Circles for Squares

Rugby

2008-02-02T10:31:00.000+08:00

I'm not a huge fan of rugby. Sure, I appreciate the sweaty muscular and sometimes hot men - but I've never known the sport very well. Until I met my other half who will probably drag me to all of his team's rugby games and then some. So I thought I'd google a bit and familiarise myself with the sport.

Thus, I came across the RBS 6 nations websites - Europe's premier international rugby tournament (the 6 nations championship)'s official website. We probably won't be able to afford going to any of these matches, but the site is pretty awesome and comprehensive. We're talking tournament news, results and even interactive games!

If I really wanted to keep up to date with the tournament I could always get a hold of the podcasts they provide as well. First, I have to understand the basic rules - then I'll go 'scout' all these players for my .. *ahem* .. favourite ones. I'll be ready for Rugby League in no time!

Online casinos

2008-01-25T11:16:00.000+08:00

We're off to Genting tonight (again) - I wonder if we'll make money again or lose everything we made. Maybe we'll get lucky and become high rollers but let's not dream. I should just stick to online gambling or something.

The question is - which online casino is the best one? So I googled for some sort of online casino review site and came across Pro360 which is all kinds of awesome. It has a list of heaps of the best online casinos and detailed reviews to help you find what you're looking for - like I personally want roulette so I just look for the best online casinos that offer roulette off Pro360's lists!

To narrow your search, they have the top 20 reviewed online casinos on the main page for your perusal. They are ranked by max bonuses, certificates, editor rankings and player rankings. If you don't trust the number 1 reviewed online casino, just read all the full reviews available on each of the 20 casinos so that you can make your own decision!

Making money (let's be positive here) has never been this easy! Maybe I'll just stay home tonight instead of going up to Genting!

Shopping cart software

2008-01-24T13:39:00.000+08:00

Lately we've been venturing more and more into working from home - which includes making money via our websites. What kind of websites make money though? Well, how about those who sell stuff? COOL STUFF? However, getting people to pay you via PayPal isn't always a sure-fire way to get your money and they have no guarantee to get their goods.

So we went about looking for shopping cart software. Yup, it's all about having a shopping cart on your website to ensure you have a legit (or at least, semi-legit) business running from home!

One of the best shopping cart software providers we've come across is Ashop Commerce.

Ashop Commerce provide everything that we, as a merchant, could ever want when it comes to shopping cart software. The website has straight-forward navigation and the services they offer are fantastic. You don't have to install any software, it's all affordable, there are thousands of features and best of all - it's a fully customizable design! There's a 10 day free trial for those unsure of spending their money just yet.

For those who are, they accept credit card payments. So go start your own online store today! We already have!

A quickie for my friends & stalkers!

2008-01-14T22:07:00.000+08:00

Hello all! Some of you still read this blog - I don't know why! I've told most of you personally that there won't be anything remotely interesting on it anymore. Just a bunch of you-know-what's that have nothing to do with me personally. Okay, sometimes I use real-life examples but still!

Anyway, in all likelihood I will probably never have another blog. Yes, there was Yellow Rebel or whatever for a while but that's long gone now as well. I just was never good at maintaining personal blogs. Much apologies to those who actually care/love to stalk. I love to stalk too, and it's great that we're all a bunch of supposedly anonymous stalkers.

However, I think I'd like to keep my private life just that - PRIVATE. Of course, my friends will always get the low-down. Maybe a stalker or two can check out my Facebook account and try to decipher all the ~mysteries~ one photo can hold. Whatever it is, stop looking here for anything interesting cos you won't find it!! I just don't like the thought of you coming here, expecting something and then I just disappoint you!

That's it!

In all things general, I need a REAL job. STAT!

Care homes

2008-01-08T15:09:00.000+08:00

Recently, a family friend came to visit with her 'friend' from France - and we were all talking about another family friend whose parents have had trouble finding a good nursing home. A discussion about the terrible care services provided ensued, and then the family friend mentioned a place her uncle stayed at which is part of a hospital. They provide care, good facilities, activities and you're right near the doctors so that's always good!

It got me thinking about all the different kinds of care homes out there in the world, and which ones are the best. Then I came across bettercaring.com which is all about finding the right care home for you or your loved ones. They provide care tips, information about care homes, updated news on caring, care home discussions and most importantly - a comprehensive search for a care home near you.

You can't ask for more when looking for someone to care for you - at least these people genuinely care! If you can't find a suitable place, they'll help you find alternatives! If you have a loved one that can't live on their own and you want to help out - then go to bettercaring.com now!

Insurance

2007-11-27T17:42:00.000+08:00

All this waiting for the visa and planning for my eventual move that has been a long time coming makes me worry inevitably about things such as money and healthcare. The most important thing to do after the given opening a bank account, applying for jobs and finding a place to move out to is to buy insurance!! Eventually, we'll plan on getting Family Insurance but right now we'll settle for partner insurance.

I don't want to think about the heavier stuff in terms of insurance such as how to Reduce Premiums or which package is the best or how much percentage of a medical bill I can claim - it's just way too much for my brain to handle right now. The most I ever got in my life (on my own) was personal accident insurance and even that was a handful to manage!

I hope my company will take care of everything so I don't have to weigh all the Insurance Plans Pros and Cons by myself - but that means if I ever left the company, I'd be screwed too! I should really spend more time researching things like insurance quotes and whole life policies.

Adelaide

2007-10-30T17:26:00.000+08:00

Remembering my time in Adelaide always brings a tear to my eye, or two. It was only 11 months but some of the most intense and wonderful months of my life. Sure, it was my first time out of the country (not including Singapore) and my first time living on my own - fending for myself. What an experience! It was my first proper foray into the Aussie culture, from little things like realising pubs were in Adelaide Hotels to how shops closed at 5pm (except for the ever wondrous Coles).

The city of churches, as it's known, or the festival state for all of South Australia - I absolutely cherish my time spent there. Experiencing things like the Fringe festival, which is every 2 years and the Art Festival which is every year to the Norwood Parade's Food & Wine festival, which was just down the road from my house. Getting amazingly drunk in the arvo was always a great feeling. Getting drunk at night didn't hurt either, like the first pub crawl I went on, ending up at various Hotels in Adelaide and their pubs (and subsequent punters).

There's nothing like taking a cheap bus ride (or a free one for that matter) and then hopping on the tram down to Glenelg for a breezy evening stroll. The beach wasn't always the best, but it was still heaps better than many I'd been to in my life. Of course, they say the best beaches are along the East Coast, so it's just as well I'm moving to New South Wales, and maybe one day I'll pay a trip to The Stradbroke Islands in Queensland, or the Sunshine Coast. I'll have to find good Brisbane Accommodation because I don't think Zel's mum would let me bunk at their place!

Travels

2007-10-23T13:43:00.000+08:00

I wonder if some people would consider this blog a travel blog to some extent due to the endless stream of travel talk. I can't help it, I love to travel and I haven't done a lot of it so I'm naturally very naive and dreamy about it all. I know people my age who have got to travel all over places like Europe and/or the States mainly because they studied there or still study there. Money is not an option because they have rich parents and they themselves keep studying because they don't want to work! Brats!

I try not to read another travel blog or two lest I get jealous at their ability to go to places I can only still dream of - or they've been to places that now cease to exist/have changed so much. Like I always wanted to go to Greece but now I hear it's all so commercial and not at all sacred like it used to be. *sigh* With every baby born, the world becomes less a beautiful place to live!

Oh well, such is life, and such is the content of a travel blog - amazing pictures, fantastic stories, and tips for future travellers. The best tips to give are places to eat, things to see and the best accommodation - also, which transport to take - taxi, bus, train, walking, renting a car, etc! If you've got all that, the only thing you need is a language book if needed and a person with a good sense of direction who can read a map!

Oui!

2007-10-23T12:54:00.001+08:00

I speak a little French. I know enough to keep a conversation going for at least half an hour, or more depending on the other person with whom I'm conversing. I won't give away my secret, but those I've told will know what I'm talking about! I think I know enough to pick up and head to France whenever I please. Especially with places like CheaperThanHotels offering last minute and year round accommodation at ridiculously cheap prices. So Hotels in Paris will be so not an issue! Then I can concentrate on sight seeing and the nightlife!

I've been reading "French Women Don't Get Fat" or at least, the first few pages. I haven't actually tried any of the recipes, mainly because I don't like the sound leek makes against my teeth when I bite into it. *shrugs* Anyway, I have a friend who goes to France once in a while, I think her family has a cottage in the South of France or something quaint like that. As lovely as that sounds, I would still prefer Paris Hotels somewhere in the city so that I could feel more.. Parisian?

I mean who doesn't love the French language? Moulin Rouge? French loaves? Berets? Spitting on each other? I would love to go to France one day and ask them about "le Hôtels en Paris ". Ok, my French is probably quite horrible so I better brush up on it before booking those flight tickets.

More travelling goodness!

2007-10-17T23:22:00.000+08:00

So I was thinking (again, I know - shocker!). Seriously though, if you were to travel would you prefer a pre-planned itinerary or would you just free ball the whole thing? As a kid I was never the trip planner of the family, because obviously my parents took care of that role - so I just went with whatever they wanted. Now that I think about it, I don't think they planned anything past which hotel we'd stay at and for how long. And we had a damn good time!

So is there any real use for a trip planner? Someone that researches everything beforehand and plans down to the very detail, keeping everyone on a tight schedule - to the MINUTE? What's the fun of a holiday if you can't relax because you're getting up at 6AM just to 'make the most of it'? Is this a resort, or boot camp?!

The last time I went on holiday, my friend and I divided up the role of trip planner, she taking care of booking the flights and me booking the hotel rooms. Once we were there, we worked together on plans for activities, and flew by the seat of our pants. Since we're all laid back, we agreed quickly, set about our day and did whatever we wanted.

Save for the dirty sheets and crappy room condition, thus leading to the inability to consummate the holiday, it was one of the best holidays I'd ever had!!!

Travelling

2007-10-17T23:14:00.001+08:00

All this talk about travelling has got me wondering about just how well I'll be able to handle myself when I'm out there in the "wild" all alone, or even with a partner or two. How much trouble could we get in (the good kind of trouble, mind you) with just a map and a small travel guide? I have to give this some serious thought, don't you think?!

