choice. No one knew it, not even Randy, it was slow, uninteresting and so was not able to make her shine among the many bright stars among her. I guess she's just too 'artsy-fartsy' for the general audience. ('Artsy-fartsy' was the word she used to describe her taste in music)
But boy did I get a scare when Bo was in the bottom 2 with Nadia. But sometimes you just got to be put down to realize that you are as vulnerable as anyone else. Remember how cocky Fantasia was at the beginning of American Idol 3? A few times at the bottom 3 sure quiets down that big mouth of hers. I hope this will be a wake-up call for Bo. He must work hard to stay at the top, this is no time to slack off. I want Bo in the finals!
Okay, it's time to salvage what's left of Kampung Gal's psychic career and make another prediction.
1) Bo, Constantine, Vonzell and Keri will be in the final 4
2) Even though I love Bo, it is Constantine who will become the next American Idol
3) Scott is the next to go
Let's see where this will take us.
***************************************************
Additional thoughts (21 April 2005, 12:36am)
Just watched this week's show, a great one I must say.
I'm still sticking to my predictions. Just want to add one more with regards to Tipah's question.
Before tonight I was thinking Bo and Constantine will be in the final two. But after some research and analysis which involved recalling past performances, each contestant's personality, commercial value and marketibility, I think Constantine and Vonzell will be voted by the American public all the way to the top two. So there's my answer Tipah and I still think Constantine is going to win.
After Scott leaves tonight, I think it's going to be more difficult to predict the next one to go. They're all very good in their own way and I like them all, even Anthony with the pale squeeky clean image that he has. Cannot deny that he does have a good voice. The competition is getting tougher every week. I think this is the best season for American Idol.
Monday, April 18, 2005
You do care!
Wow! Can't help but feel awed by all the feedbacks that I got from my last post. Someone do care! To all... let me see... 1... 2... 3... 9 of you who bothered to entertain my whims I'm really grateful.
At the beginning it was pretty even between resigning and not resigning. But after awhile the scale tipped towards not resigning. I thought long and hard about this and I have made my decision.
I may sound desperate and agitated in my last post but after some time I find that I don't have any reason to feel that way. I think it was the fact that I was really vying for the job at Company ABC and I was disappointed when I didn't make the cut. I think it was just not meant to be. A better phrase to express this is that "My rezeki is just not with that place". So fine, I'll accept that.
The company that I'm currently working in is actually not that bad that I just have to leave it right away. It does have its minor hiccups here and there (and everywhere) but I think it's expected when you're working with a small business. There are some things that I find irritating especially when I've done all I can to make a certain project successful but it will always get stuck when a certain action from my boss is needed. Well at least he can't blame me if a project was not up to his expectations. Fine.
This boss of mine also owns other businesses which he shared with his many brothers. Sometimes these other businesses will criss-cross even though they are entirely unrelated. I remember once when he told all his staff to not mention the company's name when picking up the phone, which we still do until now actually. I don't understand why and I don't want to understand why. As long as he's paying my salary on time and put the money in my EPF, I guess it's fine.
Another part of criss-crossing his businesses is going on in another aspect. You see, now I have to do some admin stuff for his other companies as well like ageing reports, balance sheet, profit & loss etc. It started with minor things that I can finish in about 30 minutes. But today all of a sudden I was bidden to go to his brother's office. When I got there his brother passed me this 1/2 inch-thick report printed on those A3-sized computer paper filled with company names. My task is to type all those company names into Excel. After two hours I didn't even finish half of it and I'm a pretty fast typer. So tomorrow I have to go there again until I completed everything. But I think I can finish it by tomorrow. Fine.
Okay I must admit. I am a bit free in between the many tasks that form my job description. But I just can't help but get this irritating vibe running through the very fiber of my being everytime I have to spend more than an hour in front of the PC typing (apart from blogging that is). This is the reason why I left the bank goddammit! It was why I left all the insurance coverage, medical benefits, dental benefits, among many others, to join this company who only gives the very minimum of employee benefits - I'm sick and tired of typing data!
But I guess my love for the things that I deal with in this company is like that gulp of water that cures the hiccups. I was really hoping that this company could be my stepping stone into a long and fruitful career in the book industry. After working here for two years and acquiring a degree, I thought it's time to step into bigger things. And then this new company comes along which could have been my big break but alas it wasn't.
I wish they would just tell me what's wrong. I wish they would just tell me...
instead of,
Did I dress wrongly? Did I smell bad? Did I say something so appaling that I don't deserve another minute of their time? They didn't even give me a second chance.
Oh well, like I said earlier,
Back to the classifieds!
In the meantime I'll just stick around and see what other hiccups I will get.
---------------------------Ad space-----------------------------------
At the beginning it was pretty even between resigning and not resigning. But after awhile the scale tipped towards not resigning. I thought long and hard about this and I have made my decision.
I may sound desperate and agitated in my last post but after some time I find that I don't have any reason to feel that way. I think it was the fact that I was really vying for the job at Company ABC and I was disappointed when I didn't make the cut. I think it was just not meant to be. A better phrase to express this is that "My rezeki is just not with that place". So fine, I'll accept that.
The company that I'm currently working in is actually not that bad that I just have to leave it right away. It does have its minor hiccups here and there (and everywhere) but I think it's expected when you're working with a small business. There are some things that I find irritating especially when I've done all I can to make a certain project successful but it will always get stuck when a certain action from my boss is needed. Well at least he can't blame me if a project was not up to his expectations. Fine.
This boss of mine also owns other businesses which he shared with his many brothers. Sometimes these other businesses will criss-cross even though they are entirely unrelated. I remember once when he told all his staff to not mention the company's name when picking up the phone, which we still do until now actually. I don't understand why and I don't want to understand why. As long as he's paying my salary on time and put the money in my EPF, I guess it's fine.
Another part of criss-crossing his businesses is going on in another aspect. You see, now I have to do some admin stuff for his other companies as well like ageing reports, balance sheet, profit & loss etc. It started with minor things that I can finish in about 30 minutes. But today all of a sudden I was bidden to go to his brother's office. When I got there his brother passed me this 1/2 inch-thick report printed on those A3-sized computer paper filled with company names. My task is to type all those company names into Excel. After two hours I didn't even finish half of it and I'm a pretty fast typer. So tomorrow I have to go there again until I completed everything. But I think I can finish it by tomorrow. Fine.
Okay I must admit. I am a bit free in between the many tasks that form my job description. But I just can't help but get this irritating vibe running through the very fiber of my being everytime I have to spend more than an hour in front of the PC typing (apart from blogging that is). This is the reason why I left the bank goddammit! It was why I left all the insurance coverage, medical benefits, dental benefits, among many others, to join this company who only gives the very minimum of employee benefits - I'm sick and tired of typing data!
But I guess my love for the things that I deal with in this company is like that gulp of water that cures the hiccups. I was really hoping that this company could be my stepping stone into a long and fruitful career in the book industry. After working here for two years and acquiring a degree, I thought it's time to step into bigger things. And then this new company comes along which could have been my big break but alas it wasn't.
I wish they would just tell me what's wrong. I wish they would just tell me...
| I'm sorry, you're not successful |
instead of, | We've put your application under KIV |
Did I dress wrongly? Did I smell bad? Did I say something so appaling that I don't deserve another minute of their time? They didn't even give me a second chance.
Oh well, like I said earlier,
| Rezeki saya bukan di sini |
Back to the classifieds!
In the meantime I'll just stick around and see what other hiccups I will get.
---------------------------Ad space-----------------------------------
Monday, April 11, 2005
To resign or not to resign
That is the question that's been bugging me until I can't sleep last night. You see, I found out I have to give 3 months notice of resignation instead of one.
This is my story.
Two of you might know that I'm currently looking for other employments. I've sent out my resumes to all the companies that I'm interested in and signed up at the various website with job listings. I was called for a few interviews and one of those was with Company ABC about a month ago. What interests me about this company is that it's an international corp just beginning to tap into the Malaysian market. You know what new companies mean right? Lots of room to grow...
I felt that interview went quite well. I answered their ad for position A but she said I was a bit over-qualified for that one and the salary range is not suitable for me. But she still called me up to see if I'm suitable for position B (a better one). At the end of it she told me that she will call me tomorrow. But she didn't so I called her up the day after that. She told me that the quota for position B has been filled so my application has to be put under KIV. *sigh* Never mind. Company ABC is planning to open another branch within this year and four more in the next three years which I believe because the news has been splattered all over the newspapers. So I thought I still have a chance if not for this branch maybe for the next.
Last week, I saw a vacancy ad for Company ABC in the paper asking for the position that I was interviewed for, Position B for the same branch. What the hell? How come she didn't call me?
So I e-mailed her that night asking if I'm still under consideration. Till now I received no reply from her. Nothing left to do but call her up which I did but she was not around. I actually have her hand-phone no but I'm a bit reluctant to use it. I don't want to seem so desperate and eager (even though I am) that would eventually cause me to be blacklisted in her book. But I'm determined. If I don't get to speak to her soon I WILL certainly use this valuable information to get what I want. Please let me speak to her soon... I really don't want to call her on her handphone.
Another thing that worried me is that I accidently 'lied' on my application form. You see, I was so eager to go to all these interviews that I didn't bother to check my terms of employment. I assumed that I have to give one month notice. I must have thought I was still a clerk. Well, it figures since I'm drawing a clerk's salary.
That's one setback, telling them that I can join them in one month when I actually they have to wait 3 bloody months. I hope she can just forget about this minor little detail because... drum rolls please...
I'm exactly the kind of person she's looking for, I'm just perfect for this company, I have the experience, I have the passion, I have great communication skills, I have a great personality, I am a wonderful person and we had quite a nice chat during the interview (unless she is very good in pretending to enjoy the conversation).
