Movie Review: The Princess and the Frog

Verdict: Brings back your childhood memory - it's a good move that Disney would do the animation a la classic way.

Forget about those stunning 3D effect that is so common in the cartoon/animation nowadays.

This movie will remind you of Lion King, Aladdin or Beauty & the Beast - where visual effect is not the 'main course' of the movie.

The story is good - even it's a twisted version of the original one.

But I'm impressed with how smooth the modified version goes - and I'm truly satisfied with the ending too.

And I like the OST too! It matches the movie well and really augmented the feel of the story.

So I would expect more quality product like this from Disney and others.

Rating: 9/10

MV: Meet Me Halfway

It's BEP, and it's quite catchy.

Fergie is hot, as usual.

Ad Day#28.10: "Melt"

If you feel cold, this is exactly the ad you need to watch!!

Epica Awards 2009
Non-alcoholic drinks category, Gold medal
Agency (& City): Ogilvy France (Paris)

Ad Day#28.9: "Ski"

It's simple, low (or no) cost but funny ad - FYI, the guy is doing the 'imaginary ski'

Epica Awards 2009, Alcoholic Drinks category
Bronze medal
Agency (& City): Demner, Merlicek & Bergmann (Vienna)

Ad Day#28.8: "Trailer"

I like this low cost, effective but imaginative ad :)

Epica Awards 2009, Parmalat Low Fat Milk, "Trailer"
Dairy Products category, Gold medal
Agency (& City): Publicis Milan Srl

Ad Day#28.7: "But..."

Although one fact isn't correct (that football was invented by English),

It's interesting to see French "praising" the English.

Epica Awards 2009,
Food category Gold medal
Agency (& City): FRED & FARID PARIS

Ad Day#28.6: "Lyrics"

I like it cos it's cute and it's a Beatles' song!

Alcoholic Drinks category
Bronze medal
Budweiser, "Lyrics"
Agency (& City): DDB LONDON

Ad Day#28.5: "Tunnel"

An effective way to show that Aspirin and let you 'see the light at the end of the tunnel'

Toiletries & Health Care category - Gold
Tunnel, "Aspirin Tunnel"
Agency (& City): BBDO Duesseldorf

Ad Day#28.4: "Set Theory"

Interesting way


To make use of set theory


And inform you that they'll cover you for such an incident

Financial Services category - Gold
DEVK insurance, Set Theory "Coincidence", "Security guy" & "Driver"
Agency (& City): Grabarz & Partner (Hamburg)

Ad Day#28.3: "We'll Do Anything"

Be it fixing the cowbell


Cleaning the mountain

Ironing the flag.. (this one made me laugh)

That's what Swiss would do to welcome the tourists... ya right :P

Transport & Tourism category - Bronze
SWISS TOURISM, "We'll Do Anything" Campaign
Agency (& City): SPILLMANN/FELSER/LEO BURNETT, Zurich

Ad Day#28.2: "Barcode"

A creative way


to make use of barcode

to symbolise their food.

Just like barcode, McDonald's seems like .. part of our life too?

Quite sickening to think of that, in details, sometimes.

Food category - Bronze
McDonalds, "Barcode" Campaign
Agency (& City): Heye Group GmbH

Buah Salak

Ok, my finger nail, I know...

Salak is quite a special kind of fruit (?)


Though not my cup of tea (or basket of fruits) but it's interesting to try this sour fruit, which claims to be good for dieting.

Thanks to my colleague, Hasaniah for the fruit :)

Keep Yourself Warm

Well, Emoody Sr did it, so me, as an important bear (who was the lead singer in the song "If I Have 100Mbps") should do the same thing too.


But the scarf is quite heavy.

And I'm officially the "hot bear"!! :-3

Emoody

The frequent emo had taken its toll.

Two days ago we had a shocking (actually I predicted it) news - Emoody was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Actually since day 1 i met him I knew something went wrong.

He always said that he had a lot of friends, doing all kind of activities/business - and any topic you talk about, he's able to come up with the statement "yah, i used to have a friend who's expert in this" (Colleen and Trevor know it very well, ask them)

And last time I blogged about him in this post, I really suspected it cos there was once he had a slip of tongue that after the 'store room' incident, he didn't trust his friends anymore.


