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.
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.
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)
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!
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.
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)
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)
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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'
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！
Been listening to Oasis record lately. Still feel pity that they disbanded few months ago.
This is a great song from their fifth album - Heathen Chemistry.
Though the video isn't that great :-/
The song "月亮代表我的心" (The classic Chinese song "The Moon Represents My Heart") may not be that romantic after all.
1) When there's new moon - there's nothing that can represent your heart, cos there'll be no moon. No heart, actually.
2) Half moon - you are only giving your half heart to your love ones
3) Crescent - you only give less than quarter of your heart
Etc... all the combination you can think of.
So if you buy this song, don't blame your love one for having mood swing.
Good news is, Chinese calendar or the moon in the sky can help you to tell why the swinging (or whatever)
The jam started at the starting of highway
The fact is, the highway simply can't solve the problem.
Fix your public transport, Malaysia.
Been a bit off beat this morning -_-
Managed to clear the email but still in the 'state of floating'
It's like... staring at the screen but ignoring what I'm supposed to do.
Most likely it's cos I haven't been working for the past 5 days :P
But well, the fact that I could write this post means that I'm clearer than before.
扮猪上山
It's a combination of
扮猪吃老虎 (act pig eat tiger - or, means you purposely act like a dumbo to protect yourself/attack more effectively- something like that)
&
上得山多终遇虎 (You'll see tiger one day if you always go to hill - means, you'll get it if you often take the risk)
So, the combined meaning - the meaning is totally different:
If you wanna take the risk(上山), take it effectively (扮猪) - so that it'll become your total advantage
Broccoli.. or whatever
I went to FRIM this morning. It's been a while since I last did this timed training i.e. the climbing trip of the small little hill in that area (about 1000feet high)
A little history:
23/06/2008 - 21min 15secs
06/07/2008 - 17min 31secs
06/08/2008 - 16min 30secs
This time, I'M SURPRISED! I thought like - well, it's been a while, and I haven't been living healthy lately...
BUT.... it took me 15min 38secs!!!
Ah, I see light for the Mulu trip :P
At least, something done before the year end, finally.
I'm on leave today, but yet, I worked in the past 2 hours.
In fact, I love to work - to clear some long overdue backlogs.
Seeing my pending tasks list finally all checked/struck, I'm happy.
In fact, in this week, I had even clear the backlog as old as 3 months -_-.
But actually, there are two major tasks that are yet to be done:
1) Documentation - f*** it cos no one cares but put it in this way, I'm still gonna get it done in the next 3 months - cos my manager wants it to be done (even so, nobody quite care - strange)
2) The little-programming-for-the-monitoring-purposes - This month is the deadline (my own deadline, cos nobody is aware about the project - a surprise plan, actually :P), of course :) I'm gonna deliver it and hopefully our team can get some long overdue compliment/appreciation - for our contribution.
With that, I shall mark the 2009 closure with no regrets.
On 25/10/2009, I was tasked to be a photographer, last minute.
I was like - "WHAT? What do you expect from a person who does random phototaking and with a small camera?"
Well, here are some selected photographs.
Before the departure (to bridge's house) (and yah, both zodiacs are Boar, if not mistaken)
I drove as a 'heng dai' and I took photo while driving.
I acted as 'heng dai', helped to open the door (the blue colour shirt one is me), and took the photo.
Was simple but still meaningful (of course)
Unknown object (at that moment, and the objects inside were creating a lot of noises)
Seeing my dad taking photo with SLR reminds me of the days in 80's & 90's - when he used to own an SLR.
It's the birds
Mission accomplished, as heng dai cum photographer - the time showed that it's almost 11AM (took the photo while driving, again)
I shouldn't take photo while driving, I know.
Only for this time :P
Verdict: Still not my cup of tea, but somehow I felt it's slightly better than the first one
I'm not gonna tell what's the story about - you can always read the wiki and also my stand on the first episode
It's pretty much the same formula, featured in the first episode - with the guys saying the most romantic stuff even though there are lots of chicks out there queuing up to be their victims.
The difference is, there is slightly more twist - with two guys complicating the situation - it's like Romeo & Juliet, with Henry (that's the first name appeared in my mind) as an 'intruder' (or whatever)
And lesser drama too (I can still remember clearly how in the first episode, Edward drove the Audi and scared the harassers away from Bella - out of nowhere - apparently he's been stalking, wasn't he? Me and my sister laughed out loud on the spot, actually)
This movie disappointed many, at least that's what I heard - which can be true cos Edward looks really like a guy with malnutrition or low blood pressure - which breaks many girls' fantasy.