Ok. Let's assume that she's fine with this little hiccup and still consider me as a good candidate, what happens if I DO get this job. I get the feeling that they would want me to join them right away.
"But I have to give three months notice."
"Is there no other way you can get off earlier?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Then, we have no choice. We need someone fast. We have to give this position to another candidate."
NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
So now I'm thinking, should I just place my resignation and hope they will get back to me in three months time? If they do call me up for a second interview will I be successful?
I'm pretty confident that I could because, come on, they need a lot of people and who better to work for them than me! They must take me.
Worst scenario - it is my last day of working here and I still don't have a job. I don't mind working at something else while waiting for Company ABC to become desperate enough to finally want me to work for them. But working as what? Will I be able to even secure another job? Even a measly one?
I've asked 4 of my friends about this
2 said just resign but must be ready to take the risk.
1 said don't resign because it's difficult to find another good-paying job.
1 still hasn't replied my e-mail.
What do you think ? To resign or not to resign?
This is my story.
Two of you might know that I'm currently looking for other employments. I've sent out my resumes to all the companies that I'm interested in and signed up at the various website with job listings. I was called for a few interviews and one of those was with Company ABC about a month ago. What interests me about this company is that it's an international corp just beginning to tap into the Malaysian market. You know what new companies mean right? Lots of room to grow...
I felt that interview went quite well. I answered their ad for position A but she said I was a bit over-qualified for that one and the salary range is not suitable for me. But she still called me up to see if I'm suitable for position B (a better one). At the end of it she told me that she will call me tomorrow. But she didn't so I called her up the day after that. She told me that the quota for position B has been filled so my application has to be put under KIV. *sigh* Never mind. Company ABC is planning to open another branch within this year and four more in the next three years which I believe because the news has been splattered all over the newspapers. So I thought I still have a chance if not for this branch maybe for the next.
Last week, I saw a vacancy ad for Company ABC in the paper asking for the position that I was interviewed for, Position B for the same branch. What the hell? How come she didn't call me?
So I e-mailed her that night asking if I'm still under consideration. Till now I received no reply from her. Nothing left to do but call her up which I did but she was not around. I actually have her hand-phone no but I'm a bit reluctant to use it. I don't want to seem so desperate and eager (even though I am) that would eventually cause me to be blacklisted in her book. But I'm determined. If I don't get to speak to her soon I WILL certainly use this valuable information to get what I want. Please let me speak to her soon... I really don't want to call her on her handphone.
Another thing that worried me is that I accidently 'lied' on my application form. You see, I was so eager to go to all these interviews that I didn't bother to check my terms of employment. I assumed that I have to give one month notice. I must have thought I was still a clerk. Well, it figures since I'm drawing a clerk's salary.
That's one setback, telling them that I can join them in one month when I actually they have to wait 3 bloody months. I hope she can just forget about this minor little detail because... drum rolls please...
I'm exactly the kind of person she's looking for, I'm just perfect for this company, I have the experience, I have the passion, I have great communication skills, I have a great personality, I am a wonderful person and we had quite a nice chat during the interview (unless she is very good in pretending to enjoy the conversation).
Ok. Let's assume that she's fine with this little hiccup and still consider me as a good candidate, what happens if I DO get this job. I get the feeling that they would want me to join them right away.
"But I have to give three months notice."
"Is there no other way you can get off earlier?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Then, we have no choice. We need someone fast. We have to give this position to another candidate."
NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
So now I'm thinking, should I just place my resignation and hope they will get back to me in three months time? If they do call me up for a second interview will I be successful?
I'm pretty confident that I could because, come on, they need a lot of people and who better to work for them than me! They must take me.
Worst scenario - it is my last day of working here and I still don't have a job. I don't mind working at something else while waiting for Company ABC to become desperate enough to finally want me to work for them. But working as what? Will I be able to even secure another job? Even a measly one?
I've asked 4 of my friends about this
2 said just resign but must be ready to take the risk.
1 said don't resign because it's difficult to find another good-paying job.
1 still hasn't replied my e-mail.
What do you think ? To resign or not to resign?
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
It's a sign!
Prince Charles postponed his wedding to Saturday because he has to attend the Pope's funeral on Friday (the original wedding date).
Read the news here.
What a reason to postpone your wedding ha? The highest authority in the Catholic constitution just died.
It seems like everything is against this union . They (whoever were protesting) said that a Catholic royalty can never marry a divorced woman, or a foreigner, she will never be a princess, he will never be king, the mother won't come to the wedding, blablablayadayadayada. And suddenly six days before the wedding the Pope had to die. It's a sign!
I find this whole wedding thing very funny.
Don't you remember way back when the kings and queens of old were the actual ruler of a country? Anything they say goes. If not... "OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!!!"
They can conquer other continents, initiate explorations, marry whoever they want, not marry at all, marry his brother's wife, have loads of concubines, sacrifice the wife of his beloved 'panglima' to bless a ship, execute those that don't follow your religion, basically anything under the sun just because they are born into the position of power.
Now, they are just symbols and representations of what it used to be, the way we were. But it seems we don't really want them as they were during those times. So thanks to political development they are now 'rulers' under the whims and fancies of the parliament and the constitution.
The fact that the spokesman has to mention this at all is the funniest part of the article. Did they really expect that if the Prince continued with his original plans, the PM can put pressure on them to change it? Since when does wedding planning comes under the jurisdiction of the parliament?
My God! Why the hell did I spent the last hour griping about this? Whether they marry on Friday or Saturday or April Fool's Day, it won't effect me. But the article has to mention that if they marry on Friday, Blair won't be able to attend the wedding. Come on! Even the mother of the groom RSVP that she won't attend the wedding months before. I think the Prince can take it if the 'Bendahara' cannot make it.
Anyway, marriage should be an easy thing to a clerk, a technician, a CEO, a minister or a prince. Why should we hear all this noise just because the bride is a divorcee. Will we hear the same amount of noise if the bride is a virgin? Because I think that's what it all comes down to, the purity of the bride. It doesn't matter what the groom has been doing all his life, if the bride is good than the marriage is good. If the marriage falls apart, it must be the wife's fault. If you fall in love with a divorced woman, you're in for a big trouble.
So what! Do you know that the Prophet Mohammad SAW married a divorced older woman who was also his boss. Yeah, he married the woman that would be any parent's worst nightmare. But yet their marriage is THE marriage that anyone would wish they have. What sweet irony.
I've heard a theory that those who are destined to be together tend to look like each other. Just look at them. They're soul-mates, don't you think?
Read the news here.
What a reason to postpone your wedding ha? The highest authority in the Catholic constitution just died.
It seems like everything is against this union . They (whoever were protesting) said that a Catholic royalty can never marry a divorced woman, or a foreigner, she will never be a princess, he will never be king, the mother won't come to the wedding, blablablayadayadayada. And suddenly six days before the wedding the Pope had to die. It's a sign!
I find this whole wedding thing very funny.
Don't you remember way back when the kings and queens of old were the actual ruler of a country? Anything they say goes. If not... "OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!!!"
They can conquer other continents, initiate explorations, marry whoever they want, not marry at all, marry his brother's wife, have loads of concubines, sacrifice the wife of his beloved 'panglima' to bless a ship, execute those that don't follow your religion, basically anything under the sun just because they are born into the position of power.
Now, they are just symbols and representations of what it used to be, the way we were. But it seems we don't really want them as they were during those times. So thanks to political development they are now 'rulers' under the whims and fancies of the parliament and the constitution.
Mr Blair's spokesman said Downing Street had not put pressure on Charles to postpone his wedding, noting that its planners were "very well aware of the significance" of the Pope's funeral.
"The decision was one for them and they alone to reach. The prime minister is now very glad he is able to go to both events," the spokesman said.
The fact that the spokesman has to mention this at all is the funniest part of the article. Did they really expect that if the Prince continued with his original plans, the PM can put pressure on them to change it? Since when does wedding planning comes under the jurisdiction of the parliament?
My God! Why the hell did I spent the last hour griping about this? Whether they marry on Friday or Saturday or April Fool's Day, it won't effect me. But the article has to mention that if they marry on Friday, Blair won't be able to attend the wedding. Come on! Even the mother of the groom RSVP that she won't attend the wedding months before. I think the Prince can take it if the 'Bendahara' cannot make it.
Anyway, marriage should be an easy thing to a clerk, a technician, a CEO, a minister or a prince. Why should we hear all this noise just because the bride is a divorcee. Will we hear the same amount of noise if the bride is a virgin? Because I think that's what it all comes down to, the purity of the bride. It doesn't matter what the groom has been doing all his life, if the bride is good than the marriage is good. If the marriage falls apart, it must be the wife's fault. If you fall in love with a divorced woman, you're in for a big trouble.
So what! Do you know that the Prophet Mohammad SAW married a divorced older woman who was also his boss. Yeah, he married the woman that would be any parent's worst nightmare. But yet their marriage is THE marriage that anyone would wish they have. What sweet irony.
I've heard a theory that those who are destined to be together tend to look like each other. Just look at them. They're soul-mates, don't you think?
Friday, April 01, 2005
Miss me?
Man, this must be the most attention-grabbing, sympathy-begging title I have ever used and will bever use again.
It's been a long time since my last long 'intelligent' post and I have a good reason. Three very good reasons actually.
Yep! They are the Lord of the Rings Trilogy Special Extended DVD Edition. My babies...
I bought them last December, some sort of a birthday present for me. But surprise, surprise the portable DVD player that I have cannot play Region 1 DVDs.
I found out from the Internet that you can actually unlock your players to play other region DVDs. But of course there's no key available for a local made player. So now what? Don't tell me that I have to buy another DVD player?
One day, lightning struck
my modem and network card. A technician from TMnet came and changed the modem 
. But I have to change the network card myself 
. And this has to happen after KL PC Fair is over, yeah right 
.
