Resistance

So, i'm back from my short trip to Seremban/KL. The only objective was to ship my sister and her mountainous amount of stuff back to Penang. Everything went pretty smoothly except for a nasty road rage incident which i'm not elaborating as I have already vented out my anger on people who are a far cry from being human. >Read the post What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger<

So basically my weekend was spent disassembling things and packing. Nothing much worthy of knowing unless you want me to explain every little tedious detail of the packing. No? Of course you don't. I left KL yeaterday at around 3.30pm after making a pit stop at One-Utama. Something I did notice there was the Mid-Year sale was back and banging in KL! The majority of the shops there were having sales and promotions. I'm a tad dissapointed that classes have not started which would place me in KL and very near to the major shopping malls. *grunts* But looking at the bright side, I get to spend more time in Penang Island, I spend less money and I am able to curb myself from over-spending or drooling on the many temptations of goodies that Penang does not offer.

The not so happening

+ The Happening



So first there was a kid who can see ghosts. Then aliens making crop circles. Then "mythical creatures". Followed by a mermaid in a swimming pool. And now, the new M. Night Shyamalan thriller is about trees...yes you read right...Trees with a capital T. Trees. Okay, i've been warned by many about this movie. They've asked me not to go watch it coz it'll just be a wasted of money. But the thing is i'm quite a fan of M. Night Shyamalan. The Sixth Sense, The Village and Signs were movies I enjoyed. So I decided to go ahead and catch it with Al. However it's sad to say that 'The Happening' is just not THAT happening. Although the concept of foliage threatening humankind is interesting, but the plot of the movie is not.

Sure there was Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel as the leading actors but they didn't quite have that big an impact to save the movie. The movie may have been getting bad reviews but there were a few scenes which I carried in my mind even having left the cinema. One of them was the opening and closing scene which was shockingly spectacular. The part where people just froze in their steps, their speech slurred and one by one begin to commit suicide. I thought that scene was brilliant!

Other than that, the movie is not hard hitting. And although it is a thiller, it didn't manage to induce fear in me. But it did manage to induce some eye-shielding action on Alvin's end.

Who is that?!

As I was going through some old photos of mine on the laptop, I discovered I was missing some photos I took back during my trip to Shanghai back in, I believe 2001. So I went around hunting for them, going through old computers and finally discovered them. There were only a few photos there but what I saw shocked me to my very core. Okay, so you wanna brace yourselves for this. Here's what I look like during my Beijing vacation last October, 2007:




And about 6-7 years prior to that, I looked like:
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Seriously, who the hell is that? WHO in the love of god is that?! Holy mother-of-all-that-is-bad-and-evil, I don't even recognize my freakin face. God, I looked so different. Yeah, yeah, very funny...haha...ha. Yes that's fat young me in the picture, you may stop laughing and rolling on the floor now. No, seriously, stop it!......I can still here that snicker over there you know!!!

Double feature

+ Get Smart


Okay, so this movie is based on a series of the same name way back in the 1980s. I think i've watched it before and I remember that it was hilarious. Oh, and i've also watched the movie 'The Nude Bomb' (linked to the series) which is about a villain who threatens to launch bombs which destroys clothing and thus causes extreme nakedness all over the world (Good Stuff...no, really!). Anyways, back then the Get Smart series was played by the late Don Adams (I just read today that he passed away like 3 years ago). Now it's Steve Carell playing Maxwell Smart, Anne Hathaway as Agent 99, Dwayne Johnson as Agent 23 and even Alan Arkin is in the show! Awesome!

A few minutes into the movie and I was sure that the film would be worth every cent I paid for it. It was absolutely hilarious, I couldn't stop laughing throughout the entire movie. Great jokes and they're not just only the slap stick kind. Jeffrey and I were even discussing how good Anne Hathaway and Steve Carell were in it. Initially I was wondering whether this movie would do the series justice and it certainly has. It's an excellent flick, with awesome actors, hilarious scenes, a good deal of action and also some cool gadgets thrown into a cocktail mix of goodness. It's the best comedy i've watched in a very long time. TWO THUMBS UP! If you haven't watched it, you have to! Heck, I don't mind watching it again!



+ Made of Honor


This one's a romantic comedy starring Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan. It's got a plot which is pretty predictable. However, this movie did manage to inject a new life into the genre. With great comedic plots and touching scenes. I found Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan very charming in the film and had good chemistry on-screen. I remember Monaghan from a movie I watched last year, The Heartbreak Kid. But I prefer her in this movie a lot more as it sucks less, hands down.

So, Made of Honor is a good movie for what it is...a romantic comedy. If you like those, then it'll definitely satisfy you as it did for me.