I mean we could go on tours but tours don't give you time to bask and enjoy and immerse yourself into the culture. Plus you might get a mean old grumpy travel guide who won't be much help at all when you ask questions! Backpacking is heaps more fun and a lot more free, but I like a LITTLE more luxury than potentially roach-infested bunks. I'm sorry, but I'm a germaphobe like that.

I guess what we could do with is a helpful travel guide, maybe not a professional but someone who lives there or has been there before? Knows all the best spots and maybe even gets us hooked up with some people on our own for future visits/entry into night spots. That would be pretty rad, you always see stuff like that happening in neat road trip flicks.

I'll go ponder some more and get back to you about that.

Spain?

2007-10-17T00:13:00.000+08:00

I have always had a craving for walking the streets of Spain. I used to have an obsession with a certain Spanish boy, who doesn't really exist but that's a story for another day. Needless to say, Spain has always been on my "Must See" list of all the countries in this lovely world. Who wouldn't want to run with the bulls in Pamplona?

The best places to hit would be its two major cities - Barcelona and Madrid. I believe my mum has been to Madrid before, and my.. it certainly has gorgeous architecture and amazing nightlife. I would love to stay at any of the Hotels in Madrid and fancy myself a Spanish princess of some sort.

Then there's Barcelona, that makes me think of Madonna for some reason. I'm not even sure why because Evita was Argentina. *shrugs*

I hear Barcelona has a lot if not more to offer than Madrid, boasting a much livelier nightlife and overall tourist experience. Well, I wouldn't mind Hotels in Barcelona, that's for sure. I should pick up Spanish before I head over though, just so I can say something like Hoteles en Barcelona when looking for a place to stay. *ponders on that thought a bit*

I don't think Spanish is as sexy as French, but it is heaps easier to learn and speak. Heck, if I can semi-master French, Spanish should be a breeze! Europe, watch out.. I'm going to paint you red one day!

Missing Sydney

2007-10-16T01:07:00.000+08:00

Okay, about the ARIAs, in case some of you aren't actually in Sydney, you could always fly JetStar from KL or Virgin Blue within Australia/NZ and get awesome deals for Hotels in Sydney. I have personal experience with a few places myself such as The Menzies which is wicked awesome and right in the heart of the city. However, if that's not for you, maybe you could try any Travelodge which is really affordable.

Yes, there is such a thing as Cheap Sydney Hotels, believe it or not. No more than AUD$100 per night to boot! There are some deals that could get you less and all within the city too! There's great travel by bus, trains or a pricey cab or two. Or you could just walk and explore the gorgeous city, get lost on George St and be in awe of Martin Place.

Honestly, you'd be saving money on Accommodation in Sydney at any of these awesome affordable hotels, and trust me you'll need to save money on hotels if you'll be staying there for more than a few days because there's so much to see and so much to eat and take in. There's heaps you don't want to miss, and so much you will be missing once you leave! Make sure you charge your camera before hitting the town!

Anybody want tickets to the ARIAs?

2007-10-16T00:49:00.001+08:00

Hey people, totally not a paid advertorial because it's a personal favour - someone I know wants to unload a couple of tickets to the ARIA Awards in Sydney on the 28th of October 2007. If anybody's interested, please leave a comment.

It's two tickets in the A reserve, Section 52. CLICK FOR SEATING MAP

The tickets were bought at $55 each, bringing them up to $110. If there are no bites, they're willing to lower the price, just let me know if you're interested! Don't worry about payment and meeting up - payment can be made by direct deposit and the tickets are in .pdf format to be printed so it can just be e-mailed to you!

Easy peasy! For more information on performances, awards, nominations, etc.. go to the ARIA Awards website.

Silverchair and Powderfinger will be performing, and I know you want to see Silverchair take back their crown of being Channel [V] Artist of the Year!!!!! :D

Auckland

2007-10-15T23:55:00.000+08:00

It's been really interesting getting to know my "new family" who are from all over the world - Denmark and New Zealand mostly. That's pretty cool knowing that if I ever drop by New Zealand some day, I won't have to worry about Auckland Accommodation because although I hear that the hotels there are good and reasonable, I could be put up for free with my family!

I've never been big on New Zealand but now I may just have to give it a shot, with all sorts of interesting things on the schedule such as the Waitakere World Junior Badminton Championships 2007. Who knows Badminton better than a Malaysian? Come on, be honest! I say let's get 500 Malaysians, or 50 because we're loud enough and put them up in Auckland Hotels just for the heck of it! Maybe we could give them pointers!

Seriously though, I've been checking it out online and there's SO MUCH you can do in New Zealand! Things such as sailing, various major events, conventions, performing and visual arts, trade shows and expos.. and of course the best part of the southern hemisphere such as Australia and New Zealand - Food and Wine!! I'm going to make a list of all the Hotels in Auckland and hook myself up with one and make a holiday out of it!

Money Talks

2007-10-11T18:44:00.000+08:00

Yesterday I was going through all my money, whether it be in savings, fixed deposits or anything else - and I've realised that despite not having a 'real job' for a year now, I am still sitting on quite a lovely sum. All things considered of course. There will be no talk of unsecured loans after all! No borrowing money or cash advances!

What I would love more than anything is to take out my money and put them into high interest bank accounts. If all this money talk has taught me anything, it's that INVESTMENTS = GOOD. Let's not even go down the line of debts and credit anymore. No credit cards UK or even debit cards. Let's talk, big lump sums in separate accounts, all over the world.

Yes, different currencies! I know a person whose father put a huge chunk of money into a UK account when our economy was still good - and now that money has pretty much well.. multiply it by 7 then maybe 10 or 100 times more! Crazy rich! Talk about kaching kaching and bling bling, hey? There is nothing that makes me happier than when I check on my account and see that the interest has given me a "surprise sum" as I like to call it.

I'm too "young" with my money to invest in companies or stock at the moment, so I'll just put it into bank accounts and fixed deposits, and let the money grow grow grow!!!

I love money.

More credit talk

2007-10-10T18:01:00.000+08:00

So I was thinking, as I usually do because I have a brain - all this talk about credit cards made me think about grouping people together to compare credit cards. Eventually, I'm going to have to get my own credit card, not just some supplementary one that gets paid in Ringgit! Of course, that being said, like I mentioned in an earlier post I'll need to build up a pretty impressive credit history.

First things first, once I move, whenever I get my damned visa, I'll be getting insurance because that's bloody important if you can't afford health care on your own!! At least I won't be getting a car there for a while or I'll have to compare car insurance as well! So not ready for that right now. I don't even have my license over there yet, much less know my way around the roads. So car insurance will be a long time coming.

At most, it'll be credit card comparisons and maybe once in a while we'll compare loans too. Loans for houses, businesses and maybe even the occasionally shark loan - but only during desperate times!!! No seriously, don't even go there. It's a bad road, ok kids? Stick to the legal and the straight and narrow. All that rot! Debts and bad credit is no place to be!

Credit cards

2007-10-09T13:54:00.000+08:00

The other day a bunch of mates and I were showing off cash, credit cards and of all things, discount cards. A true sign of the "getting there" age is when you have discount cards in your own name and not your mother's! But hey, we can't help the benefits sometimes, can we? Anyway, I love how credit cards here and credit cards UK or anywhere else are all pretty much the same thing compared to cash currency. Did that make sense?

Basically, plastic will always be plastic. Like all those credit card ads for Visa or whatever - it's accepted everywhere! Even if you don't want the plastic, there's always the option of some of the best online credit cards where you won't run the risk of credit fraud!

I used to be against all the "evils" of credit cards, but now I have not just one, but two credit cards. In a way it's comforting not having to lie to promoters at malls with their interest free credit card offers or whatever. Instead of having to come up with an excuse or be rude and feel guilty about either, now I can just say "Thanks, I already have a credit card" or something.

It's still evil when I have no cash and go shopping though! I end up buying twice as much clothes than I normally would have. *goes out to expand shoe collection*

Money money money

2007-10-08T17:10:00.000+08:00

You know that song? I think it's by Abba, and I believe it's the theme song for The Apprentice. Also, I read that Charisma Carpenter won't be on Celebrity Apprentice, which is good because can you say CHEAP? It's not like she can't find a good career in adult films or something! ;) That ought to help pay off her mortgages compared to reality TV! Although I suppose they're both a kind of reality TV huh?

Anyway, speaking of money... I was wondering more about the whole deal with cash advance loans. I would probably need to find a really reliable and reputable company that offers really good loans if I ever want to open up my own company. Well, maybe not a COMPANY, but some sort of business. What constitutes a business to be called a company, anyway?

I just want to build up a good credit history, which I have over here but once I move over, all my past bills are only phone bills and the occassional bank transaction. Rent was paid online via internet transfer and I never got a credit card until I came back home (and ironically was unemployed at the time!) I just don't want to end up getting bad credit loans or something. That would majorly suck.

Insurance questions

2007-10-07T12:02:00.000+08:00

Last night my friend made an interesting observation - "My girlfriend isn't mature like me, I mean we have a different set of friends, her friends are just uni people.. my friends are... ALL OVER THE WORLD *throws arms up dramatically*" Then we laughed, because it was true. Sitting there, we had one person who worked at Sara Lee, another at BAT and myself who's migrating out of the damn country.

Basically, a whole bunch of boring adults! How did we get this way? One day we were discussing homework, the next we're sitting down to compare mortgages and other homeowner loans!

Okay, so none of us has actually planned to buy or even rent just yet. Well, a couple of us have but nothing's set in stone just yet because we can't afford it right now. The most we can do is personal and car insurance, and even that's stretching it, but it's a necessity! Such is life, eh?

Honestly, as taxing and scary as it can be, I wouldn't want it any other way. It's very daunting for most, and as a result people older than me by years have yet to actually grow up, preferring to party all night every night like it carries any substance to building your character. Hah! Oh well, to each his own - as long as you're loving life!

Loans

2007-10-05T16:46:00.000+08:00

Speaking of loans and cash advances, I was thinking of people who get by on loans for the majority of their lives. I mean it's hard enough to find cheap loans, much less many loans with low interest rates. So how do they do it? Are their books balanced?

I don't know if I could live like that - worrying day after day how I'm going to Clear my debts. I hate the thought of being in debt at all! I was so aversive to ever owning plastic, and now I have two credit cards! I was always all "No no no, I would hate being in debt! I would rather spend money I already have!" such as using a debit card like I did in Australia. You know, very Dharma. ;)

However, my mother made the point of credit cards being useful in emergencies. However, I think the cons still outweigh the pros to some extent - or maybe it's just that every pro comes with a price? It's good for buying stuff online and checking into hotels, but then you end up BUYING stuff online and CHARGING to your card when you're at the hotel!