So I went to the next best place, Plaza Imbi. The network card was just RM25 so might as well get a CD-RW drive too.
"You got a CD-RW tak?"
"You get this one la. Combo CD drive. Can write CD and play DVD too."
"Can play all DVD or not? You know la DVDs have Region I la, Region 3 la, Region XYZ la."
"This one can play all DVD one."
"How much?"
"RM169 only."
"Aiya! No discount ke? Not brand name some more"
"Discount already. Normal price is RM199."
"Ala... give more discount la. I bought network card also what."
"Cannot. Special price already. And this one is special also. You can chose 3 colors for the cover."
And he showed me the extra two covers, black and silver.
"Wah! Now CD-Rom also like handphone ah? Can change cover. I don't need this one lar. You take this and give me RM10 discount la."
"He he he"
Well the exchange was actually just a formality. When he mentioned that this thing can play DVD as well, my head was reeling with the possibility that I will finally get the chance to watch my beloved babies. So, I bought the whole thing, extra changeable covers and all.
What do you think? Is RM169 for a brandless DVD-ROM CD-RW combo too much? I didn't even survey the area for a better deal. I thought that since I bought the card from him I might as well buy the drive too.
I just can't wait to get back and try out my new toy. But I didn't keep my hopes up since I might be dissapointed again. The first thing I did after I booted my PC was try out the network card la.
Okay done! Broadband up and running. Time to try out the thing!
I took out The Return of the King and popped the first CD I got my hand on into the drive, it was one of the appendices. A window came up asking to install InterActual Player and so I did. That took about less than a minute. By then another window popped up and I finally saw a 'Play' button and clicked on it.
What's this? An error message?
I knew it was too good to be true. So I just accepted the fact that I still can't watch the extended version of The Return of the King yet and get on with my boring life.
After a while I remembered that in addition to a disc that contains the software to burn CDs, there was also another disc. I looked it over and thought, "What the hell. Just give it a try."
The disc installed PowerDVD. And I gave the play button a click and crossed my fingers.
And what do you know, I saw the most wonderful sight I have ever seen.
I saw the menu.
This picture is not representative. I didn't actually jump up and down but I was very excited.
So it goes that I slept at 2am that night watching the most anticipated DVD of my life so far, the extended version of The Return of the King. I knew that I can't take sitting in front of my PC any longer but I just have to try out the appendices. I think I survived the first documentary only, when I thought, "Let's save it for another day okay?" Okey dokey!
So for the past week, I spent every night in front of my PC playing with my new toy except for Wednesday when I was involved in a TV-show marathon from 8pm to 12:30am watching The Amazing Race, CSI, Friends and American Idol.
After three nights, I managed to watch The Return of the King and 4 of the appendices. And I'm still not done. I just watched a few of the documentaries. I didn't even touch the special effects section, the one about WETA or the music. If I chose the 'Play All' option, it would take me 2 sometimes 3 hours to get to the end. Some feat ha. And I thought watching the trilogy back to back under the stars was such an achievement.
Okay then. I guess this would be the one and only long 'intelligent' post for this week and the next. It's already 11:50pm now and I haven't started on the next appendices disc. On second thought I never even tried the CD burning feature of the new drive! On top of it all I just bought Sepet, School of Rock, Saving Private Ryan, Wuthering Heights and The Great Gatsby on VCD. Forgive me, the CDs are going for 2 at RM16.90 awright! (Except for Sepet) I cannot resist.
In the meantime, you can miss me all you want.
--------------------------------- Ad space -------------------------------
It's been a long time since my last long 'intelligent' post and I have a good reason. Three very good reasons actually.
Yep! They are the Lord of the Rings Trilogy Special Extended DVD Edition. My babies...
I bought them last December, some sort of a birthday present for me. But surprise, surprise the portable DVD player that I have cannot play Region 1 DVDs.
I found out from the Internet that you can actually unlock your players to play other region DVDs. But of course there's no key available for a local made player. So now what? Don't tell me that I have to buy another DVD player?
One day, lightning struck
my modem and network card. A technician from TMnet came and changed the modem . But I have to change the network card myself . And this has to happen after KL PC Fair is over, yeah right .So I went to the next best place, Plaza Imbi. The network card was just RM25 so might as well get a CD-RW drive too.
"You got a CD-RW tak?"
"You get this one la. Combo CD drive. Can write CD and play DVD too."
"Can play all DVD or not? You know la DVDs have Region I la, Region 3 la, Region XYZ la."
"This one can play all DVD one."
"How much?"
"RM169 only."
"Aiya! No discount ke? Not brand name some more"
"Discount already. Normal price is RM199."
"Ala... give more discount la. I bought network card also what."
"Cannot. Special price already. And this one is special also. You can chose 3 colors for the cover."
And he showed me the extra two covers, black and silver.
"Wah! Now CD-Rom also like handphone ah? Can change cover. I don't need this one lar. You take this and give me RM10 discount la."
"He he he"
Well the exchange was actually just a formality. When he mentioned that this thing can play DVD as well, my head was reeling with the possibility that I will finally get the chance to watch my beloved babies. So, I bought the whole thing, extra changeable covers and all.
What do you think? Is RM169 for a brandless DVD-ROM CD-RW combo too much? I didn't even survey the area for a better deal. I thought that since I bought the card from him I might as well buy the drive too.
I just can't wait to get back and try out my new toy. But I didn't keep my hopes up since I might be dissapointed again. The first thing I did after I booted my PC was try out the network card la.
Okay done! Broadband up and running. Time to try out the thing!
I took out The Return of the King and popped the first CD I got my hand on into the drive, it was one of the appendices. A window came up asking to install InterActual Player and so I did. That took about less than a minute. By then another window popped up and I finally saw a 'Play' button and clicked on it.
What's this? An error message?
I knew it was too good to be true. So I just accepted the fact that I still can't watch the extended version of The Return of the King yet and get on with my boring life.
After a while I remembered that in addition to a disc that contains the software to burn CDs, there was also another disc. I looked it over and thought, "What the hell. Just give it a try."
The disc installed PowerDVD. And I gave the play button a click and crossed my fingers.
And what do you know, I saw the most wonderful sight I have ever seen.
I saw the menu.
This picture is not representative. I didn't actually jump up and down but I was very excited.
So it goes that I slept at 2am that night watching the most anticipated DVD of my life so far, the extended version of The Return of the King. I knew that I can't take sitting in front of my PC any longer but I just have to try out the appendices. I think I survived the first documentary only, when I thought, "Let's save it for another day okay?" Okey dokey!
So for the past week, I spent every night in front of my PC playing with my new toy except for Wednesday when I was involved in a TV-show marathon from 8pm to 12:30am watching The Amazing Race, CSI, Friends and American Idol.
After three nights, I managed to watch The Return of the King and 4 of the appendices. And I'm still not done. I just watched a few of the documentaries. I didn't even touch the special effects section, the one about WETA or the music. If I chose the 'Play All' option, it would take me 2 sometimes 3 hours to get to the end. Some feat ha. And I thought watching the trilogy back to back under the stars was such an achievement.
Okay then. I guess this would be the one and only long 'intelligent' post for this week and the next. It's already 11:50pm now and I haven't started on the next appendices disc. On second thought I never even tried the CD burning feature of the new drive! On top of it all I just bought Sepet, School of Rock, Saving Private Ryan, Wuthering Heights and The Great Gatsby on VCD. Forgive me, the CDs are going for 2 at RM16.90 awright! (Except for Sepet) I cannot resist.
In the meantime, you can miss me all you want.
--------------------------------- Ad space -------------------------------
Easy answer
The issue of female-led prayers has been flooding my inbox these past few days. Everybody was alarmed and flabber-gasted by this woman's actions. But yet I was not.
Female-Led Prayers:A Step Forward for Women?
As soon as I read these words in my inbox (and I read it twice since two of my friends forwarded the e-mail to me) the first word that popped in my head was a passionate
and Sister Yasmin Mogahed agreed though not so candidly of course.
This was a question from a 'Sarah' to Sister Yasmin Mogahed, a member of Ask About Islam Editorial Staff. Her respond is very deep, intelligent and well-thought of, and I agree to everything she said.
If someone were to pose me the same question my answer would just simply be because it is the definite rule in the Quran and Hadith that a man should always lead a prayer. Only if no able-bodied man is available can a woman take his place.
Yes, it is a very literal answer and not as nice as what Sister Yasmin wrote. A Form 3 student could have given an answer like that in a PMR paper. If we cannot follow simple rules and guidelines that has been written and followed without contest for thousands of years than I don't think it is a 'step forward'.
In all my short life and limited knowledge of my religion, I have never found anything so absurd or illogical in any aspect about Islam. It's beautiful, perfect and logical just like what Ustaz Ridhuan Tee once said.
There's always a reason behind everything. Here are some examples.
Warning: These are my own thoughts and understanding. Please don't quote or take it at face value. Form your own opinion ok?
Why can't we eat pork?
Pigs are still God's creatures. We can eat other living beings why not the pig. I've heard it's much tastier and juicier than the chicken so why are we Muslims held from this simple pleasure?
My thoughts: Have you seen how pigs live? What they eat? Do you know how many viruses that pigs carry? I'd rather live to eat chickens and cows thank you very much.
How come Muslim men can have four wives?
My thoughts: It is written in the Quran that one day the number of women will be more than the number of men. Women, whose basic nature is weak must be taken care of. If one man can only take one woman, what will happen to the rest of them?
Why should men be the ideal leader in everything?
Men are the preferred choice to be leaders of families, communities, countries etc. What about the women? Men are exposed to the same threats, temptations as women so why should they get the priority?
My thoughts: This I learned when I was in school. As women's basic nature is emotional, men are rational beings. And I do believe this. Women tend to think with their hearts. Important decisions cannot be made when feelings are in the way.
