Archive for January, 2008

Posted on January 31, 2008 - by Abner

Dong Dong Chiang

Been so up in the clouds lately with the holiday season round the corner. Nah… been a little busy at work and lazy of course.

Am having a holiday tomorrow for I work in KL area. Yippie… and I will be on leave for the Lunar New Year till the 12th of February and am definitely dragging my overslept and overfed ass back to work on the eve of Valentines. My New Year is always the same.
First day – temple, go to my Mum’s mum’s house after lunch
Second day – spend a night there and leave after lunch, dinner with my dad’s side
Third day – eat, sleep, tv, talk – repeat
Fourth day – repeat third day and goes on

I don’t like to go visiting. Hate the idea of repeating the same things to the aunties, uncles and friends. All we talk is about the weather, work, marriage bla bla and bla. When all is said and done, lingering moments will be focused on the TV showing bloody old reruns of decade old movies. Even if it’s new, it would suck. After littering their floor with crumbs of tidbits and a growing mountain of can/box drinks, we pat our booty and leave. Oh yeah… not forgetting getting well deserved red packets. This is the time where the cheeky/funny/stale comments comes in eg. Hope next year you will be handing out red packets or something similar. Give a deadpan remark and just muster up a curve. Leave and don’t look back.

But I enjoy the holidays though, as this will be the time that I get to hang around home for longer than 2 days. I missed home cooked food and I get to once again annoy the shit out of my siblings. Reliving a little of the good o’ days. Can’t think of much now for my mind is occupied with the lazing days ahead. Oh geez… I will be organizing… I mean my housemates and I will be having a BBQ for a group of 20 plus. Tomorrow will be a busy day for all of us. From getting our breakfast to shopping for stuff, cleaning, preparation and having fun. Let’s hope it don’t rain and the neighbours don’t complain too much. Especially the newly wed pricks. Here is a middle finger to them first… just in case.

Speaking of vulgarity… have any of you caught wind of some young asian celebrities sex romp scandal? I shall not elaborate on my blog but you guys can check it out at the links below. Hell… let’s name names. It’s leading actor is Edison Chen while there are nearly two handfuls of supporting actresses. The ones shown are Gillian Chung and Bobo. Rumors have it that Jolin Tsai, Elva, Maggie Q and Cecilia Chung are also involved. What a way to “ush ush”er in the New Year. But anyway I don’t think it will affect them for too long. In this case… the photos. Can’t say the same for videos though. Just wait and see.

Warning : Definitely NFSW materials.
Source 1 | Source 2

Posted on January 25, 2008 - by Abner

Rodrigo Y Gabriela

They used to be in a heavy metal band together. Now it’s just down to two of them. If remembered correctly they went to to play in the streets and somehow managed to get to play with Damian Rice. And the rest is history. Will update if I have the chance.

Tamacun

How was it? Ready for more adrenaline rush from acoustic guitar?
(more…)

Posted on January 24, 2008 - by Abner

MP3 Nanum – A WorldVision & GS Caltex Project

Am not a tech freak but I always have a soft spot for simple and cool gadgets. Haha… don’t we all. Nearly. The Koreans are really outdoing themselves in for the past few years, in the entertainment, fashion, design and technology industry and it catches on and spreads like wildfire. This is the second MP3 player I want to share and it’s the Nanum™. The first being Disney’s Mplayer.

Sounds eerily similar to the Apple’s Ipod Nano though but with a whole different cause. I have no idea what Nanum means, it might be something in Korean or it could be a play of words. Anyway this MP3 player is now a part of WorldVision’s project. WorldVision is an international relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice, the place where you can find the Sponsor-A-Child Program. With the 1Gb Nanum, they are hoping to raise more funds to help the kids. It’s produced, manufactured and distributed with the sole purpose of giving and sharing. All profits goes to charity 100%. The sites are in Korean so I am not able to get more information. I downloaded 2 free MP3s on the Nanum WolrdVision sponsored site, one of them is a Christmas medley in Korean. 귀여워 (GiYoWo) I think that’s cute in Korean. Loads more photos there.

You might want to have a look at Nanum WV | Nanum GS

Update
The design company involved in this is ID+IM, explaining the insignias printed on the MP3 Nanum. ID+IM means I Design Therefore I Am. This should be home to Prof. Samgmin Bae, the head designer I suppose. Correct me if I am wrong.

Several names are given to this MP3 player it seems. Some called it Nanum, ID+IM called it their Nanoom Project and the linkage on WorldVision is Nanuum. Duh…

Posted on January 22, 2008 - by Abner

Andy McKee Fingers His Way Up

Are you laid back on your chair? Don’t get too comfortable yet as I am sure you will slouch forward for a better look. Just watch Andy McKee play with your eyes wide open. Blast those speakers/headphones and leave the mouth ajar.

Drifting

More about Andy’s phenomenal presence online at BillingsGazette

He plays the fingerstyle guitar, that I am quite certain but the mixture of the thumping and tapping and all… I am not so sure what they call it. Awaits enlightenment. Further reading told me that its called Percussive fingerstyle. There’s a duo that plays like this too who have been my fave acoustic players since last year. Will post them on Friday.

Andy is here to welcome the announcement of a new gazetted public holiday for Kuala Lumpur tomorrow. Encore!

Posted on January 21, 2008 - by Abner

Love-Box Copenhagen

Can you guess what it is? No… it’s not sweets. Would have given you some pathetic marks if you said chewing gum though. But not close enough.
The design is quite cool eh. It’s a tin can and that means you won’t need to chuck it away after the contents are exhausted. Still unable to make heads or tails of it?
Read on… (more…)

Posted on January 21, 2008 - by Abner

Bullied By A Mouse

Just to steal some of your time.