Regardless, as long as you can control the urges, you shouldn't have to crawl to the bottom of a bottle when you see your bank account hit zero. It's a tempting and crazy world of supply and demand out there, among mortgages, bank loans, adverse credit loans, up to giving up and filing for bankruptcy, it's all a little out there for my brain to handle right now.

Cash Advances

2007-10-04T13:23:00.000+08:00

Lately, all that's ever been on my mind is MONEYMONEYMONEY. I need it, I lack it, and I don't earn nearly enough from my side endeavours. So I got to thinking - which is rarely good - but in this case I came up with the idea of cash advances. With this in mind, I went around looking for cash advance sites.

The best one so far has got to be Cash Advance 1500, a perfect site for people who are looking to get emergency cash right to their checking account safely and securely. Hey, fits the bill doesn't it? The best part? It's simple!

You can read all the details about how cash advance loans work, but the gist of this great site is that you don't have to meet the usual pesky requirements of bank loans. If you need money but don't have a great credit history (or one at all), Cash Advance 1500 takes care of your payday loans.

An advantage of online cash advance payday loans to most consumers is that they are offered to people with no credit, poor credit or bankruptcies AND they can be done anonymously to the public and in the comfort of one’s home.

- excerpt from cash advance FAQ

So I'll be looking into this - if any of you are up for it, that's Cash Advance 1500. There are many different kinds of cash advance categories, so be sure to check it out!

Lies, lies, lies

2007-10-03T12:08:00.001+08:00

It's amusing really, how some people you've known for years can lie to you and how some people you've never even met can be the most honest. I guess it's the whole "strangers are easier to talk to" deal, plus close friends have too much to lose if they wrong you.

I don't know, I guess it's too complicated to label and explain because every situation is different. One thing's for certain though - you'd be surprised how much your loved ones have to hide. After all, it's the ones you think you know best that you really gotta watch out for. They're the ones who know all your secrets.

Online shopping

2007-10-03T10:11:00.000+08:00

I've been so bored at home, and trying so hard not to go out and add to my shoe collection, but being at home online doesn't help, because that just leads to online shopping at places like Coupon Chief.

Anyway my mum wasn't too happy when she returned from Europe to find half her plants pretty much dead. She keeps accusing me of only watering them once a week, but I tell her I did it at least once a day! Which is true! Maybe there were times I watered them once every two days - and on days it rained I didn't water them at all. I'm terrible I know. The point is I've been looking at gardening things like Home & Garden coupons because despite the current evidence proving otherwise, I have a pretty good green thumb.

We've been thinking of doing over the garden, since we have so much space - and properly utilising it. If people with half the space can make gorgeous little verandahs and fish ponds, why not us? So I was looking at Home Depot coupons, where we can get 50% off on patio sets - great stuff there!

Of course, all that being said and done, I ended up going up the list to "Apparel" and I was stuck for hours making lists on what I could get with all these coupons for women's apparel, such as 30% Off on any item from Jessica London - I'm a girl, okay?! It's how I'm wired! I couldn't help it!

Hotels in Europe

2007-09-28T17:14:00.000+08:00

So my mum's back from Eastern Europe. I wonder what the hotels were like over there on the "east" of Europe. I know that there were lots of good things said about hotels in West Europe - especially Hotels in Berlin but that's not to say there were bad hotels in the East! They were all at least 3-4 star hotels included in the tour package, with really boring repetitive meal plans!

I'm not entirely sure if Austria is considered West-Central like Germany or if it's more towards to East of Europe, does anybody know? I guess it doesn't matter when you have gorgeous Hotels in Vienna! There are lots of interesting attractions to behold in both Germany and Austria - anybody thinking Salzburg?!

Come on, going to the places where the Sound of Music was shot/originally took place? Imagine staying in one of those fancy Hotels in Vienna and then going out on the streets that Mozart once walked?!

I know my mum took a trip to the Nazi concentration camp in Auschwitz, which is in the South of Poland, near Kraków and Warsaw - she said it was eerie seeing all the shoes of the people who died, and their hair, and learning the history. *shudders* Good thing there's much more pleasant attractions just a step away where you can stay at Hotels in Berlin and amuse yourself by saying "Ich bin ein Berliner" - no, he didn't say he was a donut, you silly duffers!

Anyway, I am highly regretting never having seen Europe yet. I plan to change all that in the next 5 years at the very least. Europe and certain parts of Africa, here I come!

Digital frames

2007-09-21T17:16:00.000+08:00

So for a while now I've had a real hankering to get a fancy digital picture frame. You know the type - essentially a photo frame but with an LCD screen? You usually slot a thumbdrive or memory card into it and it'll go through the pictures on the disk in the form of a slideshow.

No more pesky photo frames cluttering your mantle! I love digital frames. I was looking at some products and this one really caught my eye - a 7" digital photo frame - Click for product. The 10" photo frames aren't too shabby either.

I think these would make the perfect gift for anybody come Christmas time - just imagine the lack of hassle when it comes to 'changing photos' - all you have to do is remove the card, change up or add on, then slip it back in! Voila! The best part is that they're so affordable nowadays. Some of you should definitely get out there and buy me one or seven digital frames. ;)

Getting paid to blog

2007-09-21T17:11:00.000+08:00

Lots of people have asked again and again what I do now that I'm free and unemployed (by choice, mind you) - well it's simple. I blog for money! Yes, in a way I have sold out, but I'm not exploiting my services. I merely offer them. Surely there's a difference! Fine line perhaps, but still a line exists!

I digress. Some have asked where or how I get affiliated with blog advertising, well one of the places I would recommend is Smorty. You should definitely give it a try - it's really easy to navigate for both bloggers and advertisers. Jobs are in abundance and everything is laid out for you to plainly see - you don't have to keep jumping through hoops just to see when you'll be paid!

Getting paid to blog has never been this easy, especially in this day and age. Smorty definitely offers one of the best services for those eager to get paid and those eager to advertise on blogs. So drop on by and join the Smorty family! :D And stop bugging me for resources!! ;)

Going about Australia.. again

2007-09-20T23:25:00.000+08:00

It's inevitable. So many people I know are either already in Australia or plan to head over there. Why? WHY? WHY?! I can't be selfish, I don't own the country.. but dammit.. the whole point of running away from these people is to not actually be anywhere near them! I guess I can't really blame them, after all.. there are so many great things to attract a person to Australia. Each state and territory has so much to offer, each offering something significantly different.

We have Sydney, my future home, where you have a breathtaking harbour with its crazy ass bridge and weirdly shaped Opera House. In addition to that, you have the amazingly old and dirty CBD that just feels... like home (at least to me). Everything from the gorgeous Hyde Park to Centrepoint Tower, it's just the place to be. Not to mention, I have had my fair share of staying in Hotels in Sydney, the Menzies being one of them. Very old, very swank, VERY VERY nice. :>

There are two states I haven't been to that most people usually go to FIRST - Victoria and Queensland. Yes, I have yet to brave the 'wonder' that is Melbourne culture, food and shopping. As if I really need anything so 'fast paced' right now - but I wouldn't mind checking out one of the Hotels in Melbourne sometime. Maybe even Crown, try my luck at some roulette. Or Keno.

Then there's the Gold Coast.. or Brisbane really. I would rather visit the Coast because I have a friend who lives near it, but I would have to probably go through Brisbane sooner or later while I'm at it, and try one of the Hotels in Brisbane as well. After that, I'll move on to the Coast to check out the surfers, the 'worlds' and that row of shops that smells like medicine or KFC - I don't remember how the story goes.

All in all, there's still a lot more adventure that lies ahead of me, and that's just ONE country! *eyes Europe* You're next, mister!

Moving in, moving out!

2007-09-05T19:30:00.000+08:00

All this talk about moving in, moving out, moving away .. looking at rental lists and places to buy. It's all extremely stressful, especially when you can't actually physically be there to check out the houses! Or even better, do things YOURSELF! It's terrible depending on someone else and constantly waiting for them to do something for you, for themselves, for any reason at all!

Always wait wait wait wait wait wait. By the time I get to be a home owner I'll probably be living in one of the 55+ communities for the elderly or something! Hmph! A retirement village for 'active seniors' doesn't sound so bad, but at this rate I wonder if I'll even make it that far!!!!

Everyday it gets worse, this dreadful feeling of helplessness and boredom. Irritation and a lack of beauty surrounding me. Guhhh! I want to just move already! So I can start my life! I am so sick of people who HAVE lives and aren't doing anything about it! *spouts various obscenities*

Happy Indie Day!

2007-09-01T13:35:00.000+08:00

Before I forget, Happy Belated Merdeka to all you Malaysians who are actually dumb enough to be proud of where we are today. HA HA HA HA! Good one, suckers. How effing blind are you?

I guess, you could say, ignorance is bliss - but in this case, ignorance could kill you. Not so blissful anymore, are we?! So over the bullshit attitude some people have when they think they're taking the high road by interracial. Y'see, there's nothing wrong with interracial dating - but why do you have to point it out every time you do it?

Are you trying to make a point? Have people acknowledge that you're 'special' or 'nice' or 'politically correct'? Why do you even notice your partner's race? Isn't that the whole point of anti-racism? To NOT notice a person's racial background?!

Are you purposely dating a person of a different race to prove a point? If so, you should go kill yourself for being such a fucking disgusting excuse of a human being. While I'm on it - people who point out interracial couples are worse than those who purposely date inter racially to improve their image. If only the world truly were fair - then the people you date wouldn't have to be subjugated to a people like you!

Inspirational Blog

2007-09-01T13:26:00.000+08:00

I know of people who could use some inspiration - but they're too cheap to buy self help tapes and books, or too busy to watch the film adaptations of said books!! Well, I stumbled across some online inspirational blogs, and one in particular caught my eye - Karl's blog.

This blog is by an individual named Karl Moore and he basically posts inspirational messages everyday. I think this is a great idea and definitely not difficult for a person to look at at least once a week! After all, most of us spend all our time online, so why not add one more web page to your daily reads?!

It doesn't hurt, for you ladies and certain men, that Karl is kinda cute:

Look at that smile! If that's not an inspired happy person, show me someone who is! Anyway, be sure to check out Karl's blog and send your friends to do the same! Everybody could use a little boost in their day!