So woman are weak, emotional, dependant and cannot hold important posts. So what are they worth in the eyes of Islam?
My thoughts: Of all the things that men can do, there's one thing that they cannot do no matter how hard they try and how many surgeries they went through - they cannot bear a child in their body. You might think, "So women are just child- making machines, is that it?" Well, yeah if you can see only up to the end of your nose.
Do you know how hard it is to push a new life into this world? Ok I don't know either. But it is said that a woman in labor has her life pulled halfway out of her body. The odds are 50:50 in that labor room.
It is also the fundamental duty of a Muslim to worship God with every single breath and every single cell that they're made off. So, what's nobler than bringing another worshipper into this world?
And when the child is here, the mother is the one who feeds them with nourishment that comes from their own body. Then the mother and child will form a bond like nothing else in this world.
Mothers are held very highly in Muslim culture. They are given the top three places of the one you should revere to, while the father takes fourth place. Heaven resides at the soles of their feet. Just one snide remark that stabbed their hearts is enough to condemn you. So who has the power now?
Even though I see myself as a strong independant woman, I am not a feminist. Women can achieve anything and everything but they must be wise in choosing their lives path. I believe that the idea that women can do everything that men can do is shallow and wrong, which is the strongest argument of Sister Yasmin.
Why should we measure ourselves according to men's standards? They are not the highest being and doesn't hold the highest authority in this world. God is. So we should judge ourselves in God's view, not anyone else on this earth.
Hey! what a way to celebrate April Fool ha. Just post a serious blog.
--------------------------------- Ad space -------------------------------
Female-Led Prayers:A Step Forward for Women?
As soon as I read these words in my inbox (and I read it twice since two of my friends forwarded the e-mail to me) the first word that popped in my head was a passionate
and Sister Yasmin Mogahed agreed though not so candidly of course.
This was a question from a 'Sarah' to Sister Yasmin Mogahed, a member of Ask About Islam Editorial Staff. Her respond is very deep, intelligent and well-thought of, and I agree to everything she said.
If someone were to pose me the same question my answer would just simply be because it is the definite rule in the Quran and Hadith that a man should always lead a prayer. Only if no able-bodied man is available can a woman take his place.
Yes, it is a very literal answer and not as nice as what Sister Yasmin wrote. A Form 3 student could have given an answer like that in a PMR paper. If we cannot follow simple rules and guidelines that has been written and followed without contest for thousands of years than I don't think it is a 'step forward'.
In all my short life and limited knowledge of my religion, I have never found anything so absurd or illogical in any aspect about Islam. It's beautiful, perfect and logical just like what Ustaz Ridhuan Tee once said.
There's always a reason behind everything. Here are some examples.
Warning: These are my own thoughts and understanding. Please don't quote or take it at face value. Form your own opinion ok?
Why can't we eat pork?
Pigs are still God's creatures. We can eat other living beings why not the pig. I've heard it's much tastier and juicier than the chicken so why are we Muslims held from this simple pleasure?
My thoughts: Have you seen how pigs live? What they eat? Do you know how many viruses that pigs carry? I'd rather live to eat chickens and cows thank you very much.
How come Muslim men can have four wives?
My thoughts: It is written in the Quran that one day the number of women will be more than the number of men. Women, whose basic nature is weak must be taken care of. If one man can only take one woman, what will happen to the rest of them?
Why should men be the ideal leader in everything?
Men are the preferred choice to be leaders of families, communities, countries etc. What about the women? Men are exposed to the same threats, temptations as women so why should they get the priority?
My thoughts: This I learned when I was in school. As women's basic nature is emotional, men are rational beings. And I do believe this. Women tend to think with their hearts. Important decisions cannot be made when feelings are in the way.
So woman are weak, emotional, dependant and cannot hold important posts. So what are they worth in the eyes of Islam?
My thoughts: Of all the things that men can do, there's one thing that they cannot do no matter how hard they try and how many surgeries they went through - they cannot bear a child in their body. You might think, "So women are just child- making machines, is that it?" Well, yeah if you can see only up to the end of your nose.
Do you know how hard it is to push a new life into this world? Ok I don't know either. But it is said that a woman in labor has her life pulled halfway out of her body. The odds are 50:50 in that labor room.
It is also the fundamental duty of a Muslim to worship God with every single breath and every single cell that they're made off. So, what's nobler than bringing another worshipper into this world?
And when the child is here, the mother is the one who feeds them with nourishment that comes from their own body. Then the mother and child will form a bond like nothing else in this world.
Mothers are held very highly in Muslim culture. They are given the top three places of the one you should revere to, while the father takes fourth place. Heaven resides at the soles of their feet. Just one snide remark that stabbed their hearts is enough to condemn you. So who has the power now?
Even though I see myself as a strong independant woman, I am not a feminist. Women can achieve anything and everything but they must be wise in choosing their lives path. I believe that the idea that women can do everything that men can do is shallow and wrong, which is the strongest argument of Sister Yasmin.
Why should we measure ourselves according to men's standards? They are not the highest being and doesn't hold the highest authority in this world. God is. So we should judge ourselves in God's view, not anyone else on this earth.
Hey! what a way to celebrate April Fool ha. Just post a serious blog.
--------------------------------- Ad space -------------------------------
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Current update - 30/3/05
Why do I do this?
Read: Blood Canticle by Anne Rice, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Good Earth by Pearl s. Buck, The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton, Tales of a Chinese Grandmother by Frances Carpenter,
Reading: Books of Blood by Clive Barker, The Meaning of Everything by Simon Winchester, The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
CD: none
Favorite song: Mr. Brightside by The Killers
Playing: none (I'm done with Emperor. Most probably will continue with FF7 but still don't have the mood for it yet)
Watching: The Apprentice 2, Grounded for Life, Frasier, CSI, American Idol 4, The Amazing Race 7
*No. of times asked if I have a boyfriend: 2
*No. of times asked when I will get married: 9
*No. of times asked when I will have kids: 1
Note: * Since I started this blog of course. I've been getting these questions lots of times before but you can't honestly believe I would count them, right? I just thought of this lately. It's interesting to know the average number of times a single girl at a marriageable age get that million dollar question. I hope other single bloggers would do the same. Maybe we can write a thesis on it! I also change "ppl" to "times" since one person can ask all three questions.
Other news: The shop I was working in was closed down. Now I'm posted to the head office which is way further than my old place was. *sigh* I need a new job.
Read: Blood Canticle by Anne Rice, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Good Earth by Pearl s. Buck, The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton, Tales of a Chinese Grandmother by Frances Carpenter,
Reading: Books of Blood by Clive Barker, The Meaning of Everything by Simon Winchester, The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
CD: none
Favorite song: Mr. Brightside by The Killers
Playing: none (I'm done with Emperor. Most probably will continue with FF7 but still don't have the mood for it yet)
Watching: The Apprentice 2, Grounded for Life, Frasier, CSI, American Idol 4, The Amazing Race 7
*No. of times asked if I have a boyfriend: 2
*No. of times asked when I will get married: 9
*No. of times asked when I will have kids: 1
Note: * Since I started this blog of course. I've been getting these questions lots of times before but you can't honestly believe I would count them, right? I just thought of this lately. It's interesting to know the average number of times a single girl at a marriageable age get that million dollar question. I hope other single bloggers would do the same. Maybe we can write a thesis on it! I also change "ppl" to "times" since one person can ask all three questions.
Other news: The shop I was working in was closed down. Now I'm posted to the head office which is way further than my old place was. *sigh* I need a new job.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Kampung Gal enquires
I've been using MP3rocks.com but the connection is not very good lately. I just can't seem to download songs these past month. I don't know why.
So I would be very grateful if someone can recommend a very good site to download MP3. I don't mind paying.
And while you're at it, know any sites that I can download music video too? and movies maybe?
So I would be very grateful if someone can recommend a very good site to download MP3. I don't mind paying.
And while you're at it, know any sites that I can download music video too? and movies maybe?
Friday, March 25, 2005
A mystery
It was one of those hot and lazy Sunday. It was also the first Sunday I'm at home for quite some time. Before this there was always other places to be and weddings to go to. My room has turned into quite a mess with god-knows-what stuff strewn all over my table and books stacked up on the floor. So I decided to spend the afternoon trying to make my room as respectable as I possibly can.
I was on the floor trying to figure out which book should be kept in a box and which one should remain outside, a very fickle exercise, when I looked up at my window.
Through the panes, I can see a woman but only the back of her head. Her hair was long but not taken care of. It was all tangled and puffy like she hadn't seen a comb for quite some time.
She was slowly but swiftly sweeping the sidewalk. She was swinging the broom back and forth, already in her comfortable rhythm and it puzzled me. She's no one I know. Can she be a new maid? I'm sure she's not a neighbour. What is she doing sweeping my sidewalk?
Suddenly she stopped and turned to look at me. I saw that she has this haggard but serene look as if there's nothing wrong with what she was doing. But I know that something doesn't fit. She doesn't belong here. She's not suppose to do that here at my house.
I went to my mother. She was leaning against my car at the front of the house, probably trying to catch some cool breeze while enjoying some quiet time by herself.
I asked her, "Mak, who's that woman?"
"What woman?"
"That woman who's sweeping our sidewalk."
"Where? That woman? I don't know. Let's ask her."
My mum called her and she walked towards us without a doubt or question on her face. All she has was the same haggard but serene look that she gave me earlier. It was like she expected to be called over.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" My mum asked her.
She didn't say anything but her expression changed to one of sadness. Slowly she lifted her hand and touched the back of her neck.
"Why? Anything wrong with your neck?" My mum asked her again.
Again, she didn't say a word, she just turned around.
In such close proximity, we can see what it was that's bothering her. Right at the base of her neck, among those thick messed-up hair, a knife was embedded right up to the hilt.