We scanned his brain, and found something seriously wrong.

Emoody admitted himself that he had actually developed imaginary friends since the "Store room incident" - cos he can't stand loneliness and yet he didn't trust his friends.


But we are true friends so of course we'll help him.

Recovery is in the progress (it'll take two months) and one of the way is to give him a 'wrestling massage' - the best person/bearson/bear to do it would be none other than his uncle, Emoody Sr.

All the best to his recovery.

Happy (Super Belated) Birthday, Sebastian

We have always forgotten this poor bear's birthday

His birthday was on 11 Sept. He's my brother and he's 6 years old this year.

But we have always forgotten to wish him Happy Birthday.

The good news is, at least we wished it in year 2009 (even though it's the last day of 2009)

Joke of the Day

I'm talking about the shirt, not my sister

It would be so wrong if the wording is at the front, with a woman wearing it.

It'd be interesting to know who came up with the motto, and putting it on a shirt.

And no, I'm not sexist.

Chapter 6.48: Team Lunch

Paradise Hotel, looks nice only in this picture, to be frank :P


So we had team lunch earlier this Decemeber (10/12/2009)

This time it's somewhere near our work place so we had our lunch at a more relaxed mood.

Their Thai food is ok but it's the team gathering that counts.

Review: Pho Hoa Restaurant, The Curve

I've always thought this Vietnamese restaurant is a hidden little treasure @ The Curve.

The beef noodle isn't bad, this chicken steak/fillet (forgot) rice isn't bad.. overall not bad.

Tried twice and am satisfied with it - at a reasonable price, too.


However, their painting on the wall inevitably reminds me of communist painting in China/North Korea, in those days (and I believe still very much in common @ North Korea)

Just a thought.

Rating: 3.5/5

Nak Won

Cos we were late, so we were hungry, and by the time we thought of taking the photo - watermelon was the only untouched food.


Apart from being a meet up, it was also a birthday treat from me and Aileen for Carol - who's apparently very obsessed with her Nikon D90.

Kim Chi soup with Mackerel fish
Pork BBQ
Chicken BBQ
1x bibimbap
3 x green tea

at only RM126.

Worth it.

Chapter 6.47: Goodbye 2009!

Managed to complete the tool on time (last week, actually)

And managed to send out the invitation for some introduction thingy.

Having said that, my first week of year 2010 would be very busy already.

And I thank year 2009 to make me a more matured employee.

And the manager too, for giving me the freedom to do things our own way.

(OK, it's a polite way to say I'm quite a disciplined employee, too.. hahaha perasan-ing)

Thanks!

Review: Jack n Jill Unagi Flavoured Potato Chips

No next time, free only will consider

I guess they've got the idea from McDonald's shake shake fries

But unfortunately, the flavoring didn't give the 'unagi' smell - what I smell is still the normal potato chips.

And the amount of chips they give is really pathetically few.

With the price of RM4++ , all I can say is - get others, definitely not this and no next time.

Rating: 1.5/5

Vegetarian Hainanese Chicken Rice

Last week went to have this vegetarian lunch with Ian.

So lunch of the day was vegetarian Hainanese chicken rice.

Taste not bad, but both of us agreed on one thing - the chili sauce was good.

Haha!!

Nando's

Last week, "family platter" again with Ian.


VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY FULL

Btw, I love their peri fries

And I drank 5 glasses of iced lemon tea.

But no next time for year 2010.

Healthy lifestyle is needed, mate.

Fast Food

In fact, apart from being bad for health, the packaging etc creates a lot of pollution, too.

(So that's why I used the french fries' packaging to fill up the chili sauce, excuses, I know)

So the best is, reduce the intake of fast food.

Less bad health cases & less pollution

Otak-Otak Place

They tried their best to make the nostalgic feel.


But their food is really so so only.

Nothing to shout about.

Some marks for their creativity (on both making nostalgic feel & making variety of otak-otak food)

But that's it.

Rating: 2.5/5

Good Bye, 2009

This is the last on-the-way-to-work photo in year 2009.

It has been a really really really really really really great year.

Work life - I managed to balance it really well.

And I MANAGED TO CONQUER MOUNT KK WITH NOT-SO-GOOD CONDITION!