Totally buggened

2007-09-01T13:15:00.000+08:00

I can't believe that after helping one dog with a medical ailment, the other one gets sick! How ridiculous is that?! We're not even sure what's wrong with the dumb bitch! :P

She seems to have missing patches of fur and her skin looks really red, plus she's been limping and licking her paws. (Her paws are where it's red and stuff) She's also been scratching her neck a lot.

I hope she didn't catch something from the other dog, who recently had a problem with her eyes. No more running outside for these mutts! Goodness only knows what they might have caught from other dogs!!!! ARGH!!!!!

Education

2007-08-23T23:52:00.000+08:00

Man, thinking about when my other half is going to graduate gives me the willies. Not fear, just.. slight frustration in terms of planning for our future. I wonder why so many people are going for their masters overseas - most of them I know are doing it just so they can apply for a PR in that country. (I wonder just how many of them will stay past their alloted 5 years!!!)

But that's not the point! The point is about education! Are they actually learning anything? Are they paying attention? Do they get assignments done or do they sort to plagiarism for homework help? Do they need help with topics like research methods for the psych kids or algebra for the architects? (Do architects need algebra? I don't know!)

If they ARE learning, and are pursuing "higher studies" for the sake of education - what then? Do they find work in the field? Do they offer tutoring in their major? Certain degrees won't get you jobs very easily, so I wonder how many of these kids are just living off mommy and daddy's money at the end of the day. Most of them haven't worked a day in their life (when it comes to a REAL job - not CASUAL WORK, kids). What use is education if you can't apply it to daily life like paying bills, managing your credit history and HOME OWNING?!

Time to stop playing grown ups, and actually grow up, kids!

Buying stuff online

2007-08-22T12:58:00.000+08:00

I've never been much of a fan of spending my money, whether in person or online. But lately, I've been racking up an impressive credit history with my plastic and living it up on having a PayPal account. I'll admit, I haven't really tried my hand at shopping online just yet, but when I do, I know what I'll be looking for.

Things from books (second hand books even), DVDs, cameras and photography stuff, games, shoes, clothing and so much more. I think I would go totally insane in buying, then going even more insane waiting for my stuff to arrive. :\

It's pretty neat though, isn't it? From places like eBay to Amazon - it beats having to put up with useless store people (seriously, they should take into account that if an overqualified person chooses to work in retail - maybe they should hire these people instead of bozos who haven't finished school!) and waiting in line! Mmm... online shopping.

Getting things done

2007-08-21T17:54:00.000+08:00

So it's about time to move out of the house, into your own home. What do you do first? Most people are happy to live as is - especially if you're renting and can't do much about things like piping, light fixtures, wall paint or wall sockets.

That's the beauty of being a home owner. I can't wait to actually OWN my very own house. Ideally, I would want a huge house with a giant foyer in which beautiful chandeliers could hang, giving the guests a gentle and warm welcome everytime they stepped in.

I don't think people understand the importance of home lighting. Anything from how many watts you really need to coloured bulbs to whether or not you should get a dimmer! It's all about "mood lighting" for different rooms of the house. Like a bathroom you would probably need brighter lighting, but you only need a soft glow for the bedroom. Different folks, different strokes - but it's lighting all the same!

Mailboxes

2007-08-17T11:29:00.000+08:00

So talking about post secret, I wonder if Frank's mailbox is really one of those residential mailboxes or not. If so, isn't he worried about stalkers? Or worse!? I personally would have gotten a Post Office Box or something. Or maybe even one of those commercial mailboxes, just so I could keep my own personal stuff, well... personal!

Speaking of mailboxes, I wonder why some people take sick pleasure in destroying other people's mailboxes. You know how you drive down the road and a friend sticks out a window with a baseball bat then proceeds to smash every mailbox on the street? Where's the fun in that? That's just plain rude... and well, vandalism!

I find myself a little obsessed with mailboxes right now. I like how some are just a slot, some have numbers, some have names. Then you have those that stand by the curb (and get beaten with baseball bats) with the little flag that lets you know you've got mail! Those are so adorable but not practical for the way most houses are built here. Hmmm, I think I should make it a new project to build my own mailbox. *goes to do so*

Secrets

2007-08-15T16:37:00.000+08:00

On Facebook, there's this application where you can anonymously share your secrets. For some reason, reading those secrets - I felt disgusted. Not so much at the context of some secrets (one of them was rape + incest), but at the people who posted them. I can't fully explain why I felt this - but I think it's something to do with the difference between merely typing out your secret and putting your heart into it - like the post cards people send into Post Secret.

There's just something about expressing yourself visually that makes it so much more meaningful. For me personally, I think I would feel less alone if I were to create something (channel the bad energy to create something others could relate to by seeing how I visualise my pain) as opposed to words on a screen.

Just thoughts, just thoughts. Here's a trailer for the Post Secret books. Someone go buy me one. ;)

Relationships are fun

2007-08-11T14:42:00.000+08:00

Relationships are fun, aren't they? Even when they're nothing but a big mind game, at least you live and learn. There's love, there's romance, there's companionship. It's all fun fun fun!

Sure some people will tell you it's not all that fun. Especially when it comes to surviving a breakup! Girls eat lots of ice cream, listen to emo songs about love and watch chick flicks with their girlfriends. While guys more often than not move on to the next girl. Unless of course, the guys are the broken hearted. ;) Then maybe it's the other way around. Just replace ice-cream with some sort of alcoholic beverage.

At the end of the day, it's all one big learning experience. Your heart will hurt like hell, your ego bruised and your reputation probably ruined. But if you're not a big baby, then you'll come out of it stronger. That way you'll know how to spot a wolf in sheep's clothing in the future! Unless, you're not all that bright. In which case, you should probably stop dating altogether. :(

Adventure Travel

2007-08-06T17:07:00.000+08:00

Recently I've been doing research on outdoor adventures and it's given me quite the bug to partake in some Adventure Travel of my own. Everything from mountaineering (once my knees are not so sick!) to ballooning to even some fishing. Once I get my hands (and feet) on some snow, I plan to take up skiing and snowboarding finally! So what say you, are ya with me?

If so, I've got just the place for you to look for resources and information on the best places to go. Just check out this Adventure Travel Blog I came across. It's got a mixture of personal travel experience and recommendations of places to check out. Within the mix is some really great photography too. Not forgetting updates on some of the most popular (and best!) travel destinations around the globe! So be sure to drop in and check it out.

More hotel talk

2007-08-04T19:42:00.000+08:00

All this talk about Hotels in London and Melbourne got me thinking, well that and my mother's going to Eastern Europe next month and I made this whole "HISTORY OF EUROPE" thing for her. Okay, not really. It was more of a 'short history of each and every place you will be visiting in Eastern Europe' but let's not be pedantic.

ANYWAY, I don't know which hotels she'll be staying at, but I hope she gets some nice Hotels in Prague while she's there and not some shoddy accommodation instead! She said they often make one-nighter stops so they only take down their carry-on luggage to sleep in some... place. I hope that for all the money she's shelling out for this pilgrimage-tour-thing that the place is well worth it! I wonder what type of hotels she'll get in Germany and uhm, all those other places whose names I can't spell. :D

Man, when I'm rich and famous and travelling all around the world, I will never settle for even 4 star hotels. I want only the best Hotels in Rome and Hotels in New York, dammit! I want the whole star treatment, even if I'm a behind-the-scenes type of celebrity! *nods*

Hmph! *huffs and stomps foot like a spoiled princess*

Making it in Edinburgh

2007-08-03T11:41:00.000+08:00

Man, recently on Facebook I noticed I have a LOT of friends in Edinburgh, and I have to wonder why?! I mean, I love Scotland, despite never having been there - I just love the history, and most of all the accent. ;p I also 'love' the fact that so many people can't even pronounce Edinburgh properly. *roll eyes*

Lots of my friends go to Scotland to study, and many of them don't come home after that! I guess jobs in Edinburgh must be easy to find or something if so many people stay on after their studies.

If it ain't Edinburgh jobs, then it must be the hot men in kilts or something. I personally want to live in a Scottish castle, and visit Shirley Manson's childhood home. Would that be considered stalking? Probably.

Urban fashion for men

2007-08-02T23:57:00.000+08:00

I've been giving this fashion thing a lot more thought recently - and it occurred to me that I didn't have to limit myself to women's fashion! What about the men out there? I find I can't dress Chinese guys well (probably because most of them can't pull anything off except themselves), and White boys are just way too preppy for my own tastes.

I think the men I dress the best would be young African Americans or Latinos. No seriously, just look at my GTA: San Andreas character C.J.:

How fly is my boy?!

Urban clothing and shoes has always been a thing of mine, and I think it's something I'll look into more. Look here at KicksTime, it's a PERFECT example of the type of clothing line I could start for men out there. I guess white boys could shop there too, but I might have to pull a Tommy Hilfiger on them and say "AW HELL NO!"

Forget Melbourne, what about London?

2007-08-02T23:42:00.000+08:00

I've got way too many friends in Melbourne, and I've got an inkling that none of them will actually willingly take me around. So how about I drop by London instead, which seems to be far more popular with the international travellers anyway? I've got family (I think) there, and some close friends that could take me to key places like Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, The London Eye and so much more.

One place I really want to check out is the Piccadilly Circus, then I want to walk around in the cold and eat fish & chips. Ahhh! So much beauty to behold in London. I wouldn't even have to bunk with my friends, I could just find affordable luxury accomodation with Hotels in London, maybe near Hyde Park or Mayfair - where I could even drop by the West End to catch musicals I've only seen movies of!

If I felt like moving around, then I'd check out Hotels in Manchester or Hotels in Birmingham. Once I'm nearly broke, I'll move on to cheaper options such as those found in Bayswater, Victoria or Paddington. Mmmm, Paddington.

I used to be such an Anglophile, it would be great to look at all these postcard-esque places in person, and while I'm at it travel around Europe too. I haven't been to the other side of the world .. well .. EVER! It would be such an experience to be where I've only envisioned in my mind during late nights reading Spuffy fan fic. Oh and of course, living a childhood dream, and bugging those guards with the funny hats, trying to make them move or blink or laugh.

Hey, if Nancy Cartwright can make their knees buckle, I'm sure I can get at the very least a SMIRK!!!