But I felt the twist is better than the first.
With two more episodes to go - let's see how Bella will turn into vampire and live happily ever after.
Rating: 4.5/10
Almost 5 years with me
Dear Compaq X1075AP,
We met almost 5 years ago.
2 months after that, we went to UK - for a year plus
You were my small cinema,
You were my small concert player.
You've got a good voice, namely JBL (speaker)
You've got good drawing skill (ATi graphic cards)
You've got good mathematics skill (ah, the days when we did programming in UK)
Your physical memory (hard disk) was slightly damaged last year - and few months ago I planted a new one, transferred the recall-able memory into the new one.
However, a month ago my colleague approached me, he mentioned that he would like to take care of you.
He was sincere and so I trust him.
I know how you feel in the past half year - ever since my father adopted a new member called Dell - we spent lesser time with you.
Therefore, since there's a guardian who's willing to take care of you - I have to let go.
Normally, according to my reliable source, your life span is 5 years.
But I'm sure you can live longer than that.
I truly appreciate the days I had with you.
Take care & bye.
Regards,
Trevor
She's my high school friend.
Her life, so far, has been adventurous.
After the high school, she became an air stewardess.
Traveled around the world.
After a few years, she used the money she earned to further her studies.
Got distinction,
Joined an international bank.
The next thing I know, she got an offer in Singapore, and she'll leave Malaysia today.So, there's an extra job vacancy now in Malaysia
Our topics often revolve around life, relationship and job - pretty boring to many but to me, it's refreshing to share the thoughts at a deeper level - though we often have different point of views.
So, the reality is, there's one yamchar kaki lesser from my list.
But anyway, all the best to her - while she's exploring the next adventure.
I'll borrow her favorite phrase from the movie "Up"
Paging wistfully through Ellie’s adventure scrapbook, Carl finds a note from Ellie: “Thanks for the adventure,” she has written. “Now go out and get a new one!”
All the best, Emily.
It is supposed to make human's life easier - but at the same time, unfortunately, lazier.
If you choose to send email or instant message (such as MSN, Gtalk, Yahoo) rather than:
1) Walk to your colleague's cubical and discuss
2) Give a ring to the person and discuss the matter
Then here are few things you may wanna know:
1) Text messaging is one of the worst way of communication (it often leads to wrong assumption)
2) It is also a rather passive way of communication (send and wait for response?)
3) If you could talk face to face (or at least, on the phone), the message will be much clearer and you can correct each other on the spot if there's any mistake
4) If you could talk face to face, you can even illustrate the issue/matter on the spot (into diagram etc, you name it)- an even powerful way of communication
5) Text messaging is simply - slow. Just look at the process -
i) You understand/visualise the things
ii) You convert it into text
iii) You send out the message
iv) You wait for the person to respond
v) The person sees the message
vi) The person tries to visualise the text
vii) Making assumption that what he/she visualise is the same as you do
viii) Respond on your message
ix) If you find that it's incorrect, you'll make a modified version of your text, and start from step iii again.
So, my point is, email or text messaging is cheap and fast (i.e. you don't have to meet up physically, which takes time on traveling) but
Email should be used for communicating the summary of the conversation, especially in work (or at least, when there's a consensus) - if you want to seek for a lot of clarification, hold a meeting instead
Text messaging - should be used less for discussing serious matter. It's better used as soft reminder/alert.
It's all about efficiency - you don't waste my time and I don't waste yours - cos we've got better things to do in life or work.
"The last thing we wanna do, whether in heaven or hell, is to regret that 'we've been regretting a lot on earth'"
- a conversation with Emily on her 'farewell-surprise-encounter' (or whatever), on how short the life can be
I don't quite like rap music, I don't quite like Jay-Z.
But I thought he did this song well (most likely due to the soothing piano portion) - well blended with Alicia Keys' singing portion.
However, I also thought that in the video, Alicia looks like a monkey when she played piano.
I recalled a conversation with a client that I worked with - it's a casual chat.
He asked me if I have a girl friend, and I said I don't.
He asked about my age, I said I'm 25 (last year)
Then he said:
"No worries young man, I had the same situation like yours - but I was married at your age"(which is quite normal, back then)
"What I mean is, you'll find that you are 'not so attractive' in the 20s, the ladies didn't quite bother to talk to you... etc"
"But entering the 30s, if your job is good, and if you have the family that gives you the stability - that's when you'll see the ladies 'attracted' to you"
"And I can tell you, it'll be irresistible"
That, explains few things:
1) Why men after 30s can be even more flirty
2) The ladies who look for those 'stability' - are what those men in 30s or 40s can offer (regardless if they have family)
3) Men at 20s, if you find yourself 'unattractive', please work hard, at least there's a hope starting from 30s?