Posted on January 18, 2008 - by Abner

I Discovered A Waiter’s Blog

I am so hooked on his blog WaiterRant that I have to read a few of his posts daily over the past week. He is in a phase or should I say evolving from a waiter into a writer. Mmm… that’s not right. He is a writer who waits on table to make ends meet. Er… should be half right. Enjoy his life experiences and his humorous remarks. No… he is not those spitting-into-your-soup type of waiter as far as I know. Been feeding off his blog during my lunch break for the past week. He has been my lunch buddy making me enjoy my polystyrene lunch takeouts and occasionally making me gag myself with muffled chuckles.

Ok… here is one of his post made in January 2007. It’s titled Porn Demon and I hope that the title will entice any of you, you-know-who, to read on to discover his story telling talent. It might not be his best but the title is well, engaging.

Porn Demon
Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007

It’s a Thursday night and I’m having a martini at Cafe American. On my way over I walked past The Bistro. It was the first time I’d seen the place since I left. As I peeked though the restaurant’s front window a weird sensation churned in my gut. It was the same feeling I had driving past my boyhood home after my parents sold it and the new owners moved in. I could see the usual wait staff running food and chatting with customers. If anyone saw me they didn’t let on. The Bistro looked busy. It also looked like the dark side of the moon.

“So,” Arthur, the cafe’s bartender says, “You’re not working at the Bistro anymore.”

“How long did it take for that news to travel the waiter grapevine?” I ask.

“About thirty minutes.”

“That fast?”

“No one’s surprised you left,” Arthur says. “They’re just surprised it took so long.”

“No one’s more surprised than me,” I reply, looking into my drink.

“You gotta admit,” Arthur says, “That place has blown through a lot of staff.”

“That’s true about a lot of places,” I reply.

A customer walks up to the bar and asks for a Manhattan. Arthur and I let our conversation hang in the air while he makes the drink. Its a pleasure to watch Arthur work. All his movements are precise and economical. Not a movement or drop is wasted. Arthur passes the cocktail across the bar, rings it up, and hands back the change. A few seconds later he palms his tip off the wooden countertop, grabs a towel, and walks back towards me.

“So whatcha doing now?” Arthur asks, toweling his hands dry.

“Oh,” I reply, “A little bit of this and that.”

“Working in a restaurant?”

“Not yet,” I reply. “But soon.”

“Want to work here?”

“Thanks, but no thanks,” I reply. “I want some of my watering holes to remain sacrosanct.”

“I hear that brother.”

“How’s things with you?” I ask.

“Auditions, auditions, auditions,” Arthur replies, half smiling.

“Any luck?”

“Same old,” Arthur says. “How’s the writing thing going?”

“Harder than I expected,” I say. “But thank God for computers. I can’t imagine typing this all out on a typewriter.”

“Computers are great,” Arthur says. “Until they go wrong.”

“Ain’t that the truth.”

“My old computer was so infested with porn I had to throw it out,” Arthur says.

“No way,” I reply, taking a sip from my martini.

“I’m not kidding.”

“Couldn’t you reformat the hard drive?”

“My ex brother-in-law tried to fix it,” Arthur says, wiping down the bar with his towel. “He’s a computer geek and even he couldn’t do it.”

“What the hell were you looking at?” I ask.

“Nothing illegal,” the bartender says, suddenly defensive. (more…)

Posted on January 18, 2008 - by Abner

Taylor Swift… yeehaw

Thought it was a guy’s song when I saw the title Taylor Swift – Tears On My Guitar. Was looking for something acoustic and simple on this cold grey Friday morning. He turns out to be a hot she. Taylor’s more on the country pop direction and it sure brighten things up a little with her clear chirpy voice. Well not for the Tears On My Guitar of course. That is a sappy song. Listen to the Our Song for the happy happy joy joy feeling.

Our Song

Proceed for a dose of emo-ness. It’s about lusting for your best friend. As portrayed in the music video.
Country singers lately are getting mighty hot I must say. Haha…

Tears On My Guitar

Oh and a happy birthday to my brother too!

Posted on January 17, 2008 - by Abner

My First Day Cover Links

In case none of you noticed… I have removed the Links at the sidebar and from today onwards, any link loves will be found up there… by clicking on the Links button. And you will be redirected to my “first day covers” link.

Left out a few because I can’t find a decent photo.

Am pondering whether shall I remove the Hangman and the Scrabble game too. Anyone of you ever played it? Or am I the only one. I want to de-clutter the sidebar.

Posted on January 17, 2008 - by Abner

Do a V Squeak

Mmm… come to think of it… I have only seen these babies in the movies… the latest being in Disturbia. I have not seen one installed in the houses I have been too though. Why… I don’t even see our electrical stores have them on display. Ain’t it cool to just chuck all the dirty spoons, bowls and plates into it, add in some cleaning agent and with a gentle press of a button… and voila… check back in a few minutes time… squeak squeak… everything’s done. Everything is automated and the only one I operated before was those big ones in hotels where the magic gets turned on when you press the little green button and all the saucers and cups go for a sweet ride on the conveyer belt thingy through soap and hot steaming water.

I love to eat but when it comes to cleaning dishes… especially after you are bloated and happy… not to mention the warm fuzzy feeling creeping up on you… sending out little spasms of pleasure… and the involuntary sighs and burps of content… the eyelids feeling like lead curtain does not help too. Ok ok, I admit it’s laziness kicking my a** but hey aren’t these time that one wishes they have a dishwasher at home. Yeah, I was talking for so long about them… and particularly getting a Miele Dishwasher. Checked some reviews and it seems that the Touchtronic G892 is getting some rave reviews from the consumers. Design looks simple and with a nice button panel on top. Might consider getting a dishwasher when I get my own place. Already added to my mental wishlist. Checked.