Sunday, November 30, 2008

New toy! Merry Christmas!



Been lusting after this ever since I saw WALL-E ... hehe ... what's the connection? Just so I could watch my favourite movie of the year on Blu-ray! Placed my order for WALL-E, Kungfu Panda, Ratatouille and Cars on Amazon just last night ... should have done so much earlier cuz *FREE* Super Saver shipping takes 5 - 7 days ... add shipping from Oregon to Singapore ... oh man, it'll be 2 weeks before I get the discs (that means tough luck for next week's long weekend!)

Oh well, at least it'll be in time for Christmas rite? Hmmm ... this is the third consecutive Xmas I've got myself electronics for Christmas (2006 - the sexy iPod Nano PRODUCT (RED) and the super duper Canon Ixus 850, 2007 - the ultra gorgeous Samsung 40-inch LCD TV and 2008 - the one that resembles the love of WALL-E's life *Eve* Ceramic White PS3 (I asked the girl if she had white in stock at SITEX where I picked it up, or else I won't be getting it! Ho ho)

For now, I'll just be content with LittleBigPlanet and F1, polishing my motor skills hehe ...

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Somebody else's phone


Nice! Posted the below straight from the website ... Somebody Else's Phone.



Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Nice ad for Buenos Aires Zoo


Great video! *sob* *sob* **APPLAUSE**



Tuesday, November 18, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICKEY & MINNIE!


My all-time idols turn 80 today!!! Long live Mickey and Minnie! Looks like you guys had a wonderful magical birthday celebration \(^__^)/







I wonder if it's a coincidence or Disney deliberately planned to release WALL-E today (^___^)

The highest level of GENIUS


Found this comment on The Pixar Blog, and wonder what does it take for a visually stunning film to have even the visually handicapped community who can see none of the images appreciate its genius?

Is there a way we can find out if the DVD or BlueRay release will have the DVS track included? I'm blind, and I love the Pixar films. If you're wondering why, it is simply the story, every time. But, this movie specifically requires description. DVS stands for Descriptive Video Service. Pixar contracts the Media Access Group at WGBH Boston to create the descriptive narration for theatrical use. It so far has never made it to a Pixar home video release, despite the begging and pleading of many of us who simply can't visibly see their genius. I would hope that they would include the descriptive track for this film if no others, simply because the entire thing short of a few scenes on the ship will be lost on a visually impaired audience.

WALL-E Bluray/DVD out TODAY!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Finally ... iPod disfigurement!


I've had my little iPod Nano (RED) for almost 2 years. Have taken great care of it for almost 2 years.

Today, it fell from my grip as I crossed the road to the Expo MRT station after work. I suppose it's not majorly damaged internally. The physical damage could have been much worse too.

Nevertheless, my poor lil iPod suffered minor bruises so it's not that perfect anymore. I guess now it's a little more like Eve after she goes on the rough and tumble with dear ol' WALL-E :)

WALL-E on Bluray and DVD tomorrow!!!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Dinner with "long-lost" family


Had family dinner today with our legendarily rich uncle and aunt whom we haven't seen in ages. Mom had wanted to visit my aunt who just had an operation for a slip disc but they invited us to dinner at Yan Palace in Chinatown, which served pretty good food - the restaurant is also well-reviewed for dim sum but we were too late for that (>.<) - before adjourning to their penthouse condo at Dunearn Road.

The condo was old although the penthouse idea's rather cool. It fell a little short of expectations anyway cuz I was imagining the type we always see in movies where the elevator opens to the living room ... oh well, not this one.

But when they mentioned their other apartment at *drumroll*
THE SAIL, whatever doubts I still had of their wealth went *poof*. That's like my dream residence! How can I ever own a unit there?!

Hmmm ... at least I can look forward to stepping into one and enjoying the view for some precious hours!

Hehe ... oh, whatever ...

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Life caching II


Oh man, is this pure coincidence or when you focus your thoughts on a certain subject, object, maybe person, everything, down to the details, becomes more apparent?

Another friend commented on the fragility of digital life caching. Isn't it even scarier when the trend into the future is toward cloud computing, when data are stored on giant servers somewhere in the world instead of on our own local drives?

Isn't it scary, or if viewed through an optimistic lens, interesting, that the "digital cloud" age may undo the purpose of life caching, bringing us back to zero?

We log significant events we have so that we can own, keep track of and impart those moments, stories and experiences to future generations. So with the convenient, accurate, wonderfully precise technology that enables us to shoot and preserve true-to-life accounts, as human nature dictates, the average person will not resist to record more.

So we're running out of local storage space or the exercise of data backup is putting a strain on our already hectic lives cuz we need to play so many roles today even though we still have the same 24 hours that the cavemen did.

So voila, "cloud computing" takes off. Google says you'll never have to delete an email again. Hotmail says we'll give you 5 more gigabytes of storage, Yahoo! says we'll match that ... when will this end?

Of course the consumers - you and I - won't complain. The more the merrier! Now I can store all my digital files on those FREE online spaces! YIPPIE!!


Yippie? Think again. How many times do we ever revisit our terabytes of photos, videos, emails, conversations, diaries ... ? Do we even remember which exist where? Are we likely to "stumble upon" any of them like my friend did upon the postcard from El Paso dated 25.08.01?

They are more likely to fade into insignificance. What we have cached will be uncached by the very act of over-caching.

Uh-huh.

Friday, November 14, 2008

He rejected Google!


He said he's been dreaming of working for this company for as long as Google existed. But when he received an offer from them yesterday to head the Latin American experience research team, he told them NO, THANKS. The reasons were he believed he still had not accomplished all that he had set out to do at his current company, and that he believed the team is full of promise and there's so much more that we could learn and achieve together.