Linkin Park - Bleed It Out

2007-08-02T11:15:00.000+08:00

LOL. Well, it's better than their previous single - What I've Done or whatever it's called. But why oh why did Chester Bennington raid Brian Molko's closet? While he was at it, he apparently got Brian's hairdresser (an electric shaver) to get him a new look too. And to top it all off, he's even moving like Molko. WTF :\

ETA: It's come to our attention that some Chester Bennington fans aren't too happy about our comparisons of Chester to Brian - well, chill guys! It's just quite out there for all to see, and we're fans of stating the obvious. ;) All in all, the video is quite brilliantly done, and like we said, we much prefer this song to the previous single.

Lovin' your knickers

2007-08-01T16:45:00.000+08:00

Today I read a discussion about panties vs thongs. Or you know, knickers vs g-strings. Whatever you want to call them, they'll always be nothing but crack floss to me. How anybody can find them comfortable is beyond me - unless you buy a pair at are a size too large, in which case - what's the point?! Unless you have a rock hard ass, your butt cheeks will NEVER look good in a g-string!

My personal favourite are boy shorts for girls, especially those lacy numbers. They really cling to your skin in the most comfortable way, support your bum and always look dead sexy. It sure beats having to wear Mens Underwear, which is never sexy on a girl unless its a pair of boxers.

Who could forget that time Carrie went around wearing Aidan's underwear on Sex & the City? GROSS! Now who remembers that scene in Smallville when Kristin Kreuk strips down to her red bra and boyshorts set before jumping into the pool right in front of Clark? HOT! Need I say more?! Boyshorts > G-strings!

To ink or not to ink!

2007-08-01T13:14:00.001+08:00

There are some who do it, and some who are vehemently against it. I fall somewhere in between. I never believed in permanently scarring yourself unless it meant something to you - culture-wise or personally (as in religion or your daughter's name). So it just about sickens me to see people using their bodies as canvases for rubbish such as copied tattoos, or tattoos out of the books they leave out for you to browse through at tattoo parlors. Jeez!

Sure, nowadays there's always Tattoo Removal, but that costs probably more than the tattoo itself! I'm not beyond knowing why people get tattoos, or why they do it all over their body or even why they're addicted to it - but I don't get why people would get something so insignificant to them permanently inked into their skin.

I think tribal designs have to be the most over inked and overrated pieces of 'art' ever. The very terminology they use should already give you a clue as to who should actually be getting these designs (hint: PROBABLY NOT YOU). The worst part would be the choice of placement - Tramp Stamps anybody? I personally find some sexy, but most girls can't pull it off and just come off as trying way too hard. Or you know, some just aren't even sexy to begin with! Ah well... such is life.

Fixing up the garden

2007-08-01T12:40:00.000+08:00

So we've been planning how to fix up the garden, since we just got a massive tub which will act as a fish pond once it's fully installed (which doesn't require much). Now we're just wondering where exactly to put it, what plants to surround it with and whether or not to use some bricks we have to form seating area.

Then of course, there's the fish to consider - and potentially a second pond. All this planning gives me an itchy green thumb that has been dormant for years. I want to fix up the entire garden now! Make it all pretty and flourish! Maybe even add some Garden Ornaments like porcelain ducks or the infamous LAWN GNOME (which I secretly love, but don't tell!!!)

Any suggestions? I'll take pics of the finished garden once it's all pretty. Unless I change my mind, so don't hold me to it!!! For all we know, the plants might all die because I've left my thumb non-green for so long. :( Oh well, one can only try their best! So wish us luck!!!

Superbad!

2007-08-01T12:21:00.000+08:00

Piss off, Shia LaBeouf, because Michael Cera is in town! Oh and Jonah Hill too, of course! They're the new boys to look out for, regardless of looks because we all know that funny guys get all the chicks! Don't believe me? Well, have you guys heard of the new movie Superbad yet? If not, let me tell you!

It's about two co-dependent high school seniors (played by Cera and Hill) who are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry. Needless to say, much hilarity and hijinks ensue!

Want more? Check out some 'restricted content' in the form of exclusive clips on Superbad Clips right now (you have to be over 18 to watch them, but I won' tell if you won't!). If that's not enough for you, then head over to today (August 1st) to watch the 5 Superbad videos!

If you're suitably impressed and want to engulf yourself in more Superbad goodness then there's more more more! You can find cool stuff such as ringtones and downloadables like wallpapers and buddy icons - all Superbad related of course! Just head over to Superbad right now to get them!

For those who haven't been paying full attention but have heard enough to want to see it, then don't fret because Superbad comes out August 17th 2007.

The 'art' of Photoshop

2007-08-01T12:13:00.000+08:00

Speaking of art, and a little bit of Photoshop. It's no secret that when it comes to Photoshop, I'm the person you come to. *shines knuckles on chest* Sure, there are many ways to get results you want, in Photoshop. However, my way = the right way a.k.a. THE PROFESSIONAL WAY.

None of these 'magic wand' or 'eraser' or 'burn and smudge' tools. STUPID STUPID STUPID! I see so many girls trying to photoshop their pics and FAILING. There are a fair few who are actually good at what they do, but I think most of us know who I'm talking about and it certainly ain't someone who uses a million brushes and huge intrusive text on her pics.

When will people learn - it's all about FILTERS and MASKS. Or you know, if you want both, try Cutout or something. Don't freehand everything - Photoshop is Photoshop for a reason! It's not bloody MSPaint, which is the most basic photo editing tool you can get your hands on - even MSPaint is capable of bloody masterpieces (just look at Maddox [not Jolie's ugly adopted retard ffs!]) but so many people underrate it!

Maybe it's not a problem with knowing which tools to use. Perhaps it's just a lost cause when it comes to the mere stupidity and lack of talent when it comes to who's actually USING the program in the first place. Oh well :(

What to tell your parents when they say "art has no future"

2007-08-01T12:04:00.000+08:00

You know how when you're a kid, everything is possible? You dream endlessly about being an astronaut, a ballerina, a princess, a doctor, a fireman. All very ambitious dreams. But what about the REAL unsung heroes? What about kids who dream about simple things that aren't as easy as they seem - such as road sweepers, garbage collectors, gravediggers, or even - artists?

I'm sure you or someone you know has had a dream to be an artist, and been shot down by their parents saying that being an artist is not a career and holds no future. This is true in some aspects, such as how your art is only worth something once you're dead. However, modern times have proven this theory so DEAD wrong. Walking among us are artists who are now millionaires! Acting, singing, writing - these are all forms of art, you know?!

Oh sure there are still artists who do arty things such as drawing - like fashion designers or those with Animation Careers! Illustrators and graphic designers. People who photoshop celebrities to look flawless on magazine covers! Photographers! Film makers! ALL ARTISTS! MOST OF THEM - RICH!!!! All it takes, is a little imagination and a lot of willpower - and you can make any dream a successful 'career'. So get out there and prove your parents wrong!

Start saving the environment, you dipshits!

2007-08-01T11:58:00.001+08:00

So I finally caught An Inconvenient Truth (about 7 months ago) and propaganda or not, it's right here for your own senses to know that our world is dying. It may not die tomorrow, or next week, or even next year, but like everything that's dying - it'll gradually get worse as time goes on. It's already so bloody hot and the weather all over the world is so freakin' wonky.

It doesn't help that people don't care, don't recycle, don't save electricity. All these stupid concerts like Live Earth or whatever it's called - what good will they do? Can someone enlighten me - were these concerts all acoustic? Or did they use heaps of electricity to light up the stadiums and stages and mics and instruments?! HYPOCRITE MUCH? If not, I stand humbly corrected.

Really, I don't care much for the environment either. I guess it wouldn't hurt to use Carbon Calculators sometimes or not use the lights if you don't really have to. Heck, you could even start attempting to recycle - how hard could it be?! It may be just a little, but as 'they' say - a little goes a long way!

Oh Air Asia - Bangkok Nerver Sleep?!

2007-07-31T23:14:00.000+08:00

So I received an email from Air Asia today, and I was about to delete it as usual - until I saw the copy for the ad:

BANGKOK NERVER SLEEP?

WHAT THE?! The bad grammar we can excuse, but the misspelling?! Who did they get to write this - some Ah Lian who claims she got an A1 for her English in SPM but still spells words the way she pronounces them?! She's probably the same type of girl (or male, let's not be completely prejudiced here!) who mistakes stylist for stylish or 'voila' for 'wala'. Sadly, these are the same types of people out there writing in YOUR magazines and ranting on their columns in YOUR national newspapers!

Of course, it could be that Air Asia is making fun of Thai people in general - and the stereotype that they can't pronounce English words properly. Hence, the question mark at the end of the sentence is symbolic of their awareness of the "Engrish". However, that would be giving way too much credit when experience has proven that it's more likely a very common error (the error being not that the poor copywriter can't spell, but that their boss actually hired them in the first place!).

PS - Even if it were done on purpose, the concept of the ad still wouldn't make any sense!!! *exasperated sigh*

Technology is taking over the world!

2007-07-31T17:50:00.000+08:00

Nowadays, it's the norm for kids to have a mobile phone or their own computer. Back in the day, to have a computer for the whole family was a big deal, the internet was only for giant corporations and mobile phones were the size of the family pet. We used to have to plan in-person meetings or talk with two phones taped to our ears before the invention of Conference Calls or three-way calling.

In fact, while we're at it - Phones are getting so small that one day we'll just have them implanted as microchips into our ears. Holograms will make video calling obsolete and we'll be begging mom and dad for a BMW hovercraft instead of a car. So what is the world coming to exactly? Is it truly innovation and evolution? Or is it going to be mankind's greatest downfall?

Sure, convenience is key - but when did 'internet connection' take over simple 'human connection'? Kids are breaking up over IM, celebrities are divorcing over SMS, and friends can go their whole lives not knowing what their pen pal's handwriting looks like thanks to the wonders of e-mail. Regardless of whether you fear it or embrace it, it looks like it's far too late to stop it or at least escape it. Unless you join the Amish, that is.

Travelling further than the ASEAN region

2007-07-31T15:45:00.000+08:00

Forget Australia and other parts of Asia while I'm at it! Why not set my sights a little further? How about Europe? I've always wanted to check out Italy, Spain, France and Greece. Maybe even catch some rays in Monaco (it's a principality!) while I'm at it!

But if I really wanted some sun and surf, why not hit the best place in the world for it - The Caribbean! Hold the pirates, please. I figure most people would go to Aruba, Bahamas or Barbados. But everybody forgets the little gem that is - CUBA! Yeah I bet you didn't know it was part of the Caribbean, did you? Neither did I until I was googling for great places to travel to! I found a great place to plan your Cuban Holidays, so be sure to check that out if you're with me!