WON TWO LAPTOPS! (2.5 laptop actually, cos another half was... sort of.. my idea?)

And met someone who was able to make me really happy in the past two months...

And it's a year that I've seen (thru) many things, be it happy or sad - which made me to understand even more about human behavior, how human take things for granted, how human thought they are great while actually they are not... etc

All in all, a year that I couldn't ask for more.

But it gives me the momentum to seek for an even meaningful years ahead.

I'd like to thank family, friends and colleagues who were part of my 2009 memories.

I LOVE YOU ALL (a la MJ style, RIP, MJ)

Goodbye 2009 and HELLO 2010!
Thanks 2009 and Welcome 2010!

Saman

Two days ago, on the way home saw a bus stopped by JPJ and the bus driver was given summon.

We (me and my sis) didn't have to ask the JPJ also can know what's going on - the heavily smoked bus was the answer.

Yep, very dark at the back of the bus.

And seriously, can those motorcyclist service their motorcycles so that they don't pollute the air?

It's dirty and hot enough in KL.

MV: Two Is Better Than One

Though it's a pop song, I like it.

My sis says it's sweet.

It's true :)

Fried Rice

To me, fried rice is the benchmark for dai chow.

Whichever restaurant that can make good fried rice means they can cook good dai chow.

This morning my mum made the vegetarian fried rice (with egg) because she didn't put meat so she put extra eggs.

Oh the smell and taste was so good :)

Although my mum seldom cooks dai chow, she is still a good cook

Thanks mum.

15 Minutes..

Was the time needed to drive to office today - contrary to 1 hour++ needed on normal days.

1 more day to enjoy this.

Forever

So there was one day me and my sister heard the song "Wannabe" by Spice Girls on the radio.

One of the phrase was "Make it last forever friendship never ends.."

My sis: "Yah, and Spice Girls do not exist anymore"

MV

I hope by year end (er, which is now) I can finish an MV

No storyboard created yet
Music selected 2 months ago
It's a bit long so I'll still need to edit it.

Year 2009 has been great so far, I hope this MV can summarise everything in my mind.

See You Later

Yesterday, I saw my sister surfing net boliao-ly, I asked her "eh, let's go massage later lo"

She agreed.

Yep, that's the random us.

Ok, talk about the main topic:

While enjoying the massage, there's a couple leaving - the masseur lady told them "See you later"

and the guy responded "see you later"

It'll be interesting to know what's in the girl friend's mind.

If any. (or i'm just simply thinking too much)

Ad Day#28.1: Epica Awards 2009

This year's Epica Award is short of excitement - it didn't have much 'wow' factor as last year's

Film ad of the Year: T-Mobile - "Dance"
Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi, London


The "Flash mob" concept is cool (lots of practices need to be done, of course), but somehow I don't find it that amazing



Press ad of the Year: Dank! - "Torn"
Agency: DDB&Co. Istanbul




It's a good (& getting attention) way to show the 'discounted' item - not bad :-)



Outdoor Ad of the Year: Citroёn, "Cornering Lights"
Agency: Euro RSCG Düsseldorf

I find this one cool - cornering light + Citroёn logo - couldn't be better!

Keeping Warm

Emoody Sr showing exactly how to keep yourself warm

You know, if you are in winter country (FYI, I was from Oslo, Norway) you should have experienced the coldness by now.

My friend in Norway told me that it's really cold (-4C°)

However, we bears have enough of fats so we don't quite need those winter clothing.

We don't have our own currencies so don't even mention about shopping.

One of our method to keep warm (save energy) is to hibernate.

However I understand human doesn't hibernate, so Emoody Sr agreed to be a model for putting the scarves. (and because his size is like a 2 year old human baby, too)

So there you go, one of the way to keep warm.

I'm Back

You may notice the absence of me from the blogging world.

Yes, I was away for a short stay in a new friend's place - Jen.

26/11/2009 - Before I left Trevor


26/12/2009 - Went shopping in 1Utama (I somehow thought if the 1Malaysia got the idea from this shopping complex) with Trevor & Colleen

So I'm back.

And I heard that Emoody had sort of replaced my role for Trevor & Colleen - that young little no manners bear!