And the bad cycle continues.
To me, I'd say - "If there's a demand, there will be a service"
KL Tower - Reflection Edition (20/11/09)
Last month Francesco posted a photo entry called "Reflection".
I guess I should post mine, too.
Not exactly mine cos the idea was mine, but thanks to Colleen for taking the photo.
Read the wiki for more details.
Last 4 days were Fete des Lumieres, which took place in Lyon, France.
Some of the selected photo from BBC, which you can also read them in details, too.
Beautiful and fairy-tale-like, I must say.
Sometimes you might encounter cosmetic sales or clothing sales person at the counter - attending to the people who 'looks affordable' on the goods they sell.
But whatever it is, they should attend to whoever that approached them.
This is what they are paid for (the job).
So for those who look down on the people who 'have the poor look', sorry, you are paid for the service, please attend any customer that approaches you.
Two tips for them:
1) If your service is good, the customer will most likely to spread the good words and bring in potential customer for you
2) Rich people do not necessarily 'look rich' - they often say that they are poor - if you could get their trust, your reward will be more than what you see.
On Monday morning I had a rather scary dream, which I think could potentially be a movie script:
I was in a cellar, I was told to open the door at an appointed time.
When I opened the door (a heavy metal-built door), there was a guy standing far from me.
He started reading from a script:
"When he opened the door, the assassin approached him. He tried to close the door but the assassin managed to point the gun to his face, and killed him."
So straight after he finished reading the script, the 'announcer' killed himself with a gun.
And straight after his suicide, the assassin appeared - exactly as mentioned in the script.
I tried to close the door but the assassin was fast to block the door.
He pointed the gun at me but I managed to turned his gun to himself, and shot him dead.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Analysis & Conclusion:
There were pending issues that I had to face with people on Monday.
It's been really bad since the arrival of electronic shop and everybody was taichi-ing around and trying to make the other 'die' for 'survival'
But yah, yesterday was a rather productive day and I managed to iron out the issues.
Another Sagittarius.
And I FORGOT TO WISH HER HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
So I called her yesterday, she missed my call.
She called back, and did something for the first time in 27 years:
1) Call the person (me) and so that she can get to hear birthday wishes
2) It's a belated one some more.
3) And had to say thank you after the phone call.
To summarise: she called me, I wished her happy (belated) birthday, and she said thank you to me.
Happy (Belated) Birthday, Betty.
And sorry :P
My father told that:
The word that appears frequently in Hokkien song is 目屎 （"tears" in English)
The word that appears frequently in Malay song is Hatiku ("my heart" in English)
OK, whatever it is, I'll just take that as info.
Went to FRIM with TC & Goh earlier this morning.
They had other plan later so we were had to walked fast.
So an hour of journey took us like, 45 minutes?
After that TC said it's rather tiring.
I told her "If you come out exercise and yet you don't feel tired, what's the point of doing exercise?"
"It makes no difference with those old folks who would goyang (shake) their hands in front of the house after dinner"
Goh added "And yet they'll say it's tiring enough"
I concur. :)
Last day for voting! Please V-O-T-E!!!
(OK, since last post was rather lengthy, too much info or details, a shorter version here)
1) Click here to go to Mister Potato's website
2) Go to "Gallery Page" of "The #1 Mister Potato Contest"
3) Vote for etee27 @ Page#7
Simple, isn't it?
Thanks!
Verdict: Soothing (but somehow, sad) 'popchestra' music. Solid performance by the duo and Icelandic Symphony Orchestra
Tracklisting:
01. Malmo Livs
02. For you and I
03. Not going anywhere
04. Sailor and Widow
05. One more trip
06. Ghost from the past
07. Where no endings end
08. Liberty
09. The world is gray
10. Inside
11. Que n'ai-je
12. Forward and reverse
13. Run in the morning sun
OK, I like all the tracks.
Not only I thought the music is carefully crafted with the orchestral pieces (hence pop + orchestra = popchestra), and FYI, this is a live album.
A little bit of the background - This also is an orchestral version of some of the individual compositions by Keren Ann & Barði Jóhannson with the orchestral pieces performed by Icelandic Symphony Orchestra. You may wanna check out their original version (I've listened Keren's acoustic version of "Not Going Anywhere" which made me appreciate more of this orchestral version)
It's a live performance and the performance + sound quality is superb.