Imagine the smell of coconut suntan oil, the taste of tropical drinks, the sound of the ocean, the feel of the sand and the sight of endless gorgeous half naked bodies! Mmm-mmmm!!! I should just go run out and buy a thousand bikinis right now because I am so sold on this, it's not even funny. *bounces off, singing 'Kokomo'*

Fashion: What's hot right now?

2007-07-31T12:30:00.000+08:00

Lately I've been raring to go when it comes to fashion. I've never been known to be a front runner when it comes to fashion, but I've always had "the eye". I always noticed how every time I figure a certain type of fashion is 'chic', it's suddenly the new 'it' style!

Recently my obsession has revolved around shoes - I had an inkling about closed toe flats for yonks now, and what is this I hear on the fashion scene? It's in and it's here to stay! Fantastic! The key to fashion to me these days is simplicity. People strive too much for flair and attention. All you need are a few simple one-colour pieces paired with one item that pops. A great place to start would be stocking up on Black And White Clothes. Just take a look at those clothes. Some girls today might say "Oh it's too boring" - don't listen to them!

All it takes is one pair of turquoise pumps or a pair of gold rhinestone encrusted flip flops to make your outfit a winner! If shoes aren't your thing, you can always turn to bags, or every outfit's must - accessories! Big earrings, big rings, chunky beads, you name it. Just don't over do it! If your outfit already has embellishments, try not to accessorise too much. A pair of red wedge-platform slingbacks will do!

Visiting Melbourne

2007-07-30T19:45:00.000+08:00

I'll admit, I was never keen to visit Melbourne - a city prided on being the best place to live in the world, with all its culture and most importantly for us girls - SHOPPING! We're talking copious and varied amounts of food, tons of nightlife and lots of artsy culture stuff!

Alas, all that hassle over planning the flight budget and not to mention finding Accomodation in Melbourne, made me figure I'd just bunk with a friend if I ever went down there.

However, most of the close friends I would have bunked with have since left Melbourne, which means I'd have to get some nice Cheap Hotels in Melbourne or even resort to dare I say it, backpackers accomodation!! I've had friends do that before and it was a nice experience for them, but I don't know if I'd risk it. I'm such a stickler for comfy beds and room service! Thus, hotels is a must for me! After all, Melbourne has some of the best hotels in Australia, so I'd really be selling myself short if I didn't check them out!

Maybe I'll skip visiting any friends and steer clear from the city altogether. Every time I've stayed anywhere in Australia, I never did any touristy things nor did I spend much time in the city anyway! Perhaps I'll look for nice Melbourne Hotels in St Kilda and just spend all my time on the gorgeous beach instead!

Yes, that sounds like a plan! Melbourne, here I come! (Someday.)

The Simpsons Movie

2007-07-29T11:18:00.000+08:00

"...bountiful PENIS!!!"

What can I say, what can I say?! Let's just put it at "I give it 10 out of 10!"

The movie is ace in my book, despite a lack of Mr Burns + Smithers and the fact that a few jokes fell flat (for me personally, while many a moron laughed their heads off).

The 'shocking' moments left me in surprised guffaws. Everything from seeing Bart Simpson's penis to Homer flipping people off. I'm almost disappointed that nobody cussed but I think that would have taken it too far.

It was a clever story with great 2-D animation mixed in with some cartoonised CGI, and all the actors did magnificent jobs.

Some may tell you that Homer was annoying, which I don't agree with, probably because I appreciate and adore Homer. All you have to do is watch a few key episodes of Family Guy and compare Peter Griffin with Homer Simpson. You'll see that Homer is the lesser of two evils by FAR.

If you haven't already seen it, by all means go ahead - I promise you won't leave disappointed.

Those crazy lawyers in suits and their lawsuits

2007-07-23T12:26:00.000+08:00

I was wondering the other day if we had any doctors in the family. We have one in the making, and quite a few lawyers. I myself had ambitions to become a lawyer when I grew up, but that didn't pan out.

What is it about law? Many people who spend years studying it, end up dropping out or going on to never using their degree. Is it because it's difficult to practice law in this country or do they just get sick of it after spending 5-8 years immersed in it?

The law system is pathetic anyway - they usually get the wrong person to pay up, set the murderer free or convict the innocent. Even when justice prevails, like say - a lawsuit monetary settlement - the person who is to get paid will only see their money after months of processing, if they ever see it at all!

We see these things in the news - how cases can go on for years. In the television shows, they say things like "If you take this to court I can tie you up in court for years while so and so is still free to roam the streets".

Where is the justice?! At least for some people, they can get a lawsuit settlement advance while waiting for their actual payment. But what about those prosecuted for murder? Where's the justice for the victims and their families?!

Maybe I just don't know anything about law, or I'll just never understand why paperwork is more important than punishment.

200720072007

2007-07-20T20:07:00.001+08:00

What a special date today is! This year just seems full of special dates, especially from this month!

First was the very lucky 070707, on which several (or THOUSANDS OF!>1?) people got married. Then today it's 20072007! I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean but it's still pretty cool.

I feel bad for 2006, not many people made a big deal of 20062006 and I'm sure not many people got married on 060606 (except maybe Satanists!) What's a Satanist's wedding like anyway? I'll have to ask my mate Ui Hua!

Anyway, I don't have anything interesting, intelligent or remotely funny to post today. I just wanted to commemorate this day by doing something. So with this post, I take today's special date a bit further by posting it at 20:07, 20/07/2007!

=D

Online Dating

2007-07-20T18:20:00.000+08:00

Keeping with the "online" theme that seems to be going on in this blog, we've decided to head down the road that either goes very right or so very very wrong - ONLINE DATING!

Anybody in Malaysia can tell you how annoying those "Muslim Matrimonial" ads on Yahoo! Mail are. Seriously, just piss off!

Anyway, Lavalife is full of creeps and we can't think of another service that people use - they're all way too commercial anyway. So we've decided to review something brand new - People-Meet.com!

People Meet dot com offers, what else, but Online Dating Services! The site's still getting its start but that's probably a good thing because that means there's less likelihood that the paedophiles have signed up.

They have all the standard tools from online chatting to an in-built shoutbox. So stop looking for Dating Services Online, we've found one for you! Tell all your friends and spread the word - because the database is so fresh, you can make sure you get some good sorts in there before the bad ones start rolling in!

One last thing - It's primarily a Christian Dating site - so yes, now Christians can find their partners online just like the Muslims! How's that for equal opportunity?

Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix

2007-07-19T01:24:00.000+08:00

So I'm not a Harry Potter fan - I've never read the books and I only saw the fourth movie. However, I quite enjoyed it and didn't mind going to see the fifth one.

In fact, I didn't mind it so much - I wanted it to be an hour longer!

Yeah, didn't think I'd hear myself say that either.

The movie builds up to a really tense point and then there's a lot of confusion, great CGI and abrupt sadness. Basically, it's all a big blur right before the credits start rolling.

The thing is, I knew it was coming to an end - you can just tell with these kind of movies - and I was actually upset! What the hell!?!??

No seriously, I'm sure many fans will attest to this, as most fans of book-to-movie adaptations do; the book was better.

If only they'd bothered to put in that extra hour. Really all they had to do was cut off the third hour from Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and stick it onto Harry Potter V!

Alas, this movie actually made me kinda want to read the books... but only kinda.

The Online Shopping Quest Continues!

2007-07-18T12:43:00.000+08:00

So a couple of days ago, I began an online shopping quest. The purpose? To find the best places to shop online!

What I came up with is a supplement to online shopping - online coupons! I decided to stick with that route for now and look for more places that offered online coupons because let's face it, discounts make a purchase just that much sweeter.

Today, I found this place that's updated daily with the latest promo codes for some great brands. I browsed through the coupons for something I liked, and boy did I find it!

What is it? Why, the Dell coupons of course!

Just look at some of these coupons - "$234 Off Any Inspiron 1420 Purchase" or "$300 Off Select $1199 Inspiron Purchases" - if only you could see me drooling. Once the next paycheck rolls in, I'll be making good use of these bad boys!

That's KeepCash.com fellow shoppers! It's a great site with even greater coupons. It's very user friendly and totally legit so don't let the simple exterior put you off - that just makes it easier to navigate! I really liked this site because they have instructions plastered all over the place to help you figure out how to use the coupons (which is really easy but it's still nice to know they have your best interests in mind!)

I could easily keep all this information for myself, but sharing is caring - and I CARE! So go check it out!

Nestle Koko Krunch Duo

2007-07-18T12:03:00.000+08:00

Now most of you are surely breakfast cereal consumers. If you're not, then surely you are a chocolate lover! If you're not that either, I suggest you start to live a little.

Anyway, I was walking down through the aisles at a supermarket the other day and something caught my eye:

WHAT!

Okay, it didn't really happen that way. To be honest, this mysterious box of Koko Krunch Duo showed up at my house one day, and I had the pleasure to sample some of the delicious white chocolate Koko Krunch. Mmm-mmm!

Now I have never been that big a fan of Koko Krunch but with this new addition of white chocolate cereal to the regular chocolate cereal, I will definitely be getting a certain someone who has connections at Nestle to bring home some more Koko Krunch Duo!

HAVE YOU HAD YOUR KOKO KRUNCH TODAY?

Online Poker! Who woulda thunk it?

2007-07-17T12:03:00.000+08:00

So for the past few months I've been searching online for a suitable online poker community to sate my addiction ever since getting onto the poker bandwagon back in December. Tonight, the latest attempt is Mac Poker Online. I was a bit put off at first because it's "Poker for Macs" and I'm but an old fashioned (or is it 'SMART'?) PC user. Nonetheless, I decided to give it a try.

The good news is that the poker rooms are not limited to Mac users as can be seen at this Mac Poker page. The bad news is that, it's not free! Well technically, you don't play on the site itself as they are basically a big resource for Mac users who want to know where to go for online poker.

Regardless, I scoured the site for anything that had the word "free" (my favourite word in the English language) and what I came across were the aforementioned recommendations to other poker sites which offer free play such as Pacific Poker. By this time I was too tired to go check them out so all I did was read up on Poker Strategy Tips! Now THESE were helpful, and best of all - free!

Fortune cookie?

2007-07-15T08:12:00.001+08:00

So earlier this week, we finally embarked upon Central Market in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

We were not impressed!