Oh ya, thanks Jen for the kindness and intro-ed me others McD bears (another new clan of bears)

Video: Tick Tock

So this song by Ke$ha was quite a frequent play on Hitz.fm

Another clubbing-esque song that I like...somehow :-)

Happy Birthday, Francesco!

Big ROI with this bear (photo taken with the HP laptop webcam that he won)

He turns 8 today, it's been a long time.

And this year he helped me to win a Macbook Air and a HP laptop!

He is definitely worth the investment (RM9.90 from IKEA, in 2001)

New Book

Sounds like multi-level marketing, though

Emily intro-ed me about this book.

I bought it two weeks ago, the shipment info told me I'm gonna get it next year (mid Jan, actually)

But well, it arrived yesterday!

It's just in time for a Christmas present for myself :0)

Merry Christmas!

Empty

Found this song by The Cranberries, which was one of my favorite back in standard 6.

Found the chord as well, the main being Am C G Em - pretty easy to play and sing along as well..

Surprisingly, I can reach the key!

Haha

Hence the cover version of it ;)

Download

Lyrics:
Something has left my life
And I don't know where it went to
but..Somebody caused me strife
And it's not what I was seeking

Didn't you see me, Didn't you hear me
Didn't you see me standing there Oh..

Why did you turn out the lights
Did you know that I was sleeping

Say a prayer for me--
Help me to feel the strength I did
My identity, has it been taken
Is my heart breakin, on me--

All my plans, they fell through my hands
They fell
Through my hands, on me---
All my dreams, it suddenly seems
It suddenly seems
Empty

Big Plate Restaurant

It's been a while since I last visited this restaurant.

And today, since my colleagues are around, we decided to visit this place.

This is the 'Klang Steak' I ordered - RM26.50.

The size - well I put my pendrive on the plate for comparison - go figure.


My colleague ordered lasagna - RM12.50 which has almost the same size as his face

That lives up its name - Big Plate.

Cash only. Taste good.

Music

I notice that the English music lately has the 'clubbing' element in it i.e. synthesizer effect etc

So, that means the rap era is almost gone (yep, even the rap music also has the 'clubbing' element now, just take Akon for example)

Which is good cos the 'clubbing' music promotes happiness, whereby those rap music often touches about sorrow, the hate, the money, the drugs, the sex... those not so positive stuff.

However, I don't club but I guess I can still feel the happiness from the music that I listen to.

So ya, music can affect a person's mood, no matter what.

If Only You Get What I Mean III

Title: If Only You Get What I Mean III
Music: 2009
Lyrics: 2009

Short note: I actually finished the music early this year and the lyrics around July... but there's no time to record it... time to clear some backlog to move on ;)

Song was recorded on a laptop without any mastering software.. so the quality is not as good.

Download

Lyrics:
Of all the songs you sing,
Of all the signs you preach,
Of all the bloods you bleed.

I will try all I can to feel.

Of all the charms you give,
Of all the lies you speak,
Of all the prize you greed,

I will try all I can to disdain.

How many thought, how many soul, how many feeling seized for all?
How many holes, how many blues, that you did without surprise?
Will I be fine?
Yeah I'll be fine, you're the best thing in my life.

You made it up,
You tore me down
You were the best part of life I saw thru the window.
You said 'It's done'
You faked it up,
You were the air that I breathe,
Song that I sing,
You were all that I need.
You're the end of my sleep.

You were all I believed in,
You were the best of my dream.

Chapter 6.46: Programming

Isn't it fun to do something that you did last time?

I guess I'm just hyper-nerd, sometimes.

Or you may argue that it's 'all the time'

冬至

My traditional mum tried something unconventional -_-

It's Winter solstice today, according to Chinese calendar.

The Chinese (southern China's descendant, to be exact) would normally eat Tangyuan on this day.

So, my mum tried something different this year:

1）Pink colour Tangyuan was replaced by the purple colour one - made from dragon fruit (??!)(and it's not sweet at all)

Palm reading Tangyuan making session

2) The soup - she used gula melaka. The colour is strange already (but gives me an idea to try Tangyuan in Coke next time :P) and yet not that sweet.
Her reason was "sweet ah, why wanna eat so sweet?"

But I'm not complaning, mum :)

冬至快樂！

S

19/12/2009 - Tasty but... small

Yes, if you can read the S-shape strawberry sauce - it means small.