I'm on his team. I'm inspired.

It sure takes an immeasurable amount of faith to make this decision ... what would I do if one day, just maybe, I receive a similar offer from Disney?

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Life caching


Just when I'm pondering this topic, a friend messaged, telling me that she stumbled upon a postcard from El Paso dated 25.08.01 that I sent to her. Must be that morning before the NSYNC concert. I still remember writing the postcards at Burger King, nibbling away at my BK breakfast ...

Wow. Seven long years ... over in just a blink! And now it's all coming back to me!

P.S. 25.08.08: I was in Chengdu, a very memorable day and trip.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Doesn't get any better than this ...


It's been a looooooooooooooooong looooooooooooooooooong time since I walked into office with a heavy heart but felt assured, relieved, stress-free, even happy after a talk with a motivating, inspiring, appreciative, humble team leader.

I got lots to learn. 加油慧诗!

Sunday, November 09, 2008

拍拖


Not me la ... hahaha ...

Over the weekend, found out some of my friends have found their other halves. Cause for celebration! Hehe ...

我呢? (^___^)

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

The world rejoices ...


Stock markets rallied for the first time in months today. Not just Americans rejoiced at the prospect of positive change in America.

The world rejoices with her.

By virtue of Obama's lineage, he's gained the support of many nations, continents even, around the world - Kenya and I'm sure Africa too, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia even! Haha ...

Of course, China will welcome a friend rather than one who is suspicious of her growing clout in the world's economy. India, at first split between Obama and McCain and seemed somewhat wary of Obama's earlier protectionist promises which could be detrimental to India's massively US-dependent IT outsourcing economy, may not have too much to worry about in the end as Obama would probably not opt for measures that contradict American companies' bottomlines.

So the world may rejoice for now ... this young, energetic, normal person of a President may jolly well pull it off (^__^)

OBAMA!


I don't follow the presidential election and today's the first time I saw Barack Obama speak in full, and as the President of the United States of America.

I was awed.

Not by how articulate he was or how well he delivered his first presidential speech.

Instead, I thought, "He's so normal!!!"

Here, the person I saw on the screen, is just another regular guy who could easily be that helpful neighbour or the guy in the next cubicle in the office. The subjects he talked about were mundane everyday problems which cannot be more real in the lives of millions of average Americans especially in today's economic climate.

Like Daniel said, he's a person.

By that normalcy, yes, I do believe America can finally sober up from its long years of stupor.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

The Cheng Ho Connection


I suddenly recall this conversation with my friend in Chengdu.

Friend: 我很想去马六甲走一走.
Me: 为什么呢?
Friend: 我想去看马六甲海峡啊.
Me (laugh): 马六甲海峡有什么好看的?
Friend (shrug): 就是想去看看嘛.
Me: 你下次来新加坡时,去新山就看得到了.
Friend: 还是想去马六甲看一次.

I think it's so cute that someone would want to go to Melaka just to have a a look at the Straits of Malacca. Especially since the Straits can be seen anywhere along the west coast of Peninsula Malaysia. Lol. Very cute.

Speaking of the Straits, The Little Nyonya premieres on Channel 8 this Nov 25. It's such a big-deal drama and honestly, I'm quite sick of all the promo that's been going on for months now. All the blitz is taking the impact out of the drama instead of creating hype. Personally I think the greatest impact is created when something (or for that matter, someone ) just quietly steals into your life and explodes into a million colours, butterflies and stars *****

However, I do kinda look forward to it. The drama reunites the 3 Straits States with a culture that is uniquely theirs - the Peranakan culture. Even as a Malaccan, I cannot claim that I truly know or understand this culture fully. Hopefully, the film would open my eyes!

Oh yes, it sure would in more ways than one ... heh heh ... cuz Dai Yangtian (戴阳天) plays a dashing Japanese photographer who falls in love with a Nyonya but eventually, together with his Nyonya wife, is killed by his fellow countrymen who would go on to ravage Malaysia and Singapore for 3 years and 8 months. Hmmm ... I also wonder what the actor, a Chinese national, feels being cast into the role of a Japanese who lived during WWII albeit a good one.

So ... the Straits of Malacca - the Straits States - the Little Nyonya - the little conversation that me and my friend had in Chengdu - the maiden journey of Admiral Cheng Ho to the Far East in the 15th century and his return to Malacca with the Chinese princess Hang Li Po as a gift of friendship between the Ming Dynasty and the Malay Sultanate of Melaka, the union that gave birth to the unique Peranakan race and culture. The Cheng Ho Connection. Haha ... gee ... why this sudden bout of nostalgia?

It's the rain.

Chindia: Hot 'n Numbin'?


Saw this interesting claim while researching on India.

"India's curries can be even hotter than the fieriest of Chinese hotpots; likewise the temperature of the two economies."

I'd really like to compare who goes to the max! Can India's spiciness be hot and numbing like the Chinese Sichuan hotpots? Gosh ... if you accidentally bite into a 花椒 (pepper - those seeds floating in the seething broth - lethal!), it's really no joke!

A380 in the Sky


If I wait, no matter how long I wait, it'll not appear.

But once I'm not keeping tabs, I see it not once, but twice.

Yesterday, saw two A380 land in the space of an hour. Think they're from London and Tokyo.

I was once again disappointed, like when I first steppd into its cabin in June. The jumbo airliner is indeed overhyped. Or so I feel.

Flying in the sky, it's not as monstrous or jaw-dropping as I'd anticipated. Just a double-decker plane the size of a normal one. In fact, it looked overweight and clumsy compared to the sleek aerodynamic body of a regular 747.

Oh well, maybe I'm increasingly stuck in the past. I'm becoming an old fogey.


P.S. WALL-E comes out Nov 18 v(^_^)v