We were frozen to the spot. We didn't know what to do except watch her as she stood there, one hand drawing apart her hair so as to give us a full unobstructed view to the cause of her sorrow.
Seconds past but it felt like hours to me. The woman was still standing there, her back to us. The way she just stood there, oblivious to the fact that she was scaring the hell out of us, invited this feeling in me. It seemed that she was asking for help.
Like a dream I saw my mother's hand moving closer and closer to the hilt of the knife. Oh my God! Is she going to take it out! I can't look!
I would rather see the darkness behind my eyelid than witness what was happening in front of me.
When I opened my eyes I saw a familiar sight. I saw a towel rack with my towel slung clumsily on it... and my computer... and my bedroom door! Thank God it was a dream!
But knowing it was a dream didn't stop me from reciting a few verses, anything at all that I can remember from the top of my head, to slow down my racing heart.
This was probably the scariest dream that I got involving an unexplained being. My nightmares usually consists of being chased by a meat-eating animal, dunked in a pool full of meat-eating creatures or getting bit by a snake
There's a theory that you would most likely dream about the last thing that crossed your mind before sleep takes over your consciousness. So I thought real hard what could I've been thinking to induce such a frightful dream. I did wash my feet (I think) and I might not have said the doa sebelum tidur (prayer before sleeping) Ahh... it must have been the double dosage of Conan Doyle's supernatural tales and Barker's Books of Blood.
Yeah I brought these two books to bed with me that night. Doyle's stories were not that scary however. They may have been back in the 19th century but for a 21st century reader, they're nothing new. But I can't say the same about Barker, the master of gruesome horror.
I only read the first story to see if it's any good. It's the story from the book title, which is also used to set up the rest of the stories proceeding it. Judging from my unconscious reaction I guess I got what I was looking for.
Does this stop me from taking this book to bed? Heck no! But I do keep Amy Tan and World of Fairy Tales by my bed. Just in case.
A review on Books of Blood
http://www.biblioblog.com/archives/002358.html
I was on the floor trying to figure out which book should be kept in a box and which one should remain outside, a very fickle exercise, when I looked up at my window.
Through the panes, I can see a woman but only the back of her head. Her hair was long but not taken care of. It was all tangled and puffy like she hadn't seen a comb for quite some time.
She was slowly but swiftly sweeping the sidewalk. She was swinging the broom back and forth, already in her comfortable rhythm and it puzzled me. She's no one I know. Can she be a new maid? I'm sure she's not a neighbour. What is she doing sweeping my sidewalk?
Suddenly she stopped and turned to look at me. I saw that she has this haggard but serene look as if there's nothing wrong with what she was doing. But I know that something doesn't fit. She doesn't belong here. She's not suppose to do that here at my house.
I went to my mother. She was leaning against my car at the front of the house, probably trying to catch some cool breeze while enjoying some quiet time by herself.
I asked her, "Mak, who's that woman?"
"What woman?"
"That woman who's sweeping our sidewalk."
"Where? That woman? I don't know. Let's ask her."
My mum called her and she walked towards us without a doubt or question on her face. All she has was the same haggard but serene look that she gave me earlier. It was like she expected to be called over.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" My mum asked her.
She didn't say anything but her expression changed to one of sadness. Slowly she lifted her hand and touched the back of her neck.
"Why? Anything wrong with your neck?" My mum asked her again.
Again, she didn't say a word, she just turned around.
In such close proximity, we can see what it was that's bothering her. Right at the base of her neck, among those thick messed-up hair, a knife was embedded right up to the hilt.
We were frozen to the spot. We didn't know what to do except watch her as she stood there, one hand drawing apart her hair so as to give us a full unobstructed view to the cause of her sorrow.
Seconds past but it felt like hours to me. The woman was still standing there, her back to us. The way she just stood there, oblivious to the fact that she was scaring the hell out of us, invited this feeling in me. It seemed that she was asking for help.
Like a dream I saw my mother's hand moving closer and closer to the hilt of the knife. Oh my God! Is she going to take it out! I can't look!
I would rather see the darkness behind my eyelid than witness what was happening in front of me.
When I opened my eyes I saw a familiar sight. I saw a towel rack with my towel slung clumsily on it... and my computer... and my bedroom door! Thank God it was a dream!
But knowing it was a dream didn't stop me from reciting a few verses, anything at all that I can remember from the top of my head, to slow down my racing heart.
This was probably the scariest dream that I got involving an unexplained being. My nightmares usually consists of being chased by a meat-eating animal, dunked in a pool full of meat-eating creatures or getting bit by a snake
There's a theory that you would most likely dream about the last thing that crossed your mind before sleep takes over your consciousness. So I thought real hard what could I've been thinking to induce such a frightful dream. I did wash my feet (I think) and I might not have said the doa sebelum tidur (prayer before sleeping) Ahh... it must have been the double dosage of Conan Doyle's supernatural tales and Barker's Books of Blood.
Yeah I brought these two books to bed with me that night. Doyle's stories were not that scary however. They may have been back in the 19th century but for a 21st century reader, they're nothing new. But I can't say the same about Barker, the master of gruesome horror.
I only read the first story to see if it's any good. It's the story from the book title, which is also used to set up the rest of the stories proceeding it. Judging from my unconscious reaction I guess I got what I was looking for.
Does this stop me from taking this book to bed? Heck no! But I do keep Amy Tan and World of Fairy Tales by my bed. Just in case.
A review on Books of Blood
http://www.biblioblog.com/archives/002358.html
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
The Idols Rundown
I found out recently that one way to get a surge of visitors to your blog is to post about a tv show. My visitor counter shoot up more than the normal rate (of about 20 per day) when I posted about The Amazing Race 6 finale and again after I talked about Rob and Amber from TAR7 yesterday.
The highest spike was when I talked about TAR6 and the one at the far right was for yesterday's post. [Courtesy of StatCounter]
I'm reluctant to admit it but it sure felt good seeing the graph spiked above 100 (Hey! that's good enough for me awright!). So what else can I do but keep talking about tv shows.
And tonight I want to talk about the other tv show I've been watching - American Idol.
I like the new format where they straight away select 24 wannabes to showcase to the public audience for them to vote. It sure saves the audience from watching painful mediocre performances and wasting their phone credits on the ones that may have look good on TV but just a pain to the ears. And just after three weeks we are served with the final 12.
But wait, what's this? Someone's backing out? Damn! He's one of my favorites too. What a loss. But he's quickly replaced by the next best thing, Nikko Smith. Read the whole story here.
I found out a week ago that Nikko is the son of Ozzie Smith, a baseball legend. My twisted mind started reeling and you know what came out? Here's what came out.
Kampung Gal's crazy conspiracy theory:
What if someone casually 'asked' Mario to leave. Mario, realizing that he can never compete with Bo and so cannot be the next American Idol, finds this request more profitable. Citing 'personal reasons' he told the producers that he's qutting the competition. The producers were dumbstruck. They cannot believe that someone would want to give up the chance to be seen by 60 million ppl worlwide and be in a flimsy Ford commercial every week. What can they do? They must have 12 contestants in the finals. If they don't, they have to fill up the extra 3 minutes with a longer version of a flimsy Ford commercial! NOOO!!!!!
So they flip over the rule book looking for solutions and yes! They found it.
Rule 3245 (xxiv) : Forfeiture
In the impossible case of a contestant unwilling to continue with the competition, an eliminated contestant with the highest amount of votes on the day he/she was eliminated will be eligible for the final round. Additional rule for Season 4: The eligibility depends on the gender of the quitting contestant i.e. a male if a male contestant quits and subsequently a female if a female contestants quits.
See also: -
Rule 56 (xxxvi): Gender Equality
Rule 197 (xiv) : Voting methods
Rule 215 (mcmv) : Counting the votes
Rule 848 (i) : Rules of elimination
And what do you know Nikko Smith, son of baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, fits the bill.
Welcome back Nikko!
My theory is strengthen by the fact that even his family was shocked by his decision. They themselves couldn't understand what the 'personal reasons related to the family' were.
Disclaimer: The so-called 'Rules' are a product of Kampung Gal's wild imagination. She hasn't seen the book before and not even sure it existed. It was created just to keep the drama rolling.
---------End of crazy theory---------
But I don't think he will get far and even daddy can do anything to get him back on this time around. However, he still has the various engagements to look forward to, the special appearances, the concerts, the possible record deal. Oh well.
Stupid Mario! Why did you have to back out now? You've been through so much!
So now that Lindsey's out too (no tears from me), we're left with:
Mikalah (Streisand look-a-like and sound-a-like)
Nadia (the femme-bomb!)
Carrie (the blonde country farmgirl)
Jessica (the other blonde)
Vonzell (I don't know how to label her)
Constantine (the very tall rocker)
Nikko (the boy Paula got a big crush on)
Bo (the experienced rocker)
Anwar (the sweet music teacher who could be Paula Abdul's husband)
Anthony (the sweetest whitest boy you'll ever see in the show)
and Scott (the snuggly-wuggly teddy bear)
Kampung Gal predicts:
1) Mikalah will go out tomorrow (even though I adore her)
2) Bo, Anwar, Nadia, Constantine are posssible idol materials and will be in the final 4.
But....
Go Bo Bice!
PS: Who thinks that Paula should just shut up and let Simon talk? Before this I thought it was cute but tonight she was just obnoxious!
--------------------------------- Ad space -------------------------------
The highest spike was when I talked about TAR6 and the one at the far right was for yesterday's post. [Courtesy of StatCounter]
I'm reluctant to admit it but it sure felt good seeing the graph spiked above 100 (Hey! that's good enough for me awright!). So what else can I do but keep talking about tv shows.
And tonight I want to talk about the other tv show I've been watching - American Idol.