We just didn't see what the big fuss was about, other than the musical Bamboo shaker (we know a guy who's obsessed with bamboo and would probably have loved that).

There were trinkets galore, thousands of souvenirs and various knick knacks - a direct proportion to the amount of unattractive people who dwell within the city walls. We're sorry, but it's true.

The only other highlight would have been the infamous fortune teller but we decided not to get a reading done - we'd rather not know what the future holds!

After all, who's to say the theory that when you get your fortune read, you're really just setting your future in stone, rather than finding out what may or may not happen?

Besides, the guy's known to be a bit of a hack. We'd much rather put our trust in a phone Psychic Reading.

To sum it up, unless you want something specific that only Central Market can offer, don't bother braving the humidity and eye sores of the city - just head over to PJ and hit up 1 Utama or The Curve!

Transformers Pt II

2007-07-04T09:51:00.000+08:00

WOW!

Michael Bay has not let us down! Once again, he has managed to deliver true to his form. As we watched the movie, there was a checklist of Michael Bay signatures to look out for within the film. Let's take a look at how he fared, shall we?!

Again, we must say...

WOW!

WiMAX

2007-07-03T10:17:00.001+08:00

Sick of your ISP? (If you're on Streamyx like us, your answer is probably "YES!") Don't want to be hooked up by a cable anymore? Want more mobility but the same high speeds? Getting headaches from the coffee smells in Starbucks for the sake of free Wi-Fi?

Then WiMAX is for you! WiMAX stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access - yes, Microwave Access. Do not ask us what it means, because we don't know either. However, it is officially known as WirelessMAN.

What exactly is WiMAX? Essentially it's wireless internet at high speeds (DSL/CABLE), similar to that of Wi-Fi hotspots that seem to be popping up everywhere.

So is it just like Wi-Fi? No, it's not! The main difference between the two is that WiMAX enables you to access the internet over a longer range from the point of connection.

This means you could access it from several different wireless hotspots as long as they are within the range that WiMAX stipulates! (The speed goes up to 70Mbps!)

We know what you're thinking - it's just too good to be true. You're right, there are some drawbacks. For instance, the further you are, the slower the connection will get. However, is 10Mbps over 10km really considered that slow?!

We didn't think so!

For more information and lots of technological jargon, go to the official WiMAX Forum, formed in June 2001 to promote conformance and interoperability of the IEEE 802.16 standard (and the people who defined WiMAX as 'Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access'.

iPhone

2007-07-02T14:49:00.000+08:00

The iPhone was released in the US on June 29th - and the question that everybody seems to be asking is "Are you going to get one?"

Personally, we aren't fans of anything by Apple except the occasional Mac computer and/or film making application (such as Final Cut Pro) - we don't even own an iPod.

So our answer would be a resounding "no" - it is just way too pricey (US$499/4GB, US$599/8GB) for something that is essentially nothing but a fashion accessory at the end of the day.

Take a look at the iPhone commercial and form your own consumer opinions:

Of course, with everything niche, new and nifty - come the silly reviews and spoofs. For a spoof news article (or is it?), see what happens when marketing goes too far on Just My Blog Lah.

For a spoof review, read this post at The Occasional Mumble and for a spoof MOVIE, check this out by our friend David Lehre:

The iPhone will be available in Europe in Q4 2007 and in Mexico, Australia and Asia in 2008.

Transformers

2007-06-30T15:30:00.000+08:00

So, I've seen a few people mention how "amazing" or "great" Transformers was. The live action movie, that is.

Okay, now I've come to the conclusion that perhaps these people are either not fans of the original cartoon movies or they just have horrible taste in movies.

Worse, they could be both.

I mean, come on, it's MICHAEL BAY! Who likes Michael Bay?! Michael Bay doesn't even like Michael Bay! I think the only person who likes Michael Bay is Marty Martin, but I'll leave that at Super Couch Potato.

Back to the movie - aside from Shia Labeouf, there doesn't seem to be any redeeming qualities that the movie could possibly have - the trailer comes off as it being nothing but 2 hours of exploding trash cans trying to pass off as giant alien transforming robots.

I'm willing to give it a slight benefit of the doubt, as we haven't seen it yet because we've been too busy this week to catch the premiere. So watch this space on Tuesday for a final verdict on what we thought of the movie.

Grand Theft Auto 4

2007-06-29T13:43:00.000+08:00

Now most wouldn't peg me for a video game (or even a comic book) geek - and I'm not. Not really, anyway.

Over the last couple of months in 2006 I was introduced to the wonders of the XBOX 360 and on top of that - the amazing world of Grand Theft Auto. I played GTA 3 through GTA: Vice City and am half done with GTA: San Andreas.

Well, I better get a move on because in 3 and a half months (October 16th to be exact), GTA 4 is being released, and it looks bloody AWESOME!

Trailer 1: "Things Will Be Different"

This morning, a second (BETTER) trailer was unveiled. I drooled all over myself.

Trailer 2: "Looking For That Special Someone"

For a hi-res version, go to Planet XBOX 360

Please note, everything you see in these trailers are in-game graphics.

Oh yeah.

Chris Benoit, wife and son - found DEAD

2007-06-26T22:41:00.000+08:00

We just found out that Chris Benoit, his wife and his 7 year old son were all victims of an apparent murder-suicide over the weekend.

Here's a press release:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife, and son were found dead Monday and police said they were investigating the deaths as a murder-suicide.

Detective Bo Turner told television station WAGA that the case was being treated as a murder-suicide, but said that couldn't be confirmed until evidence was examined by a crime lab.

The station said that investigators believe the 40-year-old Benoit killed his wife, Nancy, and 7-year-old son, Daniel, over the weekend, then himself on Monday. A neighbor called police, and the bodies were found in three rooms.

Lead investigator Lt. Tommy Pope, of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department, told The Associated Press the deaths were being investigated as homicide, and that the causes of death awaited autopsy results on Tuesday. Pope said the bodies were discovered about 2:30 p.m., but refused to release details.

The house is in a secluded neighborhood set back about 60 yards off a gravel road, surrounded by stacked stone wall and a double-iron gate. On Monday night, the house was dark except for a few outside lights. There was a police car in front, along with two uniformed officers.

Benoit was a former world heavyweight and Intercontinental champion. He also held several tag-team titles during his career.

"WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family's relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy," the federation said in a statement on its Web site.

Benoit was scheduled to perform at the "Vengeance" pay-per-view event Sunday night in Houston, but was replaced at the last minute because of what announcer Jim Ross called "personal reasons."

The native of Canada maintained a home in metro Atlanta from the time he wrestled for the defunct World Championship Wrestling.

The WWE canceled its live "Monday Night RAW" card in Corpus Christi, Texas, and USA Network aired a three-hour tribute to Benoit in place of the scheduled wrestling telecast.

"My relationship with Chris has extended many years and I consider him a great friend," Carl DeMarco, the president of WWE Canada, said in a statement. "Chris was always first-class — warm, friendly, caring and professional one of the best in our business."

Source

This is such sad, sad news.

Upload File Go

2007-06-22T11:33:00.000+08:00

I've been so sick of YouSendIt for years and then SendSpace too, which only seems to work in IE - plus what's up with all these upload LIMITS?! GRRR!

So I went looking for uploading sites that offered more space, and longer online periods. Then I found it! - Upload File Go.

What's so great about it that it puts it ahead of the rest? Well for starters, it's FREE, but most sites already are - so what else? How about a maximum upload of 100MB's? Not enough? Check this out:

You can download the file again if you lost it or accidentally deleted it.

The file can't be removed or deleted by anyone but Upload File Go or yourself.

There is no limit to how many times files can be downloaded! They host files which have been downloaded more than a million times.

Your files will be kept on their servers as long as it is downloaded at least once every 30 days. You may also delete the file yourself if you choose to.

You don't even have to worry about remembering pesky URLs or checking your email for the link, just go to Upload File Go's sharing page for all files that have been uploaded to the server.

Take THAT, Sendspace & Yousendit! NER NER NER!

Yeah Arcade

2007-06-20T19:02:00.000+08:00

So I was feeling a little bored lately and decided to check out places that had free online flash games – some sites required payment, others had way too much spam and pop-up ads. Then I found it! Not only is it relatively ad-free, it’s just generally FREE all round! Plus, it doesn’t just have 2 or 3 cool games, but hundreds upon hundreds!

So, feel like killing some time? Not sure where to go for free and entertaining flash games? Well look no more, because I've found just the place for you! It’s called Yeah Arcade.

Seriously, Yeah Arcade has heaps of variety in games such as shooting games, puzzles, casino games, action games, sports, typical arcade games and a lot more.

Other great things include you being able to rate the games after you’ve played, so just check out the highest rated games for the best experience without spending hours looking for just the right game! In addition to that, you can even add the games to your blog by copying and pasting the code available on each game’s page.

Don’t worry about loading time! Despite hundreds of games and videos, everything loads quickly and you’re ready to play to your heart’s content! Here’s an example - this is one of the most popular games on Yeah Arcade at the moment:

yeaharcade.com

If you need a breather from the games, just check out the videos they have uploaded - everything from accidents to hot babes to funny stuff to the straight-up strange!

You can even upload your own games and videos and be part of the community - there's definitely something for everyone!

I could go on but why waste time telling you about it, when I can be playing and so can you?! So what are you waiting for?! I know I've certainly lost track of time and place since I found the site! :D Go check it out, already! That's YeahArcade.com!

Young Modern

2007-06-17T14:18:00.000+08:00

So I never really got around to updating the fact that I received Silverchair's Young Modern in the mail about two and a half months ago, along with the Straight Lines single.

Seeing as how Stephen spotted the album in stores right here in Malaysia yesterday, I thought it was time! I'll let it be known that we took all the copies of YM in that store and spread them over stacks of other CD's so that they'd be more eye catching. :>

Sadly for most Malaysian fans who didn't get the album when it came out in Australia, all they get is the regular jewel case! Mwahaha!

Here are the additions to my collection!

WAH!

STRAIGHT LINES (WITH A STRAIGHT CRACK!)

YOUNG MODERN BITCH!

Yeah that's right, I got a fucking DIGIPAK!

A BIG one!!!

WITH A DVD!

Booyah!

Yeah that's right, my CD is far more awesome than yours! NER NER NER! ;P

Steve's Young Modern Tour 07 shirt

The back with the dates~

My snazzy shirt!