But that also comes with the irritating part - after each and every track, it is also complimented with the audience applause - which is quite a drawback for the overall listening experience.
Yes, I, for one, would strongly suggest them to record a studio version.
You'll have cinematic feel with the first track, Malmo Livs, followed by a rather gray song, For You and I.
Situation turns a bit better with Not Going Anywhere, then a cheerful Sailor and Widow - before it turns into gray mode again.
It gets darker with: One more trip, Ghost from the past, Where no endings end
Sun rises again with Liberty, before the Nordic whines about The World is Gray.
Situation stayed the same with Inside & Que n'ai-je, and reached its worst with Forward and Reverse (check out the lyrics, and tell me if it can make your day)
(FYI, my sister likes this song and the whole album too, and she loves especially the orchestral part in the middle of that track.)
Finally, dawn is coming (again) with Run in the Morning Sun
So, even though it's a rather gray album, but it's nice to listen to.
As for the applause part - even though it's annoying, I would take it as a benchmark of the performance. The three minutes (a lot longer in real cos, it's too much?) of non-stop applause in the last track, by the audience tells a lot if they appreciated this performance.
A studio version will be all I ask for, after all.
Rating: 9.5/10
(This page will stay on top till the contest ends)
If you like it, please vote for her!
So my sil (sister in law) (well, I call her this cos she calls me brother in law) (and her love is my sister -_- ) (she's not lesbian, btw) (too much info i know) Emily took part in this contest - and I felt she did it brilliantly!
However, I understand that the 'road' to voting is kinda...winding, so I'll just post a step by step guide:
1) Click here to go to Mister Potato's website
2) In the main page, click on "The #1 Mister Potato Contest"
3) Under "The #1 Mister Potato Contest" page, click on "Gallery Page"
4) Click on page #7 (yes, skip all others' pages cos time is precious for you and I)
5) Under page#7, click on etee27
6) You'll see a pop up window, click on the vote button.
7) Enter the Captcha code shown, and click submit button
And that's it!
I know the road is winding, but please support her talented work ;) (it's a camwhoring work, just FYI)
Thanks!
I dreamed that I couldn't get my HP laptop - which will happen tomorrow.
Reason being I've lost the bottle label (which contains the code required for contest entry)
I couldn't find my bottle and my family (especially my mum and my sis) claimed that they didn't keep it.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Analysis & Conclusion:
1) Sometimes, my mum does keep the things for the spoiled kids cos we are still messy in her eyes :P
2) I still couldn't sell the MacBook Air cos the buyer changed her mind in last minute! Hence the 'lost' feeling translated into this dream.
Took this on the way to work, near my house (to the uncle behind my car: yah, you must have felt strange why I slowed down my car, and if you read my blog, this is the reason)
From near to far: Under construction, Old construction, Newly constructed... and (beautiful but gloomy) sky.
Again, isn't that summary of life?
(Hahaha enough of sentimental post already!! Proper post next :P)
I went to have lunch with my colleague.
We wanted to go to the Iranian restaurant beside our office (oh FYI, they raised the price from RM10 per Kebab rice to RM11, on their "Special Promotion" leaflet -_- ) but today, I dunno why, they hired a singer and he was singing love songs.
While "Leaving On the Jet Plane" was performed so romantically by the performer, I looked at my (male) colleague and said "It'll be so wrong if we dine here"
So we went to food court (now, finally, here comes the main content) and I had nasi kukus.
FYI it's nice and they have top, if not the second highest business sales among other counters.
Camwhore session, 31/10/09, My house
Whom I know for 22 years, is getting even prettier by years (or she'll ask 'means i was ugly last time?' if i say 'she's getting prettier nowadays')
I spent a lot of time living with this chick.
There's no question that I love her.
And she's the person whom I allow others to love her - especially her mother and her mother's husband.
Yep. She's my sister. Turned 22 years old, two days ago.
And just another short story:
I told my sister that I love the photo above, cos our faces are in similar size.
Her respond: Shallow.
Thanks but happy birthday again!
30 Days left for the rest of year.
It has been great so far - couldn't ask for more.
I've just checked my 'business commitment' in my job (yah, I'm not doing business but there's this somethg called business commitment in my work -_- ) - I'm supposed to handover something!!!!
And the tool is still half-baked.
Yah, need to bring back some old memory of programming - expect more white hairs too :P
And ops, I forgot to bring headphone again.
Guess I'm gonna play the music in my head for the rest of the days.