I like the new format where they straight away select 24 wannabes to showcase to the public audience for them to vote. It sure saves the audience from watching painful mediocre performances and wasting their phone credits on the ones that may have look good on TV but just a pain to the ears. And just after three weeks we are served with the final 12.
But wait, what's this? Someone's backing out? Damn! He's one of my favorites too. What a loss. But he's quickly replaced by the next best thing, Nikko Smith. Read the whole story here.
I found out a week ago that Nikko is the son of Ozzie Smith, a baseball legend. My twisted mind started reeling and you know what came out? Here's what came out.
Kampung Gal's crazy conspiracy theory:
What if someone casually 'asked' Mario to leave. Mario, realizing that he can never compete with Bo and so cannot be the next American Idol, finds this request more profitable. Citing 'personal reasons' he told the producers that he's qutting the competition. The producers were dumbstruck. They cannot believe that someone would want to give up the chance to be seen by 60 million ppl worlwide and be in a flimsy Ford commercial every week. What can they do? They must have 12 contestants in the finals. If they don't, they have to fill up the extra 3 minutes with a longer version of a flimsy Ford commercial! NOOO!!!!!
So they flip over the rule book looking for solutions and yes! They found it.
Rule 3245 (xxiv) : Forfeiture
In the impossible case of a contestant unwilling to continue with the competition, an eliminated contestant with the highest amount of votes on the day he/she was eliminated will be eligible for the final round. Additional rule for Season 4: The eligibility depends on the gender of the quitting contestant i.e. a male if a male contestant quits and subsequently a female if a female contestants quits.
See also: -
Rule 56 (xxxvi): Gender Equality
Rule 197 (xiv) : Voting methods
Rule 215 (mcmv) : Counting the votes
Rule 848 (i) : Rules of elimination
And what do you know Nikko Smith, son of baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, fits the bill.
Welcome back Nikko!
My theory is strengthen by the fact that even his family was shocked by his decision. They themselves couldn't understand what the 'personal reasons related to the family' were.
Disclaimer: The so-called 'Rules' are a product of Kampung Gal's wild imagination. She hasn't seen the book before and not even sure it existed. It was created just to keep the drama rolling.
---------End of crazy theory---------
But I don't think he will get far and even daddy can do anything to get him back on this time around. However, he still has the various engagements to look forward to, the special appearances, the concerts, the possible record deal. Oh well.
Stupid Mario! Why did you have to back out now? You've been through so much!
So now that Lindsey's out too (no tears from me), we're left with:
Mikalah (Streisand look-a-like and sound-a-like)
Nadia (the femme-bomb!)
Carrie (the blonde country farmgirl)
Jessica (the other blonde)
Vonzell (I don't know how to label her)
Constantine (the very tall rocker)
Nikko (the boy Paula got a big crush on)
Bo (the experienced rocker)
Anwar (the sweet music teacher who could be Paula Abdul's husband)
Anthony (the sweetest whitest boy you'll ever see in the show)
and Scott (the snuggly-wuggly teddy bear)
Kampung Gal predicts:
1) Mikalah will go out tomorrow (even though I adore her)
2) Bo, Anwar, Nadia, Constantine are posssible idol materials and will be in the final 4.
But....
Go Bo Bice!
PS: Who thinks that Paula should just shut up and let Simon talk? Before this I thought it was cute but tonight she was just obnoxious!
--------------------------------- Ad space -------------------------------
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Perils of men Part II
Okay. I'm ready to post the next instalment of this subject. Read the first part here.
Let's continue the series with Abang Ali. It doesn't really involve any vengeful act but it does make a funny addition to this sombre post.
Getting extra help
Like I mentioned before, Abang Ali has a 'gift' and one day a girl came up to him. She has a crush on this guy but she's too shy to make the first move so she asked for Abang Ali's help. Now Abang Ali is a good guy and he does not use his gifts carelessly but he did help this girl. I don't know what he did exactly but I'm thinking somewhere along the line of making her more noticable and desirable in the guy's eyes. It worked and the girl and guy hooked up.
One fine day, the girl came back to Abang Ali asking for his favors again. It seems that the effect is wearing off and the guy is not devoted to her like he used to. But Abang Ali refused her immediately. The girl didn't give up and pursued him relentlessly, calling him day and night asking him to help her again.
Then one day Abang Ali, not taking it anymore, said to her,
"Saya tau apa yg kamu buat kat rumah laki tu dari 8 pagi sampai 8 malam!"
[I know what you did in that man's house from 8 am to 8pm!]
The girl, shocked with what he said, immediately stopped hounding him.
Ok, if you still don't get it here's what happened. The girl had pre-marital sex with this guy. Abang Ali is known to use the holy words of the Quran so of course the effects got cancelled lor. She knew that Abang Ali knew what she did but I guess she didn't expect him to know the exact time and place of the offense.
That was one good story. I will never forget this and I will tell it to anyone I know and that's why I want to share it with you. Don't expect to get any 'extra' help without doing your part of the bargain ya!
This next story I'm sorry to say hit too close to home. My sister's home to be exact.
Striking unlawful vengeance
My brother-in-law worked at a pharmaceutical company for a few years until a friend asked him to join in a business venture. This was about 12 yrs ago. My BIL agreed and he packed his whole family (my sister and son) to Kelantan. He seems to be doing well and they stayed there for a couple of years.
I guess the business didn't do well and his family moved back to KL and rented the house owned by my parents.
A few years passed and now they have three kids. Suddenly my BIL just can't hold a secure employment anymore. Everything was just not right for him. Until one he didn't work at all. Money becomes tight and he even had to sell his car. My sister stopped working when she got married and so didn't bring in any steady income. But she makes it up with whatever limited skills she has. She did anything and everything like babysitting and sewing just to pull her family through, everyday praying that her husband will have enough sense to start taking responsibility.
It's very hard to raise three kids with no steady income. And I think my parents did help by not demanding the rent and most probably gave them money sometimes. They can't let their grandkids starve for God's sakes! Please take note that I'm not mentioning my BIL's family since their 'presence' were not felt during this period. Just leave it at that.
This goes on for a few years and I can only imagine the weight that my sister (and my parents) had to bear seeing her family like this.
One day, another friend of my BIL came over for a visit bringing someone along with him and they spent the night there. The next day this friend of my BIL's friend came up to my BIL and my sister and said, "There's something wrong with this house". After getting my BIL's permission, he scouted the area and detected that there's something foreign buried in the front lawn and something is smeared all over the pole of the front porch. My sister found out later that one of the materials used was dog's pee. Ugh!
Anyway, the guy managed to clean up everything. Just a few months after that my BIL got hold of a good employment. But then there's the question of who was inconsiderate enough to do such a thing to him and his family.
The answer came pretty easy actually. Because my sister told me that she remembered some time back the driver of my BIL's ex-business partner turned up at their gate. Since it's rude to turn guests away, he was welcomed and he end up spending the night there. He must have did all the horrible deeds, burying the thing and smearing the pole with dog pee, sometime during the night. Must have been his idea of a great gift for the host ha? I guess he acted under the order of his boss but maybe his balls weren't big enough to say no.
These foul things were probably put there to slam shut the pintu rezeki and killed all the prosperity that the family might have. That's why my BIL just can't seem to hold a job. Must have been his ex-partner's way to get back at my BIL for leaving the business. I can't stand this kind of ppl.
"Kalau tak puas hati cakap depan-depan la!" [If something's bothering you, talk face-to-face la!]
Don't be such a coward and send your driver to do the dirty job for you asshole!
I've seen the shows on TV and living in a Malay housing area, I've heard the stories too. But it had never crossed my mind that something like this would happen to a member of my own family. Makes you think what kind of life you'll be having with all these negativity around you.
But I'm not a person who's easily scared. I don't read horror just to close it before it ends. I know there's a risk for a girl to travel anywhere alone but it doesn't stop me from doing anything or going anywhere I like. But I do practice caution and thank God until today I've never had my bag snatched or worst, get killed. Unless, I was killed and this blog is haunted...
Okay that was a bad joke.
But how do you protect yourself against something that you cannot see?
"What can men do against such reckless hate?"
Returning the favor is one good option but then you will just be as bad as them.
"Don't play with pigs. You'll get dirty and they're gonna love it."
I just can't find any definite answer for this question. So for now, the least I can do is pray to God that my family and I are protected against the dark hearts of malicious human beings and the dangerous things that they are capable of.
I can only pray and pray I do.
--------------------------------- Ad space -------------------------------
Let's continue the series with Abang Ali. It doesn't really involve any vengeful act but it does make a funny addition to this sombre post.
Getting extra help
Like I mentioned before, Abang Ali has a 'gift' and one day a girl came up to him. She has a crush on this guy but she's too shy to make the first move so she asked for Abang Ali's help. Now Abang Ali is a good guy and he does not use his gifts carelessly but he did help this girl. I don't know what he did exactly but I'm thinking somewhere along the line of making her more noticable and desirable in the guy's eyes. It worked and the girl and guy hooked up.
One fine day, the girl came back to Abang Ali asking for his favors again. It seems that the effect is wearing off and the guy is not devoted to her like he used to. But Abang Ali refused her immediately. The girl didn't give up and pursued him relentlessly, calling him day and night asking him to help her again.
Then one day Abang Ali, not taking it anymore, said to her,
"Saya tau apa yg kamu buat kat rumah laki tu dari 8 pagi sampai 8 malam!"
[I know what you did in that man's house from 8 am to 8pm!]
The girl, shocked with what he said, immediately stopped hounding him.
Ok, if you still don't get it here's what happened. The girl had pre-marital sex with this guy. Abang Ali is known to use the holy words of the Quran so of course the effects got cancelled lor. She knew that Abang Ali knew what she did but I guess she didn't expect him to know the exact time and place of the offense.