While Straight Lines just came out over here, Reflections of a Sound is the second single to be released in Australia, and the video's already out. I think it's their best video by far, BAR NONE! Check it out:

Also, the boys will be heading out on a huge national tour come August, co-headlining with Powderfinger. The tour will be called Across the Great Divide.

Head over to Tone Deaf Critic and check out their post about the event - there's also touring info, including ticketing prices!

Silverchair @ the MTV Australian Video Music Awards

2007-05-06T20:11:00.000+08:00

I never really updated about this but yes, I did get Young Modern and the Straight Lines single aaaages ago. I can't be arsed taking pictures and uploading them right now but trust me when I say I was pleasantly surprised to find out that YM came in a digipak! I FUCKING LOVE DIGIPAKS!

Also, the album art is by far their best out of all 5 albums. Just beautiful beautiful shit going on all over the place.

Anyway, they're currently going around Australia to support the album, then I guess head out to America. It makes me really sad I can't see them with all the gorgeous Young Modern lights and set designs but OH WELLLLLLLLL what can you do, right?

Recently at the MTV AVMA's they received the first Australian Video Vanguard Award. Now, I usually find that award to be bogus, and everything about MTV to be shithouse really, but I love the way the video was put together. Very concise, and just enough info to show people what true legends the boys really are - no lie!

Check it out, bitch:

I love the fact that Ben and Dan are completely pissed and made asses of themselves but in the most endearing (as in, not actual ASSHOLE type asses) way. Also, much love to Chris for taking it all in stride, the poor dear. ;D

<3333

ZEROES!

2007-04-28T11:46:00.000+08:00

Part 1

Part 2

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!

Dexter

2007-03-18T20:55:00.000+08:00

I can finally talk about Dexter because I've gotten more than one person onto it. First it was Steve, then recently my brother finally caught on by watching it in what I think was one sitting. Now my sister's on it and she's getting Top-X onto it as well... THE BALL HAS STARTED ROLLING PEOPLE!!!

Digressing for one sentence: My mum told me that our next door neighbour (who is like in her 70s or something) also went to watch 300 and LOVED IT!

Okay, back on topic... copying & pasting with a few edits from my Multiply site:

Forensics? Serial killers? Psychological thrillers? Six Feet Under? Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel: the Series?

If one or more of these tickle your fancy, then you should check out one of the better series to be shown on Showtime since Dead Like Me.

I'm talking about Dexter.

Based on the book Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay and starring Michael C. Hall (Six Feet Under), Julie Benz (BtVS, AtS) and Jennifer Carpenter (The Exorcism of Emily Rose, White Chicks) - Dexter follows the life of Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a forensics analyst (specializing in bloodstain pattern analysis) who moonlights as a "vigilante" serial killer.

That's pretty much the gist of it.

Why is it a good watch? Well other than TV.com rating it in the top ten shows to watch (or something like that) - it's got amazing cinematography, a storyline to "die" for, twists and turns like no other TV show, ACCURATE depictions of serial killer profiling characteristics, great acting, side-splitting humour and sooo much more.

If you didn't like Michael C. Hall in 6FU, don't worry because he plays a MUCH different character (if not somewhat similar in parallel ways) in the series. He's so good in fact, that he was nominated for "Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama" at the Golden Globes this year.

There's gore, there's sex, there's mystery, there's murder, there's hookers, there's prettiness, there's lots and lots of blood.

What more could one ask for? =)

The first season is only 12 episodes, but it's already been picked up for a second season which contrary to prior belief, will NOT be based on Jeff Lindsay's second novel Dearly Devoted Dexter. Instead, the story will be brand new SO YAY MORE SURPRISES I HOPE IT DOESN'T SUCK LIKE THE SECOND SEASON OF VERONICA MARS!!!!

You know you have nothing else to tide you over until the Heroes hiatus ends on April 23rd!

So get on it already! =D

300

2007-03-07T20:54:00.000+08:00

So on the subject of obsession, I've been obsessed with Grecian culture and history ever since reading The Immortal by Christopher Pike over 10 years ago. Heck, I even wrote stories about Gorgons! Then I became obsessed with it even more after reading The Spartan by Valerio Massimo Manfredi about 4-5 years ago.

Needless to say, despite my lack of graphic novel aficionado-ism, I was pissing myself in excitement when I saw the 300 trailer. Heck, any movie about Spartans just CAN'T be a bad one.

Especially not when it has Gerard Butler AND Michael Fassbender!

Hot.

Hot.

Such a lack of Michael pics on the Internet :(
You wanna see more hotness that is Michael Fassbender?
Then watch the movie, or even - season 1 and a bit of season 2 of Hex.
Mmm, naughty schoolboy leader of the Nephilim. Yum.
(He's the one with the best line in the 300 trailer!)

Back on track, 300 also introduced me (or rather, RE-introduced me...) to yet another hottie:

Lena Headey. Very hot.

Very very hot.

So I got to go to the premiere last night (Thanks Vivian!), and though the ending speech left much to be desired (bloody uncharismatic David Wenham I swear, I don't care if you're Australian, go back to Middle Earth stupid Faramir!), the entire movie as a whole was simply amazing! Everything from pre-production to post-production (and hey, anybody who uses Nine Inch Nails in their trailer is a winner in my book!)

I could not imagine having to project that much enthusiasm, stay in character and just FEEL the story when all I have to work with are props and a blue screen.

Oh, and also cos I'd be too distracted by all the hotness. In addition to the previously mentioned hotness, Tom Wisdom and Rodrigo Santoro (yes, even as Xerxes) deserve mentions as well.

Hot.
(lolz watermark all over Tom - sorry, my Photoshop is broken.)

Hot.

Hot.

Yum yum!

My obsession has come full circle to the point I've been looking at tour groups online to visit Greece.

Mykonos, Delos, Delphi, Thermopylae... here I come!!!

The travesty of the music industry today

2007-01-19T17:18:00.000+08:00

A few minutes ago, Stephen and myself were flipping between MTV and [V] to see what pathetic music has been unleashed upon the masses lately (mind you, I never pay attention to TV or radio anymore ever since I left that industry last year due to this very reason, among others).

After being apalled by terribly named new programmes that shall go unmentioned, a VERY familliar beat came on as a new video played on MTV...

I thought "That sounds like Manson's version of Tainted Love... but... it's not... it's...." and Stephen completed for me - "OMG IT'S DEPECHE MODE!!!!"

Only... it wasn't.

It was a bastardisation of one of the best songs in the world - Personal Jesus by one of my FAVOURITE BANDS EVER, DEPECHE MODE!

I hope you get many royalties

You see... it was JAMELIA with some shit song called "Beware of the Dog". Not only was she sampling a Depeche Mode song, she was sampling the cover version of it by Marilyn Manson!!!

Ask anyone, I am a fan of covers. I can even tolerate sampling of a few songs.

But hey, when you rip off the idea from another artist who had a big hit - what does that make you?

A DISGUSTING DUMBASS

Some of you may recall a certain Barbados beauty named Rihanna who came out with that catchy and sexy song S.O.S. sometime last year - sampling Tainted Love (the Soft Cell version mind you).

Yum

Surely you remember that sexy beat, those suggestive dance moves... all of which were blatantly copied in Jamelia's video!!!

Ew

How ironic that she ripped off the video style, the sampling of a popular 80's song, AND chose a song that was also covered by Marilyn Manson (as he covered Tainted Love a few years ago).

<3

*shakes head*

Words cannot express how apalled and disgusted I was - and for so many valid reasons.

1) Sampling a contemporary cover instead of the original, then ripping off the style of song and video from someone else.

2) Singing "Reach out and touch me" in replacement of "Reach out and touch faith" - can you say blasphemous? I swear, I threw up in my mouth. A LOT.

3) Being a pom - she loses by default with this.

To further "illustrate" why this is the poster child for how shocking the music industry is today, let me enlighten you suckers out there who might think "Wow that song is really funky" and also you other dumbasses who might be just a tad smarter and go "Nah that song is sampled - that's Personal Jesus by Marilyn Manson!"

TAKE A LOOK...

Exhibit A: S.O.S. by Rihanna

Exhibit B: Beware of the Dog by Jamelia

Exhibit C: Personal Jesus by Marilyn Manson

And for historical sake...

Tainted Love by Marilyn Manson

Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode

Conclusion

Yes, beware of the dog... the one named Jamelia.

About bloody time

2006-03-05T12:14:00.000+08:00

YES! YES! YES!!!!

Gacked from OhNoTheyDidn't:

'Charmed' a Casualty of WB-UPN Change
Mar 3, 4:06 PM (ET)

NEW YORK (AP) - The spell is broken. The witches on "Charmed" won't be making the move when the WB network combines forces with UPN to become the CW network in the fall.

A WB spokesman confirmed a TV Guide report on Friday that said the supernatural series, which stars Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan and Holly Marie Combs, will end after eight seasons in May.

With "7th Heaven" having already announced its exit, it means that two WB long-running series won't move to the CW. The WB and UPN will both shut down in September.

The final episode of "Charmed" will air on May 21, TV Guide said.

"It's been a hell of a run," Brad Kern, executive producer, told the magazine. "But all good things must come to an end."

Source

Hilarity ensues

2005-12-05T22:45:00.000+08:00

I was in Midvalley today when I bumped into AshyBashy who's back from New York. What's up with the "Let's meet up" messages on blogs, then suddenly bumping into them anyway on some random outing? If it saves me that much planning, I should go around to all my friends' blogs and say we should meet up, then I'd surely randomly bump into them while I'm out with someone else. Two birds, one brick. Hoo-ah!

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I love Flash animated films. Especially when they're random, a little sick and absolutely hilaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarious. My #1 Flash aficionado, aside from my boyfriend, would be David Firth of Salad Fingers fame. For your convenience, I've provided links! (Click the animations ffs!)

'Spoons'

'Friends'

'Nettles'

'Cage'

'Picnic'

'Present'

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My new interest right now though, is Ken McIntyre. I don't know if he has much out yet, but his animation is amazing and Super Retarded Dog = Buh-LAH-Dee FAR-NEE!!!!!!!!!

The Adventures of Super Retarded Dog #001

Check it all out, people!

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I really need to get Steve onto Nip/Tuck seasons 1 and 2 so I can continue watching the ongoing Season 3. It's a good thing I would NEVER mind re-watching any Nip/Tuck episodes. *cough* I think we'll started on Season 1 tonight. ^_^