Not going down yet

What's on everyone's lips at St. Xaviers Institution? Brother Paul Ho, current principal of the Penang high school may not step down just yet. Rumours has been flying about in the past two years about the principal's impending retirement which would ultimately end the reign of the school by the brothers. Brother Paul has been slated to leave the school by the end of this academic year in December.

However, at a meeting which took place on Friday night, he announced that he is not leaving yet. Sources have confirmed that he has post poned his retirement to the middle of next year (2009). Tongues have been wagging that the principal is attempting to ensure that everything is well under way before his decent from his post. There has been speculation that there is a tug-of-war situation between the high school's authorities to grab the much-desired top notch position.

Also, Bro. Paul has just recently elected a board of govenors for St. Xaviers Institution, St. Xaviers Branch School and St. Xavier's LaSalle. The main interest of the board is in the welfare of the three schools and will not coincide with the interest of the school's ruling authorities.

How will this fairytale of school politics end?

What doesn't kill you only makes you Stronger

So, I was cycling down Kelawei road in the evening. And i'm cycling, i'm pedalling, i'mma working my ass off on the fourth gear as I head my way to the U-turn at the end which leads you to Gurney Drive. There are no cars behind me nor infront or me as I speed up. Nowadays, i've been taking to the [bicycle] wheel after work just to blow-off some steam and as part of my effort to take advantage of living so close to Gurney Drive.

There were more cars on the opposite side of the road heading away from town. I approach the turn-off to Gurney Hotel on my left. UOB bank is on my right. Still no cars on my side of the road, but it was a different story on the other. Cars were turning into the said turn-off as I approach. I maintained a consistent speed. One car turned, followed by another, and another. I thought to myself 'okay, I should be able to go now'. There were still cars wanting to turn but seeing as I had the right of way, I should be the one who goes first.

Then, it happened.

This fucking silver BMW made a dash for it. It turned right in front of me. I gripped onto my brake hard as I could. I heard my tyres scrape against the asphalt. I swerved my bicycle to the right and leaned in the same direction. Too little too late. The left side of my bicycle slammed against his car and all I could remember is this scraping sound.

We both stopped. I was still on my bicycle. I checked myself, arms and legs still intact. The bicycle, nothing. I escaped with some scrapes on my arm.

The stunned feeling I had soon turned to anger as I gained composure and made my way to the bastard who had pulled over. And this is the BEST part. He comes out, and IMMEDIATELLY checks his fucking car for damages before even asking me how I was. It was this ang moh kau son of a bitch. All I could think of while he makes a circle around his vehicle, his eyes glued to it was, 'Wow, that's fan-fucking-tastic...you check out your car before making sure this living human over here is alright. You definitely deserve a humanitarian award!'

Oh, and the cherry on top of this god-dammed incident is when he asks me "Did you see me as I was turning?"

WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!?!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN DID I SEE YOUR ASSOHOLIC FACE. I HAD THE RITE OF PASSAGE YOU INSOLENT OLD BASTARD!!! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!!! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME! DOES THAT NOT MEAN A THING TO YOU, YOU HEARTLESS S.O.B.!!!

Seeing as I only sustained some scrapes and nothing major happened to my bike, I didn't stake any claims. He on the other hand, had scratches made on his BMW by the side of my bicycle. All I said to him was "Pay attention and be more careful next time!" While he replied "You too."

And for that snarky comment from him, I think he deserves another scratch on his fucking car. You know what, make that a hundred. Or maybe someone should just gauge his eyes out. I swear, I am bringing my cleaver the next time I go cycling.

As a friend of mine always says...Karmaaaa

News to me

Just some recent news that I thought was somewhat saucy...

"After watching the success of Sex and the City transfer to the big screen, Courteney Cox wants the same treatment for herself and her fellow Friends stars.

The actress, wants to revisit the hit US series which catapulted her to worldwide fame. Courteney's co-stars David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc are reportedly keen on the idea, but Courteney's close pal Jennifer Aniston is worried a big screen adaptation would stereotype her as an actress. A source is quoted by gossip website absolutenow.com as saying: "Courteney has already spoken to a lot of the old gang and most of them are eager to do it.

Courteney has seen the success of the Sex and the City movie and is sure a Friends movie would be even bigger. "Her biggest problem is getting Jennifer on board because she has so far refused to even contemplate going back to her role as Rachel Green. She's concerned it will damage her chances of moving on with her career as a serious actress." 'Friends' finished in 2004 after 10 seasons."
- extracted from heraldsun.com

Seriously, if they do decide to go ahead with the movie project, i'm SO gonna be the first one to watch it. Like, i'm booking it in advance as of now! I'm a die hard fan of the series. I've watched all ten seasons like...only god knows how many times!