That was one good story. I will never forget this and I will tell it to anyone I know and that's why I want to share it with you. Don't expect to get any 'extra' help without doing your part of the bargain ya!
This next story I'm sorry to say hit too close to home. My sister's home to be exact.
Striking unlawful vengeance
My brother-in-law worked at a pharmaceutical company for a few years until a friend asked him to join in a business venture. This was about 12 yrs ago. My BIL agreed and he packed his whole family (my sister and son) to Kelantan. He seems to be doing well and they stayed there for a couple of years.
I guess the business didn't do well and his family moved back to KL and rented the house owned by my parents.
A few years passed and now they have three kids. Suddenly my BIL just can't hold a secure employment anymore. Everything was just not right for him. Until one he didn't work at all. Money becomes tight and he even had to sell his car. My sister stopped working when she got married and so didn't bring in any steady income. But she makes it up with whatever limited skills she has. She did anything and everything like babysitting and sewing just to pull her family through, everyday praying that her husband will have enough sense to start taking responsibility.
It's very hard to raise three kids with no steady income. And I think my parents did help by not demanding the rent and most probably gave them money sometimes. They can't let their grandkids starve for God's sakes! Please take note that I'm not mentioning my BIL's family since their 'presence' were not felt during this period. Just leave it at that.
This goes on for a few years and I can only imagine the weight that my sister (and my parents) had to bear seeing her family like this.
One day, another friend of my BIL came over for a visit bringing someone along with him and they spent the night there. The next day this friend of my BIL's friend came up to my BIL and my sister and said, "There's something wrong with this house". After getting my BIL's permission, he scouted the area and detected that there's something foreign buried in the front lawn and something is smeared all over the pole of the front porch. My sister found out later that one of the materials used was dog's pee. Ugh!
Anyway, the guy managed to clean up everything. Just a few months after that my BIL got hold of a good employment. But then there's the question of who was inconsiderate enough to do such a thing to him and his family.
The answer came pretty easy actually. Because my sister told me that she remembered some time back the driver of my BIL's ex-business partner turned up at their gate. Since it's rude to turn guests away, he was welcomed and he end up spending the night there. He must have did all the horrible deeds, burying the thing and smearing the pole with dog pee, sometime during the night. Must have been his idea of a great gift for the host ha? I guess he acted under the order of his boss but maybe his balls weren't big enough to say no.
These foul things were probably put there to slam shut the pintu rezeki and killed all the prosperity that the family might have. That's why my BIL just can't seem to hold a job. Must have been his ex-partner's way to get back at my BIL for leaving the business. I can't stand this kind of ppl.
"Kalau tak puas hati cakap depan-depan la!" [If something's bothering you, talk face-to-face la!]
Don't be such a coward and send your driver to do the dirty job for you asshole!
I've seen the shows on TV and living in a Malay housing area, I've heard the stories too. But it had never crossed my mind that something like this would happen to a member of my own family. Makes you think what kind of life you'll be having with all these negativity around you.
But I'm not a person who's easily scared. I don't read horror just to close it before it ends. I know there's a risk for a girl to travel anywhere alone but it doesn't stop me from doing anything or going anywhere I like. But I do practice caution and thank God until today I've never had my bag snatched or worst, get killed. Unless, I was killed and this blog is haunted...
Okay that was a bad joke.
But how do you protect yourself against something that you cannot see?
"What can men do against such reckless hate?"
Returning the favor is one good option but then you will just be as bad as them.
"Don't play with pigs. You'll get dirty and they're gonna love it."
I just can't find any definite answer for this question. So for now, the least I can do is pray to God that my family and I are protected against the dark hearts of malicious human beings and the dangerous things that they are capable of.
I can only pray and pray I do.
--------------------------------- Ad space -------------------------------
Monday, March 21, 2005
Finally! Someone figured it out!
After seven seasons of The Amazing Race, someone finally discovered that not doing something might be the right thing to do after all.
It was kind of funny watching last week's episode. After Phil announced what it was they have to do I thought, "Man! I would rather take the penalty than eat pork sausage. I won't care if I'm first or second last!" It was like after swallowing a mere quarter of what they were supposed to eat, the racers have this weird look already. Someone's gonna puke! And there goes half a pound of Alex's stomach content.
Not taking it anymore, Rob decided that taking the 4-hour penalty is better than sitting there stretching his stomach and neck muscle. To guarantee that he won't be last, he persuaded another team to take the penalty as well, not a very difficult thing to do since Deana immediately admitted that she won't be able to eat the 4 pounds of meat even before she sat down. And what do you know he was right and they finish at fifth place out of eight. One point for Rob.
I think that Rob and Amber are totally mistreated by the rest of the teams. From the very first leg all the teams are plotting to ensure the downfall of Rob and Amber be it not sharing info and even yielding them the first chance they get. Come on! Be a sport. It's a competition! Just because they've been on TV before (and thus have more screen time than the rest of them) doesn't mean they don't have the right to win. Like someone said earlier in the race, "It's a good thing that no one can get voted off in this show." Exactly. So anyone who's still in the race deserves to be in the race.
Frankly, I think all this hostility towards them will only fan their desire to win this race. They know that everyone is plotting against them and they will be yielded the next time someone has the chance. So nothing left to do but make sure they are always at the front of the pack so the rest won't have a chance in hell to even exercise the yield on them.
So I guess I'm supporting Rob and Amber this season. I must admit Rob is pretty smart for a construction worker. Yeah, he did kind of blurred the line between winning strategies and loyalty to friends the last time we saw him on TV, but I can tell deep down he's a good guy.
One thing I like about Amber is that she's not whiny, a very rare trait among girlfriends/fiances that I've seen in all seven seasons of The Amazing Race (apart from Kris from AR6 of course). She even kept quiet when Rob stole Debbie and Bianca's cab. Her silence says it all, she didn't approve but she thought it wouldn't cost anyone the race anyway because all the teams ended up waiting for the parking lot to open at 5AM. She doesn't say much throughout the race and the only remarks you can hear from her are words of encouragement to Rob. I think they work well together and this might take them to the final pitstop as winners.
Debbie and Bianca were okay too, apart from their initial stupidity of wanting to discuss about everything and the constant animosity towards Rob and Amber with no apparent reason. They could have been the first all-girl team to win the race. I think Rob knew that Debbie and Bianca are their main competition. He admitted to the camera that they are "tough chicks" and predicted Debbie to finish the Roadblock first instead of Patrick. But they didn't and they were eliminated. I think Rob would be pretty sorry to see them go.
Very exciting season and it's only just the first three episodes.
Go Rob and Amber!
------------------------------------Ad space-------------------------------------
It was kind of funny watching last week's episode. After Phil announced what it was they have to do I thought, "Man! I would rather take the penalty than eat pork sausage. I won't care if I'm first or second last!" It was like after swallowing a mere quarter of what they were supposed to eat, the racers have this weird look already. Someone's gonna puke! And there goes half a pound of Alex's stomach content.
Not taking it anymore, Rob decided that taking the 4-hour penalty is better than sitting there stretching his stomach and neck muscle. To guarantee that he won't be last, he persuaded another team to take the penalty as well, not a very difficult thing to do since Deana immediately admitted that she won't be able to eat the 4 pounds of meat even before she sat down. And what do you know he was right and they finish at fifth place out of eight. One point for Rob.
I think that Rob and Amber are totally mistreated by the rest of the teams. From the very first leg all the teams are plotting to ensure the downfall of Rob and Amber be it not sharing info and even yielding them the first chance they get. Come on! Be a sport. It's a competition! Just because they've been on TV before (and thus have more screen time than the rest of them) doesn't mean they don't have the right to win. Like someone said earlier in the race, "It's a good thing that no one can get voted off in this show." Exactly. So anyone who's still in the race deserves to be in the race.
Frankly, I think all this hostility towards them will only fan their desire to win this race. They know that everyone is plotting against them and they will be yielded the next time someone has the chance. So nothing left to do but make sure they are always at the front of the pack so the rest won't have a chance in hell to even exercise the yield on them.
So I guess I'm supporting Rob and Amber this season. I must admit Rob is pretty smart for a construction worker. Yeah, he did kind of blurred the line between winning strategies and loyalty to friends the last time we saw him on TV, but I can tell deep down he's a good guy.
One thing I like about Amber is that she's not whiny, a very rare trait among girlfriends/fiances that I've seen in all seven seasons of The Amazing Race (apart from Kris from AR6 of course). She even kept quiet when Rob stole Debbie and Bianca's cab. Her silence says it all, she didn't approve but she thought it wouldn't cost anyone the race anyway because all the teams ended up waiting for the parking lot to open at 5AM. She doesn't say much throughout the race and the only remarks you can hear from her are words of encouragement to Rob. I think they work well together and this might take them to the final pitstop as winners.
Debbie and Bianca were okay too, apart from their initial stupidity of wanting to discuss about everything and the constant animosity towards Rob and Amber with no apparent reason. They could have been the first all-girl team to win the race. I think Rob knew that Debbie and Bianca are their main competition. He admitted to the camera that they are "tough chicks" and predicted Debbie to finish the Roadblock first instead of Patrick. But they didn't and they were eliminated. I think Rob would be pretty sorry to see them go.
Very exciting season and it's only just the first three episodes.
Go Rob and Amber!
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When India met China
I prefer horror and classic literature in my reading list. But once in a while I need a break from the thick, small-font books with long stories and complicated characters. So when the mood comes along I would pick up fiction for young readers, something that I can read in one day.
Last month, apart from Charlotte's Web, which I talked about in a previous post, I also read Seasons of Splendour: Tales, Myths and Legends of India, and Tales of a Chinese Grandmother, among others.
Seasons and Tales are filled with folktales from India and China respectively. What I find interesting is that they both incorporate stories with a certain date and celebrations in the year.