More to life?

'There's gotta be more to life, than chasing down every temporary high to satisfy me.'

That Stacie Orrico has a ring to it. And it makes sense too. The song popped up in my iTunes and while listening to it, I was left in a general wonderment of some things in life. A pondering if you will, even more so now that i'm being exposed to the working world.

Is there really more to life?

Is there more than working at a dead-end, nine-to-five job in a town or place you're been staying at for your entire life? Is there more to life than exercizing the routine you've been repeating for only-god-knows how long? Is there more out there?

Questions like these don't answer themselves. Most of the people around me have plans...LIFE PLANS. A plan that they will work hard to stick to and achieve whatever goal it may be. I only stare and envy them 'coz to be frank, I don't have a PLAN. Hell, I don't even have a PLA...

So seriously, is my life merely a waste? Does my existance mean nothing to the world? Am I just here to reduce the resources of the world? I feel like I wanna be a part of something. Something that I can hopefully be proud of. It doesn't have to be something big but enough to make a mark in the world. It doesn't have to be a big dent...maybe a scratch will do. Or am I doomed to live a life so mundane that I become diagnosed with severe boredom. Does everyone get their 15 seconds of fame? More than that perhaps? If one does, then when will it come? How will you know when it's your moment in life? That moment in which you actually count for something in this world.

A terrible price to pay

So today was not the ordinary typical day at work. Instead of AutoCAD-ing endlessly on the computer, I was assigned to help out in taking measurements of a building they are thinking of demolising which is situated at Gurney Drive. If I could describe it, I would say it's an old, dilapidated anglo-malay styled bungalow. It may have been a nice house to live in way back when bicycles dominated the streets of Penang. It faces Gurney Drive and occupies the chunk of land all the way to the back street. And the sea breeze was great too, except for the fact that it's run-down, abandoned, dirty and with an appropriate touch of creepy. Oh, and it has a basement too! Here's how it looks like:

- the bungalow.


- As I was driving to get to the place, it hit me that I really never take advantage of living so near to Gurney Drive. I should start going there for walks or people watching more often.

Speaking of driving, by now everyone knows that the petrol prices in Malaysia have spiked by a horrifying amount. I think it's utterly crazy and many people would agree with me. I mean 78 cents?! 78 freakin' cents?! That a 40% increase! It's madness, I tell you MADNESS!!! Couldn't they have slowly raised the rates little by little over a longer period of time instead of implementing such a drastic and shocking change so damn fast. Why don't they just charge us for every step we take or push us off a cliff 'coz that's just slightly worse than what they have done. They could probably also raise electricity rates...oh wait...that's happening too. Hike up food prices? Check! Chop off our legs? Double check that!

And it was quoted somewhere that petrol prices may rocket up to 3 or 4 ringgit by August when they COMPLETELY saw our heads off remove the subsidy. Why doesn't the government just squeeze every living breath out of us. They've already pushed up the gas prices, next comes raising electricity tariffs and this will unavoidably cause an increase in the prices of food, retail, transport and every sector imaginable. And our income on the other hand...oh right...that stays the same f*ckin' amount.

Now if you'll excuse me, i've got to switch off the light in my room, go hog some petrol before the next price hike and cut out discount coupons for groceries and other ridiculously priced things.

The new Indy

The new Indy flick got released last week and it's great to say that i've already watched it! It was outta this world (pun intended). I mean seriously. If I were to put myself in the shoes of a person who is unfamiliar to the Indiana Jones movies, then I probably would think this movie was over the top ridiculous and superficial. But that's pretty much it. All the previous three movies were ridiculous, over-the-top, crazy-ass impossible movies and when I was younger I enjoyed all that. I've watched all the three previous movies, however I must admit I only remember 'The Last Crusade', a smidge of 'Temple of Doom' but not 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'. Go figure since this latest installment comes 19 years after the first one was released.

It's like the most talked about movie all summer and I don't see why it shouldn't be. It's a great watch! But DO watch at least one or two of the earlier movies or get acquainted with the story before attempting to catch this one. This sequel features a new cast featuring Shia LeBeouf and Cate Blanchett (who shares the same birthday as mua!). I thought it gave a good punch of action and humour. Enjoy!

- I watched it with Zhi Xiang.

So, about my internship...I don't wanna talk about it, 'coz there's nothing to talk about. No pay, and boring pretty much sums it up. My life is officially miserable. Leave me alone.