In Seasons, Madhur Jaffey would talk about her own views and memories of a particular time and follow it with the related folktales. In August, India would celebrate Krishna's birthday and so it's just natural to continue with stories of Krishna, the blue god. In September, there's Moon-day, a time to remember the dead where she also talks about her own grandfather and how he died. To complement this, she told the story of Doda and Dodi, a rich brother and his poor sister. Even though they are so different in stature, they still love each other. It's Doda's wife that's 'unpleasant'. Even when Doda wants to celebrate Moon-day to remember their father's death, she still treated Dodi badly. This style is consistent in every season.
It was with this book that I learned the many festivities that Indians celebrates and its significance like the Dussehra (The Festival of Victory) is when they remember how King Ram defeated Ravan, Holi is the festival of spring, and Karvachauth is when wives fast and pray for the long life of their husbands (cue images from Dulhana Dilwale La Jayenge).
I don't really know much of Indian customs and traditions. The ones that I know of are the ones celebrated here (Deepavali and Thaipusam) and those that I saw in Hindi movies. It doesn't help that Bollywood likes to glamorized their movies instead of telling it as it is. That's how I deduced that Holi is a festival for single boys and girls to mingle and throw colored powder to each other if by chance they get to mark their future mates (cue images from Mohabbatein). What I didn't know is it is also the time when ppl would give thanks to the gods for a bountiful harvest. It is also when they build a huge bonfire to remember Holika, even though wicked at first throw herself in a bonfire to save her innocent nephew. Pretty dramatic if you ask me. You never get to see that in Bollywood movies.
All in all this is a very nice book to get an idea of Indian custom. It is well balanced with a mixture of folktales and legends. And the occasional personal sentiments by the author gives you the sense that between all the tales, myths and legends she's also telling you her life story.
Tales also has a similar style with Seasons. Instead of incorporating it with personal takes, Frances Carpenter set the story among a fictitious high class family where Lao Lao (Old Old One) would occasionally relate stories to her grandchildren.
The central character, Lao Lao is the head of the large and quite well-off family since her husband died. She's the eldest member and so deserved the highest respect from the whole family. Kind of like Empress Dowager of The Forbidden Palace. I don't know if the stereotype of a matron as a controlling freak and a tyrant is clouding my judgment here but I find it hard to believe the loving and respectful relationship that this family has. She even pass punishments lovingly. Her grandson was asked to pray for forgiveness from the ancestors since he didn't answer when the whole household is looking for him and because he was fighting with his sister, they were 'condemned' to listen to a story of the Kitchen God. No lecture on etiquette, no dissing the parents for raising them badly. Hard to believe.
Well, I learn to ignore this element of the book and concentrate on the stories that the grandmother tells. There are a total of 28 stories ranging from legends of Pan Ku the man who made the world, Gwan Yin the Goddes of Mercy to moral stories in The Wonderful Pear Tree and The Grateful Fox Fairy. There are some good stories like The Mandarin and the Butterflies and The Painted Eyebrow, the latter telling a story why Chinese ladies prefer to paint their eyebrows. A very sweet story actually.
But there are also some unbelieveable stories like The First Emperor's Magic Whip. A legend says "spirits of the mountains themselves helped to roll the stones into their places, and a magic white horse dashed ahead of the wall builders to lay out the way". And the Jade Emperor gave each workman a cord to bind on his wrist so that they can work faster and easier. The Chin Emperor found out about the cord and stole them and braided all of them into a whip. With it he was able to make the rivers stand still, the rocks bleed and continue his ambitious endeavor. The Jade Emperor might as well send a messenger to stop the Emperor in the first place. Unbelieveable.
Another story that kind of tick me off is The Big Feet of Empress Tu Chin. This part of the book started with Yu Lang (the granddaughter) crying in pain because her feet has to be bound. And the grandmother consoled ber by telling the story of Empress Tu Chin. She sleepwalked every night and her husband was concern for her safety. So he decided to cut off eight inches from her twelve-inched feet so that she won't sleepwalk anymore and thus guarantees her safety. At that time big feet was all the rage, so the Empress cried over her ugly small feet. To console her, the emperor ordered every woman in the palace to cut their feet as well and so began the era if small feet. At the end of the story, Yu Lang thanked her grandmother and said, "That is a good story Lao Lao; I have almost forgotten that my poor feet are aching". Unbelieveable.
The fact that one is written by a local and the other by a foreigner might be the reason why I find Seasons more enjoyable than Tales. Tales do have some nicer illustrations but the stories are poorly executed. However this book does not prove that an outsider cannot write about the locals. I've read The Good Earth and I think it's a very good rendition of a Chinaman's life considering Pearl S. Buck is an American. But she has lived there most of her life while Carpenter draws stories from other literary sources. So there's a difference. I guess it is safe to conclude that you must live it to write about it. Must be the reason why most aspiring writers like to live it rough to be inspired (cue images from Moulin Rouge and Try Seventeen).
Which makes me wonder, is my life rough enough? Am I inspired enough? What does it take for me to become a great writer? I want to be immortal! I want my great literary works be praised and admired years after my death! I want a Booker prize! I want a Pulitzer! I want a Nobel Prize! I want it all!!!!
Oh well, I can still dream right?
Last month, apart from Charlotte's Web, which I talked about in a previous post, I also read Seasons of Splendour: Tales, Myths and Legends of India, and Tales of a Chinese Grandmother, among others.
Seasons and Tales are filled with folktales from India and China respectively. What I find interesting is that they both incorporate stories with a certain date and celebrations in the year.
It was with this book that I learned the many festivities that Indians celebrates and its significance like the Dussehra (The Festival of Victory) is when they remember how King Ram defeated Ravan, Holi is the festival of spring, and Karvachauth is when wives fast and pray for the long life of their husbands (cue images from Dulhana Dilwale La Jayenge).
I don't really know much of Indian customs and traditions. The ones that I know of are the ones celebrated here (Deepavali and Thaipusam) and those that I saw in Hindi movies. It doesn't help that Bollywood likes to glamorized their movies instead of telling it as it is. That's how I deduced that Holi is a festival for single boys and girls to mingle and throw colored powder to each other if by chance they get to mark their future mates (cue images from Mohabbatein). What I didn't know is it is also the time when ppl would give thanks to the gods for a bountiful harvest. It is also when they build a huge bonfire to remember Holika, even though wicked at first throw herself in a bonfire to save her innocent nephew. Pretty dramatic if you ask me. You never get to see that in Bollywood movies.
All in all this is a very nice book to get an idea of Indian custom. It is well balanced with a mixture of folktales and legends. And the occasional personal sentiments by the author gives you the sense that between all the tales, myths and legends she's also telling you her life story.
The central character, Lao Lao is the head of the large and quite well-off family since her husband died. She's the eldest member and so deserved the highest respect from the whole family. Kind of like Empress Dowager of The Forbidden Palace. I don't know if the stereotype of a matron as a controlling freak and a tyrant is clouding my judgment here but I find it hard to believe the loving and respectful relationship that this family has. She even pass punishments lovingly. Her grandson was asked to pray for forgiveness from the ancestors since he didn't answer when the whole household is looking for him and because he was fighting with his sister, they were 'condemned' to listen to a story of the Kitchen God. No lecture on etiquette, no dissing the parents for raising them badly. Hard to believe.
Well, I learn to ignore this element of the book and concentrate on the stories that the grandmother tells. There are a total of 28 stories ranging from legends of Pan Ku the man who made the world, Gwan Yin the Goddes of Mercy to moral stories in The Wonderful Pear Tree and The Grateful Fox Fairy. There are some good stories like The Mandarin and the Butterflies and The Painted Eyebrow, the latter telling a story why Chinese ladies prefer to paint their eyebrows. A very sweet story actually.
But there are also some unbelieveable stories like The First Emperor's Magic Whip. A legend says "spirits of the mountains themselves helped to roll the stones into their places, and a magic white horse dashed ahead of the wall builders to lay out the way". And the Jade Emperor gave each workman a cord to bind on his wrist so that they can work faster and easier. The Chin Emperor found out about the cord and stole them and braided all of them into a whip. With it he was able to make the rivers stand still, the rocks bleed and continue his ambitious endeavor. The Jade Emperor might as well send a messenger to stop the Emperor in the first place. Unbelieveable.
Another story that kind of tick me off is The Big Feet of Empress Tu Chin. This part of the book started with Yu Lang (the granddaughter) crying in pain because her feet has to be bound. And the grandmother consoled ber by telling the story of Empress Tu Chin. She sleepwalked every night and her husband was concern for her safety. So he decided to cut off eight inches from her twelve-inched feet so that she won't sleepwalk anymore and thus guarantees her safety. At that time big feet was all the rage, so the Empress cried over her ugly small feet. To console her, the emperor ordered every woman in the palace to cut their feet as well and so began the era if small feet. At the end of the story, Yu Lang thanked her grandmother and said, "That is a good story Lao Lao; I have almost forgotten that my poor feet are aching". Unbelieveable.
The fact that one is written by a local and the other by a foreigner might be the reason why I find Seasons more enjoyable than Tales. Tales do have some nicer illustrations but the stories are poorly executed. However this book does not prove that an outsider cannot write about the locals. I've read The Good Earth and I think it's a very good rendition of a Chinaman's life considering Pearl S. Buck is an American. But she has lived there most of her life while Carpenter draws stories from other literary sources. So there's a difference. I guess it is safe to conclude that you must live it to write about it. Must be the reason why most aspiring writers like to live it rough to be inspired (cue images from Moulin Rouge and Try Seventeen).
Which makes me wonder, is my life rough enough? Am I inspired enough? What does it take for me to become a great writer? I want to be immortal! I want my great literary works be praised and admired years after my death! I want a Booker prize! I want a Pulitzer! I want a Nobel Prize! I want it all!!!!
Oh well, I can still dream right?
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